US3836918A

US3836918A - Optical image rotating device

Info

Publication number: US3836918A
Application number: US00425955A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Rosenstein; T Booth
Original assignee: Multigraphics Inc
Current assignee: PREPRESS SOLUTIONS Inc A CORP OF; VARITYPER Inc 11 MT PLEASANT AVE EAST HANOVER NJ A CORP OF
Priority date: 1973-12-19
Filing date: 1973-12-19
Publication date: 1974-09-17
Anticipated expiration: 1991-09-17

Abstract

In the environment of a photocomposition machine normally projecting images across a column, with the lines ''''leaded'''' after each line is composed, this modification provides an image rotation to permit larger letters in longer text than could be obtained in the normal column width. The image rotation is distortion-free by reason of a set of two roof mirrors in an angular relationship to provide the exact desired degree of rotation, which is normally 90*. An enlarging lens, or curved mirror surface, is used to produce enlargment.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Rosenstein et al.

[451 Sept. 17, 1974 OPTICAL IMAGE ROTATING DEVICE [75] Inventors: William Rosenstein, South Orange;

Thomas Allan Booth, Flanders, both of NJ.

[73] Assignee: Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio [22] Filed: Dec. 19, 1973 211 Appl. No.: 425,955

[52] US. Cl. 354/5, 354/l5 [51] Int. Cl B4lb 21/18 [58] Field of Search 95/1, 4.5, 12; 354/5, 15

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,323,414 6/1967 Ritchie, 95/12 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 4/1954 Great Britain 95/4.5

Primary Examiner-John M. Horan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Ray S. Pyle [5 7] ABSTRACT In the environment of a photocomposition machine normally projecting images across a column, with the lines leaded after each line is composed, this modification provides an image rotation to permit larger letters in longer text than could be obtained in the normal column width.

The image rotation is distortion-free by reason of a set of two roof mirrors in an angular relationship to provide the exact desired degree of rotation, which is normally 90.

An enlarging lens, or curved mirror surface, is used to produce enlargment.

4 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures OPTICAL IMAGE ROTATING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Photocomposition is accomplished by many, and varied machines, one of the, well-known and popular types is manufactured and sold .by-the VariTyper Division, Addressograph-Multigraph Corporation, and is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,590,705. The U.S. patent shows the concept of using a rotating disc as a font of characters with a light source to project through the transparency characters. A lens system focuses the-projected character on to a plain surfaceover which a photographic film or a photosensitive paper sheettraverses in row-by-row increments.

As the patent teaches, the controller of the photocomposing machine selects a particular character. When the character isin alignmentwith the lens system 1 the light is flashed to project the character. The projection of the character is controlled to step along a line laterally ofthe photosensitive sheet character by characterto compose words and spaces. The web, or sheet, is later developed photographically and cut. and pasted into composition for camera-ready lithographic masters.

In order tocompose bold headings, such as used for newspaper headlines or bold type in advertising, it is generallynecessary to have a capability of greater linelength composition than is available in the limited space provided by most photocomposing machines. In order to employ the capabilities of a tape controlled photocomposing machine for the longer length bold type headings, it would be necessary to provide a second set of optics, photoflash mechanism, and related equipment to expose through the disc at a 90 offset location from that position normally in use in photocomposition; i.e., the character is flashed when it reaches the top position in order to-be projected in an erect readable attitude. lf projected 90 early, thecharacter would be lying horizontal to the usual composition base line. But, if such letters were projected oneper line in a series, then a row would be produced along a sheet rather than across the sheet. However, suchadditional equipment in a conventional photocomposition machine will add excessive cost for the limited use possible.

SUMMARY A conventional photocomposing machine is convertible at the operator'sdiscretion from a limited line lens composerintext form to anunlimited length single-line composition device, limited only bythe length of photosensitive sheet,materialcapacity of the machine magazme.

DESCRlPTlON OF THE DRAWINGS FlG. V1 is a schematic illustration of theprinciples involved in a conventional photocomposing machine with the image rotation device inserted in the optical 7 system according to this invention.

' FIG. 2 is a top plan view ofthe image rotating device in the prepared embodiment ofthe invention.

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the image rotating device showing the angular rotation of the two sets of roof mirrors of the device.

FIG. 4 is a front view of one roof mirror.

FIG. 5 is a top view of a single roof mirror, and

FIG. 6 is a section taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT composition machine to convert that machine tempo-' rarily into a rapidly operating bold text headline copy producer with very little cost or time delay.

The principles of a computer controlled photocomposition machine are quite well-known and show in various patents. In FIG. I only the essentials necessary to understand the present invention are illustrated. A disc 10 carries a circular path of font characters. In FIG. I only one character is illustrated because such photocomposition discs are old and well-known. The only commercially available disc 10 is a photographic transparency but it is feasible to provide a font ofimage generating source form on an opaque carrier and then to project light energy in a pattern from the form in light and shadow representing an image printed on the face of that form. This is the opaque projector principle.

ln FlG/l, a schematic representation of a control means is indicated by the reference characters 12A and .128 shown connected to the font disc 10 and to a magazine take-up spool l4.-The control system represented by 12A and '12B will include the computer, the program of the computer, drive motors and other associated apparatus known to the photocomposing art.

Therefore, whether a photo transparency as recommended, or an opaquesource, a font of image generating source form is employed, with means to select one image source form of the font, and'to move the image source form into a projection station and then project light energy in a pattern from the form in light and shadow representing the image. A light source 16 is illustrated in position to illuminate the alphabet letter A in-FlG. lfrom the transparency l0.

Alens 18 is a schematic representation of a lens system having an optical axis aligned with the projection station and focused to produce an image. The image may be visually detected by placing a screen at the point of focus.

The lens system includes the normally controlled focusing devices which will being the image into proper focus. The space between the lens 18 and the point of focusmay be referred to as the image space of the optical system.

A magazine 20 is a source of photosensitive sheet material. The take-up means 14 and the magazine 20 work together to direct photosensitive sheet material 22 in a planar path therebetween, and present such sheet material to the lens image. The control systems 12A and 12B provide means to step the material along from magazine to take-up in leader steps of operator selected size.

The controls 12A and 12B operate the lens optical system and the magazine for projecting selected images in a proportional spacing along the horizontal row of the sheet material for a selected number of characters and thereafter operate the stepping of the sheet material in a leader step. Thus a row of text material is composed in the normal form usually associated with newspaper and magazine reading.

When the operator desires to make bold inserts, headings, or advertising displays, this invention provides for insertion of an image rotating means referred to generally by the reference character in FIG. 1. The image rotating device 25 is insertable in the image space of the optical system on the axis of the system for rotation of the image away from a vertical position. The intent generally will be to rotate the image a full 90 as illustrated in FIG. 1 whereby the control means may then be set to project one only as the selected number of characters in a row and then step the magazine to produce a single column of characters projected in a path aligned with the sheet material movement path.

The use of the image rotating device 25 is preferably operator controlled in order that the machine may be used in conventional text composition or in headline producing mode at will in order to make the machine available for the extended usage described.

The preferred image rotating means is a set of two roof mirrors as shown in the balance of the drawings from FIG. 2 through FIG. 6. lt is to be understood that although a description of a roof mirror set is used, the embodiment includes and embodies the principle of prism members instead of roof mirrors. Those skilled in optics art will be aware of the similarity of uses, and recognize the preference for mirrors rather than prisms.

The physical construction of the roof mirrors is shown best in FIGS. 4 through 6. As shown in FIG. 4, a roof mirror module 29 consists of a frame 30 which holds and presents a pair of

mirrors

31 and 32 in a 90 relationship.

In FIG. 3 two

such roofmirror modules

29 and 33 are shown mounted upon a holding bracket 35.

The completed

roof mirror modules

29 and 33 are arranged on the bracket 35 such that the axis planes of each ofthe roof mirrors are made to form an angle with each other. The axis plane of a roof mirror is that plane which is mutually perpendicular to each of the plane mirrors which comprise the roof.

By placing the roof modules on the bracket 35 such that their axes planes will form an angle with the horizontal of 45 each, then the image which is projected at mirror 31 of module 29 and reflected to mirror 33 of module 29 will be rotated 45, and projected to the mirrors of the roof of module 33 where it is again rotated a further 45 to result in a total rotation of 90 as depicted in FIG. 1.

FIG. 1 illustrates the system'as using lens 18. The focal length of lens 18 must be matched to the longer optical path by reason of the folding of the path through the rotation modules. When the rotation feature is not in use, a shorter focal length lens is substituted for lens 18.

The image rotator which consists of four flat mirrors does not contribute to enlargement of the image. It only rotates the image. The enlargement is a function of the lens in use.

Therefore, in order to obtain bold inserts, headings, etc., three criteria need to be satisfied. One, the rotating device needs to be inserted. Two, the appropriate display lens 18 needs to be substituted for the text lens. Three, this replacement lens 18 must accomodate the extra path length which is introduced by the rotating device.

It is possible, however, to accomplish all three of these criteria with one device. That is, if one of the four flat mirrors in the rotating device is replaced with an appropriate convex mirror, the addition ofthis negative optical power would compensate for the additional path length and add some magnification. Or, an appropriate negative lens may be inserted between

modules

29 and 33.

These modifications are not illustrated because such structure is well-known to the skilled optical artisan.

What is claimed is:

l. A combination photocomposing machine for composing either columns of text or bold heading:

a font of image generating source forms, means to select oneimage source form of said font, move the image source form into a projection station, and then project light energy in a pattern from said form in light and shadow representing said image;

a lens optical system having an optical axis aligned with said projection station, said system focused to produce an image;

a magazine for photosensitive sheet material, a takeup means, a guide to direct said sheet material in a planar path therebetween, said guide presenting sheet material to said lens image, and means to step such sheet material along from magazine to takeup in leader steps;

a control means operating said lens optical system and magazine for projecting selected images in proportional spacing along a horizontal row of said sheet material for a selected number of characters and thereafter operating the means which steps the sheet material in a leader step;

the improvement in image projection control comprising:

two sets of roof mirror modules serving as an image rotating means in the image space of the optical system on said axis for rotation of said image away from a vertical position, and means for adjusting the lens focal length to accommodate said rotating means,

whereby said control means may be set to project one only as said selected number of characters in a row and produce a single column of characters projected in a path aligned with such sheet material movement path, with said characters readable along a direction at an angle to the normal horizontal row.

2. The improvement in image projection control as defined in claim 1, each roof mirror module arranged such that the axis planes of the modules intersect at an angle, and the image rotation resultant is twice that angle.

3. The improvement in image projection control as defined in claim 1, wherein the image rotating means comprises two sets of roof mirror modules, at least one duce a focusing and size changing function.

4. The improvement in image projection control as resultant is twice that angle, at least one said module defined in claim 1, wherein the image rotating means comprises two sets of roof mirror modules, each roof mirror module arranged such that the axis planes of the modules intersect at an angle, and the image rotation 5 including a convex mirror for focusing and size chang-

Claims

1. A combination photocomposing machine for composing either columns of text or bold heading: a font of image generating source forms, means to select one image source form of said font, move the image source form into a projection station, and then project light energy in a pattern from said form in light and shadow representing said image; a lens optical system having an optical axis aligned with said projection station, said system focused to produce an image; a magazine for photosensitive sheet material, a take-up means, a guide to direct said sheet material in a planar path therebetween, said guide presenting sheet material to said lens image, and means to step such sheet material along from magazine to take-up in leader steps; a control means operating said lens optical system and magazine for projecting selected images in proportional spacing along a horizontal row of said sheet material for a selected number of characters and thereafter operating the means which steps the sheet material in a leader step; the improvement in image projection control comprising: two sets of roof mirror modules serving as an image rotating means in the image space of the optical system on said axis for rotation of said image away from a vertical position, and means for adjusting the lens focal length to accommodate said rotating means, whereby said control means may be set to project one only as said selected number of characters in a row and produce a single column of characters projected in a path aligned with such sheet material movement path, with said characters readable along a direction at an angle to the normal horizontal row.

3. The improvement in image projection control as defined in claim 1, wherein the image rotating means comprises two sets of roof mirror modules, at least one mirror of one module is other than a flat surface to produce a focusing and size changing function.

4. The improvement in image projection control as defined in claim 1, wherein the image rotating means comprises two sets of roof mirror modules, each roof mirror module arranged such that the axis planes of the modules intersect at an angle, and the image rotation resultant is twice that angle, at least one said module including a convex mirror for focusing and size changing.