IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PULP FROM VEGETABLE FIBRES FOR MAKING PAPER AND OTHER MATERIALS
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of, "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PULP FROM
VEGETABLE FIBRES FOR MAKING PAPER AND OTHER MATERIALS."-A com-
munication from abroad by George Swift, of San Francisco,
California, United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 8th April 1872.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
PULP FROM VEGETABLE FIBRES FOR MAKING PAPER AND OTHER MATERIALS," a com-
munication, to be as follows:-
The said Invention relates to the treatment of a vegetable fibrous
material or capillary bush straw or tule known as the " Scirpus

page_text: Lacustris" a large portion of which is pith, and I reduce the same to a
pulp for the manufacture of paper or for other like purposes.
This material grows in great abundance in the swamp lands in the
State of California in Mexico, and on the Mississippi bottoms, in heights
of from two feet to ten or twelve feet. There are two kinds, from one of
which a paper with an exceedingly fine smooth or embossed surface may
be obtained. The other kind furnishes a stronger material for the
coarser grades of paper than any material yet known.
Both kinds are composed of an outer fibre and an inner pulp or pith.
In order to utilize this material for the manufacture of paper, it is first
cut into suitable lengths and then placed in a grinding mill supplied
continuously with water. By the action of this mill the fibres are
reduced to a pulpy condition. They are then boiled in an alkaline
solution, such as caustic soda dissolved in water, or are subjected to
steam to completely separate the fibres from the refuse portions of the 1
plant. When this process has been continued for a sufficient time, the
said fibres are washed in pure water, and are then steeped in a solution
of chloride of lime, or subjected to the action of chlorine gas to bleach
them. The result of this treatment will be a pulp or half stuff much
whiter and finer than can be produced from straw or other fibres. hitherto 2
used in the manufacture of paper pulp; it may be manufactured into
paper by the ordinary processes, and will produce paper of the finest
qualities, or grades. Or by omitting the treatment by chloride of lime or
other bleaching material, a very strong material may be obtained
suitable for packing and similar purposes.
2
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 7th October 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent Agents, 3
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the

page_text: thirty-fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Robert Lake, Her special
licence that I, the said William Robert Lake, my executors, administra-
tors, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Robert Lake, my,
exccutors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time 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 THE MANUFACTURE OF PULP FROM VEGETABLE FIBRES FOR MAKING PAPER AMD
OTHER MATERIALS," a communication to me from abroad by George
Swift, of San Fransisco, California, United States of America, upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Robert Lake,
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 performed, and cause the same to be filed in the
Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
·
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, 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:-
The said Invention relates to the treatment of a vegetable fibrous
material or capillary, rush, straw, or "tule," known as the "Scirpus
Lacustris," a large portion of which is pith, and I reduce the same to a
pulp for the manufacture of paper or for other like purposes.
This material grows in great abundance in the swamp lands in the
State of California in Mexico, and on the Mississippi bottoms, in heights
of from two feet to ten or twelve feet. There are two kinds, from one of
which a paper with an exceedingly fine, smooth, or embossed surface
may be obtained. The other kind furnishes a stronger material for the
coarser grades of paper than any material yet known.
Both kinds are composed of an outer fibre and an inner pulp or pith.
In order to utilize this material for the manufacture of paper, it is
treated by any of the processes employed for the production of pulp from
wood or straw, but I prefer to proceed as follows:-I first cut it into

page_text: suitable lengths and then place it in a grinding mill supplied con-
tinuously with paper. By the action of this mill the fibres are
reduced to a pulpy condition. They are then boiled in an alkaline
solution, such as caustic soda dissolved in water; or are subjected to
steam to completely separate the fibres from the refuse portions of the
plant. When this process has been continued for a sufficient time, the
said fibres are washed in pure water, and are then steeped in a solution
of chloride of lime, or subjected to the action of chlorine gas to bleach
them. The result of this treatment will be a pulp or half-stuff much
whiter and finer than can be produced from straw or other fibres hitherto
used in the manufacture of paper pulp; it may be manufactured into
paper of the finest qualities or grades. Or by omitting the treatment by
chloride of lime or other bleaching material, a very strong material may
be obtained suitable for packing and similar purposes. Or the fibres may
be torn to shreds by a mill provided with sharp knives or teeth. They
are then soaked in hot or cold water until the sap or glutinous matter
rises to the surface, while the pulp settles to the bottom. Then the mass
is agitated and the finer portions are carried through a sluice to any
suitable receptacle; they may then be manufactured into paper by the
usual process.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim,-the production of pulp from
the capillary, rush, straw, or tule, as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Seventh day of October, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two
Witness,
F. MILLION.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)