GB1159191A - Type-Composing Apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

1,159,191. Type composing machines. HARRIS-INTERTYPE CORP. 10 June, 1966 [11 June, 1965], No. 26067/66. Heading B6W. Escapement control mechanism.-Type-composing equipment comprises the combination of a keyboard for selection of a sequence of characters and spaces to make up lines of composition, an encoding device comprising switches operated by the keyboard to produce a distinctive code for each operation of the keyboard identifying the character or function selected, an electronic shift register connected to receive the output of the encoding device and operating to retain each code therein, a type-composing machine operative to produce justified lines of type by assembling the individually selected characters and spaces in the order determined by operation of the keyboard, a decoding device controlling the type-composing machine and connected to operate from the shift register for decoding the codes stored therein into control signals for the type-composing machine, and reading means operative on the decoding device and the shift register to enable codes to be passed on from the register on demand from the decoder according to the rate at which the type-composing machine can perform the operations directed by the decoding device. In a preferred embodiment the keyboard includes output switches which are closed according to the code of the key depressed and a " last-closing " switch which closes when any key is depressed but after the code switches. When this last switch closes, an output code is set up in the first stage of the shift register " B register." Outputs from this register extend to a record stage " A register ". The speed at which codes pass from the A register to the decoder and from the B to the A register is controlled by clock pulses fed to the A and B registers, such pulses being timed to the operating cycle of the type-composing machine, e.g. the matrix escapement mechanism cycle. A zero detector circuit is connected to sample the B register and inhibit the passage of the next code from the encoding switches to the B register until the register is clear. A circuit capable of detecting wherever the same code word is encoded twice in succession, e.g. by comparing the code already in the B register and the next code set up in the encoding switches, may be provided, which circuit operates to delay the transfer of such a successive code word to the decoding device, e.g. by preventing one clock pulse from reaching the B register. The type-composing machine may be one of the recirculating matrix type in either the line-casting or photo-composing form.