A system and process for producing tissue webs is disclosed. The tissue
webs are formed from an aqueous suspension of fibers and dried using a
through-air dryer. During formation of the web, the web is transferred
from a transfer fabric to a throughdrying fabric and then conveyed around
a drying cylinder of a through-air dryer. In accordance with the present
invention, a pressurized roll emits a gaseous stream through a
pressurized zone that pushes and transfers a wet web from a transfer
fabric to the throughdrying fabric. The amount of pressure used during
the transfer can vary depending upon the particular application and may
be used to control the bulk of the web. By using a pressurized transfer
roll, the amount the throughdrying fabric is wrapped around the drying
cylinder of the through-air dryer can be maximized for increasing the
efficiency of the system and the process.