US1230068A - Apparatus for waterproofing sized sheets. - Google Patents

Description

s. ELLTOTT. APPARATUS FOR WATERPROOFING SIZED SHEETS.

APPLICATION fiLED DEC. 28, 1914- 'llzz'fizesses 79 3m. I (Q i s. ELLIOT T.

APPARATUS FOR WATERPROOFING SIZED SHEETS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 28. 1914.

1,230,068. Patented June 12, 1917.

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I Q i S. ELLIOTT. APPARATUS FOR WATERPROOFING SIZED SHEETS.

" APPLICATION mm n:c.2a. m4. 1,230,068. PatentedJune12,1917.

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' @MMZ STERLING ELLIOTT, or nnwron, MASSACHUSETTS.

AIPARATUS FOR WATERPROOFING- SIZED SHEETS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 12, 1917.

Application filed December 28, 1914. Serial No. 879,282.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, STERLING Enuoa'r, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newton, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Apparatus for Waterproofing Sized Sheets, of which the following is a specification. A This invention relates to an apparatus for treating sized sheet material such as papersheets for rendering the same waterproof. While having other and more general fields of usefulness, the invention is well adapted for Waterproofing thin delicate sheets of paper such as are used for stencil-sheets.

According to the invention, the sized sheets held on suitable supporting-frames, are exposed to the action of formaldehyde gas in a closed housing for a substantial period of time, thereby modifying the sizing to impart a waterproof quality thereto.

Before removing the sheets from the confined'housing, they are deodorized, at least to such an extent that the odor therefrom will not be obnoxious; and, according to my invention, this result may be accomplished by displacing the formaldehyde gas with air, although the process may be accelerated by generating in, or introducing into the housing, another gas or fume, such, for instance, as the fume of alcohol or ammonia. The displacement or removal of the formaldehyde gas is not only a desirable, but a necessary step, in order that the housing may be clearedto permit a person to enter and remove the treated sheets and place new sheets in position for treatment; an 1 operation which would be probably fatal unless the formaldehyde gas was, to a large extent, removed. The formaldehyde gas may be generated by placing in the confined housing, a quantity of formaldehyde-com taining substance and then releasing the gas, and, in order that a predetermined quantity may be liberated, it is herein proposed to provide a relatively small container adapted to receive a predetermined quantity of the formaldehyde-containing substance,

which is sufficient for a single charge and then permit the entire substance to y1e d its gas. The invention will be more fully understood from the following detail descrip tion taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 shows in side elevation, an apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention and adapted for carrying out the method thereof.

Fig. 2 is an intermediate vertical section. Fig. 3is a fragmentary elevation showing the lower portion of the apparatus at a side oppgsite that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 1s a fragmentary view in sectlon on I line 5-5 of Fig. i; and,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation showing the electric switch control.

'A housing adapted to receive a plurality of paper sheets and to be tightly closed, thus to form a confined chamber, is indicated generally at 10, this preferably consisting of a skeleton structural frame-work indicated at 11, arranged with panes of glass 12, at the sides thereof to permit convenient inspection of the contents and having its top and bottom closed by other suitable structural sheet, or plate material 13. This housing is provided at its front with two doors 14, 15, which are shown as arranged to close the en tire front, said doors being hinged at opposite sides of the housing, as seen at 16, and having adjacent hand-holds 17 for opening and closing them. These doors are adapted to be clamped tightly in closed position to prevent the'escape of the gases or fumes by clamp-bolts 18, pivoted at 19 to theframework and equlpped with nuts 20, adapted for hand-turning and engaging lugs 21 on the doors. These doors are also equipped with glass panes 12.

The paper sheets S, to be-treated are shown as suspended from suitable frames 22, these frames being of a type adapted to hold a large number of sized sheets properly spaced apart. These sheet-holding frames,

. ing-means, here shown as an electric-heater 25, amociated therewith and adapted to receive electric energy from a circuit having a switch 26.

At a convenient point, Shown as onlthe outside of the housing, I arrange a small tank 27, and from said tank, a pipe 28 exshield this lamp with guard-plates 33, at-

each side thereof.

At a convenient point, shown as on the side of the housing, is mounted suitable switch-mechanism, indicated at 34, adapted to control the current supply from leads 35, so that it may be directed for heatil'ig the container 24, or operating the blower, and operating the lamp, at will.

Adjacent the bottom of this lumsing, I mount a series, shown as six of large horizontally disposed pipes 36, having perforations 37, therelhrough, opening downward into the housing. These pipes extend from front to back of the housing and their ends are-opened to the atmosphere except as closed by the-slide-valves to be now described.

These valves consist of opposite slides 11 39, fitted to slide-ways 40, at the bottoms of the two doors. These slides have passages 41, therethrough, registering in one position with the pipes, while the slides in another position close the pipes, the right hand slide in Fig. 1 being shown in pipe-closing position, and the left-hand slide in open position. At the back of the housing a single slide 42, is fitted in slide-ways 43, and extended across the entire back which is adapted to control all of the pipes, it having a series of passages 44 adapted to register with the pipeopenings 45,-when the slide is moved to the. right from the position shown in Fig. 3. For conveniently operating this slide it may be connected by a pivoted link 46, and rockarm 47, with a shaft 48 journaled in the base and extending to the front of the housing, with an operating-arm 49 atthe front, arranged conveniently for the operator.

Extending across the housing, adjacent the top thereof, but spaced therefrom, is fixed a horizontal perforated plate 50, the perforations 51, through this plate, being preferably of a combined area, substantially equal to that of the perforations 37, so that no violent draft or strong air-current can be created through the housing. This causes the air to be equally distributed over the entire space so that all sheets of paper will be equally affected. The top of the housing has connected thereto a pipe 52, leading to a blower 53, which may be electrically operated, and controlled by a circuit having a switch 54, whereby thereis created a suction up through the housing. This pipe may be form of link and rod connection 5!.

In use, and in carrying out the method of the present invention, the housing islilled with the paper sheets arranged on the series of frames 22, these sheets being coated and impregnated with glue or like suitable sizing material. The pot 24 has placed therein a quantity of substance adapted, when heated, to liberate and,..L'ive oil a gas,-such as formaldehyde gas: for this purpose. the liquid commercially known as formalin' is suitable, and for a housing of convenient work able size such as that shown, a charge of about seven ounces of formalin is requisite. The slide-valves 38. 39, 42 being closed and also the damper 35, and the doors being clamped tight by the clamp-nuts Q0, heatingcnrrent' is applied to the pot Q4, andthe newly liberated formaldehyde gas is given off to fill the housing and act on the sized paper. This action is allowed to continue for a substantial period of time, in practice usually about three hours, during which time. the contents of the pot Q4, gradually evaporates nd finally disappears entirely. ,The sizing III the paper is. during this time, acted on and modified by the newly liberated formaldchyde rendering it water 'n'oof' and tough. 'lhcrcupon the slides 38. 39, 42, are. moved to open the pipes 36. and the current turned on to operate the blower 53. causes a rapid einrulation of air up through the housing to clear out the formaldehyde fumes. this circulation being. however, re-,

strained from too great violence or any considerable blowing action by the -disposition of the. inlet pipe apertures 3T, which open downward away from the direction of the draft and away from the paper sheets in the housing; further, since, as noted, the exhaust apertures 51 are only of about the same total area as the inlet apertures 37, there can be no appreciable draft through the relatively large space of the housing. When the element of time is not important, this air circulation may be relied on to displace the formaldehyde fumes without any other agency, merely by giving sufficient time for the displacing operation to continue, so that the remaining fumes will not be too obnoxious. lVhen it is'desired to expedite the operation however, and to run the apparatus at full capacity, I preferably, at the same time that the displacing operation by the blower is going on. or after said operation has continued for a short period of time, deliver a quantity of a suitable volatile liquid, such as alcohol, or, if preferred, ani- Th ismonia, into the heated pot 24, by opening the valve 29 from the container 27 of this liquid, which is adapted to receive a small predetermined quantity of said liquid. The fumes of such volatile liquid quickly modify, and to a large extent, displace the formaldehyde fumes; thus in a relatively short time, the obnoxious character of the fumes remaining in'the housing is done away with, so that the housing may be opened and the treated paper taken out, and a new charge placed therein. I preferably provide the pot 24 of a size just large enough to receive the requisite charge for treating one supply of paper. and by keeping this under observation, as permitted and facilitated by the lamp 31, it can be readily determined when the generation of formaldehyde gas ceases, so that by using the in'strumentalities set forth for clearing out the noxious and deadly fumes, all danger therefrom is avoided.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without de 1.- Apparatus of the kind described, comprising a housing adapted to receive and hold suspended a plurality of sized sheets,

.and to be tightly closed to produce aconfined chamber, means for liberating a quantity of formaldehyde gas in said chamber, and means for causing a mild circulation of air to said chamber consisting of a blower having a connection through restricted open-,

ings, spaced apart about the top of said chamber, and a series of pipes extended across said chamber adjacent the bottom, opening at their ends to the atmosphere, and having correspondingly restricted openings spaced apart throughout their length, means for closing said pipe, and means for closing said blower connectlon at will, substantially as described.

2. Apparatus of the kind described, comprising a housing adapted to receive and hold suspended a plurality of sized sheets, and to be tightly closed to produce a confined chamber, means for liberating a quantity of formaldehyde gas in said chamber. and means for causing a mild circulation of air through said chamber, consisting of a blower having a connection through restrictsaid chamber, and a series of pipes extending across said chamber adjacent an opposite side thereof with correspondingly restricted openings facing toward the adjacent side,

means for closing said pipes, and means for rality of sheets to be treated and to betightly closed, a relatively small container having provision to be heated and placed within the chamber so as to give off gaseous vapor into said chamber when the contents thereof,

is heated, and means arranged outside of the chamber and extended thereinto for deliver-ing a predetermined quantity of a volat1le liquid to said container, substantiallyas described. i 4. Apparatus of the kind rality of sheets to be treated and to be tightly closed, a relatively small container having provision to be heated and placed \vithinthe chamber so as to give off gaseous vapor into said chamber when the contents thereof is heated, and means arranged outside of the chamber and extended thereinto for delivering a predetermined quantity of a volatile liquid to said container, said means including a closing valve. v

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

STERLING ELLIOTT.

Witnesses:

B. J. NOYES, H. B. DAVIS.

described, comprising a chamber adapted to rccelve a plu 55 ed openings spaced apart, about one side of 1

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