IMPROVE- MENTS IN DRYING PAPER, PASTEBOARD, AND SIMILAR FABRICS, AND IN THE MACHINERY, APPARATUS, OR MEANS EMPLOYED THEREIN
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Peter McLaurin, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN DRYING PAPER, PASTEBOARD, AND SIMILAR FABRICS, AND IN THE
MACHINERY, APPARATUS, OR MEANS EMPLOYED THEREIN."
Sealed the 19th January 1864, and dated the 17th September 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Peter McLaurin at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 17th
September 1863.
I, PETER MCLAURIN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North
Britain, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN DRYING PAPER, PASTEBOARD, AND SIMILAR FABRICS, AND IN
THE MACHINERY, APPARATUS, OR MEANS EMPLOYED THEREIN," to be as follows, that
is to say :-
This Invention relates to the arrangement and construction of machinery,
apparatus, or means suitable for effecting the drying of pasteboard, paper, and
similar fabrics or materials in an expeditious and economical manner.
Under one modification of the improved machinery a belt driven by a
contiguous prime mover gives motion to a horizontal shaft arranged near the
floor of the drying room and parallel with the sides of the drying apparatus ;
this main shaft has keyed to each of its extremities a bevel wheel, and the one.
at the front end of the machine gears with a bevel wheel on a short vertical
shaft, which carries at its upper end a bevel pinion that gears with a corre-

page_text: sponding wheel carried on the end of a horizontal shaft extending across the
front part of the machine. This shaft is arranged at the outward extremity of
the framing which carries the whole of the apparatus, and it has fitted to it a
drum, round which is passed the first of a series of endless travelling belts that
serve to carry the sheets of pasteboard through the machine. The first belt
extends upwards in an angular direction. passing over a guide roller and then
extending in a horizontal direction to the back part of the machine where it
passes round an adjustable drum and extends towards the front of the machine
where it passes over a second guide roller parallel with the upper one, and from
thence down to the drum first referred to. A second endless travelling belt
is arranged below the first one, below this is a third one, and more may be
added if required. These endless belts each pass round a pair of drums or
cylinders arranged one at the front and the other at the back part of the
'machine, the shafts of the drum being carried in brackets bolted to the framing.
The brackets at the backward end of the machine are made with horizontal slots
so that the bearings of the drum shafts may be traversed to and fro.by means of
a screw passing through the end of the bracket and actuated by a hand wheel
outside the bracket. This arrangement affords the means, of tightening the
endless belts from time to time as required. The belts are driven from the bevel
wheel on the backward end- of- the main driving shaft, which gives motion
to a corresponding wheel keyed on a vertical shaft arranged at the side of
the machine and opposite the ends of the drum shafts. This shaft has fitted
to it bevel pinions which give motion to the corresponding wheels on the ends
of the drum shafts. Besides the endless belts before referred to there is a
supplementary belt arranged at each end of the machine, which serves to
transfer the pasteboard from one belt to another as it passes through the
machine. Each of these supplementary belts is carried round a drum
arranged opposite the end drum of each travelling belt and around guide
rollers fitted between the upper and under surfaces of the travelling belts.
These belts derive their motion from frictional contact with the travelling belts
that carry the pasteboard through the machine. When the machine is in
operation the pasteboard is carried along the first travelling belt to the back
of the machine where it. passes in between the first belt and, the end supple-
mentary belt by. which it is carried on to the belt. below, the exposed sides of
the pasteboard being reversed in the turning. The pasteboard travels along
the second belt to the front of the machine, where it is conveyed by the supple-
mentary belt on to the third travelling belt, after passing along which it is
conducted on to a fourth belt and. then emerges from the machine. In its
passage along these belts the pasteboard is exposed to the action of heated

page_text: air which is admitted in any convenient manner from the lower part of the
room. Thus, as the pasteboard is carried through the machine the moisture'
is driven off, and the material is dried in a rapid and very effective manner.
The extent of the traversing surfaces being of course regulated. to suit the
particular kind of pasteboard or other similar fabric to be operated upon. In
drying heavy pasteboard, or millboard, or similar fabrics, the herein-before
described arrangements can be modified in so far as refers to the time allowed
for the drying action. In place of an endless band running throughout the
machine, each line or tier may be arranged to work by itself, provision being
made for setting one or other in motion at pleasure. In such case when one
tier of belting or carrying surface is supplied with material to be dried; it can
be stopped in its traverse and kept at rest until the material is dried. The
next tier is then supplied, and so on throughout the series. For the supply of
the material to the drying tiers.a platform capable of being raised and lowered
by a rack and pinion or by other mechanical means is arranged on the feeding
side of the machine, so that any tier can be attended to at pleasure.
A similar arrangement is made at the delivery end of the machine for the
purpose of receiving the dried sheets at any level.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Peter M Laurin in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
16th March 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PETER
MOLAURIN, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, North Britain, Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Peter M Laurin, Her special license that I, the said Peter
McLaurin, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Peter McLaurin, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and all times there-
after 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 DRYING
PAPER, PASTEBOARD, AND SIMILAR FABRICS, AND IN THE MACHINERY, APPARATUS,

page_text: OR MEANS EMPLOYED THEREIN," upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said Peter McLaurin, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, or under the hand and seal of one of
them, 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 Peter M Laurin, do hereby declarc
the nature of my 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 accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said, Invention relates to the arrangement and construction of machinery,
apparatus, or means suitable for effecting the drying of pasteboard, paper, and
similar fabrics or materials, in an expeditious and economical manner.
Under one modification of the improved machinery a belt driven by a
contiguous prime mover gives motion to a horizontal shaft arranged near the
floor of the drying room and parallel with the sides of the drying apparatus.
This main shaft has keyed to each of its extremities a bevel wheel, and the onc
at the front end of the machine gears with a bevel wheel on a short vertical shaft
which carries at its upper end a bevel pinion that gears with a corresponding
wheel carried on the end of a horizontal shaft extending across the front part
of the machine. This shaft is arranged at the outward extremity of the
framing which carries the whole of the apparatus, and it has fitted to it a drum
round which is passed the first of a series of endless travelling belts that serve
to carry the sheets of pasteboard through the machine. The first belt extends
upwards in an angular direction, passing over a guide roller, and then extending
in an angular direction passing over a guide roller, and then extending in a
'horizontal direction to the back part of the machine, where it passes round
an adjustable drum extending towards the front of the machine, where it
passes over a second guide roller parallel with the upper one, and thence
down to the drum first referred to. A second endless travelling belt is
arranged below the first one, below this is a third one, and more may be added
if required. These endless belts each pass round a pair of drums or cylinders
arranged one at the front and the other at the back part of the machine, the
shafts of the drums being carried in brackets bolted to the framing. The
brackets at the backward end of the machine are made with horizontal slots,
so that the bearings of the drum shafts may be traversed to and fro by means

page_text: of a screw passing through the end of the bracket and actuated by a hand wheel
outside the bracket. This arrangement affords the means of tightening the
endless belts from time to time as required. The belts are driven from the bevel
wheels on the backward end of the main driving shaft which gives motion to a
corresponding wheel keyed on a vertical shaft arranged at the side of the machine
and opposite the ends of the drum shafts. This shaft has fitted to it bevel pinions
which give motion to the corresponding wheels on the ends of the drum shafts:
Besides the endless belts before referred to there is a supplementary belt
arranged at each end of the machine which serves to transfer the pasteboard
from one belt to another as it passes through the machine. Each of these
supplementary belts is carried round a drum arranged opposite the end drum
of each travelling belt, and around guide rollers fitted between the upper and
under surfaces of the travelling belts. These belts derive their motion from
frictional contact with the travelling belts that carry the pasteboard through
the machine. When the machine is in operation the pasteboard is carried
along the first travelling belt to the back of the machine, where it passes in
between the first belt and the end supplementary belt by which it is carried on
to the belt below, the exposed sides of the pasteboard being reversed in the
turning. The pasteboard travels along the second belt to the front of the
machine, where it is conveyed by the supplementary belt on to the third
travelling belt, after passing along which it is conducted on to a fourth belt
and then emerges from the machine. In its passage along these belts the
pasteboard is exposed to the action of heated air which is admitted in any
convenient manner from the lower part of the room. Thus as the pasteboard
is carried through the machine the moisture is driven off and the material is
dried in a rapid and very efficient manner. The extent of the traversing.
surfaces being of course regulated to suit the particular kind of pasteboard or
other similar fabric to be operated upon. In drying heavy pasteboard or
millboard, or similar fabrics, the herein-before described arrangements can bo
modified in so far as refers to the time allowed for the drying action. In
place of an endless band running throughout the machine, each line or tier
may be arranged to work by itself, provision being made for setting one or
other in motion at pleasure. In such case when one tier of belting or carrying
surface is supplied with material to be dried, it can be stopped in its traverse,
and kept at rest until the material is dried. The next tier is then supplied,
and so on throughout the series. For the supply of the material to the drying
tiers n platform capable of being raised and lowered by a rack and pinion or
by other mechanical means is arranged on the feeding side of the machine,
so that any tier can be attended to at pleasure. A similar arrangement is,

page_text: made at the delivery end of the machine, for the purpose of receiving the
dried sheets at any level.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood I shall
now proceed to describe the several Figures on the two explanatory Sheets of
Drawings which I have hereunto appended for the purpose of showing certain
modifications under which my said Invention is or may be judiciously carried
out in practice, the same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts
throughout the whole of the Figures, that is to say,-
Figure 1, on Sheet 1, is a sectional elevation of my improved paper and
pasteboard, drying machine; Figure 2 a partial plan of the same corresponding
to Figure 1.
In Figure 1, A represents the casing of the chamber formed of planks of
wood fastened to the upright pieces A¹; these pieces extending from the floor
to the ceiling of the apartment in which the machine is erected, the inside is
covered with a dark coloured paper to absorb as much heat as possible, whilst
tho exterior is whitened to prevent as little heat as possible from escaping by
radiation. Doorways with doors for closing them air-tight are formed in the
sides of the chamber, through which access is or may be had to any part or
parts of the machinery contained in it. Towards each interior end of the
chamber there are fixed the upright cast-iron standards Band B', those marked B
carrying all the revolving drums or barrels C, over which the main series of
endless belts D pass with the exception of one marked C¹, over which the
lowest set or series of endless belts D pass; this lower barrel C¹ being carried
in a bearing fixed to the upright standard B¹ nearest to the feeding end of the
machine, and situated immediately above and inside the inclined mouth E,
through which the sheets of paper as they are dried fall into the basket F placed
to receive them. Outside, and placed at some distance from the feeding end
of the chamber A are fixed two other cast-iron standards B, to which adjustable
bearings carrying the central shaft of the revolving drum G are fastened. The
top series of endless belts D passing over the top barrel C at the further end of
the machine, and over two small barrels H and H¹ working in bearings fixed
to and projecting from the upright standards B' at the feeding end of the
machine, thence passing through the openings H2 are carried around the
barrel G, the outer portion of this series of belts forming by this arrangement
an inclined plane. The bearings of all the revolving drums, barrels, or rollers C,
at the feeding end of the machine are made capable of being adjusted by the
screws I, which act against the exterior of them, and thus cause them to be
moved either backwards or forwards in the slide brackets J, into which they
are fitted, this arrangement being for the purpose of imparting the requisite

page_text: amount of tension to the several series of endless bands D. The shafts of the
drums or rollers C may, if desired, be made hollow, and steam or heated air
may be forced through them into the barrels or rollers for the purpose of
imparting an additional drying action to the sheets of paper or pasteboard as.
they pass around them. Instead of using warmed atmospheric air for heating
the chamber, other gases may in some cases be employed, either separately or
in combination with atmospheric air, and may be heated in any convenient
manner. On the shafts of the drums or barrels C, at that end farthest from.
the feeding end, are keyed or otherwise fixed spur wheels N ; these wheels are
made severally and individually to gear into one another, so that when motion
is communicated to any one of them, this causes the whole of them to revolve
in the required direction; or instead of imparting the requisite rotatory motion
to the several barrels by means of spur gearing they may be driven by fixing
bevil wheels upon one end of each shaft C, and acted upon by the bevil
pinions 1 fixed to the vertical revolving shaft 2, shown in the Drawings-by red
lines, the vertical shaft being driven by means of a bevil wheel 3 fixed on its
foot or lower end, and gearing into a similar pinion 4 on a horizontal shaft 5;
extending along underneath the floor of the chamber A, and if necessary a
similar bevil pinion 4' is fixed in the further end of the horizontal shaft
gearing into a bevil wheel 3' on a short vertical shaft 6 for the purpose of
imparting corresponding rotatory motion to the exterior drum or revolving
barrel G, motion being primarily communicated to the horizontal shaft in any
convenient manner from any source of prime motive power. The whole of
this last-mentioned system of gearing is shown in Figure 1, in red lining.
It is obvious that when rotatory motion is communicated to the set of revolving.
barrels C at the further or inner end of the chamber, that they by means
of the endless belt D, passing over them communicate similar motion to the
barrel C at the feeding end of the machine. Extending across under the top
lines or layers of the several series of endless travelling. belts D are the small
revolving rollers K; these are carried in bearings shown in the Drawings, fixed
to the upright wooden frames A¹ of the chamber, and are for the purpose of.
supporting the several sets of endless belts. There are also placed the guide
rollers K', having on them projecting annular ribs or rings, the spaces
between these rings being equivalent in width to the breadth of the belts or
bands D and D, their use being for guiding the two series of belts upon one
another, and also for more evenly gripping the edges of the sheets of paper or
pasteboard as they pass through the machine. Placed at each end of the
chamber are the several revolving barrels L, carried in bearings fixed to the

page_text: standards B and B with the endless belts or bands D' passing over them, the
arrangement of these will be best understood by referring to their position and
path of motion relatively to the main revolving barrels and belts, as shown in
the Drawings, when it will be seen that as the sheets of paper shown by the
red lines M in Figure 1, and red lined rectangular figures M, Figure 2,
are placed on the inclined exterior portion of the top series of endless belts D,
they, by the travelling motion of the belts, are carried up the incline through
the opening H³, this opening being closed with cloth or canvas for the
purpose of retaining the air or gases as much as possible in the casing A, and
as indicated by the arrows are carried along the horizontal portion of this top
series of belts marked 1, until they arrive at the further barrel C, whence they
are guided by the supplementary belts D' (which pass over the surface of the
barrel C), between the barrel C and the supplementary belt. D' on to the next
or second series of endless belts marked 2, which from the action of the spur
gearing moves in the reverse direction to the first or upper series; the sheets
are now brought by the travelling action of this second belt to the feeding end.
of the machine where they are guided by the supplementary belt D¹ round the
first barrel C, on to the third series of endless belts or barrels marked 3 at the
feeding end of the machine, again they are carried by this series of belts, which
moves in the same direction as the upper or first set or series until they arrive
at the barrel C at the driving end of the machine over and between which and
the supplementary belts D', which pass over a portion of its surface, they are
guided on to the series marked 4 of endless belts, and so on successively
through the remaining series of travelling endless belts, until they arrive at
the last or lower series, whence they are finally discharged thoroughly desiccated
through the mouth or opening E, closed by the moveable cloth or canvass
cover E. The other openings H2 being similarly closed by some soft flexible
material for the purpose of retaining the heat in the chamber. The sheets of
paper or pasteboard to be dried or desiccated, are placed successively on the
inclined portion of the top series of endless belts, and thus the action of the
machine is made continuous, the speed of travel of the sheets through the
entire machine is regulated to suit the thickness and nature of the sheets being
thus treated; and one mode of effecting this is by means of a belt passing
over the conical pulleys O, shown in red lining at Figure 2, the lower one
being fixed to a shaft driven in any convenient manner, the upper conical
pulley being placed or fixed on one of the shafts, revolving cylinders, drums, or
rollers C. The belt or strap being shifted on the surfaces of the pulleys by a
belt fork until the requisite speed is obtained.

page_text: The system, mode, or arrangement of apparatus or means I prefer to use
for heating the said chamber is that for which Letters Patent were granted to
John Weems, on or about the 29th day of June 1855, and numbered 1489.
This apparatus is shown in vertical section at P, Figure 1, one modification
of which consists of an iron cylinder or casing Q, having a set or series of
metallic tubes R, which are securely and tightly fitted into it. On the under
part of the casing Q are fitted the two ducts S and S', through one of which
(S) is admitted steam, by preference, and for the sake of economy, that
which is exhausted from the cylinder of an adjacent steam engine, whilst the
other duct S', is for the purpose of carrying off any condensed steam that, may
accumulate therein.. This admission of the steam raises the temperature of
the apparatus, and when thus raised to the required extent a current of air is
urged through the tubes R, by means of a fan or blower not shown in the
Drawings, but situated below the curved duct T, the air is admitted into the
fanner box in the ordinary manner through central openings, these openings'
having a passage with a large superficial area connected directly to them, the
sides of this passage being covered with a coarse canvas. The use of this last-
mentioned arrangement being for the purpose of enabling the air that passes
through the fanner, thence into the chamber, being supplied free from dust.
As the current of air passes through the tubes R, its temperature becomes
raised to the required extent, it then passes in this heated state up through
the duct U, into the chamber A, containing the travelling machinery, and as
the sheets of paper or pasteboard travel through the chamber thus heated
they become thoroughly dried. The mouth of the duct U is fitted with an
inlet valve V, so that the admission of heated currents can be regulated at
will. As the moisture is evaporated from the paper, the air in the chamber
becomes saturated with it to a considerable extent, and, ultimately, if allowed
to collect an amount of water would settle in the chamber; to prevent this
two ducts W are situated one at each end of the chamber, through which the
aqueous vapour as it is formed, and becoming thus specifically heavier than
the surrounding medium, falls as indicated by the arrows, these ducts W being
fitted with valves to regulate the emission of the aqueous vapour, and at the
same time to regulate the heated currents as well as to prevent an undue
amount of opening which would cause an excess or waste of heated air to
escape. Or instead of placing this heating apparatus or arrangement below
or outside the chamber A, as shown in Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings;
it may also be situated in the interior of the chamber as indicated at P¹ by
red lining. This closed chamber is provided with thermometers and barometers
which may be made to regulate the valves and also for the purpose of measuring

page_text: the temperature and specific gravity of the heated air contained in it. Instead
of feeding the machine on the inclined portion of the top series of belts D, the
action of the whole may be reversed. In this case it is necessary to extend
the lower series of endless belts D, beyond or outside the feeding end of the
machine, as indicated by red lining at Figure 1, passing over the revolving
barrel. G¹, fixed to the outer standard B. When the machine is thus
arranged the sheets of paper are first laid on the outer portion M¹ of the
lower series of endless belts D, and the machine travelling in the reverse
direction to that herein-before described they travel up through it, and are
finally discharged in a thoroughly desiccated or dried state from the top series
of endless belts D, passing thence down over the inclined portion of this series
into a receptacle placed for them to fall into.
Figures 1, 2, and 3, Sheet 2, represent certain other modifications or
arrangements of the moving or travelling parts of my paper and pasteboard
drying machine.
In Figure 1, A represents in section the sides, top, and floor, of the closed
chamber in which the travelling machinery is placed. In this modification
the revolving cylinders, drums, or barrels C, at each end of the chamber
carrying the several series of endless belts D, revolve in bearings fixed to
vertical standards similar to those herein-before described in reference to the
first modification, the bearings at one end being adjustable for the purpose of
imparting the requisite amount of tension to the endless belts or bands D.
The top line or layer of each series of such belts is supported at intervals
along its length by the several small supporting rollers K, similar to those
herein-before mentioned in reference to the first modification.
On referring more particularly to Figure 1, it will be seen that in this
arrangement or modification the several series of travelling endless belts are
parallel to one another, and that the lower one, marked 1, is longer than the
rest, being constructed to pass over a barrel C placed on the exterior portion
of the chamber A; on this projecting or outside portion are laid by the
attendant the sheets of paper or pasteboard to be desiccated, which, according
to this arrangement, travel up through and on the successive series of endless
belts D, as indicated by the arrows, until they arrive at the top series marked 5,
whence they are finally discharged in a dried state through the inclined
mouth E on to the platform E¹. As the sheets of paper in this modification
gradually pass along the lower series of belts 1, they arrive at the inner end
or that end furthest from where they are fed on the belts, and then by the
travelling action and position of the supplementary series of endless belts D¹
at the inner end, passing over the supplementary rollers C', a portion of this

page_text: series of belts acting against or on and moving in isochronous concert with the
periphery of the roller C at the inner end, are carried between the surfaces of
the belts and roller until they arrive on the series of endless belts marked 2,
whence they are again carried to the feeding end of the machine, and passing
in a similar manner between the supplementary belts Dat the end of the
machine, and the roller or barrel C, they pass on to the next series of travelling
endless belts marked 3, and so on successively, until they arrive at the top
series, whence they are, as herein-before described, finally discharged through
the inclined mouth E on to the platform E in a thoroughly desiccated or
dried state; or instead of causing the paper to be fed into the lower end of
this arrangement the action of the whole apparatus niay be reversed, and the
top series of endless belts D may be extended to pass over a roller C³, placed
outside the closed chamber A, forming tbus an inclined plane on which the
several sheets of paper or pasteboard to be dried or similarly treated are laid,
whence, by the action of the several series of travelling endless belts D, as well
as the supplementary belts D', they finally arrive and are discharged at the
lowest end of the chamber. The whole of this series may be driven or
actuated by a set of spur wheels fixed one on each shaft of one set of barrels C,
shown in red lining, and gearing into one another, or they may be actuated
by bevil wheels fixed one on each shaft of one such set of barrels, "being in
gear with similar bevil pinions fixed on a vertical revolving shaft; each of these
arrangements being similar to those herein-before described in reference to the
first modification. The guide rollers K' in this arrangement are situated as
close to the barrels C as possible, and have annular rings or ribs on them for
the purpose of guiding and maintaining in their proper working position the two
sets of endless belts D and D¹. At the lower or bottom part of this chamber
is arranged distinctly and separately from the parts herein-before described a
single series of endless belts passing over the roller C³, placed outside the
chamber, and supported at intervals by the carrying or supporting rollers K;
this series of belts may be actuated by hand, or they may be driven by a
belt L, passing over a pulley fixed on the shaft of the barrel carrying the
series of belts marked 1 at the inner end of the chamber, the belt thence passing
over the fast. and loose pulley on the shaft of the roller C, as indicated in the
Drawing by red lining. This last series of belts is intended more particularly
for the drying of thick card or pasteboard, and it is intended as the sheets are
fed on this series, to an extent that would cover it, to allow it to remain
stationary in the heated chamber A until they have become dried. This
arrangement may also be advantageously used for the drying of such sheets of
paper or pasteboard as those heroin-before alluded to.

page_text: Figure 2 represents another modification of the travelling mechanism. In
this arrangement the sets of belts are not placed parallel to one another as
in the former modification, but by their peculiar arrangement the use of the
supplementary belts is done away with. The first or top series of endless
belts D is first passed round the roller C, placed on the outside of the
chamber A, then passes through two openings H, in the end of the chamber
A, whence it passes over two supporting barrels or rollers H and H', carried
in suitable bearings, they then pass over the roller C, at the inner end of the
chamber. Placed a little above the roller C, at the inner end of the chamber,
is the small revolving barrel or roller C³, over which the second series of
endless belts D pass, the belts are then carried down over a portion of the
circumferential surface of the first roller or barrel C, whence they pass, forming
an acute angle with the first or top series, over the roller or barrel C, at the
feeding end of the machine, returning along the under side of this barrel they
finally pass under and round the second barrel C' at the inner end of the
chamber, and again mect at the small barrel C², thus forming a series of
endless belts. The two next series of endless belts are similarly arranged,
with a portion of them passing over the circumferential surface of the alternate
rollers C at each end of the machine. The last or lowest set of these belts D
is extended beyond the rest to pass over the barrel C, placed on the outside of
the chamber. The belts are supported at convenient intervals along their
length by the small rollers K, as in the former modifications. The requisite
travelling motion is imparted to this arrangement of mechanism by means
of bevil wheels keyed on vertical shafts, these again gearing into similar
wheels on the shafts of the barrels C, at one or both ends of the machine,
motion being imparted to these shafts by means of bevil wheels attached
to the foot of one or both vertical shafts, these again, gearing into similar
wheels fixed on a horizontal shaft, to which motion is or may be communi-
cated from any convenient prime mover. This arrangement of shafts and
bevil gearing is shown at Figure 2 in red lining, marked L. It is obvious
from this arrangement of belts that as the sheets of paper or pasteboard
pass along the top series of belts D, they on ariving at its further or inner
end pass over the inner roller C, and between it, and that portion of the
second series of endless belts, which as herein-before described pass over its
surface, whence they are by this arrangement, brought on to the next series,
and are thus carried on the successive series of belts, as indicated by the
arrows, until the finally arrive at the lowest set, marked 5, whence they are
discharged into a receptacle placed to hold them. Or by causing this arrange-
ment of belts to travel in the reverse direction to that horein-before, specified

page_text: the sheets of paper to be dried are first fed on at the lower sets of belts, whence
they gradually travel up through the several series, and are finally discharged
from the inclined exterior portion of the top series of belts D. In this arrange-
ment the series of belts are guided in the same planes by the rollers K', so
that they work on one another over the roller C, as in the first modification
Sheet 1.
Figure 3 represents a sectional diagram of another modification of the
travelling mechanism. In this, as well as in the afore-mentioned Figures
the several parts marked A represent the casing or chamber in which tho
machinery is placed. In this arrangement each set or series of endless belts
D is isolated and distinct from the other series, forming in itself a complete
set of travelling mechanism. The several rollers or barrels C, over which the
belts D pass, are carried in suitable bearings fixed to the standards B, as in
the foregoing arrangements, these belts D being supported at intervals along
their lengths by the small transverso rollers K. The two ends of this
chamber A are made with large openings equivalent in width and height to the
length and depth of the several sets of rollers placed therein. These openings
are closed by means of sheets of canvas or cloth a, one end of which is
fastened to the self-acting rollers b, the other end being attached to the
upright piece of wood A' attached to each of the tables c and c', and at each
end of the chamber these tables or platforms c and c¹ being moved up and
down in a vertical direction on the vertical racked pillars d by means of a
pinion d' fixed on a stud or shaft working in the framing of the tables c
and c, and actuated by the handles e. On the lower part of the framing
of the table c, at the feeding end of the chamber, is placed a footboard, on
which an attendant stands for the purpose of placing the sheets of paper or
pasteboard, through the opening f, on the travelling series of belts. A pile of
sheets to be passed through the heated chamber is shown at 9 on the feeding
table. As the sheets of paper or pasteboard are thus placed on the several
series of these travelling belts they gradually arrive at the further end of the
machine, whence they are discharged through the inclined mouth f', fixed to
the travelling table c, carrying a receptacle into which they fall. This table
c', as well as the feeding table, can be set respectively to receive the sheets
of paper or pasteboard as they come dried from one series of travelling belts
whilst the attendant at the feeding end is placing fresh sheets on those series
from which the dried sheets have been received, in this manner the action of
the machine is made continuous. The sheets of canvas or cloth fixed to
these vertically travelling platforms or tables wind or unwind from their
respective rollers b, as the tables are raised or lowered, that is to say, as the

page_text: tables cand c are moved upwards the top sheet of canvas or cloth a
rolls up on its rollers b, whilst the lower sheet a unrolls from its roller b,
this automatic action of the rollers b, may be produced by means of a spring,
weight, or in any other convenient manner. As much heat would escape
through the transverse openings f and f, and as it is desirable to confine the
heat as much as possible, there are placed inside the sheets of canvas or cloth
.and extending across the chamber the pieces or planks of timber h, with their
upper edges bevilled or formed circular, to come as close as possible to the
rollers or barrels C, their lower parts or edges having fixed to them the strips
of canvas or cloth i, these strips being made to reach down and rest upon the
upper surface of the several series of travelling belts D, thus to a great extent
closing the spaces between the several sets of rollers at the same time tending
to confine the heat. When the table having the opening f attached to it is
brought in front of any one of the sets of bands to be supplied with sheets of
paper or pasteboard to be dried, the attendant in placing the sheets on the
belts, lifts the hanging strips of canvas or cloth i. When this arrangement
of travelling mechanism is used, it is preferred to drive it by means of the
bevil pinions and clutch or coupling arrangement k, carried by the vertical
shaft, the pinions gearing into large bevil wheels, on the shaft of each
barrel C, at one end of the chamber. The clutches of the pinions are
made to slide on a feather in a vertical direction on the shaft k¹, and are
fitted and carried in the forked ends of the hand levers 7, which are actuated
by the attendant, and thus lift the clutches out of gear with the bevil pinions,
in this manner the travelling action of any one or all the series of endless belts
may at any time be stopped, and the sheets may be kept in the chamber for
any desirable length of time.
The mode of applying the heated air in these last-mentioned modifications
of my Invention is similar to that heroin-before described in reference to the
first modification.
The foregoing arrangements may be modified for the purpose of drying
coloured, dyed, or other paper, in the state or form of continuous webs as they
are produced by the paper-making machine, in which case the several series
of endless belts may or may not be employed, and when not employed a series
of rollers for supporting the webs by belts are used. In this case the supple-
mentary reversing belts at each end of the machine may also be dispensed
with. Instead of employing the herein-before mentioned apparatus or means
for heating the chambers it may also.be heated in any other convenient
manner, such as by pipes, flues, stoves, or other arrangement used for
generally similar purposes.

page_text: Having now described the nature my said Invention, and several modifi-
cations under which it is or may be used or practically carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict myself to the
precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to describe or refer
to, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from the true
principles and main features of my Invention, but what I consider to be novel
and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent, is,
First, the general arrangement and construction of machinery,.apparatus,
or means to be used for drying or desiccating paper or pasteboard, substantially
as herein-before described or any mere modification thereof.
Second, the application of closed heated chambers into which the heated
currents of air or other gases have ingress or egress by means of suitable
ducts, and regulated by valves for the purpose of drying pasteboard or paper,
substantially as herein-before described or any mere modification thereof..
Third, the application of closed heated chambers or rooms, in which the
continuously travelling apparatus is placed for the purpose of carrying through
the paper or pasteboard to be dried, and acted upon by the heat in the
chamber substantially as herein-before described, or any mere modification
thereof.
Fourth, the application of closed heated chambers, for the purpose of drying
continuous webs of paper by means of the travelling mechanism, as herein-
before described, or any mere modification thereof.
In witness whereof, I, the said Peter M Laurin, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of March, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-four.
PETER MCLAURIN. (L.S.)