US2744457A - Photographic composing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

May 8, 1956 R. A. HlGoNNET ETAL 2,744,457

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMFOSING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 8, 1953 N Ff) INVENTORS RENE A. HIGONNET LOUIS M. MOYROUD MMWM@ ATTORNEYS May 8, 1956 R. A. HlGoNNl-:T ETAL 2,744,457

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPOSING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 8, 1953 INVENTORS RENE A. HIGONNET LOUIS M. MOYROUD ATTORNEYS United States Patent O PHOTOGRAPHIC CMIOSING APPARATUS Rene A. Higonnet and Louis M. Moyroud, Cambridge, Mass., assignors to Graphic Arts Research Foundation, Inc., Cambridge, Mass., a corporation of Delaware Application May 8, 1953, Serial No. 353,882

Claims priority, application Great Britain June 9, 1952 11 Ciaims. (Cl. 95-45) The present invention relates to photographic type composing apparatus, and more particularly to apparatus of a kind having selector means for causing photography of selected characters disposed upon a support the said means being arranged in a circle and each character having a corresponding position in the circle. The invention is described with particular reference to photographic type composing apparatus of the kind employing a continuously rotating mechanism for moving the characters successively through a projection position, as generally described in our copending application, Serial No. 770,320, filed August 23, 1947. In said application an intermittent flash device is placed in position to illuminate a selected character in the projection position. The flash timing means include a coarse control or decoder synchronized with the rotating mechanism for determining a time interval in which the flash is to occur, and a fine or precise control in the form of narrow apertures or slits on the character carrier which admit light to a photoelectric trigger cell at the precise instant when the flash device is energized to project the selected character onto a sensitized film. The coarse control timing means is under the control of a register or memory unit in which the characters have been previously stored by the operation of a keyboard, Alternatively, it may be operated directly from the keyboard if desired, but in such case it is not possible 'to justify the line.

In said application we have also described a specific form of decoder which is in the nature of a commutator having several rings, each ring having a brush and consisting of conducting and non-conducting segments arranged according to a code. Ey this means it is possible to establish a circuit condition for a discrete portion of the revolution corresponding to the time interval when any selected character passes through the projection position. Ordinarily, this arrangement is used as a socalled coarse or rough control or gate the circuit condition being established for an appreciably longer interval than the brief instant in which the character must actually be projected, Accordingly, provision is made independently of the decoder to trigger the illuminating flash at a precise moment within the selected interval when the corresponding character is exactly in the projection position. This is the function of the fine or precise photoelectric control. ln said application each slit of the fine control is arranf'ed on the character carrier in precise spatial relation to a corresponding character and is adapted to excite the photocell when the character is precisely in the projection position. The impulse caused by the excitation of the photccell is gated by the decoder to the energizing source for the flash device. Thus, no flash can occur unless both the decoder and the tine control are simultaneously operative.

1n our copending application Serial No. 150,024, filed March 16, i950, now Patent No. 2,652,755, we have described another type of decoding arrangement in which the translucent slits are each divided into sub-areas, each ICC sub-area being either translucent or opaque according to a specified code arrangement. In this way, it is possible to avoid the use of a commutator, but it is necessary to dispose the coded slits on the character carrier or in some other suitable manner, in precise relation to the respective characters.

T he present invention relates to an improved photoelectric decoder performing a function similar to that of the commutator decoder in said application Serial No. 770,320, but not requiring the use of coded slits or their equivalents directly upon the character carrier or in precise relation to the respective characters. The apparatus may employ trigger slits of the type described in said application Serial No. 770,320, and may be employed, for example, with an optical compensator device as disclosed in our copending application Serial No. 269,056, filed January 30, 1952.

A feature of the present invention resides in the use of opaque code members arranged adjacent to one another, each code member having a circular array of apertures. Separate Selector means are provided to move each code member, and the apertures are so arranged that by selective movement of various combinations of the code members the apertures thereon may be mutually aligned to admit a beam of light through the code men'.- bers at various discrete positions in each circle of apertures corresponding to various selected characters. To this arrangement is added means for causing a beam of light to be directed toward the code members, and rotated to scan the apertures. The beam of light is gated through the code members at the moment when it reaches the position Where the apertures are aligned. A photoelectric cell receives the light admitted through the code members, and causes the projection of the selected character.

According to another feature of the invention, we provide focusing means for the scanning light beam, by means of which we focus the beam 0r the lament of the light source at a position determined by the arrangement of the code members, whereby the maximum light is transmitted through the apertures to the photocell.

According to another feature, related to the above, we provide a decoder device in which the code members, corresponding in function to the commutator in said application Serial No. 770,320, are not rotated continuously, but are each moved to one or the other of two xed positions according to the desired code, and are held stationary against fixed stops during the operative interval in which the light beam is gated therethrough. The only moving parts are of comparatively light weight; they are used only to cause the light to scan the apertures, and are not required to have structural means inherently adapted for differentiating between the code combinations of the various characters. The latter function is performed entirely by the stationary parts.

Other features of the invention relate to certain combinations, arrangements, relationships, structures, and modes of operation as hereinafter more fully described, and as specifically defined in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a photographic type composing apparatus utilizing a first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device of Fig. 1 taken on line 2 2 thereof;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary developed view of the code disks of Fig. 1, showing the arrangement of the coded notches;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation in section of a second embodi ment of the invention employing code drums in place of code disks; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary developed view of the code 'cations Serial Nos. 770,326 and 150,624.I

Si drums of Fig. 4 showing the arrangement of the coded apertures and notches.

Referring to Figs. l and 2, we preferably provide a character carrier 2 in the form of an opaque disk having translucent characters 1i disposed thereon in a circle, the disk being supported for rotation continuously about an axis passing at right angles through the center of the circle. The disk is mounted upon a shaft 6 rotatably supported in a fixed frame 8, the shaft 6 being driven through a pulley l@ and belt drive by a suitable motor l2. ln addition to the characters, the disk 2 has a ber of translucent slits lf-l, each slit being'in precise spatial relation to a particular' character. rl`hus, in the described ernbodirnent the slit le is in precise spatial relation to the letter N. The foregoing arrangement is simiiar to that described in said application Serial No. 770,320.

Also supported upon the shaft 6 is a gear lo in with a gear lll, preferably having the same number of teeth, the gear l being secured to a hollow shaft 2li rotatably supported in the frame. Thus, the motor l2 drives the disk 2 in synchronism with the shaft 29. The shaft Ztl has a pair of arms 22 and 2d rigidly secured thereto, the arms having angled portions 26 and at their outer ends. The angled portions bear reflectors 3b and 32, which may be mirrors as sho-Wn, or equivalent prisms. The renectors are arranged at angles of 45 degrees with respect to the axis of the shaft Ztl. Rigidly secured to the shaft, and inside thereof, are disposed a pair of reflectors 3d and 36, also arranged respectivelyy at angles of 45 degrees with respect to said axis.

Anxed lamp 3-8, preferably having its filament in said I axis, or any other suitable source of continuous illumination, is arranged opposite to an optical condenser 4b, which projects a light beam of small size and relatively high intensity along the axis of the shaft Z'llto the revolving reflectors 36, Sil and 34- successively.. The path between the reliectors 32 and is normally interrupted, but is gated for a selected portion of the revolution in a manner hereinafter described, whereby it is permitted to be reflected back into the axis of the shaft Slt) to impinge lnally upon a Led phctocell d2. The photocell il is connected with an energizing source fifi for an intermittent flash device 46. The flash device, when energized, illuminates a character in the projection position, the character being focused by a lens fill upon a sensitized sheet A variable escapement 52 may be arranged to advance the sheet or lilrn 543 in accordance with the widths of the characters, as described in said applications.

The beam of light is arranged to be obstructed throughout every second revolution of the character cartier Z in order to pr :tlc :sufficient time between successive projection.D for operation of the variable escapement 52. This is accomplished by a shutter disk 53 rotatably supported in the frame d and connected to the shaft 6 through appropriate speed reducing gears.

The foregoing parts are arranged so that the spatial relationshio between the optical axes of the lenses 4b and' 4.3 corresponds with the relationship of each character i to its corresponding slit lll as described in said applirillus, the slits le act to shutter the light beam from the source 33 so that when the beam strikes the photocell l2 the character corresponding to the slit by which the beam is then shuttered will be-precisely aligned in the projection position. It will be understood that in the described embodiment the projection takes place in a very short time, preferably of the order of a few microseconds in duration.

Also secured Within the shaft 20 are a pair of lenses l5.4 and 56. The purpose of these lenses is to keep the light beam in focus and to cause the maximum amount of light to reach the photocell 42. These lenses may be stationary, if desired. They are shown as part ofY the rotating structure for reasons of convenience. The segment of the beam path between the reectors 32 and 39 is selectively shuttered or gated through notches or apertures in a set of code disks E8 to '72 at a position of the relectors corresponding to the character to be projected. To provide greatest intensity of illumination and to prevent excessive scattering of the light as it passes through the disks, the lens 4b preferably focuses the image of the filament of the lamp 3S in the plane of the disk 2, and the lens 5o preferably refocuses the image at a point approximately midway between the disks and 66. At this latter point, therefore, the beam Width is again at its narrowest. The lens 54 is arranged to refocus the beam upon the photecell 42.

Although We have described a structure in which all of the reflectors are flat and revolving with the shaft 2i), it will be clear that we may substitute stationary conical reflectors for the mirrors Sil, 32 and 3d. The beam, rc-

v volved bythe rotating mirror 36, will be reflected by each of the conical mirrors at any position in which it may be directed.

rEhe code disks 53 to 72 are preferably supported in fixed brackets 74 for limited rotation about the axis of the shaft 2t). Each disk has a normal position in which it rests against a fixed abutment 76, being held in that position by a tension spring 7S, and a control position at an angular displacem nt a therefrom. The disk reaches its control position upon energization of an electromagnet 30, the armature S2 of which moves against a fixed abutment 84.

There are thus a total of eight eiectromagnets such as Si), each electromagnet controlling a limited movement of one of the disks 58 to 72, thus affording the possibility of 256 unique code combinations, one for each selectable character on the disk 2. The circuit for energizing these electromagnets may take the ferm described in said application Serial No. 770,320, in which the reading magnets of a suitable register or memory device are connected Wit the corresponding electromagnets, either directly or through intermediate relays. The particular circuit forms no part of the present invention. lf desired, the decoder may be connected directly to a keyboard provided with permutation bars.

The notches in the code disks are so arranged when a selected combination of the disks are brought into their control positions they will come into alignment at one and only one position. The light beam impinges upon the disks at a radius indicated by the point P in Fig. 2.

The width of the opening thus created by the disks is preferably larger than that of the proiected slit of light, so Lhat the precise timing aforded by the slit remains unaffected by slight changes in the positions of the disks, or inaccuracies in the positions of the coded notches thereon. v

The code arrangement of the notches may be seen more clearly by reference to 3. The arrow Fi indicates the direction in which each disk is moved when its corresponding electromagnet is energized. The amount of movement is indicated by `at. ln the drawing the disks are all shown in their normal positions. lt may be readily veriiied that if the dimension parallel to the bottom margin of the sheet is considered as being divided into units of width a, the light beam, which is considered as directed perpendicularly to the sheet and moving from left to right, will not be admitted through the notches as it passes through theodd units e, regardless of the positions of the respective disks. However, in between these units an opening of Width s may be created in each instance by the movement of an appropriate combination of the disks. Thus, reading from left to right, the first opening will occur if the disk 58 alone is moved. Similarly, a second opening will occur if the disk 6i? alone is moved. A third opening is created by movement of the disk 62 alone, and so on.

The decoding structure described above may be used in 5, other alternative forms of character photographing apparatus. It will be seen that the function of the disks is essentially to open a window at a selected position in a circle corresponding to a character which it is desired to photograph. In place of the intermittent ash arrangement shown in the drawings, a separate photoelectrically operated device may be placed behind the disks at each of the possible positions, each device being adapted to cause the photography of a corresponding character. The characters to be photographed may be disposed in any desired manner so that any one of the characters can be photographed when its corresponding photoelectric means is actuated. For example, the characters may be disposed in fixed positions in an arc or circle, and optical means may be provided to cause the image of any given character to be projected to a fixed position. An example of such an arrangement is shown in our copending application Serial No. 332,312, tiled January 21, 1953. In this case, the exposure need not be of extremely brief duration since the character is stationary.

The source 33, the condenser 40, and the mirrors 36 and 32 may be replaced with any other suitable structure for causing the light beam to scan the notches in a manner substantially similar to that heretofore described.

Fig. 4 shows an alternative embodiment which employs coded drums in place of the disks 5S to 72. In this embodiment a number of drums 86 to 100 are coaxially and slideably mounted in two equal groups upon two tubular projections 1ii2 of the frame 104. Each drum is held in a normal position as represented by the drum 86, by a suitable spring not shown. It is moved into a control position as represented by the drum 90, by energization of an electromagnet 106. There are eight electromagnets, giving a possible total of 256 characters.

The arrangement of the reflectors 108 to 114 is entirely similar to that described with reference to Fig. 1. However, the lenses are arranged somewhat differently because the code drums are arranged in two groups. A lens 116 is preferably adjusted to focus the light beam at a point approximately between the drums 88 and 90. A lens 118 refocuses the beam at a point between the drums 96 and 98; and a lens 12) refocuses the beam upon the photocell 122.

The rotating structure consists of a hollow shaft 124 to which the reectors 108 and 114 and the lenses 116 and 120 are secured, a gear 126 having teeth engageable with a motor-driven driving pinion, not shown, and a frame 128 supported in the gear and in turn supporting the reflectors 110 and 112 and the lens 118.

It will be noted that, as with the embodiment of Figs. l to 3, the lenses 116 and 120 may be held stationary, if desired. Also, we may substitute stationary conical reectors for the mirrors 110, 112 and 114, as noted above with reference to Fig. 1.

An advantage of this embodiment over that ot' Fig. 1 resides in the use of the lens 118, whereby the beam may again be brought into sharp focus after it has passed through half of the code drums, thereby sharply reducing the light loss.

Another advantage of this embodiment may be seen with reference to Fig. 5, which is a fragmentary developed view of the edge portion of each of the drums. Each drum has a set of notched slots 130 and notches 132, the notches occurring at the spaces between the slots. Energization of any of the electromagnets such as 1116 causes the corresponding drum to move in a direction indicated by the arrow F2. The distance moved is indicated as d. The light beam, to be admitted, must pass through each drum in a direction perpendicular to the drawing.

In this case, the dimension of the developed View parallel to the bottom margin or" the sheet may be considered as broken up into units of width 2a. As the light beam travels from left to right in the figure, it will be admitted throughout any one entire unit 2a by appropriate movement of a corresponding combination of the drums. This is made possible because each drum moves to its controly position in a direction at right angles to that in which the beam scans. It is possible 1o have apertures each subtending an arm 2a, yet providing for as many characters in the circle as in the embodiment of Figs. 1 to 3, wherein the disks are moved to their control positions along the same line as that in which the beam scans, and wherein each aperture subtends only an arc a.

It will be understood that various modifications of the foregoing structures and various other arrangements of the parts may be employed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Some of these modifications and alternative arrangements have been described above, and other will occur to those skilled in this art.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. Photographic type composing apparatus comprising the combination of a support for the characters to be photographed, a continuously rotating mechanism for moving the characters successively through a projection position, an intermittent flash device to illuminate a selected character in said position, projection means to form an image of said character upon a sensitized sheet, and control means for the tiash device, said control means including a number of opaque code members, each code member having a plurality of apertures arranged in a circle about a fixed axis and provision for movement about said axis, selector means for moving a combination of said members corresponding to a selected character to form a light path passing through the code members, a light source, means for projecting a beam of light along said axis, continuously rotating reflector means synchronized with said mechanism to rotate said beam continuously about said axis to scan the apertures, whereby said light path admits the beam at a discrete position thereof, reflector means to deiiect the admitted beam into said axis, a photoelectric device in said axis to receive the beam, and a circuit for energizing the flash device actuated by said photoelectric device.

2. Photographic type composing apparatus comprising the combination of a support for the characters to be photographed, a continuously rotating mechanism for moving the characters successively through a projection position, an intermittent dash device to illuminate a selected character in said position, projection means to form an image of said character upon a sensitized sheet, and control means for the iash device, said control means including a number of opaque code members, each code member having a plurality of apertures arranged in a circle about a fixed axis and provision for movement about said axis, selector means for moving a combination of said members corresponding to a selected character to form a light path passing through the code members, a light source, means synchronized with said mechanism for projecting a beam of light to said code members to scan said apertures, whereby said iight path admits the beam at a discrete position thereof, reflector means to deiiect the admitted beam into said axis, a photoelectric device in said axis to receive the beam, and a circuit ior energizing the flash device actuated by said photoelectric device.

3. in a photographic type composing machine having a continuously rotating mechanism for moving the chan actors to be photographed successively through a projection position, control m: ns for selecting a character' to be photographed comp a number of opaque code members, each codel member being displaceable to a normal position a control position and having a piurality of apertures arranged in a circle, selector means for displacing a combi i et' said members correspending to said character to their control positions to form a light path no wider than a single aperture passing through the c` e members, a light source, means synchronized with sal.. mechanism for projecting a beam of light to said code members to scan the apertures, whereby said iight path admits the beam at discrete position thereof corresponding to the moment when said char' acter is in projection position, and means responsive to the admitted beam to photograph said character.

4. Photographic type composing apparatus comprising the combination of a support for the characters to be photographed, a continuously rotating mechanism for moving the characters successively through a projection position, an intermittent iiash device to illuminate a selected character in said position, projection means to form an image of said character upon a sensitized sheet, and control means for the ash device, said control means including a number of parallel opaque code disks, each disk having a plurality of apertures arranged in a circle about a fixed axis and provision for movement about said axis, selector means for moving a combination of said disks corresponding to a selected character to form a path passing through the disks at a discrete position inl each of said circles corresponding to said character, a light source, means synchronized with said mechanism for projecting a beam of light to said disks to scan the apertures, whereby said light path admits the beam at a discreteposition thereof corresponding to the moment when said character is in projection position, and means responsive to the admitted beam to photograph said character.

5. Photographic type composing apparatus comprising the combination of a support for the characters to be photographed, a continuously rotating mechanism for moving the characters successively through a projection position, an intermittent flash device to illuminate a selected character in said position, projection means to form an image or said character upon a sensitized sheet, and control means for the .dash device, said control means including a number of concentric opaque code cylinders having a ixed axis, each cylinder having a plurality of apertures arranged in a circle parallel to said axis and provision for movement about said axis, selector means for moving a combination of said cylinders corresponding to a selected character to form a light path passing through the cylinders at a discrete position in each of said circles corresponding to said character, a light source, means synchronized with said mechanism for projecting a beam of light to said cylinders to scan the apertures, whereby said light path admits the beam at a discrete position thereof corresponding to the moment when said character is in projection position, and means responsive to the admitted beam to photograph said character.

6. Photographic type composing apparatus comprising the combination of a support for the characters to be photographed, a continuously rotating mechanism to present the characters successively in a projection position, nier-.ns to project an image of a character in said position upon a sf nsitized sheet, and a control device for said projection means including means to produce a beam of light revolving about a fixed axis in synchronism with said mechanism, a number of code members arranged to obstruct the beam, each code member having a plurality ot' apertures arranged in a circle about said axis and provision for movement of the apertures in relation to the path of the beam, selector means for moving a combination of said members corresponding to the selected character to admit the beam through the code members when said character is in said position, a photoelectric device to receive the admitted beam, and a circuit actuated by the photoelectric device to operate the projection means.

7. Fhotographic type composing apparatus comprising the combination of a support for the characters to be photographed, a continuously rotating mechanism to present the characters successively in a projection position, an iiermittent iiash device to project an image of a character in said position upon a sensitized sheet, and a control device for said intermittent iiash device includ- 0 CB ing means to produce a beam of light revolving about a lfixed axis in synchronism with said mechanism, a number of code members arranged to obstruct the beam, each code member having a plurality of apertures arranged in a circle-about Said axis and provision for movement of the apertures in relation to the path of the beam, selector means for moving a combination of said members corresponding to the selected character to admit the beam through the code members when said character is in said position, a photo/electric device to receive the admitted beam, and a circuit actuated by the photoelectric device to operate the intermittent ilash device.

8. Photographic type composing apparatus comprising the combination of a support for the characters to be photographed, a continuously rotating mechanism to present the characters successively in a projection position, an intermittent flash device to project an image of a character in said position upon a sensitized sheet, and a control device for said intermittent iiash device including means to produce a beam of light revolving about a liz-fed axis in synchronism with said mechanism., means supported in fixed Spatial relation to each character to interrupt the beam when said character is precisely in said` position, a number of code members arranged to obstruct the beam, each code member having a plurality of apertures arranged in a circle about said axis and provision for movement of the apertures in relation to the path of the beam, selector means for moving a combination of said members corresponding to the selected character to admit the beam through the code members when said character is in said position, a photoelectric device to receive the admitted beam, and a circuit actuated by the photoelectric device to operate the intermittent ash device.

9. Photographic type composing apparatus comprising the combination of a support for the characters to be photographed, a continuously rotating mechanism to present the characters successively in a projection position, means to project an image of a character in said position upon a sensitized sheet, and a control device for said projection means including means to produce a beam of light revolving about a fixed axis in synchronism with said mechanism, a number of parallel code disks arranged to obstruct the beam, each disk having a plurality of apertures arranged in a circle about said axis and provision for limited rotation about said axis, selector means for moving a combination of said disks corresponding to the selected character to admit the beam through the disks when said character is in said position, a photoelectric device to receive the admitted beam, and a circuit actuated by the photoelectric device to operate the projection means.

l0. Photographic type composing apparatus comprising the combination of a support for the characters to be photographed, a continuously rotating mechanism to present the characters successively in a projection position, means to project an image of a character in said position upon a sensitized sheet, and a control device for said projection means including means to produce a beam of light revolving about a fixed axis in synchronism with said mechanism, a number of concentric opaque code cylinders having said axis-in common, each cylinder having a plurality of apertures arranged in a circle about said axis and provision for limited movement parallel to said axis, selector means for moving a combination of said drums corresponding to the selected character to admit the beam through the drums when said character is in said position, a photoelectric device to receive the admitted beam, and a circuit actuated by the photoelectric device to operate the projection means.

ll. Photographic type composing apparatus comprising the combination of a support for the character to be photographed, a continuously rotating mechanism to present the characters successively in a projection position, means to project an image of a character in said position upon a sensitized sheet, anda control device for said protric device to receive the beam, a circuit actuated by the photoelectric device to operate the projection means, and focusing means in the path of the beam to focus it substantially in the center of each set of code drums.

jection means including a light source, means to project a beam of light from the source along a fixed axis, a reilector revolving about said axis in synchronism with said mechanism to reect the beam at right angles, a first set of code drums concentric with said axis to admit the re- 5 volving reected beam at selected angular positions, re- References Cited inthe flle of this patent iector means to direct the admitted beam into a revolving UNITED STATES PATENTS path intersecting said axis, a second set of code drums 2 concentric with said aXis to further limit the beam to an 392224 Boye Jan' 1 1946 angular position corresponding to the selected character, 10 2663232 Dnlhck Dec' 221 1953 a reflector to direct the beam into said axis, a photoelec

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