IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND IN APPARATUS FOR MAKING TUBES OF PAPER OR OTHER SUITABLY PLIANT MATERIAL FOR PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Ashworth Elijah Ashworth and Robert Ashworth
of the Moss Brook Works Collyhurst Manchester in the County of Lancaster-
for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHOD OF AND IN APPARATUS
FOR MAKING TUBES OF PAPER OR OTHER SUITABLY PLIANT MATERIAL
FOR
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Ashworth, Elijah
Ashworth, and Robert Ashworth at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents
on the 8th September 1883.
GEORGE ASHWORTH ELIJAH ASHWORTH and ROBERT ASHWORTH of the Moss
Brook Works Collyhurst Manchester in the County of Lancaster "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE METHOD OF AND IN APPARATUS FOR MAKING TUBES OF PAPER OR OTHER
SUITABLY PLIANT MATERIAL FOR USE IN THE MAKING OF COP TUBES AND FOR
OTHER USES
Our Invention has for its principal object to produce paper cop tubes for use in
spinning processes but tubes made in accordance with our Invention from paper or
cloth or from other material suitable to the process may be used for any other
purpose for which they may be adapted. In the formation of a paper tube we
employ two three or more strips of paper which are cemented together to form the
tube the strips being arranged to break joint so that by the combination of several
strips each of which may by itself be too narrow to form the tube a complete tube
is formed nearly equal in thickness all round. In some cases the inner layer of
paper is wide enough for its edges to overlap. In the production of the tubes we
employ the strips of paper in coils so that the tube is produced by a continuous
process and is severed into lengths. Each strip is unwound from the coil and in
passing to the former receives a coating of paste or cement or the strip forming the
inner layer may not be so coated.
One strip is led through a tubular former which bends the strip into a cylindrical
or partly cylindrical shape the edges in some cases overlapping and in some cases
not meeting. In case a single thickness of paper would furnish a tube of sufficient

page_text: strength for its destined use a single strip to which cement has been applied is bent
into a tubular form with the edges overlapping. In our usual practise the strip
passes from the first former through a second former which bends a second strip
around or partly around the first covering the edges thereof. By passing the partly
formed tube successively through other formers each adapted to receive a strip and
to bend it around the tube the strength of the completed tube is increased to the
required extent.
The strips are drawn through the formers by drawing forwards the completed
tube by means of a travelling band or chain provided with self-acting grippers or
clamps or by any other suitable means. In some or in all cases to render the bore
of the tube uniform with a required guage it is drawn over a bulb or tapering
cylindrical guage which is held by one end of a hollow rod which passess through
all the formers. This guage is a little larger than the bore of the tube as it leaves
the formers so that the tube is stretched or expanded to an uniform bore. Whilst
passing over the guage the outside of the tube is subjected to pressure by passing
through an india-rubber die or by other suitable means. If desirable additional
layers may be added to the tube after it has passed the inner guage. By our
method of production we obtain tubes of great accuracy of form and of great
strength in proportion to their weight.
When required for cop tubes the tubes thus produced are dried and are then
severed into the required lengths.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Ashworth, Elijah Ashworth, and Robert Ashworth in the
Patent Office on the 8th March 1884.
"
GEORGE ASHWORTH, ELIJAH ASHWORTH and ROBERT ASHWORTH of the Moss
Brook Works, Collyhurst, Manchester in the County of Lancaster. IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE METHOD OF AND IN APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE MAKING OF COP TUBES
AND FOR OTHER USES
"
Our Invention has for its principal object to produce paper cop tubes for use in
spinning processes but tubes made in accordance with our Invention from paper or
cloth or from other material suitable to the process may be used for any other
purpose for which they may be adapted. In the formation of a paper tube we
employ two three or more strips of paper which are cemented together to form the
tube the strips being arranged to break joint so that by the combination of several
strips each of which may by itself be too narrow to form the tube a complete tube
is formed nearly equal in thickness all round. In some cases a strip of paper is
wide enough for its edges to overlap. In the production of the tubes we employ
the strips of paper in coils so that the tube is produced by a continuous process
and is severed into lengths. Each strip is unwound from the coil and in passing
to the former receives a coating of paste or cement or the strip forming the inner
layer may not be so coated. One strip is led through a tubular former which
bends the strip into a cylindrical or partly cylindrical form. In case a single
thickness of paper would furnish a tube of sufficient strength for its destined use
a single strip to which cement has been applied is bent in a tubular form with the
edges overlapping. In our usual practice the strip passes from the first former
through a second former which bends a second strip around or partly around the
first the edges of the two strips overlapping. By passing the partly formed tube
successively through formers each adapted to receive a strip and to bend it around
the tube the strength of the complete tube is increased to the required extent. The
strips are drawn through the foriners by drawing forward the complete tube by
means of a travelling band or chain provided with self-acting grippers or clamps
or by other suitable means.
In order that our invention may be fully understood we have attached hereto a
sheet of drawings illustrating our method of forming paper tubes and the apparatus
we have devised for the purpose the said drawings being marked with letters of
reference. In the said drawings Fig. 1 represents a cross section of a paper tube
formed from four strips of paper. In order to show the formation spaces which do
not in fact exist are left between the several layers of paper. Fig: 2 represents
a front elevation and Fig a plan of our apparatus for bending and laying the
strips one over the other to form the tube. Fig: 4 is a diagram drawn to a scale
of about one inch to the foot and indicating in plan the general arrangement of
the entire machine adapted to form the tubes in lengths of about ten feet.
Fig 4 a, a are four coils of paper made by cutting up a roll as in the case of the
formation of coils for telegraphic purposes. In the formation of cop tubes we use
paper about three quarters of an inch wide but the width will be greater or less
according to the size of tube to be made or the strength thereof or the amount of
lap in the layers. These coils of paper are mounted to revolve on vertical axes
and the four strips of paper are coated with paste or cement by passing through
In

page_text: the body of paste in the box or revolving brushes or rollers or other suitable
means may be used. The strips pass over brushes or doctors to remove the
superfluous paste and to render the coating even. Doctors acting on both sides of
each strip are indicated at c, c. The strips of paper pass from the doctors to the
apparatus illustrated by Figs 2 and 3. As the strips pass to this apparatus two of
the strips namely the two centre strips 1 and 2 in Fig 4 turn over into a horizontal
position and pass through slots in a plate d. The lower strip 1 is drawn into the
front end of a tubular former e. This former consists of a tube having its ends
cut away diagonally. The strip of paper by passing through this former becomes
curved longitudinally into the form indicated larger than the full size in cross
section by Fig 5. The curved strip is drawn forward through a second former f
which is also cut off diagonally at the front end but is reversed with reference to
the former e. The two formers are also represented by Fig: 6 wherein 1 is the
said strip of paper passing through the two formers. The other strip of paper 2
is taken over the former e and passes into the former ƒ wherein the strip is
curved as in the case of the first strip the edges of the two curved strips overlapping
as indicated in the cross section Fig. 7 and as the strips have been pasted these
overlapping edges adhere together so that a paper tube is formed. It is only
necessary to draw this forward continuously to form a tube of any desired length
within the limits of the coiled strips. When a stronger tube is required we add
as many strips on the outside of the tube as may be required to furnish the desired
strength. The apparatus illustrated is adapted to add two more strips namely
the strips 3 and 4 in Fig. 4. The tube passes through a second set of two formers g
and h which are similar in formation to the first two but are turned round through
a quarter of a circle-that is to say-the diagonal ends of the former are on
vertical planes. The two strips of paper are maintained in the horizontal positions
and the front strip is led into the former g and the back strip into the former h
whereby the two strips are successively curved and laid over the paper tube
passing through the formers the edges of the additional strips overlapping as in
the case of the first strips. We now obtain the tube indicated by Fig. 1 which is
nowhere less than two layers of paper in thickness and in four parts of its
circumference is three layers in thickness. By using wider strips we can increase
the overlapping of the strips so as to obtain a tube which would be not less than
three layers in thickness in any part as indicated by Fig. 8. The tube passes from
the former to an apparatus i for completing the tube. A bracket i carries a die
consisting of a piece of vulcanised caoutchouc i¹ in which is formed a hole for the
passage of the tube. Inside the tube is a short cylindrical gauge k which is a little
larger in diameter than the bore of the tube as it leaves the former h so that the
tube is stretched or expanded. The hole in the die is made of such a size as
that an elastic pressure is exerted upon the exterior of the tube. This combination
of outer pressure and interior expanding has the effect of condensing the layers of
paper and of firmly compacting and uniting the same and the inner gauge ensures
the formed tube being of an uniformn bore. In some cases we may add
additional strips of paper after the tube leaves the apparatus . By adding
successive layers we can obtain any desired strength as for example we may
produce tubes suitable for use in pyrotechny. The gauge k is kept in position by
means of a tubular rod which is attached by one end to the plate d so that the
gauge is prevented from being drawn forward with the tube. The rod is hollow
in order that air may pass into the interior of the tube as it is formed so as to
prevent the tube from collapsing. The tube may be drawn forward during its
formation by any suitable means. In practice we employ an endless travelling
belt which is mounted upon pullies situated below the long bench or table m in
Fig 4. One of these pullies is actuated by means of strap pullies n so that the
upper lap of the belt is caused to travel in the direction indicated by the arrow in
or below a long slot in the table. The belt is provided with holding dogs of a

page_text: suitable construction. Figs 9 and 10 are plans illustrating the formation of the
dogs we employ. Upon the belt o.is secured a plate p upon which is fixed a
stud q. Upon this stud is mounted a lever or dog which is acted upon by a
spring which tends to turn the dog from its position in Fig 10 to its position in
Fig 9. When in the latter position the dog holds the tube-indicated by 8-by:
clamping it against a fixed projection t. When the dog arrives at or near the
end m of the slot in the bench the end of the dog comes into contact with a
fixed stop and the dog is thereby turned into its position in Fig 10 whereby the
tube is released the dog being held by means of a spring catch u which is hinged
at u². At the same time another dog has come up at the end m' of, the slot and
the tail of the catch has been acted upon to release the dog which has turned
into position to grip the tube. As the tube is thus formed it is or may be severed
into long lengths at the parts where it has been gripped by the dogs. When
required for cop tubes we sever these long tubes into shorter tubes of the required
lengths. By our method of production we obtain tubes of great accuracy of form
and of great strength in proportion to their weight. By changing the formers for
others of larger or smaller inner diameter and by changing the gauge we produce
tubes of different sizes as may be required. We do not confine ourselves to the
exact shapes of the formers nor to the arrangement or method of action of the
apparatus we employ as we may use any apparatus which will curve and unite
together the strips of paper so as to form tubes with the edges of the strips
overlapping the joints extending the length of the tube as in the examples. We
may use other material than paper or we may use cloth or other material in
combination with paper. We may bend the first strip into an entire tube with the
edges of the strip overlapping or we may make the edges of any or of each
succeeding strip overlap and we may in some cases use strips narrower in proportion
to the size of the tube than we have indicated so that each strip shall be curved
into a semi-circle or less than a semi-circle the joints being covered by succeeding
strips.
Having now fully set forth and indicated the nature of our said invention and
the manner in which and the means whereby we carry the same into practical
effect we would have it to be understood that we claim :-
First. The continuous formation of paper tubes from strips of paper unwound
from rolls and having the two edges of one strip bent and curved in an opposite
direction to the two edges of another strip so that the edges of the two bent and
curved strips overlap the overlapping edges being secured together by means of
paste or cement substantially as set forth and indicated.
Secondly. The formation of paper tubes by uniting two or more ribands or strips
of paper so that the edges overlap the strips being applied successively as the
partly formed tube is drawn forward through formers until the desired strength is
obtained and the layers of paper being pasted or cemented together substantially as
set forth and indicated.
Thirdly. The method of forming tubes of paper or other suitably pliant material
substantially as set forth and indicated.
Fourthly. The apparatus for forming tubes of paper or other pliant material
substantially as set forth and indicated hereinbefore and in and by the
accompanying drawings.
Fifthly. Forming cop tubes or paper tubes from long strips of paper by drawing
the said strips which have been treated with paste or cement through tubular
formers so that the strips are curved longitudinally with their edges overlapping
or the edges of one strip overlapping another substantially as set forth and
indicated.
Sixthly. In machines for making paper tubes the inner gauge slightly expanding
the tube and the india rubber pressing die through which the tube is drawn
substantially as set forth and indicated.

page_text: And lastly. The tubular formers or any mere modification thereof substantially
as and for the purpose set forth and indicated.
In witness whereof we the said Elijah Ashworth and Robert Ashworth for
ourselves and on behalf of the said George Ashworth have hereunto set our hands
and seals this seventh day of March in the year of our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty-four
Signed, sealed, and,
delivered in the
presence of
EDWARD K. DUTTON
41 John Dalton St. Manchester,
(L.S.)
ELIJAH ASHWORTH
ROBERT ASHWORTH (L.S.)