Processes and Boxes for Packing Sensitized Material.
Year: 1899

page_text: Processes and Boxes for Packing Sensitized Material.
I, MATHEW JOSEPH STEFFENS, of 57, Twenty-Second Street, Chicago, Cook
County, Illinois, Photographer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to he particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to processes and boxes for packing sensitized material,
and is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a bottom
perspective view of my improved packing-box, the outer parts being clamped
and sealed together; Fig. a perspective view of the bottom portion of the box;
Fig. 3 a perspective view of the cover; Fig. 4 a perspective view of the contents
of the box removed therefrom; Fig. 5 a plan view of the box with the cover
removed, showing the contents in position; and Fig. 6 a transverse sectional
view on line 6 of Fig. 1.
In packing sensitized paper, plates, and similar material for use or shipment
according to the present practice there is no way of preventing the air and mois-
ture from coming into contact therewith, and consequently no way of preventing
the same from being injured and spoiled.
The object of my invention is to obviate this difficulty: and, stated generally,
the invention consists in practically excluding air and moisture from the boxes
or packages containing the sensitized material through the agency of heat, and
thereby permitting the packing and shipping of the same.
22
In making my improved packing-box I make one part A, which I call the
"bottom" or "lower" part, of suitable size, shape, and material, and another
part B, which I call the "top or cover" in form to fit over the same, its sides
and ends b extending down so that the bottom portion may be practically inclosed
therein. The lower edges of the top or cover are provided with lips or Hanges b¹,
preferably one at each side and end, in position to be turned inwardly, so as to
firmly and securely. clamp the box and cover together, as shown in Fig. 1.
As shown in the drawings, the contents of the box consist, essentially, of two
plates C, made of glass, fiber, hard rubber, or other suitable material, sensitized
paper, plates or other material D between the plates C, and a spring or springs E

page_text: between one of said plates and the bottom or cover of the box. The construction
and arrangement of these parts will be apparent from the drawings, particularly
Fig. 4 but of the springs it may be said that prefer to make them in the
form shown, so that their central portion will rest against one of the plates C
and their ends extend upwardly or downwardly, so as to come in contact with the
cover or bottom near the several corners thereof. This arrangement of the
springs prevents them from bulging or bursting out the top or bottom when the
parts are pressed and clamped together. As shown, two separate springs are used
crossing each other. diagonally, but these springs may be riveted or otherwise
fastened together, or different forms of springs may be used, as desired-as, for
instance, vertical coil-springs. If desired, springs may be used on each side of
the plates C, so as to come in contact with both the bottom and cover; but
generally a spring or springs on one side will be sufficient.
In putting in the contents I first put one of the plates C in the bottom portion
of the box and on this plate put the sensitized plates, paper, or other material,
which is preferably made of a slightly smaller size, as shown in Fig. 4, so as not
to come in contact with the sides of the box. The sensitized paper, plates and
material being thus put in, I put the second plate C thereon and place the springs
in position on this plate. I then put on the cover, the sides and ends of which
fit down over the bottom portion of the box as above described, and the cover
being forced down to the desired position I turn the lips or flanges inwardly
and down into contact with the bottom of the box, thus clamping all the parts
closely and firmly together, as shown in Fig. 1. The box and plates C should,
of course, be kept warm while the sensitized material is being put in, and when
everything is in place, as above described; the box should, of course, be sealed,
as at a, before cooling, so as to prevent the entrance of air. When it is desired
to take out the contents, the seal is destroyed and the lips or flanges unclamped,
after which all the parts may be readily separated or taken apart.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that my device differs in prin-
ciple from those employed in the hermetic packing of food compounds, in that
in the latter cases the air is excluded and the heat is employed to get rid of the
germs of fermentation, while in my case the air is excluded and heat is applied
for the purpose of getting rid of the moisture in or on the sensitized material,
which, as is well known, will, if present, soon destroy the same. I accomplish
this result by first applying a suitable pressure, which excludes most of said
moisture, and then heating the paper and plates, which expels the remaining
portion, and then by suitably sealing the box or package the contents are pre-
served for an indefinite time.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The process of preserving sensitized material, which consists in packing
the same, heating the package and sensitized material to exclude moisture and
hermetically sealing the same, substantially as described.
2. The process of preserving sensitized material, which consists in packing
the same, subjecting the sensitized material to pressure, heating the package and
sensitized material and hermetically sealing the same, whereby substantially all
moisture is prevented from entering said package, substantially as described.
3. A package containing sensitized material and consisting of plates for hold-
ing said material, means for excluding moisture and for holding the same under
pressure and for hermetically sealing said package, whereby substantially all
moisture is prevented from re-entering the same, substantially as described.
4. A packing-box comprising a body portion, a covering portion fitting over
the body portion and having lips or flanges turned inwardly thereon and securely
clamping and holding the two portions together, two plates inside the box
one at each side of the sensitized material, and a spring or springs for compress-

page_text: ing said material, and means for excluding moisture and preventing the re-
entrance of the same into the box, substantially as described.
5. In a packing-box, the combination of two plates, one at the bottom and one
at the top of the box, sensitized material between the plates of a size slightly
smaller than the same, and a spring or springs for compressing the same and
means for excluding moisture by heating and preventing the re-entrance of the
same into the box, substantially as described.
6. In a package for holding sensitized material, the combination of a top and
bottom portion, two plates formed of glass or similar material arranged in the
package, one at the top and one near the bottom thereof, sensitized material
between the plates of a size slightly smaller than the plates, and a spring or
springs inside the package and between one of the plates and the top or bottom
portion, and means for heating and sealing the package, whereby moisture is
expelled and prevented from re-entering the same, substantially as described.
7. In a package for holding sensitized material, the combination of two plates
formed of glass or similar material arranged one at the top and one at the bottom
thereof, sensitized material between the plates of a size slightly smaller than the
plates, and means for heating and holding the plates with the interposed material
under pressure and sealing the package, whereby moisture is expelled and
excluded from the same, substantially as described.
1007
MATHEW JOSEPH STEFFENS.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.