Improved Means for Facilitating the Separation of Sheets or Pieces of Paper from Rolls or Bundles of the same for Toilet and other Purposes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Oct., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 31st July, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 7th Sept., 1888
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Facilitating the Separation of Sheets or Pieces
of Paper from Rolls or Bundles of the same for Toilet and other
Purposes.
I, SETH WHEELER of Albany, New York, United States of America, Manufacturor,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
--
My invention relates to means for facilitating the separation of sheets or pieces from
rolls or bundles of perforated paper for toilet and wrapping purposes.
In the use of perforated paper as heretofore made two objections or disadvantages
have been found to exist, viz. that it will not in all cases separate squarely on the line
of weakness or line of perforations between adjacent sheets, some care being required
to avoid tearing into and injuring, if not spoiling one or both of the said sheets. Also
that, with the most perfect machinery for perforating in the ordinary manner, more
or less of the small pieces which are intended to be cut from the sheet adhere
sufficiently to be carried along and wound up in the roll, and subsequently appear on
the counter of the shop in which the roll is offered for sale or on the floor of the bath,
toilet or other room, to the annoyance of the shop or housekeeper. This defect is
more serious when the perforating machinery becomes worn or dulled and a consider-
able number of the punchings are left adhering to the strip.
The cost of the perforating punches and dies is large by reason of their large
number and close order. They are difficult to sharpen and when much worn frequent
sharpenings is imperative, as unless the cutting edges are in very good condition, the
most of the punchings will adhere to the strip. The use of knives for incising instead
of taking out a piece of the paper would overcome the objections noted, but a greater
one then appears, in that the line of separation is not readily seen.
It is evident that the first objection is due to the large number and width of the
points of connection between the sheets. it might be reduced by enlarging the
openings. but this would involve a waste of paper and increased difficulty in keeping
the machinery in order; while to reduce the width of the connecting points is
impracticable because, as at present made, the die and stock holding the punches are
so nearly cut in two that it is a delicate affair to handle,

page_text: I find that a combination of the incisions and perforations affords a complete solution
of the problem, the number of perforations being reduced to a minimum the number
required being only sufficient to indicate the line of separation. An incisor knife con-
necting (or nearly so) the perforations the uncut or connecting points may be as narrow
as may be desired, and as this number is also reduced to a minimum it is clear that
no care will be required to separate the sheets properly; neither need there be any
litter due to the punchings and the cost of the punches and dies as well as the difficulty
of maintaining them in working order is materially lessened.
My invention therefore comprises a roll of toilet or wrapping paper containing lines
of weakness, in each line of which are combined alternate perforations and
incisions.
The ends of each incision extend almost up to the adjacent perforations so that a
slight pull upon the paper will very readily separate the sheet, much more readily than if
there were a line of perforations extending entirely across the paper. This reduces the
number of perforations in the line of weakness of the sheet thereby avoiding litter
from pieces of partially cut paper. At same time the number of perforations left, in
combination with the incisions, enables the person tearing off the paper to readily see
the line of weakness.
Dain L
Ostalo 1007
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: UUMI LEIM DIMOITTUATION.
Improved Means for Facilitating the Separation of Sheets or Pieces
of Paper from Rolls or Bundles of the same for Toilet and other
Purposes.
I, SETH WHEELER, of Albany, New York, United States of America, Manufac-
turer, 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:-
My invention relates to means for facilitating the separation of sheets or pieces
from rolls or bundles of perforated paper for toilet and wrapping purposes.
The perforated paper heretofore generally used is objectionable or disadvantageous
for the following reasons, i.:-it will not in all cases separate properly on the line of
weakness or line of the perforations between adjacent sheets, some care being required
to avoid tearing and injuring, if not spoiling, one or both of the said sheets. More-
over with the most accurately made machinery for perforating the paper in the
ordinary manner, more or less of the small pieces which are intended to be cut from
the sheet adhere sufficiently thereto to be carried along and wound up in the roll, and
subsequently appear on the counter of the shop in which the roll is offered for sale,
or on the floor of the bath, toilet or other room in which the roll is suspended for use,
to the annoyance of the shop-keeper or housekeeper. This defect is more serious when
the perforating machinery becomes worn or dulled, and a considerable number of the
pieces intended to be punched out are left adhering to the strip.
The cost of the perforating punches and dies is great by reason of their large number
and close order. They are difficult to sharpen, and, when much worn, frequent
sharpening is imperative, as, unless the cutting edges are in very good condition, the
most of the pieces intended to he punched out will adhere to the strip. The use of
knives for forming incisions in the paper instead of taking out a piece of the same
would overcome the objections above mentioned, but a greater objection then appears,
in that the line of separation is not readily seen. It is evident that the first objection
is due to the large number and width of the points or strips of connection between the
sheets. It might be reduced by enlarging the openings but this would involve a waste
of paper and increased difficulty in keeping the machinery in order; while to
diminish the width of the connecting points or strips is impracticable, because, as at
present made, the die and stock holding the punches are so nearly cut in two that it is
a delicate affair to handle.
I find that a combination of the incisions and perforations affords a complete
solution of the problem, the number of perforations being greatly reduced, as they are
only required to indicate the line of separation. By employing an incisor or knife
forming incisions which connect or nearly connect the perforations, the uncut or
connecting points or strips may be left as narrow as desired, and, the number of con-
necting points or strips being greatly reduced, it is clear that no care will be required

page_text: to properly separate the sheets; neither need there be any litter due to the pieces left
adhering to the paper instead of being punched out. Morcover the cost of the punches
and dies and the difficulty of maintaining them in working order are materially
diminished.
My invention, therefore comprises a roll of toilet or wrapping paper containing
lines of weakness in each of which are combined alternate perforations and
incisions.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown in front elevation a roll of toilet paper
perforated according to my said invention.
a is the roll of paper;, bare the incisions; c. c, are the perforations made between
the ends of the said incisions; the said perforations and incisions being in the same
straight line.
Each incision b extends almost to the adjacent perforations, so that a slight pull
upon the paper will very readily separate the sheet, the separation being effected much
more readily than if there were a line of perforations extending entirely across the
paper. The number of perforations in the line of weakness of the sheet is greatly
reduced therefore there will be very little if any liability to litter from pieces partially
cut or punched from the paper. At the same time the perforations in combination
with the incisions enable the person tearing off the paper to readily see the line of
weakness.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it understood
that I claim :-
A roll of toilet or wrapping paper containing lines of weakness formed by com-
bined perforations and incisions, substantially as described.
Dated this 31st day of July 1888.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant