Patent GB-887918-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to apparatus for the photographic reproduction of typographic compositions
IPC: B41B27/28
Filed: 1958-10-06
Abstract: 887,918. Photographic type-composing apparatus. DUBUISSON, E. R. Oct. 6, 1958 [Dec. 9, 1957], No. 31871/58. Class 98(1). A photographic type-composing apparatus comprises (a) a rotary drum having a plurality of discs, each disc having a number of pins capable of being displaced radially in response to the operation of a key on a keyboard, (b) a transparent cylinder rotatable about its axis, and carrying round its periphery, arranged as a plurality of spaced circles, the symbols from which the composition is made, (c) a camera, movable transversely with respect to the cylinder axis. Fig. 2 shows the so-called "mechanical memory", comprising a series of discs 19 on a common shaft, each disc carrying a series of pins 18 (about 80 to 100 pins per disc), each pin being slidable radially outwards from a non-operative to an operative position in which it projects from the periphery of the disc. Between the discs are bladelike arms 21 which, on energization of an associated solenoid, push the pins 18 out to their operative positions. There is one disc 19 for each letter or sign, and they are partially covered by a transparent sheet 63 marked with horizontal and vertical lines. Each disc has its own solenoid 16, energized by a corresponding key 15 on.a keyboard. Each time a key is depressed, the whole assembly of discs 19 is at the same time given a step-by-step rotary movement in the direction of the arrow 5 by an escapement mechanism. Also at the same time, the arm 21 pushes against a long bar extending the length of the assembly, which operates, via an arm 23 and pawl 44, a ratchet wheel 24. This is fixed to a threaded shaft 25 on which a graduated scale 26 (Fig. 11) moves. The length of the line to be composed is set on this scale by an adjustable limiting stop 27. For increasing the spacing between words; when necessary, a spacer key operates a pawl 45 and ratchet wheel 29. Ratchet 29 is fixed to a threaded shaft 30 carrying a support which holds a plurality of spacer wedges 28, normally resting between lock bars 32. Each time the spacer key is depressed, hence rotating shaft 30, one spacer wedge will enter between a pair of justifying bars 33, at the same time moving a pointer 31 along the scale 26. When the line has been composed, the justification is realised by depressing key 34, which energizes solenoid 35 and causes a clutch 36 to engage. This connects a drive from a motor 2, via a worm gear 37, to a shaft 38. This carries both right and left-handed threads, so that as is rotates, the justifying bars 33 move towards each other, so pushing the spacer wedges together. On releasing the key 34, the bars 33 are drawn back to their initial positions by a spring. A new line may now be composed, while the previous line, as recorded on the "mechanical memory" drum, is photographed. The letters and symbols are disposed round the periphery of a transparent cylinder 48 in a band. Several such bands may be provided, carrying the same characters in different styles. Four such bands are shown, the required one being selected by energizing the appropriate one of electromagnets 52, thus pushing cylinder 48 until the appropriate band is opposite the camera objective. A number of electromagnets 49, one for each character, are disposed round cylinder 48, and on energizing the appropriate one, the cylinder rotates until the corresponding character is in front of the camera aperture, the sequence being controlled by the "memory" drum. The camera itself slides (perpendicular to the plane of the paper) on two guide bars 54. It is moved by a threaded shaft 43, turned by a ratchet wheel 41 under the impulse of a pawl 45<SP>1</SP>. The pawl is actuated by a series of electromagnets 47, energized again by the "memory" drum. The camera is thus displaced step by step in accordance with the spacing of the justified line as recorded on the "memory" drum. A sweeper bar 53 pushes all the pins 18 back into their neutral positions after the cycle of control operations has been completed, thus leaving all clear for .the composition of a new line.