Improvements in the Manufacture of Vegetable Parchment.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 4th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 1st June, 1892-Accepted, 23rd July, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Vegetable Parchment.
I, JAMES ROBERTSON of Hythe End Paper Mills Staines Paper Mill Manager
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a method of and apparatus for converting paper into
vegetable parchment, in which it is passed through a series of baths containing
dilute sulphuric acid, water and glycerine.
In carrying out my invention, the paper, in the form of a roll, is supported above
the end of the first tank or bath, which has a partition dividing it into two parts,
the first one containing sulphuric acid diluted to the required strength, and the
second one water.
The parchment as it is unrolled, passes through the vitriol bath, then through
the water, passing between pressure rollers, after it emerges on the way to the
other baths. The next two or more tanks contain water, pressure rollers being
provided for each, as in the first water bath, for taking out all moisture possible,
after the paper has been drawn through. After all traces of acid have been thus
removed, the parchment is passed into the last bath, containing glycerine of the
required cousistency, thence over friction rollers to a series of drying cylinders, and
from the drying cylinders to the cutting machine to be cut in sheets of the size
required.
The pressure rollers are made of indiarubber or any other suitable material, and
can be adjusted either by springs, screws or levers to the required pressure. These
and the friction and drying rollers are driven by any suitable means at the required
speed, the material being thus drawn along in an easy manner without great strain
being placed on any part, reducing the chance of tearing or other injury. Guiding
rods are placed in and on the top of the tanks, extending across them, under and
over which the parchment passes. With this apparatus, as the operation requires
little attention and is carried on in a continuous and automatic manner, there is a
great saving in time and labour over the processes hitherto employed.
Dated thin 2nd day of W 1000
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Vegetable Parchment.
I, JAMES ROBERTSON, of Hythe End Paper Mills, Staines, Middlesex, Paper
Mill Manager, 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 an improved apparatus to be used in the manufacture
of vegetable parchment, in which the paper to be converted into parchment is
passed through a number of baths containing dilute sulphuric acid, water and
glycerine, and has for its object to provide an apparatus which will perform its
work in a continuous and automatic manner and which will need very little
attention.
In carrying out my invention, the paper is supported in the form of a roll, above
the end of the first tank or bath, which has a partition dividing it into two parts,
the first one containing sulphuric acid diluted to the required strength, and the
second one water. The paper as it is unrolled, passes through the vitriol bath,

page_text: then over glass rollers and scrapers and through the water, passing between pressure
rollers after it emerges on its way to the other baths. The paper then passes
through one or more baths containing water, pressure rollers being provided for
each, as in the first water bath, for taking out all moisture possible. After all
traces of acid 'have been 'thus removed the 'parchment is passed into the last bath
containing glycerine of the required consistency, thence to a roller on which it is
wound, being passed afterwards over a series of drying cylinders, to the cutting
machine to be cut into sheets of the required dimensions. Instead of being rolled
after passing from the glycerine bath, it may pass direct to the drying cylinders,
but the former method is preferred. The pressure rollers are of indiarubber or
other suitable material and may be covered with felt. They are adjusted by springs,
screws or levers to the required pressure and are driven at 'the same speed by means
of belts connecting them together. The roller upon which the parchment is wound,
after passing through the glycerine, is driven by means of friction gearing which
can be regulated to give the desired pull on the material and which will allow for
the increasing size of the roll as the sheet is wound on. Guiding rods are placed
in and on the top of the tanks, extending across, under and over which the'material
passes, and a number of pipes are arranged to throw a strong spray of water on the
paper as it passes over the rods and rolls. In order that the time during which
the material is submerged in the vitriol bath may be varied according to the 'speed
at which it is driven, the bath is divided into three sections, provided with rollers.
The paper may be passed through either one, two or three of these, which allows
for its dipping for the same length of time at the commencement as when the
operation is fairly started. The motion must be slow at first until the paper is
properly started, and thus it is only passed through one of the sections, as the speed
increases it is dipped in one or both of the others as well.
In order that my invention may be more fully understood, references may be had
to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation
and Fig. 2 a plan of my improved apparatus.
The tank A is divided into two compartments B and C by the partition D, the
compartment B containing dilute sulphuric acid and C water. E, E are standards
fixed to the corners of the tank and carrying the roll F of paper which is led
through the bath over the rods and scrapers Ginto the bath C. His 'the second
water bath into which the paper passes after it has been drawn through the first,
other similar baths being provided if required. Both the water tanks have 'posts
or standards I carrying pressure rolls J, the upper ones of which are regulated by
the spring K and screws L. M, M are transverse rods, one of which is placed in
each bath, and under which the paper passes. N, N are rods situated on the top
of the tanks under and over which the water pipes O are situated, the upper ones
having a series of holes directed downwards and the lower set similar series directed
upwards. Two similar pipes P are arranged at the sides of the first pressure rolls,
directing a spray of water on either side of the paper. Each set of pipes is con-
nected to a supply pipe Q at the side of the tank.
R, R are covers which can be easily removed and are designed to prevent the
water from the spray pipes splashing over the sides of the tanks. These covers
are not shown in Fig. 2 but are removed in order to more clearly show the pipes
and guiding rods. S is the last tank, containing glycerine, and 'provided with a
standard carrying a cylinder T on which the parchment is wound after it passes
through the bath. This cylinder is driven by the 'toothed wheels T₁ and T,
T' being fixed on the shaft U, driven by the pulley U₁ through the friction
gearing U regulated by the nut U³ and spring U. A cylinder V is placed on the
top of the roll T so that the parchment will be rolled more evenly and creasing
will be prevented. This cylinder merely rests on top of the roll against the side of
an extension V' on the standards so that it will be raised as the roll increases :în
size. These extensions are provided with recesses at top on which the cylinder V
is supported when the roll T is to be removed. The pressure rolls J are driven by
pulleys and belts, one set-being- driven by the other through the belt X, so 'that

page_text: both sets will travel at exactly the same speed. The paper is drawn through the-
baths by means of the roll T and pressure rolls J, thus distributing the pull equally
and preventing tearing or other accident. It passes through the vitriol bath B
under the rod M, then over the glass scrapers G which remove the superfluous acid
and through the water bath C, thence over the rods N, being thoroughly washed
on both sides by the spray from the pipes O. It then passes over the pressure
rolls J receiving a second washing from the pipes P, after which it passes into one
or more water baths H receiving a similar treatment, excepting that after the
last set of pressure rolls, there are no spray pipes, most of the moisture being
pressed out. The material lastly is drawn through the glycerine bath S passing to
the roll or to drying cylinders and thence to the cutting machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-.
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1) In an apparatus for the manufacture of vegetable parchment, the combination.
of a vitriol bath, one or more water baths, and a glycerine bath S, with pressure
rolls J, driven by suitable gearing and means for withdrawing the parchment from
the glycerine bath, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
(2) In an apparatus for the manufacture of vegetable parchment, the combination.
of a vitriol bath, one or more water baths, a glycerine bath, adjustable pressure-
rolls driven by suitable gearing, and guiding rods M and N for directing the.
material through and over the baths, substantially as described.
Dated this 30th day of May 1892.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.