IMPROVEMENTS IN MANUFACTURING PULP FOR PAPER, PAPER MACHE, AND OTHER SIMILAR USES, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN, PART OF THE INVENTION BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER OPERATIONS IN WHICH MATERIALS HAVE TO BE SUBJECTED TO THE ACTION OF LIQUIDS, STEAM, AND OTHER FLUIDS
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Hanham Collyer, of Beta House, Alpha road,
'Regent's Park, in the County of Middlesex, M.D. and Ph. D., for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MANUFACTURING PULP FOR PAPER, PAPER
MACHE, AND OTHER SIMILAR USES, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN, PART
OF THE INVENTION BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER OPERATIONS IN WHICH
MATERIALS HAVE TO BE SUBJECTED TO THE ACTION OF LIQUIDS, STEAM, AND
OTHER FLUIDS."
Sealed the 27th September 1860, and dated the 28th March 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Hanham Collyer at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th March 1860.
I, ROBERT HANHAM COLLYER, of Beta House, Alpha Road, Regent's Park,
in the County of Middlesex, M.D., and Ph. D., do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MANUFACTURING PULP FOR PAPER,
PAPIER MACHE, AND OTHER SIMILAR USES; AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN,
PART OF THE INVENTION BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER OPERATIONS IN WHICH
MATERIALS HAVE TO BE SUBJECTED TO THE ACTION OF LIQUIDS, STEAM, AND OTHER
FLUIDS," to be as follows:-
My Invention first has reference to the treatment of materials for the pur-
pose of manufacturing therefrom pulp for paper, papier mache, millboard, and
other similar uses, and relates to a process in which the materials are placed
[Price 8d.]

page_text: in layers or strata, and treated with an alkaline solution and superheated steam
or other fluids in a vessel or apparatus, furnished, connected, or combined with
a boiler, a pump or pumps, pipes and reservoirs, or suitable arrangements for
supplying and distributing the steam and alkaline solution or other fluids. I
propose to fit a shaft vertically or nearly so, through the centre of the vessel
or apparatus so as to pass down through the trays, shelves, or boxes contained
therein. and supplied with the layers of material to be acted upon; this shaft,
which may be hollow, if desirable, is so arranged that rotary motion may be com-
municated to it, and is furnished with agitators, rakes, or brushes, or such like
appliances, mounted sufficiently loose by means of rings, chains, or other attach-
ments, as to yield and not press too forcibly on the materials, which are by
these means moved about, and thoroughly exposed to the action of
the liquid, steam, or fluid. The apparatus is fitted with a cover
suitable for bearing steam pressure, but which
may be removed
when desirable. The liquid may be distributed over each layer or trayful of
material separately, and the superheated steam or other aeriform fluid applied
immediately under each layer separately, each by an independent perforated
branch coil, or other means, or branch coils may be placed one within each
tray at or near the bottom thereof, or in certain instances the trays may be
constructed with wirework, or reticulated or perforated sides, and with a solid
bottom, with which may be combined a false or second bottom of wirework,
or reticulated or perforated substance, a perforated coil being placed within
each tray between the two bottoms thereof..
In treating materials for the manufacture of paper, papier mache, and
other similar purposes, the alkaline solution or other liquid and superheated
steam are first caused to act on them in the manner stated, and after the
liquid has been drawn off, water or washing liquor may be supplied to the
apparatus (means being provided for its admission and discharge), and dis-
tributed over and among the materials to wash them, without removing them
from the apparatus for the purpose. The cover may then be removed, and
superheated steam passed through the materials. The materials may then be
bleached also without removing them from the apparatus, by introducing the
bleaching liquor into the apparatus, preferring to use for the purpose first a
weak solution of hydrochloric acid, that is only slightly acidulating the water.
and after withdrawing it, introducing the chlorine liquor, superheated steam
acting upon the materials at the time, rotary motion may be imparted to the
shaft during the operations as desirable.
For bleaching materials for fine papers. the trays or boxes may in certain
cases be lined with perforated zinc or lead to prevent the chlorides from dis-

page_text: colouring the product, and the pipes and reservoirs may also be composed of
or coated with zinc or lead.
The apparatus may also be applied or adapted to purposes in which mate-
rials have to be treated with liquids, steam, and other fluids in certain opera-
tions or processes, other than the production of paper, papier mache, and
similar manufactures.
If materials to be converted into pulp are not in a sufficiently pulpy con-
dition after treatment in the apparatus described, they may be reduced to pulp
by employing instead of the usual beating engine, two rollers grooved or fluted
so that the grooves or flutes of one roller may form angles with those of the
other, and geared or contrived to produce triturating action, and combined
with a paddle wheel, or wheel with guide plates to facilitate feed. The under
roller is smaller than the upper, and steam is introduced into the rollers
through their shafts or otherwise to dry them, and prevent them from oxydizing,
which plan may also be applied to smooth triturating rollers.
Also instead of the ordinary roller and bed-plate of the beating engine, I
propose to employ for the purpose of reducing materials to pulp, a pair of
horizontal millstones combined with an elevator or bucket wheel, and if de-
sirable with a paddle wheel, or wheel with guides plates on its periphery, and
these are so arranged that the materials under treatment may be carried round
several times to be reacted upon by the stones until arrived at the desired
consistency.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Robert Hanham Collyer in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 28th September 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ROBERT
HANHAM COLLYER, of Beta House, Alpha Road, Regent's Park, in the County
of Middlesex, M.D., and Ph. D., send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Robert Hanham Collyer, Her special licence that I, the said
Robert Hanham Collyer, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Robert Hanham Collyer, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time

page_text: and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN MANUFACTURING PULP FOR PAPER, PAPIER MACHE, AND
OTHER SIMILAR USES, AND IN APPARATUS EMPLOYED THEREIN, PART OF THE INVEN
TION BEING ALSO APPLICABLE TO OTHER OPERATIONS IN WHICH MATERIALS HAVE TO BE
SUBJECTED TO THE ACTION OF LIQUIDS, STEAM, AND OTHER FLUIDS," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Robert Hanham Collyer, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Robert Hanham Collyer, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same, is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof, reference being had to the accompanying Draw-
ings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My Invention first has reference to the treatment of materials in order to
manufacture therefrom pulp for paper, papier mache, millboard, and other
similar uses, and relates to certain improved means of carrying into effect a
former Invention, for which I obtained Letters Patent, dated 29th February.
1860, and numbered 564, and in the Specification of which I described a mode
of, and apparatus for, treating materials for the purpose of manufacturing pulp
therefrom, and in which Specification I directed that the materials were to be
placed in layers or strata, and treated with an alkaline solution and super-
heated steam in a vessel, boiler, receiver, or apparatus furnished, connected,
or combined with a boiler for supplying superheated steam, and with a pump
or pumps and pipes and reservoirs or suitable arrangements for supplying and
distributing the steam and alkaline solution. Now, in the apparatus which
I employ for performing that Invention, and which may also be applied when
other fluids are used instead of alkaline solution and superheated steam, I
propose, according to the present improvements, to fit a shaft vertically or nearly
so through the centre of the vessel, receiver, or apparatus in which the
materials are placed, and in which they are subjected to the alkaline solution
and steam, and which vessel or apparatus I call for convenience
throughout this Specification the "receiver," such shaft passing down

page_text: through the trays, shelves, or boxes supplied with the layers of
material to be acted upon and placed in the said "receiver;" this shaft, which
is preferably hollow, is so arranged that rotary motion may be communicated
to it; and it is furnished with agitators, rakes, or brushes, or such like
appliances, mounted sufficiently loose, by means of rings, chains, or other
attachments, so as to yield and not press too forcibly on the materials under
treatment, which are, by means of these agitators, moved about and thoroughly
exposed to the action of the liquid, steam, or fluids used. The receiver is
fitted with a cover suitable for bearing steam pressure, which cover can be
removed when desirable. The alkaline liquid may be distributed over each
layer or trayful of material separately, and the superheated steam or other
aeriform fluid applied immediately under each layer separately, each by an
independent perforated branch coil or other means; or branch coils may be
placed one within each tray, at or near the bottom thereof; or the trays (and
this I recommend) may be constructed with sides of wirework or reticulated
or perforated material, and with a solid bottom, with which may be combined
a false or second bottom of wirework or reticulated or perforated substance, a
perforated coil being placed within each tray, between the two bottoms
thereof. In treating materials for the manufacture of paper, papier mache,
and other similar purposes, the alkaline solution or equivalent liquid and
superheated steam or equivalent fluid are first caused to act on them in the
manner stated in the Specification of my aforesaid Patent, No. 564, and after
the alkaline liquid has been drawn off, water or washing liquor may be
supplied to the receiver, and distributed over and among the materials, and so
wash them without having to remove them from the receiver for the purpose.
The cover may then be removed, and the materials may then be bleached also
without removing them from the receiver, by introducing the bleaching liquor
into such receiver, preferring to use for the purpose, first, a weak solution of
hydrochloric acid (only slightly acidulating the water), and after withdrawing
it introducing the chlorine liquor, and next causing superheated steam to act
upon the materials. Rotary motion may be imparted to the shaft during the
operation, as desirable..
For bleaching materials for fine paper, the trays or boxes may be lined with
perforated zinc or perforated lead, to prevent the chlorides from discoloring
the products, and the pipes and reservoirs may also be composed of or coated
with zinc or lead.
.
i
The receiver or apparatus constructed as described may also be applied or
adapted to purposes in which materials have to be treated with liquids, steam,

page_text: and other fluids in various operations or processes other than in the production
of paper, papier mache, and similar manufactures.
I now proceed to describe particularly how the foregoing portions of the
Invention may be carried into effect.
Figure 1 is a vertical elevation of a portion of the shaft, which I propose to
place vertically through the receiver, and through the trays supplied with the
materials; Figure 2, horizontal section of Figure 1. A is the shaft; it is
hollow, and passes through an orifice in the bottom of the receiver, packed
round it fluid-light. The shaft, as shown in my former Specification, is
stepped at bottom below the receiver in a socket, and it carries a pulley or
bevil wheel, whereby rotary motion is transmitted to it from a steam engine,
or this may be done by any convenient well known means. At top the shaft
turns in a recess in the inside of the cover of the receiver. There are
openings, a, a, formed in the shaft at intervals round it, at such height as to
come above each of the trays; and round this part is an annular chamber b,
on which are cast sockets c, c, into which are fitted branch pipes d, leading
into an annular pipe e, from which branch pipes f. The pipes d, e, and.f are
perforated. These passages a, b, d, e, f, are intended for distributing. alkaline
liquid, which is pumped into them through the shaft from reservoirs outside
the receiver; these arrangements for supplying and distributing the alkaline
fluid were described in the Specification No. 564 before referred to. g, g, are
agitators, which may consist of arms or tines, as shown, or may be brushes or
other such like instruments, and are connected to the pipes by rings h, h, so
that they are sufficiently loosely mounted as not to press too forcibly on the
materials in the trays, but yet when rotary motion is communicated to the
shaft, they turn with it, and stir about or agitate the materials, and expose
them more thoroughly to the solution and steam, and facilitate the removal of
extraneous matters; equivalent contrivances effecting the same object may be
substituted for the rings h.
Figure 3 is a transverse sectional elevation of one of the improved trays,
which I use in carrying out the Invention I specified under Patent No. 564.
The sides or periphery i, i, of the tray are of wirework or of perforated metal,
with a flat rim at top to support the feet of the next tray when placed in
the receiver. k is a solid bottom to the tray; and m a bottom of wirework or
perforated metal, fitted a little over the bottom k, leaving a space n between
the two, in which is inserted a perforated bent pipe or coil o connected to a
steam pipe p, which passes through an orifice contrived for its insertion in the
sides of the receiver. I prefer to fix the coil in the space n, and fit. it with a

page_text: female screw, as in Figure 4, screwing on the pipe p with a male screw. The
object of the perforated sides and false bottom is that any excess of alkaline
fluid may not trickle through the material on to the next layer in a com-
paratively impoverished condition, and the space n allows the pipe o to be
inserted for the better diffusion and action of the steam on the material (which
is placed upon the false bottom of the tray). Another advantage is to
facilitate the washing and bleaching as afterwards mentioned. r is a passage
through the bottoms and m, for the shaft A to pass. The agitators g come
within the trays, when the latter are in the receiver. Instead of using
perforated zinc or lead to line the trays, and instead of using zinc or lead for
manufacturing or coating the pipes and reservoirs, the trays may be lined with
perforated porcelain, stoneware, or such like substance, and the pipes and
reservoirs composed of stoneware or like substance, or coated therewith.
In treating materials for the manufacture of paper, papier mache, and other
similar purposes, the alkaline solution and superheated steam are caused to
act on them, as described in the Specification of my Patent, No. 564. the
superheated steam acting on the materials continuously while the alkaline
solution is showered over them at intervals, any excess thereof being avoided
as tending to neutralize the operation of the superheated steam, as stated in
my aforesaid Specification:
Supposing I have one ton of material, say straw, to act on. I prefer caustic
soda of about 4° to 5° by the English hydrometer, and use about from 12 to 15
gallons solution, to 1 cwt. straw. After the alkaline treatment the materials
are washed in the receiver, and for this purpose I propose to empty the
alkaline solution reservoirs and fill them with water, which I heat to boiling
point by carrying off therein the waste steam from the receiver, and pump up
the hot water (as I did the alkaline solution) through the shaft and shower it
through the arrangements a, b, d, e, f, over the materials in the trays, and at
the same time admit superheated steam through the coils o, and I continue
this, till the water runs off clear through the discharge tap: I thus prevent
any cold entering during the operation, which is important to its success.
After the materials have thus been well cleansed from silica, resin, and gluten,
they are ready for the bleaching, which I perform without removing them
from the receiver, and for this purpose, the receiver cover is removed and a
weak cold solution of hydrochloric acid. or nitric acid, poured in, and the shaft
A has rotary motion communicated to it, so that the agitators may stir
about the materials for about ten minutes. whereby I remove any trace of
alkali that may remain after the washing, and which, if left. would impede the
success of the bleaching. I then wash with cold water to remove the acid, for

page_text: another ten minutes, and next introduce chlorine solution in sufficient quantity
to saturate the materials, pumping up the chlorine liquor from the alkaline
solution reservoir or from a separate tank into the hollow shaft A, and show-
ering it over and among the materials by the arrangements a, b, d, e, and f,
and I cause the shaft to revolve so as to mix the chlorine liquor thoroughly
with the materials by the agitators g; when well mixed up, superheated steam
is admitted through the coils o for about 10 minutes, still turning the shaft.
Instead of using chlorine liquor as described, chlorine gas may be forced
into the receiver through the pipes used for admitting superheated steam.
The advantages of my process include considerable economy of labour, time,
fuel, and chemicals. Alkaline treatment, which has heretofore occupied ten
to sixteen hours, can be effected with more complete and uniform results by
my process in from two to three hours. According to the old mode, for
instance, 1 ton of material required 4 to 5 cwt. of soda ash, or potassa,
whereas I find 150 to 200 lbs. sufficient and more effective, I economize
chlorine liquor and find 350 lbs. chloride of lime sufficient to produce chlorine
liquor for 1 ton of half stuff. By my mode of washing also, I avoid the loss
of time involved by the old system, which necessitated the removal to a
separate washing machine, and thus I economize several hours. I have found
that for instance one ton of straw may be placed in the reservoir, treated with
the solution, and washed in 4 hours, and be ready for being discharged in 5
hours from commencing the operation, thus allowing four separate operations
in 24 hours, and a result of these combined advantages is, that a manufacturer
can produce a superior strong paper at less than half the usual time and
cost.
One of the principal objects of my Invention is to obtain an elevated degree
of humid caloric for causing the alkaline solution to act energetically in
removing the silica, resin, and gluten, from the materials without destroying
them.
This has been attempted heretofore by the boiling in caustic alkali under
very high pressure, but this I consider involves considerable expense of boiler to
maintain such pressure, with an immense consumption of fuel, and is exceed-
ingly unmanageable, without commensurate advantage. If 425° of heat were
required by high-pressure boiling, a boiler capable of sustaining over 700 lbs.
to the square inch would be required. To obtain only 350° Fahrenheit a
pressure of 270 lbs. to the square inch would be required, whereas by my
process of superheating the steam, (say, at only 30 lbs.) prior to admitting it
into the receiver, a temperature of 400° may be readily attained without
inconvenience so long as the materials are kept saturated with the alkaline

page_text: liquor and well stirred by the agitators as I have described, and the result is
an immediate action of the alkali on the resin, gluten, and silica, which are
disposed of immediately, and speedily removed by the washing process
described. The use of the steam superheated also avoids the condensation
which occurs in the old process.
use and
Secondly, when materials to be converted into pulp are not in a sufficiently
pulpy condition after treatment by the mode herein described, then,
instead of the usual beating engine for reducing them to pulp, I use an appa-
ratus consisting of two rollers so grooved or fluted that the grooves or flutes
of one roller may form angles with those of the other, the rollers being so
geared or contrived as to produce triturating action, and they are combined
with a paddle wheel, or wheel with guide plates to facilitate feed. The
under roller is smaller than the upper; steam is introduced into the rollers
through their shafts or otherwise to dry them when not in
prevent them from oxydizing, which plan may also be applied to the pulping
apparatus described in my aforesaid previous Patent (and of which apparatus
this is a modification) and which was there described as consisting of a pair
of smooth triturating rollers. Also instead of the ordinary roller and bed plate
of the beating engine for pulping materials, then may be employed a pair of
horizontal millstones combined with an elevator or bucket wheel, and if
desirable with a paddle wheel or feed wheel with guide plates on its periphery,
and these are so arranged by any ordinary means, that the materials under
treatment may be carried round several times to be reacted upon by the stones
until they arrive at the desired consistency. I find that all raw fibres are
extremely tender when under alkaline treatment, and therefore, in order to
bring them into the fibrous condition most suitable for the production of
strong paper, I prefer to substitute either of the foregoing arrangements for
the ordinary beating engine with its ribbed roller and bed plate.
I declare, that I do not confine or restrict myself to any of the quantities
or proportions herein-before mentioned, nor to the time stated for performing
any of the operations.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same may be performed, I declare that what I claim is,-
First, the combination with my "receiver" of the revolving hollow shaft
carrying agitators, brushes, or such like appliances acting and mounted thereon
in the manner described.
Second, the arrangement of tray, herein-before described, in which there are
two bottoms, the upper whereof, and also the periphery, or sides of the tray

page_text: are of wirework, or perforated, or reticulated material, there being a space
between the two bottoms in which is fitted a perforated steam pipe or coil, as
herein-before described.
Third, the employment of the combination of apparatus claimed in the first
claim, and the trays claimed in the second, for preparing materials for the
manufacture of paper, and other purposes in which materials have to be treated
with liquids, steam, and other fluids.
Fourth, the combination of processes for the manufacture of pulp herein-
before described under the first head of my Specification (that is to say) the
employment of the revolving agitators and the receiver, with its other appur-
tenances, during and for the treatment with alkaline liquid and superheated
steam or equivalent fluids, also during and for the washing, and also if
desirable during and for the bleaching operation, without having to remove the
materials to separate apparatuses, for the two latter purposes.
Fifth, I claim in respect of the triturating roller pulping apparatus described
under the second head of this Specification as a modification of that set forth
in my Patent No. 564, the grooving or fluting of the rollers in the manner and
for the purpose set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Hanham Collyer, have here-
unto set my hand and scal, this Twenty-eighth day of September, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty.
Witness,
M. HENRY,
Patent Agent,
84, Fleet Street, London.
ROB H. COLLYER. (L.S.)