Patent GB-857791-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to type-composing machines
IPC: B41B27/32
Filed: 1955-11-14
Abstract: 857,791. Digital electric calculating machines. HIGONNET, R. A. E., and MAYROUD, L. M. Nov. 5, 1956 [Nov. 14, 1955], No. 32446/55. Class 106 (1). [Also in Groups XVI and XX] A type-composing machine comprises a keyboard for selection of characters in a line; a digital accumulator adapted to totalize values corresponding to the widths of the selected characters of a line and to a nominal width for each interword of such line; means for presetting the accumulator with a value significant of a desired justified line length; an interword counter for counting the interwords in a line; comparison means associated with said accumulator and with said interword counter for comparing the value of the line deficit (D) with the value of the product of the number of interwords (Ni) multiplied by a predetermined maximum interword increment (K) to achieve a condition significant of the greater of such values; a memory device or register for storing coded information significant of selected characters and interwords; and transcribing means adapted to sense the information in the memory device and to transcribe and space the character consecutively, said comparison means controlling the transcribing means to prevent justification of the line unless D < K Ni. Preferably the machine is adapted for intercharacter as well as interword justification and also includes a character counter for counting the selected characters in a line and the comparison means is associated with the accumulator interword counter, and said character counter to compare the line deficit with the sum of the product K Ni and the product of the number of inter characters (Nc) multiplied by a predetermined maximum intercharacter increment (k) the comparison means controlling the transcribing means to prevent justification of the line unless D < K Ni + k Nc. General description.-As shown, the machine is of the kind generally disclosed in Specification 691,738, in which the keys and space-bar of a keyboard registers character or order code, including fixed and interword space code as a combination of digits S, A, B, C, D, E, F, G and width significant code represented by one or more digits 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128 in a pin register by displacement of a combination of pins, each keyboard operation being recorded on a separate row of pins. The keyboard is that of an electric typewriter having an electromagneticallycontrolled escapement for the paper carriage by means of which a typed proof copy is obtained and the recording carriage of the register is secured to the paper carriage. The registered width code may be significant either of the widtb of the character when transcribed in a chosen style and/or size of type by connecting the code forming mechanism operated by the keyboard controlled permutation bars with circuits as in Specification 807,752; or preferably of the relative widths of the characters, the accumulator being fed with the product of the relative width value multiplied by a coefficient significant of the point set of the character when ultimately transcribed as described in Specification 754,104. The accumulator which is also of the kind described in this prior Specification operates on a binary scale and comprises stages 2 ... 8192 each comprising a stepping switch BI (Fig. 2, not shown) moved by a spring tensioned by operation of the switch coil and released on de-energization of the coil, the input circuits for the switch coils being controlled by input relays E2 ... 512 (Fig. 1, not shown). The omission of the unit stage in recording character widths is of little importance since the width unit employed is approximately 0.02 mm. Each character key struck operates, by a pulse, character counter switches CC1, CC2 (Fig. 3, not shown), so arranged and connected as to provide outputs on a binary scale basis over six leads 1 ... 32 and to count one less than the total number of pulses, so counting the number of intercharacters, Nc. Each space-bar operation applies a pulse to an interword counter switch CI (Fig. 3, not shown), having a binary scale output over seven leads 1 ... 64 to record the number of interwords, Ni. These switches CC1, CC2, CI are stepping switches similar to the accumulator switches BI but have both forward and reverse driving coils, the latter being used when corrections are made. The switch CC1 has only two effective positions, " 0 " and "1" but the switches CC2, CI are both 3-bank 50-position switches. The switches CC1-CC2 and CI are utilized to provide entries in a comparison circuit for the calculation of intercharacter and interword justification increments, the results of which are set up during the transcription cycle on a 3-bank 50-position stepping switch SZC (Fig. 6, not shown) for intercharacter increments and on a 5-bank 25-position stepping switch SZW (Fig. 5) for interword increments, a 3-bank 50-position stepping switch PR and relays PR2, PR4, PR8 (Fig. 4), dealing with any modifications of the interword increment required for exact justification. On the actual transcription stage when the characters and spaces are photographed on the film by decoding the character and order codes recorded in the register, the settings of the switches SZC, SZW, PR and relays PR2, PR4, PR8 determine the justification increments inserted in the line. Correction of errors.-Keyboarding errors are corrected by means of a back-space key BSK or an error key ERK (Fig. 1, not shown), the latter being used to remove a single error remote from the last keyboarded character or space, the carriage being returned to the recorded position of the error as indicated by the proof copy. Such operation subtracts the width value of the erroneous code from the accumulator by complementary addition. The sensing fingers also cause those register pins in the operated position to return to the rest position. Corrections are indicated on the proof copy by operating appropriate keys. Justification.-Mixed justification only is described since simple justification is achieved when the mixed justification key MX (Fig. 3, not shown), is not depressed so that the character counter CC1, CC2 is disabled and so provides no output. Mixed justification is possible only if the line deficit represented as the unfilled levels of the accumulator satisfies the inequality D < 32 Nc + K Ni, where 32 is the chosen maximum value for the intercharacter space increment and K is the maximum for the interword space increment and may be 32, 64, 128 or 256. The value of K may either be manually selected or, as shown, set by operation of relays CMA, CMB (Fig. 9) under the control of the " set small range " and " set medium range " switches having contacts SSR, SMR which provide values of K of 32, 64, 128 for set ranges of 5 to 7, 8 to 10, 11 to 14 points, respectively, the last point range being obtained if neither switch is operated and which switches with the use of the key-operating key-doubling relay having contacts KD (Fig. 1, not shown) and serving to double all the widths recorded, provide values of K of 64, 128, 256 for set ranges of 10 to 14, 16 to 20, 22 to 28 points, respectively. The relationship between the line deficit D and the sum 32 Nc + K Ni is indicated by a switch tree comparison circuit (Fig. 9) in which settings corresponding to D are set up by the conditions of the #-form contacts of the various stages of the accumulator switches BI 32 ... 8192, while those corresponding to the numbers indicated bv the intercharacter counters CC1, CC2 and the interword counter CI are set up by relays RCC 32 ... 2048 and relays RCI 32 ... 8192, respectively. An input ground (positive) potential is applied over line V and an output results on bus-bar JNP if the inequality is not satisfied and on bus-bar JP if it is satisfied. The outputs are utilized to indicate to the operator whether further characters should be recorded or whether the line is ready for justification. If the carriage return key CR (Fig. 7, not shown) is operated before the first JP output is obtained, it closes by way of a transfer contact of the unoperated relay JP, the same circuit as if the key NJ (Fig. 7, not shown) is operated so that an unjustified line is produced as explained below under " No Justification." When the output is produced on bus-bar JP, relay JP is energized and opens the circuit supplying an operating ground potential over the intercharacter counter switches to the relays RCC so that these cease to operate. The comparison circuit output returns to bus-bar JNP and compares D and KNi and further characters may then be recorded until the output again appears on bus-bar JP when justification will be possible without intercharacter increments. This condition may also be indicated to the operator. At any time after the first JP output, the line may be released for justification by operation of the carriage return key CR. Initially as shown all the relays and switches are in the rest position. If the width doubling key has been operated to energize relay KD, code " SEF " is set in the register and this code on transcription causes setting of repeating relays RRS, RRE, RRF (Fig. 1, not shown) so that a pulse from cam ICM4, Fig. 10, energizes coil OP of a transcription doubling relay TD which locks mechanically and doubles all widths following. When the doubling key is released and relay KD is de-energized, code " SE " is set in the register and this when decoded causes energization of coil RE of relay TD to return to widths of normal value. A continuouslyrotating shaft bears timing cams CCM1 and CCM5 (Fig. 10) and a clutch controlled by a clutch magnet CCM and when operated connects with an intermittent shaft bearing cams ICM1 to 6, 11 (Figs. 5, 10, 11). All these cams are arranged to close contacts at appropriate times. Thus cam CCM1 causes the programme switch FLR to step to position 5 (FLR-5) and then to pause until a pulse