roll 22 by a piston cylinder combination 44 the force applied by the combination 44 is transmitted to nip shoe 24 through pivot 46 when nip shoe 24 exerts pressure against press roll 22 the area under this force forms a load arc 48 fig5 this load arc extends from the inrunning nip point 38 to the outrunning nip point 50 pivot 46 is positioned along nip shoe 24 so the distance from inrunning nip point 38 to pivot 46 denoted by y divided by the distance between inrunning nip point 38 and outrunning nip point 50 denoted by x yields a quotient of between 0 6 and 0 8 in contrast hydrodynamic bearings used with noncompliant materials locate the pivot for the bearing at a position where y x approximately 0 58 the extended inrunning nip surface 36 gradually applies the force exerted by the shoe 24 to compliant belt 32 fig3 this gradual force application is accomplished by inclining inrunning nip surface 36 fig5 approximately 1 5 u00b0 denoted by the symbol u03b8 from a line substantially tangent to the load arc 48 of nip shoe 24 through inrunning nip point 38 by inclining the inrunning nip surface 36 as described a ramp is provided which is essentially free of abrupt changes the smooth transition.