US2074216A - Typographical font - Google Patents

Description

H. G. GovlL 2,074,216-

TYPOGRAPHICAL FONT 7.1. rr E E 565758596061612 y '5 9 zo 2| 2z 25 2* 521621,38 29 Wega@ f megs March 16, 1937. H. G, GOV|| 2,074,216

TYPOGRAPHICAL FONT Filed April 7, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 agg 27a/Ig. 3.

.B14 E21 l a1 fag@ Patented Mar. 16, 1937 TYPOGRAPHICAL FONT Hari G. Govil, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Mergenthaler Linotype Company, a corporation of New York Application April 7, 1933, Serial No. 664,862

29 Claims.

This invention relates to typographical fonts, such as the matrixfonts employedin commercial linotyper machines for theproduction of printing slugs, and contemplates improvements which Will enable these machines to be'used more readily, if not for the rst time, in Yconnection with the various languages printedin Devanagari script.

, As showing the necessity for and importance of the` present invention, it may be rstated that Devanagari script is used or Writing or printing not only Hindustani but also Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathi, J aina, Sindhi, Rejasthani, Behari, Gujarati and Bengali, With certain modifications `in the L styles of certain characters of the respective languages. Devanagari is the major script of Hindustani, which is the great lingua franca of modern India, being used by more than one hundred million people. Also, as the national script of India, Devanagari is most Widely used in business, literature, 'journalism, and general communication. And here it may be stated that the system forming the subject oi the invention, and as hereinafter'described, applies also to allother 25 to the Devanagari alphabet, `such as Siamese,

Tibetan, Singhalese, Burmese, and also the Dravidian langauges such as Tamil, Telugu, Kanarese, etc.

As is Well known, printing in the foregoing languages has heretofore required from 700 to 2,000 printing characters, all of which are necessary and are now used in hand composition for the proper and complete printed expression of the,Y

i different languages. This number of characters of matter on the regular linotype machines, and it is, therefore, the prime object of the present invention to reduce thenumber of characters in such manner and to such extent that the existing linotype machines may be adapted tothe requirements of the l'anguagesin question.

Briefly stated, the invention-consists in providing a matrix font whose individual elements are formed With incomplete and non-indicative char- 45` acters, that is to say, characters which standing alone have no meaning, or at best are semiindicative inl nature. 'Ihese matrix elements are so designed that they can be joined laterally with one another to vproduce complete indicative char- 50 'acters, and characters which are either identical with or closely resemble the characters as now Written in the Devanagari script as produced by hand set type.

For a readier understanding of the invention thematrix font is herein shown and described as divided into a plurality of groups, this group arrangement being such that the matrix elements of the various groups may be variously combined `to produce the full number of complete charac- 60 ters asV generally required for the hand composialphabets derived from or allied with4 or similar is` entirely too large for the practical composition (C1. Teef-66) tion of Devanagari script. The exact nature and extent of these various combinations Will best be understood from the drawings and the detailed description to follow. It may be noted here, however, that the total number of individual charac- 5 ters made use of in carrying out this invention is 216, even including those characters which are complete in themselves and have not been modified in structure. In handling this number of characters in a linotype machine, it is proposed to run 124 of them in the channeled magazine and to providefor their release by the employment of a keyboard. 'I'he remaining 92 characters (which are the ones less frequently used) will be carried as pi and composed in line by hand.

It may be explained that in selecting for the matrix font the matrices designed to form the incomplete printing elements, those matrices have been chosen Whose character parts occur most frequently in the Devanagari script and which lend themselves most readily to the formation of the greatest number of combined complete indicative printing elements.

It may also be noted that vocalic and consonantal characters or parts thereof frequently usedl in combination are sometimes compressed or otherwise slightly modied so that they also can be set separately and in combination with other Y parts of characters to form a variety of complete indicative characters, and this Without altering their signicance or legibility in the complete indicative character. For example, the slanting line of part of a character can be formed more nearly perpendicular so that it will not project under or above the other member with Which it is combined.

In applying the invention to a matrix font for a linotype machine, it must be borne in mind that the characters of the Devanagari script are asso-- ciated with a horizontal line. Therefore, the matrix is made With an intaglio impression properly located in itsV operative edge so as to form th-e printing element cast therefrom with a line extending entirely across its upper face and which line can be joined With a similar line on adjacent printing ,elements toform a continuous line with which the script characters can be associated.

The matrix is further constructed With intaglio impressions designed to produce a part or parts of characters so that, when the printing element formed therefrom is united laterally in horizontal alinement With another or other incomplete printing element or elements, that is to say, f

printing elements bearing only parts of characters, the assembled printing elements so alined Will be united to produce a complete indicative printed character, i. e., a character having meaning.

Sometimes the intaglio impressions forming the parts of the printing characters will be open 60 at both sides of the matrix, and in other cases on one side, and in yet other cases on neither side, but all conforming with the outline of the part of the character which it is desired to cast. It will be obvious that, within the limits of the slug to be cast, as many matrices may be arranged in horizontal alinement as are required to form any particular character.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows all of the characters of the new font;

Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 show how different individual characters are joined Ylaterally in producing complete indicative characters;

Fig. 7 shows in perspective thecharacter bearing portions of three dilerent matrix elements such as are used for producing the complete composite character shown inrFig. 4;

Fig. 8 is an edge View of the three complete matrix elements of Fig. '7, showing these elements composed in line side by side and ready for the casting operation; and

Fig. 9 is a face view of one of the matrix elements.

In Fig. 1, the various characters comprising the new font are shown as arranged in seven groups designated A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, respectively, the characters in each group being numbered consecutively. The characters comprising Group A are those used as initials only,

-that is to say, those characters which form the rst or initial part of a complete composite character. The characters comprising Group B are those used either as initials or medials. When used as medials, the characters, as the word irnplete in themselves, but which are such that they can be and are combined with certain incomplete characters oi the preceding groups to produce different complete composite characters. 'Io the extent that the characters of this vgroup can be used alone as complete characters, no novelty Cil is asserted for them in a structure sense. In use, the characters of Group F (like those of Group B) may be either initials or medials. The characters comprising Group G are complete in themselves, and consist mainly of symbols used in printing, such as punctuation marks, and so on. These characters have been shown primarily in order to complete the whole font.

Referring to all or the characters of Fig. l,

.. they may be classified generally as follows: The

characters constituting Groups A, B, C, D, and E are not only incomplete, but are non-indicative, meaning by non-indicative (as before stated) that the characters when standing alone have no signicance,"or at best are semi-indicative in nature. The characters constituting Group F, while incomplete, may be said to be indicative, meaning by indicative that the characters when standing alone would or could have signiiicance.

The characters constituting Group G are both complete and indicative and do not therefore enter into the present invention.A The invention is concerned only with Groups A, B, C, D, E, and F, the characters of these groups being usable interchangeably or in diiferent combinations to produce various complete indicative characters of undistorted orthodox form. In other words, complete indicative characters are produced by different combinations of incomplete non-indicative characters with incomplete non-indicative characters, or by diiferent combinations of incomplete indicative characters with incomplete non-indi cative characters, or by both kinds of combinations, depending upon the nature of the individual complete indicative characters to be produced.

As before stated, the invention contemplates the lateral joining of various characters of the different groups for the production of complete indicative characters. In some instances, only two characters will be usedin producing a complete composite character, while in other instances three separate characters will be needed to make up a complete composite character. Illustrations are given in Figs. 2 to 6 which will be described in kgreater detail later on.

While one skilled in the art would undoubtedly be able to understand the various possible combinations of characters from the showing in Fig. 1, it might be helpful to set forth in tabulated form a considerable number of the possible combinations, and the following table will answer that purpose. In this table, the characters are referred to by the group designation and by the numbers allotted to them in their respective groups.

A-l to 4-1-13-1 to 3-l-E--35 (see Fig. 2) A--l t 4-l-B--1 to 39-l-E-20 A--l to l-l-B-18 t0 24-i-D-1 to 3 A-l to 4-l-B-11 to 13, 18-l-C--1-i-E-20 As-i 1:0 4+B-13 to 20+c-4JFE-2o A-l to l-l-F-l to 44-i-C-3-i-E-2O B-l to 26-l-F-1 to 11+E-36 to 56 (see Fig. 6) B-l to 26+F-45 to 63-l-E-53 to 62 F-l to 44+E--36, 56

To those not familiar with Devanagari script, it may aid in an understanding of the invention to give transliterations (as applied particularly to Sanskrit and Hindi) of the complete indicative characters represented by some of the combinations set forth in the foregoing table. Following the same scheme of referring to the characters by group designation and numbers, the transliterations are as follows:

The transliterations for the consonants vk, ph, p, g. gr, t, rt, ry, r, hy are given in the alternative (v or va, k or ka, etc.) because the vowel short a is understood unless the consonantI carries some other vowel and (or) like symbol, or is combined with another consonant, or is marked by the virama,` indicating that no vowel follows.

As before stated, Figs. 2 to 6 show diierent combinations of the individual characters. Thus, in Fig. 2, there is shown reading from left toright four characters: the first character marked A-i is character No'. 1 of Group A; the second character marked B--3 is No. 3 of` Group B; and the third character marked E-35 is No. 35 of Group E. The fourth character marked a is the complete indicative character which is formed by the lateral joining of the other three incomplete nonindicative characters. In Figs. 3, 4, 5, and V6 the characters marked al, a2, a3, and a4 are the complete indicative characters formed by the lateral joining of the individual characters .at the left, the latter characters being marked with the group designation and number like the incomplete characters of Fig. 2. Transliterated, the characters a, al, a2, a3, and a4, are, respectively, ji (pronounced with a foreign sound), ce, 1 (a Whole independent vowelwritten only when standing alone or at the beginning of a word), sti, nd.

For the sake of clearness, in the foregoing description and in the figures of the drawings to which reference has been made, only the characters as they appear in print have been dealt with, but it will have been understood that in use the characters will be carried by typographical y bodies or elements such as before referred to.

As the present invention has been developed with.

the requirements of the linotype machine in mind, the element herein illustrated by way of with projecting ears X1 and at the top with'disy tributing teeth X2, whereby it is adapted to be circulated through the linotype machine in the regular way. In its mold engaging edge, each matrix is formed with a notch or routing X3 containing at its bottom a depression or cavity X4 constituting the character of the matrix. In this.v instance, then, the character is of intaglio form, consisting of a depression or cavity wherein is cast the type character from which the print is to be made. In the operation of the linotype machine, these matrices are first assembled side by side in line (as in Fig. 8), and then presentedk as a whole to a slotted mold for the casting of an integral bar or slug bearing on one edge the complete line of type characters formed in the cavities X4 of the matrices, all as well understood in the art.

Since a complete indicative type character is made up from two or more incomplete non-indicative characters, the matrices are, of course, formed with cavities suitable for castingfthe incomplete type characters. In other words, it will be understood that in setting up a line of matrices for producing'a line of type, two or more individual matrices will be assembled side by side in line for the production of one complete type character. This is clearly indicated in Fig. 8, which shows three of the matrices assembled side by side, and which will produce an integral complete type character such as that marked a2 `in Fig. 4. In Fig. 7, the character bearing portions of these particular matrices are shown in enlarged perspective in order to bring out the actual structure of the matrix cavities. In the instance given, it will be noted that the cavities of all three matrices are arranged to communicate in order to produce the straight horizontal line characteristic of the Devanagari script. Here itmay be explained that these portions of matrix cavities, since they extend entirely through Ythe matrix bodies from one side to the other, will be closed by adjoining matrices or blanks or spacebands,

the latter elements being those marked Y and Z in Fig. 8. In the instance given, other portions of the cavities of the matrices are also arranged to extend through the side walls'of the matrix bodies, these portions being those which form the two stern portions of the complete character. The matrices for the other characters will present similar and different peculiarities depending upon the characters themselves.

While the present invention and improvements have been designed especially to meet the require-- ments of the linotype machine, itwill be apparent that they are equally applicable to other kinds of machines, such as type setters which employ or type dies. As a matter of fact, the invention is also applicable to hand set type, and to any other forms of typographical elements which may be maniplated to make up complete indicative characters from incomplete non-indicative characters. It should be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific adaptation or embodiment, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the claims.

Speaking generally, it may perhaps be said that the present invention involves the feature of making up a complete character by joining and still others within the body limits different parts of that character. Such a scheme has heretofore been employed Vin connection with English characters (see for example Patent No. 1,115,274, dated October 27, 1914) The purpose and effect of the present invention are vastly different from the purpose and eiect of the prior patented invention. In the patent, the scheme involves a multiplication of the individual matrix elements which carry the fractional characters, since each letter requires at least two diierent parts. The present invention, on the other hand, reduces the number of characters by the system shown and described by which the various incomplete non-indicative characters can be variously combined in producing the complete indicative characters. In other words, the incomplete non-indicative characters are not limited to the production of a single complete character, but they can be variously combined to produce an almost innite number of complete characters as clearly indicated by the table set out in an earlier part of the specication.

Devanagari, like many other Oriental scripts, such as Arabic, Syriac, Hebrew, etc., comprises vowels as well as consonants and these vowels take the form of signs or symbols associated with the consonant characters, the vowel signs or symbols sometimes appearing above or below or within the body limits of the consonant characters. In this connection it should be noted that the incomplete non-indicative characters comprising Groups A, B, C, D, and E in the chart of Fig. l are intended to be combined in making up complete indicative characters whether they be consonants alone or consonants with vowel signs. Thus, as will be obvious to anyone familiar with Devanagari script, many of the incomplete nonindicative characters of Group E differ from each other only in respect to the vowel signs which they carry, see for example the characters numbered 2, 3, 5, 6, Il, 9, II, I2, I4, I5, I5, Il, I8, I9 of this group, it appearing from these designated characters that the vowel signs of some appear below the character, others above the character, of the character. To give specic examples, the combination of character No. 2 in Group B with character No. 2 in Group E produces a complete composite character pronounced gu; whereas the combination of character No. 2 of Group B with character No. 3 of Group E produces a complete composite character pronounced gu. Similarly the combination of character No. I2 of Group B with character No. 2 of Group E produces a complete composite character pronounced nu; whereas the combination of character No. I2 of Group B with character No. S of Group E produces a complete composite character pronounced nu And so it is with various other combinations of characters. See for example the complete composite character a2 of Fig. 4 produced by the combination of character No. 24 of Group B, character No. 2 of Group C, and character No. 5 of Group E, the latter being a vowel carrying character. 'I'he table hereinbefore set out gives a multitude of possible combinations and includes, of course, characters with as weil as characters without the vowel signs.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is as follows:

1. A typographical font comprising at least five groups of elements, each element bearing an incomplete non-indicative character, the elements ,of one group being adapted to be joined laterally with elements of the other groups to produce complete indicative characters, three of said groups comprising respectively elements which always occupy initial, medial and nal positions in the formation of a complete character, and the two remaining groups comprising respectively elements which occupy an initial or a medial position and a medial or a final position in the formation of a complete character.

2. A type arrangement for composing machines comprising a plurality of matrices, each of which is formed with a portion of a letter only, so that several of the matrices must be placed together to form a complete undistorted letter, some of said elements being formed with variously positioned vowel symbols.

3. A type arrangement for composing machines adapted for use in connection with Oriental scripts, comprising a group of meaningless letter.l

elements which when aligned on a line-composing or single-type casting machine in group assembly of two or three, form the character of an undistorted condensed or extended consonant without a vowel, with any required vowel, or with. vowels above, in the center, or below the consonant letter or in any combination of these positions.

4. A type arrangement for composing or casting machines adapted for use in connection with Oriental scripts, comprising a group of letter elements consisting of independently meaningless divisions of letters with vowels in diierent positions, said letter elements being so shaped that they are adapted for selective interchangeable use in groups to form different complete undistorted letters with vowels.

5. A matrix font for slug casting machines adapted for use in connection with Oriental scripts, comprising a series of matrices provided with an original and unique meaningless character, two or three of which in combination yield when assembled, an undistorted consonant with or without a vowel or combination of vowels in one or more positions.

6. A typographical font comprising a series of free disconnected elements adapted to be assembled side by side in line and each bearing a different incomplete non-indicative character, said characters being formed for lateral connection with one another in different combinations, by the line assembly of the appropriate elements, to produce a greater number of diiTerent complete indicative characters.

'7. A typographical font comprising a series of free disconnected elements adapted t-o be assembled side by side in line and each bearing a different incomplete non-indicative character, said characters being formed for lateral connection with one another in dilerent combinations, by the line assembly of the appropriate elements in twos or threes, to produce a greater number of different complete indicative characters.

8. A typographical font comprising a series of free disconnected elements adapted to be assembled side by side in line, said elements each bearing a different incomplete non-indicative character, some of said characters being initialposition characters and others final-position characters, said initial-position and iinal-position characters being formed for lateral connection with each other, by the line assembly of the appropriate pairs of elements, to produce selectively a number of complete indicative characters in excess of the total number of incomplete nonindicative characters.

9. Atypographical font comprising a series of free disconnected elements ,adapted `to be as sembled sidel by side in line, said elements each` acters, and still others nal-position characters,

said characters of the' different kinds being formed for lateral connection with one another, by the line assembly of the appropriate elements in twos or threes, to produce selectively a` nurnber of complete indicative characters in excess of the` total number of incomplete non-indicative characters.

l0. A typographical font according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that some of` the medialposition characters are also usable `as initial-position characters in the -production of certain complete indicativeA characters.

11'. A` typographical font according to claim 9, characterized by the fact that some of the medialposition characters are also usable as final-positioncharacters in the production of certain complete indicative characters.

12. A typographical font comprising a series of. free disconnected elementsV adapted to be assembled side by side inline and each bearing a different incomplete character, some of said characters constituting consonant parts with and other of said characters constituting consonant f parts without vowel or like symbols, said characters being formed for lateral connection with one another in different combinations, by the line assembly of the appropriate elements, to produce selectively various whole consonants with vowel or like symbols.

. 13. A typographical font comprising a series of free disconnected elements adapted to be assembled side by side in line and each bearingr a different incomplete character, some of said characters constituting consonant parts with and other of said characters constituting consonant parts without vowel or like symbols, said characters being formed for lateral connection with one another in diierent combinations, by the line assembly of the appropriate elements, to produce selectively various whole consonants with or without vowel or like symbols.

14. A typographical font according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that some of. the characters constituting consonant parts with vowel or like symbols are used as iinal-position characters in the production of certain whole consonants with vowel or like symbols.

15. A typographical font according to claim 12, characterized by the fact that some ofthe characters constituting consonant parts with vowel or like symbols are used conjunctively to produce certain whole consonants with vowel or like symbols.

16. A typographical font comprising a series oi free disconnected elements adapted to be assembled side by side in line and each bearing an incomplete character, some of said characters when standing alone being indicative and others when standing alone being non-indicative, the indicative characters constituting consonant parts without vowel or like symbols, and the nonindicative characters constituting consonant parts with and without vowel or like symbols, the non-indicative characters being formed for lateral connection with the indicative characters in different combinations, by the line as assembly of the appropriate elements, to produce selectively varivous complete indicative characters constituting whole consonants with vowel or like symbols. 17. A typographical font comprising a series of free disconnected elements adapted to be assembled side by side in line and each bearing an incomplete character, some of. said characters when standing alone being indicative and others when standing alonebeing non-indicative, the indicative characters `parts with and without vowel or like symbols, and the non-indicative characters constituting consonant parts with and without vowel or like symbols, the non-indicative characters being formed constituting consonant for lateral connection with the indicative characters in diiierent combinations, by the line assembly of the appropriate elements, to produce selectively various complete indicative characters constituting whole consonants with vowel or like symbols.

18. A typographical font comprising a series of free disconnected elements adapted to be assembled side by side in line and each bearing an incomplete character, some of said characters when standing alone being indicative and others i when standing alone being non-indicative, the indicative characters constituting consonant `parts without vowel or like symbols, and the nonindicative character constituting consonant parts with and without vowel or like symbols, said nonindicative characters being formed for lateral connection with one'another in different combinations or with the indicative characters in different combinations, by the line assembly of the appropriate elements, to produce selectively various complete indicative characters constituting whole consonants with vowel or like symbols.

19. A typographical font comprising a series of free disconnected elements adapted to be assembled side by side in line and each bearing an incomplete character, some of said characters when standing alone being indicative and others when standing alone being non-indicative, the indicative characters constituting consonant parts Without vowel or like symbols, and the nonindicative characters constituting consonant parts with and without vowel or like'symbols, said non-indicative characters being formed for lateral connection with the indicative characters in different combinations, by the line assembly of the appropriate elements, to produce selectively various complete indicative characters constituting whole consonants with or without vowel or like symbols, and said non-indicative characters being also formed for lateral connection with one another in different combinations, by the line assembly of the appropriate elements, to produce selectively various other complete indicative characters constituting whole consonants with or without vowel or like symbols.

20. A typographical font according to claim 19, characterized by the fact that some of the incomplete indicative characters constituting consonant parts with vowel or likesyrnbols are formed for lateral connection with some of the incomplete non-indicative characters constituting consonant parts with vowel or like symbols, the resulting complete indicative characters constituting whole consonants with vowel or like symbols differing from those whole consonants with vo-wel or like symbols produced by the incomplete characterswhen used disjunctively.

2l. A typographical font for Devanagari and similar scripts comprising a series of free disconnected elements adapted to be assembled side by side in line and each bearing a different incomplete character, said characters being formed for lateral connection with one another in different combinations, by the line assembly of the appropriate elements, to produce selectively various complete characters of undistorted orthodox form constituting whole consonants with or without vowel or like symbols.

22. A typographical font for Devanagari and 10 similar scripts comprising a series of free disconnected elements adapted to be assembled side by side in line and each bearing a diierent incomplete character, said characters being formed for lateral connection with one another in different combinations, by the line assembly of the appropriate elements, to produce selectively various complete characters of undistorted orthodox form constituting whole independent vowels as Well as whole consonants with or without vowel or like symbols.

23. A typographical font according to claim 21, wherein some of the incomplete characters are those constituting Group A of Fig. 1 of the drawings, each of which is common to Various complete characters.

24. A typographical font according to claim 22, wherein some of the incomplete characters are those constituting Group B of Fig. 1 of the drawings, each of which is common to various complete characters.

25. A typographical font according to claim 22, wherein some of the incomplete characters are those constituting Group C of Fig. 1 of the drawings, each of which is common to various complete characters.

26. A typographical font according to claim 22, wherein some of the incomplete characters are those constituting Group D of Fig. 1 of the drawings, each of which is common to various cornplete characters.

27. A typographical font according to claim 21, wherein some of the incomplete characters are those constituting Group E of Fig. 1 of the drawings, each of which is common to various complete characters.

28. A typographical font according to claim 22, wherein some of the incomplete characters are those constituting Group F of Fig. 1 of the drawings, each of which is common to various complete characters. Y

29. A typographical font according to claim 22, wherein the various incomplete characters are those constituting Groups A, B, C, D, E, and F of Fig. 1 of the drawings, each of which is common to various complete characters.

HARI G. GOVIL.

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