IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF DECORATIVE MATERIAL FOR WALLS AND OTHER DECORATIVE PURPOSES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE SAID MANUFACTURE, THE SAID IMPROVEMENTS BEING IN PART APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF FELT PAPERS AND MILLBOARD PROVISIONAL SPATION
Year: 1883

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to Thomas John Palmer Decorators Salesman of North
Street Carshalton in the County of Surrey. for an Invention of IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF DECORATIVE MATERIAL FOR WALLS AND
OTHER DECORATIVE PURPOSES, AND IN THE MACHINERY OR APPARATUS
EMPLOYED IN THE SAID MANUFACTURE, THE SAID IMPROVEMENTS BEING IN
PART APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF FELT PAPERS AND MILLBOARD
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas John Palmer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd September 1883.
THOMAS JOHN PALMER, Decorator's Salesman, of North Street, Carshalton, in
the County of Surrey IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF DECORATIVE
MATERIAL FOR WALLS AND OTHER DECORATIVE PURPOSES, AND IN THE MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE SAID MANUFACTURE; THE SAID IMPROVEMENTS
BEING IN PART APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF FELT PAPERS
MILLBOARD,
AND
This invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of decorative,
material for walls and other decorative purposes and in the machinery or apparatus
employed in the said manufacture. The said improvements being in part
applicable to the manufacture of felt papers and millboard.
My improvements are as follows. I take any materials such as are or may be
used in the manufacture of paper and prepare the same into a pulpy mass after
the manner in which paper pulp is prepared, and I convey the said pulp onto the
machine in the way practised in the manufacture of paper but in a thick layer
suitable for the purposes of my invention. It has hitherto been difficult, or
impossible in making thick paper material sufficiently to deprive it throughout its
thickness of moisture. To enable this to be done I use an endless blanket of great
absorbent power which I bring onto the top of the pulp and which blanket travels
with the pulp until it reaches, or nearly reaches the couch rolls. I then pass the

page_text: said blanket over a roller to which roller I attach an adjustment to regulate the
thickness of the paper material being made and return the said blanket by passing
it over rollers attached to a special framing, one of which rollers I use as an
expanding roller. I then pass the said blanket between two other rollers where it
receives a pressure to force out the water it has taken up in its passage over the
pulp. Under these pressing rollers I place a suitable box to receive the water
pressed out of the blanket, to which box I affix a suitable pipe to convey the
water beneath the machine or to any suitable place. The paper material having
reached the couch rolls proceeds in the usual way on an endless blanket until it
passes the first pressing rollers. .I now use another endless blanket and an endless
wirecloth of suitable guage. I convey the paper material first onto the wirecloth
and then bring the said wirecloth by means of rollers to the blanket so that the
blanket is undermost, the paper material uppermost, and the wirecloth between
and in this position I convey them between pressure rollers one of which has a
pattern engraved or formed on its surface which pattern will thus become embossed
on one surface of the paper material. The other roller is a plain surfaced roller
to receive the pressure. I thus make a paper material embossed on its face in
solid relief and with a flat back except that the back will have indentations
corresponding with the wirecloth which will render it much easier to secure onto
surfaces. After the paper material has been embossed I separate the wirecloth
from the blanket and convey the said blanket between pressure rollers to press
out the water it received from the paper material when being embossed. Beneath
these pressure rollers I place a suitable box to receive the water, to which box I
attach a suitable pipe to carry off the water. The blanket is then returned by
means of rollers one of which rollers may be a tension regulating roller.
endless wirecloth with the embossed paper material on it I convey upwards over
other rollers which convey the paper material onto drying cylinders or other
suitable apparatus for drying the material, the wirecloth being returned so that it
meets the blanket and travels with it back again over suitable guide rollers to
receive the unembossed paper material as before described.
The
If I desire to emboss the paper material in hollow relief I may leave out the
endless wirecloth before described as used when embossing the paper material in
solid relief and use only the endless blanket.
In making felt paper or millboard I use the same process as before described
until the paper material reaches the couch rolls. From this point I proceed in
the well known way when making felt paper, but if making millboard I may
convey the paper from the first pressing rollers direct to the second pressing rollers,
where I substitute a plain surfaced roller for the embossing roller before described.
From this point I convey the millboard to be dried by some well known or
suitable process.
I may also take previously made thick felt paper or asbestos felt and pass it
through a suitable bath to thoroughly saturate it, the said bath being placed
between the couch rolls and the first pressing rollers and then proceed to emboss
a pattern on it by the same processes as before described.
If I desire to parchementize my paper material I may do so in some well known
way during the progress of the material through the machine.
By the herein before mentioned term paper material I mean any material or
pulp which can be treated as paper is treated in its manufacture.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas John Palmer in the Patent Office on the 3rd March 1884.
THOMAS JOHN PALMER Decorator's Salesman of North Street Carshalton in
the County of Surrey "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF DECORATIVE
MATERIALS FOR WALLS AND OTHER DECORATIVE PURPOSES AND IN THE MACHINERY
OR APPARATUS EMPLOYED IN THE SAID MANUFACTURE THE SAID IMPROVEMENTS
BEING IN PART APPLICABLE TO THE MANUFACTURE OF FELT PAPERS
MILLBOARD
"
AND
My Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of decorative material
for walls and for other decorative purposes and in the machinery or, apparatus
employed in the said manufacture the said improvements being in part applicable
to the manufacture of felt papers and millboard as hereinafter explained. In
carrying my Invention into effect I take any materials such as are or may be used
in the manufacture of paper and prepare the same into a pulpy mass after the
manner in which paper pulp is customarily or may be prepared and I convey the
said pulp onto the wire cloth of a paper making machine in the way practised in
the manufacture of paper but in a thick layer suitable for the purposes of my
.Invention. A difficulty in, or impediment to, the making of a thick paper material
has hitherto been the depriving it sufficiently of moisture throughout its thickness.
To effect this I use an endless blanket or web of great absorbent power which
I bring onto the top of the pulp on the wire cloth and I cause the said blanket or
web to travel with the pulp preferably until it reaches the couch rolls. I then
return the said blanket or web over suitable rollers causing in its passage the
water which it has taken up from the pulp to be pressed therefrom. The layer of
paper material having reached the couch rolls proceeds on an endless blanket.
(which may be like that used with ordinary paper making machines) until it
reaches the first pressing rollers. I now take the said layer of paper material onto
a wire cloth or a blanket or absorbent web or both of them and convey the said
layer upon one or other or both of them between pressure rollers or devices the one
of which next the layer of paper material has a pattern cut or otherwise formed
upon it corresponding to the pattern or design to be impressed upon the paper
material. I can thus make a material for decorative purposes composed of thick
paper material in imitation of carved or other work. The last named blanket or
absorbent web when used is passed back by means of rollers and the water is
pressed from it. The material thus produced may be subsequently dried or
treated in any desired way. Certain of the improvements may be applied to the
manufacture of felt papers and millboard as hereinafter explained.
more
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood I shall now
particularly describe it referring to the accompanying Diagram which represents
the way a paper making machine may be arranged for carrying into effect the
purposes of my Invention. In the said Diagram I have not considered it necessary
to shew all the parts of the framing and details of the machine and its attachments
as they and the means for giving motion to the moving parts may be of any
suitable description as will be readily understood by any one conversant with
paper making machinery. I do not limit myself to the precise arrangements of the
rollers or guides indicated as it will be quite evident that they may be varied
without departing from the nature of my Invention.
Referring to the said Diagram; Any materials that are or may be used in the
manufacture of paper are prepared into a pulpy mass after the manner in which
paper pulp is prepared and I convey the said pulp onto the wire cloth of tho

page_text: machine in the way practised in the manufacture of paper but in a thick layer
that is to say in a mass thick enough to give a material suitable for the purposes
of my Invention. findicates the said wire cloth which may be arranged as in an
ordinary paper making machine. It is necessary in making this thick layer of
paper material to provide means for sufficiently depriving it of moisture throughout
its thickness. For this purpose I use an endless blanket or web a of great
absorbent power which I cause to bear upon or come in contact with the upper
surface of the layer of pulp as it passes over the suction boxes. and to travel with
it until it reaches or nearly reaches the couch rolls b. I then pass the said blanket
back over a roller c (to which roller I may attach an adjustment to regulate it
according to the thickness of the paper material being made) and return the said
blanket by passing it over rollers. This may be effected by the arrangement
shewn consisting of the rollers d and e under and over which respectively the
blanket is passed. One of these rollers may be used as an expanding roller to
keep the blanket in proper tension. I may use a brush roller scraper or cleaner as at g
for the purpose of cleaning off any pulp that may have adhered to the said blanket.
I then pass the said blanket, between two other rollers hi where it receives a
pressure to force out the water it has taken up in its passage over the layer of pulp
and under these rollers I place a suitable receptacle to receive the water pressed
out of the blanket. A pipe may be affixed to this receptacle to convey the water
to beneath the machine or to any suitable place. The blanket then passes over the
roller back to the layer of pulp. The layer of paper material having reached the
couch rolls b is carried on an endless blanket until it reaches and is carried
between and past the first pressing rollers m. I now use another endless wire
cloth P and another endless blanket n and I convey the layer of paper material
from the blanket & first onto the wire cloth p and then bring the said wire cloth by
means of rollers q r onto the blanket n so that the said blanket is undermost, the
layer of paper meterial uppermost, and the wire cloth between them, and in this
position I convey them between pressure rollers stone of which (that s) has a
pattern engraved or formed on it which pattern will be embossed on one surface of
the paper material as it passes under it. The other roller t is a plain surfaced
roller to receive the pressure. I thus produce an ornamental paper material
embossed on its face in solid relief and with a flat back except that the said back
will have indentations corresponding with the wires of the wire cloth p which will
render it much easier to secure onto the surfaces which it is to be used to ornament
than it would be if the back were smooth. After the paper material has been
embossed I separate the wire cloth p and the paper material from the blanket n
and convey the said blanket between pressure rollers u to press out the water it
received from the paper material whilst it was being embossed. Beneath the
pressure rollers u I place a receptacle to receive the water to which receptacle I
may attach a pipe to carry off the water. The blanket is returned by means of
rollers vvvvv (one of which rollers, say that v', may be a tension regulating
roller) to the entering roller r. The endless wire cloth p with the embossed paper
material on it I convey over a roller or rollers as at w and I then convey the
paper material onto drying cylinders or into or onto other suitable apparatus for
drying the material the wire cloth being returned as shewn so that it meets the
paper material and blanket n and travels with them back again between the
rollers 8 and t as herein before described. I may use the equivalent of the wire
cloth p in place thereof, for example I may use a band or sheet of perforated metal
and for certain kinds of material I may omit the blanket n in which case a brush
scraper or cleaner should be used to act upon the pressure roller t to clear it of
water. If I desire to emboss the paper material in hollow relief I may leave out
the endless wire cloth p or its equivalent and use only the endless blanket n.
the diagram I have marked the line indicating the paper material x.
In
In making felt paper or millboard I use the herein before described means for
operating on the layer of paper material until it reaches the couch rolls. From
this point I proceed in the well known way when making felt paper but if making

page_text: millboard I may convey the layer of paper material from the first pressi ng rollers m
direct to the second pressing rollers s t where I substitute a plain surfaced roller for
the embossing roller s. From this point I convey the millboard to be dried by any
suitable means.
I may also take previously made thick felt paper or asbestos felt
and pass it through a suitable bath to thoroughly saturate it (the said bath
being placed between the couch rolls and the first pressing rollers m) and
then proceed to emboss a pattern on it by the same processes as herein before
described.
If I desire to parchmentize my paper material or to waterproof it or to colour
it or treat it in any way to cover its surface or impregnate it with any matter I
may do so by any well known or suitable means during its progress through the
machine or at any suitable or convenient point or stage of its manufacture.
"
By the herein before mentioned term " paper material I mean any material or.
pulp which can be treated as paper is treated in its manufacture.
If desired I may pass the layer of material under or against more than one.
embossing roller or device.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the manner of using it
or carrying it into practical effect I would observe in conclusion that I do not
limit myself to the precise details hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
accompanying Diagram as the same may be varied without departing from the
nature of my Invention but what I consider to be novel and original and therefore
claim as the Invention secured to me by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters
Patent is
First-The manufacture of decorative material for walls or for other decorative
purposes by treating paper pulp or paper material in the manner substantially as
herein before described.
Second-The machinery or apparatus for the manufacture of decorative
material or felt paper or millboard from paper pulp or paper material consisting
in the combination with paper pulp preparing apparatus of a blanket or web of
absorbent material for abstracting moisture as the pulp or material passes to the
couch rolls and also of pressing or pressing and embossing or pattern impressing
rollers or devices all substantially as hereinbefore described.
Third In apparatus for producing decorative material or felt paper or
millboard from paper pulp or paper material the employment in combination with
suction boxes and the wire cloth passing thereover of a blanket or web of absorbent
material for the purpose of abstracting moisture throughout the thickness of
the pulp or material as it passes to the couch rolls substantially as hereinbefore
described.
:-
Fourth In apparatus for the manufacture of decorative material from paper
pulp or paper material the employment of wire cloth or its equivalent and a
blanket beneath upon which wire cloth or its equivalent the pulp or paper material
is received after it passes the first pressure rollers the said pulp or paper material
being passed (when upon the wire cloth or its equivalent with the blanket beneath)
between rollers or devices whereby the decorative design is raised in solid relief
upon one side or the face of the said pulp or material the other side or back being
produced flat or virtually flat all substantially as herein before described.
Fifth In apparatus for the manufacture of decorative material from paper
pulp or paper making material the employment of an endless wire cloth or its
equivalent upon which the layer of paper material is received after it passes the
first pressure rollers the said layer of paper material being passed whilst upon the
said wire cloth or its equivalent between rollers or devices whereby the decorative
design is produced upon the said material substantially as herein before described.
Sixth: In apparatus for the manufacture of decorative material from paper
pulp or paper making material the employment of a blanket upon which the layer
of paper material is received after it passes the first pressure rollers the said layer
of material being passed whilst upon the said blanket between rollers or devices

page_text: whereby the decorative design is produced upon the said material substantially as
herein before described
Seventh-The combination with apparatus for producing a layer of paper pulp
or paper making material of a roller or device or rollers or devices having upon it
or them the design to be produced upon the said pulp or material and so arranged
as to act upon the said layer of pulp or material as it is passed beneath or in
contact with the said roller or rollers or device or devices and thereby produce
the required design on the said pulp or material substantially as herein before
described.
Eighth The general arrangement and combination of parts constituting the
machinery for the manufacture of decorative material from paper pulp or paper
material substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying
Diagram.
Ninth A material for decorative purposes manufactured directly from paper
pulp or paper making material substantially as herein before described.
In witness whereof I the said Thomas John Palmer have hereunto set my
hand and seal this twenty seventh day of February in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty four.