Patent GB-810300-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to apparatus for the production of alkali cellulose
Inventor: COLES WALTER VALANTINE
IPC: C08B1/12
Filed: 1955-07-22
Abstract: <PICT:0810300/IV (a)/1> A steeping press for the production of alkali cellulose comprises a steeping tank for pulp sheets separated by spacer plates, a horizontal ram for squeezing surplus alkali from the pulp, an open-ended liner which is capable of accommodating the spacer plates and pulp and can be lowered into and raised from the tank, and apparatus to move the plates and pulp out of the end of the liner when it is in the raised position and to support the plates when they leave the liner.  As shown, the liner 10 is in raised position containing the spaced plates 12 linked by chains 14 and steeped sheets of alkali cellulose 13.  During steeping the liner is in its lower position in the steeping tank 1 so that the guide rails 11 its sides, which support the spacer plates, act as extensions of the guide rails 9.  The spacer plates 12 and sheets of cellulose 13 are distributed evenly along the length of the tank 1 including the liner 10, and the head 3 of the ram 2 is at the left-hand end of the press.  When steeping is complete, the ram 2, operated by an hydraulic cylinder 4 having pipes 5, 6 for hydraulic fluid, is set in motion and the plates 12 and sheets 13 are pushed into the liner 10, and compressed to squeeze out excess alkali.  The ram 2 is then withdrawn to the position shown, the pivoted hooks 37 on each side of the head 3, which are actuated by cam plates on the sides of the tank 1, being held out of engagement with the edges of the plates when the plates 12 and sheets 13 are in the fully compressed condition.  The liner 10 is then raised by wires 17, attached to eyes 18 on the liner, which pass through the member 76, around pulley 19 and on to winding drum 20, until the rails on the liner are aligned with guide rails 36.  The left-hand trolley 23 is then connected by clip 28 to the endless chain 29 running round sprocket wheels 30, one of which is driven by an electric motor 32 through pulleys and a belt 35. When the motor 32 is started up, the pusher 26 pushes the plates and sheets out of the liner on to the guide rails 36, the plates being held by the guide rails and the sheets dropping into a truck or shredder at the right-hand side of the tank 1.  The hook 27 then engages the end plate, the direction of the chain is reversed and the left-hand trolley moving to the left draws some of the plates back into the liner.  The hook 27 is disengaged from the end plate and the trolley is disengaged from the chain.  The right-hand trolley is then engaged in the chain and moved to the left, pushing the remainder of the plates into the liner.  The chain is then reversed so that the right-hand trolley is returned to the end of its travel, and the liner is lowered into the tank. The ram 2 is advanced to the plates and, since the end plate is further to the right than during the compression of the sheets, the hook 37 is free to engage the end plate.  The ram is then withdrawn pulling the plates with it and distributing them evenly along the length of the tank, ready for the cycle of operations to be repeated.  U.S.A. Specification 1,696,474 is referred to.