IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SACKING, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Firmin and Cornelius Firmin, both of
Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk, Manufacturers, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SACKING, AND IN APPARATUS FOR
THE SAME."
Sealed the 4th December 1860, and dated the 12th June 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Firmin and
Cornelius Firmin at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 12th June 1860.
We, GEORGE FIRMIN and CORNELIUS FIRMIN, both of Ipswich, in the
County of Suffolk, Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SACKING, AND IN
APPARATUS FOR THE SAME," to be as follows:-
Our improvements in the manufacture of sacking consist in burning or
singeing the nap or flue which appears on the surface of sacking after weaving,
and subsequently brushing the surface in order to further remove such nap,
and to obliterate all marks of the singeing; by this means a great improvement
in the interior of sacks is produced, as the flue or nap if left on becomes
detached and mixes with the contents of the sack, which for flour especially
is very detrimental.
The apparatus consists of suitable rotating shafts with drums, over which

page_text: the web of sacking is carried, wound up, and kept in a proper state of tension
for the purpose. The sacking in its traverse is carried over one or more rows
of gas jets to be singed, and afterwards turns over a roller, during which it
is submitted to the action of rotating brushes revolving rapidly, & subjected
to an energetic brushing; suitable driving straps and gear are provided as
required for the action of the machine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Firmin and Cornelius Firmin in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 12th December 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, GEORGE
FIRMIN & CORNELIUS FIRMIN, both of Ipswich, in the County of Suffolk,
Manufacturers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said George Firmin & Cornelius Firmin, Her special licence that
we, the said George Firmin & Cornelius Firmin, our executors, admi-
nistrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said George Firmin &
Cornelius Firmin, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SACKING, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said George Firmin &
Cornelius Firmin, our executors or administrators, by an instrument in
writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
t cularly 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 month's next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
"
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said George Firmin & Cornelius Firmin, do
hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Sheet of Drawings,

page_text: hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say:―
Our improvements in the manufacture of sacking consist in burning or
singeing the nap or flue which appears on the surface of sacking after weaving
and brushing the surface in order to further remove such nap and obliterate
all marks of the singeing; by this means a great improvement in the sacks is
produced, as the flue or nap usually left on the interior surface becomes
detached and mixes with the contents of the sack, which to flour, especially
enclosed in the sacks, is very detrimental. The apparatus consists of suitable
rotary shafts with drums on which the web of sacking is carried, wound
up, and kept in a proper state of tension. The sacking in its traverse is
carried in close proximity to one or more rows of gas jets which singe it; it
also passes over rollers or other supporting surfaces during which it is sub-
mitted to the action of rotary brushes revolving rapidly which subject it to
an energetic brushing; this brushing action assists in the removal of the nap
both before and after the singeing, or it may be a subsequent operation
only; suitable driving straps and gear are provided as required for the action

page_text: by the motion given to shaft 9; 1 is a rotary brushing drum consisting of four
brushes m, m, mounted on drums or discs n fixed to the shaft o, which receives
motion from the wheel h by a strap p, which also encircles a rigger on shaft o.
The bearings of this rotary brush m, or of the roller e, are mounted so that
they can be slid into closer proximity or further apart if necessary. By the
motion of main shaft g'the sacking is drawn in the direction indicated by the
arrows by reason of its contact with drum i and roller k, at same time rapid
motion being given to the brush m which moves in a contrary direction to the
direction of motion of the sacking it receives a bard brushing while in contact
with roller e. The brushing has the effect of rubbing off any loose flue or nap
that may be left on the sacking after singeing as well as removing or obli-
terating any marks of the singeing that may appear on the sacking; passing the
sacking in contact with the stationary brush c before it arrives at the singeing
apparatus bas not only the effect of straightening out the web of sacking, and
imparting the necessary state of tension to it previous to singeing, but also
raises up the loose nap or flue on the surface, and also removes some portion
thereof, as also any rough extraneous matters. In some or all cases it may
be better to subject the sacking to a more energetic brushing before singeing,
as also additional brushing after the singeing operation; in order to effect this
we have represented in Fig. 3 of the Drawings annexed a machine in which
there are three rotary brushes, one operating before, and the other two after
the singeing, as will be hereinafter described. The series of gas jets f, f, in
each of the tubes are supplied with gas from a main pipe furnished with a
stop cock to regulate and furnish the supply of gas and power of the flames
as may be required. The sacking is passed in such proximity to the gas jets,
and at such rate over them, as will effectually remove the objectionable nap or
flue without injury to the sacking which is delivered at t, see Fig. 1, in bulk,
or it may be wound up on a roller driven by the machine. In Fig. 3, a, a, is
the framing; the main shaft, which may be driven from the shaft c below as
seen, or otherwise from the fly wheel, d a strap, e' drives cylindrical brush e by
a rigger on its axis; from this again is driven the brush f; and from a rigger on
its axis; motion is given to brush g by endless belts or straps h, h, as seen;
i, i, i, i, i, are turning rollers for conducting the sacking, which is pulled through
by drawing and delivering rollers l, l, as before; m is a sizing roller or brush
also driven from shaft b as seen by its strap n. The sacking passing over and
in contact with the sizing roller or brush has a slight coating of size applied to
it, which further prevents any particles of the sacking afterwards becoming
detached in the flour. This sizing brush dips into a trough containing size,
the supply in which is maintained according to the requirements of the sarking.

page_text: The brushes ƒ and g are enclosed in boxes to collect the tow removed from
the sacking, and to prevent it flying about; P is the main pipe, and p, p, the
jet pipes, and escape of gas being regulated by a suitable stop cock as before;
2,9, represents the pile of sacking to be operated on; it is conducted as shown
by the red lines over the several guiding rollers i, i, and drum u, and in contact
with the brushes, which having quick rotary motion imparted to them brush
the sacking, before being singed, the singing takes place between it and the
next brush e as seen by the position of the gas jets; it also receives a third
brushing from brush g, and passing thence it is sized by brush m drawn
through by rollers 1, 1, & delivered at v. Instead of all the rows of gas jets being
in a cluster they may be distributed so as to form different points whereat to
effect the singing. It is generally sufficient to treat the inside of the sacking
as described, but both sides may be so treated if desired.
Having described the nature of our Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, we declare that what we claim as our Invention, to be protected by
the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is, treating sacking as berein-
before described for the removal of the nap or flue on its surface and ex-
traneous matters left on its surface after weaving, as also the apparatus herein-
before described as applied for that purpose.
In witness whereof, we, the said George Firmin & Cornelius Firmin,
have hereunto set our hands & seals, this Tenth day of December, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred & sixty.
L.S.)
CORNELIUS FIRMIN. (L.S.)