An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Obtaining Prints of One or More Colors.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1899-Accepted, 8th July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Apparatus for Obtaining Prints of One
or More Colors.
I, FREDERICK MURDOCH BRADHURST, of Grant Street Golden Point, Ballarat,
in the Colony of Victoria, Schoolmaster, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
The object of this invention is to provide a method of and apparatus by means
of which multicolor prints are obtainable on a single Impression and whereby
prints in a single color may be obtained. The invention is adapted for use in
printing letters or figures to be used as shop window tickets, or designs of any
nature where flat even or blended tints are desired.
The invention consists essentially in the employment of exposed portions of
absorbent material which are isolated from each other and arranged in form of a
figure or design and are saturated with coloring substance and from which
impressions may be taken.
Preferably I proceed as follows-I employ an absorbent material having a
flat smooth surface-for example blotting paper, cloth or the like-in the form of
a sheet or strip. This sheet is saturated with printers ink, dye or other coloring
matter, and upon such sheet is placed or set a layer of non-absorbent material
such as sized paper, paper or like material coated with varnish, glue, or other
protecting medium or a thin metal plate, and which has previously been prepared
by cutting or otherwise taking out parts, so as to leave exposed the absorbent
material in the form of the design or figure required.
The non-absorbent material may in some cases take the form of a coating of
some adhesive substance painted upon the absorbent material, portions of the
absorbent material being left uncoated and in the form of the design. I may
employ any adhesive material which will resist the upward passage of the coloring
matter, as the coating substance.
As an alternative the absorbent substance may be completely covered with
gelatine, glue, bitumen or alibumen made sensitive to light by the addition of
bichromate of potassium or of ammonia, and such surface may be partially
removed so as to expose the absorbent material beneath in the manner well-
known in the process of zinc etching.
I may affix upon a strip of non-absorbent material strips of absorbent material,
design
said pieces being separated one from another and cut into the form of a
and saturated with coloring substance. The isolation of the absorbent material
may be obtained, for example, by first affixing a sheet of same to a base piece
and cutting out narrow strips to form a design, each isolated piece being colored
to the desired color. In this case I use dyes or printers ink in conjunction with
dyes as the coloring substance, and when such coloring substance is employed
I may as an alternative surround the parts which are to be saturated with some
greasy substance.
When dyes are employed water must be applied either to the absorbent material
or to the paper which is to receive the impression.

page_text: The printing is accomplished by placing upon sheet carrying the exposed
absorbent material (which forms the design), a sheet of material upon which
the design is to be printed, and pressure is brought to bear upon such sheet.
I shall now refer to the accompanying sheet of drawings which illustrates the
machine which I prefer to employ for obtaining the prints.
Figure 1 shews a side elevation and
Figure 2 a plan of the machine.
A " represents a base plate, "B, B" represent standards set upon such
base plate, "C" represents a sliding plate which is set upon rollers"
F" having
their bearings in strips "A" attached to the base-plate A." Over the sliding
plate is set a cylinder "D" having its spindle "D" in movable blocks"])2"
'set in slots "B" formed in the standards "B." Thumb-screws "F" pass
through screw guides in the standards "B" and are arranged to act upon the
blocks 12" for the purpose of adjusting the pressure of the cylinder "D" upon
the sliding plate "C" The sliding plate "C" has upon its surface a piece of
soft calico or light material "G which is secured to one end of said plate
and passing beneath the cylinder "F" rises to a roller "H" around which it
winds and to which it. is. secured. The roller "H" has bearings in arms "L"
projected from the standards "B"the spindle "H" of roller has attached at
each end a cord "M" which passes through a guide or hole formed in the base
plate A," and carries at its end a weight "P." The sliding plate is operated
by a handle "S."
The modus operandi of the invention is as follows-The sheet having portions
of absorbent material exposed is obtained as hereinbefore described. This sheet is
placed on the sliding plate "C" of the machine with a sheet to receive the
impression over it. The sliding plate is then pushed forward, and as it passes
under the cylinder the pressure causes the coloring matter to ooze through the
open spaces in the non-absorbent material and impress itself upon the paper or
material arranged to receive it. The slide plate will be returned into its normal
position by hand whilst the weighted cords "M" will cause the roller "H" to
rotate and so rewind the material "G" upon it. The machine will now be
in position to take another impression in like manner.
I would also have it understood that in some cases where an uncolored design
(with colored surrounding) is required I may correspondingly reverse the placing
of the non-absorbent covering so that the portion covered (that is to say the
design) is left uncolored.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed. I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The method of obtaining prints of one or more colors which consists in
isolating strips of absorbent material in the form of a figure or design, saturating
same with coloring matter and impressing a plain sheet upon such design sub-
stantially as set forth.
2. A sheet of absorbent material saturated with coloring substance in combina-
tion with a sheet of non-absorbent material cut in the form of a design and
placed upon same, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. A sheet of absorbent material partially coated with substance to render it
non-absorbent, the portions left uncoated being in the form of a figure or design
and saturated with coloring substance substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
4. A sheet of absorbent material saturated with coloring substance and com-
pletely coated with a layer of substance sensitive to light whereby parts may be
removed so as to expose the absorbent material in form of a design substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
5. In combination a base plate as
*
A" standards as "B" adjustable cylinder
as "D" slide plate as Croller as "II," material as "G" connected to slide
**

page_text: plate and to roller and means for rotating roller substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
6. The combination and arrangement of the whole of the parts substantially
as described with reference to and as illustrated on the accompanying sheet of
drawings.
.
·
F. M. BRADHURST.
Per W. H. Beck,
Agent, 115, Cannon Street, London.