The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-01-22

IANIsl2
- So -
three miles an hour. But in this instance, in
stead Of one onward and uniform motion, there is
check and a recoil al the end OF every Blk feet,
when, if not collision, there is at least heavy
are as much as this delicate machinery will bear.
The other limitation Is the small number OF cylin
ders that can be brought to bear upon the type In
its very short passage each way. Two are all that
can be attempted, and IN order to admit even them,
they, as well as the linking rollers, are made as
email, and set as close to one another as possible.
1t must be remembered that every additional inch
traversed by the type, gwen Its speed, Is 30 much
loss of time, besides other Inconvenience. In
machines upon this principle the only result of
further multiplying the cylinders would be greater
complication of machinery, with little, if any, IN
crease In the number OF Impressions.
The great Improvement which has now been
effected by Mr.. Applegath, and of which this page
exhibits successful result, 10 the substitute OF an
uniform rOtatory motion for the horizontal reclpr0-
eating motion OF the old machines i isthe change
beng laid on table traverslng a railroad, the
types now built up, as It were, on the face Of
cylinder revolving on perpendicular axis. This
inches IN diameter. The " forms" or pages Of
type, are made segments of its surface, just as
tower of brick might be faced with stone, or a
column nald with marble. Eight printing cyln-
ders, forty inches In circumference, are arranged
round the drum, and suggest the idea OF an orb
and its satellites Instead OF the four impressions
taken by the old machine IN its double Journey
eight sheets are now printed IN every revolution,
Any one who knows the immense weight OF metal
type, and the lmpossibility Of giving it any hold
upon the "form" besides weight and pressure, will
at once perceive the extent Of the obstacle over
come by giving the central drum q vertical posi-
ton. No act Of packing could make the type adj
and being made with wedge.like section, that Is,
thicker towards the outer surface Of the type they
keep it in its place, like the keystone OF an arch,
or the stone ribs of ruhble vault.
convey an idea Of machine so different from
those on the horizontal principle. On entering
large room, the first thing that strikes the eye is
circular gallery, about 70 feet IN diameter, and SIX
complicated fabrics, radiatng from central tower
OF drum. Each of these fabrics Is the feeding APP
Paratus attached to one Of the eight printing cylin
here to a. cylinder revolving round horizontal
by the intrinsic weight of the metal. In the yerti-
cal disposition there is the same centrifugal i'm
pulse, but It does not operate in the direction OF
It is neutralized chiefly by means of the '.column
iuies," which make the upright lines dividing the
columns OF this page These "column rules are
usually long strips OF brass and in this instance
they are 30 screwed to the sides Of the iron Frame
or "chsse," as to become powerful tension ties
ders. On the gallery are seen eight men at 81
many ...laying-on tables" feeding the machine, by
carefully pushing successive sheets into Its eight
mouths each man at about the rate OF one sheet in
four seconds Directly under those eight men are
eight others on the ground employed In taking OIL
and piling the printed sheets thrown out by the
machine. The eye soon detects the four forms or
chases of type fixed on the face OF the drum, aud
accommodated to its shape, and vainly attempts to
follow numerous sheets Of paper In rapid and mex
plcable motion. The printing cylinders surround
ing the central drum, and IN occasional contact
IL - eI,n Ia
it as the pillars Of the temple of Tivoi the clrcu-
lar wall within. The framing which supports the
central drum also carries the bearings OF the eight
printing cylinders, which all revolve IN perfect
Of the circumference Of the drum, and in the IN
type, on its circular face This table communal
Gates the ink to upright mixing rollers placed be-
their turn, communicating the ink to the type. So
far the arrangement is perfectly easy the machine
being, in fact, composed Of the parts in ordinary
use, only made circular and placed in vertical
instead Of horizontal position.
The great problem for the inventor was the
right mode OF 'Tfeeding," or supplying the sheets
OF paper to the printing cylinders In their new po-
sltlon.. The reader will easily understand, by
spreading out this Sheet the difficulty Of changing
it in less than four seconds from horizontal to
perpendicular position, and back again and
through still more changes OF direction. No alter.
alton has been made In the manner OF "laylng on"
the usual way, downwards between two sets OF
endless tapes In rapid notion But when the sheet
has travelled down to certain point, IT is sudden
ly stopped by thin pieces OF wood paced edgeways,
and brought in contact with the paper on both
sides at once 1t Is at the same moment released
from the tapes, and, being now at rest, is held in
vertical position between the thin pieces OF wood
or "etoppers." These shoppers are then Withdrawn,
and the sheet hangs for moment suspended be-
tween two small pulleys, called finger rollers A
set of vertical rollers, (between the stoppers) re-
vovmg rapidly, are Jmme diately brought into con-
tact with the sheet, and lmpel 1t horizontally be-
tween two new sets Of endless tapes, which convey
il round the printing cylinders. 1t there meets the
type receives the impression, and 10 led out under
the fe edng gallery into the hands of the 'taker-
off," who draws 1t down, and lays 1t on table
before him.
II now only remains to explain how an even and
clear impression is obtained from segmental
surface oftype. The printing or impression cylin-
ders are forty inches IN circumference, and each
cylinder always touches the type at the same cor
responding points, the surfaces moving with equal
velocity. The blanket or cloth round the printing
cylinders is underlad or packed out with slips OF
paper; and by this simple means, and the use of a
type cylinder Of large diameter, an impression 10
obtained-to use the words of the patent" not
discemible from that given by fiat rorm oftype."
The rate at which this machine has been hitherto
worked is about 1000 revolutions per hour, or
5000 Impressions. This rate will be gradually in.
creased until ascertain how far it may be urged
without injury TO the impressions and danger to
the delicate and complicated fabric. The horizon
tai machines, with four cylinders, have been
driven No to 600 and It Is probable that this ma
Sa1.e, with eight cylinders, will be ultimately
-,cvA ~ ronIea N hour