Papermaking machine for forming tissue employing an air press

A papermaking machine for manufacturing a creped paper web, comprising:

• a breast roll;
• a Yankee dryer;
• a press roll;
• a first forming fabric forming an endless loop which contains the press roll, the first forming fabric being urged against the Yankee dryer by the press roll;
• a second forming fabric forming a second endless loop which surrounds the breast roll, the second forming fabric coming into engagement with the first forming fabric and being wrapped around a portion of the breast roll and running parallel to and engaged with the first forming fabric along an extended run after the first forming fabric and the second forming fabric leave the breast roll;
• a headbox positioned to inject a stream of paper forming stock between the first forming fabric and the second forming fabric as the first forming fabric comes into engagement with the second forming fabric on the breast roll;
• a third forming fabric defining a third endless loop downstream of the second forming fabric and defining a joint run with the portions of the first forming fabric;
• an air press comprising a pressure box positioned to engage the inside of one of the first and the third forming fabrics, and a vacuum box in spaced parallel relation to the pressure box, the vacuum box positioned to engage the inside of the other of the first and the third forming fabrics so that the first and third forming fabrics pass between the pressure box and the vacuum box;
• a source of pressure connected to the pressure box;
• and
• a source of vacuum connected to the vacuum box so air flows from the pressure box through the first fabric, a paper web contained therebetween, and the third fabric.