Apparatus for finishing a continuous sheet of paper

A hot soft nip calender apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of substantially parallel belt carrier rolls;
• a continuous belt surrounding said belt carrier rolls, said belt having an inner surface adjacent the belt carrier rolls and an outer surface facing away from the belt carrier rolls;
• said continuous belt comprising a substrate including the inner surface formed from a woven flexible synthetic material and a finishing layer forming said outer surface formed from a smooth soft material capable of withstanding temperatures of from about 400.degree. F. to about 550.degree. F.;
• pressure application means disposed adjacent the inner surface of the belt;
• a calender roll extending parallel to the belt carrier rolls and substantially adjacent the outer stirface of the belt at a location in proximity to the pressure application means, such that a calender nip is defined between the calender roll and the outside stirface of the belt in proximity to the pressure application means;
• and
• a means for heating said calender roll to achieve a temperature of from about 400.degree. F. To about 550.degree. F.