Improvements in Storing and Packing Opium, and in Appliances therefor.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 26th July, 1894-Accepted, 6th Oct., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Storing and Packing Opium, and in Appliances
therefor.
I, ALFONS CASTENHOLZ, of No. 76 Westendstrasse, Karlsruhe, Baden,
Germany, Retired Colonel, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to an improved method of and appliances for storing and
packing opium in tubes and boxes whereby the contents of the tubes are not only
perfectly protected but also the closing, sealing, and packing thereof is effected in
such a manner as to insure the greatest possible security against unauthorised
opening, any attempt at such opening leaving unmistakeable traces.
The invention consists mainly in the peculiar mode of closing the tin tubes
filled with definite quantities of opium. These tubes are then packed in rows in
boxes and these are enclosed in a securely fastened wrapper.
These boxes are
lastly arranged in groups in packing cases for transport.
The various stages of the above process are shewn on the accompanying drawings
together with the appliances employed therefor.
Fig. 1 shews in thirteen stages the process of closing and stamping smaller
tubes;
Fig. 2 shews, in seven stages, the same process for larger tubes, partly carried
out by hand.
Figs. 3 and 4 shew in longitudinal section and plan a box in which the tubes are
packed in rows.
Figs. 5 and 6 shew the wrapper of the boxes, and Fig. 7 shews the clamp for
securing the same.
Figs. 8 and 9 shew respectively in longitudinal sectional plan a packing case
with ten such boxes.
The tubes are filled to a certain height with opium as indicated by the dotted
line a at Fig. 1 stage 1. The empty upper part is then pressed flat as at 2, and
at the same time or immediately afterwards the flattened part 6 has the grooves 6¹
impressed in it, as at 3, and is then folded twice over at such grooves as at 4 to 9.
By such folding over there will consequently be six layers of metal laid one
upon the other, which are then rivetted together by means of an eyelet or other
rivet.
For this purpose the part 6 of the tube is perforated as at 10, and into the
hole c is introduced an eyelet d as at 11, which is flattened down as at 12. Lastly
the part 6 has writing stamped upon it round the rivet as indicated by the dotted
line e at 13, such as the date of filling and mark for the contents, such as "Opium
Control Office in Lower India."
The quantity of the contents is advantageously stamped in the bottom of the
tube, in figures indicating the weight.
The process may of course be modified as to the separate stages. For example,
there might be more than two foldings for closing the tube; the rivet might be
formed differently &c.
Fig. 2 shews the closing for larger tubes, which is similar to that at Fig. 1. It
is here assumed that the work of folding over from 2 to 3 is not effected by
machinery as is assumed at Fig. 1, but by hand. The flattening down of the
part 6 and impression of the grooves b' is effected simultaneously with the trimming
of the edge b, by pressure in a suitably constructed tool. The work is in this case
completed in seven stages.

page_text: After filling and closing the tube, the bottom thereof is coated with a thin layer
of varnish, the colour of which is made to indicate the nature of the opium
contained in the tube. The contents of the tube are emptied by perforating the
bottom with a needle and then pressing out the opium. An emptied tube cannot
be filled again, as a mechanical opening of the closure cannot be effected without
destroying the soft metal.
The above described closure also affords means for identifying the genuineness
of the tubes.
For this purpose there may, for example, be impressed at the upper corners of
the flattened part at stage 2 Figs. 1 and 2, private letters or marks such as B X
and A. M, as shewn.
When the tube is folded and secured these marks are hidden, and will conse-
quently serve, together with the date &c. impressed on the outer part, as a secret
identification of the manufacture, as these marks can be varied at intervals of time,
such variations being registered in the books.
Thus it can at any time be ascertained whether a certain tube has been issued
from the authorized factory; for example if a spurious tube should have a certain
mark and date impressed, copied from an empty genuine tube, it might easily be
determined on reference to the books that at the time of sale of the spurious
tube, all genuine tubes of that mark and date had been long since sold and used,
provided the precaution were taken of issuing the tubes strictly in the order of
their manufacture.
The tubes prepared as above described are packed in boxes which are
advantageously of the form shewn in Figs. 3 and 4. These boxes are divided by
partitions k¹ into compartments, in which the tubes stand upright in rows. By this
arrangement the tubes can be readily checked.
The middle partition k² may be made slightly higher than the others. The box
is closed by means of the cover which is stamped with a mark corresponding to
that on the tubes, the colour of the stamp or label being also made to correspond
with that on the bottom of the tube, so as to show the quality of the contents.
These boxes are enclosed in paper wrappers as shewn at Figs. 5 and 6, the flaps
of which are secured by spiked clamps n Fig. 7. Also, on this covering the
contents of the box are indicated by a stamp at o.
These coverings may also have penal enactments & c. printed upon them.
A number of these boxes k, such as 10, are packed in a case s Figs. 8 and 9.
After closing the case, notches are cut in the edges for the reception of a
string v, the knot of which is situated in a recess u and is sealed.
Each case is also marked with a statement as to the contents and time of
manufacture of the opium tubes, in order that the cases may be opened in the
proper succession for the sale of the tubes for the above mentioned purpose.
The method of packing described affords sufficient security against fraud. Any
injury to the outer case or inner box that would enable the tubes to be purloined,
could only be effected on purpose, and not by accident.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Tubes for storing opium, closed by flattening the upper part thereof, forming
grooves thereon, and folding the same together at the grooves, the folded part
being then rivetted together by an eyelet or other rivet, substantially as
described.
2: In tubes for storing opium such as are referred to in the preceding claim,
marking the tubes with dates and the like, both on the inner surface of the folded
portion and on the outer surface thereof for the purpose of insuring a perfect
identification thereof, substantially as described.
3. Packing the tubes referred to in the previous claims in boxes in which they
are arranged in rows between partitions, the said boxes being enclosed in wrappers

page_text: secured by safety clamps, and both the boxes and the wrappers being marked
with a description of the quality of the opium and the date of manufacture,
substantially as described.
1
T..11904
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.