IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER HANGINGS, AND IN THE MACHINERY TO BE USED IN SUCH MANUFACTURE
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Doctor Graham, of Over Darwen, in the County of
Lancaster, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
MANUFACTURE OF PAPER HANGINGS, AND IN THE MACHINERY TO BE USED IN
SUCH MANUFACTURE" A communication
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Doctor Graham at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 18th
October 1855.
I, DOCTOR GRAHAM, of Over Darwen, in the County of Lancaster, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENT3
IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER HANGINGS, AND IN MACHINERY TO BE USED IN
SUCH MANUFACTURE," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates, first, to the application or employment of a certain
now material in the manufacturo of paper hangings, for the purpose of
improving the appearance of the surface or "grounding" of the paper, and
facilitating the subsequent operation of printing. Hitherto in printing on
glazed papers, or "satin" papers as they aro usually called, it has been found
necessary to print by hand blocks, as when the pattern colors have been laid
by mechanical means on glazed or satin papers they have been found not to
lie evenly on the glazed surface. To obviate this, I prepare the surface with a
peculiar kind of clay, known in the United States of America as New Jersey
clay, and which is also known by that name in this country among manufac-

page_text: turers.
It will be obvious that other clays containing or possessing substan-
tially the same elements and characteristics may be employed instead of New
Jersey clay, and I find it useful to damp the paper after the grounding color
is laid on, and previous to the subsequent operation.
proper
rollers
The second part of the Invention relates to the machinery employed in the
"grounding" of paper hangings, or applying the ground color thereto, and in
polishing or glazing the said ground color before the paper is printed with
the pattern. According to the processes hitherto in use in this country, the
ground color, if laid by mechanical means, was extremely liable to be laid
unevenly. The object of this part of the Invention is to obviate this difficulty,
and the manner of effecting this object may be thus explained. The color for
the ground having been prepared by the admixture of the requisite ingredients
and brought to a proper consistence, is placed in the color trough of the
grounding machine; the length of paper to be operated upon is placed on a
foller in the machine, and conducted over, under, or between the
or brushes for taking up and distributing the color on the paper.
The operation of the machine is as follows:-Upon putting the machine in
motion, a roller mounted in the color trough, and which may be denominated
the color roller, is caused to rotate and take up the color from the trough,
and transfer a portion thereof to a felt roller above, and with which it revolves
in contact, the quantity of color thus transferred to the felt roller being regu-
lated partly by adjustable doctors or scrapers, which are kept in contact with
the surface of the color roller, and partly by causing the rollers to press against
each other, by means of set screws, or other equivalent contrivances. The
felt roller is also made adjustable in its bearings, so that it may be pressed
more or less against the color roller, and thus made to take up more or less
color. The paper to be operated upon is carried round another roller, which
may be called a bed roller, and is pressed up against the felt roller, and as the
paper travels forward the felt roller will transfer the color to it. Immediately
above the bed roller, round which the paper passes, is mounted a vibrating
brush, and by communicating motion to this brush, which is in contact with
the colored surface of the paper, the color which has been deposited by the
felt roller on the paper will be distributed laterally thereon. The paper then
passes over a second roller, above which is mounted a rotating or cylindrical
brush, which will further assist in distributing the color in a longitudinal
direction on the surface of the paper. From thence the paper passes over a
horizontal table, above which is mounted a system of brushes, which have
a circular or kind of sun and planet motion communicated to them by means
of suitable gearing. These brushes, by means of their circular horizontal

page_text: motion, complete the operation of "grounding," by evenly distributing the
color over the surface of the paper, so as to present one uniform appearance.
The paper is then dried, when it may be submitted to the operation of the
polishing machine.
It should be observed, that as it may be necessary for some purposes to vary
the speed of the color and felt rollers, which feed the color to the paper, these
parts may be driven by bands, passing over conical barrels or rollers, and by
moving the driving bands along these conical rollers or barrels, the speed of
the above-mentioned parts may be increased or diminished at pleasure, the
velocity of the other parts remaining the same.
The paper having been grounded with color throughout its whole length,
as above described, and wound on a suitable roller or drum, the latter is
transferred to the polishing machine, which consists principally of a large drum
or cylinder, over which the paper is passed to a second drum, at the opposite
end of the machine. Around the large drum are mounted any convenient
number of rotating brushes, the axles of which are adjustable in their bearings,
so that the brushes may be made to press more or less on the surface of the
paper. Upon putting the machine in motion, the paper is made to travel
slowly through the machine, and the rotary brushes, having a rapid rotary
motion communicated to them, will act upon the colored surface of the paper,
and impart a fine polish or finish to it.
In place of the polishing machine just described, a machine constructed
somewhat on tho principle of the grounding machine above described may be
employed for the purpose. When a machine of this kind is employed, the roller
containing the grounded paper to be operated upon is mounted in bearings at
one end of the machine, and the paper is conducted over a horizontal table,
above which are mounted a series of brushes, to which a horizontal circular
motion is communicated as the paper is made to pass slowly through the
machine, and when the surface has been polished the paper is wound on a
second roller at the opposite end of the machine, from which, when the
operation is completed, the roller with the polished paper thereon may be
removed.
5
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Doctor Graham in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th April 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DOCTOR
GRAHAM, of Over Darwen, in the County of Lancaster, Manufacturer, send
greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her.Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Doctor Graham, Her special license that I, the said Doctor Graham, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Doctor
Graham, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OP PAPER HANGINGS, AND IN THE MACHINERY TO BE USED IN SUCH MANUFACTURE,"
being a communication from abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said Doctor Graham, by an instrument in writing under my hand and
seal, 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 Doctor Graham, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
This Invention of "Improvements in the Manufacture of Paper Hangings,
and in the Machinery to be used in such Manufacture" relates, first, to the
application or employment of a certain new material in the manufacture of
paper hangings, for the purpose of improving the appearance of the surface
or "grounding" of the paper, and facilitating the subsequent operation of
printing.
Hitherto in printing on glazed papers, or "satin "papers as they are usually
called, it has been found necessary, in order to produce the best finished work,
to print by hand blocks, as when the pattern colors have been laid by me-
chanical means on glazed or satin papers they have been found not to lie
evenly on the glazed surface. To obviate this, I prepare the surface with a
peculiar kind of clay, known in the United States of America as New Jersey
clay, and which is also known by that name in this country among manu-
facturers. It will be obvious that other clays containing or possessing sub-
stantially the same elements and characteristics may be employed instead of
New Jersey clay; and I would remark, that I have sometimes found it useful

page_text: to damp the paper after the grounding colour is laid on, and previous to the
subsequent operation of printing.
I would here observe, that I find that New Jersey clay, that is, the clay I
propose to use for the purpose of grounding paper hangings, differs from
ordinary china clay in the relative proportion of the two chief ingredients,
viz, silicic acid and alumina, for I find, upon analysis, that New Jersey clay
contains silicic acid and alumina in nearly equal proportions, whereas the other
clays contain about eighteen per cent. of silicic acid in excess. There can be
no doubt that the bland and soapy qualities which the New Jersey clay
possesses are due to the large proportion of alumina which it contains. The
clay may be called a sesquisilicate of alumina, that is, it contains two atoms of
alumina to every three atoms of silicic acid; whereas the other clays are
bisilicates of alumina, that is, they contain only one atom of alumina to every
two atoms of silicic acid; and any clay, therefore, that contains the above
ingredients in the proportions named may be used for the purposes of the
Invention; I do not, therefore, intend to confine myself to the use of New
Jersey clay, but propose to use other clays consisting of sesquisilicate of
alumina, or in which the atoms of alumina are to those of silica as two is to'
three.
The second part of the Invention relates to the machinery to be employed
in the "grounding" of paper hangings, or applying the ground colour thereto,
and in polishing or glazing the said ground color before the paper is printed
with the pattern.
According to the processes hitherto in use in this country, the ground color,
if laid by mechanical means, was extremely liable to be laid unevenly. The
object of this part of the Invention is to obviate this difficulty, and the manner
of effecting this object will be best understood by reference to the accom
panying Drawings, in which I have shewn various views of the improved
machinery which I intend to employ for "grounding."
Fig. 1, Sheet I., is a longitudinal section, Fig. 2 an end elevation, and
Fig. 8 a plan view, of the machine. a is a roller, on which the paper to be
stained is wound; bis the trough containing the color to be applied to the
paper, and within the trough b is the color roller c, which delivers the color
to the felt roller d. The paper to be grounded passes from the roller a partly
round the roller e, then over the endless belt f on the table g, where it is
grounded, and from whence it is conveyed away in the ordinary manner by
the endless belt f, which is conducted over the rollers h and i, the former being.
made to rotate at an uniform velocity in the following manner :--At the back
of the machine is a short shaft j (see Figures 2 and 3), on which the driving

page_text: pulley is mounted. This shaft also carries a spur pinion k', that gears into the
wheel on the cross shaft 1, and at the opposite end of this shaft is a pinion P,.
that gears with the pinion ', which is fixed on the axle of the roller h, above
referred to. The rollers e and d are also driven at an uniform speed by the
pinion gearing into the pinion on the axle of the said roller e, and also
with the pinion d¹ on the axle of the roller d. The speed of the color roller c
(within the trough 6) may be varied by means of the conical drums m and n,
shewn by dots in Fig. 3. The roller m is driven by a strap passing over the
pulleys h³ and m³. The conical roller m drives the other conical roller n by
means of a band passing over the two rollers. On the axle of the roller n is
a pulley n', which by means of a strap gives motion to the pulley c¹ on the
axle of the roller c, as shewn by dots in Figures 1 and 2. Above the roller e
is mounted a vibrating brush o, which is moved to and fro in the following
manner-A pulley by means of a strap drives the pulley p on the cross
shaft p' below, and at the other end of this shaft is fixed the bevel wheel på,
that gears into a pinion on the lower end of the upright shaft q (seen best
in Fig. 2). At the upper end of this shaft 9 is a disc q', in which is a
crank pin that gives motion to the connecting link q, one end of which
fits on a stud projecting from the back of the brush o, and therefore as
the disc q rotates, it will, by means of its crank pin and link q, move
the brush o to and fro, while the roller e rotates beneath it. Above the
roller his mounted a revolving brush r, to which motion is given by the
pinion h², and the intermediate wheels r³, 13, and r³, the latter of which gears
into the pinion 7, fixed on the axle of the rotary brush r. Above the table g
are the brushes 8, to which a sun and planet motion is given in the following
manner-On the axle of the brush r is fixed the pulley h³ for driving the
pulleys on the shaft s², to which is fixed a bevel pinion s³ that into the
wheels, which revolves on a stud fixed in the bracket t. To the bevel wheel s
are attached the star piece s' and spur wheel s", the latter gearing into the four
pinions s', revolving on studs fixed on the star pieces. The pinions & have
excentric studs for the brushes s to revolve upon. The mode of operation is
as follows: The color is placed in the trough b, and the paper having been
wound on to the roller a, is made to pass between the rollers d and e, and tho
color deposited thereon by the felt roller d, the amount of colour being regulated
by the feed roller c, which is tightened more or less against the felt roller d
by means of the set screws u, Fig. 2, which act on the bearings of the roller c,
and as the said set screws are provided with wing heads, the attendant can
tighten the rollers together to suit the quantity of color required. The roller d
is also pressed against the paper as it passes over the roller e by means of an
gears

page_text: adjusting screw B, fixed in the framework of the machine. As soon as the
paper passes under the brush o, the color deposited thereon is distributed
laterally by the to and fro motion of the said brush; the paper is then
brought under the action of the revolving brush r, which assists in laying
the color evenly, and this object is finally accomplished by the rotating and
revolving action of the brushes s. When the greatest velocity is to be given
to the color roller c, the attendant brings the strap on the cones m and n to
the front of the machine, as shewn by the dotted lines v in Fig. 3, and when
the least velocity is required, the cone strap is moved to the opposite end:
of the concs, and any intermediate velocity can be obtained by fixing the cone
strap guide in the desired position. In order to regulate the delivery of the
color to the selvages of the paper, the color roller c is acted upon by the
doctors, Fig. 1, which are made of wood, and are covered with leather or
other suitable material.
The paper having been grounded with color throughout its whole length,
as above described, and wound on a suitable roller or drum, the latter is:
tranferred to the polishing machine, which consists principally of a large drum
or cylinder, over which the paper is passed to a second drum at the opposite
end of the machine; around the large drum are mounted any convenient
number of rotary brushes, the axles of which are adjustable in their bearings,.
so that the brushes may be made to press more or less on the surface of the
paper. Upon putting the machine in motion, the paper is made to travel
slowly through the machine, and the rotary brushes having a rapid rotary
motion communicated to them, will act upon the coloured surface of the paper,
and impart a fine polish or finish to it.
On Sheet II., Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation, and Fig. 5 a side elevation, of
the machine I employ for polishing the paper after it has been grounded in the
machine just described. a is a cast-iron drum, the surface of which is turned
true, and to it a slow rotary motion is communicated by means of suitable
gearing, hereafter described. Around this drum a are mounted in suitable
bearings six or other convenient number of rotary brushes b; c is the main
driving shaft, provided with fast and loose pullies d and e; f.f, are other.
pulleys, also fixed on the driving shaft c, one on each side of the machine;
these pulleys by means of straps give motion to the pulleys 6' on the axles
of the rotary brushes b; the shaft c also gives a slow rotary motion to the
main drum a by means of the cone pulleys 9, the strap of which drives the
cone pulleys h, which revolve loosely on the shaft of the main drum. To
the boss of the pulleys his fixed a spur pinion m, gearing into a toothed
wheel n, fixed on the same shaft as the pinion o, which gears into a wheel p, .

page_text: 9
keyed on to the shaft of the main drum, the paper to be operated upon
having been wound on the roller q in the grounding machine, already described.
This roller q is placed in the left-hand brackets of the framing. From the
roller the paper is passed under the guide roller r, and is taken over the
main drum a, and between it and the rotary brushes b, as indicated by the red
lines in Fig. 4. Upon communicating motion to the rotary brushes, and
causing them to act upon the stained surface of the paper, they will produce:
the requisite finish or polish. The bearings of the rotary brushes 6 are,
adjustable, being provided with set screws and hand wheels s, Fig. 4. By
means of these set screws and hand wheels s, the bearings of the brushes
be adjusted so as to cause the brushes to act with more or less force on
the paper as required. After the paper has thus been acted upon by the six
brushes, it is guided under the roller v, and then wound on the roller w,
on which it may be transferred to the printing machine or table.
may
In place of the polishing machine just described, a machine constructed
somewhat on the principle of the grounding machine above described may be
employed for the purpose. When a machine of this kind is employed, the
roller containing the grounded paper to be operated upon is mounted in
bearings at one end of the machine, and the paper is conducted over a hori-
zontal table, above which are mounted a series of brushes, to which a horizontal
circular motion is communicated, as is the case with the brushes s, s, in
Figures 1, 2, 3, Sheet I., the paper being made at the same time to pass
slowly through the machine, and when the surface has been polished the paper
is wound on to a second roller at the opposite end of the machine, as in
the machine shewn in Sheet II., from which, when the operation is completed,
the roller with the polished paper thereon may be removed.
Having now described this Invention of "Improvements in the Manufacture.
of Paper Hangings, and in the Machinery to be used in such Manufacture," as
communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and having explained the
best means with which I am acquainted for carrying the same into effect, I
would observe, in conclusion, that although I have stated that it is New
Jersey clay which has been found most applicable for the purposes of the
present Invention, yet I do not mean or intend to confine myself exclusively
to this material, as any other clay possessing the same properties will of course
answer the intended purpose equally well.
In reference, therefore, to this part of the present improvements, I claim the
use for the purpose of grounding paper for paper hangings of the sesqui-
silicate of alumina, in which the atoms of alumina are to those of silicic acid
as two is to threc. I claim the use of clays of this character, for the purpose.

page_text: above set forth, whether they be obtained from New Jersey or from other
localities.
I
In reference to the machinery for grounding and polishing the paper,
claim the use of the machine shewn in Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings,
or any mere modification thereof, in which the quantity of colour supplied to
the paper is regulated by means of the conical drums m and n, whereby the
speed of the colour and felt rollers can be varied at pleasure, and also the
application of the felt roller for delivering the color from the colour roller to
the paper. And I further particularly claim the use of the brushes s, 8, to
which a sun and planet motion is communicated, for the purpose of evenly
distributing the colour over the surface of the paper.
In reference to the polishing machines, I claim the use of the machine
shewn in Sheet II., or any mere modification thereof, for the purpose above
mentioned. And also the use of polishing machines, constructed substantially
in the manner shewn in Sheet I. I claim particularly the use of the brushes
8, s, to which a sun and planet motion is communicated on the table, so as to
cause them to rotate in the manner above described, for the purpose of
polishing the grounded paper for paper hangings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Doctor Graham, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Seventeenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
Witness,
SAMUEL KAY, of Over Darwen,
Lancashire.
DOCTOR GRAHAM. (L.S.)