US1724672A - Ornamental paper and method of manufacturing same - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 13 1929. MacLAURlN 1,724,672

ORNAMENTAL PAPER AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING SAME Filed 'Nov. 3, 1925 VENTOR. F/&2. I

Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

JOHN MAC LAURIN, OF WARE, MASSACHUSETTS.

ORNAHENTAL PAPER AND METHOD 01 MANUFACTURING SAME.

' Application filed November 3, 1925. Serial No. 88,850.

This invention relates to and the like, hereinafter referred to as paper, which are coated or otherwise treated to produce ornamental effects.

The invention provides a unique article of this character, and it also involves a thoroughly practical method of manufacturing such an article.

I have found that very unusual and pleasmg effects can be produced by coating paper, or the like, with certain substances which, upon dryin produce flake-like crystals. Especially p easing effects are produced by coating paper with a solution of manna or mannitol and then so controlling the drying of the solution on the paper that large flakelike crystals will form, the crystals spreading until they meet each other. These crystals are irridescent and if the solution is colored or tinted, very attractive and papers, fabrics,

unique results are produced. For example,

' 'nitol or mannite, may perhaps still the solution may be so colored that the crystals-will have a delicate pink tint, in which case they resemble shell pearl formations and unitedly they form a coating of unusual beauty.

Commercial manna of either the small ake or large flake variety may be used successfully, but I prefer to extract it by dissolving the commercial product in boiling water, allowing it to cool; and then filtering off the crystals. This removes many of the impurities, produces a material having a better color, and removes the tacky constituent of the original manna, leaving essentially a material which is known as man although this material be associated with some impurities. I have produced very satisfactory results by dissolvin fifty pounds of mannitol, or manna after %eing extracted as above described, in fifty pounds of water, and adding to this solution four ounces of gum tragacanth, two ounces of glycerine, and the desired coloring matter to tint the solution. This solution is applied to the paper, or the like, while hot, say at a temperature of 175 F.-, and the paper so coated is then allowed to dry. It appears to be very important for the roduction of the large flake-like crystals w ich are desired to avoid disturbing the coating after it has once been applied to the paper and also .to control or regulate the rate of drying of the coating so that it .will not proceed too rapidly.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a iagrammatic view showing an apparatus 'with which the present process may conveniently be practiced; and

ig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of a sheet of paper coated in accordance with this invention.

Referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that the paper to be coated is unwound from the supply roll 2 and is led over g'uide rolls 3 and 4 to a dip roll 5 which is artly submerged in the coating solution old in the tank 6. The solution is maintained at the desired temperature by heat supplied from any convenient source, as for example, from a gas burner 7, although a watery jacketed tank is preferable to one directly heated. The paper passes between the roll 5 and a squeeze roll 8, is led out of the tank and over guide rolls which engage the uncoated surface of the paper, and it then goes to a suitable festooning mechanism. The thickness of the coatin applied is determined by the, adjustment of the distance between the squeeze roll 8 and the roll 5, and it is referable, also, to maintain the level of the coating solution in the tank 6 substantially at the height of the bite of the rolls 5 and 8. It will be observed that this arrangement leaves the coated surfaces of the paper undisturbed after it comes from the coatin bath, and this appears to be essential to the proper formation of the crystals desired.

The rate of drying of the coating may be controlled by properly regulating the humidity in the room where the coating operation is carried on. It is more economical and generally preferable, however, to accomplish this result through the use of a ygroscopic agent in the coating compound, and preferably a hygroscopic adhesive agent is used for this purpose, the adhesive producing a firmer bond between the mannitol crystals and the paper. It is for this purpose that the gum tragacanth and glycerine' are used in the formula these materials combinedform an adhesive having a high affinity for water. The tragacanth may, however, be replaced b starch, Irish moss, or other suitable a hesives. If the adhesives used has sufficient affinity for water, the glycerine may be omitted.

The rate of drying of the coating should be so controlled that in from five to fifteen minutes after the coated paper has left the above given since tank, small crystals begin to appear, first showing simply as points, and gradually growing or spreading until they meet, so

and lying edge to edge.

hastened artifically as by running the paper Y over a drying drum,

the temperature of which is, properly regulated, and the coated web may then be wound up in the usual manner.

As above stated, this procees produces very unusual and pleasing results. The crystalline coating has .a soft satin appearance which is ver attractive indee particularly when the co or used in the coating solution is appropriately chosen. Such papers are especially adapted for box coverings, envelope linings, and a great variety of other uses.

While I have herein disclosed a formula which has produced very satisfactory results, it will be understood that this disclosure is made rather by way of illustration than limitation, and that not only may a great variety of formulae be used but that the process of the invention may be practiced in different ways and with many difi'erent forms of apparatus.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim as new is:

1. An article of the character described comprising a sheet of paper having thereon an ornamental coating of flake-like crystals comprising mannitol associated with a small percentage of a hygroscopic agent.

2. An article of the character described comprising a sheet of paper having thereon an ornamental coating of flake-like crystals joined edge to edge, said crystals consisting chiefly of mannitol associated with a small percentage of a hygroscopic adhesive agent.

ut a plicant has endeavored to.

3. article of the character described comprising a sheet ofpaper having thereon an ornamental coating of flake-like crystals joined edge to edge, said crystals consisting essentially of mannitol associated with small percentages of coloring material and hygroscopic adhesive agent.

4. That improvement in the process of manufacturing ornamental paper which consists in coating a sheet of paper with a coating compound consisting Chl6fly*0f a solution of mannitol, drying the paper so coated, and so controlling the rate of drying of the coating that flake-like crystals will form on said paper with the edgesof said crystals substantially meeting each other.

5. That improvement in the process of manufacturing ornamental paper which consists in coating a sheet of paper with a coating compound consisting chiefly of a solution of mannitol, drying the paper so coated,

leaving the coating undisturbed while it dries, and so regulating the rate of drying that flat flake-like crystals will form in the coatingand spread until they substantially meet each other.

6. That improvement in the process of manufacturing ornamental paper which consists in coating the paper with a solution of mannitol, allowing the paper so coated to.

dry, and using a hygroscopic agent in said solution to control the rate of drying of the coating so that the greater part of said coating will be converted into flake-like crystals.

That improvement in the process of manufacturing ornamental paper which consists in coating paper with a hot aqueous solution of mannitol associated with a coloring material and a small percentageof a hygroscopic adhesive substance, leaving the coated surfaceundisturbed while it dries, and so regulating the rate of drying that fiat flake-like crystals will form in the coating during drying and spread until they sub stantially meet each other.

8. An article of the character described comprising a sheet of paper, having thereon an ornamental coating of flake-like crystals consisting essentially of mannitol associated with a small percentage of an adhesive agent.

JOHN MAGLAURDT.

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