Patent GB-846261-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to type-composing apparatus
IPC: B41B21/36
Filed: 1955-08-02
Abstract: 846,261. Photographic type-composing apparatus. HIGONNET, R. A. E., and MOYROUD, L. M. July 19, 1956 [Aug. 2, 1955], No. 22213/55. Class 98(1) Type-composing apparatus comprises a unidirectional cyclic escapement mechanism, i.e. an escapement mechanism having two or more distinguishable conditions attained progressively and cyclically by successive advances of its output member through integral numbers of elementary advance units; a carriage adapted to be advanced by operation of said escapement mechanism from a starting position in steps corresponding to integral numbers of escapement advance units to effect spacing of characters in a line; means operative following carriage advance for spacing the last character of a line to advance the escapement mechanism by a selected number of said units to bring the total advance of this mechanism to an integral number of advance cycles thereof; and means for returning the carriage to its starting position. As described the escapement mechanism is a multi-stage cascade of differential devices as in Specification 794,499 but is provided with a different arrangement for bringing it into its starting position. The carriage may support either a photographic film as in Specification 669,531 or as shown a prism carriage 64 of the kind disclosed in Specification 691,763. As shown, the prism carriage is moved to the right across the width of the film from the initial position by a spring 70 under control of a pinion 76 engaging a rack e8 secured to the carriage, the pinion being on the final output shaft P128 of the escapement mechanism 12. This mechanism consists of differentials D1 ... D128 having output shafts P1 ... P128 and each having two input gears; referring typically to the second stage, one E2 is driven by a friction drive F2 from a gear 42 meshing with a pinion 40 on a continuously rotating motor 36 when released by a pawl 30 (Fig. 2) on a rocker arm A2 controlled by a magnet M2, and the other T2 is driven by the carry-over gear 16 of the preceding output shaft. The input gear 29 on the shaft P1 has no carry-over gear to mesh with and is fixed by a pin 291 adjustable for initial setting and taking-up wear. With 1:1 gear relationships throughout an advance of two angular units of a shaft produces an advance of one such unit on the following shaft so that the several shafts have their rotations related in a binary series. The shaft P128 is provided with a second friction drive over gears 130, 132 which is slower running but applies a greater torque so as to smooth out the operation of the escapement output shaft. The machme operates in the manner generally described in Specification 794,499, the character and spacing information being stored in a register which is connected with a justifier, the output from these combined circuits which are represented in Fig. 2 by contacts Rl ... R128 being applied to the magnets M1 ... M128 during photographing. Prior to registering the characters and spaces, the required justified line length is set in a space accumulator (input relays B1 ... B128 of which are shown although stages 256 ... 2048 are also provided) by closing switches K1 ... K2048 to insert a pre-set value equivalent to the accumulator capacity minus the line length so that for a line of 1867 units the keys K4, K16, K32, K128, K2048 are closed as shown, these keys remaining closed during photographing for use in checking the justification. The photographing is effected while the output circuits represented by Rl ... R128 energize the magnets M1 ... M128 in groups appropriate to move the carriage 64 the required space widths required. When the photographing has been completed switch 84 commences stepping from its home position O. In position a, relay 90 is energized connecting a voltage over those switches Kl ... K128 which have been closed to the magnets M1 ... M128 of the escapement mechanism. If the line is correctly justified the escapement mechanism will then be moved on to one unit short of its initial 'O' position which is reached when the switch 84 steps to position b applying a voltage to magnet M1. In switch position c relay 92 is energized closing a switch to contacts 78 on the prism carriage engaging a "card" 80. If the carriage movement has been correct i.e. the chosen multiple of space width corresponding to one cycle of the escapement mechanism there is no circuit to line 94 but if the movement has been incorrect relay 96 is energized operating buzzer 98 to indicate lack of justification and maintaining it in operation over hold-on-contacts until switch 100 is opened. Instead of the contacts 78 and "card" 80 a slidably adjustable pin may be provided beneath the prism carriage for engagement when this has moved the proper distance to open a switch in the line 94. In the next switch position d, a voltage is applied to switch Cl and relay 102 is energized. If this is in the position shown, indicating that the differential Dl is in the 'O' position, roller 88 dwelling in one of the depressions on the wheel S1 on the shaft P1, the voltage is transferred to the next switch C2 and so on. If however any of the switches are not in the 'O' position, the appropriate magnets M1 ... M128 is energized to move the escapement to its initial position and the buzzer 98 is energized over line 104 and relay contacts 102. When the escapement mechanism has been thus reset, relay 108 is energized, switch 82 being closed since the carriage 64 has moved from its Fig. 1 position, to engage the magnet for a clutch 86 in the carriage return drive supplied over gears 110, 114, 112 from the motor 40, the friction drive to shaft P128 being overcome by this direct drive which causes the pinion 76 to return the carriage to the Fig. 1 position, when switch 82 opens and deenergizes relay 108 and so clutch magnet 86. This powered return movement of shaft P128 is possible by the special construction of pawl 34 of rocker A128. Position e of switch 84 concerns other machine operations. Specification 691,738 also is referred to.