US1165323A - Process for manufacturing paper-stock and paper from cotton-stalks, &c. - Google Patents

Description

WILLIAM HENRY CROLL. OF ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

PROCESS FOR MANUFACTURING PAPER-STOCK AND PAPER FROM COTTON-STALKS, &c.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1915.

No Drawing. Application filed May 15. 1918, Serial No. 767,944. Renewed May 20, 1915. Serial No. 29,449.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM H. Cnonn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State of (leorgia, have invented certain new and useful lm n-ovements in Processes for Mannfacturing Paper-Stock and Paper from (otton-Stalks, &c.; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will euable others skilled in the artto which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in the process of making paper stock and paper from cotton stalks in which not only the stalks but also the roots, branches, leaves and cotton bolls, not matured, are utilized.

The process consists in gathering the stalks and, after the same are cured, they are placed in tanks or other receptacles in which they are allowed to expand in water with other materials necessary for the heating process, after which cold water is turned on and the mass of material agitated until the stalks are thoroughly Washed, after which the stalks are treated by certain chemicals to be hereinafter fully described.

More specifically, the present invention consists in the utilization of the entire stalk of the cotton plant which, after being thoroughly cured and washed Within a tank or vat, is relieved of all moisture and sediment, and into the tank containing the stalks is added lime, previously slaked in cold water and thoroughly dissolved, and of a consistency to conveniently pour and equal in weight to substantially twenty per cent. of the dry weight of the raw material, after which five per cent. of caustic soda is added to the lime solution and then cold water is turned on until the steam pipes, which are adapted to run through the center or aXis of the rotary tank, are covered, this being done to prevent any burning from the steam pipe when the steam is turned on. After revolving or agitating until the chemicals become thoroughly mixed through the cotton stalks, steam is turned on slowly heating the stock and continuing to cook and boil the same while the material is being agitated, in order to insure a thorough permeation of the chemicals through the stock. This process usually requires several hours according to the amount of stock to be cooked and the size and kind of receptacles in which the cooking is done.

An important thing to bear in mind in carrying out my process is to see that the cooking process is done slowly and not too much steam turned on as to cause a high pressure in the tanks and which would cause a loss in the amount of the fiber and also cause the chemicals to attack the outside of the stalks and disintegrate them before the liquid chemicals have had time to penetrate the inside of the stalk. In the present process, I avoid these errors and do not expedite the boiling until the chemicals are able to permeate the fiber, thus securing a uniform cooked stock and at the same time, avoid a considerable loss of fiber, which in paper making is undoubtedly a very important desideratum.

After the cooking of the stock is finished, it is emptied into a pit provided with suitable drains in the bottom, whereby the liquor may be drained off, at the same time the stock is allowed to cool. \Vhen sufliciently cooled and drained, the stock is now transferred from the pits by carriers or otherwise to boaters with washers attached, and the stock thoroughly washed in cold water and freed from the chemicals employed in the cooking process, and at the same time the fiber is drawn out by careful handling of the roll of the beater, rather than chopped and the fibers ruined as is frequently done by incompetent handling.

If the stock should be found to be not thoroughly cooked, as will sometimes happen, in the event of being short of stock,

sulfuric acid and soda ash may be added, and the fiber continued to be handled in the heaters until the raw and lumpy stock has disappeared, and the stock is drawn out sufliciently for the kind and quality of paper to be made. This being done, the heaters are emptied into chests or vats with suitable agitators therein in order to keep the stock stirred up from the bottom, rather than around and around as is usually done, allowing a great proportion of heavy stock to set:

tle to the bottom, In the event of the not being wanted for use immediately, itiriay be run into drainers where it may remaln for a long time before using. It is preferable, however, to leave it in the drainers for a short time in order to allow the stock to ripen which will make it easier to work and a better quality of paper secured. From the chests or vats, the stock may be pumped and run through a refining engine to destroy any lumps or knotty substances, whereby a uniform and even quality of stock is produced. From the refining engines, the stock may be passed to the paper machines from which it is fed onto the cylinder mold or a Fourdrinier Wire and made up into paper.

From the foregoing, it will be noted that, by my improved rocess, I am not only able to produce a much better quality of stock and paper than heretofore accomplished, but can handle the stock much cheaper and obtain a larger product out of the same amount of raw material than has heretofore been accomplished by other processes which have been used.

What I claim to be new is A process of making paper stock and paper from cotton stalks, etc., consisting of treating the stock to the action of water to cause the material to expand and afterward treating the stock in a saturated solution of lime and small percentage of caustic soda in which the stock is cooked, the dissolved lime entering into combination with the noncellulose portion of the stock, allowing the water to dissolve further quantities of the lime, the dissolving action causing all of the resinous and fatty matters of the stock to enter into combination with the lime.

In testimony whereof I hereunto allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM HENRY CROLL.

Witnesses:

Ammo E. MAYER, Z. R. Urcuunon.