Improvements in the Manufacture of Fabrics from Paper Pulp.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 9th Jan., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Fabrics from Paper Pulp.
I, CHARLES BRODBECK of 12, Rue Bleue, Paris, Merchant, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
it
Attempts have been made to replace certain fabrics by sulphite cellulose paper
made of wood pulp, but for certain applications, chiefly for clothing purposes
presents the great disadvantage of forming an almost air tight covering and thus
preventing the free respiration of the pores of the skin permitted by fabrics now
in use.
Notwithstanding the advantages of paper pulp compressed in thin sheets, this
lack of porosity diminishes its practical adaptability for wearing apparel, since
acting like an indiarubber coating, in retaining the gases and vapours of the skin,
it is unhealthy and becomes intolerable, owing to the excessive heat.
In order to render cutaneous exhalation possible through sheets of sulphite
cellulose in the same manner as takes place through the meshes of a fabric we
produce in the paper pulp sheets, punctures or perforations small and close together
resembling the interstices existing in all fabrics between the crossing of threads
disposing in the same width as the paper shect. one or several rows of fine points
or needles all of the same size placed close together at regular intervals and by
pressing this row or rows of needles at regular distances through the paper pulp
sheet, placed under tension in front of needles.
These perforations are of the size of sewing needles and do not deteriorate in
any way the solidity of goods made of cellulose pulp, as the passage of the needles
only pushes the fibres aside, without cutting them, as would be the case if stamped
out in holes, and in allowing free exhalation of the skin form a sort of air cushion
owing to the accumulation of air in the numerous small openings. Being a bad
conductor of heat they keep the body warm and protect it against the influence of
variations of the exterior temperature, and keep it warm in winter and cool in
summer.
For interlinings for garments these somewhat thicker sheets of sulphite cellulose
have at the interior a layer of less compact fibres than those on both surfaces,
which are compressed by the rollers.
Thus the air retained in the small perforated holes spreads through their sections
into the interior of the sheet forming an uninterrupted air-layer, which is most
favourable to health in all climates.
In making use of a certain number of rows of points or needles, but in replacing
at certain places the uniform fine needles by thicker ones or having a different
shape the latter produce bigger and more visible punctures. In distributing this
bigger needles so that they form a given designs or letters, we obtain perforated
designs trademarks or inscriptions having the advantage of rendering the control
easy and avoiding imitations.
For certain purposes and certain industrial processes these sheets of sulphite
paper have not sufficient strength and especially at the edges they easily tear like
paper.
To avoid that we incorporate in the pulp of cellulose either directly during its
transformation into sheets, or by interposition between two sheets a netting of fine

page_text: thread or bobbinet or guipure or other similar open work fabric of cotton, linen,
hemp, ramie, or similar fibre, which will prevent the sheets being deformel or torn
even under a strong pull.
This netting lining will render the sheets much more resisting, and will permit
their use for many purposes for which they hitherto could not have been used, and
that without any appreciable increase in weight or price.
To reduce the thickness of the threads and knots of the netting, where desirable,
they can be crushed between rollers.
In order to give these sheets with or without netting etc. a soft, smooth elastic
fabric like finish and a silky lustre at the same time, the sheets of cellulose are
submitted to an appropriate hammering or beetling in dry state or preferably
slightly moistened with pure water or water vapour or with a slight addition of
appropriate finishing ingredients and subsequent calandering.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is.
(1.) Sheets of sulphite cellulose finely perforated by puncture with points or
needles, to serve as a substitute for fabrics, in order to allow the free passage of
air through the cellulose and their use in making up garments.
(2.) In sheets prepared as described in Claim 1, a disposition of the points,
changing or varying at certain places their form or size, in order to form
inscriptions, or designs, by perforation through puncture.
(3.) Incorporation with or without perforation ou, within or between the sheets
of cellulose of nettings bobbinet, or guipure, or other similar open work fabric in
fibres of all sorts, and in order to give solidity and make them untearable.
(4.) Softening and giving tissue-like elasticity and a silky lustre to the sheets of
paper pulp with or without embedded nettings, by appropriate hammering or
beetling in dry state or preferably slightly moistened by pure water or vapour or
with an addition of small proportion of appropriate finishing ingredients, and
subsequent calandering.
Dated this 9th day of December 1895
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.