Patent GB-652688-A (GB)
Title: Method of composing type lines for photographic reproduction
IPC: B41B13/02
Filed: 1947-12-15
Abstract: 652,688. Photographic type - composing. BUCKINGHAM, D. F. Dec. 15, 1947, No. 33020. Convention date, March 10, 1945. [Class 98 (i)] A method of reproducing type lines photographically includes the steps of printing several rows of characters on a sheet of paper, slitting the sheet parallel with each row, slitting the sheet midway between the characters of each row, dividing a stack of sheets so produced into blocks each composed of one row of characters, selecting units of the stack carrying the desired characters, arranging the units to dispose the selected characters in a straight line and photographing and reproducing the aligned characters. Line of perforations may be made in the sheets parallel to the lines of characters so that units may be torn off. Characters may be printed on the back of each sheet to provide an inverted character on the back of each unit. The blocks may be divided into pads each composed of units bearing one character only. As shown, Fig. 1, rows of characters 16 are printed on a sheet of paper 15 by means of a platen press. The bed of press also carries knives so that simultaneously with the printing operation are formed (1) slits 17, parallel to, and at an accurately determined distance from, the lines of characters, and extending beyond the ends of the lines, but not to the margins of the sheet 15, and (2) lines of perforations 18 approximately parallel to the lines of characters and on the side thereof opposite the slits 17. The back of the sheet is then printed with characters occupying the back of the areas occupied by the front characters, and upside-down with respect thereto. The two sets of characters may be printed in different colours. In the second printing operation each sheet is divided into two parts by extending the central slit 17 to the margins, and the half-sheets are stacked. Blocks of wood of the same width as the characters of a line are prepared by fixing a bar of wood to a movable table, moving the table lengthwise of the bar by distances equal to each character width by bringing a datum mark on the table to the point midway between successive characters in a sample line, and cutting the bar after each movement by means of a stationary disc saw. The blocks are assembled in the order cut in rows on the bed of a press with knives between the blocks. The assembly is covered by a rubber layer so that the knives are covered, but when a half-sheet prepared as above is laid on the rubber and pressed down, the edges of the knives are bared and slit the paper between the characters, the slits extending between slits 17 and perforated lines 18. Knives dividing groups of similar characters within a row have notched extensions forming lines of perforations extending the slits to the adjacent slit 17 and perforation line 18. A stack of sheets prepared as above is cut to remove the margins, separating the stack along the slits 17 into pads, each consisting of one row of characters. The pads are fastened by adhesive applied to the edges near the perforated lines 18, and divided as by a band saw into sections, each bearing one character only, along the slits with perforated extensions. The pad sections are assembled in a container having a channel-section bar which grips the bound edges thereof, so that units bearing single characters can be detached by tearing along the perforated line 18. The detached units are laid face down on a channelsectioned composing strip 62, Fig. 12, the inverted characters on the back facilitating their assembly in the required order. The edges which lie on the slits 17 are pressed against the lower straight edge of the holder channel to align the characters. An adhesive strip 64 such as scotch tape is applied to the exposed faces of the units, fastening them together so that, when turned over, they present a row of characters aligned in the desired order which may be photographed and reproduced. The rows may be used as titles, headings, &c. with typewritten or other matter to be reproduced photographically.