IMPROVE MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER
Year: 1860

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Fry Reeves, of 11, Walpole Street, Chelsea,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVE
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER."
Sealed the 10th May 1861, and dated the 14th November 1860.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Fry Reeves at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
14th November 1860.
I, JOHN FRY REEVES, of 11, Walpole Street, Chelsea, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER," to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of an improved mode of treating the various kinds
of jute and other fibres of a similar nature, so as to convert them into a first-
class paper pulp.
I prefer, in the first place, to separate the fibres whilst in a dry state, and to
reduce them into small filaments by means of a tearing wheel driven at a
great speed; small feeding rollers firmly grooved longitudinally being fixed
close to the tearing wheel and revolving at a much lower speed. After
passing the fibres through a dusting machine or willow, if such be found
necessary, I boil the fibres in an alkaline solution of adequate strength until
the free colouring matter is extracted. After well washing the fibres I soak
them in a weak solution of chloride of soda or lime, or both combined, gradually
introducing steam in the vat and keeping the whole below boiling point. I

page_text: then immerse the fibres in a bath of chloride of lime of moderate strength,
and add a small quantity of diluted sulphuric or hydrochloric acid thereto.
I next boil the fibres in a weak caustic alkaline solution by means of which
combination a large quantity of colouring matter will be extracted, after which
the fibres should be well washed. I then treat the fibres in a solution of
chloride of soda or lime, or both combined, of moderate strength, when a per-
fect white will be the result, after which I wash until all the chlorine is
removed.
In some cases I prefer, after the first boiling, to subject the wet fibes to the
action of dry chlorine gas, then to boil with a caustic alkaline solution, as
above, after which (the fibres having been well washed) a weak solution of
chloride of soda or lime, or both together, which may be slightly warmed,
will quickly produce a perfect white, when the fibres may be washed and
scoured with diluted acid, and finally washed.
After each of the various washings I pass the fibres through a roller press
of suitable construction, whereby most of the liquid is quickly removed from
the fibre, thereby more effectually cleansing it. In order to change the sur-
faces as much as possible during the action of the bleaching with the chlorine
in solution, and to operate upon large masses of fibre at a time, I propose by
means of a paddle wheel or other suitable contrivance to raise the level of the
liquid in one portion of the bleaching vessel, so as to cause it to flow in a con-
stant current. By these means the fibres will be converted into a well
bleached "half-stuff" from which a first-class paper can be obtained.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Fry Reeves in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th May 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
FRY REEVES, of No. 11, Walpole Street, Chelsea, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty, in the twenty-fourth year of Her.
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Fry Reeves, Her special licence that I, the said John Fry
Reeves, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others, as I,
the said John Fry Reeves, my executors, administrators, and assigns,

page_text: 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PAPER," upon the condition (amongst others) that
I, the said John Fry Reeves, my executors, or admistrators, by 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 John Fry Reeves, 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.
My Invention of "Improvements in the Manufacture of Paper" consists of
an improved mode of treating the various kinds of jute and other fibres of
similar nature so as to convert them into a first-class paper pulp.
In the first place I prefer to separate the fibres in a dry state and to reduce
them into small filaments by means of a tearing wheel going at great speed,
having small feeding rollers finely grooved lengthways, fixed close to the tearing
wheel and revolving at much less speed. After passing through a dusting
machine or willow, if necessary, I boil the fibres in an alkaline solution of
adequate strength until the free colouring matter is extracted. The alkaline
solution may be composed of soda, or potassa, or ammonia, or of ammoniacal
salts, the strength of which must be regulated according to circumstances, and
the nature of the fibre to be operated on. After well washing the fibres I
treat them in a weak solution of chloride of soda or lime, or both together,
gradually introducing steam in the vat; the heat, however, must not be carried
too far, as in this case, the solution might be decomposed into a chloride of
sodium or of calcium, which would have no bleaching effect. I then immerso
the fibres in a bath of chloride of lime of moderate strength, and add a small
quantity of diluted sulphuric or hydrochloric acid; the addition of the acid
must be gradual, and made with caution. I next boil the fibres in a weak
caustic alkaline solution, by means of which combination a large quantity of
colouring matter will be extracted, after which the fibres should be well washed.
I then treat the fibres in a solution of chloride of soda or lime, or both
together, of moderate strength, and a perfect white will be the result, after
which I wash until all the chlorine is removed.

page_text: In some cases I prefer after the first boiling to subject the wet fibres to the
action of dry chlorine gas, then to boil with a caustic alkaline solution as above,
after which (the fibres having been well washed) a weak solution of chloride
of soda or lime, or both together, which may be slightly warmed, will quickly
produce a perfect white, when the fibres may be washed and soured with
diluted acid, and finally washed.
After each of the various washings I pass the fibres through a roller press
of suitable construction, whereby most of the liquid is quickly removed from
the fibre, thereby more effectually cleansing it. In order to change the surfaces
as much as possible during the action of the bleaching with the chlorine in
solution, and to operate upon large masses of fibre at a time, I propose by
means of a paddle wheel or other suitable contrivance to raise the level of the
liquid in one portion of the bleaching vessel, so as to cause it to flow in a
constant current; or any other adequate means may be used to keep the
contents of the vat in constant agitation. By these means the fibres will be
converted into a well bleached "half-stuff," from which a first-class paper can
be obtained.
Having now described my Invention, and how the same is effected and
carried out in practice, I wish it understood that what I claim as new
and wish secured to me by the before in part recited Letters Patent is the
process and method of treating the various kinds of jute and other fibres of
similar nature, so as to convert them into paper pulp after the manner and by
the means as fully set forth in the foregoing Specification.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Fry Reeves, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one.
JOHN FRY REEVES. (L.S.)