US2287793A - Control mechanism for linecasting and composing machines - Google Patents

Description

June 30, 1942. M. T. GOETZ 2,287,793

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR LINECASTING AND COMPOSING MACHINES Filed Dec. 29, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENIOR. NAURUS T. GOETZ June 30, 1942. M. T. GOETZ 2,287,793

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR LINEOAS TING AND COMPOSING MACHINES Filed Dec. 29, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGJ6 FIG-3 lol 9 I02 9 1 0 o 89 2 00000 a 00 5 ummn INVENTOR MAURUS T. GOETZ Patented June 30, 1942 UONTROL MECHANISM FOR LINECASTING AND COMPOSING MACHINES Maurus T. Goetz, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Teletypesetter Corporation, a

corporation of Delaware Application December 29, 1939, Serial No. 311,483

23 Claims.

This invention relates to linecasting and composing machines, and particularly to apparatus for effecting the selective response of such machines to stored signal conditions.

An object of the invention is to actuate sequentially a plurality of ordinarily individually responsive instrumentalities in direct response to a single stored signal,

Another objectof the invention is to actuate such instrumentalities sequentiallyin response to a single stored signal which is a modification of the signal to which one of said instrumentalities is invariably responsive.

A further object of the invention is to actuate such instrumentalities sequentiall in response to the particular single signal to whichone of said instrumentalities is invariably responsive.

The invention features an arrangement. whereby a selectable element may be made to respond to either of two signal combinations after and only after having responded to one of the two signals.

In the composition of material to be printed, it is the custom to finish all lines except certain short ones on a fixed right-hand margin. In composing machines of the linecasting species, this operation, called justification, is accomplished through the use of expansible spacebands to provide interword spaces. As a line is concluded, if the expansibility afforded by the included spacebands is sufficient to expand the line until it fills the required column width, the line is said to be justifiable. It may sometimes happen that a composed line which is short of justifiable length will not accommodate the next Word or the first syllable of that word. The

compositor may increase the length of the line by inserting fixed spaces, which are blank matrices of uniform thickness,'adjacent the spacebands.

The subjection of linecasting and composing machines to automatic control, such as, for example, in the manner disclosed in Patent No. 2,091,286 granted August 31, 1937, to Howard L. Krum et al., may necessitate special treatment with reference to nonjustifiable lines. Automatic control units of the type disclosed in the patent of Howard L. Krum etal. may be controlled by perforated strips which may be produced by means of a keyboard perforator, such as the one disclosed in Patent No. 2,059,250, granted November 3, 1936, to Howard L, Krum. The counting of the matrix thicknesses and minimum and maximum spaceband values cumulatively is accomplished concurrently with the application of applied to the tape, but individual signals for the selection of fixed spaces cannot then be inserted conveniently because the already punched signals follow one another at closely spaced intervals. It has been a practice heretofore to render the series of signals representing a deficient line ineffective by rerunning the signals through the perforator and converting each to the socalled rub-out or all-perforated signal. This series of ineffective signals is then followed by a reperforation of the signals representing the line to be composed, with the fixed space signals included at the desired points. The sensing of the idle signals, when the control strip is run through the control unit for the linecasting and composing machine, accomplishes no useful purposes and results in a period of idleness of the composing machine.

In accordance with the present invention, it is proposed to control the release of fixed spaces to accompany a deficient line automatically, without the insertion of signals particularly associated with the release of fixed space matrices,

and'bythe modification of one or more of the spacebandsignals in the line. The modification comprises the perforation of an additional code hole or holeswhereby the ordinary spaceband signal is converted into an extraordinary spaceband signal. It may be accomplished by backing the control strip through the perforator until that one or those of the spaceband signals that are to be converted from the ordinary to the extraordinary spaceband signal are aligned with .the punches, and depressing the key lever assigned to the execution of an extraordinary spaceband signal, or by inserting the additional perforation or perforations by means of a hand punch or by an auxiliary punch blockinthe keyboard perforator provided for that purpose. No other modification of the signals in the tape is required, and none of the signals in the deficient line is destroyed.

Briefly, the preferred embodiment of the invention contempl ates'a signal responsive control unit for a linecasting and'composing machine, such as the one disclosed in the above-mentioned patent of Howard L. Krum et al.,'and provided with a delay mechanism associated with its signal sensing apparatus according to the teachings of Patent 2,090,654, granted August 24, 1937, to L. M, Walden. The blocking bar, which is controlled by the delay mechanism, normally blocks the selectable element assigned to control the release of fixed space matrices and is provided with a blocking lug which blocks the selectable element assigned to control the release of spacebands when the blocking bar has been moved to the position to unblock the selectable element for fixed space matrices. The code bars of the control unit for the linecasting and composing machine are coded to select and set in operation the delay mechanism in response to the extraordinary spaceband signal, and as the spaceband selectable element is unblocked, a spaceband is released concurrently with the selection of the delay mechanism. In the course of the operation of the delay mechanism, its blocking bar is caused to be shifted to block the spaceband selectable element and unblock the fixed space matrix selectable element. Thereupon, a fixed space matrix is released but no additional spaceband is released because the spaceband selectable bar is then blocked.

According to an additional feature of the inventicn, one of the code bars is provided at the point where it participates in the selection of the delay mechanism with a pivotally movable blocking section which is normally latched in positicn to block the selectable element for the delay mechanism in one of the two selective positions of the code bar, so that only when the code bar is in predetermined selective position can the selectable element for the delay mechanism be selected. The latch for the movable blocking member is tripped by the delay mechanism selectable element upon being selected, and the blocking section is moved by a spring to an inefiective position so that it can no longer block the selectable element for the delay mechanism. Thus, that particular code bar is deprived of control over the delay mechanism selectable element, and when the other code bars have been set in selective positions to present a selective alignment of notches to the selectable element for the delay mechanism, that element will be selected regardless of which of its two selective positions the code bar having the pivotally mounted blocking section occupies. The code bar which is provided with the pivotally mounted blocking sec tion is the one corresponding to the signal element which is added to an ordinary spaceband signal to convert it to the extraordinary spaceband signal. Thus, upon the response of the selectable element for the delay mechanism to an extraordinary spaceband signal, the pivotally mounted blocking section will be unlatched and will be moved to ineffective position so that thereafter until the blocking section has been relatched in effective position, the delay mechanism will be selected in response to the ordinary spaceband signal, and will cause the sequential release of a spaceband and a fixed space matrix. The relatching of the blocking section of the code bar in effective position is accomplished by the mechanism which operates the elevator to deliver an assembled line of matrices to the line delivery slide in response to the elevator signal. It follows from this that the selectable element for the delay mechanism will respond to the ordinary spaceband signal only for the remainder of any line in which an extraordinary spaceband signal occurs.

A full and complete understanding of the invention may be gained by reference to the following detailed description to be interpreted in the light of the accompanying drawings in which,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a portion of a linecasting and composing machine having an automatic control unit applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View partly broken away showing the record sensing apparatus including the delay mechanism for effecting the sequential release of spacebands and fixed space matrices;

Fig. 4 is an elevational View of the record sensing mechanism including the delay mechanism;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view showing the apparatus for depriving a code bar of effective control over a selectable element and for restoring effective control thereto; and

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a fragment of control tape containing signals for releasing a spaceband alone, a fixed space matrix alone, and for releasing both sequentially.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the reference numeral II indicates generally a linecasting and composing machine. The linecasting machine has a conventional keyboard mechanism l2, matrix storage magazine l3, spaceband storage magazine I4, assembler belt l6, and assembler elevator H. The release of matrices from the matrix storage magazine i3 is effected by the lifting of release reeds E8, which may, if desired, be controlled from the keyboard l2, and the release of spacebands l9 from spaceband storage magazine l4 may be effected b the lifting of a special release reed 2|, which may, if desired, be controlled by a manually operable spaceband key lever 22. A lever 23 pivoted intermediate its ends, as at 24, has one end connected to the spaceband release reed 2i, and has the other end connected to the spaceband escapement mechanism 26. The assembler elevator H has depending therefrom a link 21 which is articulated at its lower end to a crank arm 28 carried by a rock shaft 29.

Fig. 2 shows the manner in which the release reeds are lifted to effect the release of a matrix or a spaceband. Referring to that figure, it will be noted that key levers 31, pivoted as at 32, have tongues 33 disposed in notches of individual weight bars 34, which are arranged to be lifted upon the rocking of a key lever 3| either manually or by automatic means. Each of the weight bars 34 is provided near its upper end with a notch in which is disposed one arm of a trigger bell crank 36, the other end of which normally supports a cam yok 3'! in such position that a keyboard cam 38, rotatably mounted in the cam yoke 31, is held out of engagement with a continuously rotating rubber roll 39. Each of the cam yokes 3'! has a portion 4| disposed below a corresponding release reed 48 or 2 i. The release reeds l8 and 2| are notched to provide a shoulder which rests upon a supporting bar 42, and the notch permits lifting of the release reeds.

The lifting of a weight bar 34 by operation of a key lever 3| causes the rocking of the associated trigger bell crank 3'5 which frees the associated cam yoke 3'! and permits it to drop until cam 38 engages rubber roll 39. Rotation is imparted to a cam 33 by rubber roll 39 which'causes cam yoke 37 to be rocked counterclockwise (as viewed in Fig. 2) to lift the associated release reed [8 or 2|. The lifting of cam yoke 3'! by cam 33 returns it to the normal position where it is supported by trigger bell crank 36 in readiness for the next operation of the associated key lever 31 and weight'bar 34.

Above each of the release reeds 18, there is a lever arm 43 pivoted as at 44 and having its free end adjacent to and in operative'alignment with the escapement mechanism of a matrix storage channel of magazine I3 in well-known manner. The lifting of one of the release reeds l8 causes its associated lever arm 43 to be rocked in clockwise direction (as viewed in Fig. 2) about its pivotal mounting 44 to cause its associated escapement mechanism to be operated and a matrix thereby released for transportation by assembler belt 16 to assembler elevator I1.

The present invention contemplates the operation of the keyboard mechanism [2 (Fig. l) and of other instrumentalities of the linecasting machine, of which the assembler elevator ll, operable from rock shaft 29, is an example, under the control of an automatic control unit which is indicated generally by the reference numeral 46, and which may be constructed in accordance with the teachings of the hereinbefore mentioned patents of Howard L. Krum et al., and L. M. Walden. The automatic control unit 46 is attached to the linecasting machine ll below and forward of the keyboard mechanism l2, and is arranged to be driven by power derived from any convenient continuously rotatable power shaft of the linecasting machine, such as the intermediate shaft 41 (Fig. 1). The power take- 01f for driving the automatic control unit may be a pulley 48 mounted on the intermediate shaft 41. pulley (not shown) included in the record-sensing mechanism indicated generally by the reference numeral (Figs. '1, 3 and 4).

The record sensing unit 5! controls a selecting unit which is contained within the housing 52 (Fig. 1) and the structural details of which are shown in Fig. 2. The selecting unit comprises code bars 53 to which permutational settings in accordance with the signal conditions sensed by the record sensing mechanism 5| are transmitted. Permutation code bars 53 are fiat bars placed side-by-side and mounted for individual endwise movement between two selective positions. Connecting bars, or code bar extensions 54, engage each of the code bars 53 and extend into the record sensing unit 5| where they are articulated to the transfer levers 56 (Figs. 3 and 4). Code bars 53 are permutationally notched along the upper and lower edges, so that for each permutational setting of the code bars there may be established an alignment of notches extending across the entire permutation unit, which alignment may be in the upper or lower edges of the code bars 53. Selectable bars 5'! extend transversely of the code bars 53 and are alternately disposed above and below the code bars. As shown in Fig. 2, each of the selectable bars 51 is fitted to a supporting bar 53 by means of notches, and springs 59 urge the selectable bars 5'! rightwardly (as viewed in Fig. 2) to seat the selectable bars upon rod 58. Springs 59 also bias those selectable bars which extend below the code bars 53 clockwise, and those which extend above the code bars counterclockwise, whereby the selectable bars are urged to rotate into engagement with the code bars, and when permitted to rotate by the stripper or spreader cam 6i, they move into engagement with the code bars and that selectable bar 51, which finds an alignment of notches, rotates farther than do the other selectable bars and enters the alignment of notches.

Each of the selectable bars 5! is provided on the edge which is adjacent to the code bars 53 and near its forward end (left-end, as viewed in Pulley 48 drives a belt 49 which engages a Fig. 2) with a shoulder 62 which ispresented in the path of universal bail 63 upon selection of the selectable bar 5'! by entrance of that bar into an alignment of notches. Universal bail 63 is shown in its normal or unoperated position in Fig. 2, and when it is actuated by the shaft which carries spreader cam 3|, it is moved leftwardly (as viewed in Fig. 2) and engages the shoulder 62 of any selectable bar 51 which has been selected, and imparts endwise movement leftwardly to that bar.

Each of the selectable bars 51 which is assigned to the release of a matrix or a spaceband has in alignment with it one arm of a bell crank lever 64 which is pivoted on mounting shaft 53. The other arm of each of the bell cranks 34 is disposed above and substantially in engagement with a forwardly extending portion 6'! of an auxiliary key lever 68 pivoted on common pivot 39. There is an auxiliary key lever 68 for and below each of the manually operable key levers 3i, and each of the key levers 68 has a tongue H which is disposed in a notch in one of the weight bars 34. It will be apparent from this thatv any one of the weight bars may be lifted to trip the associated cam yoke 31 by depressing the forward end of the associated key lever 3|, or by depressing the foremost portion 61 of the associated auxiliary key lever 68. It will also be apparent that leftward movement of a selected one of the pull bars 51 by universal bail 63 will cause clockwise rocking of the associated bell crank lever 64, which will depress the forward end of its associated auxiliary key lever 68 to lift the corresponding weight bar 34. The patent of Howard L. Krum et al., hereinbefore identified, may be consulted for a fully detailed description and showing of the apparatus thus far described.

Referring now to Fig. 3, thereference numeral H indicates tape sensing levers rockably mounted upon common pivot rod 72. Levers H have oppositely extending arms 13 and 14, the former of which are provided at their outer ends with upstanding tape sensing pins 16. Tape sensing levers H are biased in counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, by springs H which have been omitted from Fig. 3 for the sake of clarity, and are provided in the body portions thereof with circular apertures 18 through which extends a fixed rod 19 to limit the movement of levers ll. ,Arms 14 of the tape sensing levers H are presented in the operating path of a bail 5i carried by bell crank 82 which is rockably mounted upon pivot rod 83. Bell crank 82 is biased in clockwise direction by tension spring 84 and is provided with a roller 86 which engages a cam 8'! carried by record reader shaft 88. As shaft 35 rotates, cam 81 rocks the bell crank 82 in counterclockwise direction, and through bail 8i rocks tape sensing levers H in clockwise direction to withdraw tape sensing pins 16 from record tape 89 preparatory to advancement of the tape. Following withdrawal of the tape sensing pins 75, cam Bl permits bell crank 82 to return to its extreme clockwise position, thus lowering bail 8i and permitting those of the tape sensing levers H, the sensing pins 16 of which find perforations in the tape to be rocked in counterclockwise direction to sense the signal combination in the tape.

Pivot rod 12 has mounted thereon one end of a lever arm 9!, the other end of which carries a roller 92 which engages the periphery of a tape feed cam 93 carried by record reader shaft 88.

ries at its right-hand end, as viewed in Figs. 3

and 4, a tape feed pawl 96, and at its left-hand end a portion 91 extending under lever arm 9I, as best seen in Fig. 4. An abutment screw 98 extending through lever arm 9|, and having its relation to lever 9| adjustably fixed by means of lock nut 98, has its lower end disposed above the portion 97 of tape feed lever 9 so that when counterclockwise movement is imparted to lever SI by cam 93, screw 98 will engage portion 9! of tape feed lever 96 and will impart counterclockwise movement to lever 94, thus lifting its pawl 95 to advance along ratchet IllI carried by tape feed shaft IE2 to engage the next tooth preparatory to rotating shaft I52 in counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, when cam 93 permits lever 9| to return to its extreme clockwise position, thus releasing tape feed lever 94 which is restored to its extreme clockwise position by biasing spring I03 (Fig. 4). Tape feed shaft I02 has secured thereto a sprocket I04 which engages feed holes in tape 89 for imparting movement to the tape relative to the sensing position determined by the location of sensing pins I6.

When tape sensing levers II are released by bail 8| to sense the tape 89, those of the sensing levers II, the sensing pins I6 of which encounter perforations in the tape are rocked by their springs TI to their extreme counterclockwise or selected positions. The remaining tape sensing levers H are held in their clockwise or unselected positions by imperforate portions of the tape. Below the tape sensing levers II, transfer levers 56, previously identified, are pivotally supported by a rod I65 carried by transfer bail IB'l. The

tape sensing levers terminate at their lower ends in the spaced prongs, and below each is one of the T shaped transfer levers 56. The laterally extending arms of T shaped transfer levers 56 have upstanding abutments spaced apart a greater distance than the distance between the depending prongs of the sensing levers. The spacing of the abutments is such that when a tape sensing lever is presented in its extreme clockwise position, which occurs when its tape sensing pin encounters an imperforate portion of the tape, the left-hand prong of the tape sensing lever will be presented in alignment with and in the path of the left-hand abutment of the associated transfer lever. Conversely, when a tape sensing lever II is presented in its extreme counterclockwise position, which condition exists when its tape sensing pin encounters and pro jects through a perforation in the tape, the righthand prong of the tape sensing lever is presented in alignment with and in the path of the righthand abutment of the associated transfer lever 55.

Bail IEil has connected thereto an operating lever arm I68 which has at its free end a roller I59 engaging the periphery of an operating cam IiI carried by record reader shaft 88. As cam III is rotated, it rocks lever arm IE8 and, therefore, bail [in in counterclockwise direction and thus elevates T shaped transfer levers 56 with respect to the tape sensing levers II. The distance through which transfer levers 56 are lifted exceeds that required to bring one of the abutments of each of the transfer levers 56 into engagement with one of the prongs of those of the tape sensing levers II which have been set under the control of a signal combination in the tape in positions different from those in which they were presented according to the preceding signal combination. Thus, a transfer lever 55, upon coming into engagement with a prong of a tape til) sensing lever II, before the transfer lever reaches its limit of travel, will be rocked clockwise, or counterclockwise, about the rod I86, depending upon the position in which the tape sensing lever is presented. It will be evident from this that when the tape sensing levers have been set in accordance with a signal combination in the tape, and the transfer bail I01 has been operated, the T shaped transfer levers will be set in extreme clockwise or counterclockwise positions in accordance with the signal combination in the tape.

The intermediate or vertical depending arms of the transfer levers 55 are formed at their lower extremities with disc-like portions II2. These disc-like portions are disposed in parallel sided notches II3 formed in the upper edges of link bars or extensions 54 of code bars 53. Thus, as each of the T shaped transfer levers 56 is set in its extreme clockwise position under the control of its tape sensing lever I I the code bar extension 54 and code bar 53 articulated to it are set in extreme left-hand position. Conversely, each of the transfer levers 55 that is rocked to extreme counterclockwise position effects the presentation of its associated code bar 53 and extension or link bar 54 in extreme right-hand position. The disc-like portions II2 of the transfer levers 55, and the notches I I3 of the code bar extension 54 are so proportioned that the disc-like portions IIZ are not lifted out of the notches IE3 when the transfer levers 56 travel upwardly due to the operation of the transfer bail IIl'I.

It may be noted by reference to Figs. 3 and 4 that six tape sensing levers TI with arms I3 and tape sensing pins I6 have been provided, and that between the third and fourth of the tape sensing levers TI is a lever IIE also pivoted upon pivot rod I2, and similar in all respects to tape sensing levers II except that it has no arm corresponding to arms I3 and no tape sensing pin. Centrally positioned lever H6 has depending prongs similar to the depending prongs of the tape sensing levers II, and intended for co-operation with a central one of the T shaped transfer levers 55. The center one of the transfer levers 58 is articulated to a link bar II'I, which in turn is connected to a special bar I I8 centered in the group of code bars 53. Bar H8 is provided with lugs H9 and I2I for controlling the selection of certain of the selectable bars 51. In the preferred embodiment of the invention the lug IE9 blocks a particular one of the selectable bars, designated 5I--A, when bar II 8 is in its normal or extreme left-hand position, and unblocks the selectable bar 5lA when bar II8 is moved to its extreme right-hand position. The lug I 2| normally blocks none of the selectable bars 57, but moves into blocking relation to another special selectable bar, designated 5lB, when bar I I8 moves to its extreme right-hand position. The fact that blocking bar I I8 has a normal position and code bars 53 do not have a normal position is due to the absence of a tape sensing pin on the lever H5 associated with the tape sensing levers. The lever H6 is biased in counterclockwise direction, as are the tape sensing levers II so that lever II6 always moves counterclockwise, after having been retracted by bail rod BI, with any tape sensing levers II that are selected, and assumes its extreme counterclockwise position as determined by stop rod 19.

As shown in Fig. 4, code bar extensions 54 are provided with notches I2I and link bar II'I has a similar notch. A. lever I22 pivoted at I23 supports at its left-hand end a rod I24 which extends across the code bar extensions 54 and the link bar II'I directly above the position occupied by the notch in the link bar II! when that bar is presented in its normal or extreme left-hand position. Notches I2I of code bar extensions 54 are so positioned that for certain permutational settings of code bars 53 and extensions 54, notches I2I will be presented in alignment below rod I24, whereupon lever I22 will be permitted to respond to the biasing effect of tension spring I29 and will rock counterclockwise. The right-hand arm of lever I 22 is indicated I21 and extends upwardly obliquely and terminates adjacent to and in alignment with a downwardly obliquely extending arm I28 carried by tape feed lever 94. The operation of tape feed lever 94 by its operating lever 9|, under the control of the tape feed cam 93, is such that lever 94 is normally held in extreme counterclockwise position, and at the proper time is permitted by the cam to rock clockwise under the influence of spring I93 to effect feeding of the tape, and is immediately restored to extreme counterclockwise position. Arm I28 of the tape feed lever 94 is thus normally presented in its uppermost position and does not interfere with the presentation of the arm ll! of lever I22 in blocking relation to arm I28 upon the selection of rod I24 and consequent rocking of lever I22 counterclockwise. When arm I28 has thus been blocked, the tape feed lever 94 is prevented from effecting feeding of the tape when tape feed cam 93 rotates into position for permitting lever 9I to operate. Tape feed operating lever 9I may continue to operate under the control of its cam which tape feed lever arm I28 is blocked without interference by block lever 94, the lever 9| merely lifting screw 98 out of engagement with tape feed lever 94.

The tape feed operating lever 9| has secured thereto a plate I3 I, to the left-hand end of which the biasing spring I39 for the tape feed operating lever BI is connected, At its extreme righthand end, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, the plate I 3| has pivotally depending therefrom a pawl I32. This pawl is normally held out of engagement with a ratchet I33, carried by stub shaft I34, by a laterally extending rod I39 carried'near the upper end of arm I2'I of lever I 22. Upon the counterclockwise movement of lever I22 to bring its arm I2'I into blocking position with reference to tape feed lever arm I29, pawl I32 becomes free to rock clockwise about its pivotal mounting by means of spring I31, and thus to come into engagement with ratchet I33. Stub shaft I34 also carries a check ratchet I38 with which is aligned a check pawl I39 pivoted at I4I to a frame member. Pawl I39 is also biased in clockwise direction by a tension spring (not shown) and is provided near its lower end with a laterally extending arm I42 which is presented in engagement with pawl I32 on the opposite side to that which engages ratchet I33. Pawl I 39 thus follows the leftward and rightward movements of pawl I32, and when the latter is permitted by obliquely extending arm I2I to move into engagement with ratchet I33, pawl I39 moves into engagement with check ratchet I38 and becomes a holding pawl for ratchets I33 and I39 and thus for stub shaft I34. A torsion. spring (not shown) arranged around stub shaft I34, and having one end secured to a stationary portion of the machine and the other end secured to one of the ratchets, rotates them clockwise when they are free of pawls I32 and I39 into a predetermined stop position.

Stub shaft I34 has rockably mounted thereon a bail shaped lever I49 which has arm I43 extending upwardly in alignment with lever II9 associated with the tape sensing levers II, and which also has downwardly extending arm I44 presented in the path of a pin I49 projecting laterally from once face of ratchet I33. The free end of arm I43 of lever I49 carries an adjustable abutment screw I4'I which is aligned with lever IIB. Lever I49 is adapted to be rotated counterclockwise, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, by the engagement of pin I46 with arm I44 as ratchet I33 is rotated counterclockwise by pawl I32. When the end of screw M! has been brought into engagement with lever I I9, the next step through which ratchet I33 is rotated will cause movement to be imparted to lever I I9 to its extreme clockwise position. Upon the next cyclic operation of bail I 9! by cam I I I, the central one of the transfer levers 59 will be rocked in counterclockwise direction due to the encountering of the lever I I6 in a new position, and the blocking bar II8 will be shifted to its right-hand position. Blocking lug I I9 will be moved out of registry with selectable bar 5'I--A so that bar 9'IA can enter the alignment of notches which is then presented to it by code bars 93 and can be actuated by universal bail 93 to effect the release of a fixed space matrix. Simultaneously with the unblocking of selectable bar 5'IA, lug I2I moves into blocking relation with selectable bar 5'IB so that that bar is prevented from again entering the alignment of notches which is presented to it.

The shifting of blocking bar II8 and its link bar I I"! rightwardly causes its selecting notch I2I for rod I24 of delay selecting lever I22 to be moved out of registry with rod I24, and such movement causes rod I24 to be cammed out of the alignment of notches I2I to its normal or unselected position. Lever IN is thus rocked to its extreme clockwise position, the upper end of arm I21 of lever I22 is withdrawn from blocking engagement with depending arm I28 of tape feed lever 94, so that tape feed lever 94 is restored to responsive condition, and pawl I 32 is moved counterclockwise by rod I39 of delay selection lever arm I27. Pawl I32 disengages check pawl I39 from ratchet I38 through the laterally extending arm I42 of pawl I39, and the biasing spring associated with ratchet shaft I 34 restores the shaft to normal position, thus releasing lever I49 which is moved in clockwise direction by lever II9, the

latter being returned to its extreme countercentral one of the transfer levers 59 is actuated.

by lever I I9, now restored to normal position, to shift link bar Ill and blocking bar H8 to their normal or extreme left-hand positions.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that selectable bar 51-13 is always in condition to respond to its selection by the code bars 53, since bar 5I-B is normally unblocked. Also, it will be apparent that selectable bar 5'IA is never responsive immediately to a selective con dition established for it by the code bars 53, but must first be unblocked by operation of the delay mechanism. With the exception of the tape feeding operation, all functions and operations in the record sensing and selectable bar operating mechanisms are performed cyclically for each cycle of operation of the ratchet feed mechanism in the delay apparatus. It follows from this that the selectable bar 51-33 would be operated for each cycle of the apparatus. As will presently appear, the selectable bar 5'IB controls the release of spacebands. It would be undesirable to have more than one spaceband released in response to one spaceband signal combination in the tape. Accordingly, the bail shaped lever I40 is backstopped so that its normal position shall be only one ratchet step from its extreme counterclockwise position. Thus, the end of screw I41 normally engages or nearly engages lever IIS, and when lever I22 is selected by rod I24 simultaneously with the selection of selectable bar 5'IB, ratchet I33 is advanced one step, lever H6 is thereby rocked to extreme clockwise position, and blocking bar II 8 is shifted rightwardly to block selectable bar 5IB before it can be operated a second time by universal bail 63. Selectable bar 5'IA, now unblocked, is selected and is operated by universal bail 63, so that the two selectable bars 5'IA and 5I-B are selected and operated in two successive cycles, and as the delay mechanism is restored to normal when bar 5'IA is unblocked, the tape is advanced, signals are sensed, and matrices are released without the introduction of even one idle cycle.

Tape for controlling the apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive may be prepared in a keyboard perforator, such as that shown in Patent 2,059,250, granted November 3, 1936, to H. L. Krum. Signals representing matrices and spacebands are perforated in the tape successively in proper order, and when the counting mechanism of the perforator indicates that sufficient material has been composed to fill the column measure by expansion of the spacebands or that the next word or the first syllable of the next word is too long to be included in the line, even though the spacebands will not expand sufficiently to fill the column measure, the line is terminated by the perforation of an elevator signal which will cause the assembler elevator IT to be operated to deliver the assembled line to the line delivery slide. Under the second condition outlined in the foregoing sentence, it is necessary to provide for the addition of fixed space matrices to be assembled adjacent to some or all of the spacebands. This may be accomplished by bringing back into registry with the punchpins in the perforator those of the spaceband signals representing spacebands with which fixed space matrices are to be assembled, and converting them from the ordinary spaceband signal indicated in Fig. 6 as a single perforation in the code element 3 position to an extraordinary spaceband signal by the addition of a perforation in the code element position. When fixed space matrices are required as a regular part of the composition without reference to spacebands or the filling out of a deficient line, they are represented by a code having a single perforation in the code element 0 position. When apparatus according to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive is being controlled by tape 89 and an ordinary spaceband signal is sensed by the tape sensing pins I3, the number 3 code bar is presented in its left-hand position, all other code bars are presented in their extreme right-hand position, and the spaceband pull bar 5'IB is immediately selected because it is not blocked by lug I2I On blocking bar I I8. Delay selector lever I22 is not selected because the code bar extension 54 for the 0 code bar is so notched that its notch is out of registry with the delay selector rod I24 when the 0 code bar and its extension are in their extreme right-hand position.

When the extraordinary spaceband signal 0-3 is presented to the tape sensing pins I6, the 0 code bar and the number 3 code bar are presented in their extreme left-hand positions and alignments of notches are presented to selectable bars 5IA and 5'IB and to delay selector bar I24. Selectable bar 5IB is selected and operated immediately to effect the release of a spaceband. Delay selector rod I24 is also selected immediately and sets in operation the ratchet feed mechanism comprising pawl I32 and the ratchet I33 which in its first step shifts the lever IIB to provide, through the operation of transfer bail I ill, for the shifting of blocking bar I I8 to its right-hand position. Selectable bar 5'IA is thus unblocked and is selected to effect the release of a fixed space matrix. The selectable bar 5'IB is at this time blocked by lug I2I. The delay selector rod I24 is thereafter cammed to unselected position, the ratchet feed mechanism is disabled, and the tape feed mechanism is reactivated.

When a fixed space matrix is to be released by direct selection, the fixed space code 0 is presented to the tape sensing pins I6. This causes the 0 code bar to be presented in its lefthand position, and all other code bars to be presented in their right-hand position. An alignment of notches is presented to selectable bar 5'IA and also an alignment of notches is presented to delay selector rod I24. From this, it is apparent that the selectable bar 5'IA and the delay selector rod I24 are responsive to the 0 and also the B3 code combination, and, therefore, that the number 3 code bar and its code bar extensions have double notches with reference to the selectable bar 5'IA and the delay selector rod I24, wherefore the number 3 code bar and code bar extension are deprived of selective control over the selectable bar 5'I--A and delay selector rod I24. The response of the apparatus to the 0 code combination differs from the response to the Il3 or extraordinary spaceband signal only in that there is no alignment of notches presented to selectable bar 5'IB and, therefore, it remains unoperated during the setting in operation of the delay mechanism, even though it is not then blocked by the lug I2I of blocking bar II8. When the lever II6 has been operated by the delay mechanism, blocking bar H8 is shifted to the right to unblock the fixed space selectable bar BI-A which is selected and operated to effect the release of a fixed space matrix.

A modification of the invention is shown in Fig. 5 by means of which the record sensing and pull bar selecting apparatus will be conditioned, upon responding to an extraordinary spaceband signal, for releasing a fixed space matrix in response to each subsequent spaceband signal in a line whether such subsequent spaceband signal is the ordinary spaceband signal or has been converted to the extraordinary signal. Referring to Fig. 5, the reference numeral I5I designates the 0 code bar extension which corresponds to the rearmost of the extensions 54, shown in Figs. 3 and 4. The code bar extension I5I is provided with a double length notch I52 with reference to the delay selector bar I24 which would render the delay selector rod I24 selectable with the code bar extension I5I in either of its two possible positions and, therefore, would deprive code bar extension I5! of selective control over delay selector rod I24. The code bar extension I5I has pivoted on a downwardly extending portion thereof, a three-armed lever I53 consisting of an upwardly extending arm, a downwardly extending arm, and a rightwardly extending arm. A tension spring I54 urges lever I53 to rotate counterclockwise to bring its upwardly extending arm into engagement with a fixed stop pin I56 carried by code bar extension II. A spring biased latch I5I normally engages the rightwardly extending arm of lever I53 and restrains it from rotating counterclockwise into engagement with stop I55.

When lever I53 is latched in normal position, which is the position shown in Fig. 5, its upper end is flush with the upper edge of code bar extension I5I, and it extends across approximately one-half of the double notch I52 in the upper edge of code bar extension I5I so that notch I52 is effectively reduced to the proportions of a single selective notch, and code bar extension I5I permits delay selector rod I24 to respond only when the code bar extension is in extreme lefthand position, the selector rod I24 being blocked by the end of the upwardly extending arm of lever I53 when code bar extension I5I is in its right-hand position. The latch I51 has an arm which is engaged by delay selector rod I24 when the rod is selected and it drops into an alignment of notches, the latch being tripped as the red I24 moves into its selected position to release a the three-armed lever I53. The lever I53 rockscounterclockwise into engagement with stop I55, thus withdrawing its upper end entirely clear of the double length notch I52. Thereafter, until such time as lever I53 is reset, code bar extension I5I will have no control over the selection or nonselection of delay selector rod I24, and the delay selector rod will be responsive either to the 3 code combination or the Il3 code combination to cause a spaceband and then a fixed space to be released in response to either of the two code combinations, the ordinary spaceband combination or the extraordinary V spaceband combination.

A resetting mechanism for restoring lever I53 to the position shown in Fig. 5 comprises a link I58 pivoted to the free end of one arm of a bell crank lever I59. Bell crank I59 is biased in clockwise direction by tension spring NH and has at the free end of its other arm a roller I62 which engages the periphery of elevator operating cam I63. Cam I53 is set in operation in response to an elevator signal and is power driven through one revolution to lift the assembler elevator I'I so that the assembled line which it contains can be transferred to the line delivery slide. The location of cam I63 in the apparatus and its mode of operation are fully disclosed in the previously identified Patent 2,091,286. Cam I63 has a considerable throw and it is desirable that bell crank lever shall not be permitted to rock clockwise farther than necessary to relatch lever I53 in the position shown in Fig. 5. Accordingly, an adjustable stop screw I54 is provided for limiting the clockwise movement of bell crank I59, and when the bell crank lever has come into engagement with stop screw I64, the periphery of cam I53 becomes disengaged from roller I62, reengaging the roller when the point of minimum radius of the cam has passed the roller and the radius has increased. At its right-hand end, the link I53 is provided with a laterally bent arm I55 which engages the downwardly extending arm of lever I53 when link I58 is moved leftwardly and rocks lever I 53 into retained engagement with latch I51.

In the assembling of matrices for the composition of a line under the control of a tape, spacebands alone are released in response to the ordinary spaceband signal until an extraordinary spaceband signal is encountered. The extraordinary spaceband signal will cause the selection of delay selector rod I24 and the consequent unlatching of lever I53. From that point to the end of the line, when the elevator signal will cause cam I53 to operate, and thus relatch lever I53, the code bar extension I5I will be unable to distinguish between the ordinary and the extraordinary spaceband signals and will cause the delay mechanism to be selected and a fixed space to be released sequentially with a spaceband in response to every spaceband signal whether modified or unmodified. In the preparation of tape for controlling apparatus according to Fig. 5, it is not necessary to modify each spaceband signal in order to effect the release of a fixed space matrix sequentially therewith, but it is only necessary to modify one spaceband signal in order to effect the release of a fixed space matrix with that spaceband and with all following it in the line.

With the apparatus according to Fig. 5, it is possible to provide for the release of fixed space matrices directly and alone without the introduction of a delay interval, by providing two channels of fixed space matrices, one of which is controlled by a pull bar responsive to the I] combination, and not being at any time blocked by the blocking bar H8, and the pull bar for the other channel being responsive to the 3 and ll3 code combinations, and being normally blocked by the blocking bar H8, such as the pull bar 5'I-A (Fig. 3). The pull bar for the first mentioned channel, being responsive to the 0 code combination, will be operated immediately upon selection to release a fixed space, and the delay selector bar will not be selected because it responds only to the 0- -3 code combination and to any 3 code combination subsequent to an Il-3 combination in a line. The pull bar for the second mentioned channel is operated only after the delay selector bar has been selected and has activated the delay mechanism to effect unblocking of the pull bar. It is operated only to release a fixed space matrix to accompany a spaceband, and is not independently selectable and operable. The spaceband pull bar responds to the 3 and 0-3 code combinations, and is never blocked.

It is to be understood that the various code combinations set forth in the foregoing description are given by way of illustrations only, and are not intended as limitations upon the scope of the invention. Various other code combinations could be employed for accomplishing operation of the apparatus in the same manner.

It is to be noted that the invention is of broader scope than the control of the addition of fixed space matrices to fill a composed line to the column width. There are certain combinations of letters which occur in many different words. Examples of such combinations are e followed by a, e followed by z, i followed by e, and o followed by u. Under certain circumstances, much time could be saved in the preparation of the record tape if combinations of letters frequently occurring in given sequence could be represented by a single code combination with the assurance that they would be assembled in the proper order by the automatically controlled linecasting and composing machine. It is not ordinarily feasible without the sequence controlling apparatus hereinbeiore described, to release two such matrices simultaneously in response to one code combination, as the order in which the matrices are received into the assembler elevator will be dependent upon several uncontrollable factors. The apparatus according to Figs. 3 and 4 could, however, be employed for controlling the release, in known sequence, of two character matrices in response to one signal combination, while permitting either of the character matrices to be selected independently.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been shown in the drawings and de scribed in the foregoing specification, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such specific embodiments but is capable of modification and rearrangement without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a selector mechanism, a plurality of selectable elements, a set of selectors coded to select three of said elements simultaneously, means for normally blocking one of said three elements against response with the other two elements to said selectors, and means controlled by one of said other two elements upon response thereof to said selectors for retracting said blocking means from blocking relation to said normally blocked element.

2. In a selector mechanism, a plurality of selectable elements, a set of selectors coded to select three of said elements simultaneously, means for normally blocking one of said elements against response with the other two of said elements to said selector, means controlled by one of said two elements for retracting said blocking means from blocking relation to said normally blocked element, and means associated with said blocking means for blocking the other of said two elements upon the retraction of said blocking means.

3. In a selector mechanism, a plurality of selectable elements including principal selectable elements and a subordinate selectable element, a set of selectors coded to select a plurality of said principal elements and said subordinate element simultaneously, means for normally blocking one of said simultaneously selectable principal elements against response to said selectors, and means controlled by said subordinate element upon response thereof to said selectors for retracting said blocking means from blocking relation to said normally blocked principal element.

4. In a selector mechanism, a plurality of selectable elements including principal selectable elements and a subordinate selectable element, a set of selectors coded to select a plurality of said principal elements and said subordinate element simultaneously, means for normally blocking one of said simultaneously selectable principal elements aaginst response to said selectors, means controlled by said subordinate element upon response thereof to said selectors for retracting said blocking means from blocking relation to said normally blocked principal element, and means associated with said blocking means for blocking another of said simultaneously selectable principal elements upon the retraction of said blocking means.

5. In a selector mechanism, a plurality of selectable elements including principal selectable elements and a subordinate selectable element, a set of selectors coded to select a plurality of said principal elements and said subordinate element simultaneously, means for normally blocking one of said simultaneously selectable principal elements against response to said selectors, means controlled by said subordinate element upon response thereof to said selectors for retracting said blocking means from blocking relation to said normally blocked principal element, and means associated with said blocking means for restoring said subordinate element to unselected position upon retraction of said blocking means.

6. In a selector mechanism, a plurality of selectable elements including principal selectable elements and a subordinate selectable element, a set of selectors coded to select a plurality of said principal elements and said subordinate element simultaneously, means for normally blocking one of said simultaneously selectable principal elements against response to said selectors, counting means controlled by said subordinate element, and means controlled by said counting means for retracting said blocking means from blocking relation to said normally blocked principal element.

'7. In a selector mechanism, a plurality of selectable elements including principal selectable elements and a subordinate selectable element, a set of selectors coded to select a plurality of said principal elements and said subordinate element simultaneously, and means controlled by said subordinate element upon the response thereof to said set of selectors for limiting said simultaneously selectable principal elements to sequential response to said selectors.

8. In a selector mechanism, a plurality of selectable elements, a set of selectors coded to select said elements, means associated with one of said selectors and operable upon the selective response of one of said elements for depriving said one selector of control over said one element, and means for restoring to said one selector control over said one element.

9. In a selector mechanism, a plurality of selectable elements, a set of notched selectors positionable to present selective alignments of notches to said elements, and means associated with one of said selectors and operable upon the selective response of one of said elements for increasing the efiective length of the notch in said one selector which is presented to said one element whereby to deprive said one selector of selective control over said one element.

10. In a selector mechanism, a plurality of selectable elements, a set of notched selectors positionable to present alignments of notches to said elements selectively, one of said selectors having a double length notch presented to one of said elements, means carried by said one selector for blocking one of the selecting portions of said notch to said one element, means for retracting said blocking means from blocking position, and means actuated by said one element upon entry thereof into the unblocked portion of said notch for initiating the operation of said retracting means.

11. In a selector mechanism, a plurality of selectable elements, a set of notched selectors positionable to present alignments of notches to said elements selectively, one of said selectors having a double length notch presented to one of said elements, means carried by said one selector for blocking half of said notch against selection of said one element, means for retracting said blocking means from blocking position, means for latching said blocking means against retraction, and means associated with said latching meansextending along the unblocked portion of said notch to be engaged and operated by said one selectable element for releasing said latch.

12. In a selector mechanism, a plurality of selectable elements, a set of notched selectors positionable to present alignments of notches to said elements selectively, one of said selectors having a double length notch presented to one of said elements, means carried by said one selector for blocking half of said notch against selection of said one element, means for retracting said blocking means from blocking position, means for latching said blocking means against retraction, means associated with said latching means extending along the unblocked portion of said notch and in the path of said one selectable element to be engaged and operated thereby for releasing said latch, and means controlled by another of said selectable elements upon response thereof to said selectors for restoring said blocking means to latched condition.

13. In a linecasting and composing machine, means for releasing variable thickness space elements, means for releasing fixed thickness space elements, a selectable member for controlling each of said means, a set of selectors coded to select said selectable members simultaneously, means for blocking against response to said selectors the selectable member controlling the release of fixed thickness space elements, a selectable element selectable simultaneously with v the above recited selectable members, and means controlled by said selectable element for withdrawing said blocking means.

14. In a linecasting and composing machine, means for releasing type composition elements, a selectable member for controlling each of said means, a set of selectors coded to select certain of said selectable members simultaneously, means for blocking against response to said selectors one of said simultaneously selectable members, a selectable element selectable with said simultaneously selectable members, and means controlled by said selectable element for withdrawing said blocking means after the operation of the member which is simultaneously selectable with said blocked member.

15. In a linecasting and composing machine, means for releasing type composition elements, a selectable member for controlling each of said means, a set' of selectors coded to select certain of said selectable members simultaneously, means for blocking alternatively said simultaneously selectable members, a selectable element selectable with said simultaneously selectable members, and means controlled by said selectable element for actuating said blocking means.

16. In a linecasting and composing machine, means for releasing type composition elements, a selectable member for controlling each of said means, a set of selectors coded to select certain of said selectable members simultaneously, means presentable in either of two positions for blocking one of said simultaneously selectable elements when in one position and for blocking another of said simultaneousl selectable members when in the other position. a selectable element selectable simultaneously with said simultaneously selectable members, and means controlled by said selectable element for shifting said blocking means from one to the other of said positions and for restoring said element to the initial position.

17. In a selector mechanism, a plurality of selectable elements, means for selecting threeof said elements simultaneously, means for normally blocking one of said three elements against response with the other two elements, and means controlled by one of said other two elements for retracting said blocking means from blocking relation to said normally blocked element.

18. In a linecasting and composing machine, means for releasing variable thickness space elements, a selectable member for controlling said means, means for releasing fixed thickness space elements, a selectable member for controlling said fixed space element releasing means, a set of selectors coded toselect said selectable members individually or simultaneously, and means effective when simultaneous selection of said members occurs for causing them to respond and be efiective sequentially.

19. In a linecasting and composing machine, means for releasing type composition elements, selectable members for controlling said means individually, means for selecting certain of said selectable members individually or simultaneously, and means efieotive when simultaneous selection of said members occurs for causing them to respond and be effective sequentially to effect the release of type composition elements in predetermined order.

20. In a linecasting and composing machine, means for releasing variable thickness space elements, means for releasing fixed thickness space elements, selectable members for controlling said means individually, selecting means effective when responsive to predetermined different signals for selecting the selectable members individually and effective when responsive to a signal including the attributes of both said predetermined signals for selecting said elements simultaneously, and means selectable by said selecting means when responsive to the last mentioned signal for causing said selectable members to respond and be eifective upon said space element releasing means sequentially.

21. In a linecasting and composing machine, means for releasing variable thickness space elements, means for releasing fixed thickness space elements, means for conveying an assembly of type composition elements and space elements, means for actuating said conveying means, selectable members for controlling said space releasing means and said actuating means for said conveying means individually, selecting means effective when responsive to predetermined different signals for selecting the selectable members for said space elements individually and effective when responsive to a signal including the attributes of both said predetermined signals for selecting said space element selectable members simultaneously, means selectively operable upon response of said selecting means to the last mentioned signal for rendering said selectable members for said space elements selectable simultaneousl by said selecting means when thereafter responsive to signals assignedto the selection of the selectable member for said variable thickness space element releasing means, and means controlled by the actuating means for said conveying means for restoring said selectively operable means to unoperated condition.

22. In a linecasting and composing machine, means for releasing variable thickness space elements, means for releasing fixed thickness space elements, selectable members for controlling said space releasing means individually, selecting means eiTective when responsive to predetermined different signals for selecting the selectable members for said space elements individually and effective when responsive to a signal including the attributes of both said predetermined signals for selecting said space element selectable members simultaneously, and means selectively operable upon response of said selecting means to the last mentioned signal for rendering said selectable members for said space elements selectable simultaneously by said selecting means when thereafter responsive to signals assigned to the selection of the selectable member for said variable thickness space element releasing means,

23. In a linecasting and composing machine, means for releasing variable thickness space elements, fixed thickness space elements, and type composition elements to be assembled in lines, selectable members for controlling said space element releasing means and said type composition element releasing means individually, selecting means efiective when responsive to predetermined different signals for selecting the selectable members for said space elements individually and effective when responsive to a signal including the attributes of both said predetermined signals for selecting said space element selectable members simultaneously, and means selectively operable upon response of said selecting means to the last mentioned signal for rendering said selectable members for said space elements selectable simul taneousl by said selecting means when thereafter responsive during the assembly of the remainder of the line to signals assigned to the selection of the selectable member for said variable thickness space element releasing means.

MAURUS T. GOETZ.

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