CERTAIN IM- PROVEMENTS IN THE MOULDS, MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MAKING PAPER
Year: 1828

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
PALMER, of Globe Road, Mile End, in the County of Middlesex, Paper
Maker, send greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King George the Fourth,
did, by His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing
date at Westminster, the Sixth day of May, One thousand eight hundred and
twenty-eight, in the ninth year of His reign, give and grant unto me, the
said James Palmer, His especial licence, that I, the said James Palmer, my
exors, admiors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said James Palmer, my
exors, adñiors, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from
time to time, and at all times during the term of years therein mentioned,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England,
Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "CERTAIN IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MOULDS, MACHINERY OR APPARATUS FOR MAKING PAPER;"
in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso that I, the said
James Palmer, shall 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 six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in
and by the same, reference being thereunto had, may more fully and at large
appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
James Palmer, do hereby describe the manner in which my said Invention
is to be performed by the following description thereof, (reference being had

page_text: ing the manufacture of paper by pressing out part of the water before the
pulp passes under the wet press cylinders.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
No. 1 I use straight wires, or pieces of brass, copper, or other metal,
commonly covered with tin. I next bind them with two small wires, as is
practised in making laid moulds, and at such distance as the kind of paper
they are intended to be used for requires, from five to twenty-five or thirty
wires in an inch. Having formed a piece of wirework the length and breadth
required for the outside of the roll intended to be made, I use a mandril the
size of the inside of the roll; I then take wire, or pieces of brass, copper, or
other metal commonly flatted, and either covered with tin or not, and bind
them round the mandril in a spiral form at about an inch apart, or I bind
them round in rings at about the same distance, and fasten the ends
together by brazing or soldering, which spirals or rings are intended to form
the ribs or support of the roll. I next bind the wirework round the mandril,
having the spiral or other wire upon it. I then proceed to braze or solder
those parts together where they cross each other; afterwards the seams are
taken out, and the ends and spindles put in, as shewed in the annexed Drawing
where a, a, a, shew the straight lines which form the outside of the roll;
B, B, B, the pieces of wire or metal inside to form the ribs or supports, either
in a spiral form, or in straight rings joined at the ends; c, c, the spindles or
gudgeons to support it. Wire roll, No. 2: I use a mandril of wood or iron the
size of the inside of the roll intended to be made. I next lay straight pieces of
metal, round or square, or flatted wire of brass, copper, or other metal, and
mostly tinned. These pieces are laid from end to end of the mandril, and at
about an inch apart all round it. I next wind a wire of brass, copper, or other
metal, most commonly tinned, in a spiral form round the mandril, having the
straight wires upon it, and to such length as the roll is intended to be made,
and at such a distance as is required for the paper it is intended to be used for.
For fine paper about twenty-five in each inch, and for course about twelve to
eighteen in each inch. I then solder or braze the spiral wires which form the
outside to the straight wires first put on the mandril. When taken off, the ends
are put in with the gudgeons, as shewn in the Drawing, No. 2. a, a, a, represent
the straight pieces of metal to form the inside of the roll; B, B, B, the spiral

page_text: wires to form the outside or covering; c, c, the spindles or gudgeons. Wire
roll No. 3: I use a mandril and place straight wires or pieces of metal
lengthways of it, as described in No. 2. I next take wires of copper, brass,
or other metal, commonly tinned and straightened, and cut off in lengths as
will exactly measure round the mandrel with the ribs previously fixed upon it.
These straight wires I bind with two sewing wires, at about an inch apart, as
is practised in making laid moulds; and when a sufficient length is formed
for the intended roll, I bend the whole from end to end round the mandril,
and the ends of the wires all meet in a straight line upon one of the straight
pieces of metal, first put on the mandril; I next proceed to solder or braze the
whole together, and when finished the mandril is taken out as before. See the
annexed Drawing, No. 3, where a, a, a, represent the straight pieces of metal"
or flatted wire to form the inside of the roll; B, B, B, the wires to form the
outside or covering; C, C, the ends of the wires, all meeting upon one of the
ribs; D, D, the gudgeons. When the rolls are intended to be covered with
wove wire, I make them in any of the ways described No. 1, 2, or 3. I next
close a sheet of wove wire, of brass, or copper, to fit the roll exactly. I then
put in the ends, commonly of brass, and open to admit them being cleaned
more easily, and a slender ring of brass or other metal to confine the ends of
the wove wire. When more strength is required for the rolls, I use a tube of
copper or other metal, and braze or solder the wires, either from end to end, or
round it in a spiral or other form, as described before. I sometimes continue
the gudgeons of the rolls quite through, and fit a piece of thin brass or copper
around it of the diameter of the inside of the roll, but so as freely to slide
from end to end to assist in cleaning it. The mandril I use for making the
rolls upon is made of five pieces, as described in the Drawing, where a is a
wedge from end to end; B, B, B, B, four pieces which form the outside.
To make paper machine wire of a more 'durable texture than heretofore:
No. 1: I use pieces of brass, copper, or other metal, about one fortieth part of
an inch thick, about one eighth of an inch broad, and about half an inch long,
either covered with tin or not. These are pierced with two or more holes in
them, but always one hole at each end, and those as near the end so as not to
endanger the hole breaking out. Those holes are to admit a wire to pass
through, and to connect one course with another. Having provided a number
of picces all of the same size, being pierced from sheets of brass or other
metal by a fly press, and the holes afterwards pierced by the same engine so as
all exactly correspond, I then proceed to put as many on a straight wire as are
requisite to form the width of the machine wire intended to be made. One

page_text: course of these links or pieces being put on a straight wire, I then introduce
the ends of other pieces with holes pierced to correspond with the first course;
and as I proceed putting them in, a wire is passed through the holes
previously prepared, and by this means the two courses of links are con-
nected together and joints formed, which adapt themselves to the cylinders and
rolls, over and under which they pass when at work upon the machine. I con-
tinue to join one course of links to another until a sufficient quantity are joined
together to form the length and width of the intended wire, which done, tho
two ends are joined together in the same manner. The quantity of these links
or pieces are varied according to the quality of the paper to be made upon
them. If for fine paper about twenty-five in each inch, if for course paper
about eighteen. Having completed the size of the wire, I either put wires
through the other holes in the links or not. The annexed Drawing represents
the various parts. a, a, represents pieces or links; b, b, b, three holes pierced
in them; c, c, seven links together; D, D, the wires which connect the links
together from edge to edge of machine; c, e, a part of the work when
complete. To make the links or pieces of metal lay in straight lines, as seen
in laid paper, without seams, I reduce each end of the link or piece exactly
one half of the thickness, as far as they pass each other, to form the joining,
and to admit the straight wire passing through, and to keep them in their
proper places and at an equal distance from each other; I use collars of wire
of such thickness as the distance requires.
No. 2 machine wire is made as follows:-I use wire of brass, or copper, or
other metal, either round or square, or other shape, sometimes covered with
tin, the more readily to assist the joining. I next wind the wire round a
piece of flatted steel the size of the inside of the links, to be made in a spiral
form. I then pass them under a fly press, furnished with a sharp cutter, and
cut through all the wires until the cutter meets the picce of steel; all the folds
then readily come off and are formed into links, but not joined at the ends. They
are next placed on a level bench, and as many put on a straight wire as are
requisite to form the width of the machine wire to be made. Again, another
course of links have their ends entered between these as to admit a straight
wire to be passed through to connect the two courses together, and which is
to form a joint from one edge of the machine to the other. Thus, course after
course is continued, till the required length of a machine wire is completed;
and the process of joining the ends of the links is either by soldering or
brazing the two ends of each link separately, or having a wire passed through
all the links, exactly under that part of the link which is to be joined; they

page_text: are then soldered or brazed, and the work finished. The distance of the links
is proportioned according to the quality of the paper intended to be made off
them.
No. 3 machine wire is made as follows:-I use wire of copper, brass, or other
metal, either round or square, or other form, covered with tin or not. I next
wind it upon a flat spindle of the size of the inside of the links, to be formed
in a spiral form, and as many times as is sufficient for the width of the machine
wire required to be made. For a wire fifty inches wide, and intended to have
forty-eight wires in an inch, it is it is requisite to have two thousand four
hundred turns, which turns or folds, when extended open and the ends of the
next wires introduced between the spirals, will give the width of fifty inches
as required. I next proceed to join the spirals together, which is done by
stretching them open, so as to admit the folds of one spiral to enter between
the folds of another; and as this proceeds a straight wire is passed through
them, which connects the two spirals together, and also forms a joint, which
extends from one edge of the wire to the other. I continue to join one
spiral to another until a sufficient quantity is formed for the length, and then
the two extreme ends are brought together and closed. Thus a machine
wire of any given length or breadth is formed, and quite flexible, and adapts
itself to the cylinders and rolls which it has to pass over while at work, without
the possibility of breaking or cracking. The usual quantity of joints I make
in these wires are forty in a foot; but this can be increased or diminished at
pleasure. In the Drawing annexed, a represents a spiral as taken off the flat
spindle; B, B, represents four spirals joined together; c, c, c, the straight
wires which pass through the folds of the spirals to connect them together
and form the joints.
Machine wire No. 4, to make laid paper with seams:-When the machine
wire intended to be made is sixty inches wide, I use straight wire, of brass,
copper, or other metal, sixty inches long, and either covered with tin or not.
I next sew or bind these at about every inch, as is practised in making laid
moulds. Having made a sufficient length for a machine, say twenty-four feet
six inches, the fine wire of which the seams are composed not being suffi-
ciently strong to bear the stretching while at work, I attach it to a back wire,
upon which it is to remain while at work, and which forms a sufficient support
to it to prevent its being injured by stretching or by working. For the back
wire I use one similar to those stated in No. 1, 2, or 3, made with joints,
but much opener than when they are intended to have the paper formed upon
them; and the two wires are mostly connected together by a fine wire passing
round the seams of the upper one, and round the wire which forms the joints

page_text: in the back wire or lower one. To divide the paper into sheets upon the wire
I braze or solder thin pieces of brass, or copper, or other metal upon the face
of the wire, but these pieces are separated over each joint of the back wire
to admit them passing round the cylinders, or the divisions are formed by
filling the spaces in the wire with any resinous composition where the division
of the sheets is intended, and to convey the sheets when divided from tho
wire to the felt, to be again pressed. Supposing the machine, Messrs.
Fourdrinier's principle, as now in general use, I use a cylinder about six
inches diameter, covered with a round felt placed parallel with the cylinder
on which the wire revolves, usually termed the wet press cylinder, and above
the roll on which the felt revolves, so as to be pressed sufficiently hard against
the wire to cause the paper to adhere to it and bring it up upon the felt,
when it passes to the next cylinder and is pressed between two felts, the
lower one being continued in a straight line for about five feet, to admit the
paper being laid, the upper one laid over a roll above the cylinder; or I have
a felt extending from the press cylinder to the roll, placed as described above;
and when the roll is pressed against the wire with the paper upon it the
paper is brought between the two felts and passes on to the press cylinder,
the lower felt being continued in a line as before, as in the Drawing
annexed, where a is the roll, B the upper felt, either extending from the wet
press cylinder to the roll, or conducted over a roll above the cylinders.
Paper mould No. 1. I use narrow pieces of brass, or other metal, or wire
made of brass or other metal flatted to form the face of the mould. These
pieces are about one sixticth part of an inch thick, and about one sixteenth
of an inch broad, and of such length as the mould required to be made; these
pieces I commonly cover with tin. I next pierce holes at about an inch apart
from end to end to admit a wire to pass through them to keep the edges
level which are to form the surface of the mould; and to keep them at an
equal distance, a wire collar is put between each flat wire, and round the wire
which is passed through them, or they are brazed or soldered at every place
the wire passes through the flat wires to keep them at a proper distance. I
then fasten them down to the bars or a layer of wires previously laid on the
a, a, a, represents one of the flatted wires; B, B, B, the pierced holes;
C, the wire passed through them; D, several wires joined to form the face.
bars.
Paper mould, No. 2. I use round, square, or wires of other form, made
of brass or other metal, and straight. These I commonly cover with tin,
having secured the straight wires regularly, and at a proper distance from
each other, to form the face or upper side of the mould by braiding them with
two fine wires at about an inch apart, as is lone in making laid moulds. I

page_text: then confine them on a level surface of iron, and solder or braze narrow-pieces
or ribs of copper or other metal across the straight wires. I then take the
seams out again, after the soldering.or brazing is finished, and fasten the work
to the bars of the mould, or to a layer of wires upon the bars. a, a, a, repre-
sent the straight wires; B, B, B, the seams to keep the wires regular ; c,.c, c,
pieces of brass or other metal brazed or soldered to the straight wires, and to
be at the back or under side; or I sometimes leave the seams in the mould
when seams are intended to appear in the paper; or I
use straight wire made
of brass or other metal, covered with tin or other composition, for the face
of the moulds; and for the seams, I use copper or other wire, plated-with-silver,
to prevent the moulds breaking or corroding either while in use, or when
laid by. I then make them in every other respect the same as moulds now
in general use.
Paper mould No. 8. Laid moulds for making lined or ruled paper :-I use
straight wire, made of brass or other metal, covered with tin or other com-
position, for the face or upper side of the mould. I next proceed as described
No. 2, and having secured the straight wires by braiding them, I fasten them
upon a level surface, and having soldered or brazed the pieces which are to
form the back, I then braze or solder fine wires of copper or other metal
across the face or upper side, at about the distance of three in an inch, which
are to form the lines in the paper. I next take out the seams and fasten
the work to the bars, or to a layer of wires upon the bars, as shewed in the
annexed Drawing, where a, a, a, are the straight wires which from the face;
B, B, B, the fine wires across the face; c, c, c, pieces of metal soldered or
brazed to the back or under side; or, when making small moulds for bankers
and such others as will admit of it, or those to be used by machinery, I make
the bars and frames of brass or other metal; neither do I confine myself to
lay the wires which form the face of the mould in right lines, or parallel
with the frames, but lay them so as to form any design without raising it
above the surface of the mould. Improved safety engine plates a, a, represents
the bars; B, B, a cleft at each end, similar to roll bars; C, an iron bed, the
size of the plate D, D, two ends rising high enough to admit E, E, two keys,
to hold the whole together, and is used either with bolts or without.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Palmer, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight..
JAMES (L.S.) PALMER.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Sixth day of November, in the
year of our Lord 1828, the aforesaid James Palmer came before our said
Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification aforesaid,
and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form above
written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped according to the
tenor of the Statuto mado for that purpose.