US2107272A

US2107272A - Method of printing and device therefor

Info

Publication number: US2107272A
Application number: US757305A
Authority: US
Inventors: Leon H Amdur
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1934-12-13
Filing date: 1934-12-13
Publication date: 1938-02-08
Anticipated expiration: 1955-02-08

Description

Feb. 8', 1938. L. H. AMDUR METHOD OF PRINTING AND DEVICE THEREFOR Filed Dec. 15, 1934 Fig.1

INVENTOR. X1 7% M Patented Feb. 8, 1938 lJNiED STATES orr cs METHOD OF PRINTING AND DEVICE THEREFOR 30 Claims.

This invention relates to the broad art of printing, including within the term printing practically all methods of reproducing or duplicating or making copies of compositions or printed matter. Included within such methods are: printing from inked type, Mimeography and Multigraphy, photo-lithic and photo-engraving methods, such as off-set printing, typewriting, printing from plates of type which may be flat or cylindrical, etc.

This invention, therefore, involves a new art of printing and duplicating, The invention, also, involves a new method of securing justification of type. The invention includes, also, a device or instrumentality useful in carrying out the novel method of printing and duplicating and the novel method of type justification, more fully described hereinafter.

Other objects of this invention, not at this time more particularly enumerated will be understood from the following detailed description of the same. It is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense since the scope of my invention is best defined by the appended claims. An illustrative embodiment disclosing the improvements of this invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of several words, before justification;

Fig. 2 is also a diagrammatic plan view of the same words, after justification;

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the backers held in the bars, with the spacers removed;

Fig. 4 is a side view of a backer.

Before entering into the description of the invention, it should first be noted that the term justification or justify means to cause the characters (and this includes letters, numerals and punctuations) to fully and completely occupy the particular line of print. For example, the lines typed by a typewriter are not justified, as will readily be seen by the irregular right ends of typewritten lines. The left ends of the lines are, of course, uniform, but the right ends depend upon the last letter typed, and, in practically most instances, the last letter typed will not completely fill out the line.

remain jagged and irregular.

In printed matter, as distinguished from work done on typewriters, the lines are justified. That is, not only are the left ends of the lines aligned in the same vertical line (left margin), but also the right ends of the lines are aligned in the There being no. further step or means of justifying, the right ends same vertical line (right margin). The step or procedure whereby the right ends of the lines are caused to become aligned in the right marginal (vertical) line is called justification. Such lines of characters are termed justified lines. It is evident that a justified line is one in which the characters fully and completely fill the line from the left margin to the right margin line.

In the linotype method of printing and in some 10 other methods, justification is accomplished by increasing the spaces between words. The letters themselves are not changed in size; that is, they remain the same size, (more particularly, width) in the justified line as they did in the 15 unjustified line. The letters are, however, shifted somewhat to the right due to the fact that the spaces between the Words have been increased.

To illustrate the step of justifying and referring to Figures 1 and 2, the left marginal line is 20 designated l in both figures, and the right marginal line is designated 2. The letter (or other character) types are designated a, and the means for providing proper spaces between words (called in the trade, space-bands, and herein termed 25 spacers) are designated b. The spacers b, as already intimated, also provide the means for justification.

Figures 1 and 2 show eight letters forming three words, and also two spaces, between adja- 30 and between the second and third words, respec- 40 tively.

. Instead of the unjustified line of type reaching to the point 3, short of the right margin line 2 and the spacers then being expanded to cause the line of type to reach to the margin line 2, the unjustified line of type may reach to point 4, beyond the right margin line and the spacers may then be contracted to cause the line of type to be compressed between the left margin line 6- l and the right margin line 2.

It has been previously stated that the letter (or numeral or other character) type is designated a in Figs. 1 and 2. As a matter of fact,

the pieces designated a do not bear types or other be one which will remain moist until the actual any convenient manner.

character formations. The letter, numeral, punctuation or other characters are formed (in manners subsequently more fully described) in a continuous ribbon of paper or other flexible material, designated 0 (see Figs. 1 and. 2).

The pieces a merely serve as backers or foundations or bases for the character-bearing ribbon c. The pieces a will henceforth be designated backers.

In Figures 1 and 2 the backers a. are shown to be of uniform size, and more particularly, of uniform width. The widths of the backers may, manifestly, be made of different widths to correspond with the width of the character formed on the ribbon c and which the backer is provided to back or secure. For example, a backer provided as a base or back for the letter m formed in the ribbon may be wider than the backer provided for the letter i, for example.

It has been previously stated that the characters (whether letter, numeral or punctuation) are formed in or on the ribbon c. in which the characters are formed on or upon the ribbon will depend upon the particular kind of printing to be done, which might be printing from ink, photolithographic, mimeographing and so on. (The step of actual printing and the various kinds of printing will be more fully discussed hereinafter). At this time, only the formation of characters upon the ribbon (from which copies may be made) is being considered.

Among the many ways in which characters may be formed upon the ribbon may be enumerated: The characters may be type upon the ribbon. The ink to be used should preferably printing (from the justified ribbon) is consummated. The characters may be typed upon the ribbon by means of some appropriate typewriter mechanism, or the typing may be done in Where the characters are formed upon the ribbon by typing, the ribbon may be made of paper or fabric etc.

The character-formation may be by perforating the ribbon; i. e. in making a stencil. This method of character forming would seem appropriate where the actual printing is to be mimeographic. The perforation may be achieved by a typewriting mechanism (less the ink ribbon, as is well-known) or may be achieved by an appropriate punching mechanism, or die etc. The ribbon may be paper, flexible board, papier-mache, cloth, fabric; or even a thin, light flexible metallic ribbon may be used.

When the characters are formed by stenciling or perforating, the faces of the backers against Which the ribbon bears may be inked, so that an inked character appears in place of the perforation. This face of the backer may, of course, be'specially prepared or coated to be receptive to ink.

The characters may be formed upon the ribbon by embossing. Appropriate dies (male and female or either) may be used. The ribbon may be made of paper, as papier-mache, to maintain the impressed characters, or it may be made of appropriate metal or fabric. The embossed characters formed upon the ribbon (after justification) may then be inked and the actual printing then consummated. Or, the characters may be engraved upon a ribbon of appropriate material, from which intaglio printing may be achieved.

It might be well at this time to list in order of The manner occurrence the broad steps of this new method of printing; these are:

. Ribbon preparation Character formation Ribbon crimping Assembling Justifying Printing (1) The ribbon preparation step includes the supplying of the ribbon and the cutting of the ribbon in the proper lengths. The length of the ribbon upon which the letters making up the words appearing upon a particular line, together with punctuations, are formed, is, at least equal to the length of the line; it is, in fact, always somewhat longer than the length of the line, as will be described more fully following. Manifestly the ribbon may be supplied in strips already cut to the proper length.

It has been previously stated that the kind of mechanism required for the formation of characters upon the ribbon will depend upon the particular method of forming the characters, as typing, perforating, embossing, engraving etc. It was also stated that a typewriter mechanism may be used to achieve the character-formation. For simplicity in the ensuing description it will be assumed that the characters are to be typed upon the ribbon and that a typewriter is provided and adapted to perform the typing.

The typewriter must be modified and provided with the proper instrumentalities to enable it to type upon a ribbon. In the first place, the typewriter must be provided with a means for holding the ribbon-preferably in the form of a spool-and with means for moving the ribbon, letter by letter, to the left. The typewriter, assuming that the characters are to be formed upon the ribbon by typing and not by perforating or embossing, must also be provided with means for inking the type, preferably an ink-ribbon. (The ink-ribbon should not be confused with the ribbon upon which the characters are formed.)

The typewriter is, of course, provided Willil'iiilC proper character keys, whereby the characters are typed upon the ribbon, and is further provided with the usual keys such as spacing key, case shift key, etc. The key-board will have, in addition, special keys peculiar to the novel method of printing of this invention. As previously mentioned the ribbon must be cut into lengths somewhat longer than the length of the complete line of type. A cutting mechanism must, therefore, be provided, constructed as part of the said typewriter, to sever the ribbon upon the completion of a line of character-formation thereon. Where the ribbon is supplied as strips of proper lengths, there is no need for a cutting mechanism; instead a magazine of ribbon strips will be provided.

(2) The step of character formation has already been discussed. This step occurs simultaneously with the ribbon-preparation step and the letter spacing of the ribbonto the left; as stated, the formation of letters, as by typing or stenciling, occurs on the typewriter previously mentioned.

(3) In the previous step of character formation V-shape formation is given to the ribbon .at each point where a space between words occurs. That is, the letters of words appear in the ribbon as character formations and the spaces between such words appear as V-shape crimpings.

These ribbon crimpings or V-shape indentations are designated :z:-y--z. in Figures 1 and 2, and. are formed by appropriate male and female V- shaped dies, which are caused to function at the typing point, i. e. at the same point where the characters are formed.

- Instead of the ribbon being crimped or folded at the spaces between words, it may be completely severed at these points, so that each word is represented by a short piece of ribbon. These pieces of ribbon may be like the crimped ribbon, either brought to the assemblage of spacers and backers and there secured thereto, or the spacers, hackers and pieces of ribbon may be assembled at or adjacent to the typing point.

(4) In the step of assembling is included the placing of the backers a and the spacers b in the proper position and relation to the character-formations and the V-crimpings of the ribbon. A character formation (i. e. a letter) calls for a backer, whereas a crimping or V-indentation (occurring at spaces between words) calls for a spacer. It should be noticed that the spacers are set back from the ribbon face of the backers so as to provide clearance for the V-shaped crimping or indentation, see Figs. 1 and 2.

The ribbon moves leftward, letter after letter, from the character-forming machine (e. g. the typewriter) and is backed up by either a spacer or a backer. The assemblage of the ribbon with the required backers and spacers may occur at diiferent'locations relative to the character-forming machine and indifferent manners. For example, the backers and spacers may be positioned behind the ribbon at a point in the character-forming machine directly or substantially behind or in alignment with the typing point. Or this point of positioning the backers and spacers may be located to the left of the typing point a distance substantially equal to a letter space, so that, as one character is being formed, the immediately preceding or space is being backed up by a backer or spacer, respectively.

In said both methods the backed up ribbon continues to move leftward as the step of assembling progresses letter by letter, the spacers and backers moving solidly with the ribbon.

Another method of assembling might be to locate the point of assembling the spacers and back ers, at a considerable distance from the typing or other formation point, and to assemble the spacers and backers independently of the ribbon and then to bring the ribbon to the assembled backers and spacers. In this method there would be two points or locations to consider, namely, the typing point and the assembling point. As a character is being formed at the typing point, a backer is assembled at the assembling point, and as a crimping or indenting is made at the typing point, a spacer is assembled at the assembling point. When the complete line has been formed on the ribbon at the typing point and a corresponding assemblage of backers and spacers has been brought together at the assembling point, the completed ribbon is then moved into its proper position in relation to the assembled spacers and backers so that the characters .are backed up by their proper corresponding backers and the crimpings or indentations coincide with the spacers and fit in the clearances provided at the spacers by reason of the fact, as already stated, that the spacers are set back from the ribbon face of the backers.

The ribbon is then pressed against the assemblage of backers and spacers, that part of the ribbon bearing character formations coming in contact with the ribbon faces of the backers and the crimpings fitting in the clearances left at the spacers. That part of the ribbon bearing the character formations must be secured to the backers, and this may be done by gluing the ribbon to the backers, the ribbon may be mechanically secured thereto, or held in proper position by instrumentalities on the machine.

(5) After the ribbon is united to the assemblage of hackers and spacers by being secured to the former, or by being held in proper relation thereto, the line is then justified by expanding or contracting the spacers. The spacers may be any type of ordinary space-bands, usually operating on the double inclined-plane principle. That is, space-bands are commonly made in two parts, a stationary part and a movable part, the juncture between the two being an inclined plane or wedge. By moving the movable part in relation to the fixed part, the space-band is expanded by a thicker portion of the wedge, or is contracted by a thinner portion of the Wedge, coming in the line between the backers. In the step of justification a universal bar moves the movable part of the spacers to wedge the backers so as to increase the space or distance between the backers, i. e.;

between words. Where the line is contracted, the universal bar is moved in the opposite direction, and a push-rod or other means operates against the last backer to compress the backers, spacers and ribbon to the proper length.

In expanding the assemblage (spacers, backers and ribbon) from 3 to 2, it is apparent that more ribbon would be required, inasmuch as the distance l--2 is greater than the distance I-3; the extra length of ribbon is taken from the crimpings or V-shape indentations of the ribbon; which, as already explained are provided at the spaces between words. In the unjustified line, the crimped ribbon forms a V of a definite size, i. e. of a definite depth and a definite opening.

The opening is substantially equal to the space d between words in the unjustified line. The angle of the V is likewise of a definite degree. During the step of justification, more particularly, in expanding or spreading the line to completely fill up the line of type from I to 2, the spacers are expanded, and the crimpings or indentations are altered, in that, the opening of the. V is increased, the depth is decreased, and the angle of the V is made larger in degree. hand, when the line is compressed by contracting the spacers, the opening of the V is decreased, its depth is increased and its angle is made smaller. Compare :ry--e in Figure 1 with my-z in Figure 2.

It is thus seen that by the crimping or foldingv On the other forations.

sented by the ribbon, may be photographed. The

;(6) The last step is that of printing. The actual printing may be accomplished in a number of ways; the method of printing will also depend upon the kind of character formation in or upon the ribbon. As mentioned above, characters may be formed upon the ribbon by typing, by perforating, by embossing, by engraving, etc.

Where the characters are typed upon the ribbon, one method of printing would be to press the justified line (i. e. the justified ribbon with its assemblage of spacers and backers) against the sheet provided for receiving the impression from the ribbon. This receiving sheet is shown diagrammatically by the line A in Figure 2. That is, the entire assemblage of ribbon, backers and spacers are pressed bodily against the sheet. Instead of pressing the assemblage of ribbon, backers and spacers against the stationary sheet and platen, the platen and sheet may be pressed against the assemblage of ribbon, backers and spacers, which remain stationary. Or, the printing motion may be rotary, in the manner of ro tary presses. In this case, the assemblage may be fixed on a pivot or trunnion and given the necessary rotary movement to bring the type in contact with the sheet; or the platen may be in the form of a cylinder or segment and moved to take an impression from the fixed assemblage. The sheet is then line-spaced to present a fresh surface for the next ribbon bearing the characters making up the next line. The printing may take place on that part of the machine where the ribbon is justified, or the assemblage may be moved further to the left and the printing completed at another part of the machine.

Instead of taking the impression from the typed and, therefore, ink-laden characters, the characters may be perforated and the impression taken, through such stencil, from an inked surface (on the backers, for example) behind the per- Or if the characters have been embossed upon the ribbon, they may be inked in an appropriate manner, and an impression taken from the raised type.

As an alternative method, each line, as reprephotographic plate may then be letter spaced to take an impression of the following line of matter. This plate, which may be the negative where the characters have not been reversed" when formed on the ribbon (so as to give a direct positive), may be used as the master plate in reproducing the required number of copies.

The sheet bearing the impressions from the series of ribbons, each forming a line of the compositions, may be the final copy. Manifestly, such a sheet may be used as a master from which any number of copies may be taken by photography, or otherwise.

Still another method would be to make up a form or frame of the series of ribbons each representing a line, and to use such a form in making duplicates, as in a printing press. This method of using a form, frame, or plate could be used, whether the character formation is by typing, perforating or engraving. Manifestly, where a form or frame is made up of the series of ribbons each representing a line, the spacers (or spacebands) must be removed, inasmuch as they are of considerable length, very much longer than the distance between the lines of type.

sion of the spacers beyond the backers would prevent the line-assemblage (of backers, spacers and ribbon) from being brought back to back, which they must be in making up the plate or frame. Hence the spacers must be removed from the line-assemblage.

After a line is justified, the backers (and consequently the letters and words) are maintained in their proper position by reason of the presence of the spacers. Hence if the spacers are removed, provision must be made for maintaining the backers in proper position in the line of type. This is shown in Figures 3 and 4. These views show part of a line of three words, with the spacers already removed.

The construction of the backers is shown, in

side elevation, in Figure 4. A notch is cut out' of the bottom of the backer and a notch 6, which may be similar, is cut out at the top of the backer. The bottom notch 5 is made of sufiicient size to permit a bar 'I'to fit therein so as to present a flush bottom. A top bar 8 fits in the top notch 6, and likewise presents a flush top. The bars 1 and 8 are substantially the same size and may be somewhat longer than the line of type. In Figure 3, which is a plan view, the top bar 8 is broken awiay to disclose a portion of the bottom bar 1.

In assembling the backers and spacers, the backers are positioned to rest on the bottom bar 1 with their bottom notches 5 fitting flush thereon. In the assembling, the spacers are also positioned in their proper places between the backers to separate words. The assemblage, including the ribbon, is then justified, as. already explained. Then the top bar 8 is placed above the backers and fitted in the top notches 6' of the backers. Means is provided for securing the top and bottom bars together. done by providing the bottom bar with a hole 9 at each end, beyond the end backers. The top bar is provided at each end with a pin II], which fits rather tightly in the said holes 9 in the bottom bar. By bringing the top bar over the backers resting in the bottom bar and fitting it in the top notches of the backers and forcing the two bars together the pins [0 of the top bar will fit in the holes 9 of the bottom bar and, by reason of the tight fit between pins and holes, the backers will be securely held in fixed position between the bars. Thereafter the spacers may be removed. The assemblage of backers, bars and ribbon, representing one line of type, is then placed, as a unit, in the frame, plate or form. The line-assemblages, each constituted of a top and bottom bar with the backers secured therebetween and the ribbon secured to the backers, are placed back to back in the frame or form.

The frame, plate or form, made up of barassemblages, to make the composition from which duplication is carried out, may be either a flat frame or a cylindrical one, i. e. may be either used in flat press printing or in rotary printing. Where the bar assemblages are .to be used in a cylindrical form, the top and bottom. faces of the backers are not parallel to each other but are divergent towards the ribbon face of the backers a slight degree, becoming, in fact, sectors of a cylinder. The ribbon face of the backers are curved to conform to the circle of the cylinder. When the backers are placed back to back, line by line, they will, due to their being properly segmental, form a true cylinder and present, due to the curved ribbon face, a cylindrical face.

In this method of making up a duplicating frame or form, the characters may be embossed,

Conveniently this may beengraved, typed, or stenciled on the ribbon. The method of printing and of inking will depend upon the kind of character formation.

Where the characters are embossed and a cylindrical form is used, the process of printing will be quite like multigraphy, with the addition, of course, of justified lines. Where the characters are typed on the ribbon, the process will be somewhat less like multigraphy.

Where the characters are perforated, the printing will be quite like mimeography, especially if a rotary cylinder is used.

In carrying out mimeographic printing, the backers may be provided with ink holes i i running from the rear of the backers to their ribbon face. The ribbon face of the backers may be treated or provided with a layer of proper absorbent material [2 to retain the ink fed to it by the ink holes H. Inasmuch as the ribbon c is perforated with characters, forming in eifect a stencil, the exposed portions of the ink-pad 52 will present the proper characters for printing. Ink is supplied to the rear openings of the ink holes H. Where a rotary cylinder is used, centrifugal force will cause the ink to flow in ink holes to the outside or ribbon face of the backers, to keep the ink pad 1 2 properly supplied with ink.

When the printing is performed from a plate, the ribbon assemblages are, of course, not broken up until the required number of copies have been made. Where the printing is from a master sheet, as by photographic methods, the ribbon assemblage may be broken up immediately after the line is printed upon the sheet.

Still another method would be to print the assembled line and to break up the assemblage and to provide means for automatically assorting the spacers and backers so that they may be automatically returned to the proper reservoir, thus always keeping the supply of spacers or backers replenished where they are needed at the character-forming machine. Such an arrangement would be a great deal like the ordinary typewriter, except that it would give justified lines.

The following method seems particularly suitable in a justified typewriter, and has the advantage that a small number of backers and spacers need be used. The number of backers required need not be greater than the maximum number of characters in any one line of type and the number of spacers, not greater than the maximum number of spaces between words. (The number of spacers required is less than the number of backers for the reason that the number of spaces in a line is very much less than the num; ber of characters). This stock of backers and spacers is in constant use, i. e. as a line is formed and printed, the backers and spacers, are used again in the next ensuing line.

In this method of justified typing, the stock of backers is fed, i. e. letter spaced, as required from a backer-supply point; whenever a space is left between words, a spacer is fed, from another direc tion, from a spacer-supply point. After the line is assembled, justified and printed, the spacers are removed from their positions in the line and returned to the spacer-supply point, and the backers are moved back, in the opposite direction from which they were letter-spaced, to the backer-supply point.

In this method, the ribbon is not glued to the backers, but is releasably secured to them. Instead of being secured to the backers, the ribbon may be merely held in a proper position in relation to the assemblage of backers and spacers.

For example, after the spacers and backers have been assembled at the assemblage point and the characters and crimpings formed at the typing point and after the ribbon has been brought to the assemblage of spacers and backers, the ribbon may be held, as by a plate, against the assemblage with the crimpings reposed in the clearances afforded at the spacers. With the ribbon held in this position, the line is justified. Then the holding means or plate is removed, and thereafter the line is printed. Since the ribbon is not secured to the assemblage, it may be readily removed in the breaking up of the line.

Manifestly, any of the above methods maybe performed without the stepof justification. For example, the characters may be formed on the ribbon which is then moved in position to be printed or assembled in a printing frame or form.

Where the printing, in any of the above methods, is from the justified line, either the whole assemblage of ribbon, spacers and backers may be pressed against the platen or the platen may be pressed towards the assemblage. In either case, more than one sheet may be printed from the assembled line. For example, the assemblage after printing on one sheet may be moved further from the typewriter to print on the next sheet, and this may be continued, depending upon the number of platens provided. Or a multiple platen may be used, which is in the form of a rotary cylinder with a number of platens thereon. The platen is brought in successive steps in position opposite to the assemblage and the line printed on the several sheets on the platens. The platens are then all simultaneously line spaced. This method lends itself to the printing or typing of letters, in which diiferent names. and addresses are required for each letter.

The justified typewriter above described may embody the following modification. In place of providing a ribbon upon which the characters are formed, the characters may be formed, more particularly printed or typed, directly upon the backers, which would, of course, have their faces made receptive to the type. The faces may be made of rubber, for example. After an impression has been taken from the justified line, the spacers and backers are returned to their respective supply points; in returning the hackers to their supply point or reservoir, or at any point in the operation, the typed or inked faces thereof are cleaned so that fresh faces will be presented for the characters forming the ensuing line.

Wherever in the following claims the term expansive is used, it is intended to be used in a, generic sense and to include contractive. Also, for brevity in the appended claims, the expression forming characters is employed in a generic sense to include typing, printing, stenoiling, perforating, embossing, etc. By duplicative characters is meant characters from which copies may be duplicated. By crimping is meant crimping, indenting, folding or making a V-formation in the ribbon.

Wherever in the following claims the term printing is used, it is intended to be used in a generic sense and to include all possible ways of making an original composition and reproductions or duplications thereof, whether by direct printing, typing, mimeographing, multigraphing, photographing, photo-engraving, etc.

I claim:

1. The method of printing composition-matter which method employs a ribbon upon which duplicative characters may be formed, and backers as a foundation for the characters formed on the ribbon and spacers for the spaces left between words, the step of forming the characters upon the ribbon, the step of crimping the ribbon at the spaces left between words, and the step of placing individual backers in association with each character formed on the ribbon and placing the spacers in association with the crimpings made in the ribbon.

2. In the method of printing which employs a ribbon upon which duplicative characters are formed, backers as a foundation for the characters formed on the ribbon and spacers for the spaces left on the ribbon between characters, the step of associating individual backers for each character formed on the ribbon and the step of securing the portions of the ribbon bearing the characters to the backers.

3. The method of printing which employs a ribbon upon which duplicative characters are formed and backers as a foundation for the characters and spacers, which method comprises the steps of associating individual backers with each character formed on the ribbon crimping the ribbon at the spaces left between words to form V- formations having a, definite depth, opening and angle, positioning the spacers at the crimpings made in the ribbon, and expanding the spacers to cause the characters to occupy the line from left margin to right margin and to alter the depth, opening and angle of the V-formations crimped in the ribbon.

4. The method of printing which employs a ribbon, backers and spacers, which method comprises the steps of forming characters on the ribbon, crimping the ribbon at the spaces left between words, positioning the backers in association with the characters formed on the ribbon and the spacers in association with the crimpings made in the ribbon, securing the ribbon to the backers, justifying the line, maintaining the backers in justified position, and removing the spacers. i

5. The method of printing which employs a ribbon upon which duplicative characters are formed and backers for the characters, comprising the steps of forming characters on the ribbon and placing individual backers in association with each character in groups of words, and separating the words by crimping the ribbon.

6. The method of printing which employs a ribbon upon which duplicative characters are formed and backers, the steps of assembling the backers in word groups accumulating the ribbon at the spaces between word groups of backers, justifying the backers and ribbon representing a line, and taking a photographic impression of the justified line.

'7. The method of printing which employs a ribbon upon which duplicative characters are formed, backers and spacers, which method comprises the steps of forming characters on the ribbon and crimping the ribbon at the spaces between words; assembling a backer for each character formed, and a spacer for each crimping made; and bringing the ribbon to the assembled backers and spacers so that characters are positioned in association with their backers and the crimpings are positioned in association with their spacers so that the crimpings on the ribbon separate groups of backers each constituting a word,

8. The method of printing which employs a ribbon upon which duplicative characters are formed and which is crimped at the spaces between words, hackers and spacers, which method comprises the steps of positioning individual backers in association with each character, and

the spacers in association with the crimpings and justifying the line by contracting the spacers orexpanding the'spacers.

9. In a device of the class described, an assemblage constituting lines of type adapted to fit into a form, each line of which comprises a ribbon bearing duplicative characters and having crimpings between words, backers for the characters secured to the ribbon, and means for rigidly maintaining the backers in justified position.

10. An assemblage constructed in accordance with claim 9 in which the last mentioned means comprises two bars somewhat longer than the line of type, fitting in notches provided in the backers and means for securing the two bars together as a unit.

11. The method of printing which employs a ribbon upon which duplicative characters are formed and in which crimpings are made between words, backers and spacers, which method comprises the steps of associating individual backers with each character and the spacers with the crimpings, justifying the line, and assembling the justified lines into a frame or form.

12. In the method described which employs a ribbon upon which is formed a duplicative line of composition, a backer for each character formed on the ribbon which comprises an ink receptive face, means for feeding ink from its opposite face to the said ink receptive face, and means for maintaining the backer in line position. 7

13. The method of printing which employs a ribbon upon which duplicative characters are formed and which is crimped between words, backersand spacers, comprising the steps of assembling spacers and backers, bringing the ribbon to the assemblage of spacers and ribbons, holding the ribbon with its characters positioned at the backers and its crimpings at the spacers, justifying the line, and printing therefrom.

14. The method of printing which employs a ribbon, spacers and backers, comprising the steps of feeding the backers, character by character, from a backer-supply point, supplying spacers between the spaces left between word groups of backers from a spacer-supply point, justifying the line assemblage of ribbon, spacers and backers, printing from the justified line, removing the spacers from their position in the line assemblage and returning them to the spacer-supply point, and moving the backers back to the backer-supply point. 7

15. In the method of printing which employs a ribbon upon which duplicative characters are formed and which is crimped to allow for justification, the step of accumulating the ribbon at the spaces left between words by crimping the ribbon at these points, and the step of justifying the ribbon by further accumulating the ribbon equal amounts at these points.

16. In the method of printing which employs a ribbon upon which duplicative characters are formed and individual backers for each individ-- ual character-formation made upon the ribbon, the step of forming a character upon the ribbon and the step of securing the portion of the ribbon upon which the said individual character was formed, to an individual backer.

17. The method of printing composition-matter which method employs a ribbon upon which duplicative characters may be formed, and backers as a foundation for the characters formed on the ribbon and spacers for the spaces left between words, the step of forming a character upon the ribbon and concurrently associating a backer with the character formed on the ribbon, and the step of crimping the ribbon between words and concurrently associating a spacer with the crimping made in the ribbon.

18. The method of printing which employs backers upon a face of which characters may be formed, and spacers, comprising the steps of forming characters upon the face of the backers; feeding the backers, character by character, from a backer-supply point; supplying spacers between spaces left between word groups of backers, from a spacer-supply point; justifying the line assemblage of backers and spacers; printing from the justified backers; returning the spacers and backers to their respective supply points; and removing the characters formed on the face of the backers.

19. The art of printing comprising the following steps in the order given forming characters on unbroken ribbons of inelastic material each representing lines of composition, justifying the ribbons, and assembling the justified ribbons representing the composition.

20. The art of printing comprising the steps of perforating characters on ribbons representing lines of composition, justifying the ribbons, assembling the justified ribbons representing the composition, and supplying ink to the perforated characters.

21. In a device of the class described, a ribbon upon which characters are formed to present a duplicative printing surface and which at the spaces between words is crimped rearwardly of the said printing surface; backers for the characters, to the faces of which the ribbon is secured; and spacers for the crimpings, set back a sufiicient distance from the face of the backers to provide clearances for the crimpings.

22. The method of printing, which employs interchangeable backers, spacers and a ribbon, and which comprises the steps of forming characters on the ribbon, providing an individual backer for each character formed on the ribbon and attaching the ribbon to the individual backers, providing a spacer between word groups of backers, and severing the ribbon between words.

23. The method of typing justified lines, employing interchangeable unit backers and adjustable spacers, by providing an array of backers and spacers which correspond to the number and arrangement of characters and spaces in the line to be typed, typing the characters upon the backers, justifying the said array by adjusting the spacers, and taking an impression from the justified backers.

24. The method of printing characters which completely fill the line from left margin to right margin, which method employs a ribbon upon which duplicative characters may be formed and which is crimped to allow the ribbon to be justilied, and which method comprises the step of forming characters upon the ribbon in lines which terminate either short of, or beyond, the right margin, the step of crimping the ribbon at the spaces left between words, and the step of justifying the ribbon by uniformly expanding the crimpings where the formed line terminates short of the right margin and by uniformly contracting the crimpings where the formed line terminates beyond the right margin.

25. The method of printing characters which completely fill the line from left margin to right margin, which method employs a ribbon upon which duplicative characters may be formed and which is crimped to allow the ribbon to be justified, and which method comprises the step of crimping the ribbon at the spaces left between words and the step of justifying the ribbon by uniformly contracting the crimpings.

26. In the method of printing which employs a ribbon upon which duplicative characters are formed in word groups and spacers for the spaces between words, the step of crimping the ribbon between words and concurrently associating a spacer with the crimping made in the ribbon.

27. In the method of printing which employs a ribbon upon which duplicative characters are formed, and backers as a foundation therefor, the step of forming a character upon the ribbon and concurrently associating an individual backer for each character formed on the ribbon.

28. The method of preparing a line of justified composition, employing a' ribbon, backers and spacers, by forming duplicative characters upon the ribbon and concurrently associating backers therewith, and by crimping the ribbon between words and concurrently associating spacers therewith.

29. In a device of the class described, a form comprising a plurality of lines each line comprising a ribbon bearing duplicative characters and having crimpings between words, backers for the character bearing portions of the ribbon and secured thereto, and means for maintaining the backers in justified position.

30. The method of printing which employs a ribbon, spacers and backers, comprising the steps of forming characters on the ribbon, concurrently associating backers therewith and securing the ribbon thereto, crimping the ribbon between words, concurrently associating spacers backers are moved to justify the ribbon.

LEON H. AMDUR.