Improvements in Machines for Dampening Paper.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Dampening Paper.
A communication by MARTIN JOHNSON, of 379, Greenbush Street, CHARLES W.
MILBRATII, of 791, National Avenue, FREDERICK J. HOLTZ, of 158, South
Bay Street, & HENRY MANEGOLD, of 2731, Highland Boulevard, all in
Milwaukee, in the State of Wisconsin, United States of America, Printers
and Lithographers.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, and 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in machines for dampening paper,
designed to be used in connection with printing machinery or with apparatus for
embossing paper.
The objects of this invention are
1st. To provide means for distributing the moisture uniformly in the paper;
2nd. To provide for expelling the surplus moisture without wrinkling the
paper.
In the following description, reference is had to the accompanying drawings
in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of this invention,
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same,
Figure 3 is a central longitudinal section view of this invention with the
supporting frame omitted,
Figure 4 is a detail top view of the lower scraping plate, for separating the
moist paper from the aprons.
Figure 5 is a detail side view of the means for adjusting the scraping plates,
the view given being drawn to show the adjusting device of the upper plate,
Figure 6 is a detail of the cord belt conveyor, showing the cords separated, and
indicating the path of the paper by dotted lines.
Like parts are identified by the same reference letters throughout the several
views.
Briefly stated, this invention includes among its principal features, a water
tank, and a cord belt conveyor for conveying the sheets of paper therethrough,
an apron conveyor for stretching the sheets, ensuring an adequate distribution
of the water therein, and preventing the paper from wrinkling, and a set of water
expelling rollers, actuating the aprons and co-operating with the latter in
expelling the water from the sheets without injury thereto."
Referring now to the drawings, 1 is a supporting frame, 2 a water tank,
removably supported in the frame by elbow hanger-arms 3, and 4 is a feed
platform upon which the sheets 5 are stored preparatory to their passage through

page_text: the machine. Supported by an arm 6 at each side of the machine, is a ✓ shaped,
roller supporting bracket 7, the lower angle of which extends into the water
tank as best shown in Figure 3. The rollers, 8, 9, 10, and 11, 12 and 13 of the
cord belt conveyor are journalled in these brackets, and are preferably provided
with annular grooves (not shown in the drawings) in which the belt cords 14
and 15 of the conveyor are engaged, thus keeping the cords properly spaced.
The cords 14 run over the rollers 8, 9, and 12, and under the rollers 10, and the
cords 15 run over the rollers 11 and 12 and under the rollers 10 and 13, as best
shown in Figure 6.
The rollers 16, 17, 18 and 19 of the apron conveyor are located in adjustable
bearings 20, as best shown in Figure 1, and the aprons 21 and 22 are composed
of rubber belting, preferably formed with a canvas surface, the upper apron 21
being shorter than the lower apron 22, leaving a portion of the upper surface of
the latter exposed to form a moving shelf upon which the wet sheets are dis-
charged from the cord belt conveyor. The rollers 16 and 18 are arranged and
adjusted to bear directly upon each other with sufficient force to expel the surplus
moisture from the sheets as hereinafter explained, and underneath the aprons a
drip pan 23 is provided to catch the expelled water. This may be supported from
the frame in any convenient manner.
In order to prevent the sheets from adhering to the apron after passing between
the water expelling rollers 16 and 18, elastic scraping plates are provided, prefer-
ably formed in sections 24, which are rigidly attached to rods 26 running
transversely of the machine frame, and supported near each end by brackets 27.
At each end the rods are formed with bent arms 28 through which an adjusting
screw 29 passes, which bears upon the frame, as best shown in Figure 5. The
scraping plates bear upon the aprons, and their pressure upon the same is regu-
lated by adjusting the screws 29 to rock the plate supporting rods 26. The
scraping plates are preferably curved, as shown, and the lower plate sections
provided with projecting tongues 30 which, by holding the paper up from the
plate, prevent it from adhering thereto.
35 is an inclined receiving platform upon which the paper is received when
discharged from the machine, and 36 is an adjustable stop for supporting the
sheets at their lower edges.
Motion is communicated from the source of power to the rollers 16 and 18, and
the aprons, through the belt 37, pulley 39, and gearing indicated at 44 in
Figure 2. Motion is also communicated to the cord belt conveyor from the shaft
of the roller 18, through the sprocket wheel 40, chain 41, wheel 42, roller 11 and
gearing connecting roller 11 with the roller 8, as indicated at 43 in Figure 2.
In operation, the paper is fed between the rollers 8 and 11 of the cord belt
conveyor, and carried by the cords under the surface of the water and then up
and discharged from between the rollers 9 and 12, upon the exposed surface of
the apron 22, and drawn between the aprons 21 and 22. The aprons run a little
faster than the cords, so as to stretch the sheets and take up the expansion, thus
preventing them from wrinkling, the first pull upon the sheets being exerted by
the exposed surface of the lower apron 22, upon which the sheet will yield
sufficiently to relieve the strain so that the paper will not be torn. The moisture
in the sheets is thoroughly distributed by the soaking received in the tank, and
the comparatively light pressure of the apron, and the surplus water is then
expelled by the pressure of the rollers 16 and 18, the sheets being in the mean-
time held stretched and in a flat position between the aprons, and thus prevented
from creasing or wrinkling, when subjected to the pressure of the rollers.
sheets discharged from between the rollers 16 and 18 drop upon the platform 35.
It is obvious that the machine may be used for dampening paper for any
purpose, whether the paper thus dampened is to be printed, embossed, or other-
wise treated. Where the dampened paper however is to be passed through an
embossing device, it will be readily understood that it will be advantageous to
arrange such embossing device directly on the dampening machine whereby the
The

page_text: paper may be embossed whilst in its damp condition without the handling which
would be necessary in feeding it subsequently into the embossing device or
machine.
For this purpose a bracket 33 is provided on the machine to receive the em-
bossing device which may be of any suitable or ordinary construction. In order
to illustrate this arrangement 31 and 32 show the embossing rollers in the
bracket: 34 is the adjustable bearing for the upper roller: and 44, 45, and 46
show the gearing for driving the said rollers from the shaft of the roller 18.
When the paper is to be embossed, the roller 31 is adjusted to bear upon the
roller 32, and the paper passed between them with the front or print side down.
The tank 2 must be frequently removed and cleaned. This is accomplished
by turning the elbow hangers until the arms which support the tank are removed
from beneath the same, the tank being meanwhile supported by hand. The
supporting elbow arms being withdrawn from beneath the tank, and latter is then
lowered and cleaned.
Dad i 09.1
POTA
1000
Improvements in Machines for Dampening Paper.
A communication by MARTIN JOHNSON, of 379, Greenbush Street, CHARLES W.
MILBRATH, of 791, National Avenue, FREDERICK J. HOLTZ, of 158, South
Bay Street, and HENRY MANEGOLD, of 2731, Highland Boulevard, all in
Milwaukee, in the State of Wisconsin, United States of America, Printers
& Lithographers.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, & 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster, 118, New Street, Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, and 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer,
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:
This invention relates to improvements in machines for dampening paper,
designed to be used in connection with printing machinery or with apparatus for
embossing paper.
The objects of this invention are
1st. To provide means for distributing the moisture uniformly in the paper;
2nd. To provide for expelling the surplus moisture without wrinkling the
paper, and
In the following description, reference is had to the drawings accompanying
the Provisional Specification, in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of this invention,
Figure 2 is a plan view of the same,
Figure 3 is a central longitudinal section view of this invention with the
supporting frame omitted,
Figure 4 is a detail top view of the lower scraping plate, for separating the
moist paper from the aprons,

page_text: Figure 5 is a detail view of the means for adjusting the scraping plates,
the view given being drawn to show the adjusting device of the upper plate,
Figure 6 is a detail of the cord belt conveyor, showing the cords separated, and
indicating the path of the paper by dotted lines.
Like parts are identified by the same reference letters throughout the several
views.
Briefly stated, this invention includes among its principal features, a water
tank, and a cord belt conveyor for conveying the sheets of paper therethrough,
an apron conveyor for stretching the sheets, ensuring an adequate distribution
of the water therein, and preventing the paper from wrinkling, and a set of water
expelling rollers, actuating the aprons and co-operating with the latter in
expelling the water from the sheets without injury thereto.
Referring now to the drawings, 1 is a supporting frame, 2 a water tank,
removably supported in the frame by elbow hanger-arms 3, and 4 is a feed
platform upon which the sheets 5 are stored preparatory to their passage through
the machine. Supported by an arm 6 at each side of the machine, is a V shaped
roller supporting bracket 7, the lower angle of which extends into the water
tank as best shown in Figure 3. The rollers 8, 9, 10 and 11, 12 and 13 of the
cord belt conveyor are journalled in these brackets, and are preferably provided
with annular grooves (not shown in the drawings) in which the belt cords 14
and 15 of the conveyor are engaged, thus keeping the cords properly spaced.
The cords 14 run over the rollers 8, 9 and 12, and under the rollers 10, and the
cords 15 run over the rollers 11 and 12 and under the rollers 10 and 13, as best
shown in Figure 6.
The rollers 16, 17, 18 and 19 of the apron conveyor are located in adjustable
bearings 20, as best shown in Figure 1, and the aprons 21 and 22 are composed
of rubber belting, preferably formed with a canvas surface, the upper apron 21
being shorter than the lower apron 22, leaving a portion of the upper surface of
the latter exposed to form a moving shelf upon which the wet sheets are dis-
charged from the cord belt conveyor. The rollers 16 and 18 are arranged and
adjusted to bear directly upon cach other with sufficient force to expel the surplus
moisture from the sheets as hereinafter explained, and underneath the aprons a
drip pan 23 is provided to catch the expelled water. This may be supported from
the frame in any convenient manner.
In order to prevent the sheets from adhering to the apron after passing between
the water expelling rollers 16 and 18, elastic scraping plates are provided, prefer-
ably formed in sections 24, which are rigidly attached to rods 26 running
transversely of the machine frame, and supported near each end by brackets 27.
At each end the rods are formed with bent arms 28 through which an adjusting
screw 29 passes, which bears upon the frame, as best shown in Figure 5. The
scraping plates bear upon the aprons, and their pressure upon the same is regu-
lated by adjusting the screws 29 to rock the plate supporting rods 26. The
scraping plates are preferably curved, as shown, and the lower plate sections
provided with projecting tongues 30 which, by holding the paper up from the
plate, prevent it from adhering thereto.
35 is an inclined receiving platform upon which the paper is received when
discharged from the machine, and 36 is an adjustable stop for supporting the
sheets at their lower edges.
Motion is communicated from the source of power to the rollers 16 and 18, and
the aprons, through the belt 37, pulley 39, and gearing indicated at 44 in
Figure 2. Motion is also communicated to the cord belt conveyor from the shaft
of the roller 18, through the sprocket wheel 40, chain 41, wheel 42, roller 11 and
gearing connecting roller 11 with the roller 8, as indicated at 43 in Figure 2.
In operation, the paper is fed between the rollers S and 11 of the cord belt
conveyor, and carried by the cords under the surface of the water and then up
and discharged from between the rollers 9 and 12, upon the exposed surface of
the apron 22, and drawn between the aprons 21 and 22. The aprons run a little

page_text: faster than the cords, so as to stretch the sheets and take up the expansion, thus
preventing them from wrinkling, the first pull upon the sheets being exerted by
the exposed surface of the lower apron 22, upon which the sheet will yield
sufficiently to relieve the strain so that the paper will not be torn. The moisture
in the sheets is thoroughly distributed by the soaking received in the tank, and
the comparatively light pressure of the apron, and the surplus water is then
expelled by the pressure of the rollers 16 and 18, the sheets being in the mean-
time held stretched and in a flat position between the aprons, and thus prevented
from creasing or wrinkling, when subjected to the pressure of the rollers. The
sheets discharged from between the rollers 16 and 18 drop upon the platform 35.
It is obvious that the machine may be used for dampening paper for any
purpose, whether the paper thus dampened is to be printed, embossed, or other-
wise treated. Where the dampened paper however is to be passed through an
embossing device, it will be readily understood that it will be advantageous to
arrange such embossing device directly on the dampening machine whereby the
paper may be embossed whilst in its damp condition without the handling which
would be necessary in feeding it subsequently into the embossing device or
machine.
For this purpose a bracket 33 is provided on the machine to receive the em-
bossing device which may be of any suitable or ordinary construction. In order
to illustrate this arrangement 31 and 32 show the embossing rollers in the
bracket: 34 is the adjustable bearing for the upper roller and 44, 45 and 46
sbow the gearing for driving the said rollers from the shaft of the roller 18.
When the paper is to be embossed, the roller 31 is adjusted to bear upon the
roller 32, and the paper passed between them with the front or print side down.
The tank 2 must be frequently removed and cleaned. This is accomplished
by turning the elbow hangers until the arms which support the tank are removed
from beneath the same, the tank being meanwhile supported by hand. The
supporting elbow arms being withdrawn from beneath the tank, the latter is then
lowered and cleaned.
While the apron conveyor has been shown and described as consisting of a pair
of aprons, superposed, one upon the other, yet my correspondents do not wish to
limit their claims to a construction which involves the use of more than one
apron, for the adhesion of the paper to the latter is sufficient to hold it and stretch
it. In showing and claiming the apron conveyor, therefore, they wish to be
understood as referring to a conveyor in which one or more aprons are employed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. The combination of a water tank, a conveyor for taking sheets of paper
through the water in the tank, an apron conveyor for holding the sheets smooth,
and means for expelling the surplus moisture.
2. The combination of a water tank, a cord conveyor depressed intermediate
of its ends in the water of the tank, and adapted to convey sheets of paper there-
through, and means for holding and stretching the sheets and expelling the
surplus water therefrom.
3. The combination of a water tank, a conveyor for taking sheets of paper
through the water in the tank, an apron conveyor for holding the sheets smooth,
and means for expelling the surplus moisture, and a platform for receiving the
moist sheets.
4. The combination of a water tank, a cord conveyor depressed near its centre
into said water tank, and adapted to convey sheets of paper into and through the
water therein, an apron conveyor adapted to receive the wet sheets discharged
from the cord conveyor, and means for expelling the surplus moisture from the
paper, while the same is supported and held by the apron conveyor, substantially
for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 5. The combination of a water tank, means for conveying sheets of paper into
and through the water in the tank, a conveyor apron adapted to receive the wet
sheets and to carry the same between it and a superposed apron of shorter length
and means for expelling the surplus moisture from the paper while interposed
between said aprons, substantially for the purpose set forth.
6. The combination of a water tank, a cord conveyor depressed near its centre
into said water tank and adapted to convey sheets of paper into and through the
water therein, an apron conveyor adapted to receive the wet sheets discharged
from the cord conveyor, a set of water expelling rollers adapted to expel the
surplus moisture from the sheets while the same are held by the conveying apron,
and adjustable scraping devices adapted to prevent the paper from adhering to
the aprons, substantially for the purpose set forth.
7. The combination with a paper dampening machine provided with an apron
conveyor, of a set of separable and removable embossing rollers, located at the
discharge end of said apron conveyor, between which the paper may be discharged
from the aprons, substantially for the purpose set forth.
8. In a paper dampening machine, the means for preventing the paper from
adhering to the conveyor aprons, comprising scraping plates bearing elastically
upon the aprons.