Improvements in the Manufacture of Waterproof Cardboard Boxes or other Receptacles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 10th June, 1891-Accepted, 11th July, 1891
PROVISIONAL DIMOLTIVATIO
Improvements in the Manufacture of Waterproof Cardboard Boxes
or other Receptacles.
We, WILLIAM THOMSON, of the Royal Institution Laboratory, Manchester,
Analytical Chemist, and JAMES RICHARDS, of 11 St. Bees Street, Greenheys,
Manchester, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The improvements relate to the manufacture of waterproof cardboard boxes or
other receptacles, and have for object the production of improved boxes or other
receptacles.
To accomplish this and to effect our improvements we employ for manufacture
paper of various kinds, coated with a thin layer of pitch or other like substances,
and, by preference, inodorous pitch such as that produced by the distillation of
palm oil, cotton seed oil or stearine, but other kinds of pitch or mixtures therewith
may be employed for our purpose. We cover a suitably formed mould or core
with the pitch, surfaced paper, to the number of sheets or layers required, and
subject the same to hot pressure; circular boxes or receptacles, or the bodies
thereof, or tubes to be used in the process of box making, being pressed by rolling
the paper on a roller, which roller presses the pitched paper against a heated
surface or heated roller, or it may be pressed thereby; the effect of the heat being
to melt or soften the pitch, and to cause close adhesion to take place; at the same
time smoothing or compressing each layer on to the preceding one, so as to produce
a well formed and compact body for the circular boxes of any desired thickness and
strength. Square or other shaped boxes may be produced likewise by folding or
rolling the pitch surfaced paper on blocks or cores of the desired form by means of
hot rollers, hot presses, or other heated appliances whereby the pitch is softened or
melted, and the various layers or sheets are closely pressed against each other; by
which means waterproof boxes or other receptacles of an improved nature are
manufactured.
Variations in detail, such as the nature of the paper and pitch or substitute
therefor, the forms into which the same may be moulded; as also the strength or
thickness of the paper may be made, and such paper may be employed in com-
bination with non-pitched paper or cardboard, whether such cardboard be pitched
or not, without departing from the peculiar character of the invention.
Dated this 23rd day of September 1890.
WILLIAM GADD, C.E.,
64, Barton Arcade, Manchester, Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Waterproof Cardboard Boxes
or other Receptacles.
We, WILLIAM THOMSON, of the Royal Institution Laboratory, Manchester,
Analytical Chemist, and JAMES RICHARDS, of 11 St. Bees Street, Greenheys,
Manchester, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The improvements relate to the manufacture of waterproof cardboard boxes or
other receptacles, and have for object the production of improved boxes or other

page_text: To accomplish this, and to effect our improvements, we employ for manufacture
paper of various kinds, coated with a thin layer of pitch, or other like substances,
and, by preference, inodorous pitch, such as that produced by the distillation of
palm oil, cotton seed oil, or stearine, but other kinds of pitch, or mixtures therewith
may be employed for our purpose.
We cover a suitably formed mould or core with the pitch surfaced paper, to the
number of sheets or layers required, and subject the same to hot pressure; circular
boxes or receptacles, or the bodies thereof, or tubes to be used in the process of box
making, being pressed by rolling the paper on a roller, which roller presses the
pitched paper against a heated surface or heated roller, or it may be pressed
thereby the effect of the heat being to melt or soften the pitch, and to cause close
adhesion to take place, at the same time smoothing or compressing each layer on to
the preceding one, so as to produce a well formed and compact body for the circular
boxes, of any desired thickness and strength. Square or other shaped boxes may
be produced likewise by folding or rolling the pitch surfaced paper on blocks or
cores of the desired form by means of hot rollers, hot presses, or other heated
appliances whereby the pitch is softened or melted, and the various layers or sheets
are closely pressed against each other; by which means waterproof boxes or other
receptacles of an improved nature are manufactured.
Variations in detail, such as the nature of the paper and pitch or substitute
therefor, the forms into which the same may be moulded; as also the strength
or thickness of the paper may be made, and such paper may be employed in
combination with non pitched paper, or cardboard whether such cardboard be
pitched or not, without departing from the peculiar character of the invention.
But that the improvements may be better understood, we will describe, in some
detail, two variations in making certain boxes in accordance with our invention,
together with an application thereof to the packing of materials under pressure.
In making circular boxes, the bodies are formed of paper cut to such breadth as
it is intended the box should be in depth, and of such length as will give the
required strength.
For ordinary purposes, three thicknesses of paper, that is, three times the
circumference, may be employed. A lining of white or blue paper, tinfoil or other
suitable material may be wrapped round a mandril of the diameter of the
box to be made, when the pitched paper is pressed against this lining, on the
mandril, by means of a roller or a pressing plate or bar, heated in the usual manner
by gas jets, steam, or other convenient method of applying heat.
Paper less in breadth is, by preference, wrapped round this body, thus forming a
support for the same, and also a shoulder for the bottom and lid. The bottom and
lid are stamped out of cardboard made by pressing together, whilst subject to heat,
as many sheets of pitched paper as will make a board of the required thickness.
The bottom is fastened on by means of a pitch similar to that used on the paper, or
by any other waterproof cement, such, for example, as a solution of shellac and
mastic in alcohol.
By another arrangement we make the body out of one piece of paper only, and
the bottom and lid are made of a diameter to fit tightly inside the body, the bottom
being cemented, as already described. In this case we may put a narrow flange or
bead on the bottom and lid, as will be well understood.
For rectangular or rectilinear boxes a mandril of the shape of the box required
may be made to revolve whilst pressing against the calender roller; or a circular
body of the required circumference may be made, and when the paper cylinder is
taken off the mandril, it may be put, while still hot, on to an ordinary expanding
frame, with the arms set at the required angles.
The lids and bottoms are stamped in dies of the required shape, as in the cases
already described.
It will be obvious that other and more elaborate modes of applying our invention
may be adopted, especially where large boxes or receptacles are made in accordance
with our improvements; but the operation is practically the same in all cases.

page_text: In forming a waterproof receptacle for some classes of goods which are subjected
to pressure to reduce their volume, we sometimes apply the heat after the packing
process is completed. For example; in dealing with cotton goods, which are
usually made up in bales, one of the packing materials being tarpaulin, we arrange
the goods in the usual manner, substituting for the tarpaulin, or adding thereto a
cardboard formed of, say three layers of paper and two layers of pitch, and over
this again we put another cardboard formed of two layers of paper and two of
pitch, the exposed layer of pitch being next the first cardboard. The canvas is
put outside this, the pressure is put on in the hydraulic press, and the hoops
fastened in the usual manner. When the bale is taken out of the press, it may be
put bodily into a stove heated to a temperature of 180 degrees to 200 degrees
Fahrenheit, or a heated plate, roller, or other heating appliance may be passed over
the surface. This softens the pitch and causes the two cardboards to adhere closely,
as in the cases already described, forming a waterproof casing of strength sufficient
to withstand the usage to which such packages are subjected in their ordinary
transit to foreign markets.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The manufacture of waterproof boxes or other receptacles by means of paper
coated with pitch, or similar substance, moulded on moulds or cores, or upon the
goods to be packed, and causing the same to be subjected to heat and pressure, for
the purpose and in manner substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. Boxes composed of paper coated with pitch, which have been manufactured
by being moulded on cores or on packed goods and treated with heat and pressure,
for the purpose and in manner substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 9th day of June 1891.
WILLIAM GADD, C.E.,
64, Barton Arcade, Manchester, Agent.