Several machines have been invented to replace this labour. The best of these yet seen has a simple device by means of which the length of the fold is adjustable to suit the size of any packing case. It is called the “Senang” folder, and is made by the General Engineering Company (Radcliffe) Ltd., Radcliffe, near Manchester.
Care in Assembling.—Whatever the type of case employed, great care must be given to the assembling of parts and the final fastening. It is not uncommon to find in the operation of putting on the “strapping” that nails have been driven into the rubber. Extra bands of strapping are sometimes advised, and where these bands pass over the sides (not edges) of the case only specially short nails should be used.
All wood should be planed, and in cases other than three-ply should be of stout wood, not less than 5⁄8 inch in thickness. All timber used should be of uniform type and thickness.
Methods of Packing.—The usual method of packing crepe is to fold the lengths to some measure of the dimensions of the case. This is done in a haphazard fashion on some estates, with the result that either space is lost or the packing is badly arranged.
Some ingenuity can be displayed in the packing of sheet rubber in order to avoid folding the sheets, which, besides increasing the difficulty of sampling, leads to loss of space. Endeavours are being continually made on estates to prepare sheet of such a size as to obtain the maximum benefit of space both in smoke-house accommodation and in packing. A few estates employ tanks of such calculated dimensions as will yield uniform sheets which pack flat and fill the superficial area of the case.
In view of the contamination which sometimes characterises the employment of wooden cases it is sometimes advised that the interior should be lined with sheets, or pieces of crepe, the ends of which are later folded over the top of the mass. In this manner it is stated that contamination is confined only to the exterior of the contents of the case.
Weight of Contents.—The dimensions of average cases are 19 inches by 19 inches by 24 inches, giving a capacity of 5 cubic feet.
In these it is possible to pack 150 lbs. of crepe rubber and 200 lbs. of sheet rubber (about 5 per cent. more in cases of three-ply wood). It may be noted that boxes arrive in better condition when fully packed. The foregoing figures are not adhered to strictly. For example, some estates find it expedient to ship rubber in actual ton lots, and for this purpose pack only 140 lbs. of crepe per case, giving sixteen cases to the ton. Other estates, using presses, pack more per case than the quantities noted above. At present there does not appear to be any definite regularity in practice.
