Paper machine for and method of manufacturing textured soft paper

A paper machine for texturing and drying a wet fibrous paper web, said paper machine comprising:

• a press having two cooperating press members forming a press nip between the press members for pressing the fibrous web and removing water from the web;
• a heated drying cylinder downstream of the press for receiving the pressed fibrous web about a portion of the surface of the cylinder and thereby further drying the fibrous web by evaporating at least part of the water remaining in the web;
• a substantially impermeable texturing belt having a web-contacting surface defining a multitude of regularly distributed depressions and surface portions located between the depressions, said substantially impermeable texturing belt being arranged to pass with the fibrous web through the press such that the depressions of the web-contacting surface initially form in the fibrous web an equivalent textured pattern having thicker and thinner portions, and said substantially impermeable texturing belt being further arranged to then carry the fibrous web to the heated drying cylinder such that the surface portions of the belt engage the thinner portions of the web against the surface of the cylinder and the water in the thicker portions of the web is caused to evaporate;
• and
• a hood at least partially covering the heated drying cylinder.

A method of texturing and drying a wet fibrous paper web comprising the steps of:

• advancing the wet fibrous web through a press and pressing the fibrous web to remove water from the web;
• advancing the fibrous web to a heated drying cylinder;
• extending the fibrous web about a portion of the heated drying cylinder to further dry the fibrous web by evaporating at least part of the water remaining in the web;
• carrying the fibrous web between the press and the drying cylinder with a substantially impermeable and compressible texturing belt which extends through the press and to the surface of the drying cylinder for engaging the fibrous web against the drying cylinder;
• compressing the substantially impermeable and compressible texturing belt from an uncompressed state against the fibrous web and heated drying cylinder;
• texturing the fibrous web with a web-contacting surface of me substantially impermeable and compressible belt which defines a multitude of regularly distributed depressions, said texturing step occurring while the belt and fibrous web are advancing through the press and as the fibrous web is engaged against the drying cylinder so that the depressions form a textured pattern on the fibrous web;
• and
• allowing the substantially impermeable and compressible texturing belt to return to the uncompressed state after said compressing step to enhance evaporation of water from the web when on the heated drying cylinder.

A method of texturing and drying a wet fibrous paper web comprising the steps of:

• advancing the wet fibrous web through a press and pressing the fibrous web to remove water from the web;
• advancing the fibrous web to a heated drying cylinder;
• extending the fibrous web about a portion of the heated drying cylinder to further dry the fibrous web by evaporating at least part of the water remaining in the web;
• carrying the fibrous web between the press and the drying cylinder with a substantially impermeable texturing belt which extends through the press and to the surface of the drying cylinder for engaging the fibrous web against the drying cylinder, and
• texturing the fibrous web with a web-contacting surface of the substantially impermeable belt which defines a multitude of regularly distributed depressions, said texturing step occurring while the belt and fibrous web are advancing through the press and as the fibrous web is engaged against the drying cylinder so that the depressions form a textured pattern on the fibrous web.