US3371588A - Photocomposing machine - Google Patents

Description

March 5, 1968 F. c. TAMBLING 3,371,588

PHOTOCOMPOSING MACHINE Filed ,Oct. 21, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. FREDERICK C. TAMBLING ATTORNEYS March 5, 1968 F. c. TAMBLING 3,371,588

PHOTOCOMPOSING MACHINE Filed Oct. 21, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 A m ,g QQQOOQQDQOQ QOQOQOOQQOOO OQOQQOQDO Q Q OD GO INVENTOR.

FREDERICK C. TAMBLING M ATTORNEYS March 1968 F. c. TAMBLING PHOTOCOMPOSING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 21, 1965 INVENTOR.

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ATTORNEYS StatCS ABSTRACT OF THE mscLosUnE A' unitary automatic type composer, having a" rotary .font disc indexed to an exposure or printing station-by selective actuation of a character key on matrix or keyboard, and having mechanically and electrically 1nterloc'ked index registry and filmor paper transfer devices;

The present invention relates generally to apparatus for producing photographic negatives for lithography, intaglio printing, photoengraving, or etching. More particularly, the invention relates to a photographic type composing machine operated automatically by a typewriter or a keyboard switch and display matrix of type characters.

Heretofore, photocomposing techniques have generally entailed selective manual positioning of photographic or pressure sensitive film in relation to platens having. a plurality of type characters or fonts thereon. However, such arduous methods are tedious and time-consuming; and, even when locking or index registry devices are employed, the attendant human error inevitably produces inaccuracies or defects in justification, spacing, resolution, and exposure ofthe photographic negative thus composed.

More recently, certain automatic typewriter-actuated photocomposing machines have been proposed. However, all such concepts of which applicant is aware contemplate utilization of various combinations of expensive and complex clutches and drives with mechanical gearing and escapement'fm echanisms, high speed character storagev drums, encoder" and memory units, lin'e-at-a-time printers, elaborate opticaland shutter systems, intricate electrical or electronic circuitry, and thelike, Such s y-S- tems: involve substantial, and at times virtually prohibitive, expenditures in terms of initiali-nv'estment and maintenance costs for normal the necessity for the inclusion of the complex mechanical, electrical, and optical components insuch systems increases the incidence of errors and defects due'to the possibilities of maladjustment and. the inherent inefficiencies of the component subsystems. And such systems require a high degree of skill and training on the part of operating and maintenance personnel.

Accordingly; it is a primary object of the present-invention: to provide a simple; economical, and reliable printing operations: Moreover,

automatic photocomposing machine for composing; type characters on photographic" film or'pape'r.

It is. a further object of the invention to furnish an automatic photocomposingmachine, asaforesaidg in combination with an actuation device comprising; a typewriter keyboard or switch and display matrix of type characters.

It is a still further object of the invention to' provide such photocomposing apparatus exhibiting. an optimum combination ofefficiency, justifica-tion, accuracy, resolotion, and operation speed producing composed-negati-ves orpositives. t I

Itv is yet another object to providesuch a photocomposing machine requiring; a minimum degree of skill and manualefiort in operation, adjustment, and main-tenance servicing.

with or composed of a switches, as hereinafter It is yet a further object of the invention to provide improved mechanical and electrical components in combination-with an improved unitary keyboard-actuated rotary font storage disc photocomposing machine having improved film feed means.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention, together with structural variations and substitutions of equivalent components, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of one preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that such variations and equivalents are comprehended within the scope and spirit of the invention.

In the drawings, in which like reference characters are employed to designate like parts, assemblies, and circuit components, throughout:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a unitary photocomposing machine according to one form of the present invention, the hinged top being open to expose certain of the; internal assemblies:

FIG. 2 is a partial elevational or side section view taken along lines 2-2 in FIG. 1;-

FIG. 3 is a partial top or plan view of the apparatus depicted in FIG. 1, parts being broken away for purposes of illustration;

FIG. 4 is a partial elevational section view taken along lines 44 in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a schematic wiring diagram of' the electrical circuitry for the photocomposing machine.

In general, the invention relates to a unitary photocomposing machine having a rotary font disc rotated or indexed to an exposure light or film printing station by selective actuation of a type character key on a matrix keyboard or typewriter. The apparatus includes novel rotatable electrical contact means, circuitry, and index registry mechanisms; and a unique film transfer device is provided.

ponents of the machine 10 are preferably enclosed within a housing 11 having a top which is hinged as at 13 to permit opening of the housing for access to the interior thereof. The interior surfaces 14 of the housing and the parts and subassembliestherein are preferably painted substantially non-reflective material so as to minimize spurious light reflections having deleterious effects upon the exposure of the photographic film being composed with type images as hereinafter explained.

Arranged. at the front of the photocomposing machine 10, is a switch and display matrix keyboard of characters, such as typewriter keyboard 15. The key-board 15' has a plurality of type letters and numerals 16 thereon, as well as one or more capital letter or upper case shift keys 17 and spacing bars 18. Each of the keys 16 and 17' and the bar 18 may be mechanically arranged to actuate electrical described, upon selective mechanical' actuation or depression thereof by the operator of the machine. However, any suitable electric typewriter or switch matrix may be employed so long as it produces separate electrical signals or pulse outputs for each selectively actuated character key or matrix switch.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 2-a-nd3, the operators selection of a given type character byactuation of it's appropriate characterkey 16 and its associated electrical switch'energ-izesan electrical drive 19 of a type described type character at a predetermined point for automatic ,3 printing or photographic exposure onto a pressure sensitive tape or film negative F.

The rotary font carrying assembly 20 and electrical drive 19 are preferably mounted within the machine onclosure 11, and drive 19 may be any suitable electric motor or motorized gear reduction unit depending upon the desired speed of operation of the photocomposing machine 10. Drive shaft 21 of drive 19 is connected to one side of a flexible coupling 22 as by a set screw 23, the other side of the coupling 22 being connected to an upstanding spindle shaft 24 as by set screw 25. Spindle shaft 24- is journaled in a suitable ball-bearing assembly 26 mounted in a spindle bearing block 27 mounted on a fixed shelf 28 in the housing 11 as by screws 29.

As seen in FIG. 2, the spindle shaft 24 extends upwardly from the spindle bearing block 27 and has a cap-' stan 30 secured thereto for rotation therewith by a taper pin 31. The upper end of the capstan 30 has an annular turntable 32' secured thereto as by screws 33 and surrounding an upwardly protruding portion of the spindle shaft 24. The turntable 32 carries one or more upwardly directed pins 34. Pins 34 are located radially outwardly of the upwardly protruding portion of the spindle shaft 24 and cooperate therewith to secure a suitably bored and pin-hole'perforated font carrying disc 35 in a predetermined position in relation to indexing and registry structure and circuitry hereinafter described.

Located at the axially lower end of the capstan 30 is printed circuit" 55, conjunction with the continuously an integral bell flange 36 extending downwardly around i the spindle bearing block 27. An annular shelf 37 is attached to the lower periphery of the bell flange 36 as by screws 38 for rotation therewith. The annular shelf 37 is mounted to the peripheral underside of the bell flange 36 on an accurately machined groove surface 39 so that the shelf 37 is maintained in precision concentric and parallel alignment with the annular turntable 32 and the font carrying disc 35 carried thereon. An annular index register plate 40 is suitably secured on the upper surface of the annular shelf 37 for rotation therewith; and the radially outer periphery of the plate 46 is formed to define a plurality of saw tooth notches 41 thereon, the number and circumferential location of notches corresponding to the number and circumferential location of radial rows of characters on the font carrying disc 35. i

On the fixed shelf 28 at the radially outer periphery of the index register plate 40, at least one electromagnetic solenoid 42 is mounted in a fixed and predetermined position as by screws 43. The armature 44 of solenoid 42 is connected to a vertically disposed index lock bar 45 having a notch 46 therein for engagement in the valleys of the saw tooth notches 41 on the index register plate 40, upon selective energization of the solenoid 42 and the resultant actuation or radially inward translation of the armature 44.

The index lock bar is connected at its lower end to a pivot 47 and is normally biased radially outwardly from the index register plate 40 by a resilient spring means such as rubber cushion 48. Thus, when the solenoid 42 is in its deenergized state, the index lock bar 45 is disengaged from the index register plate 40 permitting free selective rotation thereof with the capstan 30.

Attached as by screws 49 to the upper side of annular shelf 37 and index register plate 40, but electrically insulated therefrom, are a pair of electrical wiper contacts 50 the function of which will be understood from the later description of the circuitry of 1 16. 5.

Mounted above the index register plate 40 on pedestals 51 secured to fixed shelf 28 is a shelf-cover 52 having a bore 53 therethrough to permit free rotation therein of the upstanding capstan 30. An electrical insulating board or surface 54 is secured to the bottom of the shelf-cover 52 and has etched, engraved, or plated thereon a printed circuit, designated generally in FIG. 2 by the numeral 55. The configuration and electrical function. of the electrically engaged wiper contacts 50, will be understood from the subsequent description of the functional and schematic circuit diagram of FIG. 5.

Referring again to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the font carrying disc 35 is preferably composed of a translucent plastic material painted or otherwise treated to furnish opaque regions surrounding and defining at least two radially spaced circumferential fonts or groups of translucent type character images. As illustrated, the radially outer circumferential font 56 comprises an assortment of upper case or capital characters; while the radially inner font 57 comprises an assortment of lower case characters. Also, the upper case font 56 includes punctuation and symbol characters commonly mechanically interlocked with the capital letter shift key of a conventional typewriter keyboard; and the lower case font 57 includes numerals.

Inthe preferred embodiment illustrated and described above, the font carrying disc 35 is adapted for photographic exposure of light sensitive film F utilizing auto matic apparatus in a manner which will now be described. However, it'will be appreciated that the font carrying disc'35 may be readily adapted to printing of pressure-sensitive films or tapes by utilization of raised font surfaces in embossed relief on a disc 35.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, an automatic film feeding mechanism, designated generally by the numeral 60, is preferably mounted on the hinged lid 12 of the enclosure 11. A shifting plate 61 is slidably mounted against the under surface of the housing top 12 in guide channels or rails 62 secured to the top 12. The plate has a flange or clevis plate portion 63 connected to the armature 64 of an electromagnetic solenoid 65 mounted to the housing top 12 as by screws 66. A film storage box 67 is mounted on the plate-61 for shifting therewith. A film reel canister 68 is similarly mounted on the plate 61.

A film guide or traverse track 69 bridges the film storage box 67 and the reel canister 68 and carries therein a tape or film negative F, or photosensitized paper having cog-wheel or'sprocket perforations 'along its borders. As shown by chain lines in FIG. 1, a solenoid 70 with a pressure-plate armature 71 may be mounted on the shifting plate 61 and aligned with the printing position on the front carrying disc 35 for printing pressure-sensitive film or paper When'the machine 10 is used with a raised font disc. An electrical film reel motor72 is mounted to the top 12 near the reel canister 68 by screws 73. A stepping motor'h'aving high sensitivity response characteristics is preferred, and one type of a suitable motor is disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,931,929.

The motor 72 has a rotating sleeve-shaft 74 which is bored and key-slotted to receive a shaft 75 in axially slidable fit therewith; so that, shaft 75 may shift with the 13181661 'and the film F carried thereby. A pair of sprock ets or cog wheels-76 are carried on the shaft 75 for engaging the perforations along the borders of the film F and thereby driving the film over the traverse track 69 into the-reel canister 68. A knob 77 is provided on the end 'ofthe shaft 75 for manual winding of the film F during threading.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and '4, a pair of shielded incandescent lamps 78 and 79 are mounted on been shifted by solenoid 65 to the upper or" lower case position.- Light from the lamp is directed upwardly through the preselected translucent type character image to effect a photographic exposure of the film F in traverse track 69 above the preselected font and character.

Referring to FIG. 5, the sequential operation of the photocomposing machine is controlled by an electrical circuit, designated generally by the numeral 80- and including the printed circuit 55 and wiper contacts 50 referred to 'above. The circuit 80 controls the index lock mechanism (40, 45) through selective and sequential energization of the solenoid 42; and sequential energization and braking of the disc spindle drive motor 19 and the film reel motor 72 are provided by pulse output signals from the circuit 80 to an electronic adjustable speed drive control unit designated generally by the numeral 81.

A suitable digital input program may be included in or associated with drive control unit 81 in order to furnish proper variable spacing and justification for varying dimensions of characters within fonts and between fonts.

Motors 19 and 72 are stepping motors of any suitable type such as that disclosed in aforementioned US. Patent 2,931,929; and drive control unit 81 may be of the type manufactured by the assignee identified on the face of the aforesaid patent under the current model designation ST-18004004 for model SS250-1027 motors.

Circuit 80 may be supplied with 115 volt, 60 cycle, single phase, A.C. power at lines 82 and 83 and lines 84 and 85.

Wires 86 and 87 are connected to the normally open limit switch associated with typewriter space bar key 18 and provide a separate feed to drive control 81 to energize film reel motor 72, thereby advancing the film F for the selected degree of spacing or justification. If desired, additional variable spacing keys or bars 18 may be provided for selectively variable spacing or justification.

Solenoid 65 for shift plate 61 is connected between AC. power lines 82 and 83 through the normally open limit switch associated with typewriter capital letter key 17 for energization thereof upon selective mechanical actuation of the capital key 17, thereby shifting plate 61 and the film traverse track 69 thereon over the capital letter font 56 on disc 35. Limit switch 17 also has ganged or mechanically interlocked therewith a normally open auxiliary contact 17-a, connected in series with the upper case font illuminating lamps 78, and a normally closed auxiliary contact 1'7-b, connected in series with the lower case font illuminating lamp 79. Thus, the proper lamp is energized depending upon the operators selection of upper or lower case characters.

The switch circuits for lamps 78 and 79 are connected in parallel, the thus paralleled lamp circuits being in series with the index register solenoid 42 for simultaneous energization. However, 'a parallel connection to solenoid 42, with time delay means if desired, may be employed so that illumination of the lamps occurs after operation of the index registry lock mechanism (40, 45) activated by the solenoid 42.

A start relay 90 has a battery-biased D.C. coil 91 connected to a normally open master limit switch 16-M which is actuated upon depression of any of the keys 16 v of the typewriter keyboard 15. The key is held depressed for the few instants required for printing a selected symbol; whereupon a pilot light 92, connected in parallel with lamps 78 and 79 and index lock solenoid 42 flashes. The typewriter key 16 is then released, and another key is depressed to select a further character for photo composing. If desired, mechanical and electrical interlocking or time delay means may be incorporated to eliminate the necessity for pilot light monitoring. However, apparatus according to the preferred embodiment disclosed herein has been found capable of automatically composing approximately forty characters per minute (more than double the capabilities with prior manual devices), and further interlocking and time delay devices may not be necessary in most applications.

When coil 91 of start relay 90 is energized by closure of master limit switch 16-M, normally open contact 93 of start relay closes, thereby closing the circuit through leads 94' and 95 to energize the electronic drive control 81 to provide momentary pulse advance power to film reel motor 72, and simultaneously or thereafter to spindle drive motor 19. The drive control unit 81 operates to feed power to the motors 19 and 72 in pulses. Each pulse turns the shaft of a motor 1.8 degrees and magnetically brakes or holds the shaft rigidly in position until the pulse is attenuated and a new pulse of proper polarity is applied to the proper motor Winding by drive control unit 81. The magnetic braking of the motors affords accurate positioning of the shafts upon attenuation of the pulse, without coasting.

Energization of coil 91 also closes normally open contact 96 of start relay 90, thereby connecting wire 97 to ground for subsequently providing an interlock seal-in feed path through normally open contact 98 to batterybiased DC. coil 99 of lockup relay 100.

Relay coil 99 is also connected by wire 101 to ring-bus 101 on the printed circuit 55 on the underside of insulator board 54. Printed circuit 55 also has a plurality of segments 16' spaced concentrically around ring-bus 101', the number of segments corresponding to the number of typewriter character keys 16 and their associated limit switches. Each segment 16 is located on the insulator board 54 in radial alignment with a character on the fonts 56 and 57 on the disc 35; 'and each segment 16' is electrically connected to the typewriter key switch 16 corresponding to its radially aligned font character. The other side of each typewriter key switch 16 is connected f0 ground.

The electrical contact points of wiper contacts 50 bridge the ring-bus 101' and the various segments 16' as the wiper contacts continuously rotate with the capstan 3%} during energization of the spindle drive motor 19.

When one of the typewriter key switches 16 is depressed, its corresponding segment 16 is thus connected to ground. Depression of such switch 16 also closes master switch 16-M causing spindle drive motor 19 to rotate the capstan 30 and the font carrying disc 35 and wiper contacts 50 carried thereon. When one of the wiper contacts 50 strikes the thus grounded segment 16', wire 101 is grounded thereby energizing coil 99 of lockup relay by completing its grounded battery circuit.

Energization of coil 99 closes normally open contact 98, thereby providing a seal-in feed path to ground through wire 97 as described 'above. Energization of coil 99 also opens normally closed contact 102, connected in series with contact 93 of start relay 90, to open the starting circuit through leads 94 and 95 to drive control 81, thereby braking motors 19 and 72.

Upon energization of coil 99, normally open contact 103 is also closed, connecting wire 104 to ground and actuating slow-operate relay 105 by energizing its batterybiased DC. coil 106 through completion of its grounded battery circuit through wire 104.

The slow operate relay 105 closes its contacts in about 100 milliseconds of a second). and this delay permits motors 19 and 72 to come to complete rest under the influence of their magnetic brakes. However, in the case of the spindle drive motor 19, the stop position of the motor may be plus or minus 1.8 or even 3.6 degrees from the desired point. Thus, it is necessary to actuate the earlierdescribed index registry locking mechanism (40, 45) by energization of the solenoid 42.

Before solenoid 42 is energized and fully actuated though, the magnetic braking of spindle drive motor 19 is released by the disconnecting of AC. power line 85 from drive control unit 81 by opening of normally closed contact 107. Simultaneously with the opening of con tact 107, normally open contact 107 closes to connect A.C. power line 82 to wire 109 to energize index registry solenoid 42 and illuminate the proper exposure lamp (78, 79). The slight delay between removal of magnetic braking from the spindle drive motor 19 and the actuation of 7 the index registry locking mechanism (49, 45) by energization of the solenoid 42 is achieved due to the time delay of approximately 39 milliseconds inherent in the operation of the solenoid 42"..

At the same time as solenoid 42 is energized, energization or illumination of the appropriate lamp (78, 79) is commenced to cause exposure onto the film F of the image of the desired translucent character in the preselected font (56, 57) on the disc 35. However, if desired or necessary, the lamps (78, 79) may be provided with time delay means to retard illumination until shortly after operation of solenoid 42.

When completion of the photoprinting is signified by flasher light 92, the selected key 16, which has been depressed, is released, thereby releasing master switch lti-M and returning the relays (90, ldl), 105) to their normal or deenergized state.

The machine operator may then proceed with photocomposing by depressing the space bar 18 or another key (16, 17) to repeat the cycle.

It should therefore be apparent that the above-described preferred embodiment of photocomposing apparatus and circuitry accomplishes the several objects of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Photocomposing apparatus comprising: character keyboard means, rotatable font means, index drive means to rotate said font means, film holding means to support a film and position said film adjacent said font means, image transfer means to selectively transfer at least one character image from said font means to said film, electri cal Wiper contact means adapted to rotate with said font means and operatively electrically connected to said character keyboard means, index register means carried by said font means, index lock means adapted to selectively engage said index register means to precisely position and justify a preselected character on said font means with relation to said film and said image transfer means, and electrical control means operatively electrically connected to said wiper contact means and said keyboard means to selectively and sequentially energize and actuate said index drive means, said index lock means, and said image transfer means; further comprising; reel means to move said film in said film holding means, said reel means being selectively and sequentially energized by said electrical control means; wherein said electrical control means comprises; start relay means (90) operatively electrically connected to said character keyboard means, lockup relay means (1%) electrically connected to said start relay means and said wiper contact means, and slow operate relay means (165) electrically connected to said lockup relay means, said start and lockup and slow operate relay means being electrically interlocked to sequentially energize and actuate said index drive means, said index lock means, said image transfer means, and said reel means.

2. Apparatus, accoring to claim 1, further comprising; printed circuit means continuously operatively electrically connected between said keyboard means and said wiper contact means, said printed circuit means having a plurality of segments engageable with said wiper contact means, each said segment being electrically connected to a character key limit switch in said keyboard means for selective grounding of said segment.

3. In a photocomposing machine, apparatus comprising; a stepping motor index drive, a spindle shaft journaled in said machine, said spindle shaft being coupled to said stepping motor index drive and rotatably driven thereby, a capstan carried by said spindle shaft for rotation therewith, a font carrying disc on said capstan having a circular row of font characters thereon concentric with said spindle shaft, an annular index register plate carried by said capstan concentrically with said spindle shaft and having a plurality of sawteeth on its periphery, there being a sawtooth notch radially aligned with each said font character, and a solenoid actuated index lock bar selectively engageable in a said sawtooth notch.

4. in a photocomposing machine, apparatus, according to claim 3, said apparatus further comprising; a shift plate mounted in said machine for sliding movement therein, a solenoid mounted in said machine and mechanically connected to said shift plate for selective shifting thereof, a film traverse track mounted on said shift plate to position said film adjacent said font carrying disc for contact trans fer of character images therefrom to said film, a reel mechanism to advance said film in said traverse track, and a stepping motor film drive coupled to said reel mechanism for selective actuation thereof, said stepping motor index drive, said solenoid actuated index lock bar, and said stepping motor film drive being electrically synchronized.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 582,157 5/1897 Eaton -4.5 X 2,298,666 10/ 1942 Whitelow 954.5 2,646,731 7/1953 Wirtz 95-4.5 2,898,828 8/1959 Wirtz 954.5 3,183,806 5/1965 OBrien 954.5

JOHN M. HORAN, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No, 3,571,588 March 5, 1968 Frederick C. Tambling It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 6, line 71, for "107", second occurrence, read 1.08 column 7, between lines 24 and 25, insert the following claim:

1. Photocomposing apparatus comprising:

character keyboard means, rotatable font means, index drive stepping motor means to rotate said font means, film holding means to support a film and position said film adjacent said font means, lensless image transfer means to selectively transfer at least one character image from said font means directly to said film, electrical wiper contact means adapted to rotate with said font means and operatively electrically connected to said character keyboard means, stepping motor, and electrical control means operatively electrically connected to said wiper contact means and said keyboard means to selectively and sequentially energize and actuate said index drive stepping motor means and said lensless image transfer means.

column 7 line 25 for "l read 2. column 8 line 6 for "2. Apparatus, accoring to claim 1" read 3. Apparatus, according to claim 2 line 14, for "3." read 4.

line 27, for "4." read 5. line 28, for the claim reference numeral "3" read 4 in the heading to the printed specification, line 6, for "4 Claims" read 5 Claims Signed and sealed this 14th day of January 1969.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents

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