Improvements in the Manufacture of Articles of Paper, Cardboard, and other similar Material, and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Mar., 1890-Accepted, 5th Apr., 1890
Improvements in the Manufacture of Articles of Paper, Cardboard,
and other similar Material, and Apparatus therefor.
We, GILLES LOUIS FELIX OZOUF and LOUIS AUGUSTE LEPRINCE, both of
23, Boulevard de Strasbourg, Paris, in the Republic of France, Mill-board Manu-
facturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a process for moulding in vacuum articles of paper,
cardboard and other similar material.
Hitherto articles moulded in paper, cardboard and other similar materials have been
formed by stamping which necessitated pressing the material on a mould while siding
it to give it consistence. By these means good results cannot be obtained, the paper
or cardboard being liable to break or crack when moulds of irregular shape or special
form are used.
The process forming the subject of the present invention consists essentially in
causing the liquid pulp to adhere to the sides or walls of the moulds employed. by
creating a vacuum to cause this adherence of the pulp to the mould and in solidifying
the pulp by giving it the desired consistence.
By our process of moulding we are enabled to manufacture all kinds of articles in
one piece without joint and in relief or otherwise, solid or hollow objects, tubes,
boxes, vases, casks, bottles, etc., which cannot be produced by the processes hitherto
employed.
In carrying out our invention we preferably immerse the mould in the paper
pulp.
A suitable apparatus for carrying out our invention consists of a vat or receiver
containing the liquid paper pulp into which dips a box containing a mould of wire-
gauze. The box is provided at about its centre with a tube which by means of a cock
and another tube is put in communication with a pump or other apparatus for creating
a vacuum.
On the cock being opened the air in the box will be exhausted and the pulp will
adhere to the mould to a thickness which will vary according to the length of time
during which the cock is open. For example, if the suction lasts for half a minute,
the moulded article weighs 160 grammes and it reaches the weight of 220 grammes
in one minute. If it is desired to prevent the moulded object being dotted, the wire-
gauze mould can be covered with flannel. To separate the mould from the vat the
box is raised, if either of the tubes is flexible; if however, they are rigid, the vat is
lowered.
In some cases, the mould properly so called formed of wire-gauze or perforated
sheet metal, is placed in the interior of the box, and above it is placed a grating to
livide the pulp with a sieve having a large mesh. At the bottom of the box is a pipe
which communicates with an exhausting syringe or other suitable apparatus.
The liquid paper pulp or cardboard pulp is poured into the box and spreads over
the mould. On the cock of the pipe being opened the suction which is immediately
produced causes the pulp to adhere to the mould, the desired cohesion and com-
pactness being given to the pulp to a thickness which varies with the quantity of pulp
run in.
The moulding can be effected either in a hot or cold state and the moulds are
constructed according to the nature of the object to be made, with or without a core,
n one piece, or in several parts connected together if such construction is necessary
to allow of the object being removed from the mould.

page_text: To give greater resistance to the moulded article a thickness of perforated fabric
can be placed in the pulp between two moulding operations.
In order to give to the objects thus obtained increased resistance and smooth
external and internal surfaces we proceed in the following manner:
The article in pulp maintained in its perforated mould is submitted to the action of
the vacuum in order that the water it contains may be reduced from about 60% to
from 15 to 20%. It is then removed from the mould and is placed in a metal mould,
not perforated, and heated externally by gas or otherwise. The article being placed
in this mould, which is in one or more parts as may be required, felt is applied to the
interior of the article and a pocket or bag of india-rubber is then introduced therein.
Water under pressure is then forced into this bag which expands and exactly
conforms to the interior surface of the felt. The article in pulp is thereby firmly
compressed and the water therein is driven out and is absorbed by the felt, and at the
same time the exterior surface is rendered perfectly smooth.
Dated the 3rd day of June 1889.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Articles of Paper, Cardboard,
and other similar Material, and Apparatus therefor.
We, GILLES LOUIS FELIX Ozour and LOUIS AUGUSTE LEPRINCE, both of
23. Boulevard de Strasbourg, Paris, in the Republic of France, Mill-board Manu-
facturers, 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:―
Hitherto articles moulded in paper, cardboard and other similar materials have
been formed by stamping which necessitated pressing the material on a mould while
sizing it to give it consistence. By these means good results cannot be obtained the
paper or cardboard being liable to break or crack when moulds of irregular shape or
special form are used.
The process forming the subject of the present invention consists essentially in
causing the liquid pulp to adhere to the sides or walls of the moulds employed by
creating a vacuum to cause the adherence of the pulp to the mould and in solidifying
the pulp by giving it the desired consistence.
By our process of moulding we are enabled to manufacture all kinds of articles
in one piece without joint and in relief or otherwise, solid or hollow objects,
tubes, boxes, vases, casks, bottles, &c., which cannot be produced by the processes
hitherto employed.
By way of example we will describe the manner in which our invention is put in
practice by reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates various arrange-
ments of moulds.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of an arrangement we employ by preference, that
is to say, in which the mould is immersed in the paper pulp.
Figure 2 is a similar view of another arrangement; and
Figure 3 is a detached elevation partly in section of one of the moulds we
employ.
The apparatus represented in Figure 1 consists of a vat or receiver A containing
the liquid paper pulp into which dips a box B containing a mould C of wire gauze;
in the drawing the mould is shown as having the shape of a helmet. The box B
is provided at about its centre with a tube D which by means of the cock E
and the pipe F is put in communication with a pump or other apparatus for creating
a vacuum.

page_text: On the cock Ebeing opened the air in the box B will be exhausted and the pulp
will adhere to the mould to a thickness which will vary according to the length of
time during which the cock is open. For example if the suction lasts for about half
a minute the moulded article would weigh about 160 grammes and it would reach the
weight of about 220 grammes in one minute.
To prevent the moulded object being impressed with the mesh of the wire-gauze
mould, the mould can advantageously be covered with flannel. To remove the mould
from the vat the box is raised if either of the tubes is flexible, if however they are
rigid the vat is lowered.
We will now describe the arrangement shown in Figure 2 which is not 50
advantageous as that already described by reference to Figure 1.
In the box A is placed the mould C, properly so called formed of wire gauze or of
perforated sheet metal and above it is advantageously placed a grating F to divide the
pulp with a sieve having a wider mesh. At the bottom of the box is a pipe which
communicates with an exhausting syringe or other suitable apparatus.
The liquid paper pulp or cardboard pulp is poured into the box and spreads
over the mould. On the cock E of the pipe D being opened the suction which is
immediately produced causes the pulp to adhere to the mould and gives it the
desired cohesion and compactness to a thickness which varies with the quantity of
pulp run in.
The moulding can be effected either in a hot or cold state and the moulds are
constructed according to the nature of the object to be made, with or without a
core, in one piece or in several parts connected together if such construction is
necessary to allow of the object being removed from the mould as shown in
Figure 3.
To give greater strength to the moulded article a thickness of perforated fabric
can be placed in the pulp between two moulding operations.
In order to give to the objects thus obtained increased strength and smooth external
and internal surfaces we proceed in the following manner.
The article in pulp while in the perforated mould is submitted to the action of the
vacuum in order that the water it contains may be reduced from about 60% to
from 15 to 20%. It is then removed from the mould and is placed in a metal mould,
not perforated, and heated externally by gas or otherwise. The article being placed
in this mould, which is in one or more parts as may be required, felt is applied to the
interior of the article and a pocket or bag of india rubber is then introduced therein.
Water under pressure is then forced into this bag which expands and exactly conforms
to the interior surface of the felt. The article in pulp is thereby firmly compressed
and the water therein is driven out and is absorbed by the felt and at the same
time the exterior surface is rendered perfectly smooth. The article is then removed
from the mould.
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
claim is:
we
(1.) The process of moulding articles of paper, cardboard or other similar plastic
materials by creating a vacuum which acts through the openings of a wire gauze
mould to effect the adherence of the pulp to the interior surface of the mould as
herein before described.
(2.) Effecting the moulding by placing the mould in the pulp and forming a vacuum
in a vessel exterior to the mould substantially as hereinbefore described."
(3.) The method of moulding herein described consisting of running the pulp
into the mould beneath which is formed a vacuum substantially as herein before
described.
(4.) The smoothing of the exterior surface of the moulded article and the absorp-
tion of its moisture by expanding within the article while it is in a heated metal
mould and lined with felt, an india rubber pocket or bag into which water under
pressure is forced substantially as hereinbefore described.

page_text: (5.) The use in moulding articles in paper cardboard and other similar materials
of the apparatuses hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated the 3rd day of March, 1890.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4. South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicants.