indicate that significant thickness changes occur in the felts as a result tests have indicated that the greater the change in thickness the more inrunning nip surface 36 must be extended beyond inrunning nip point 38 a two four inch inrunning nip surface 36 has been adequate for uncompressed felt thicknesses of 0 120 34 and compliant belt 32 thicknesses of 0 3 34 outrunning nip surface 52 fig3 has a twofold function first the outrunning nip surface 52 channels lubricant from the nip shoe compliant belt interface to a catch pan 54 under nip shoe 24 this lubricant is recirculated to reservoir 40 by pump 56 the second function of outrunning nip surface 52 is to gradually release the compressive force of nip shoe 24 from compliant belt 32 felts 28 and 30 and paper web 26 the length of outrunning nip surface 52 is not as critical as the length for inrunning nip surface 36 however outrunning nip surface 52 must also be inclined approximately 1 5 u00b0 denoted by u03b8 in fig5 from a line substantially tangent to load arc 48 through outrunning nip point 50 this inclination allows the compressive force exerted by nip shoe 24 to be gradually removed referring to fig4 side edges 58 of nip shoe 24 are inclined away from the axis of rotation of press roll 22 fig3 compliant belt 32 distorts sideways.