THE COLOR PRINTING MACHINE.
Introduction.—There have appeared, in modern times, but few machines, to which more importance apparently attaches, than to the one here presented. It is well known that the best paper hangings, or room-papers command from $1 to $1,50 per piece, of eight yards, while most of those of American manufacture are sold for 25 to 50 cents per piece; and this difference is occasioned by the difficulty and extra labor of applying a great variety of different colors. But by means of this machine, seven, twelve, or even twenty different colors, may be accurately applied by one operation, and with less labor than is required to print with a single color, by the ordinary method; and thus the manufacturer will be enabled to sell, for 50 cents, such patterns as ordinarily cost a dollar or more, to either import or manufacture them.
Explanation.—The first row of gear wheels, A B, are attached to the ends of a row of cylinders, each cylinder being 30 inches long, and 3 inches in diameter. These cylinders support a broad, endless apron or belt, which passes over the whole series, and supports the strip of paper as it passes through the machine to receive the colors. The second series of wheels, C D, are attached to cylinders of the same dimensions of those in the first row, and are connected to each other by intervening pinions, whereby a uniform velocity is maintained through the whole series. The peripheries of this row of cylinders are cut in figures, according to the design of the pattern to be worked. The figures are left prominent, so as to come in contact with the paper upon the apron, as the cylinder revolves; the surface between the figures, being cut away to the depth of one eighth of an inch. Each of these printing cylinders contains sections of the figures to be printed, and is calculated to work a different color from the others; and the sections of figures on each cylinder are calculated to match those of the others, so as to complete the entire figure in all its colors on the paper. The entire machine is put in operation by a band, passing over the band-wheel, H. The third row of cylinders, E F, are distributing cylinders, which are put in motion by mere contact with the series below, and receives the several colors from the small cylinders in the upper rows, and distributes the same upon the prominent figures of the printing cylinders. The fourth series, I J, are called the receiving cylinders, because they receive the colors from the hoppers or reservoirs, M N, and impart them to the series below. The cylinders of the third and fourth rows, are covered with cloth, and the bottom of each hopper is so nicely fitted to its respective cylinder, that but a small quantity of each color (which passes through an aperture at the bottom of the hopper) adheres to the cloth periphery of the cylinder. The colors ordinarily used consist of various pigments, ground and mixed in water, with a solution of glue. The principles of this mode of color printing have been satisfactorily tested, though the entire machine has not yet been constructed: and any person who may be disposed to construct and enjoy the exclusive use of this invention, may have the most favorable terms.
NEW INVENTIONS.
A New Brick Machine.
Messrs. Culbertson, McMillen & Co. of Cincinnati, have recently put in successful operation, a new machine, a description of which is given in a Cincinnati paper, as follows:
'A frame of fourteen moulds, one brick to each is drawn by the power of steam between two press rollers, the lower one of which enables the frame to support the pressure of the upper roller, and being run through backwards and forwards equalizes the pressure over the entire face of the brick. These, after undergoing in this mode a pressure of nearly one hundred tons to each brick, a pressure which covers clay, apparently perfectly dry, with a coat of glossy moisture, are raised above the surface of the mould by parallel levers, and are then delivered over to a bench or table by self-acting machinery, whence they are taken in barrows to the stacker at the kiln.
'The dry clay is shoveled into a hopper, and if more of the material is pressed into a mould than serves to make a brick, a knife which ranges with the surface of the mould, shaves off the surplus.