SUNDRY IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ART OF MAKING PAPER
Year: 1805

page_text: BRAMAH, of Pimlico, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, send greeting.
⚫ WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-fifth day of
April, in the forty-fifth year of His reign, give and grant unto me, the said
Joseph Bramah, my executors, administrators, and assigns, His especial
licence, that I, the said Joseph Bramah, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should and lawfully might, during the term of years therein men-
tioned, make, use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town
of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "SUNDRY IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
ART OF MAKING PAPER;" in which said Letters Patent there is contained a
proviso, obliging me, the said Joseph Bramah, by an instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, to cause a. particular description of the nature of
my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within three calendar
months after the date of the said recited Letters Patent, as in and by the
same, relation being thereunto had, may more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
Joseph Bramah, do hereby declare that my said Invention is described and
ascertained in manner following (that is to say) :-
First, I perform the office of the moulder of the sheets by machinery, which
may be conducted by persons not possessing the skill of those competent to
perform this operation in the usual way, and by which means the following

page_text: points will be ascertained, and on which I rest the merits and novelty of
this part of my Invention, which I call the first class of my said improvements,
viz. By this method or application of machinery, sheets of much larger
dimensions can easily be made, much more equal in their weight and thick-
ness, and with greater expedition than can possibly be done by hand in the
usual way. To perform this, I cause the dimensions of the vat in which the
stuff is usually put for moulding, to be made in length and width exactly that
I intend the sheet shall be, and. its depth. may be of any measure not less
than eighteen or twenty inches. This vat or cistern I call a regulating
reservoir, and in which there is a frame or rim of wood made to slide up and
down at pleasure by means of any kind of apparatus by which it may be
lifted up and depressed at pleasure, with its upper surface perfectly level in all
directions, by means of an axis working through a stuffing box, or otherwise,
in the end or side of the said reservoir, so that the frame may be lowered or
lifted up by a handle or winch externally applied, and the motion of the frame
being so limited, that when up at its highest extremity its upper surface may
be exactly on a level with the brim or upper edge of one side of the reservoir,
which side must be made a little lower than the other three, and when the.
said frame or rim is depressed to its lowest extremity, it is a few inches below
the same side or brim on which it was when up upon a level. The paper
mould is also nicely fitted to the inside of the reservoir on all sides, and is
rested or laid upon this frame or sliding rim so that it may be lifted up or
depressed in a perfect horizontal position when the frame is lowered or raised
for that purpose, so that the mould and the frame may always uniformly move.
together, whether up or down. On some part of the side or end of the said
reservoir, near or at the bottom thereof, is cut an aperture of tolerable large.
dimensions, through which the water with which the reservoir is filled when
in use can quickly discharge itself. This aperture is cased or covered over
with a hollow wooden trunk on the outside, and is fitted to the external side of
the cistern with a water-tight junction, and continued up about one quarter or
half an inch above the surface of the paper mould within the reservoir, when
said mould is depressed to its lowest station. At this line of altitude, the top
of this external trunk or waste pipe is cut horizontally, or has a vertical hole
made in its side, the lowest extremity of which must cut the same line as above,
so that the interna! water may always be gauged by this discharge exactly to
the same level in either case that may occassionally be adopted to accomodate
local circumstances. This mouth or opening in the trunk is covered or closed
by a lid or valve which opens when the mould within the reservoir is raised,
and shuts again as it descends by the action of the same machinery. This

page_text: being thus equipped, there is another cistern placed on one side of the
reservoir already described, of any shape or dimensions that may be best
adapted to the situation, and having its bottom on or near on a level with the
brim or upper surface of the former one, which I have called the regulating
This upper
reservoir, so that the upper one may empty into the lower one.
cistern I call the feeder or stuff cistern, and in which there is fixed what is
called the hog, or a small agitator, which is constantly moving in the usual
way to prevent the subsiding or unequal mixing of the pulp and water.
Between this feeder and the regulating reservoir there is a communication
by a trunk or spout, nearly or as wide as the side of the reservoir at the side
or end where it forms a junction with it, above the surface of the mould when
at its lowest station in the reservoir. The mouth of this trunk or spout is
opened or shut alternately by a slider or other means, forming as it were
when shut, a part of the side where the mould slides as the mould rises up,
and is opened again alternately as the mould descends. The whole being
thus organized and ready for action, the regulating reservoir is filled with
water till it discharges at the mouth of the external waste or trunk, above
described, and then the mould being at its lowest station has the wire surface
immersed, as before stated, about one quarter or half an inch below the level
of the surface of the water, and the valve or lid which covers the mouth or
aperture of the said waste or trunk being then shut, prevents the escape
of the water from the interior of the reservoir, and while the machine is in
this situation. the sluice which opens the communication between the feeder
above the mould, is then lifted up, and admits the stuff (the proper temper
and consistency of which has been previously adjusted) from the feeding cistern
to flow upon the surface of the mould to any limited guage or quantity
required for the sheet, and when this quantity has flowed, which is instantly
done, the sluice is quickly shut, and then by the motion of the apparatus
which lifts and lowers the frame and mould, is either more or less gradually
raised, as experience may suggest, up to its highest altitude, and by opening
the valve or lid of the waste trunk at the instant the mould begins to rise,
all the water is instantly discharged from above the mould by passing through
the wire into the lower part, and is carried off to the former level of the
waste, and is thus prepared for a second depression of the mould, or rather
another mould, because the loaded one when raised up to its highest station
is made to push away on slides to meet the coucher's hand, who furnishes at
the same time the alternate mould; and when the mould is again depressed,
the valve or lid on the waste being shut, the machine is fitted for a second
charge, and thus the process is continued with the utmost certainty and ease.
.

page_text: My second improvement consists in an Invention for making paper in
endless sheets of any length and width whatever by a circulating process, and
which is performed as follows, viz,-I take a wheel or circular frame com-
posed of three or more rings of thin wood or metal, and of a diameter best
suited to the use, say three feet or upwards, and of a width suited to the
paper pieces I mean to make. This wheel is mounted on a horizontal axis
just like a water wheel, with a shield on each side of the upper extremity of
its periphery, so made to fit the edges of the two extreme rings in a segment
form nearly water-tight, as to prevent the lateral discharge of the fluid passing
over the wheel. These rings are joined together and held at their stationary
distance by means of a number of transverse thin bars or ribs just the same
as those applied to strengthen a common paper mould, and when this is done
all the face of this wheel, whatever may be its diameter or width, is covered
or worked with wire either of the wove or laid kind, so as to form a complete
circular mould similar to what a common one would represent, provided
it could be bent into a circle with both its ends to form an imperceptible
junction. When thus equipped and stationed on a frame, as before stated,
like a water wheel, and capable of being turned on its axis by hand or
otherwise, a feeding cistern prepared with stuff, as in the former instance,
is stationed above the wheel so as to represent the reservoir which turns
a mill, and with a sluice or regulator by which the stuff in any required
quantity can be let upon the wheel as the wheel is turning on its axis,
either by machinery or otherwise. By this means the stuff is thrown
upon the wheel or circular mould at discretion, and while the water is
uniformly carried off by falling through the wire the pulp is left upon the
wheel, as in the instance of the common mould, and by this means a con-
stant and an endless process may be kept up to any extent. This I call an
universal revolving paper mould; and, in addition to which, I have fixed, a
little above or below the horizontal center line of the wheel, and opposite to
the feeding point, a roller covered with felt, which roller is fixed in contact
with the wheel by means of two springs upon the axis of the former, which
regulates and renders uniform and gentle the contact of their peripheries as
they are both turning each other round, and it matters little to which of the
axises the primum mobile is applied. This I call the couching roller, because
it takes the paper from the mould as they reciprocally turn. There are
likewise two other rollers, also covered with felt or woollen cloth, which are
placed in firmer contact with each other, and between which the sheet is
conducted from the couching roller. These represent the action of a callender,
and I call them squeezing rollers; and after the paper has passed through or

page_text: between them I station other sets, if I find it necessary, either covered with
felt, or otherwise, so that the sheet so passing between them may be made as
dry as possible. After the paper has thus had the water squeezed out, it is
then to be conducted over heated plates, charcoal or other fires, or passed
between the rollers of heated calenders, so that when the paper leaves the
machine it may be in a state fit for use. By this means a constant supply of
prepared suff, and a continuance of the machine's action without intermission,
will produce an uniform supply of finished paper proportioned to its speed,
which speed nothing but practice and attention to necessary circumstances can
determine.
My third improvement consists in my having removed the necessity of
employing such a considerable number of presses for the dry work, which is
unavoidable in works of even but a tolerable extent, owing to the length of
time the paper is obliged to continue in them in a compressed state, and on
which account a larger capital is necessary, as well as capacious buildings for
the reception of such presses, both of which objections are removed by my
new-invented plan, as I make one press only competent to supply the offices of
almost any greater number on the common plan, and this I produce by the
following means; viz', I construct a press, en my patent hydro-mechanical
principle, of sufficient power, capacity, and strength, to receive the largest
sheets I intend to make, and also competent to withstand the greatest exertion
the preparations of each class of paper may require from the press. This
press, when so completed, I station in or about the middle of the room or
building where the dry press work in a paper mill is performed in such way
that when the follower or moving bed of the press is lowered to the extent of
its slackening station, the upper surface of it shall be exactly on a level with
the floor line of the room or warehouse where the press is fixed. I then
prepare and fix on the floor on each side of the press, to some distance each
way, extending in a straight line, a railroad of wood or metal, similar in its
principle and office to other railroads used in other works, so that by means of
this carriage or planks moving on wheels or castors may be wheeled into the
press on one side, and passed through it to the opposite, when the process of
pressing is compleated. When this press is thus equipped for work I prepare
a greater or less number of another kind of apparatus, which I call retainers,
at least as many in number as will equal the number of presses cach respective
manufactory would require on the usual principle. These retainers consist of
a top and bottom bed, composed of wood or metal of sufficient strength to
resist the reaction of the paper when the press is slackened from its severest

page_text: squeeze, and to retain it in its most dense or greatest compressed state for any
required required length of time after the grasp of the press has been finally with-
drawn. These planks or beds are of a length so as to easily pass between the up-
right jambs or sides which composes the presses' frame. There are also united
to each other by four iron bars similar to those which compose the frames or
jambs of the actual press. These bars pass through the lower plank or bed,
and are fastened with plates and keys or rivetted heads, so as to present no
projection or prominent heads on the under side. These said bars are of a
length something less than the altitude of the press between the upper and
under bed when the follower is level with the floor, so that the whole machine,
with all its load; will pass through the press when sliding or wheeling on the
railroad before described, and which guides it in and out of the press. These
four bars, already said to be fastened into the lower plank, pass through the
upper one in four mortises, so that the upper bed can be raised or depressed
to accommodate a greater or less quantity of paper with which the retainer
may be charged, and also to allow the said head to slide or approach nearer
to the bottom one as the power of the press gradually causes the paper to
occupy less space. These bars are also prepared with each a series of holes
or mortises as near to one another as they can well be made, for the purpose
of receiving keys or wedges above the upper bed to cause the same to maintain
its station in defiance of the efforts of the paper to regain its original space
when the power of the press is finally withdrawn, and to accommodate the
altitude of a pack of paper, be it more or less.
When this retainer is charged
with paper on one side of the press, it is by means of wheels or castors that
are affixed to the under surface of the lower bed or bottom of the retainer,
and running on the railway, wheeled into its station upon the follower of the
actual press; and when the retainer has reached its station there is cut in the
follower, for the reception of those parts of the castors that are prominent to
the lower surface of the plank, small segment grooves and notches, into which
these castors fall, in order that the bottom of the retainer may come in actual
contact with the follower, and not then rest upon the wheels. The head of
the press is also made as much narrower as to admit the four bars which
compose the sides or jambs of each retainer to pass it on each side, during the
upward motion of the press, as the paper is compressed; or, in other cases,
four holes are made through the head or upper bed of the press itself. By
these retainers the paper may be kept in a compresed state for any length of
time without interfering with the process of the press, as each bale of paper is
removed the very instant the press has done its duty, and by repassing each

page_text: retainer back again through the press the squeeze may be repeated at dis-
cretion with little trouble.
My fourth and last improvement consists in having so contrived the drying
house of a paper mill as to render the raising and taking down those pon-
derous and cumbersome frames on which the paper is hung unnecessary, and
by which improvement I not only enable paper makers of every description to
employ women or children to do the duty of the drying house instead of men,
but also add considerable facility to the process of hanging and rehanging the
sheets intended to be exposed to dry. By this means paper makers will be
less dependent on men of unruly behaviour and heavy salaries, the and
young
more feeble branches of society will get employment, and considerable savings
in the cost will of course be made. In order to produce these good effects I
pursue the following plan, viz', instead of using those cumbersome and unwieldy
apparatus above alluded to, and which I think are denominated tribbles, for the
purpose of preparing lines at various heights to hang the paper on, and which
are of necessity obliged to be taken down, as well as elevated horizontally,
every time they are put in use, I prepare a proper number of frames made
of wood, of light scantling, mounted with lines, rails, or wires in a manner so
as to represent so many frames or clothes-horses, similar to those used by any
cominon laundress, but of a length proportioned to the dimensions of the drying
house, which may be divided into two or more rows, so as to leave room and
proper isles or passages for the convenience of the operators to hang and rehang
the sheets; and the height of the said frames may be equal, or nearly equal, to
I then station them
one half the height of the story in which they are fixed.
at proper distances from each other by means of upright posts with grooves
fitted to the frames, so that each may be slided vertically up and down by
means of lines and pullies affixed to cach, just like sash windows that are
double hung, so that while one of the frames is sliding up to touch the ceiling
of the building with its upper edge, the alternate one may be depressed till its
lower edge, or the paper which hangs upon it, may come nearly in contact
with the floor. These being thus stationed, and governed by lines and balance
weights, as I said before, just like sashes double-hung, cach can be succes-
sively depressed for the convenience of putting the paper on and off within
the reach or nearly so of a person's hand while standing on the floor; and by
this convenient means even children can work them as well as men, and begin-
ning at one extremity of the room may strip or cover every frame with ease,
and as each frame is charged by sliding them alternately in contrary directions,
or one up and the other down, the whole house may be filled to a much

page_text: greater amount of paper in the same space than can be done in the usual
manner.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Bramah, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and five.
A. LUTHAM.
JUSEPH BRAMAH. (L.S.)
AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the same Twenty-fifth day of July,
in the year above mentioned, the aforesaid Joseph Bramah came before our
Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification afore-
said, and all and every thing therein contained, in form above written. And
also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the tenor of the
Statute in that case made and provided.
Inrolled the same Twenty-fifth day of July, in the year above written.