AN IM- PROVED PROCESS FOR REDUCING WOOD TO A FIBROUS CONDITION FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER STUFF OR PULP
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Augustus Bryant Childs, of 16, Mark Lane,
London, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "AN IM-
PROVED PROCESS FOR REDUCING WOOD TO A FIBROUS CONDITION FOR THE
MANUFACTURE OF PAPER STUFF OR PULP."
Sealed the 7th January 1870, and dated the 12th October 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Augustus Bryant Childs
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 12th October 1869.
I, AUGUSTUS BRYANT CHILDS, of 16, Mark Lane, London, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR REDUCING WOOD TO A FIBROUS CONDITION FOR
THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER STUFF OR PULP," to be as follows:-
The object of my improvement is the mechanical separation of the
fibres of all kinds of suitable woods for the purpose of making paper.
Many different machines have been constructed and used for this
purpose, some by first planing the wood into shavings, then chopping,

page_text: bruising, or crushing the shavings by various processes for separating
the fibre preparatory to making the pulp.
Another method practised is by first sawing, cutting, or splitting the
wood into suitable sized strips in line with the grain or obliquely thereto,
then pressing or crushing the fibre asunder by passing the strips between
one or a series of sets of rolls.
Another method employed is using a series of combs or teeth made to
revolve or alternately reciprocate for cutting and separating the fibre
preparatory to making it into pulp by soaking or boiling in water,
grinding, bruising, or crushing, and after subjecting it to the usual
chemical treatment for washing, bleaching, cleaning, and coloring
ready for making into paper by any of the usual ways.
It has been found by experience that the processes heretofore used for
separating or mechanically preparing the fibre of wood has proved too
expensive to use it as a material for making paper, and some of the
processes heretofore employed have so much injured the fibre as to make
it unfit for use.
By my improved process these defects are remedied by cheapening the
mechanical means of preparing the wood and saving the quality of the
fibre, and in the meantime make the fibre of any required length con-
sistent with the nature of the wood used and process of preparing the
pulp.
By my process the wood is first sawed across or at right angles with
the grain into suitable lengths, say one half to one inch long, more or
less, to suit the character of the fibre and quality of the paper to be
made; the saw used, by preference, will be circular in form for cheapness
of construction and capable of doing more work with a given amount of
power than other methods of sawing. The pieces thus sawed are first
soaked or boiled in water or subjected to the action of steam for
softening and separating the fibre as much as possible, for lessening the
power required to effect a mechanical separation of the fibre, and at the
same time as much as possible while the wood is in the block state,
to soften, destroy, and deprive it of sap and unctuous matter. The
mechanical separation of the fibre of the wood thus sawed and prepared
is effected by passing it between a set of rolls or a series of sets of rolls
of proper diameter and length, so that the ends of the fibre of the wood
will come against or are acted on by the surface of the rolls, and thus
By compressing the wood endwise the fibre of it is laterally separated

page_text: with the least possible injury to the fibre by breaking or otherwise
damaging it in the mechanical process of separating, which also retains the
fibres in a parallel position with each other, so it may readily be picked,
crushed, or rubbed asunder for making pulp without injuring its quality
or strength, either in the mechanical or chemical process of separating
the fibre after the crushing process is completed. If found necessary,
the surfaces of the crushing rolls will be provided with teeth, or otherwise
made rough by longitudinal or diagonal grooves cut into their surfaces
for letting or drawing the wood in between them in the process of
crushing.
1
In some cases when using the harder kinds of wood, it may be found
necessary to subject it to several compressions before a proper separation
of the fibre is effected; in such cases a series of sets of rolls will be
employed in place of one set, and connected by tables or guide plates
for conducting the wood from one set of rolls to another. When using
two or a series of sets of rolls their surfaces will be adjusted at suitable
distances apart for equalizing the work required to be done by each set;
for instance, if three sets are employed for crushing blocks of wood
seven-eighths of an inch long or thick to a half inch thick, the surfaces
of the first set of rolls will be set three-quarters of an inch apart, the
second five-eighths of an inch, and the third one-half of an inch apart;
or it may be found necessary to give the first set of rolls in a series less
work to do than the others as far as reducing the thickness of the block
of wood in crushing, owing to the fact that the first set will have to
break all the fibres asunder from their natural strength of adhesion,
after which their resistance to crushing will be much less and more
easily effected. One or a series of sets of rotating or stationary metal
brushes may be used by arranging them in front of the rollers, one
just above and the other below where the wood is discharged there-
from, for picking the fibre apart as it is being finally discharged from
the crushing process, thereby advancing its preparation by separating
the fibres to be made into pulp.
This method of separating the fibre of wood by means of pressure
rolls acting on the ends of the fibre is accomplished by the least possible
power, and effected with a simple and cheap constructed piece of
machinery. Other forms of mechanism may be employed for obtaining
the pressure for separating the fibre, for instance, a series of plates
worked by a system of screws and wheels, between which plates the

page_text: blocks of wood could be placed; or the pressure could be effected by
any known system of hydraulic power instead of mechanism for working
such plates; or in place of pressure the process of hammering or
bruising the fibre of the wood asunder by the use of weights made to
fall; or a steam hammer prepared for the purpose could be used, or any
other method of applying a crushing force to the ends of the fibre may
be employed; but for economy rollers will be used in preference to any
of the other methods. After the wood is thus prepared by mechanically
separating the fibre, it is soaked in water, and after rubbed, ground, or
bruised apart by any of the processes of making pulp of fibrous material.
It is then provided in proper proportions with any of the usual chemical
materials for dissolving and separating the quinine matter, washing,
bleaching, and coloring preparatory to making it into paper in the
usual way.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Augustus Bryant Childs in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 5th April 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, AUGUSTUS
BRYANT CHILDS, of 16, Mark Lane, London, in the County of Middlesex,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twelfth day of October, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Augustus Bryant Childs, Her special
licence, that I, the said Augustus Bryant Childs, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Augustus Bryant Childs,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, 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 "AN IMPROVED
PROCESS FOR REDUCING WOOD TO A FIBROUS CONDITION FOR THE MANUFACTURE
OF PAPER STUFF OR PULP," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Augustus Bryant Childs, my executors or administrators, by

page_text: 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 Augustus Bryant Childs, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
The object of my improvement is the mechanical separation of
the fibres of all kinds of suitable woods for the purpose of making
paper.
Many different machines have been constructed and used for this
purpose, some by first planing the wood into shavings, then chopping,
bruising, or crushing the shavings by various processes for separating.
the fibre preparatory to making the pulp.
Another method practised is by first sawing, cutting, or splintering.
the wood into suitable sized strips in line with the grain or obliquely
thereto, then pressing or crushing the fibre asunder by passing the strips
between one or a series of sets of rolls.
Another method employed is using a series of combs or teeth made to
revolve or alternately reciprocate for cutting and separating the fibre
preparatory to making it into pulp by soaking or boiling in water,
grinding, bruising, or crushing, and after subjecting it to the usual
chemical treatment for washing, bleaching, cleaning, and coloring ready
for making into paper by any of the usual ways.
It has been found by experience that the process heretofore used for
separating or mechanically preparing the fibre of wood has proved too
expensive to use it as a material for making paper, and some of the
processes heretofore employed have so much injured the fibre as to
make it unfit for use.
By my improved process these defects are remedied by cheapening the
mechanical means of preparing the wood and saving the quality of the
fibre, and in the meantime make the fibre of any required length con-
sistent with the nature of the wood used and process of preparing the
mln

page_text: By my process the wood is first sawed across or at right angles with
the grain into suitable lengths, say an half to one inch long, more or
less to suit the character of the fibre and quality of paper to be made.
The saw used by preference will be circular in form for cheapness of
construction and capable of doing more work with a given amount of
power than other methods of sawing. The pieces thus sawed are first
soaked or boiled in water or subjected to the action of steam for softening
and separating the fibre as much as possible for lessening the power
required to effect a mechanical separation of the fibres, and at the same
time as much as possible while the wood is in the block state to soften,
destroy, and deprive it of sap and unctuous matter. The mechanical
separation of the fibre of the wood thus sawed and prepared is effected
by passing it between a set of rolls or a series of sets of rolls of proper
diameter and length, so that the ends of the fibre of the wood will come
against or are acted on by the surface of the rolls and thus by com-
pressing the wood endwise the fibre of it is laterally separated with the
least possible injury to the fibre by breaking or otherwise damaging it
in the mechanical process of separation which also retains the fibres
in a parallel position with each other, so that it may be readily picked,
crushed, or rubbed asunder for making pulp without injuring its quality
or strength, either in the mechanical or chemical process of separating
the fibres after the crushing process is completed. If found necessary the
surface of the crushing rolls will be provided with teeth, or otherwise
made rough by longitudinal or diagonal grooves cut in their surface
for biting or drawing the wood between them in the process of crushing.
In some cases when using the harder kinds of wood it may be found
necessary to subject it to several compressions before a proper separation
of the fibre is effected. In such cases a series of rolls will be employed
in place of one set, and connected by tables or guide plates for conducting
the wood from one set of rolls to another. When using two or a series
of sets of rolls their surface will be adjusted at suitable distances apart
for equalising the work required to be done by each set, for instance, if
three sets are employed for crushing blocks of wood seven-eighths of an
inch long or thick to half an inch thick the surface of the first set of
rolls will be set three-quarters of an inch apart, the second five-eighths
of an inch, and the third one-half inch apart; or it may be found
necessary to give the first set of rolls in a series less work to do than
the others as far as reducing the thickness of the block of wood in

page_text: crushing, owing to the fact that the first set will have to break all the
fibres asunder from their natural strength of adhesion, after which the
resistance to crushing will be much less and more easily effected. One
or a series of rotating or stationary metal brushes may be used by
arranging them in front of the rolls one just above and the other below
where the wood is discharged therefrom for picking the fibre apart as it
is being finally discharged from the crushing process, thereby advancing
its preparation by separating the fibres to be made into pulp.
.
This method of separating the fibres of wood by means of pressure
rolls acting on the ends of the fibre is accomplished by the least possible
power and effected by a simple and cheaply constructed piece of
machinery. Other mechanism may be employed for obtaining this pressure
for separating the fibre, for instance, a series of plates worked by a
system of screws and wheels, between which plates the blocks of wood
could be placed; or the pressure could be effected by any known system
of hydraulic power instead of mechanism for working such plates; or in
place of pressure the process of hammering or bruising the fibre of the
wood asunder by the use of weights made to fall on a steam hammer
prepared for the purpose could be used, or any other method of applying
a crushing force to the ends of the fibre may be employed; but
for economy rollers will be used in preference to any of the other
methods. After the wood is thus prepared by mechanically separating
the fibres it is soaked in water and rubbed, ground, or bruised apart by
any of the processes for making pulp of fibrous material. It is then
provided in proper proportions with any of the usual chemical materials
for dissolving and separating the gummy matter, washing, bleaching, and
coloring preparatory to making it into paper in the usual way.
In order to obtain a better understanding of the Invention I will now
refer to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and forming part of this Speci-
fication, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, similar
letters refer to corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a crushing machine provided with three
sets of rolls; Fig. 2 is an end elevation; Fig. 3 is a top view; and
Fig. 4 is a longitundinal sectional elevation of the machine shewing a
transverse section of the crushing rolls.
A, A, are side frame pieces constructed to receive the bearing boxes
c, c, c, in which the rolls E, E, W, W, and X, X, revolve for crushing
the wood. The wood is first placed between the first set of rolls E,

page_text: the rolls, or longitudinal grooves only cut over their surfaces from three
to four inches apart more or less for nipping the wood will answer the
same purposes. The body of the rolls in the present case are cast
hollow, as represented in Fig. 4, and provided with cast ends for the
journals and attaching the wheels and pinions, or if preferred the rolls
may be cast separate and provided either with wrought or cast shafts ;
when made of small diameter they are cast solid and provided with ends
for journals and attaching the wheels and pinions.
The wood for crushing is first prepared by sawing it into suitable
lengths transversely or across the grain, then softening it by steaming
or otherwise, as before stated; it is then placed on the table R in front
of the first set of rolls E and passes between their surfaces as represented
at N, Fig. 4, and so on between the second and third sets of rolls, as
represented at O and P. The conducting or guiding tables R, R, between
the rolls will be made adjustable for properly presenting the wood to
the rolls.
In witness whereof, I, the said Augustus Bryant Childs, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fifth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.