IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOXES AND OTHER ARTICLES OF PAPER PULP, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS THEREFOR. 33
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Ransome, of Lower Norwood, in the County of
Surrey, one of the Directors of the British Seamless Paper Box Company,
Limited, Battersea, and Thomas Mitcheson Gray, of Peckham, in the County
of Surrey, Engineer to the said Company, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOXES AND OTHER ARTICLES OF PAPER PULP,
AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS THEREFOR.
33
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Ransone and
Thomas Mitcheson Gray at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
14th December 1877.
FREDERICK RANSOME, of Lower Norwood, in the County of Surrey, one of the
Directors of the British Seamless Paper Box Company, Limited, Battersen, and
THOMAS MITCHESON GRAY, of Peckham, in the County of Surrey, Engineer to the
said Company. IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOXES AND OTHER
ARTICLES FROM PAPER PULP, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS THEREFOR."
The object of this Invention is to improve and expedite the manufacture of boxes
and other articles from paper pulp. For this purpose we, according to this mode of
manufacture, make use of a chamber or vessel continuously supplied with paper
pulp, and provided with pulp overflow or waste pipe. In connection with this
chamber we arrange one or more, but by preference, say four form carriers, which
in their turn one after the other are immersed in the pulp and enter into a mould,
wherein the pulp deposited thereon is subjected to a heavy pressure, sufficient to
express the water from the pulp which is deposited on the exterior of the porous or
perforated form; the form carrier is perforated and the hollow or interior part
thereof communicates with a vacuum chamber or air-exhausting apparatus. The
pressure is by preference hydraulic, but steam or other power may be used, and the
power may be applied either by means of cylinder and piston gear, or by screw,
wedge, knuckle joint, or other known mechanical appliances.

page_text: The box or other article, with its interior form being removed from the form
carrier, may if required be further pressed or embossed in the same or another
machine, and may then be sized and colored or otherwise finished as required. The
water, or the greatest part of it, having been expressed in the first instance, the
surface obtained is by the aforesaid process smooth, and not open or porous as when
made by heretofore known processes.
A suitable apparatus for carrying this manufacture into effect is as follows:-
Between a bed plate at one end and a head at the other, and by preference
vertically, we arrange a moveable pulp chamber working in guides, and capable of
being moved preferably by hydraulic power, say by a cylinder and piston below.
On the head we arrange the pressing die preferably consisting of four parts, and so
that two opposite parts are formed with angular sides narrower at the root or outer
end than at the end next the article to be compressed; the two other parts of the
die are formed to suit, and these latter movo slower than the two former, but all
four close simultaneously round the article to be compressed. We prefer to move
the die parts by four hydraulic pistons.
The perforated form carriers, say four in number, are arranged round a hollow
central stem working in guides, and the interior is in connection with an exhaust
pump or chamber. The pulp chamber being in the raised position, one form carrier
is immersed in the pulp, while the opposite one is being compressed in the die. We
prefer to press the end of the box before compressing the circumference. The
attendant at the same time takes off the form with compressed pulp thereon, or it
may be done automatically; he also places a fresh form on the same carrier. The
pulp chamber is then lowered and the form carriers descend therewith, but the pulp
chamber has a greater travel than the form carriers; when the bottom form carrier
is clear of the pulp chamber, the form carriers are turned a quarter of a revolution,
the pulp chamber ascends, the lowest form carrier becomes immersed therein, the
top form carrier enters the die, the attendant changes the forms, and so on.
Another mode of carrying this Invention into effect is as follows:--We place a
press cylinder inverted above the machine. Intermittent rotary motion is given to
the pulp chamber which carries, say, three or more cylinders or pipes arranged
equidistantly around the centre, and each having a ram carrying a form carrier at
the top; these cylinders communicate with an air chamber or conduit in connection
with an exhaust vessel.
The aforesaid upper hydraulic cylinder is so placed that one form carrier after
the other is brought directly under it. The form carrier pistons are raised in
succession to the top of the pulp chamber, and a form carrier thus in a raised
position under the hydraulic cylinder is then further, by preference, by means of
knuckle gear worked by a lower hydraulic cylinder, lifted into a contractile mould
consisting of, say, four or more parts; when the sides or circumference of the box
have thus been compressed, the upper hydraulic ram or piston compresses the
bottom part of the box thereon. The box being thus compressed its form carrier is
lowered out of the mould and swung round a part of a revolution (a third in the
case here assumed), and the box is then taken off by the attendant or by an
automatic stripper; the attendant then puts on another form, the carrier makes
another part of a revolution while descending into the pulp, and the same operation
is then commenced again.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Froderick Ransome and Thomas Mitcheson Gray in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 14th June 1878.
FREDERICK RANSOME, of Lower Norwood, in the County of Surrey, one of the
Directors of the British Seamless Paper Box Company, Limited, Battersea, and
THOMAS MITCHESON GRAY, of Peckham, in the County of Surrey, Engineer to the
said Company. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF BOXES AND OTHER
ARTICLES FROM PAPER PULP, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS THEREFOR."
The object of this Invention is to improve and expedite the manufacture of boxes
and other articles from paper pulp. For this purpose we, according to this mode of
manufacture, make uso of a chamber or vessel continuously supplied with paper
pulp, and provided with pulp overflow or waste pipe. In connection with this
chamber we arrange one or inore, but by preference, say, four form carriers, which
in their turn one after the other are immersed in the pulp and enter into a mould,
wherein the pulp deposited thereon is subjected to a heavy pressure, sufficient to
express the water from the pulp which is deposited on the exterior of the porous or
perforated form; the form carrier perforated and the hollow or interior part
thereof communicates with a vacuum chamber or air-exhausting apparatus. The
pressure is by preference hydraulic, but steam or other power may be used; and the
power may be applied either by means of cylinder and piston gear, or by screw,
wedge, knuckle joint, or other known mechanical appliances.
The box or other article with its interior "form" being removed from the form
carrier, may if required be further pressed or embossed in the same or another
machine, and may then be sized and coloured or otherwise finished as required.
The water or the greatest part of it having been expressed in the first instance, the
surface obtained is by the aforesaid process smooth, and not open or porous as when
made by heretofore known processes.
A suitable apparatus for carrying this manufacture into effect is as follows:-
Between a bed plate at one end and a head at the other, and by preference
vertically, we arrange a movable pulp chamber working in guides and capable of
being moved preferably by hydraulic power, say by a cylinder and piston below.
On the head we arrange the pressing die, preferably consisting of four parts, and so
that two opposite parts are formed with angular sides narrower at the root or
outer end than at the end next the article to be compressod; the two other parts of
the die are formed to suit, and these latter move slower than the two former, but
all four close simultaneously round the article to be compressed. We prefer to
move the die parts by four hydraulic pistons.
The perforated form carriers, say, four in number, are arranged round a hollow
central stem working in guides, and the interior is in connection with an exhaust
pump or chamber. The pulp chamber being in the raised position, one form
carrier is immersed in the pulp, while the opposite one is being compressed in
the die. We prefer to press the end of box before compressing the circumference.
The attendant at the same time takes off the form with compressed pulp thereon,
or it may be done automatically; he also places a fresh form on the same carrier.
The pulp chamber is then lowered and the form carriers descend therewith, but
the pulp chamber has a greater travel than the form carriers; when the bottom
form carrier is clear of the pulp chamber, the form carriers are turned a quarter of
revolution, the pulp chamber ascends, the lowest form carrier becomes immersed
herein, the top form carrier enters tho die, the attendant changes the forms, and
O OD.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a front elevation of an apparatus con-
tructed according to this part of our Invention; Figure 2 is a vertical sectional
ide elevation; and Figure 3 is a plan of the die, the cross head being removed;
Figures 4 and 5 are details.

page_text: A is the bed plate of the apparatus; B, B, are side frames resting thereon, O is
the head, in this case arranged vertically over the bed plate; D is the pulp chamber
or cistern which works in guides d on the frames D being moved by a hydraulic
piston E working in a cylinder e which is held against the under side of the bed
plate A by means of tension bars a. The cistern D receives the pulp from a pump F
through the tube b; fis a plunger fixed to the tube b, and having a diameter and
stroke suitable for delivering the required quantity of pulp for each operation. The
pulp chamber is provided with an overflow pipe c.
G, G, G, G, are the hollow perforated form carriers, here four in number, and
arranged round the hollow stem g, one of the form carriers G with its tube or
slipper G¹¹¹ is shown separately in section at Figure 4, and the hollow stem g is
shown separately at Figure 5.
The stem g is formed with two ports g¹, gl, each being in communication with
an exhausting pump or apparatus; the form carrier tubes G" fit round the stem g,
the lower part G¹ forming a gland fitted with a spiral spring for holding it against
the stem g.
The tubes Q are by their flanges bolted to a bush J fitting round the stem g
and working thereon; this bush has four lugs or projections 7, at each end there is
n lever h¹, loose on the stem g at each end thereof; to this lover is jointed a pawl
lever 1, which with its nose or pawl end takes on to the lugs h; the lever is
jointed to a slotted rod 1, a pink on the cross head K lowering this rod in the
down stroke of the piston or piston tube E, thereby giving the form carriers the
required quarter of a revolution.
The pressing die is more particularly shown in Figure 3. Two opposite parts L, L,
are made narrower at the root or outer end; the two parts M, M, are formed to coi-
respond, and are moreover made to move slower than the parts L, but all four close
simultaneously upon the article to be pressed The movement of the parts Land M is in
this case effected by means of four hydraulic cylinders N, their rains n and n¹ being
attached to the dies L and M; the two rams are moved simultaneously by means
of the bell-crank levers O which are connected, and at their point of connection are
adjustable by means of the screws o; the other two rams ¹ need not be connected,
because the parts L act as stops for the parts M. The bell-crank levers ○ work on
fulcrum pins on the head C.
The action of this apparatus is as follows:-The pulp (which may advantageously
be made of a thinner consistency than that used in paper manufacture) is, by the
pump plunger f, supplied through the tube b to the cistern D, the latter descending
and therewith also the plunger f in the pump barrel F; perforated form has
previously been placed on one of the form carriers G, which carrier is at the time in
a horizontal position; when the cistern has descended a portion of its way, the stem g
comes in contact with the side frames B, and is made to rest thereon. When the
cistern D approaches its lowest position, the pink working in the slots of the rods h¹¹¹
pulls the latter down, thereby causing the pawl h" acting against the lugs h¹ on the
tube J to turn the said tube, together with the four form carriers G a quarter of a
revolution; the aforesaid form carrier with the form on thereby assuming a vertical
downward position. The cistern D is thereupon raised, assuming the position
shewn in the Drawing, the first thing that takes place during the rising is, that the
form carrier which was put in the downward position becomes immersed in the
pulp in the cistern; thereupon the cross head K continuing to rise, will, when it
approaches its uppermost position, come in contact with the guides H, and thus lift
the stem g with the form carriers, and, at the end of the stroke, press the top of the
form on the form carrier G (whereon the pulp has previously been deposited)
against the cross head P; when the top has thus been compressed, and the cistern
is at the extreme of its stroke, the valve or valves are opened for admitting pressure
to the horizontal die cylinders N, the consequence being that the parts L of the die
(impelled by the connected rams n) are moved quickly up towards the centre, and
the parts M (impelled by the rams n¹) moved slower towards the centre, but all
four parts of the die producing the final pressure simultaneously.

page_text: The die ram, exhaust valve, or valves are then opened, whereby the water on the
back or outer side of the die rams n, n', is discharged, the pressure on the inner
annular side of the piston rams n, n', forcing the said rams and die back into their
outward position.
The exhaust valve for the cistern ram 6 is then opened, the cistern D descends,
and the plunger f forces another supply of pulp into the cistern; but before the
cistern has reached its lowest position, the stem g, with the form carriers, has im-
parted to it a quarter of a revolution; as before described, the form with the pressed
pulp box thereon is removed (automatically or by the attendant) and a fresh form
substituted. The same operation is then repeated.
Figure 2a is a side view of an appliance for automatically removing the form
with the pressed pulp box thereon. To the under side of the upper frame C is
fixed a bracket 1 carrying a spindle 2, to which are fixed the clutch lover 3,
which fits in a groove of the tube or slipper G (Figure 4), and a lever 4 (in
front of the clutch lever 3 dotted behind it); the lover 4 is at its lower end
jointed to a piece 5, which latter forms a path for the roller 6, and is held against
the bottom of the lever 4 by means of a spiral spring 9; the roller 6 is fitted to the
moving pulp vessel D, which is shown in an intermediate position. To the same
fulcrum spindle 2 is also fixed a lever 7, from the end of which is suspended a
weighted rod 8.
The action of this appliance is as follows:-When the vessel D is in its lowest
position, the roller 6 will be free of the piece 5; but when the vessel D comes into
the raised position, as shown, the roller 6 will commence to act against the piece 5,
and in its upward path push the piece 5 and levers 4 and 3 back till the latter has
pushed the slipper or tube G with the pressed pulp box off the form carrier G. As
soon as the roller 6 has passed the end of the piece 5, it will slip past the upper end of it,
the piece 5 being jointed to one side of the lever 4, and the weighted rod 8 pressing
against the bent part of the lever 4 will force the latter towards the centre line of the
machine; when the pulp chamber & descends again, the roller 6 will be on the right
hand or opposite side of the piece 5, and opon it against the spiral spring 9, which
connects it to the lever 4; when the roller has passed down clear of the piece 5, the
latter will be drawn back again by the spiral spring 9
We provide catches on the form carriers, one on each side of each carrier, for
holding the slipper or tube G" while in the downward position, to prevent it from
sliding off; and in connection with these catches we arrange gear for automatically
releasing these catches from the slipper before the latter with the pressed pulp box
on has to be removed. Figure 4 is a part or half outside view of a form carrier G,
to each side of which is jointed a bell-crank catch lever 10), one arm of which, with
a nose at the end, takes under a lug gll on the slipper or tube G. Two levers 11,
one of which is shewn in Figure 2, and which may be loosely suspended from the
fulcrum spindle 2, are acted upon by two rollers 12 on the pulp vessel D, so that
when the latter has risen a short distance, and before the automatic stripper lever 4
has begun to strip the slipper G off the carrier G, the rollers 12 (one on each side)
bave pushed the levers 11 against the bell-crank catches 10 and released the slipper
or tube G from the carrier G, the weight of the levers 11 brings them back to
their original position against a stop. A spiral or other spring may be applied
against each catch to hold it in gear with the slipper or tube Gi
Another mode of carrying this Invention into effect is as follows:-We place a
press cylinder inverted above the machine. Intermittent rotary motion is given to
the pulp chamber, which carries, say, three or more cylinders or pipes arranged
equidistantly around the centre, and each having a ram carrying a "form" carrier
at the top; these cylinders communicate with an air chamber or conduit in con-
nection with an exhaust vessel.
The aforesaid upper hydraulic cylinder is so placed that one form carrier
after the other is brought directly under it. The form carrier pistons are
raised in succession to the top of the pulp chamber, and a form carrier thus

page_text: in a raised position under the hydraulic cylinder is then further, by preference,
by means of knuckle gear worked by a lower hydraulic cylinder lifted into a
contractile mould, consisting of, say, four or more parts; when the sides or circum-
ference of the box have thus been compressed the upper hydraulic ram or piston
compresses the bottom part of the box thereon; the box being thus compressed its
form carrier is lowered out of the mould and swung round a part of a revolution
(a third in the case here assumed). and the box is then taken off by the attendant
or by an automatic stripper, the attendant then puts on another form, the carrier
makes another part of a revolution while descending into the pulp, and the same
operation is then commenced again.
Figure 6 is a front elevation; Figure 7, a vertical sectional side elevation ; and
Figure 8, a plan of the mould or dies. A is the inverted hydraulic cylinder; B is
the pulp chamber; and C, a spur wheel fixed centrally thereto; b is a pinion gearing
therein, and driven continuously by worm and worm wheel gear 61, 6¹¹, by means of
the clutch c; this pinion may be thrown out of gear automatically and inter-
mittently, thus causing the spur wheel C and pulp cistern B to turn one-third of a
revolution intermittently; D, D, D, are three cylinders arranged round the pulp
chamber, and fitted each with ram d, having a form carrier at the top; the
cylinders D communicate by a conduit e and valvo e' with an exhaust vessel E.
The bottom of each ram d is fitted with a roller f, which can work on the roller
path or crank F; g is a ram working in the hydraulic cylinder G.
The action of this apparatus is as follows:-As shown at Figure 7, one of the
three form carriers with its form on is in the raised position in the mould, the ram g
holding it up. The piston ram a of the cylinder A is in the downward position;
His a cross head keyed to the ram a, and fitted with four wedges h, which work in
V guides fixed to the top plate I; K are four rollers, each fixed to a bracket k
carrying a part of the die or mould, the two parts 1, 1, forming the greater part of
the inner circumference of the mould, and the two other parts U, U, the intermedinte
sinaller parts. The wedges are so formed that the parts 7, L, are moved first and the
parts 1,, next; after the circumference has thus been pressed the ram a continuing
to move down presses the top of the box, its end or head being guided in a box
forming part of the mould. By opening the exhaust connected with the cylinder G
the pressure being constantly on the annular top of the piston ram g, the latter is
lowered down clear of the plate I, and pulls down the ram d with it. The clutch c
is then automatically thrown into gear, the spur wheel Cand pulp chamber B obtain
a third of a revolution, whereby another ram d (which meanwhile has had its form
immersed in pulp) is brought into position under the cylinder. A pressure being
then admitted to the cylinder G the ram g is raised, the ram d with its form is
raised into the mould, the form last pressed has meanwhile been stripped off its
carrier and a fresh form put on; by the next third of a revolution imparted to the
pulp chamber B the carrier with the fresh form on is lowered and immersed in the
pulp (the bottom roller f travelling down the roller path F), and the interior of the
form carrier being in communication with the exhaust vessel E, the pulp is deposited
on the form.
The volute openings M attached to the frames m draw the parts 1, 1¹, of the die
back to clean the article pressed.
The hydraulic valve apparatus referred to above may be of the description shown
in Figures 9 and 10, the former being a vertical section through one of the two
valve cases, and Figure 10 an end view of the apparatus.
One set of valve gear serves to operate the pulp cistern and pump plunger, and
the other set to operate the die ram or rams.
Q, Figure 10, is a shaft made to evolve slowly by worm and worm wheel gear,
and fitted with two cams q, each operating against a roller r on a lever R, which is
weighted at its outer end, as shown, and turns on a fulcrum spindle r¹; S is one of
the two valve cases; 8, the spindle of the suction valve, and 8 that of the delivery
valve; the lever R has two recesses, one on each side of the fulcrum spindle r', and

page_text: in these recesses the bottom end of the valve spindle s and s' enter, abutting against
the regulating set screws 71 and 7 The valve case S is shown in section at
Figure 9; is the suction pipe, and the delivery pipe; the valves are fitted
with spiral springs on the top; T is the passage leading to the hydraulic cylinder.
And having thus described and ascertained the nature of this our Invention, we
declare that we claim,-
Firstly. The consolidation of pulp on a porous or perforated form by hydraulic
pressure, as and for the purpose set forth.
Secondly. The application of hydraulic or other equivalent pressure for expressing
the moisture contained in the pulp deposited on a perforated or porous form, as and
for the purpose set forth.
Thirdly. The modes of and apparatus for supplying and actuating the pulp
cistern, as set forth.
Fourthly. The forms and constructions of the dies or moulds, and the modes of and
means for operating the same, as set forth.
Fifthly. The construction of apparatus, as described, with reference to the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Frederick Ransome and Thomas Mitcheson
Gray, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Fourteenth day of
June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
eight
FRED. RANSOME.
(L.S.)
THOMAS MITCHESON GRAY. (LS.)