IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF MATERIALS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER, AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Robert Hanham Collyer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 30th
May 1865.
I, ROBERT HANHAM COLLYER, of Brompton, in the County of Middlesex,
M.D., do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF MATERIALS FOR THE
MANUFACTURE OF PAPER, AND OTHER PURPOSES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object an improved process and apparatus for
the treatment of vegetable fibrous materials so as to render them fit for the:
manufacture of paper, and other purposes. The process consists in submitting
straw, esparto, jute, flax, maize, rhea plaintain, and other like vegetable
substances to the action of concentrated or strong caustic alkaline solutions
in the manner hereafter explained, in order to ensure the rapid and uniform
distribution of the alkaline solution (which I prefer to be in a boiling state),
effectually throughout the mass. The material after having been submitted to
the alkaline bath is removed to another vessel where it is heated with steam.
(superheated by preference) or other hot agents until the process is completed.
The immersion in the hot alkaline solution prior to steaming or heating by
the action of fire or of hot air "breaks down" the vegetable fibrous
material, and causes it to occupy much less bulk, so that a comparatively

page_text: small vessel will hold a larger quantity than when the material is put into a
vessel in the raw state. For these purposes I employ a tank or receptacle in
which the alkaline solution is placed. The vegetable fibrous material is first
put into a holder, which is so made that the alkaline liquor will have ready
access to all parts of the material placed in the holder; for this object "the
holder" is constructed of strong angle iron or other suitable frame, which is
filled in on all sides with wirework or other perforated or reticulated material.
By the use of such a holder a large quantity of material may be dipped with
facility, and then removed from the alkaline solution; this is important, as
much time will be saved as compared to what is occupied when putting loose
vegetable fibrous material into alkaline liquor, and then taking it out
peacemeal, after the short steeping which is requisite.
The process of
submitting the material to the alkaline bath in a reticulated holder may be
used with any convenient form of vessel, with or without pressure. The
vegetable substance having been dipped into and removed from the alkaline
solution is to be removed from the holder and placed in a suitable vessel for
the finishing process. The vessel which I prefer to use for this finishing
process is specified under a former Patent, No. 627, March 12th, 1864; but
the hollow trunnion or gudgeon of that apparatus is divided into two parts or
passages, the upper one is used for the supply of water or alkaline liquor, as
required, whilst the lower one conveys the steam, which is superheated by
preference, or hot air, as described in the Specification of my said former
Patent. When vegetable fibrous material has been reduced to a pulp, I
submit it to the action of a cylindrical screening machine, so arranged that a
stream of water flows through it, which carries with it the fine particles of
the pulp, leaving the knots, inequalities, and other impurities. The screening
machine I prefer to revolve in a concave recess, to ensure the presence of a
certain quantity of water to keep the pulp in a liquid or semi-fluid state; the
pulp is introduced into the screen through a hollow shaft by preference.