Patent GB-621022-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in apparatus for selecting printing characters for a photographic type composing device
IPC: B41B21/04
Filed: 1945-05-01
Abstract: 621,022. Photographic type - composing apparatus. HUEBNER, W. C. May 1, 1945, No. 10986. Convention date, May 3, 1944. [Class 98 (i)] A photographic type-composing machine comprises means for traversing selectors over series of rows of contact pins, each row having pins corresponding to all the different characters to set pins in operative position and means co-operating with the pins on the return traverse for recording the printing characters corresponding thereto. As shown, a support A carries a horizontal frame comprising front and rear bars 21, 22 connected by transverse end bars. The frame carries two frames comprising front and rear bars 23, 24 connected by end bars 25 carrying identical pin boards B and Bl. Each pin board comprises six lengthwise panels formed of upper and lower insulating plates secured together. The board has one longitudinal row of pins 30 for each different printing character in the font. Each longitudinal row of pins has a corresponding longitudinal channel 32, Fig. 8, in the lower panel plate. In the channel 32 are two contact ribbons 33 connected at opposite ends to terminals 34 and serving also to hold the pins frictionally in the upper or lower position. The top panel plates have clearance grooves 36 for each longitudinal row. A selector carriage C, Fig. 1, having a transverse row of pin setters, one for each longitudinal row, is mounted to be caused to travel transverse of the pin board by an electric motor 45 geared through a frictional slipping drive to pinions meshing with racks 47 on bars 23, 24. The pin setters comprise electromagnets 50, Fig. 9, the arm 58 of the armature 55 being raised on operation of any electromagnet 50 to raise and set a pin 30, the armature being returned by spring 59. The carriage C also carries contact elements 61, one for each longitudinal row, rolling on the pin board. The contact roller 61 engages a conductor pin 62 connected to a circuit for operating a shutter for recording a character. A comb 66 presses back all the set pins on the return traverse of the carriage C. Since the pins 30 are set in the rear of contact rollers 61 on the forward traverse of carriage C, no contacts are established on this traverse, but on the return traverse the contacts are made and the shutters for recording the corresponding characters operated. The circuits for the electromagnets 50 are closed by keys corresponding to the characters set thereby. The stepwise movement of the carriage C is effected by the co-operation of a stop 71, Fig. 10, on the carriage with, a series of retractable pins 70. On energization of an electromagnet, the trigger 83 pulls down the first pin 70, but is held against the head 73 of the second pin 70. On de-energization of the electromagnet, the trigger 83 is lifted by a spring to clear the head 73 of the second pin and the carriage advances until the stop 71 engages the second pin. This action is repeated until a limit stop engages the toggle joint 86, 87 to straighten the joint and lift stop 71 clear of the pins 70. The roller 95 on the toggle is raised to engage the bottom of the pins 70 and restore them to their initial positions during the return traverse. At the end of the return traverse, the stop 85a lifts the latch 91 holding the straightened toggle and permit the spring 94 to move it to bent position in which the stop 71 will once more engage pins 70. A mistake can be corrected before the return traverse commences. A switch controlling the step-by-step movement of the carriage, which movement is effected as in Specification 621,023, for the sensitive surface is closed as the selector carriage passes each row in the return traverse by engagement of a roller with spaced projections on a control bar.