IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BURNISHING OR POLISHING :EXAMELLED PAPER
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Newton, of the Office for Patents,
66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BURNISHING OR POLISHING
:EXAMELLED PAPER."-A communication from abroad by Edwin Blood, of,
Newburyport, in the State of Massachusetts, United States of America.
Sealed the 5th January 1867, and dated the 24th July 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
24th July 1866.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BURNISHING OR
POLISHING ENAMELLED PAPER," to be as follows:-
. This Invention relates, generally speaking, to machinery for burnishing or
polishing paper in which the burnishing or polishing surfaces consist of hard
smooth rollers, which by their rotary motion are caused to produce a rubbing
action upon the coating of enamel previously applied to the paper, and by
such action to bring the surface to a high polish.
The polishing or burnishing operation may be effected by various mechanical
arrangements, according to the kind of paper to be operated upon. In one
arrangement the burnishing or polishing roller is employed in combination
with a flat supporting table and with an endless carrying apron for carrying

page_text: the paper over the table and under the burnishing or polishing rollers at a
lower velocity than the burnishing or polishing roller. The paper, as it is
carried along by the apron over the table, and before arriving between the
rollers, passes under the edge of a pressing plate, by which it is smoothed out
for the prevention or removal of creases preparatory to the burnishing or
polishing operation. In order to give the burnishing or polishing roller a
better bearing upon the enamelled surface of the paper the apron or the
supporting bed is. made of or covered with elastic or yielding material, such
as india-rubber, felt, or plush; and in order to prevent the formation of lines
upon the burnished or polished surface of the paper the burnishing or polishing
roller, besides a rotary motion, has a reciprocating motion in the direction of
its axis, and consequently at right angles with or across the line in which the
paper is travelling.
In another arrangement of machinery the burnishing or polishing roller is
employed in combination with a supporting roller which rotates at a lower
velocity than and polishes the paper as it passes between the two at the same
velocity as the movement of the supporting roller. In order to obtain a better,
that is to say, a more highly polished or burnished surface of the enamel it is
preferable, in a machine constructed according to this part of the Invention,
to use at least two such supporting rollers and two burnishing or polishing
rollers, the paper first passing between one supporting roller and one
burnishing or polishing roller, and afterwards between the other supporting
roller and burnishing or polishing roller, the surface of the latter burnishing
or polishing roller rotating at a higher velocity than the first one.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Edward Newton in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 24th January 1867.
;
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patont, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
William Edward Newton, Her special licence that I, the said William Edward
Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said William Edward Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns,

page_text: should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at
all times thereafter 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
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY FOR BURNISHING OR POLISHING ENAMELLED Paper,"
being a communication to me from abroad, upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said William Edward Newton, my executors or adminis-
trators, 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 William Edward Newton, 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 follow-
ing statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereunto annexed, and to'
the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
This Invention relates, generally speaking, to machinery for burnishing or
polishing paper in which the burnishing or polishing surfaces consist of hard
smooth rollers, which by their rotary motion are caused to produce a rubbing
action upon the coating of enamel previously applied to the paper, and by
such action to bring the surface to a high polish.
The Invention may be divided into two parts or branches, one of which
relates particularly to machinery in which such a burnishing or polishing
roller is employed in combination with a flat supporting table and an endless
apron for carrying the paper over the table and under the burnishing or
polishing rollers at a lower velocity than the burnishing or polishing
roller. The paper as it is carried along by the apron over the table,
and before arriving between the rollers, passes under the edge of a pressing
plate, by which it is smoothed out by the prevention or removal of creases
preparatory to the burnishing or polishing operation. In order to give the
burnishing or polishing roller a better bearing upon the enamelled surface
of the paper the apron or the supporting bed is made of or covered with
elastic or yielding material, such as india-rubber, felt, or plush, and in order
to prevent the formation of lines upon the burnished or polished surface of
the paper the burnishing or polishing roller, besides a rotary motion has a
reciprocating endway motion.
The next part or branch of the Invention relates particularly to machinery
in which such a burnishing or polishing roller is employed in combination

page_text: with a supporting roller which rotates at a lower velocity than and polishes
the
paper as it passes between the two at the same velocity as the movement
of the supporting roller. In order to obtain a better (that is to say) a more
highly polished or burnished surface of the enamel it is preferable in. a
machine constructed according to this part of the Invention to use at least two
such supporting rollers and two burnishing or polishing rollers, the paper first
passing between one supporting roller and one burnishing or polishing roller,
and afterward between the other supporting roller and burnishing or polishing
roller, the surface of the latter burnishing or polishing roller rotating at a
higher velocity than the first one.
In the accompanying Drawing Fig. 1 is a plan or top view of a machine
constructed according to the first part of the Invention; Fig. 2 is an end
elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section of the
same.
A is the frame which supports the working parts of the machine, and on
the upper side or top of which is secured the flat horizontal table B, which
occupies the entire central part of the top of the frame A; at the rearmost
end of this table B (with the ends of its shaft a working in suitable bearings
in the sides of the frame A) there is a transverse roller C, upon one end of
the shaft of which is fixed a pulley or belt wheel j, while situated at the
opposite or front end of the table is a similar transverse roller D which has
the ends of its shaft b working in vertically sliding journal boxes which are
placed in suitable longitudinal slots or recesses c formed one in each side of
the frame A at the front end thereof; E is a transverse bar situated behind
the roller D, and the ends of which project outward through the slots c, as
shown in Fig. 1; e, are two knobs or brackets situated at the front end
of the frame A, one at each side thereof. A horizontal screw ƒ passes
through a suitable hole in each of the brackets e and back through the
outwardly projecting ends d of the transverse bar E; inasmuch as the ends of
the transverse bar E are situated behind the sliding bearings of the roller D,
it follows that by turning the screw f so as to bring the transverse bar E
forward or outward the aforesaid sliding bearings and consequently the roller
D will be brought forward, while by turning the screws in a contrary direction
the bar E and consequently the roller D will be allowed to move inward
toward the table B: Placed upon the rollers C, D, (and with its upper part
resting upon and supported by the table B) is an endless apron F which is
made of india-rubber, cloth, felt, velvet, or other elastic or yielding material,
or faced with such material, but should not be elastic lengthwise; the
tension of this apron is adjusted by moving the roller D in or out by means of

page_text: the screws and bar E, as before explained. G is the burnishing or polishing
roller which may be made of iron with a chilled surface or of steel, and should
be as smooth as possible; this roller is situated transversely near one end of
the table B over the table and above the uppermost surface of the endless
apron F. The ends of the shaft g of the burnishing roller G work in yielding
and adjustable journal boxes or bearings II, which are situated one at each
side of the frame A; a vertical quadrangular stem h projects downward from
the centre of each bearing H into a suitable vertical slot in the side of the
frame A, and serves to steady the bearing passing through each end of each
bearing, and with its lower extremity resting upon the upper surface of the
side of the frame A is a hollow screw i; passing down through each hollow
screw i (with its lower end screwed into the frame A) is a solid screw k,
while placed around each of the screws between the head thereof and the
top of the hollow screw through wich it passes is a spiral spring n; the
appurtenances of the bearings H being thus arranged. the height of the
burnishing roller with reference to the upper surface of the endless apron F
may be adjusted by turning the hollow screws i, while the downward pressure
of the springs n to press the roller upon the upper enamelled surface of the
paper as it is carried underneath it by the endless apron F may be adjusted
by turning the screws k. The length of the burnishing roller G is less than
the distance between the bearings H in order that sufficient room may be
allowed for the reciprocating movement of the roller, as will be presently
further explained; one end of the burnishing roller projects outward beyond
its bearing, and has fixed upon it a pulley I, and formed around the end of
the pulley I is an annular groove r. J is a transverse shaft which is situated
in the front or forward end of the frame A, and which is furnished at one end
with a driving pulley K and also with a small pulley M, aud at the other
with a pulley L which is connected by a belts with the pulley I of the
burnishing roller G, while a band & extends from the small pulley M to the
pulley on the rearmost roller C. Situated in the centre of the shaft J is a
small band wheel M¹ which is connected by a belt u with a larger band wheel
N which is fixed in the centre of a transverse shaft R situated in the rearmost
end of the frame A at the lower part thereof; one end of this shaft R projects
out beyond. the side of the frame A, and has fixed upon it a thick wheel
or disc W, in and around the circumference of which is a cam groove w. S.is
a lever which is pivotted at or near its centre upon a pin a¹ which projects.
out from the side of the frame A; the upper end of this lever S is forked and
is fitted into the groove r in the shaft of the burnishing roller G, while the
lower end (being also forked) is fitted into the cam groove w in the circum-

page_text: ference of the wheel W in such a manner that the rotation of the wheel W,
by vibrating the lever S, communicates a longitudinal reciprocating movement
to the burnishing roller G. T is an elastic pressing plate or blade which is
placed transversely over the endless apron F in front of the roller G and in
an inclined position, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. Projecting forward
from each end of this pressing plate T is a flat arm b', the forward extremity
of which rests upon a stud or spur c', while near the inner end thereof is a
hole through which is passed a fixed vertical screw d¹; between the heads of
these screws & and the upper sides of the arms are spiral springs e¹ which
press the rear or lower edge of the pressing plate T down upon the paper as it
passes to the burnishing roller, as will be presently further set forth. A small
roller may be attached lengthwise to the rear or pressing edge of this pressing
plate if desired to diminish its friction upon the paper. Instead of making
the endless apron F elastic it may be made of non-elastic or unyielding
material, and the upper surface of the table B may be made elastic or yielding
by covering it with such material, whereby a proper bearing of the burnishing
roller G upon the surface of the paper is obtained in the same manner as
when the apron is itself elastic; furthermore, the burnishing roller may be
rotated if desired in a direction opposite to the movement of the endless
apron F with the same result as when moving in the same direction as
ibe apron. The paper, in the form of long sheets, rolls, or pieces, having
previously had the coating of enamel applied, and having been allowed to
dry, is placed with its enamelled surface upwards upon the forward portion
of the endless apron F, and is carried back in the direction of the arrow
shown near it in Fig. 1, where it is represented in red color first under the
pressing plate T which spreads it out evenly upon the apron and then under
the burnishing roller G which (being pressed down upon the paper by the
springs n, and revolving at a much higher velocity than that of the paper as
it is carried back by the apron F) polishes or burnishes the upper and
enamelled surface thereof by the friction of its rapidly moving surface upon
the said enamelled surface of the paper. The elastic or yielding nature of
the endless apron F causes the paper to bend somewhat around the under side
of the burnishing roller G as it passes underneath the same, and thus keeps it
in contact with a much greater portion of the surface of the roller than if
the paper was kept perfectly flat and straight while passing under the same,
whereby a much more efficient action of the roller upon the paper is obtained;
at the same time the reciprocating movement of the burnishing roller, pro-
duced simultaneously with its rotary motion by means of the cam wheel W
and lever S, prevents the formation of ridges or creases in the paper, which

page_text: would be likely to occur if such reciprocating movement of the roller were
dispensed with.
The second part of the Invention is shewn in Figures 4, 5, and 6 of the
Drawings, in which Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a machine constructed
according to this part of the Invention; Fig. 5 is central vertical section of
the same, and Fig. 6 is a plan of the same.
A is a suitable supporting frame of iron or other suitable material, and
which sustains the working parts of the machine; projecting downward from
each side of the central part of this frame A is a banger a, and with its shaft
working in suitable bearings (formed in the lower ends of these hangers) is a
transverse roller B, on which the enamelled paper is wound previous to being
fed into the machine. Situated transversely at the front or forward end of
the frame A (and one above the other) are two feed and pressure rollers
C and D, which may be of iron. The shaft of the upper roller D works at
each end in vertically adjustable bearings c, as shewn more clearly in Fig. 4,
in order that it may be adjusted to press with any desired degree of pressure
upon the paper as it passes between the rollers; upon one end of the shaft of
the roller D is fixed a large spur wheel d, while upon the opposite end of the
shaft of the lower roller C is fixed a small gear wheel e. E is a revolving
cylindrical brush which is placed in front of the roller C and parallel therewith,
and has upon one end of its shaft a pulley f, by means of which it is revolved
by a suitable belt acting upon the pulley; this brush E is so placed as to
brush the outer surface of the paper as it passes to the rollers C, D, and
remove any particles of dust that may have adhered thereto. Situated trans-
versely in the upper and central part of the frame A is the supporting roller F
and the steel buruishing roller G; the roller F is made of compressed paper,
whereby its surface is enabled to exert a greater frictional or adhesive action
upon the under surface of the sheet of paper to carry it under the burnishing
roller than it would if made of wood or metal, and has its shaft supported by
and working in fixed bearings in the sides of the frame A, one end of the
shaft being furnished with a small gear wheel g which is connected by means
of an intermediate gear wheel h with the gear wheel e of the pressure roller C.
The burnishing roller G is made of steel very smooth and polished, and is
placed over the paper roller F and parallel therewith, and has the ends of its
shaft working in adjustable bearings i, similar to the bearings c of the.
roller D; upon one end of the shaft of this burnishing roller G is a band
wheel j, and upon the opposite end of the shaft is a spur wheel k which gears
into the spur wheel d attached to the shaft of the roller D, as herein-before
set forth. The spur wheel k is considerably less in diameter than the spur.

page_text: wheel d, in order to give an increased velocity to the wheel k, and con-
sequently to the burnishing roller G, as will be presently further explained.
Situated near the end of the frame A behind the rollers F, G, and parallel
with the same, is another set or pair of rollers consisting of a lower supporting
roller H and an upper burnishing roller I; the lower roller H is made of
compressed paper in the same manner and for the same purpose as the roller
F, & bas the ends of its shaft working in fixed bearings in the sides of the
frame A; secured upon one end of the shaft of this paper roller H is a small
gear wheel m which is connected by an intermediate gear wheel n with the
gear wheel
19 on the shaft of the roller F. The gear wheels e, g, h, m, n, are
all of the same diameter, so that the rotation of the lower iron roller C
communicates an equal and uniform motion to the paper rollers F and H.
The burnishing roller I is made of steel and polished in the same manner as
the burnishing roller G, and is placed over and parallel with the roller H in
the same way that the roller G is placed over the paper roller F, and has the
ends of its shaft working in adjustable bearings r, similar to the bearings
caud of the rollers D and G; s is a gear wheel fixed upon one end of the
shaft of the burnishing roller I, and gearing into another wheel u which
turns on a pin or pivot projecting out from one side of the frame A, and gears
into the wheel k on the shaft of the burnishing roller G. The wheels s and
u are smaller than the wheel k, in order that the burnishing roller I may
Lave a higher velocity than the burnishing roller G. J is a transverse roller
situated in the rearmost end of the frame A, and upon which the paper is
rolled as it passes from the machine; upon one end of the shaft of this
roller J is a band wheel v, which is connected with a pulley w on the shaft of
the burnishing roller I by means of a belt a, so that the rotations of this
burnishing roller rotates the roller J. The burnishing rollers instead of being
made of steel may be of chilled cast iron.
The paper which is represented in Fig. 5 in red color having had its
surface previously covered or coated with the enamelling substance or
material, and being in a dry condition and in the form of long sheets or
pieces, is wound upon the roller J; the outer end of the paper is then passed
around the lower iron roller C between the roller C and the other iron roller
D; then back between the rollers F, G, and between the rollers H, I;
after which it is attached to the roller J, the enamelled surface of the paper
being uppermost as it passes between the said rollers; motion is then com-
municated to the several rollers in the directions shewn by the arrows in
Fig. 5 by means of a suitable belt acting upon the band wheel or pulley j of
the polishing roller G, while another belt acting upon the pulley f rotates the

page_text: brush E; the paper is unwound from the roller B, and passing around the
front side of the roller C comes in contact with the revolving brush E, which
brushes off any dirt or dust that may have adhered thereto; the paper. then
passes between the iron rollers C, D, which not only spread it out evenly and
thus prevent it from gathering into wrinkles, but also by subjecting it to con-
siderable pressure partially smooths the surface of the same; passing thence
between the paper roller F and the burnishing roller G, the burnishing
roller moving at about five times the velocity (more or less) of the roller F
polishes or burnishes the enamelled surface of the paper by the friction
thereon of its revolving surface, or, in other words, the enamelled surface of
the paper is polished by the continuous rubbing action upon it of the bur-
nishing roller G; passing from this set or pair of rollers F, G, the paper
passes between the rearmost set or pair H, I, where the polishing process is
completed by the burnishing roller I, which acts upon the surface of the
paper in the same manner as the burnishing roller G. The velocity of the
burnishing roller I being ten times (more or less) than that of the paper
roller H, or twice that of the other burnishing roller G, gives a more finished
gloss or polish to the partially burnished surface of the paper than would be
obtained by the use of a single burnishing roller. The paper passing from
the rollers H, I, is wound upon the roller J, which may be removed when
the entire sheet or piece of paper is polished and wound thereon.
Having now described my Invention of " Improvements in Machinery for
Burnishing or Polishing Enamelled Paper," and having explained the manner
of carrying the same. into effect as communicated to me by my foreign cor-
respondent, I claim as the Invention secured to me by Letters Patent as
aforesaid,-
First, the combination of the burnishing roller G, endless apron F, and
table B, as herein described with reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the
Drawing, for the purpose specified.
Second, providing an elastic bearing for the paper under the burnishing
roller by making either the apron or the bed elastic, as herein specified.
Third, giving the burnishing roller G a reciprocating movement trans-
versely to the endless apron simultaneously with its rotary motion, as herein
set forth.
Fourth, the pressing plate T applied in relation with the burnishing roller
G, endless apron F, and table B, as herein set forth.
Fifth, the combination of the two sets of rollers F, I, and F, G, when the
roller I revolves at a higher velocity than the roller G, as herein described.
Sixth, the combination and arrangement of the pressing and smoothing

page_text: rollers C, D, the burnishing rollers G, I, and supporting rollers F, H, as
herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Newton, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Twenty-fourth day of January, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
W. E. NEWTON. (L.S.)