PURPOSE: To provide a former for forming a paper web, having a good forming property and a good drainage capacity by setting the sum of wrapping angles, a distance between forming rolls, and the length of a free web between the forming rolls in specific ranges, respectively.

CONSTITUTION: The sum of a wrapping angle α and a wrapping angle β is set to be larger than 165 degree, and a distance between a forming roll 5 and a forming roll 7 is set to be smaller than about one tenth of the diameter of the forming roll 7. The length of a free web between the forming roll 5 and the forming roll 7 is set to 0.1-0.6 m. The former thus obtained is especially suitable for producing a thick multi-layered paper wherein the formation of the respective layers is important.