Patent GB-991281-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to data processing apparatus for controlling a typesetting process
IPC: B41B25/00
Filed: 1963-10-09
Abstract: 991,281. Strip-perforating machines; Justifying type. COMPUGRAPHIC CORPORATION. Oct. 9, 1963 [Oct. 11, 1962], No. 39718/63. Heading B6W. In type composing apparatus data processing apparatus is provided which converts tape which has been perforated for the operation of type setting machines in one type face and one line length into a new tape suitable for operating type setting machines at different line length and with different type faces or converts a perforated tape representing a type written copy into a type setting tape. Fig. 2 is a line diagram of the data processing apparatus. The hard copy counter 22 and copy display 23 is shown in Fig. 3 with a hard copy or type written copy 50 in position, which corresponds to the input tape 10 being fed into the reader 11. The apparatus automatically computes the width values of characters and spaces in a line and automatically terminates the line within justification range of a predetermined length if an interword (e.g. space) or a hyphen occurs within justification range of this predetermined length. In those cases where the predetermined line length does not occur at an inter-word point, the processing apparatus provides a semi-automatic hyphenating system. The display unit, Fig. 3, is arranged to display the hard copy 50 line by line, and, as each character in the line is received at the imput of the decoder transcriber 12, to provide a visual indication of the position of this character in the line on the hard copy. A series of bulbs 52 each of which can illuminate a particular character on the hard copy are sequentially illuminated by the hard copy counter 22 which receives signals for each character and each inter-word signal from the decoder transcriber 12. In operation the hard copy 50 is set up in the copy display unit 23, and the hard copy counter 22 is set to zero. The line length which has been selected is entered into the system through line measure preset unit 31, and the matrix width assignment or evaluator unit 15 and space band width assignment unit 14 are adjusted for the particular type face being employed. The reader 11 is now started and commences to translate the code on the imput tape 10 and provide binary code signals to the decoder transcriber 12. Output signals are then provided from the decoder transcriber 12 to both of the width assignment units and to the shift register 13. The shift register has a limited memory, e.g. 12 bits, and since a typical line length might include 40 or 50 characters, the initial characters in each line are processed through the shift register and encoded in the output encoder 6 on to the output tape 45. However when an end of line signal appears on the imput tape or when a predetermined line length of the output copy is reached, the normal flow of coded information from the input reader 11 to the output encoder 6 is interrupted. Whenever a hyphen signal followed by a return code signal is translated in the reader 11, these two signals do not enter the shift register 13 but enter the add code unit 16 directly from the decoder transcriber 12. This indicates the end of a line in the middle of a word on the input tape 10. The output copy should then eliminate the hyphen and include the next character of the word without adding a space. Upon receipt of this combination the add code unit 16 provides no signals to the shift register and on the next clock pulse the subsequent character code will be entered into the shift register 13. Upon receipt of a signal combination representing a return code preceded by a character code, the add code unit 16 introduces into the shift register 13 a code representing a space band, and at the same time provides a signal to the space band width assignment unit 14 so that the additional width of this added space band will be included in the computation of the line length of the output encoder. Upon receipt of a hyphen signal in the add code unit 16, which is followed by a character signal signifying a hyphenated word, the add code unit provides an output code representing a hyphen which is entered into the shift register 13 before the entry of the next character, which has been delayed in passing from the decoder transcriber 12 into the shift register 13. Here again, the add code unit 16 simultaneously provides a signal to the matrix width assessment unit 15. Four counters 17, 18, 19, and 20 are utilized in the apparatus for justification purposes. Each of the counters is adapted to provide an output signal when the total of accumulated width values reaches a predetermined limit corresponding to the predetermined line length. The space band width assignment unit 14 provides numerical outputs to each of the counters. To counter 17 the numerical value provided represents the minimum space band width for the type face which has been selected, while to counter 18 the numerical value represents the maximum space band width. The numerical values applied to counter 19 represent the maximum band width plus a value representing one thin space while those to counter 20 represent the maximum space band value plus the value of one en space. Automatic line ending occurs when an interword code has been received after the limit on counter 18 is reached, but before the limit of counter 17 is reached. If an inter-word code is received by the line completing unit 33 after the limit signal from counter 18 is received, but before the limit signal from counter 17, a circuit is actuated, which upon receipt of the limit signal from counter 17 provides an actuating signal to reader 11 and to recognition unit 41, which in turn provide a signal to control 32. The signal to reader 11 stops the flow of input tape, while the signal to recognition unit 41 initiates the end of line sequence. Signals continue to shift from the register 13 to the encoder 6 until the last interword is reached. At this point, the recognition circuit provides an output signal to the encoder 6 representing a " return and elevator" code which will now be coded on to the output tape. At the same time a signal is provided from the read-out control unit 32 to the line measure preset unit 31 causing the width assignment counters 17, 18, 19 and 20 to be reset to their effective zero. A further delayed signal is then provided from the read-out control 32 to the start reader unit 35 initiating once more the flow of the input tape through the reader 11. Should no inter-word code occur before the counter 17 overflows, the line must then be terminated at a character preceding the oversetting character. The decision to hyphenate or use the previous interword to terminate the line, is made by operator intervention and the necessity of adding to the inter-word spaces is then automatically determined. When counter 17 overflows and the whole apparatus is stopped, the visual indicator on the copy display unit 23 now indicates the oversetting character. An intervention control 30 has a series of pushbuttons mounted on it; for example, six buttons, numbered one to six and one button labelled interword. The operator selects an appropriate point for hyphenation or in his discretion the previous inter-word point on the hard copy 50. If, for example, the appropriate hyphenation point occurs four characters preceding the overset character, the fourth button is pushed to provide a hyphen at this point. If the last interword is an appropriate point for line termination the interword button is pushed. The read out control 32 then re-initiates the action of the shift register 13 to process the codes included in its storage into the output encoder 6. When the code of the hyphenation point arrives at the recognition circuit 41, this circuit provides immediately thereafter a signal to the output encoder entering a hyphen code into this latter unit. The shift register 13 has nine parallel channels. Six of these channels receive their signals from either the decoder transcriber or the add code unit 16 and pass their signals directly to the output encoder 6 via the switching circuit 40. Two of the remaining three channels receive their signals from the counters 18, 19 and 20 which are then carried along in parallel with the character for which the width assignment filled up the respective one of these counters. The ninth and remaining channel is used to carry the hyphenation signal. The recognition unit 41 also senses the signals stored in the seventh and eighth channels of the shift register 13. If the last signal sensed before the line termination point is one indicating the overflow of counter 20 then the recognition unit 41 causes two additional " return " codes to be encoded by the output encoder 6 after the hyphen and then the normal return and elevator codes are encoded. If the overflow of counter 19 is indicated, a single additional return code is encoded before the normal return elevate code. If the overflow of counter 18 is indicated, only the normal return elevate code is encoded on to the output tape 45. If no signal is carried in channels 7 and 8 this indicates that the counter 20 was not filled and therefore a stop code is added after the return code to stop the type setting machine so that extra spacing may be added. When the recognition circuit 41 recognizes the end of line signal the circuit sends a signal to the switching circuit 40 to return the remainder of the store codes in the shift register 13 back into the decoder transcriber 12. When add code unit 16 receives a signal indicating a return code immediately followed by a signal indicating a fixed space code, this indicates the end of a paragraph. The add code unit 16 will then generate an end of the line code which when detected by the recognition unit 41 will result in a quad left and a return and elevate code. The add code unit also generates a fixed space code and enters this into shift register 13 to provide for the proper indentation of the