US2923212A - Phototypographical machine - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 2, 1960 v CQRRADO r 2,923,212

PHOTOTYPOGRAPHZICAL MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 25. 1956 INVENTORS VICTOR M. Com/100 y RICHARD/f. WALKER jg 6 7 ATTORNEYS 2, 1950 v. M. CORRADO ETAL 2,923,212

PHOTOTYFOGRAPHICAL MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 23, 1956 INVENTORS R m A ZL RW /R 0 x 0 C H MD W M wwfly CM 4 WR B 1960 v. M. CORRADO ET AL 2,923,212

PHOTOTYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 25. 1956 INVENTORS VICTOR M. CORRADO BY R/c/m/w K. WALKER ATTORNEYS b 1960 v. M. CORRADO ETAL 2,923,212

PHOTOTYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINE Filed Nov. 23. 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 --/52 133 H 155- 150 I l INVENTORS VICTOR M. COR/M00 5 BY RICHARD K. WA KER )5 %av ATTORNEYS Feb. 2, 1960 v. M. CORRADO ETAL 2,923,212 PHOTOTYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINE Filed Nov. 25, 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VEN T 0R8 VICTOR M. 601M400 BY RIC/MRO K. W LKtR TORNEYS Feb. 2, 1960 v. M. CORRADO ETAL PHOTOTYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 6' Filed Nov. 23. 1956 wwwiku M R wmMw mm? M &5? mw m T 1mm W A 0 "$1 WR 1960 v. M. CORRADO ETAL 2,923,212

PHOTOTYPOGRAPHICAL momma 8 Sheets-She et 7 Filed Nov. 23, 1956 R 0 f 5 fi 3 M m M w vm WM m D RM w 0 TH M K Wk V. B

1950 v. M. CORRADO ETAL PHOTOTYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINE Filed Nov. 23. 1956 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 w 101/ 2 Z PHOTOFLASH a 03 5011 CONTROL J 61-M y! -C/Rcu/TRY dl .i

k Jifirw r wv trt r5? Z00 THYRATRON ARMATURE 1.97 I97 197 197 m, CONTROL CIRCUITRY 200 1767;

Li 1 i I i i I i 1 f INVENTORS f? VICTOR/4. comma BY RICHARD A.

KER

aa-mpa ATTORNEYS 2,923,212 PHOTOTYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINE Victor M. Corrado, Williston Park, N.Y., and Richard K.

Walker, Convent, N J., assignors to Mergenthaler Linotype Company, a corporation of New York Application November 23, 1956, Serial No. 624,136 17 Claims. (Cl. 95-45) This invention relates to a tape operated phototypographical machine of the general organization disclosed in US. applications Serial No. 354,826, filed March 13, 1953, Serial No. 419,012, filed March 26, 1954, and Serial No. 432,757, filed May 27, 1954, wherein transverse type lines are photographed one after another in spaced relation on a strip of sensitized fihn or paper as the latter is advanced endwise through the machine in step-by-step fashion.

In a machine of the type therein disclosed, a font plate having an array of transparent characters which vary in set widths on a unit basis is interposed between a source of light and a shutter mechanism which serves to selectively expose the various characters. In operation, the shutter mechanism is actuated to expose a character selected to be photographed and the light source is then rendered operative to project light through the character -to a lenslet individual to the character. The lenslet forms the light which passestherethrough into a bundle of collimated rays and these impinge on an imaging lens common to all the lenslets. The imaging lens, in turn,

serves to form, in space and on its optical axis, an image of the selected character. A point size changing lens system is provided comprising two eye piece lenses whose combined function is to vary the size or magnification of the selected character as it is finally recorded on the sensitized film or paper. The eye piece lenses also serve to transmit the light forming the image in space as a bundle of collimated light rays to a mirror carried by a carriage that continuously traverses the sensitized film during the composition of a line, the film remaining stationary during composition. The mirror deflects the bundle of light rays at an angle of 90 and directs it to a further lens system which is also mounted on the moving carriage and which serves to decollimate the light rays and project them onto the stationary light sensitive film to form an image of the selected character in a point size controlled by the setting of the eye piece lenses.

The operation of the machine is controlled by means of a coded tape. Each character to be photographed is represented on the'tape by a code signal which may be thought of as comprising two portions, one of which identifies the character and controls the operation of the shutter mechanism to selectively expose the character to be photographed, and the other portion of which represents the unit set width of the character and is transmitted to an electronic counter. A transparent grid plate, having a row of opaque lines spaced apart in units of an cm of the point size of the photographed characters, is secured to the carriage for movement therewith and traverses a light beam extending from a light source to a photocell in such a manner as to interrupt the light beam once for each unit of an em travelled by the carriage. The resulting pulses from the photocell are transmitted to the electronic counter. When the number of pulses from the photocell correspond with the numerical value of the unit width of the character transmitted to the countor by the code signal on the tape, the counter generates nited t es P e t an output pulse which momentarily flashes the source of light behind the font plate to thus photograph the selected character onto the light sensitive film. When it is desired to change the size or magnification of the repro duced character from one point size to another, the positions of the two eye piece lenses must be changed with respect to one another and to the large imaging lens; the relative positions of the grid plate must be changed to bring into operative position with respect to the photocell unit another row of opaque lines graduated in units of an em of the new point size of the photographed characters; and the intensity of the light must be adjusted so that regardless of the point size of the photographed characters the film will be exposed to the same amount of light.

While, in general, the photocomposing machine of the aforementioned applications is satisfactory, it is to be noted that the above changes must be made manually, with a consequent loss of time in operation. Also in said machine, when the size of the photographed characters is increased beyond the smallest size it is capable of reproducing, the number of reproductions created during a given composing period is decreased, this being due to the fact that since the spacing between the lines on the grid plate increases as the size of the reproduced charac ters is increased, the time between successive flashings of the lamp is increased accordingly.

In accordance with the present invention the changes in the positions of the eye piece lenses and of the grid plate according to point size of the characters to be photographed, as well as the variation in light intensity to correspond, are all made automatically by means responsive to the decoding of an appropriate signal on the control tape. In addition, there are also provided means responsive to the decoding of the same tape signal for adjusting the speed at which the projection lens carriage, and consequently, the grid plate, travels past the photocell so that the same time interval is required to flash the lamp for any given character regardless of its point size. It is thus insured that the speed of photographic composition remains constant regardless of the point size of the photographed characters.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a phototypographical machine equipped With the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken-along line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, with parts broken away, of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the detent mechanism used for fixing the position of one lens carriage;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation, with parts broken away, of the mechanism shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the grid plate or unit measuring device;

Fig. 7A is a sectional view taken along line 7A-7A of Fig. 7;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view taken along line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is an elevational view of the braking mechanism for arresting carriage motion;

Fig. 11 is a segmental elevational view, with parts; broken away, showing the carriage drive mechanism;

Fig. 12 is a schematic electrical circuit diagram show-- ing the point size selecting circuit;

Fig; 13 is a schematic electrical circuit diagram show ing the control circuit for the lens carriage motor;

Fig. 16 is a schematic electrical circuit diagram showing the carriage drive motor speed control circuit.

In Fig. v 1 there is shown a photocomprosing machine similar to the one'disclosed in the aforementioned application Serial No. 419,012 but more specifically embodying the improvements of the present invention. A source of lig'ht 20 is shown mounted within housing 21, as is reflector 22 which serves to concentrate and intensify the light energy in a direction forward of the source. The

light is then distributed relatively evenly over the area of a font plate 23'by a condensing lens system 24, the font plate having an entire array of transparent characters arranged thereon against an opaque background.

A shutter mechanism '25 is next provided whereby the light passing through a single character selected for reproduction will be transmitted to succeeding machine components. Located forward of the shutter mechanism, within housing 30, is a lenslet array 26 which'includes an individual lenslet for each character of the font. The lenslet and the font plate are disposed relative to each other such that light passing through a selected character is collimated by the associated lenslet. A single imaging lens 27, common to all of the lenslet of array 26, is provided within the housing 30, the lens 27 serving to form an image, in space and on its optical axis, of a selected character. The position of the image along the optical axis is determined by the location of an eye piece objective lens 31; The light transmitted through the lens 31 is next collimated by a second eye piece lens 3'2 and thereafter reflected by mirror 33 to projection lens system 34 which reimages the character on a sensitized film 35 provided in film magazine 36. The mirror 33 and lens system 3=4,'as well as a filter element at are located within a housing 37 supported by a carriage 41 which is mounted for reciprocatory motion before the sensitized film. A grid plate 42, for measuring the extent of carriage movement, is provided and will be more specifically described hereinafter.

A pair of horizontally disposed, parallel, spaced apart guide rods 43 and 44 are supported in brackets 45 and 46 mounted on the bed plate 47 of the machine (Figs. 2

and The rods serve as a guiding support for eye piece objective lens 31, which is secured in holder 50, and also for the second eye piece lens 32, which is secured in holder 51. Both of these lens holders are slidable along the guide rods, in a manner to be hereinafter described, for the purpose of controlling the point size of the images recorded on the sensitized film.

The projection lens carriage 41 is also supported on the guide rods 43 and 44 (Fig. 7). A motor '52 is provided to drive the carriage through the intermediary of spur gears 53 and 54 and lead screw 55 formed on the shaft 56 supporting gear 54 (Fig. 11).

Referring now to Fig. 5, the eye piece objective lens holder '50 is seen to be mounted on a cross plate 57 extending between sleeve members 60 and 61 slidable on guide rods 43 and 44, respectively. A horizontal web 62, projecting rearwardly from sleeve 69, serves to support rack 63 which is secured thereto by screws (4. The rack is engaged by a pinion 6'5 keyed to the shaft 66 of reversing motor 67, the shaft being supported at its forward end by an angle bracket "74). The motor and bracket '70 are mounted on a plate 71 carried by a pair of angle brackets 72 secured to the bedplate of the machine (Fig. l).

A spur gear 73, keyed to motor shaft 66, drives a large gear 74 (which extends through a slot in plate 11) to rotate a fore-and-aft shaft 75 to which it is keyed. The shaft 75 is rotatably supported in pillow blocks '76 depending from th underside of plate 71 and serves to actuate commutator mechanism 77 consequent upon rotation of motor 67. The commutator is mounted in housing 80 and 'will'be described more, specifically hereinafter whenv be noted that direction oflens travel, i.e., direction of motor rotation, and the extent thereof will be controlled by the commutator mechanism. A bevel gear 81 is provided on the forward end of shaft 75 to rotate pinion 82 for a purpose which, again, will be later considered.

A vertically disposed detent plate 83, having a plurality of detents 34 along its top edge, is fastened to a lug 85 projecting forwardly from the front side of sleeve 60, as by screws 86 (Figs. 5 and 6). A roller 87 for engaging a detent is rotatably mounted on the extremity of a lever '96, which is pivotally attached to the angle bracket 91 rising from plate 71. A tension spring 92 biasesthe lever and roller 87 to detent engaging position.

The second eye piece lens holder '51 is shown mounted on a cross plate 33 (Figs. 2 and 3) extending between sleeve members 94 and 95 also slidably arranged on guide rods 43 and 44, respectively. A downwardly projecting rack 9=6is fastened, by means of screws 97, to a block 1tl0 formed integral with sleeve95. On operative engagement with the rack 96 is a pinion 101 keyed to the shaft 102 of motor 103, the shaft being supported-by angle brackets 1ti4and105 secured to plate 71. Also keyed to shaft 102 is spur gear 106 which engages a gear 107 keyed to a fore-and-aft shaft 110 rotatably supported in pilow blocks 111. A commutator mechanism 112, shownin housing 113, will be considered hereinafter when the wiring. diagram is described. Similar in function to eye piece objective lens commutator mechanism 77, the present commutator mechanism 11-2 controls the direction and extent of the second eye piece lens 32 when the lens is being repositioned to provide character reproduction of a different point size.

A detent mechanism, including a horizontally disposed detent plate 114 secured to sleeve 95 through the intermediary of angle member 115 is provided to lock the lens supporting apparatus in its adjusted position' (Fig. 4). A pin 116, projecting vertically from one arm of a horizontally disposed bell crank 117, is urged into 'engagement with the detent edge of plate 114 by a tension spring extending between a fixedly mounted pin 121 and a depending pin 122 of the bell crank. The bell crank and its associated mechanism are mounted on'plate' 123 which, in turn, is secured to plate 71.

The pinion 82, driven by bevel gear 81, is carried at one end of shaft 124 journaled in member 125, while the remote end of the shaft is connected to an obliquely dis} posed drive shaft 126 through a universal coupling 127 (see Figs. 1 and 7). At the lower end of shaft 126, a second universal coupling 130 is provided whereby a shaft 131 isdriven. Shaft 131 is journaled for rotative movement in the spaced apart blocks'132 of a channel shaped member 133 provided below the bedplate 47 of the machine. a A pair of 'pinions 134 are keyed to shaft 131 for rotation therewith. The edges 135 of member 133 are themselves channel shaped in that longitudinal grooves'136 are formed therein to serve as guideways for two vertically movableracks 137 which cooperate with pinions 134 (Fig. 7A). The racks are joined at their per ends by a crosspiece 140, thus providing a unitary structure capableof a reciprocatory motion in a vertical direction under the influence 'of the drive shaft 126.

. The rear surface of the'cross-piece 140 has a groove of channel 141 formed therein. A roller 142, rotatably sup ported in the lower right hand corner of the grid plate" frame 143, projectsinto and rides on the lower surface of channel141. A frame 143 also is provided with a" units. an em jot the; different "point sizes finwhich:

- shown in Fig. 10. Intermediate photocomposing machine will photograph characters. Of course, the spacing between collars 146 and the length of rod 147 is such as to permit the grid plate frame to be translated in a vertical direction a distance sufiicient to bring either the uppermost or lowermost row of markings on the grid plate into alignment with the photocell unit 150. As shown in Fig. 8, the photocell unit comprises simply a source of light 151 and a light responsive element 152 both fixedly mounted on the machine bedplate 47 to function as a fixed reference point past which the grid plate is carried by projection lens carriage 41 as the latter is reciprocated during line composition.

It will be noted that the rows of markings on grid plate 42 are not equally spaced one from another as in the aforementioned application. Rather, the rows are spaced apart a distance dependent on the amount of rotation of motor 67 required to properly position eye piece objective lens 31 for the point size reproductions selected.

As heretofore stated, the speed of photographic composition is maintained constant regardless of the point size of the photographed line of characters. Accordingly, the carriage 41, which causes the projection lens to traverse the stationary sensitized film and the grid plate to traverse the photocell unit, is provided with a variable speed drive. Referring to Figs. 9 and 11, the carriage is shown as being a cross-platform 153 extending between sleeves 154 and 155 slidably mounted on guide rods 43 and 44, respectively. As previously described, the guide rods are supported in brackets 45 and 46 mounted on the bedplate of the machine. Atop the carriage is housing 37 containing the projection lens 34 and the 45 mirror 33 for deflecting the character light beams at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the machine, while to .one side of the carriage, the grid plate mechanism hereinabove described is mounted. Depending from the under- "side of the carriage is an internally threaded block 156 which cooperates with the lead screw 55 formed on shaft 56. The shaft 56 is journaled at one end in bearing 157 provided in upright bracket 46 and at its extremity is provided with the spur gear 54 which is driven by the gear 53 mounted on shaft 160 of motor 52. The motor is a reversible A.C. motor of the variable speed type in which speed changing is effected by control of the armature current. In the present apparatus, the speed control mechanism is responsive to the decoding of the point size signal. The circuit for effecting such control is shown in Fig. 16 and will be described hereinafter. It will suffice, now, to note that as the point size range of the photographic composition is increased, the motor speed, and hence the carriage speed, is similarly increased, while as the point size of composition is decreased, the motor speed is decreased.

An electrically actuated mechanical brake is provided to arrest carriage motion at the extremes of carriage travel or whenever else the carriage motion may be halted after the motor 52 is deenergized, and this is gear 54 and bearing 157, shaft 56 is provided with a brake disc 161 (Fig. 11). Preferably the disk has a cork edge surface, although any suitable material may be utilized to achieve the proper braking action. A metal band 162 surrounds the disk and at its ends is connected to pivoting levers 163 of a lazy tongs apparatus (Fig. A pivot pin 164 is secured to the upright bracket 46 so that its position remains relatively fixed. The opposite ends of the levers 163 are connected to the swinging arm 165 of a solenoid 166 by links 167 and 170, all the connections therebetween being pivotal. A tension spring 171 extends between levers 163 to urge band 162 into clamping relation to the disk 161. To release the brake, solenoid 166 is energized to swing arm 165 counterclockwise and thereby counteract the action of spring 171. A pair of stop pins 172 limit the movement of levers 163 when the brake is released by solenoid166. The brake is,

therefore, seen to be mechanically applied and electrically released to insure a fail safe operation.

In addition to the machine adjustments above described, which all take place in response to a point size signal, it is now noted that the intensity of the light source 20 is also controlled in response to the point size signal. In the aforementioned patent application Serial No. 419,012, the circuit for triggering the flash lamp light source is described in detail and includes a group of capacitors which control the intensity of the light used in photographing the character images. It is then noted that when the point size of the photographed characters is to be varied, the value of the capacitor is likewise changed by manual means. In Figs. 14 and 15 is shown a circuit whereby the capacitor values in the flash lamp circuit are controlled by relay switching of capacitors into and out of the circuit. As the point size of the photographed images increases, the light intensity must increase and consequently the capacitor value is increased, as by connecting additional capacitors in parallel. Conversely, as the point size decreases, the light requirements decrease and the capacitor value is decreased, as by disconnecting capacitors from the circuit.

Referring to Fig. 12, when a point size signal in the control tape is decoded by the tape reading mechanism, contacts XPSI engage; the relay coil controlling the operation of the contacts not being shown. Contacts XPSl complete a circuit, through normally closed con- . tacts 173 and 174, for point size switch coil PS, with the result that contacts PS1 and PS2 engage. Contacts 173 are interlock contacts and will not be described further. In the present description, it will be noted that letter designations generally are applied to the coils of electromagnetic switches, and the same letter designations with reference numerals appended thereto are applied to contacts of the same switches. Contacts PS1 provide a self holding circuit for coil PS and contacts PS2 complete a circuit for the energization of stepping switch coil PSS through the stepper interrupter contacts P881 and contacts ST3. Immediately upon energization of coil PSS, contacts PSSI separate to deenergize the coil and advance brushes 175 175 etc. one position into engagement with the next pair of contacts 176, 176 etc. Deenergization of coil PSS causes contacts P881 to again engage, with the result that coil PSS is energized and contacts PSS1 separated thereby deenergizing coil PSS; the brushes 175 etc. again advancing one position. The stepping process is repeated until brushes 175 complete a circuit through the relay tree circuit 177 (the particular circuit being determined in a well known manner by the point size signal decoded which controls the operation of the contacts in the relay tree), one of contacts 176, brush 175 another one of contacts 176 normally closed .contact ST1, stopping relay coil ST and contacts PS2. Coil ST is energized and contacts ST3 thereupon separate to interrupt the circuit for stepping switch coil PSS. It is also noted that when, as now assumed, the brushes are connected to the B-jwire through the relay tree circuit 177, stepping switch coil PSS is shorted .out through rectifier 180 to prevent further advance of brushes 175*, etc.

Contacts ST1 separated and contacts ST2 engaged upon the energization of coil ST, the latter operation taking place prior to the former, so that a self-holding circuit for coil ST is provided prior to the interruption of the circuit through the relay tree circuit 177. A 'With the arrest or stopping of the stepping switch operation in a position determined by the particular point size signal, a brush 175 completes a circuit through contacts ST4 (engaged when coil ST was ener- 1 t'through segment 183, then: relay coil i will -"be energized (contacts 184. having i been previously energized by circuitry not shown'). The circuit is traced from segme nt183 through the conductor 185 to ring 186 and brush 187. Energization of coil F will cause the motor 67-, for positioning the eye piece objective lens holder 50 to rotatein a forward direction. On the other hand, if: the circuit is completed through segment 182, then relay coil- R will be energized (contacts 190 being closed by circuitry above eluded to). This latter circuit is traced fromsegment 182 and through pickup 191 and will causethe motor 67 to rotate in a reverse direction.

As motor 67 rotates to position the lens holder 50 in accordancewiththe point size signaldecoded, commutator segments 182 and 183 rotateabout the stationary pi okup"191. Also, rotating brush 192 of the other part of-commutator77 sweeps over the stationary contacts 193 until a circuit is completed through the contacts connected to brush 175 brush 192, slip ring 194 and brush 195 to energize motor stopping relay MS. When the relay is energized, the motor driving the lens carriage is deenergized and the carriage will 'be positioned to control the point size of the photographed images according to the point size signal decoded. Also, through 'drive shaft126, thegrid plate 42 will be positioned according to the point size signal decoded.

It is understood, of course, that a circuit similar to that shown in 'Fig. 13 is provided to control the positioning oflens holder 51. Separate electrical apparatus is provided, inasmuch as the amount of movement required of each carriage difiers. In fact, under certain "circumstances, one carriage may move in one direction while the other carriage may move in the opposite direction when changing the lens positions from one point size setting to another.

- Reference is now made to Figs. 14 and 15, wherein the circuitry forcontrolling the intensity of the light flash is shown schematically. The contacts 176, 176 etc.

are simply additional contact layers on the point size stepper switch hereinbefore referred to, and brushes 175, 175 etc. coact therewith as shown particularly in Fig. 14 The at rest position of the-brushes is determined by the point size signal decoded and it corresponds to-the position taken by brushes 175 and 175 in Figs. 12 and 13. Assuming that the point size signal results in the brushes taking the position illustrated, then a circuit will be completed through contacts 176 which -remain engaged, except when the electrical equipment :is being repositioned, to provide for a different point size .contact 196 and brush l75 for capacitor control relay coil 4CA. Consequently, contacts 4CA1 engage (Fig. 15) and capacitor Q4 is connected into the photoflash control circuitry, for the details of which see the aforementioned application Serial No. 419,012. Depending on the stopping position of brushes 175 175 etc.,

one or more of relays 1CA, ZCA, 30A and 4CA will be energized to cause one or more of capacitors Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 to be connected in parallel in the photoflash circuitry. For example, if brushes 175, etc. had been stopped on the contacts two positions to the right of where they are shown, circuits would have been completed for the energization of coils 10A, 3CA and 4CA,

capacity of the circuit. Under certain circumstances, as

when brushes 175 to 175 (Fig. 14) arein the first or seventh position, andno circuit is completed for relays {10A to-4CA, only capacitor Q5 will be connected to thephototlash intensity circuit.

2-. 1x111 fig. lfi-there-is shown thQI'QSIStQI' switching circuit- "for the thyrati-on; armature speedf control "circuitry a motor 52' which bon'trolsflthe' composingor photographing s eed er the machine. Contacts; 176Fand 1 77 are, sir'nilarly fto contacts "176, "176, etc., in'additional contact 'layers of thefpoint size' stepping switch. Brushes 175 and l 'arestepped as stepping switch coil PSS isenergized and deener'gized as herei'nabove described. Contact's 176 are connected to movable brushes'197, as

shown, which coact with the various resistors 2&0 to provide for an adjustable speed control.

The resistors increase in value from left to right in the drawing. It will be noted that the pair of brushes, in each of their positions, connectonly a single resistor to the thyratron circuit, and since the resistors increase in' value from'left to right, the motor sp'eeds will increase as the brushes similarly move'fror n left to right. Therefore, as brushes 17'5 and move rightwardly, a larger point size is represented.

In this manner, a constant composing speed is effected regardless of the point size of the photographed images. The thyratron armature control-circuitry itself may be of the type commercially available for motor speed control.

Having thus described the invention, it is to be understood that many modifications could be made to the above preferred arrangement for carrying out the invention and many apparently widely different embodiments thereof could be made without departingfromthe scope thereof,

and therefore, all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shallbe interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. For

instance, the point size changing lens assembly, inlieu of the two relatively adjustable lenses 31 and 32, could comprise an adjustable plurality of sets of lenses, one set for each different point size, as shown in applicationSerial No. 354,826. Moreover, while the various automaticadjustments are herein shown as primarily electric, nevertheless in the broader aspects of the invention, they could be otherwise so long as they are subject to control of a point size code signal.

It may be pointed out that the optical'system herein disclosed is capable of cooperating with master font plates halving type characters of different point size. Thus, it may be assumed that the type characters on the master font plate are either of 5 pt. size or of 10 pt. size. Since the 10 pt. size is-a multiple of the 5 pt. size, both sizes of master characters will be magnified in the same ratio by the same adjustment of the eye piece lenses 31 and 32. The other elements of the machine may be preset to correspond to the font plate in use.

What is claimed is:

. 1. In a coded tape operated 'phototypographical machine equipped with a font plate presenting an array of transparent type characters of a given point size and 'which vary in set widths on a unit basis, a lamp positioned adjacent said plate and adapted when flashed to project light through a selected character to an optical system which includes an adjustable point size changing lens assembly for photographing said selected character on a light sensitive member of a different predetermined point size, means for producing relative movement between the light sensitive memberand said optical system for line composition, and an adjustable unit measuring device for measuringeach unit distance of travel of the line composing movement and controlled in its operation by such movement, said unitmeasuring device. being adapted to v flash said lamp theinstant the relative movement bea tween the light sensitive member and the optical system equals the setwidth of saidcharacter, and said unit measuring devicehavinga plurality of rows ofpulse generating markings which control the flash of the lamp, there being as many rows of such markings. as there are different point sizes,and said'markings being spaced apart at different distances in the respective rows, the combine} tioii'of rneans'responsivet o a'code signalon the operating tape for adjust-ing said lens assembly according" to the point size-0f thecharacterto be photographe'dand for simultaneously adjusting said unit measuring deviceto bring into operative position the corresponding row of pulse generating markings to flash said lamp the instant the relative movement between said light sensitive member and said optical system equals the set width according to point size of the character to be photographed.

2. The combination according to claim 1, wherein the adjustable unit measuring device comprises a relatively fixed photocell unit and a grid plate partaking of the line composing movement, said plate being formed with a plurality of rows of differently spaced light transmitting markings, one row for each different point size, and adjustable under control of the code signal to bring any selected row into alignment with the light source of the photocell unit. j p

3. The combination according to claim 2, wherein the adjustment of the grid plate is effected by a reversible electric motor and a commutator which controls the extent and direction of adjustment of said plate.

4. The combination according to claim 3, wherein the code signal responsive means comprises electric circuitry which is conditioned by the code signal and which acts through the reversible motor in effecting the required adjustment of the grid plate.

5. The combination according to claim 4, wherein the code signal responsive means also comprises electric circuitry which is conditioned by the code signal and which varies the adjustment of the lens assembly according to the point size represented by the signal.

6. The combination according to claim 5, wherein the adjustable point size changing lens assembly comprises two relatively adjustable lenses, and wherein the reversible motor which effects the required adjustment of the grid plate also effects the corresponding adjustment of one of said lenses.

7. The combination according to claim 6, wherein the rows of light transmitting markings on the grid plate are variably spaced apart according to the variable adjustments of the lens adjusted by the same motor.

8. In a coded tape operated phototypographical machine equipped with an optical system which includes a point size changing lens assembly comprising two relatively adjustable lenses for reproducing type characters on a light sensitive member of dilferent predetermined point sizes, the combination of means for adjusting one of said point size lenses, separate means for adjusting the other of said lenses, and means responsive to a code signal on the operating tape for controlling the operation of the two lens adjusting means to position said lenses in proper relation to each other according to the point size of the characters to be reproduced on said member, the adjusting means for each lens including a reversible electric motor, and a commutator which controls the extent and direction of adjustment of the corresponding lens.

9. The combination according to claim 8, wherein the code signal responsive means comprises electric circuitry which is conditioned by the code signal and which acts through the commutators in elfecting the required adjustment of the two lenses.

10. In a coded tape operated phototypographical machine equipped with a font plate presenting an array of transparent type characters of a given point size and which vary in set widths on a unit basis, a lamp positioned adjacent said plate and adapted when flashed to project light through a selected character to an optical system which includes an adjustable point size changing lens assembly for photographing said selected character on a light sensitive member of a different predetermined point size, means for producing a continuous relative movement between the light sensitive member and said optical system, and a unit measuring device adapted to flash said lamp the instant the relative movement between the light sensitive member and the optical system equals the set width of said character, the combination of means responsive to a code signal on the operating tape for varying the speed of the relative movement'between the light sensitive memberand said optical system so that the time required to flash said lamp is the same regardless of the point size of the character photographed.

11. The combination according to claim 10, wherein the means for producing a continuous relative movement between the light sensitive member and the optical system includes a variable speed electric motor.

12. The combination according to claim 11, wherein the code signal responsive means comprises electric circuitry which is conditioned by the code signal and which varies the speed of the electric motor according to the point size of the character photographed.

13. In a coded tape operated phototypographical machine equipped with a font plate presenting an array of transparent type characters of a given point size and which vary in set widths on a unit basis, a lamp positioned adjacent said plate and adapted when flashed to project light through a selected character to an optical system which includes an adjustable point size changing lens assembly for photographing said selected character on a light sensitive member of a different predetermined point size, means for producing relative movement between the light sensitive member and said optical system, and a unit measuring device adapted to flash said lamp the instant the relative movement between the light sensitive members and the optical system equals the set width of said character, the combination of means responsive to a code signal on the operating tape for adjusting said lens assembly according to the point size of the selected character to be photographed, and means also responsive to said code signal for varying the intensity of the lamp so that said light sensitive member will be subject to the same amount of light regardless of the point size of the photographed character.

14. The combination according to claim 13, wherein the code signal responsive means for the lamp comprises electric circuitry which is conditioned by the code signal and which acts upon the lamp to vary the light intensity according to the point size of the character to be photographed.

15. In a coded tape operated phototoypographical machine equipped with a font plate presenting an array of transparent type characters of a given point size and which vary in set widths on a unit basis, a lamp positioned adjacent said plate and adapted when flashed to project light through a selected character to an optical system which includes an adjustable point size changing lens assembly for photographing said selected character on a light sensitive member of a different predetermined point size, means for producing relative movement between the light sensitive member and said optical system for line composition, and an adjustable unit measuring device adapted to flash said lamp the instant the relative movement between the light sensitive member and the optical system equals the set width of said character, the combination of means responsive to the code signal on the operating tape for (1) adjusting said lens assembly according to the point size of the character to be photographed, (2) adjusting said unit measuring device to flash said lamp the instant the relative movement between the light sensitive member and said optical system equals the set width according to point size of the character to be photographed, and (3) varying the speed of the relative movement between the light sensitive member and said optical system so that the time required to flash said lamp is the same regardless of the point size of the character to be photographed.

16. In a coded tape operated phototypographical machine equipped with a font plate presenting an array of transparent type characters of a given point size and which vary in set widths on a unit basis, a lamp positioned adjacent said plate and adapted when flashed to project light through a selected character to an optical system which includes an adjustable point size changing lens assembly for photographing said selected character on a light sensitive member of a different predetermined point size, means for producing relative movement between the light sensimeagre tive memberand said optical system for line composition, and an adjustable unit measuring device adap t'd 'to' flash said lamp the instant'the relative movement between the light sensitive member and the optical system equals the set width of said character, the combi nation'of means responsive to the code signal on'the opera-ting tape for (1) adjusting said lens assembly according to the point size of the character to be photographed, (2 adjusting said unit measuring device to flash said lamp'the instant'the relative movement between the light sensitive"mem ber and said optical system equals the set'width according to point size of the character to be photographed, (3) varying the speed of the relative'movemen't between the light sensitive member and said optical system so that the time required to flash said lamp is the same regardless of the 15 1,732,049

12 point size of the character to'be'photographed, and (4) varying the intensity of the lamp so" that said light sensitive member will be subject to the same amount of light regardless of the point size of the photographed character. 17. The combination according to claim 16 wherein the codesignal responsive means comprisselectriccircuitry which is conditioned by the code signal and which 'acts through electriccircuitry in controlling the function of the various elements, accordingto the point sizerepresented by the signal References Cited in the iile of this pa'tent NIT D STATES PATENTS Hunter Oct.l5, 1929

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