fered to run through certain apertures in the side or front of the vat at A, and conducted from thence by an in clined plane B B, in an uniform stream upon the surface of the revolving web a a a, &c. which is so placed, that its surface shall be as nearly level as possible, and shall have its revolving motion in the direction in which the stream of pulp runs from the vat. This web is kept extended longitudinally by two principal or extreme rollers, C and E, upon which it revolves; and the upper part thereof, upon which the paper is formed, is supported and kept level by a number of small rollers b b b bj and other smaller ones hereinafter described, placed parallel with the other two C and E, and at such distan ces from each other as to prevent the web from being pressed or weighed down by the pulp into the spaces between them, and also to cause the pulp to spread itself uniformly upon the surface of the web or sheet, thereby producing a sheet of paper of an uniform thick. ness. The web is likewise kept extended laterally by means hereinafter explained. The width of the sheet of paper is determined by two pieces of wood set edgeways upon the web, exactly parallel with each other, and with the line of motion of the web. These pieces require no particular precision as to their dimensions, but we generally make them about three inches in depth, one inch and a quarter thick, and about four feet long, extending from that part of the web which is next the vat, in the direction of the line of motion. Between, and in contact as well with the under edges of these pieces as with the upper surface of the web, we place two endless straps of leather of a width corresponding to the

* This level surface or horizontal position we continue from C to D, two of the rollers supporting the said web or sheet.

thickness of the pieces; and cause them to revolve upon pullies with a velocity exactly equal to the velocity of the revolving web. We likewise place similar pieces and straps in contact with the under surface of the web, and exactly opposite to those upon the upper surface; so that the web is pressed between the upper and under straps and pieces, and the liquid pulp is thereby prevented from running off towards the sides. These pieces and their straps we call dickles [F and G are the pieces, and H and I are the straps]. Near that part of the web upon which the pulp falls from the inclined plane at C, and between it and the vat, we place a flap of oiled silk or other flexible material; but we use silk, one edge of which rests upon the web, the other being fastened to a piece of wood laid across the surface of the web, but not touching it, the length of the said piece corresponding to the width between, and being supported at each end by the dickles. The flap of oiled silk is to prevent the pulp from running back towards the vat. Between the two principal or extreme rollers C and E, upon which the web revolves, and about two feet and a half from E, and between that and the vat, we place two other rollers or cylinders J and K, one above the other, and cause the upper part of the web with the paper forming thereon, to pass between them for the purpose of pressing out the water; and from this use of them, we distinguish them by the denomination of the first or wet press cylinders or rollers. In order to guard the pulp, which before passing between the cylinders is yet in a soft state, from being dislodged or otherwise injured by the upper roller or cylinder J coming immediately in contact with it, we use another revolving web of wove wire or other fit material, which in this case may

be

be of felting, as at dd dd, of the same width as the one above-mentioned, but not so long. To distinguish which last-mentioned web from the other web beforementioned, we shall call the first-mentioned web by the name of the under web, and the web now describing we shall call the upper web: the bottom part of the said upper web we likewise cause to pass between the two cylinders J and K, so that its under surface falls upon the surface of the pulp or paper, and defends it from the action of the upper cylinder J. This upper web is kept extended by, and made to revolve upon, two 'rollers L and M, placed one on each side of the wet press cylinder J and K, and at a convenient height above them. The wet press cylinders are provided with a compressing apparatus at each end, to give the necessary pressure to the paper.

It is evident then, that, if motion is given in the proper direction to the wet press cylinders J and K, having both the webs thus compressed between them, such webs will be drawn along by them, and caused to revolve upon their respective rollers; and that as long as these webs continue so to revolve, and the pulp continues supplied and running upon the surface of the under web, so long will the machine continue making a sheet of paper of continually increasing length.

But as the paper after having passed between the first press cylinders, has not obtained such a degree of consistency and strength, as to allow of its being removed from the machine, and cut into sheets and laid in packs; we therefore cause it to pass through a second pair of pressing cylinders N and O, which we denominate the second or dry press, where it receives such a further degree of pressure and consequent strength, as to fit it

for

for all the subsequent operations necessary to finishing it for market. The second or dry press consists of a pair of cylinders adapted to strong pressure, and which, therefore, we make of hard metal (preferring brass as not liable to rust), which cylinders, N and Q, are turned perfectly true and smooth, and placed one above the other at a convenient distance from and exactly parallel with the first press cylinders. Between these, vix. the second press cylinders N and O, we place the upper part of a revolving web of flannel or felting, or other fit material (represented by the lines at e e e e, and hereinafter called generally the felting) by way of distinction from the upper and under webs before-mentioned; and we cause such felting to revolve upon and to be kept extended by two rollers P and Q, one on each side of the cylinders N and O; and by giving motion to those cylinders N and O, we cause the felting to revolve upon its rollers P and Q, in the same direction and with the same velocity as the under web. And we cause the paper after it has passed the first press, and arrived at the extreme roller E, upon which the web revolves, to be detached from the surface of the web, and to be deposited upon the revolving felting, and with it made to pass between the second press cylinders. The paper is then collected and wound upon reels or rollers as at R, which are successively removed and others applied as they become charged or filled with paper. Thẹ long sheets of paper thus obtained are, by a subsequent process hereinafter described, cut into others of the required dimensions.

Having thus far described and ascertained the nature and principle of our said machine and invention in its improved state, and the other particulars required to be explained

as

as herein before recited, we do as follows, further and more particularly describe and ascertain in what manner the work to be done by our said machine and invention is to be performed, together with all the improvements thereof as we ourselves do now use, and practise the same, that is to say: We construct the vat or vessel in which the paper stuff or pulp is deposited previous to its being made into sheets of paper, of wood, and of a rectangular figure as of the most convenient material and form, a plan and section of which is seen in No. 1 of the drawings accompanying this specification, and marked VAT. Against the front, or that side of the vat opposite to the under web and on the outside thereof, we affix a small trough, of a length nearly equal to the width of the said web as represented at S, into which the pulp or paper stuff is permitted to flow through several apertures in the side of the vat at equal distances from each other and from the top of the vat, as represented by the dotted lines A AA, &c. in the plan, and at A in the section. Into these apertures we usually insert brass or copper tubes, of a length equal to the thickness of the side of the vat into which they are so inserted. Against the side of the vat and upon or over the ends or orifices of these tubes, we place a sheet or plate of copper or brass, of a length and width sufficient to cover them; and in this plate we make as many holes as there are tubes, the diameter and situation of these holes exactly corresponding to the orifices of the tubes; and by making the plate to slide backward and forward, it is obvious that the communication between the vat and the trough S above mentioned, through the tubes, will be either opened or shut as the holes in the sliding plate are made to correspond with the apertures or ends of the

tubes