Patent GB-940382-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to photographic type composing apparatus
Inventor: FRANKEL GERALD
IPC: B41B17/00
Filed: 1958-07-22
Abstract: 940,382. Photographic type-composing apparatus. CAPS (RESEARCH) Ltd. July 22, 1959 [July 22, 1958; Nov. 11, 1958], Nos. 23589/58 and 36233/58. Heading B6W. In a photographic type-composing apparatus in which individual characters are selected from a character matrix and are located in the required position for optical projection of images on to a recording surface, the character selecting means comprises a matrix magazine carrying slides disposed one behind the other in parallel planes and each slide bearing a row of characters spaced, along the length of the slide, means for effecting bodily movement of the matrix magazine axially of the optical projection system so as to bring a selected slide into focal plane, and means for effecting lengthwise movement of the selected slide to align the selected character with the projection position. In the simple embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 1A for a keyboard comprising three rows of twelve character keys as at 211, 212, 213 and single and double shift keys such as key 214, a magazine 215 is provided housing nine slides 216 each bearings twelve characters, the slides forming three groups of three slides, one group being " non-shift " and the others being controlled by the shift keys. In the rest position all the slides are in register with their apertures 231 providing a clear passage through the magazine openings 230. When a character key is operated, typically key 211, the key rocks a cradle 223 and moves a cross-bar 220 on which are pivoted arms 218, 219 engaging the magazine 215 to move it along parallel guides as 217 to position the appropriate slide in the focal plane of the projection lens of the machine. The key also moves the head 246 of a bell crank lever 243 into the path of the slide which is engaged by a projection 241 on a lever arm 232 secured to a shaft 233 and normally locked in the central position shown by detents 237, 238. Then the lever 243 also closes a contact 245 to cause operation of solenoids 234 or 235 and 239 or 240, depending on which half of the slide bears the chosen character, to release the detent and to rotate the shaft 233 to move the slide against the appropriate stop to position the selected character in the projection beam. When a shift key such as 214 is operated, a lever 227 causes movement of the arms 218, 219 to bring the appropriate group of slides into the operating position. The embodiment shown in Figs. 2 and 4 to 6 is intended for a keyboard comprising four rows of twelve character keys and single and double shift keys so that each magazine comprises twelve slides each bearing twelve characters, there being three groups of four slides. Nine such magazines 2 are mounted on a rotatable turret plate 4 provided with notches 20 so that the plate can be arrested by a latch 24 with any one of the magazines astride the projection beam. Each magazine is supported by feet 6 and is latched on the plate 4 by noses 16 of downwardly urged pivoted members 8 engaging in a groove 12. To withdraw a desired magazine from the fully loaded turret plate when this is held by the latch 24 in the appropriate position, a lower trolley 68 connected by a drum cam 94 and follower roller 98 to an upper trolley 62 is pushed towards the rear of the machine (to the left in Fig. 4) so that latching members 82 (Fig. 5) on a backing plate 78 engage beneath the noses of the members 8 to free the magazine from the disc 4 while themselves engaging by their projections 86 in the groove 14 in the magazine. The magazine is then carried by the trolley 62 under the action of a return spring 88 to the Fig. 4 position in which selection of characters from one group of slides may be effected for " non-shift " operation. To select characters from the other two groups, operation of the appropriate shift key is necessary, energizing either solenoid 104 or solenoid 106, which by linkage 108 moves both the trolleys to bring the magazine into the appropriate position to the left, i.e. rearwardly, of that shown. Selection of a character involves choosing between " shift " and " non-shift " operation to select a group of slides followed by operation of a character key which selects the appropriate slide and displaces it laterally the appropriate amount. The positioning of a selected slide in the focal plane is controlled by solenoids 112 (Figs. 7, 8, not shown) which determine the extent of rotation of the cam 94 and hence the relative movement of the trolleys 62, 68 while the direction of the lateral displacement of the selected slide 136 by means of the " flicker " arm 144 is determined by which of the solenoids 154, 156 is energized and the extent of the displacement is limited by engagement with one of six solenoid-controlled pins 177 of a shoulder 174 on a plate 175 contacted by a roller 164 on the arm 144. A relay circuit (Fig. 11, not shown) ensures correct timing of the various operations. Either the " flicker " arm is returned to the central rest position by the spring 176 which returns the displaced plate 175 or a further relay is provided to reverse the connections of the displacing solenoids to cause the return of the arm which can be arranged to take place during the selection process for slide and slide displacement for the next character. If a character key is held depressed, the character is produced repetitively at maximum machine speed.