Patent GB-691738-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in or relating to type-composing apparatus
IPC: B41B17/10
Filed: 1949-11-16
Abstract: 691,738. Photographic type - composing. HIGONNET, R. A. E., and MOYROUD, L. M. Nov. 16, 1949, No. 29339/49. [A Specification was laid open to inspection under Sect. 91 of the Acts, May 25, 1950.] Class 98 (i). [Also in Groups XVI and XIX] A justifier for a type-composing machine of the kind including a register for storing, by means of a code, characters and interwords of a line for subsequent justification and composition comprises a binary counter which accumulates during registration the length of the line in terms of elementary width units expressed on the binary system, the interwords each being allotted a pre-selected number of elementary width units; and means which, after registration, add repeatedly to the binary counter a number of width units equal to the number of interwords until the desired length of the line is just exceeded, the numerical excess of such width units being transferred to selection means which are thereby set to expand the line, during composition thereof, to the desired length by adding Q width units to each of (N - R) interwords and (Q+1) such units to the other interwords, where Q is the quotient and R is the remainder of the division of D, the number of units by which the unjustified line is short of the desired length, by N, the number of interwords. The justifier is particularly applicable to photographic type-composing machines, e.g. of the kind described in Specification 669,531, but is also applicable to other kinds of typecomposing machines, e.g. justifying typewriters. As shown, the justifier forms part of a photographic type-composing machine in which a typed copy is produced by means of a keyboard and at the same time the characters are registered line-by-line on a register of the kind described in Specification 691,761, and the total length of the line and the number of interwords are counted. The justification computation is automatically performed by calculating devices, and the characters are photographed one by one; the spacing being so controlled by a variable escapement of the kind described in Specification 691,762 that a justified line results. Line counter.-As shown, each key of the keyboard actuates selected permutation bars CM which operate contacts Cd1 &c. to enable the characters to be represented by a sevenelement code, similar to the Baudot telegraphic code. Impulses from the contacts are fed to the electromagnets RPE1-RPE7 of the register. The first four code elements represent the width of the character in binary notation, and the corresponding impulses are applied along wires 14 to relays RI1-RI4. Each relay, when energized, breaks the circuit through wire 14 and closes a hold-on circuit completed through contacts of a relay DR, and closes contacts applying an impulse to one of the stages of a binary counter. Each stage comprises a pair of relays A1, B1 &c. so connected that a. pair of contacts open and close alternately as successive impulses are applied thereto. The stages are interconnected by carry-over relays R2-R5, having two windings, and operating when one of the windings is energized, but not when both are energized together. The arrangement is such that when a stage has passed from a state indicating 0 (contacts open) to a stage indicating 1 (contacts closed), and another impulse is applied, the stage returns to the 0 state and the impulse is carried over to the next stage. A slowoperating relay E prevents the pulses from reaching the stages until the carry-over relays have operated. There are five stages, to which application of an impulse indicates the addition of 1, 2, 4, 8 and 16 units respectively, and relays RI1-RI4 are connected to the first four. When the number stored reaches or exceeds 32, a relay R6 is operated to close a circuit through lead 80 to a stepping switch ACS, which thus steps once for each 32 units. Since widths of 1, 2 or 3 units are never used, a relay RU, which is energized whenever a key is pressed, is connected so that it applies impulses to relays A1, B1 and A4, B4 when relays RI3, RI4 are not operating, thus adding 9 units. If relay RI2, or relays RI1, RI2 together, are also operated, 10 or 11 units are added. This enables more characters of the same width to be differentiated than would otherwise be possible with a seven-element code. When relay E operates relay DR also operates, but sufficiently slowly to ensure that all operations are complete before the holding circuits of relays RI1-RI4 and RU are broken. Every time the space bar SB is depressed, four units (the minimum interword space) are added to the line counter, and a stepping switch CI, constituting an interword counter, is operated. Correction of errors.-If, after typing a line, an error is detected, the register carriage is brought back to the position of the erroneous character and a correction key COK is pressed. This starts a stepping switch COS with seven levels of five contacts. The following operations occur as the switch moves: the switch ACS is disconnected, and a relay INV is operated. This sends pulses to all five stages of the counter so as to invert them. A stepping switch SUS is connected in place of switch ACS. A magnet COC is energized and attracts a lever Y3 which moves a slidably-mounted bar OP carrying pivoted members Y which rock on meeting those bars of the register which are advanced and indicate the width of the erroneous character, and close contacts which transmit signals representing this width to relays RI1- RI4 (relay RU also being operated), so that the width is added to the counter. Relay INV is again operated so that, in effect, the width is subtracted from the counter. If the counter capacity is exceeded, switch SUS is operated; the connections between switches SUS and ACS being such that the effect is as if switch ACS were stepped back. By means of a magnet EF a comb CF is operated to erase the code combination of the erroneous character from the register. The correct character is then registered and its width added. Justification computation.- The interword counter CI is a decimal-to-binary converter having five levels of 25 contacts each; closing of contacts in the different levels representing 1, 2, 4, 8 or 16 in binary notation. The connections are such that at each step the closed contacts represent, in binary notation, the ordinal number of the step. When registration is complete, the line counter indicates the total number of width-units in the characters plus 4 units for each interword. The interword counter CI indicates the number N of inter. words in the line. Depression of a key FLC registers an " end of line " signal and starts the operation of a stepping switch FLK having 11 levels of 6 contacts each. In its second position, switch FLK operates a relay CS, connecting the stages of the line counter through leads 23 to the interword counter CI. Impulses from a lead 90 are applied through the closed contacts of switch CI to the line counter so that the number N is repeatedly added to the line counter until the switch ACS reaches its ter. minal position and the counter capacity is exceeded. Each impulse is also fed to a stepping zone switch SZ, which finally indicates the number (Q+1), while the counter indicates the number (N - R). The last impulse causes switch FLK to step to its third position, in which lead 90 is disconnected, switches CI, SUS and ACS are returned to their " home " positions, and a self-cycling circuit is completed to a remainder switch PR having five levels A-F connected by leads 24 to the contacts of relays A1, B1, &c., and a " home return " level Z. The self-cycling circuit is completed through levels A-F and the counter relay contacts, so that when the switch is at (N - R) steps from its end position the selfcycling circuit is broken. When all operations are completed, a circuit is completed returning switch FLK to its home position, thereby resetting the line counter to zero and energizing a relay JR on position 4, and energizing on position 5 an electromagnet EM which positions the recording carriage of the register for registration of the next line: Composition of the line.-The character projection unit comprises a character-carrying disc D, a decoding drum 142, and a set of cams Ca1-Ca10, all mounted on a continuouslydriven shaft. As described in Specification 669,556, [Group XL (b)], contacts t1-t7, which are closed according to the code combination of the character to be reproduced, are connected to brushes 156 wiping drum 142, and when the required character is in position for projection a lamp L is energized, producing a brief flash of light which projects the image of the character on to a photographic film mounted on a carriage F. A set of contacts are operated by the cams at intervals during rotation of the shaft. The register has two sets of pins, used alternately for registering and recording a line, and movement from one position to the other initiates the recording processes by moving a switch bs, which operates a relay RS and prepares a circuit closed by the contacts of cam Ca7 to operate relays CR and SE. Operation of relay SE prepares circuits including the contacts of cams Ca8, Ca9. Cam Ca9 causes operation of an electromagnet PLP, moving a bar with pivoted arms P1-P7 which engage the projecting pins of the register and close the corresponding contacts C1-C7. When the contacts of cam Ca3 close, those relays T1-T7 which are connected to the contacts C1-C7 which are closed are energized and hold-on circuits are closed. Contacts t1-t7 are operated by relays T1-T7, and thus cause projection of the selected character. The relays also operate contacts 121, and according to the operation of relays T1-T4 a circuit is completed to the variable escapement EV to advance the carriage F by a distance equal to the width of the character when cam Ca6 closes its contacts. While the variable escapement is operating