IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF RESINOUS GUMS. EMPLOYED TV Tun M & WILD A CURIEDE AF VARNISHING
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Watts and Thomas Charles Watts, both
of No. 24, Leadenhall Street, in the City of London, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF RESINOUS GUMS. EMPLOYED
TV Tun M & WILD A CURIEDE AF VARNISHING "
Sealed the 21st April 1871, and dated the 25th October 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Watts and
Thomas Charles Watts at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents, with their Petition, on the 25th October 1870.
We, CHARLES WATTS and THOMAS CHARLES WATTS, both of No. 24,
Leadenhall Street, in the City of London, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF RESINOUS
GUMS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF VARNISHES," to be as follows :-
The improvements in the treatment of resinous gums employed in the
manufacture of varnishes relate,-
First. To means for effecting the washing of such gums, and the
object is to prevent the several pieces of gum under operation from
coming into forcible contact or acting by concussion on each other in a

page_text: For this purpose the
manner to damage the surface of the gum.
particles of gum to be acted upon are placed in shallow wire or other
openwork trays or receivers with loose or elastic covers fitted to close
in contact with the surface of the gum. These trays have motion given
to them to cause the water or wash liquid to pass through them. An
arrangement we find to answer well for this purpose consists in applying
the trays or receivers to a rotary shaft. To facilitate the circulation of
the wash liquid between the particles of gum in the trays or receivers
part of each of them may on each side be covered with canvas, india-
rubber, leather, or other suitable flexible material, the other part being
formed of reticulate work, and the reticulate work of one side being
opposite the flexible material of the other side.
Also the improvements relate when employing perforated cylinders
in the washing of such gums to immersing the cylinder during the
washing process entirely in the wash liquid."
Also the improvements relate to soaking such gum under pressure.
For this purpose the "liquor "used in the process of "soaking" is by
hydraulic or other suitable pressure forced into the particles of the gum
to render the process more effectual in cleansing the gum.
Also the improvements relate to means for separating gums' from
their loose and drossy particles. For this purpose we pass the gum to be
operated upon in contact with the surface of cylinders or other suitable
means heated to a temperature varying with the particular gum under
operation, but such as will cause it to adhere to the surface of the means
employed and allow of the foreign matter dropping off. The gum so
adhering is then disengaged by knives, brushes, or such like means.
Also the improvements relate to means for affecting the operation of
purpose the
scraping" such gums. For this
scraped" is
gum to be "
held in claws and caused to rotate against rotary traversing or other
suitable cutters.
Also the improvements relate to consolidating, solidifying, or blocking
the gums from small particles. For this purpose the small particles or
pieces of gum are placed in a chamber or receiver, by preference air-tight,
in which they are heated by dry heat to a temperature just sufficient to
cause adhesion of the separate portions without causing fluidity or the
evaporation of the essential properties of the gum.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Charles Watts and Thomas Charles Watts in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 25th April 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, CHARLES
WATTS and THOMAS CHARLES WATTS, both of No. 24, Leadenhall Street
in the City of London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fifth day of October, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said Charles Watts and Thomas Charles Watts,
Her special licence, that we, the said Charles Watts and Thomas Charles
Watts, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we,
the said Charles Watts and Thomas Charles Watts, our executors,
administrators, and assigns, 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 "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE TREATMENT OF RESINOUS GUMS EMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
VARNISHES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Charles
Watts and Thomas Charles Watts, our executors or administrators, by
an instrument in writing under our, 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 we, the said Charles Watts and Thomas Charles
Watts, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say :--
First. The improvements relate to means for effecting the washing of
such gums, and the object is to prevent the several pieces of gum under
operation from coming into forcible contact or acting by concussion on
each other in a manner to damage the surface of the gum. For this

page_text: purpose the particles of gum to be acted upon are placed in shallow
wire or other openwork trays or receivers, with loose or elastic covers
.fitted to close in contact with the surface of the gum. These trays have
motion given to them to cause the water or wash liquid to pass through
them.
An arrangement we find to answer well for this purpose is repre-
sented by side view and cross section in Figures 1 and 2, in which a, a,
are the trays or receivers for the gums to be washed. These trays or
.receivers a are applied as vanes or wings to a rotary shaft b. To facilitate
.the circulation of the wash liquid between the particles of gum in these
trays or receivers part of each of them on each side at a¹ is covered with
.canvas, india-rubber, leather, or other suitable flexible material, and the
other part a² of each chamber or receiver is formed of reticulate work,
and the reticulate work a² of one side of each tray or receiver is opposite
the flexible material a¹ of the other side thereof. This process is
principally applicable to kauri, Manila, Benguela, and animi gums, the
pieces of which being larger than other gums are liable to be materially
damaged by concussion.
The gums to be washed should in most cases be first sifted by any
covenient means; a rotary inclined cylinder perforated with holes of
different sizes, so as to separate the different sizes, answers the purpose
well. The different sizes may be manipulated in trays of the character
above described suitable to each size, and so that there shall be no
great difference in size of the particles in any one compartment. To
produce the best effects these trays when charged are caused to revolve
by the rotation of the axis b, and by preference rapidly, and immersed in
the "wash liquid." In some cases it is beneficial to thicken the liquid
by introducing sand, "washings," or other suitable material adapted
to cause the liquid to act fully on the surface of the gum in its
passage between the particles thereof. In place of a rotary, a lateral,
vertical, horizontal, or other suitable motion may be imparted to the
trays; or the trays may be stationary, and the liquid caused to pass
through them at considerable velocity.
Secondly. The improvements relate when employing perforated
cylinders in the washing of such gums to immerse in such cylinders
during the washing process entirely in the wash liquid.
The principal advantage arising from the employment of such arrange-
ment is that a greater quantity of gum can be worked at a time with

page_text: much less power than when the cylinder is only partially immersed in:
the wash liquid..
Another advantage arising is that by increasing the quantity manipu--
lated at one operation the several particles are brought into contact'
with greater force during the rotation, and thereby effect a better
cleansing.
This second part of the improvements is preferable for the treatment
of the smaller gums, such as Sierra Leone, Lisbon, and Angola.
:
Thirdly. The improvements relate to "soaking" such gums under
pressure. For this purpose the "liquor" used in the process of "soak-
ing" is by hydraulic or other suitable pressure.forced into the crevices
of the gum to render the process more effectual in cleansing. The gum
after such "soaking "under pressure requires less preparation to clean it.
by reason of the liquor used having been well forced into the crevices
thereof where the dross is usually found the hardest and in the greatest
quantity. The pressure used may be varied, but it should not be
sufficient to crack or otherwise deteriorate the gum.
.
Fourthly. The improvements relate to means for separating gums from
their loose and drossy particles. For this purpose we pass the gum to
be operated upon in contact with cylindrical or other suitable surfaces
heated to a temperature varying with the particular gum under operation,
but such as will when it is brought in contact with such surface just
cause it to adhere thereto, and allow of foreign matter dropping off.
The gum thus caused to adhere is afterwards disengaged by knives,
brushes, or such like means. The advantage of this process is the dis-
pensing with hand labour in "picking" small gums containing bark or
other refuse not of a resinous nature. It is, however, applicable only.
to separate particles which would not adhere to the heated surfaces
employed or only slightly so.
For separating the "dark" pieces and dirt or refuse contained in or
on the gum another process is employed.
The gum to be acted upon should be first sifted so as to clear it from
any dust or fine particles of gum which would interfere with the proper
action of the process. We feed the gum to the heated surface by a
hopper or by a cylinder with a reticulate surface.
When a hopper is
employed for this purpose it is desirable that a gradual feed of the gum
be maintained to the heated cylinder so that such gum may be laid
evenly over the surface thereof. This may be facilitated by applying

page_text: slight projections on the heating cylinder and causing the feeding
surface to vibrate, and so as thereby to obtain an even distribution.
Projections or pins are also placed vertically at suitable distances apart
on the feeding surface, but other suitable means may be employed for
this purpose.
These projections on the respective surfaces are not
necessary when a perforated cylinder is used, as the rotation thereof
causes a gradual and even feed. The gum on coming in contact with
the heated cylinder is heated to an even temperature. This heating is
effected by preference by gas jets or lamps, as when heating by steam
the whole cylinder is heated and no water can be introduced for cooling
purposes, and when water is applied outside the cylinder it does not cool
so quickly or properly. The gum on coming in contact with the surface
of this cylinder adheres to it, and as the cylinder rotates the pieces of
bark and other matters drop off. If a few particles of bark should adhere
these may be readily disengaged by a light revolving brush or other
suitable means, care being taken not to dislodge the gum. This cylinder
should contain a quantity of water, so that when it has made about
half a revolution such water will have cooled the cylinder and the gum
thereon. The cylinder may if of large diameter have openings in the
surface of it for the admission of air, when in some cases the water
will not be required, as such air will perform the required cooling. On
further revolution, and when properly cool, the gum on the surface of
the cylinder comes in contact with knives pressed in contact therewith
to disengage the gum. Brushes or other means may be used for this
purpose, but knives we have found preferable. The cylinder then rotates
till it is again heated. In some instances knives and brushes may be
used together, the knives disengaging the principal and larger portions,
and the brushes clearing off the small particles left. When knives and
brushes are used in combination the cylinder does not require to be
cleared so often.
Another arrangement under this head of the Invention is to heat the
cylinder or other surface by suitable means and cause the lower portion
to revolve in a trough containing water, thus applying the cooling on
the outside, but generally in this case the gum requires to be dried after
being detached.
Another arrangement under this head of the Invention is to cause
the gum to be spread on plates or other suitable surface, which are then
placed in racks in a heated chamber, and after receiving sufficient heat

page_text: are taken out and allowed to cool, when the gum may be detached by
any convenient means.
By another modification under this head of the Invention the gum is
fed on to a sheet or band of brass, tin, iron, steel, or other suitable
material traversing or revolving on rollers placed so that the sheet in
traversing is alternately heated to cause adhesion of the gum and allow
of the other matters dropping off, and then cooled. The gum may then
be disengaged from the surface employed in manner already referred
to. Whatever surface may be used as that for causing the adhesion
thereto of the gum under operation, that surface will after working
for some time require to be cleansed from any film or particles of gum
not properly cleared off by the ordinary means employed for clearing
the same, so as to prevent accumulations of matters thereon. This
eleansing may be effected by heating the surface to a high temperature
and then rubbing or scraping and washing with soda alkali or other
suitable means; or by "soaking in a strong solution of soda alkali
or other means for some time, and then well washing and drying.
"
Fifthly. The improvements relate to means for effecting the operation
of scraping such gums. For this purpose the gum to be scraped is held
in claws and caused to rotate against rotary traversing or other suitable
cutters.
Apparatus such as we employ for effecting this part of our Invention
is represented in Figure 3; and by detail views of parts thereof at
Figures 4 and 5. In each of these Figures the same letters are
employed to indicate corresponding parts.
d, d, is the framing of the machine; e is the main shaft or axis by
which motion is imparted to the various parts, such shaft receiving
motion from a steam engine or other suitable power acting by a strap
or band on the drum or pulley e¹ fixed on that shaft e. f is the hopper
or holder in which is placed the gum to be operated upon. This gum
is then fed downwards and held between the two travelling bands g, g,
which are supported and actuated by the rollers g¹, 9³, so that the
gum held by them may be brought into contact with a pair of forked
.holders h, h, and by them held and caused to rotate whilst it is acted
upon by revolving cutters i carried by the traversing frame i¹. Motion
to these parts is obtained in the following manner:- -Upon the axis e
is affixed the toothed wheel j, the teeth of which take into the
teeth of the pinion ; fixed upon the shaft j³, which is formed with

page_text: of
the
a thread to receive a sliding tooth plate k from the frame
the cutter i. When that tooth is in contact with the worm
worm will in the rotation of that shaft cause the frame to move
to the left until the projection of the tooth plate k comes in
contact with the surface 2 of one of the guides o, when the tooth
plate k will be slided up the incline k' and thereby lifted out of the
thread, when the weight k³ to the line will draw the rod k and
by that means the frame back until the projection 8 of the tooth
plate will come in contact with the guide o at the right hand side
of the machine and draw the tooth k down into the thread again,
and so on. The lower part of the frame carries a pulley which
traverses on a rib on the shaft e, and thereby lias rotary motion
imparted to it to give motion to a band 23, which thence gives motion
to the series of knives i. Upon the shaft e are also affixed bevilled
pinions, each of which gives motion to another pinion / affixed on a
shaft, upon which is affixed a worm for taking into and driving a
worm wheel on a shaft 1, which is formed with a socket to receive the
stem of a clutch for operating the forks so that they may be thrown into.
and out of gear at pleasure. This is effected by the projection z on the
bar acting upon the one end of the lever m, which turns upon an axis
at m', and at its other end is by a rod m³ connected to the arm of the
lever m³. The levers m³ at the opposite sides of the machine are con-
nected together by the rod m*. The to-and-fro motion of one of these
axes also acts on the driver g³ to give motion to the ratchets g* on the
axis of one of the rollers g¹. Guides o, o, which are capable of sliding.
vertically in the framing and are operated by lever arms o¹ worked by
the shafts regulate the time of action on the tooth plate & to regulate
the time of traverse to the position of the rollers and bands g. These
cutters i are made as narrow and of as small diameter as possible in
order to cut well into the crevices of the gum. On one side of these a
cutters a circular plate n is secured by a nut n¹ to regulate the depth
of cut, which can easily be varied by fitting on plates of different
diameters, the difference between the diameter of the plate and cutters
representing the depth of cut. This machine is designed specially for
the scraping of kauri gum, Manila, and East India copals.
Sixthly. The improvements relate to consolidating, solidifying, or
blocking" the gums from small particles. For this purpose the small
particles or pieces of gum are placed in a chamber or receiver, by
preference air-tight, in which they are heated to a temperature just

page_text: sufficient to cause adhesion of the separate portions without causing
fluidity or the evaporation of the essential properties of the gum. The
gum to be treated by this process after undergoing any of the necessary
operations in cleansing and separating it must be thoroughly dried, as any
moisture would spoil the result. It is then placed in shallow pans of,
say, about 2 inches in depth by preference, and of any suitable width
and length. The inside of the pans should be tinned, enamelled, polished,
or otherwise treated to prevent the gum "sticking" when cold, and the
sides should be sloping outwards. If the "blocking" is done under
pressure the temperature required will not be so high by about 20° to 30°
Fahrenheit, and for this purpose the pans are fitted with a cover, and
they have attached to the inside of them a plate of the size of the pan
and forced home to the gum by springs placed between the two. Weights
may be used but are inconvenient for handling. When ready the pans
are placed in racks surrounded closely by steam pipes for causing
the solidification. The temperature required varying with the gum
under operation. It is preferable to perform this slowly and by a
gentle heat instead of quickly by a high temperature. When properly
blocked the pans should be taken out of the chamber, the lids removed
and allowed to cool, the gum is then easily removed and broken up
into
suitable sizes by a "tickler" or by slight blows from a smooth hammer.
If a natural shape is required to be given to the gum the pans should be
taken out of the chamber before quite solidified, allowed to cool suffi-
ciently to be taken from the pans, and the gum then placed in a chamber
on bars, reticulate work, or netting of suitable sizes. The gum on then
being heated will drop through the meshes, and is allowed to fall into a
tank containing water (cold or lukewarm); steam heat we find preferable
in all cases, but fire heat, a sand bath, or other heating means may be
used.
Another method of solidifying the gum is to fill into a chamber heated
by a steam jacket of any suitable shape but having a gum space of, say,
not more than 2½ inches thick, and when melted passing it out through
cones into trays to cool, or allowing it to fall into a tank containing water
cold or lukewarm.
To give a natural appearance to it the gum should be intercepted at
the cones by plates opening and closing the mouth of them at intervals,
thus causing the gum to pass in drops instead of continuously. This
method of giving a natural appearance to the gum is only applicable to

page_text: Lisbon and Sierra Leone copal gums. For other gums they should after
blocking by either of the above processes be cast in moulds heated to a
temperature slightly above that of the blocking chamber.
The second method of blocking described above may by fitting gauze,
wire, or perforated material at the top of the cone be made a combined
separating and blocking process saving twice reheating.
To prevent the evaporation of the essential properties of the gum by
blocking by the second method described the apparatus used should have
a top fitting air-tight, or two valves through which to continuously
charge the machine.
Having thus described our Invention, and means which we adopt in
carrying the same into effect, we would have it understood that what we
claim as the improvements in the treatment of resinous gums used in the
manufacture of varnishes is,—
First. The washing of such gums by means substantially as described.
Secondly. We claim the washing of such gums in cylinders wholly
immersed in the wash liquid, substantially as described.
Thirdly. We claim the soaking of such gums under pressure as
described.
Fourthly. We claim the separating such gums from the loose and
drossy particles by causing them to be brought in contact with heated
surfaces, substantially as described.
Fifthly. We claim the arranging or combining machinery, for the
scraping of such gums, substantially as described.
Sixthly. We claim the means for effecting the blocking of such gums
substantially as described.
In witness whereof, we, the said Charles Watts and Thomas Charles
Watts, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-fifth
day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-one.