Improvements in the Method of and Means for Producing Cellulose. Films for Photographic and other Purposes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Sept., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 3rd May, 1899-Accepted, 1st July, 1899
Improvements in the Method of and Means for Producing Cellulose.
Films for Photographic and other Purposes.
I, JOHN CHRISTMAS CHORLEY, of Lodge Lane, Bewsey, Warrington, in the
County of Lancaster, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:―
My invention relates to improvements in the method of and means for pro-
ducing cellulose films for photographic and other purposes and the chief object
of my invention is to enable the films to be produced in sheets of any length
and by a continuous operation.
In carrying out my invention I employ cellulose sulpho-carbonate dissolved in
water which is known as viscose and is prepared as described in the Specification
to Letters Patent numbered 8700 and dated 7th May 1892.
This solution is of suitable strength and is spread evenly and uniformly upon
the surface of a heated cylinder by means of a doctor blade or other suitable
appliance. The heated cylinder is enclosed in a casing and is slowly rotated,
carrying forward the layer of solution, which is rapidly dried by a current of
hot air travelling preferably in the opposite direction to that in which the
cylinder is rotating. The layer, in the form of a sheet or film, is led off the
cylinder by a roller or other suitable means and conducted to a tank containing
a saturated solution of boiling brine, or its chemical equivalent, the object of
this bath being to decompose the soluble cellulose sulpho-carbonate and regene-
rate the insoluble cellulose in the film form. The film is preferably taken
through the tank in a zig-zag course over and under guide rollers in order to
give sufficient time for decomposition to take place, and when this result has
been attained the film (now cellulose) is lad into a washing machine and if
desired is subsequently treated with bleaching reagents or dyeing solutions and
is finally dried and rolled or otherwise made up ready for use as required.
Dated this 31st day of August 1898.
H. B. BARLOW & GILLETT,
Agents for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
0 Improvements in the Method of and Means for Producing Cellulose
Films for Photographic and other Purposes.
I, JOHN CHRISTMAS CHORLEY, of Lodge Lane, Bewsey, Warrington, in the
County of Lancaster, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
0 Improvements in the Method of and Means for Producing Cellulose
Films for Photographic and other Purposes.
I, JOHN CHRISTMAS CHORLEY, of Lodge Lane, Bewsey, Warrington, in the
County of Lancaster, Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
07

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
-
My invention relates to improvements in the method of and means for pro-
ducing cellulose films for photographic and other purposes and the chief object
of my invention is to enable the films to be produced in sheets of any length
and by a continuous operation.
In carrying out my invention I employ a machine such as that illustrated in
longitudinal sectional elevation on the accompanying sheet of drawings and I
employ cellulose sulpho-carbonate dissolved in water, which is known as
viscose," and is prepared as described in the Specification to English Letters
Patent numbered 8700 and dated 7th day of May, 1892.
This solution is of suitable strength and is contained in a tank or hopper 2
which is placed at a convenient height above the machine and is controlled by
a tap 3 for regulating the quantity of viscose allowed to fall upon a suitably
shaped perforated dropper plate or trough 4 through the perforations in which
the viscose passes on to the surface of a heated cylinder 5. I employ two adjust-
able plates 6 carried by the frame (only one of which is shown) these plates
regulate the width of the viscose on the cylinder 5 which is heated by means of
steam admitted through its hollow axle in the ordinary manner well understood.
The cylinder 5 is enclosed in a casing 7 and is slowly rotated by any suitable
driving gear, not shown; in the direction indicated by the arrows.
The viscose delivered through the perforated dropper plato 4 is spread evenly
and uniformly upon the surface of the heated cylinder by means of a doctor
blade S mounted and arranged so as to be adjusted to and from the cylinder by
means of a worm wheel 9 and worm 10 mounted upon a shaft 10 turned by a
handle not shown.
:
As the heated cylinder 5 is slowly rotated it carries forward the thin layer of
viscose which is rapidly dried by a current of hot air drawn through the pipe 11
by a fan from a suitable heater and travelling preferably as indicated by the
arrows in the opposite direction to that in which the cylinder is rotating until
finally conducted away through the discharge pipe 12.
The layer of viscose in the form of a continuous sheet web or film is led off
the cylinder 5 round a hollow stripping roller 13 which may or may not be
cooled in any convenient manner. The stripping roller 13 is carried in bearings
in slide blocks adjustable by means of screws 14. From the stripping roller 13
the film passes under a guide roller 15 over a guide roller 16 to a batching
roller 17 which is driven by a belt 18 from a shaft 19; brackets 20 which carry
the batching roller 17 are pivoted to the shaft 19 carried in bearings secured to a
tank 21 so that the roller 17 can be raised out of the tank by moving a handle 22
cast with one bracket and the brackets are maintained in position by a pawl 23
which engages with a ratchet wheel' 24 secured to the shaft 19.
The batching roller 17 is mounted in the tank 21 containing a saturated
solution of boiling brine, that is to say, sodium chloride solution the object of this
being to decompose the soluble cellulose sulpho-carbonate or viscose and
regenerate the insoluble cellulose in the film form.
The film, now cellulose, when batched is subsequently washed preferably in an
open washing machine of any suitable type to remove the brine and any bye
products from the decomposition of the viscose and if desired may be subse-
quently treated with bleaching re-agents or dyeing solutions and is finally dried
and rolled or otherwise made up in rolls or sheets of any desired length ready
for use as required.
Beyond the stripping roller 13 is mounted an adjustable stripping blade 25
the function of which is to clean the surface of the cylinder by removing any
viscose which may remain adhering to it and behind the blade 25 is mounted
a piece of cloth 26 one end of which is secured to a box bracket 27 and the loose
end of this cloth lies on the surface of the cylinder 5; on the top of the cloth
and in the box bracket 27 are placed pieces of paraffin wax 28 or other suitable

page_text: substance which slowly melts and passes through the cloth on to the surface of
the cylinder which it covers with a slight waxed surface and so prevents the
viscose adhering too firmly to the cylinder.
It will be readily understood that I do not wish to confine myself to the exact
details of the machine herein shown and described as the same may be varied or
modified without departing from the nature of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention. and in what manner the same is to be performed. I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The method of producing cellulose films of any desired length and in and
by a continuous operation which method consists in supplying viscose in regulated
quantities and spreading it evenly and uniformly upon the surface of a
slowly rotating heated cylinder and drying the film of viscose whilst still upon
the cylinder, conducting the film away and treating it with brine to decompose
the viscose and regenerate the insoluble cellulose in film form substantially as
herein set forth.
2. A machine for producing cellulose films said machine consisting in its
essential features of means for supplying viscose in regulated quantities and dis-
tributing the same evenly and uniformly on the surface of a slowly rotating
heated cylinder, means for drying the viscose film whilst still upon the cylinder
and means for conducting the film away for subsequent treatment with brine
substantially as herein set forth.
Doted this 2nd day of M.... 1900
H. B. BARLOW & GILLETT,
Agents for Applicant, 17, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.