US2042041A - Composing and reproducing device - Google Patents

Description

May 26, 1935 s. l. s. FRlr-:DMAN ET AL 2,042,041

COMPOSING AND REPRODUCING DEVICE Filed March 9, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 .TTORNEY May 26, 1936- s. l. s. FRIEDMAN ET AL 2,042,041

COMPOSING AND REPRODUCING DEVICE Filed March 9, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. cfamyel Friedman Oo loonu F ma'. 3. BY y ATTORNEY.

May 26, 1936- s. l. s. FRIEDMAN ET Ax. 2,042,041

COMPOSING AND REPRODUCING DEVICE Filed March 9, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 'l llllllll H l INVENTOR. J'wnml [ff Frz'emwn Ofic I lovm/ ATTORNEY.

May 25, 1935 s. l. s. FRIEDMAN ET A1. 2,042,041

COMPOSING' AND REPRODUCING DEVICE Filed March 9, 1935 4. SheetS--Sheel 4 irl UIIIIDUU 'FL q- 15 BY man Offs Zoonv ATTORNEY.

Patented May 26,A 1936 x l lPATENT vFFICE 2.042.041 coMrosrNo. AND aaraonuomc nsvrca Samuel I. S. Friedman and Otto I. Bloom,

New York, N. Y.

Application March 9,

6 Claims.

Our invention relates to an improvement in the art of printing, particularly that branch oi the art known as lithography.

Prior to this invention, offset lithography has suffered from one great disadvantage. Offset printing is done by means of metal cylinders which transfer a. designl onto a rubber cylinder from which the design is printed. There are four major methods of transferring the design on the plates, which are, rst, by tracingy the subject through carbon paper directly upon the plate; second, by drawing or writing the required material directly upon the plate by means of pen and ink, brush, crayon, or pencil; third, by typewriting directly upon the plate through 'a special ribbon; and fourth, by transferring the material previously prepared on a photographic film, directly onto the plate. The first three methods are limited in their use to particular and special subject matter and cannot, of course, be used to reproduce straight material, such as the continuous reading matter of a book, newspaper, or similar publication requiring the wide variety of type, justification and even spacing of lines g5 required in commercial printing. The fourth method, the photographie film transfer, is the method most often used;-but in this method resides the weakness and handicap of the lithographic process. For, in order to be able to photograph straight type matter with lines properly justified and spaced and with the variety of sizes and styles of type required, it is necessary to have a first or printed copy from which to make a photograph. In other words before the process of offset lithography can be used, it is necessary first, to set up the reading matter in type, second, to print a. proof from this type, and third to photograph this proof for transfer to the lithographie plate by the several means used in the commercial practice of photo-lithography. In this manner we are faced, at least in the beginning, with all the disadvantages inherent in the letter-press process of printing.

'I'he problem of obtaining an immediate photographic reproduction of type elements set up in Words, justified lines and columns or pages on a photographic iilm for direct use in photo-lithography without the need of an intermediate proof from cast metal type, is the problem which has been solved by our invention. Not only does our invention enable an operator to set up lines and columns for immediate transfer to lithographie plates, but it also enables him to accomplish this purpose with a speed hitherto impossible; it

y enables him to vary the size of type at will and 1935, Serial No. 10,183

to any degree in use by the simple manipulation of our apparatus; it enables him to obtain varying letter designs and backgrounds by means of interposltion of special screenings; it enables him to reproduce type matter on photographic film, paper' or any other photographically sensitized material previously prepared, and finally, it enables him to give to the art of printing flexibilities and advantages such as will later be set forth and arising either directly or springing inherently from the invention.

More particularly, the invention comprises a type-composing machine which delivers photographically reproducible characters in properly justified lines, and a means which photographically reproduces these justified lines of characters so delivered.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein an embodiment of the invention is shown, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the matrices; Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive show several forms of matrices which can be used in the machine; Fig. 7 is a front view of a line of justified characters ready for photographic reproduction; Fig. 8 is a side elevation of a line composing machine to which the invention has been applied; Fig. 9 is a; sectional view on the line A-A of Fig. 10, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. V10 is a plan view, with parts in section of the means for adjusting the width of the lines of characters when moving the camera closer to or farther away from the characters; Figs. 1l to 14.- inclusive show sections of photographic film or other sensitized material upon which various effects have been obtained; Fig. l5 shows four different effects obtainable by photographic treatment of the negative and with the use of a single set of matrices; and Fig. 16 shows a novel effect obtained by special matrices and photographic printing methods.

In the drawings, and particularly in Figs. 1 and 8, is shown a line-composing machine, which is,v as far as its composing mechanism is concerned, of conventional construction. Said machine is provided with the keyboard l composed of the usual finger keys 2, which when selectively pressed cause the escapement 3 to operate and direct one or the other of the matrices 9 to descend through the slides i4 to the delivery belt I5 to be carried thereby to the assembler I for reception in the assembling elevator 8 together with space bands delivered by the spaceband box 5. Elevator 6, moving in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 1 delivers the line of matrices 9 with space bands 30 inserted at the proper points therein to the position shown at Il where the line of matrices is received and held by the vise jaws Il on vise frame 32, the vise jaws being closed and the line automatically justified by movement of the lever 4|, as is well understood.. When the line of matrices s and properly located space bars SII are held in the jaws 3|, the line of characters so held are in the position which they normally occupy when, in the ordinary line casting machine, the casting of the line of type takes place. It is at this point that the justined line is photographically reproduced upon a con-i tinuous ribbon or strip of nlm Il, or other photographically sensitized medium. To enable this to be satisfactorily done, the matrices 8 are of special design. the same being provided on their exposed face with characters in black and white, or in other tinta, which photographically reproduce on the nlm or other sensitized medium The matrices are provided with different characters and different arrangements as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. Fig. 2 shows a matrice bearing one character, the letter T. liig. 3 shows Y a matrice bearing two characters as indicated at 22 and 2l, the character shown at 22 consisting of the letter T in white on a black background ,.'and the character shown at 25 consisting of the lame letter in black with a white background.

The matrix shown in Fig. 4 shows the character provided as at 2l in Fig. 3, that is, a black letter on a white background. In Fig. 5, the positions of the characters are reversed from those 'in Fig.'3. In Fig. 6, the matrix bears three dif.

ferent characters. Regardless of the arrangement ofthe characters on the matrices, it will be understood that in each case the characters provided are photographicaily reproducible on a nlm or other sensitized medium which provides a nrst copy from which a zinc, metal, or other plate can be made for use in printing. The matrices I used in our invention bear upon their operative faces elements or type characters which are photographically reproducible, as distin- Uulshed from the conventional matrices oi' line or type casting machines which bear intaglio elements. In contour, however, they are similar to matrices ordinarily used in line-composing 'machines. 'I'hat is to say. each matrix is provided with the usual notched combination 2|, logs 24, and font distinguisher 23.

After a line of characters has been photographicaliy reproduced on the nlm l1, the matrices are elevated as shown by the arrows in Fig. 1, in the conventional manner by the cao-operating elevator elements It, l1, 42 and 43, as is clearly understood by those familiar with composing machines, to a point where they are received in the second elevator I2 and moved upwardly to the distributor I and received on the distributor bar and restored to the magazine 8 in the conventional way.

The means for photographically reproducing the lines of matrices as fast as they are composed comprises a camera I0 properly positioned relative'to the line of matrices. when such line is held in the vise jaws Il, to photograph the characters on the line of matrices across the nlm. The exact position in the machine of the matrices and of the camera at the time the matrices are photographed is not essential to all phases of the invention but inasmuch as the line of matrices are preferably photographed at about' the position they would normally occupy while being cast in the ordinary casting machine it lmay be convenient to remove the casting box and substitute for it the camera. The`- camera thus is preferably stationed at normal casting box position in such a way that it is capable of being moved toward and away from the matrices as hereinafter described. The nlm I1 is fed with an intermittent movement by feed rollers diagrammatically illustrated at l. in Fig. 8, the nlm being supplied from a feed reel Il and wound up on the pick-up reel l2. The camera is provided with a lens or objective Il inthe conventional Way. As the construction of this type of camera is well known in motion picture work, its specinc construction is not described here in detail. Sufnce it to say that the camera operates intermittently and has its shutter synchronized with the operation of the line-composing machine so that as fast as a line of type is set up in the Jaws 3| in the position indicated at Il, the camera will be automatically operated to photograph the automatically justified line, so that a very high speed reproduction of successive lines of characters will appear on the nlm as fast as they can possibly be set into position by the operator. As a result of this, we obtain, in one continuous operation, from a single set of matrices, photographically reproduced justified lines of type characters of various sizes made up in pages or columns on a single continuous length of sensitized material, the number of lines of which may be'so set and reproduced being limited only by the length oi' the sensitized surface, and the speed with which they may be set being limited only by human skill.

In Figs. 9 and 10 is diagrammatically shown means by which larger or smaller characters may be produced on the nlm without requiring different sets of matrices. There is shown a support 52 provided with an aperture 53 through which the lens or objective I6 of camera III projects. Support 52 may be part of a frame on which the camera i0 is mounted so that the camera is movable with said frame. A lazy tong arrangement, consisting of pivoted levers 54 connects the support l2 with the vise jaws 3|. The levers 54 are pivoted at 50a and connect said jaws 3| through lines 55 and 56 with the frame 52. It will be obvious that when the support l2 carrying the camera` I0, is moved toward the line of matrices to show an enlarged representation of the characters on saidmatrices on the nlm I'l, the jaws il will be moved closer together to decrease the width of the line of characters so that the line of characters will not extend beyond the side limits of the nlm. In other words, while the representation of the characters themselves will be larger on the film, the width of the line will be maintained constant. Similarly, when the support 52 carrying the camera is moved further away from the line of characters. the levers 54 and connected links 55 and 58 will act to spread the jaws 3| further apart to widen the line of characters, so that while the representation of the characters themselves will be smaller on the nlm, the width of the line will be maintained constant.

At as is shown s. pair of lamps utilized for inuminating the line of characters in jaws 3| dur- `ing their photographic reproduction on the nlm I1. Adjustable light shields 51 prevent the light cast by the lamps 38 from striking the lens I6. D

The support 52 carrying the camera I0 may be moved by any suitable mechanism to and from the line of characters and for this purpose is shown (Fig. 8) a rack 5I, which engages a gear on shaft 59, which shaft carries a bevel gear 60 engaging another bevel gear Il `on the shaft 62 provided on its outer end with a knurled member 63. It will be obvious that by rotation of the knurled member 63, the rack 58 can be moved back and forth to any required extent to properly position the camera relative to the line of characters held in jaws 3|. Any suitable calibrated indicator can be used to guide the operator in determining the proper size of character obtained on the film when the camera is in any selected position.

It will be clear from the foregoing that it is possible to secure on a lengthy strip of film or other sensitized material I1 a very great number of justified lines of characters simulating a printed page. As is clearly shown in Figs. 11 to 16 inclusive, various effects well known inthe photographic art can be secured by either the interposition of screens of various kinds between the objective i6 and the row of characters or by double photographing. For example, in Fig. 11 the characters 65 .are secured on the lm i1 by photographing a line of characters appearing on matrices held in jaws 3l. A cross hatched background 66 is there shown which can be obtained in many ways, as for example, first photographing the background on the film, rewinding the film in the camera, and then photographing the line of characters 65. A similar eiect can be obtained by interposing a screen between the objective I6 and the line of characters appearing on matrices 9 held in jaws 3i.

In Fig. 16 is shown a combination of effects possible to be obtained by use of screens and by a novel arrangement of characters on the matrices. In Fig. 15, four types of reproduction possible by film manipulation are shown. In ordinary offset printing, reverse type transfers are often required, such as shown, for example, at 81.

When type in this form is composed on an ordinary line casting machine, it requires a special set of backwardly arranged letters. By manipulation of the ordinary film in the manner common to those familiar with photographic work, it is easy to secure an impression such as shown at 61. At 68 is shown the conventional impression secured lon negative film by photographing characters such as appear at 22 in Fig. 2. I'hat is to say, the characters appearing on the matrices are White with black blackground, resulting in black letters on white background on the negative lm. A positive print secured from negative 68 results in the reproduction indicated at 69 where the letters appear in white on a black background. A positive reproduction of the negative appearing at 61 results in the white letters on black background as shown at 10.

These and numerous other arrangements are secured by well known photographic film manipulation common to the photographic arts, and it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that from the securement of a single photographic impression on the film I1 or other sensitized material, such subsequent photographic manipulation can result in the formation of many novel type arrangements of justified lines of type en abling the copy thus secured to be very effectively used in printing.

From the foregoing, the manner in which the apparatus is used will be clearly understood. The composing machine operator operates the keyboard in the conventional way, selecting the required matrices according to his copy, and the matrices are delivered by the assembling elevator C to the point indicated at Il where the characters are heid in a justified line with inserted space bars in clamps Il directly in front of the camera i to be photographed thereby. The camera photographs this line, the matrices of which are thereafter returned to the magazine 8 in the conventional way. As fast as the justified line of characters appear before the camera, they are photographed. The film feed and shutter of the camera are arranged to properly space the lines of type as required, this being merely a matter of camera design and regulation. The resultant film provides a continuous series of justified type lines representing in every way a printed page. This film representation being once secured, may be easily transferred to any other surface for reproduction. The film may be treated or handled in many ways to produce many novel effects as will be well understood by those familiar with the photographic arts. The characters on the matrices may be arranged in many ways and several characters may appear on one matrix, as clearly shown in the drawings. With this arrangement, the composing of type is very speedy and its reproduction on the film is likewise performed with great speed so that the reproduction of printed pages is performed expeditiously and at a minimum of expense.

While it is. herein stated that the film reproduction is especially well suited for making first copy for lithograph printing, it will be understood that such film reproduction is suitable also for many other uses, as for example, moving picture film titles and text, animated or moving signs or advertising and the like.

What we claim is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a photographic camera stationed at normal casting box position in a line composing machine and replacing the usual casting box used thereat, a line composing machine including a set of opaque matrices bearing characters photographically reproducible as printed type impressions by said camera, said machine having means for delivering successive composed and justified lines of said matrices to the position which they would normally occupy in the conventional line composing and casting machine when being cast so that said lines may be successively photographed by the camera, said camera being provided with means for feeding a continuous strip of photographically sensitized material and having means for successively photographing the composed and justified lines of matrices in spaced relationship on said strip.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a photographic camera located at and replacing the casting box of a line composing machine, whereby lines of matrices fed to normal casting position may be photographed by said camera, a set of matrices bearing characters photographically reproducible by .the camera as printed type impressions, means for delivering successive composed and justified lines of said matrices to a position in the machine which they would occupy when being cast so that they appear before said camera in photographing position, said camera having means for directly and successively photographing said lines in successive relationship on a strip of photographically sensitized material, and means for feeding said strip of sensitized material through the camera.

3. In an apparatus of the character described,

lines of composed and iustined lines of type matrices, means for composing and delivering said composed lines of matrices to photographic position before said camera, jaws for holding a composed line oi said matrices in position for photographing, a movable support for the camera. and connections between said support and Jaws for causing the Jaws to move toward one another to decrease the space available between them for the accommodation oi' the line of composed matrices as said camera is moved toward the jaws.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, a photographic camera stationed at the position of a casting box and replacing said casting box ot a line composing machine, a set of opaque matrices bearing characters photographically reproducible as printed type impressions by said camera, means fori composing and justifying lines oi' said matrices and delivering said lines to photographic, positions relative to the camera, Jaws for holding the composed lines oi matrices in photographic position, a movable support for the camera, and means ior causing the jaws to decrease the width of the' line of composed matrices by movement of the camera support toward the line of matrices.

a photographic camera for copying ,successive 5. In an apparatus of the character described, a camera for holding and intermittently exposing a continuous strip of sensitized material, a set of opaque matrices photographically reproducible as type impressions, means for assembling successive lines of said type matrices, and meansforslftingthesensltizedstnpinthe camera to cause the assembled lines o! matrices to be successively photographed line after line on said strip.

6. In an apparatus oi' the character described, a photographic camera in position to photograph lines of matrices fed to normal casting position, a set of matrices bearing characters photographically reproduced by the camera as ll printed type impressions, means for delivering successive composed and justiiied lines of said matrices to a position in the machine which they would occupy when being cast so that they appear before said camera in photographing pol sition, said camera having means for directly and successively photographing said lines in successive relationship on a strip of photographically sensitized material, and means for feeding said strip of sensitized material through the Camera SAMUEL I. S. FRIEDMAN. UI'IO I. BDOOM.

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