Patent GB-1197845-A (GB)
Title: Generating and Recording Signals Representing Text
IPC: G06F3/12
Filed: 1968-03-08
Abstract: 1,197,845. Typewriters &c. INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORP. 8 March, 1968 [14 March, 1967 (2)], No. 11352/68. Heading B6F. [Also in Division G4] Apparatus generates a series of coded signals representing a text as a succession of lines each having an associated line-end signal, the coded signals being recorded along separate tracks of a record medium, each track having a capacity such as to accommodate any one of the lines, the recorder stepping from track to track under control of the line-end signals so each track receives the signals for a respective line. FIRST EMBODIMENT. Characters entered on the keyboard of a typewriter having a " golf-ball " print head mounted on a carriage for movement across a document, are printed on the document, e.g. in a first column and may be simultaneously recorded on a magnetic card optionally together with automatically-calculated justification information. The magnetically recorded data may be read to print the characters on a second column of the document, optionally justified. Control keys are provided for the various operations. Each line of characters is recorded on a separate track of the card, ending with a " carrier return " code. During printing under control of the card, reading of the " carrier return " code controls card movement and also returns the typewriter print head to the left margin. Justification details.-The operator first types a rough copy. Each character in a line, as it is typed is also recorded in a track (respective to the line) on the magnetic card, a space being automatically left at the beginning of the track for a justification character which is automatically recorded after the characters of the line. As each character of the line is entered into the main register prior to recording on the card it is decoded to indicate the number of escapement increments it requires. The complement of this is entered into an " escapement length " register (a counter). An " increment " register, divided into a scale of 6 counter, a scale of 16 counter and a scale of 8 counter each counter providing high-order carry to the next counter, is also provided. The " escapement length " and " increment " registers are counted-up together until the former reaches capacity. Thus the number of escapement increments has been entered into the scale of 6 counter end of the " increment " register. This is repeated for each character in the line. A space is counted as three escapement increments. Each space also adds one to a " word space " register. Operator-controlled dials are provided to select a pitch of 12, 14 or 16, and the number of inches and (in terms of the pitch) sixths of an inch in the desired justified line length. During initial rough typing by the operator, an " end-zone " lamp is lit when the line may conveniently be ended at any time. Subsequently a " justify " lamp is lit to indicate that room is left for approximately four characters in the line. When the card is read to print the recorded characters of a line, each space character in the line is given an extra number of escapement increments determined by a quotient portion of a calculated justification character from the card until a number of space characters equal to a remainder portion has occurred, subsequent space characters being given one less increment. SECOND EMBODIMENT. This embodiment differs from the first in using a magnetic tape unit (a dictation recorder), capable of separate use, in place of the magnetic card unit. The tape unit has a magnetic tape loop having 20 tracks bearing prerecorded justification information for table look-up, and 120 tracks each of which can record characters to be printed and justification characters for a respective line on the document in the associated typewriter. As the operator types a rough copy, each character in a line is recorded, as it is typed, in one of the set of 120 tracks of the magnetic tape unit. A spacebar valve dial and a space-bar quantity dial on the typewriter are automatically stepped in accordance with calculations based on the prerecorded table look-up justification information. The recorded characters are now read from the tape and printed by the typewriter. The first m spaces where m is the setting of the spacebar quantity dial are each given a number of escapement increments equal to the setting of the space-bar value dial, the latter then being moved back one position so that subsequent spaces get one less increment. In an alternative mode of operation, a plurality of lines of characters are typed rough with concurrent recording in respective tracks of the tape before any of them are printed with justification. Modification.-A magnetic card may replace the magnetic tape. FURTHER FEATURES. Provision may be made for line centring, flush-left and flush-right, using calculation or table look-up. Colour-coded arrangements for manual justification are described briefly. Signals from the above system may be sent to or received from a like system or sent to a photographic unit, a perforated tape unit or a magnetic storage unit.