Patent GB-941604-A (GB)
Title: Improvements relating to photographic type-composing apparatus
Inventor: FRANKEL GERALD
IPC: B41B17/16
Filed: 1958-07-25
Abstract: 941,604. Photographic type-composing. CAPS (RESEARCH) Ltd. July 22, 1959 [July 25, 1958; Jan. 30, 1959], Nos. 24114/58 and 3499/59. Heading B6W. [Also in Division G2] In a photographic type composing machine in which images of characters of different widths are intermittently and successively projected on to a radiation-sensitive tape with advance of the tape by the appropriate width between successive character projections to form lines of characters, there are provided means comprising a movable carrier arranged to perform an outward and return movement from and to a fixed starting position and to take the tape with it during at least part of its return movement, optical projection means for projecting an image of a dimensional signal associated with the character being projected and representing the distance to be moved by the tape for accommodating the character, and a sensing device carried by the carrier for sensing the projected signal and setting the distance which the tape is moved by the carrier during its return movement. As shown, the tape 11 on which characters are projection printed is held taut when stationary by solenoid-operated grippers 24, 25 which are released when the tape is moved. The tape is moved by solenoid-operated grippers 12, 13 carried by a bar 10 engaged by a cam 22. For each exposure the tape is positioned with the trailing body margin of the previously recorded character or chosen line position in line with the tape alignment line which coincides with the leading body margin of the succeeding character. As the cam 22 rotates, the bar 10 is moved to the right with the feed grippers released and the chosen character on the matrix 50 illuminated by a source 47 is recorded on the tape by opening of a shutter (not shown). Simultaneously the character width mark 46 aligned with the right-hand character body margin is also projected, and when this optical signal which is relayed by the mirror 16 travelling with the bar is detected by the photo-cell 20, a brake 21 is applied to the bar to arrest it while the cam continues to move away from the bar during the exposure period, at the end of which the shutter closes, the character and width signal projection illumination ceases, the grippers 12, 13 are engaged and the brake 21 is released. As the cam 22 completes its revolution, it returns the bar 10 to the position shown and advances the tape by the width of the character just recorded. The tape may be of a material sensitive to ultra-violet radiation and capable of being developed to give a visible image by heating, as by means of the heater 43, or the tape may be be a film sensitive to visible light. In either case the character width signals may be projected with visible light as from a lamp 48. For use in subsequent make-up from the tape, stop marks are recorded on the tape. For this purpose a beginning of line signal is recorded on the tape extending downwardly from the upper margin positioned on the tape alignment line by a finger controlled by a solenoid (all not shown) similar to those shown at 40, 41 for the end of line signal. Depending on whether the line is to be quadded left or right, centred, or justified, the solenoid 40 is operated so that the finger 41 is recorded at different positions on the tape after the last character has been recorded. For quad right lines the end of line signal is recorded flush with the right hand or trailing margin of the last character. For quad left lines the end of line signal is recorded at a distance from the beginning of line signal equal to the chosen standard length for the lines, means being provided for moving the tape to the end of line position without exposure. To achieve this, the tape is moved until the beginning of line signal is sensed by the optical system borne by the carriage 32 which is secured to the bar 10 at the standard line length from the tape alignment line, whereupon the signal is detected by the photo-cell 20 which applies the brake 21, after which the solenoid 40 is operated to apply the end of line signal. For centring, after recording the last character of the line, the carriage 32 is secured to the bar 26 at the standard line distance but since bar 26 is arranged to be driven by its cam 27 twice as quickly as bar 10, the beginning of line signal is sensed and the bar 10 is arrested when the bar 10 has travelled half the distance between the last character and the standard end of line position, so that the end of line signal is recorded at this position. The justification signal for justification by optically stretching the line as in Specification 936,290 is recorded in the same way as the centring signal from which it is distinguished by employing a longer vertical line applied by using a double-acting solenoid 40. Provision is made for dealing with slightly over-length lines as well as short lines and instead of the solenoid and finger arrangement for the line end signals such signals may be projected from the matrix 50. The line end signals on the tape are used in the make-up machine to provide proper typographical alignment in a manner analogous to that employed in recording the signals. In a modification (Figs. 2, 3, not shown) of the tape exposing machine, the bar 26 is driven from the bar 10 by a lever device and the carriage 32 is always secured to the bar 26, the lever device being adjustable to give the bar 26 either the same or double the movement of the bar 10 as required. Figs. 6 and 7 (not shown) depict a follower device for the bar 10 electromagnetically arrested at a position determined by the character width and by which the brake 21 is energized at the appropriate time in the return movement of the bar. Specification 909,203 also is referred to.