Certain Improvements in the Art of Making Paper in separate Sheets
Year: 1810

page_text: WHEREAS His most Excellent Majesty King George the Third did, by
His Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Fourth day of De-
cember, in the forty-eighth year of His reign, give and grant unto me,
Thomas Cobb the younger, of Calthrop House, near Banbury, in the County
of Oxford, Paper Maker, my exors, adññors, and assigns, His Majesty's
especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said
Thomas Cobb the younger, my exors, adñiors, and assigns, during the term
of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, my Invention of "Certain Improvements in the Art of Making
Paper in separate Sheets," within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, and also in all His Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad;
and I, the said Thomas Cobb, did particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, and did
cause the same to be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent, pursuant to a proviso contained in the said Letters Patent for
that purpose.
And whereas His said Majesty did, by His other Letters
Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Sixteenth day of July, in the fifty-
second year of His reign, and noticing the said Letters Patent herein-before
firstly recited, give and grant unto me, the said Thomas Cobb, my exors,

page_text: admors, and assigns, His Majesty's especial licence, full power, sole privilege
and authority, that I, the said Thomas Cobb, my exors, admors, and assigns,
during the term of years therein expressed, should and might make, use, exer-
cise, and vend, my Invention of "CERTAIN FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ART
OF MAKING PAPER IN SEPARATE SHEETS," within England, Wales, and the Town
of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and also in all His Majesty's Colonies and Plantations
abroad; in which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso that if I,
the said Thomas Cobb, should not particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, and cause the same to
be inrolled in His Majesty's High Court of Chancery within four calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the same Letters Patent, that
then the same Letters Patent should cease, determine, and become void, as in
and by the said several Letters Patent, reference being thereunto had, will
more fully and at large appear.
NOW I, the said Thomas Cobb, in compliance with the said proviso con-
tained in the said Letters Patent herein-before secondly recited, do particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention therein mentioned, and
in what manner the same is to be performed, by this Instrument in writing
under my hand and seal, as follows; that is to say:-
The said further improvements do in a great measure bear relation to the
former improvements for which His Majesty's Letters Patent herein-before
firstly recited were granted to me; and, in order to describe the further
improvements, I do set forth herein along with the same a part of the said
former improvements for which the said Letters Patent herein-before firstly
recited were granted to me; and the said further improvements may be ascer-
tained and distinguished from the said former improvements by the description
contained in these Presents, and by comparing the same with the said improve-
ments or Specification, which I have already caused to be inrolled pursuant to
the said Letters Patent herein-before firstly recited.
In the Drawings hereunto annexed, Table 1 affords a perspective view of
machinery for making paper, in which the numbers 1, 1, 1, 1, indicate the
large vat for paper stuff, and 2, 2, 2, indicate the smaller vat, and 3 is a
balance lever having a float attached to one end thereof, and resting upon and
supported by the paper stuff in 2, 2, 2; and the other end of the said balance
lever is connected with a valve in the large vat 1, 1, 1, 1, which closes the
pipe of communication 4 (Fig. 6, Table 3), between the two vats when the
lower vat is sufficiently filled, and the float pressing upwards, but opens the
said pipe whenever, by the consumption of paper stuff from the vat 2, 2, 2,

page_text: the float is allowed to subside, and pull the balance lever downwards by its
unsupported weight, and by this means the height of the paper stuff in the
vat 2,2,2 is kept at a permanant level. 5,5 are cocks through which the
paper stuff is conveyed by the pipes 7, 7, into cisterns 8 and 9. 6 is a bar for
opening both cocks at the same time, and to the same extent; and as the
height of the fluid in 2, 2,2 is constant, the pressure, and also the discharge
or supply through 7, 7, will not vary unless the opening of the cocks be altered.
The cisterns 8 and 9 communicate at top with another long and shallow
cistern 10, 11, made of metal in preference to any other material, and do
supply the same with paper stuff; and in this last cistern is a partition which
runs lengthwise from end to end, and adjustable upwards or downwards, so
that the paper stuff admitted from 8 and 9 shall be made to descend below the
said partition before it can proceed towards the moulds, and thereby the
agitated motion of the said pulp or paper stuff is greatly diminished, and the
same regularly flows down the inclined plane 12, 13, were it is regulated in
width, and from which a strip of cloth, sufficiently long to sweep upon the
wire, conveys it to the moulds; and (if needful for rendering the said paper
stuff still moro regular in its supply, and for preventing all bubbles from
arrising at the moulds) I do fix or place one or more rods or tubes across the
said inclined plane, and I do suspend by arms, or strings, or otherwise, a rod or
tube, or plate of metal, so as to rest upon the side deckles by its two extremi-
ties, as the said deckles pass beneath it. 14, 15 represent the horizontal frame
upon which the moulds are carried by endless belts, or otherwise, as described
in the Specification of the said first herein-recited Letters Patent; but as I
find by experience that a side shake or agitation is as effectual, or even
preferable, to a shake endwise, or in the direction of the motion of the moulds,
and have adopted the same, I do not make use of the rollers M and N of the
former Specification, but employ one and the same roller to work the belts or
straps of the agitable frame, and of the frame P, N of the said former Specifi-
cation, which conveys the moulds to the couching roller R; and instead of the
roller T of the said former Specification employed to tilt the mould, I do make
use of a platform moveable upon an axis or pivots at 19, and counterpoised at
16, in such a manner that when the mould is lodged upon it from the end
roller 18, the platform is not disposed to tilt until the whole weight comes
upon it, and then the part 17 tilts and lodges the mould upon the lower
carrying belts, which convey it back to the man at 20, and the platform
recovers its former position as soon as the mould is so conveyed away. And
further, I do cause a broad or flat stream of water to fall constantly upon the
moulds, while near the roller 18, for the purpose of washing the same previous

page_text: same.
elasticity as to apply itself fairly to the mould, notwithstanding the small eleva-
tion of the cross deckles which divide the sheets. The additional Drawing upon
the flying leaf or piece Fig. 1*, attached to Table 1, shews a method of re-
placing the moulds by the machine, instead of doing the same by hand; and for
this purpose I place the roller V farther out at 25, and when the mould passes
onward from 25, it passes over a small leading roller, and meets an upright
loaded board 26, and pushes the same back, while itself becomes tilted in a
small degree, and has its inner end directed slantwise upwards above the
roller 27, at which time the weighted board recovers its position and pushes
the mould till it is caught by certain studs fixed in the links of a chain, seen at
29, which revolves over the rollers 27 and 28 (of which 28 holds the chain by
teeth, or similar parts), and takes hold of the moulds by their frame bars,
shewn in Fig. 3, Table 3. And as soon as the mould has arrived at and
passed over 29, it becomes lodged upon endless belts revolving over rollers or
pullies, which move somewhat more quickly than the belts of the agitable
frame to which the mould is immediately thereafter conveyed; and the effect
of the said quicker motion is, that each mould in succession becomes closely,
though not too strongly, pressed against the mould immediately preceding the
And further I do, by another method, convey back the moulds to the
place of charging, namely, by fixing by hinges or otherwise attaching the said
moulds by one end, or by the middle or other intermediate parts, to the belt,
chain, or circulating piece, and giving them different bearings on the agitable
frame in or upon which the said moulds slide while receiving the flow of the
paper stuff, and the second steady frame in or upon which they slide when in
progress to or in the act of couching. But as, in the use and application of
this last-described apparatus, it will be requisite that one belt or chain, or sets
of belts or chains, should be used to move the moulds through the whole space
from the man at 20 to the roller at 18, and likewise back from 18 to 20, it
will also be necessary that motion should be given to the said belt or belts,
chain or chains, at one of the said extreme points or places 18 or 20,
instead of at 36, and the shaft roller or pullies 36 will not then be required;
and the Tables or Drawings, numbered 2 and 3, do more clearly explain
and elucidate my said further improvements, and machinery therewith con-
nected and used; and in Table 2, the letters A, A, A, denote wheels that turn
the hogs or agitators to stir up the pulp or paper stuff; B is a wheel on the
roller. 28, which works the chain for taking up the moulds to replace them.
C, the roller which works the belts at a greater rate, so as to keep the moulds
close together while passing under the flow of pulp or paper stuff; D, wheel

page_text: upon the waterwheel shaft, or other first mover which drives the whole;
E, wheel which works the lower pressing roller, and the upper pressing roller,
being kept down by the screws 30, 30, works along with it; F, wheel that
works the pump for returning the water, &c., from the moulds; G, a shaft
upon which is fixed a wheel worked by D, and upon the other end of which is
fixed a wheel which drives the works on the other side of the machine; H,
wheel which gives motion to the shaft 32, carrying the chain or belts for
returning the moulds; M, M, wheels for communicating motion; N, N, N, N,
shafts for communicating motion; 8, the beam to which are attached the rods
for opening and shutting the valve at the bottom of the large vat; p, the rod
to which the valve is attached; 9, the rod to which the float is attached.
I, Fig. 3, the under part of a mould, shewing the bars which are taken hold
of by the chain in lifting it up to replace it, and also the rails upon which it
slides or moves forward, and in each mould there are small points fixed, which
prevent it from slipping upon the belts when in its proper place on the frame.
J, Fig. 4, single moulds in contact with each other, in the manner they pass
under the flow of paper stuff, and resting upon the rails. K, Fig. 5, double
moulds, each of which makes two sheets of paper; R shews the manner in
which the couching roller is covered, so as to enable it to miss the side deckles,
and yield to the cross bars or end deckle on the surface of the moulds.
Table 3, Fig. 6, is a view of the charging end of the machinery. 1, 1, is the
large vat; 2, 2, the smaller vat; 4, pipe of communication, in which is the
valve; 8, 9, small cisterns supporting the metallic cistern 10, 11; 7,7, pipes
communicating from 2 to 8,9; 5, 5, cocks to the said pipes; h, h, pullies
which work the belts for conveying the moulds forward; 14, 15, rails which
support the moulds in the agitable frame; j,j, rails which support the samo
while passing to the couching roller, on all which rails the belts work;
k, k, guides to keep the moulds in a proper direction; L, L, rails that support
the moulds while returning, during which, as well as in most other cases, they
have guides to direct them; 26, the board which stops the mould for the man
to take it up and replace it. Table 3, Fig 7, D represents the waterwheel
shaft, on which is a wheel for working E on the shaft of the lower pressing
roller, and G, that communicates motion to other parts of the machine; Sshows
the manner of working the pump, by which the water and paper stuff received
in a trough beneath the frames that carry the moulds is returned to the vat.
30, 30, screws for regulating the pressing rollers; 31, 31, screws for regu-
lating the couching roller; W, the felt; X, X, shows the manner in which it
is kept stretched in width; 33, 33, levers for throwing the machine out of

page_text: gear; 16, the tilting platform for returning the moulds; 32, 32, shaft that works
the belts or chains for returning them. And in order to render the use and
application of the improved machinery herein-before described more clear and
perspicuous, I do further. declare that the same are to be effected as follows:―
Firstly, the workman at 20 places one of the moulds on the rails of the
agitable frame, whence, by the motion of the machinery, the same is moved
forward by the belts, and receives the flow of paper stuff from the inclined
plane 12, 13, and the workman continues to put on other moulds in regular
succession. Secondly, the said moulds proceed in a state of constant agitation
until they arrive at the shaft or roller 39, where they obtain a different
bearing, and proceed steadily to the couching roller R. Thirdly, the moulds
pass in succession beneath the couching roller, which is moved with precisely
the same rate of velocity, and takes off the paper by causing it to adhere to
the felt. Fourthly, the paper in these circumstances is carried sheet by sheet to
the pressing rollers Y, Y, and is taken off and laid by the workman on the
platform 41. Fifthly, if double moulds be made use of, or such moulds as
make two sheets of paper in width, it will be needful that two persons should
attend to take off and lay the paper. Sixthly, after the moulds have thus been
deprived of their charge respectively, they pass on and are washed near 18,
and conveyed down at 17, as herein-before described, from which place the
same are returned back by the lower belts or chains to the workman at 20 who
replaces them on the agitable frame as before, taking care to keep them close
together while passing under the flow of paper stuff. Seventhly, if the con-
struction of the machine be such as to replace the moulds in manner shewn at
Fig. 1, the moulds are first put on near the roller 28, until the entire set
requisite for the operation of the machine has been put on, and thereafter the
process of passing along through the course of work, and being conveyed back
again in succession, is performed with respect to the said moulds so long as it
may be thought fit to continue the work, as before described.
And lastly, I do declare that the construction, application, and use of the
other parts of the said machinery and improvements, and the manner of
working and operating with the same, are manifest and easy to be understood
from the Drawings themselves, and the descriptions herein-before given.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Cobb, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Twelfth day of November, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and twelve.
THO COBB, Jun'. (L.s.)

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twelfth day of November, in
the year of our Lord 1812, the aforesaid Thomas Cobb the younger came
before our said Lord the King in His Chancery, and acknowledged the Speci-
fication aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified,
in form above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped
according to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Inrolled the Thirteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and twelve.