US278977A - Production of paper-pulp from sugar-cane or other fibrous vegetable substances - Google Patents

Description

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDXVARD C. LE BOURGEOIS, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

PRODUCTION OF PAPER-PULP FROM SUGAR-CANE OR OTHER FIBROUS VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 278,977, dated June 5, 1883.

Application filed October 28, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, E. 0. LE BOURGEOIS, a citizen of the United States, of Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massa chusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Production of Paper- Pulp from Sugar-Cane or other Substances; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the illvention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to the production of pulp or stock for paper and other purposes from sugar-cane or other fibrous vegetable substances; and my invention consists in subject ing the sugar-cane or other fiber-producing material to pressure of sufficient density to disintegrate and break up the cellular formation of the cane, so that when dissolved or separated in any manner it will be found to be in the nature of pulp.

In carrying out my invention I take the sugarcane before the saccharine juices have been extracted and subject it to a pressure of sufiicient force to break up the cellular formation of the cane and at the same time express all the sugar-producing juices therefrom; or I may first subject the cane to' the action of erushing-rollssuch as are commonly used in breaking up and extracting the juice from the caneatter which the macerated stalk is subjectedto the required pressure, as above stated. The compressed product, if desired for paper stock, is now taken and subjected to the action of a picker or emery wheel or any of the wellknown devices for reducing wood or other paper-producing fiber to paper-stock, or it may be reduced by dissolving in water or by chemical action.

I have thus far described the reduction of the sugar-cane to pulp by means of pressure; but it is obvious that the ordinary cornstalks, cotton-plants, palmetto, swamp-cane, and all fiber-producing vegetable substances may be (No specimens.)

treated in the same manner to produce paper or other stock, the pressure being sufficient to free the material of all resins, acids, or extraneous matters. I may find it convenient and desirable in some instances to use steam in con nection with pressure in the reduction of fibrous material to pulp for the purpose of softening the fibers and facilitating the breaking up of the cellular tissues; but ordinarily the material can be reduced to pulp by pressure alone. By this means I am enabled to prepare blocks of fibrous substance which can be readily transported to the place where the final reduction takes. place or where the fibers are made into paper. The necessary pressure is obtained by means of an apparatus described and claimed in an application filed in the Patent Otfice having even date herewith.

I claim- 1. The method herein described of producing pulp or paper-stock from sugar-cane or other, fibrous vegetable material, the same consisting in subjecting the material to a pressure of sufiicient density to break up the cellular tissues, forming it into blocks for transportation, as set forth. I

2. As a new article of manufacture, pulp or paper-stock made from cornstalk or sugarcane into blocks for commercial use.

3. The new article of manufacture herein described, consisting of a block or bale of crushed and consolidated fibers from bagasse, as set forth. 7

4. A. solid block or bale of disintegrated fibers for transportation, to be worked into paper, all substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own invention I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

I E. 0. LE BoUEcEoIsf