IMPROVEMENTS IN WATERPROOFING PAPER, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THIS PURPOSE
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Ralston, of 498, Oldham Road, Man-
chester, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVE.
Sealed the 17th March 1876, and dated the 11th October 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Ralston at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th October 1875.
I, WALTER RALSTON, of 498, Oldham Road, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WATERPROOFING PAPER, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THIS
PURPOSE," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in waterproofing
paper, and in apparatus for this purpose.
The substance I use for waterproofing is white paraffin, and I apply it
by means of a cylindrical rotating brush, one side of which acts on the
paper as it is caused to travel past it, whilst the other side is pressed

page_text: against a block of paraffin. If the pressure is properly regulated the
brush takes off from the block the right quantity of paraffin, and then as
it rotates distributes the paraffin evenly over the surface of the paper.
The other side of the paper is afterwards treated in the same manner,
and the paper is then completely waterproofed and ready for use, and
requires no further treatment.
The block of paraffin is carried in a slide, which rests on an inclined
table, whose lower end is pivotted as near as may be to the axis of the
brush. A cord is attached at one end to the slide, and passing over a
pulley has attached to its other end a weight. The pressure of the block
of paraffin on the brush can be regulated either by varying the weight or
by altering the inclination of the table, which for this purpose is sup-
ported at its upper end by a screw.
In waterproofing a roll of paper the recl is carried at one end of the
machine, and the paper is led over a guiding roll and then passes
between the brush and a pressing roll. From thence it passes over
another guiding roll, and then between another pressing roll and brush,
which acts on its other face. The paper finally passes between drawing
rolls to draw it through the machine, and is then either wound upon
another reel or cut into sheets, as may be preferred.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Walter Ralston in the Great Scal Patent Office
on the 11th April 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WALTER
RALSTON, of 498, Oldham Road, Manchester, in the County of Lan-
caster, send grecting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-
ninth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Walter Ralston, Her special license
that I, the said Walter Ralston, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Walter Ralston, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with and no others,

page_text: 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 WATER-
PROOFING PAPER, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THIS PURPOSE," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Walter Ralston, 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 immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Walter Ralston, 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 thereof, that is to say :-
-
This Invention has for its object improvements in waterproofing
paper, and in apparatus for this purpose.
The substance I use for waterproofing is white paraffin, and I apply it
by means of a cylindrical rotating brush, one side of which acts on the
paper as it is caused to travel past it, whilst the other side is pressed
against a block of paraffin. If the pressure is properly regulated the
brush takes off from the block the right quantity of paraffin, and then
as it rotates distributes the paraffin evenly over the surface of the paper.
The other side of the paper is afterwards treated in the same manuer,
and the paper is then completely waterproofed and ready for use, and
requires no further treatment.
The block of paraffin is carried in a slide, which rests on an inclined
table, whose lower end is pivotted as near as may be to the axis of the
brush. A cord is attached at one end to the slide, and passing over a
pulley has attached to its other end a weight. The pressure of the block
of paraffin on the brush can be regulated either by varying the weight or
by altering the inclination of the table, which for this purpose is sup-
ported at its upper end by a screw.
In waterproofing a roll of paper the reel is carried at one end of the
machine, and the paper is led over a guiding roll and then passes
between the brush and a pressing roll.
From thence it passes over

page_text: another guiding roll, and then between another pressing roll and brush,
which acts on its other face. The paper finally passes between drawing
rolls to draw it through the machine, and is then either wound upon
another reel or cut into sheets, as may be preferred.
The Drawing represents an elevation of the machine.
A is a reel or web of paper which is made to pass between a circular
brush B and resisting roller C, and is then passed over another roller D
in order that the back side of the paper may come in contact with the
circular brush E as it passes round the drawing roller F. The circular
brushes B and E can be adjusted so as to give a greater or less friction
to the surface of the paper. The paper is led from F round the nip
roller G down to the winding tacklo H. Previous to starting the
machine there is a block or bar of paraffin placed on each of the
slides I, I, which may be raised or lowered by means of screws J, J, so
as to cause the paraffin to bear with more or less pressure against the
brush. The brushes B and E, according to the pressure upon them,
take a greater or less amount of paraffin, and convey it to the paper.
Thero is placed at the top side of the paraffin block K in each case a
wooden bar L, which may be drawn towards the brushes by means of
weights M, M, to better regulate the feeding of the brushes with paraffin.
It may not always be necessary to use the weights M, M, and it may not
at all times be desirable to finish or waterproof more than one side of
the paper.
What I claim is, the means of and apparatus for waterproofing paper,
substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Ralston, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Seventh day of April, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.