IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MAnufacture OF TOBACCO, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Welch, of 63, St. John's Square, Tobacco
Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MAnufacture
OF TOBACCO, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Welch at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th November 1858.
I, EDWARD WELCH, of 63, St. John's Square, Clerkenwell, Tobacco
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR,"
to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is to manufacture spun tobacco by a quicker
process than that heretofore adopted, by which a finer, better pressed, and
more saleable article is produced. And the Invention consists of steaming the
spun tobacco previous to subjecting it to pressure, and of the apparatus
employed for that purpose. The spun tobacco having been cut into suitable
lengths, is placed in layers on steel plates; and these steel plates are intro-
duced into a chest or chamber, the sides or some of the sides of which are
hollow, and this chest or chamber is supported on the ram of a hydraulic
press, the top of the chest or chamber being made adjustable so as to
permit of the action of the press. Steam at a low pressure is admitted into

page_text: the sides of the chest or chamber for about six hours, when the tobacco will
be thoroughly permeated by the heat conducted to it by the steel plates from
the steam-heated chest or chamber, and will get soft and plastic from the
exudation and absorption of the juices of the vegetable. The hydraulic press
power is then applied for about twenty-four hours, and the tobacco is fit for
sale. The effect of this application of steam heat is to expel the air from the
tobacco, to expand and soften the fibres, and to loosen the gummy properties,
and thus to put it into a better state for pressing than when prepared by cold
pressing, while the tobacco looks better and neater. There is also a great
saving of time, with economy in the use of apparatus.
The steaming may be effected in a chamber or chest, not forming part of
the press.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Edward Welch in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th May 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EDWARD
WELCH, of 63, Saint John's Square, Clerkenwell, Tobacco Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of March, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Edward Welch, Her special licence that I, the said Edward
Welch, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Edward Welch, my 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 MANUFACTURE OF TOBACCO, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Edward Welch, my executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under 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.'

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Edward Welch, 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:-
The object of this Invention is to manufacture spun tobacco by a quicker
process than that heretofore adopted, by which a finer, better pressed, and
more saleable article is produced. And the Invention consists of steaming
the spun tobacco previous to subjecting it to pressure; and of the apparatus
employed for that purpose. The spun tobacco having been cut into suitable
lengths, is placed in layers on steel plates, and these steel plates are introduced
into a chest or chamber, the sides or some of the sides of which are hollow,
and this chest or chamber is supported on the ram of a hydraulic press, the
top of the chest or chamber being made adjustable, so as to permit of the
action of the press. Steam of a low pressure is admitted into the sides of the
chest or chamber for about six hours, when the tobacco will be thoroughly
permeated by the heat conducted to it by the steel plates from the steam-
heated chest or chamber, and will get soft and plastic from the exudation and
absorption of the juices of the vegetable. The hydraulic press power is then
applied for about twenty-four hours, and the tobacco is fit for sale. The effect
of this application of steam heat is to expel the air from the tobacco, to expand
and soften the fibres, and to loosen the gummy properties, and thus to put it
into a better state for pressing than when prepared by cold pressing, while the
tobacco looks better and neater. There is also a great saving of time, with
economy in the use of apparatus. The tobacco may be steamed in apparatus
apart from the press.
Having thus shown the nature of the Invention, I will now particularly
describe the same, reference being had to the annexed Drawing, in which the
same letters refer to the corresponding parts.
Figure 1 is an elevation of an apparatus constructed according to my
Invention; Figure 2 is a plan; Figure 3 a vertical section taken through the
line A, B; Figure 4 a horizontal section through the line C, D. Upon the
floor or other suitable foundation A is placed the hydraulic press B, on the top
plate or table C of which rests the steam chest or heating box D; E is the
head of the press, supported by the wrought-iron pillars or columns F, F,
which fit in recesses in the head E, and top plate C, and they are kept in
position by the plates or covers G, G, and bolts and nuts H, H. The sides
I, I, and door of the steam chest D are composed of cast or wrought-iron,
and are formed with ribs K, K, so as to form chambers L, L, for containing
the steam. The head E of the press is also formed with chambers in the same

page_text: manner. These chambers are closed by the wrought-iron plates L', L', bolted
Or otherwise fastened to the sides of the steam chest and press head. Each of
the ribs K' have openings K' formed in them to allow the steam or hot air
to pass from one to the other, as represented by the arrows. Steam or hot
air is made to enter the chambers L, L, by the pipe M, furnished with a
stop-cock N, for turning the steam on or off. This pipe is fitted with an elbow
N', and union joint O to allow the door J to be opened or closed. The con-
densed steam is carried off by means of the pipe P, communicating with the
sides and press head. This pipe is also fitted with an elbow and union joint
for the same purpose. The spun tobacco required to be heated and pressed,
after being cut into suitable lengths is placed in layers, represented at Q
between steel plates R. When a sufficient quantity has been arranged in this
manner upon the follower or ram head S of the press, the steam or hot air is
admitted, as previously stated; after the heating process the tobacco is sub-
jected to hydraulic pressure for about twenty-four hours, the tobacco is then fit
for sale.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and how the same
is to be performed, I claim the heating of spun tobacco by steam or hot air
previous to pressing the same, and the apparatus herein-before described and
shown, for that purpose.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Welch, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.