US3099945A - Photographic type composition - Google Patents

Description

Au 6, 1963 R Q UBRIEN' 3,099,945

PHOTOGRAPHIC TYPE COMPOSITION Filed June 50, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG ''''1 l I I FLASH c.u. ,1 I I22 36 33 CHARACTER SELECTOR SELECTOR I CIRCUITS FIG-7 46 i FIG 6 x x mmvroa 42 RICHARD c. O'BRIEN Y ATTORNEYS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. v

RICHARD C. O'BRIEN ATTORNEYS R. C. O'BRIEN PHOTOGRAPHIO TYPE COMPOSITION Aug. 6, 1963 Filed June 30, 1960 United States Patent of Delaware Filed June 30, 1960, Ser. No. 39,859 9 Claims. (Cl. 95-4.5)

This invention relates to phototypesetting apparatus, and particularly to a font changing system which is adaptable to accommodate high speed changes from one font to another while composing at a high rate.

The present invention is particularly adapted for font changing in connection with phototypesetting machines which employ high speed photography of individual characters from a rotating character matrix on which more than one font of characters is carried in a predetermined order. The characters usually are all of the same relative size, but of different relative widths in accordance with the font design, and a flashing light source is mounted adjacent the character carrier to direct a beam of light through a single selected character to produce a character image-bearing light beam, with the image being focused upon photographic or like material for recording. The beam usually is directed through an optical system by means of which the size of the character image may be altered in relation to the size of the master character on the carrier, to obtain different point size from the same master characters.

in such systems, particularly where the character carrier is rotating continuously at high speed, for example 3600 r.p.m. or higher, and where the recording of characters likewise is proceeding at a proportionately high rate of for example 50 to 60 characters a second, it is desirable to change fonts as quickly as possible in order to avoid delays in the composing operation when, for example, the composer uses a few characters from a different font such as in the case of inserting a word in italics. Where the characters are located at a common radius in a drum or disk, and rotated past the light source, if the disk is made sufiiciently large more than one font can be accommodated at the same radial distance from the axis of rotation. This of course requires that the size of each master character on the carrier or matrix must be relatively limited, or conversely that a carrier of rather large diameter must be used. In the former case it becomes impract-ical to enlarge the smaller size master characters optically over too great a magnification range, since the greatly enlarged images may not have the necessary sharpness and clarity for high quality printing work. On the other hand, larger character carriers require more space and may also lead to problems of dynamic balancing, etc.

In order to avoid some of the foregoing difiiculties it is possible to place different fonts of characters on the same rotating carrier, but at different radii from the axis of rotation. Assuming that the master characters in each font are of the same relative size, then the same optical length must be provided between the master character or object" of the optical system and the photographic recording material, otherwise changing between fonts may result in loss of focus or an unwanted change in image size. It is possible to overcome or alleviate this situation 3 ,099,945 Patented Aug. 6, 1963 but this involves a requirement for movement of the relatively heavy mounting bearings, etc., for the carrier which must be positioned accurately to maintain the correct alignment between the carrier and the light source. Furthermore, while the character carrier may not be excessively heavy, nevertheless since it is rotating at high by displacing the carrier with respect to the light source, speed sufficient force must be provided to move the carrier accurately under such circumstances while overcoming the gyroscopic forces resulting from such high speed rotation.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a novel system and apparatus for changing fonts in a phototypecomposing machine where different fonts are carried on the same rotating character carrier at different distances from the axis of rotation.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a font changing system wherein the moving par-ts are of relatively light weight and low inertia, and thus may be moved with high speed and accuracy.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a font changingsystem wherein the length of optical path between each font on the character carrier and the recording media is maintained equal during font changes, thus avoiding the need for optical compensation when changing from one font to another.

An additional object of this invention is to provide such a font changing system in which a common high intensity flashing light source may be used for photographing from whatever font is selected, without the need for relative movement between the light source and the character carrier.

Another object of this invention is to provide novel apparatus whereby pi characters can be inserted and photographed without altering the optics of the system, and without appreciably slowing the overall high speed operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of the essential parts of apparatus in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of a segment of a character matrix disk having a plurality of fonts, showing the position of the font selection prism with respect to the disk;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are diagrammatic views on an enlarged scale of the selection prism, showing the relative positions thereof for projecting characters from different fonts and for projecting pi characters not on the matrix;

FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of the lens of the optical system, showing the arrangement of the character field with respect to the optical system and the selection prism as shown in FIGS. 3-5;

FIG. 7 is a view looking through a segment of the character disk ad showing a pair of opposed selection prisms which provide for photographing from dilferent fonts while using the same stationary light source;

FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention, including mounts for a plurality of character disks;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view, with parts broken away and in section, of the apparatus shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view of portions of the prism mounting and position controls and the pi character support; and

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of an electrical and pneumatic control system for the apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and referring particularly to FIGS. 1-7, the apparatus includes a character matrix or carrier preferably in the form of a rotating disk which is an opaque member having portions thereof suitably formed as master characters which are light transmitting parts, and which is rotated about an axis 11. There are at least two separate rows of such characters, designated 12 and 14 (FIG. 2). It will be noted that these rows are in separate concentric zones, of different radii in the case of a disk carrier, and that corresponding characters as between the different fonts are preferably arranged along the same radius line.

About the edge of the disk, arranged in accordance with the spacing of the characters in each font, are character selection code markings, indicated generally at 15. These markings may be of any suitable kind, and are shown as of the type disclosed in the copending application of Richard C. OBrien, Serial No. 720,840, filed March 12, 1958, now Patent No. 3,059,219, issued October 16, 1962. These marks, which may form a selection code for a desired character, are preferably in the form of light transmitting segments arranged in the desired pattern to cooperate with one or the other of the selection code reading photocells l7 and 18, and light passed from the corresponding bulbs 19 falls on one or the other these photocells to produce a discrete identifying code in the form of electrical pulses transmitted to the selector circuits, indicated generally at 20.

An identifying code is set up in the apparatus from a keyboard or a control punch tape, or other suitable register means which will form a coded representation of selected characters in the proper sequence to make up lines of composition. For purposes of illustration this is shown as a character selector 22 which transmits through the connecting line or cable 23 the character selection code to the circuits 20. When the identifying code on the matrix corresponds to the selection code, a control pulse is transmitted through line 25 to the spark control unit 27. The details of this system are explained fully in said copending application Serial No. 720,840, or other suitable circuits and apparatus may be used to perform the same function.

The control unit 27 is arranged to produce a substantially instantaneous, high intensity flash of light, as by causing a spark to be produced in the gap between a pair of electrodes 28. This projects a beam of light along the optical path 30, through the selected character on matrix 10, through a size controlling and focusing optical lens system 32, and produces a character image of predetermined size on photosensitive material, such as a galley film, which is mounted on a drum or the like 33. Suitable means are provided to produce relative movement between the galley film and the optical path along which the images are projected to allot the necessary space from each character in accordance with its relative width with respect to the other characters) and the optical size change produced by the lens system 32. For example, the drum 33 may be stepped in the direction of arrow '34 as projection of each character image in accordance with the necessary space for the recorded character image.

It is necessary, of course, to vary the relative spacing movement between the optical system and the drum 33 in accordance with the diflerent widths of the successive projected character images. Each character has a characteristic width value relative to other characters in the same font, and this relative Width value may provide the multiplicand for a computing operation in which the multiplier is determined by the optical size change which is in turn dependent of the setting upon the optical system 32. Details of such aspace computing arrangement are de- 4+ scribed in detail in copending application Serial No. 39,858, filed June 30, 1960. The product of this computation represents the actual space along the line, in the direction of composition, to be alloted to each successively projected character image.

The aforementioned relative space information for each character on the disk may be conveniently provided by spacing code, indicated by the general reference numeral 35, also on the disk or character carrier. Thus, in each radially extending zone on the character disk 10 occupied by characters of different fonts, and the corresponding selection code for these characters, there is also a characteristic relative space code for each of the characters in different fonts in that radial zone. In a suitable form of apparatus, illustrated here, a five digit binary space code is used to designate relative width information for the characters, thus providing a range of relative space increments from one to thirty-two space units or piclets. Accordingly, there are in each radial zone ten different positions in which space code dot information may appear, with five of these code places or positions providing the spacing information for the character in one font, and the other five providing the information for the character in the other font within that radial zone.

The space code dots preferably are formed as light transmitting openings in the disk 10*, and at the same time that the spark unit 27 is energized to illuminate a selected character, a flash control unit 36 is energized to flash an elongated lamp or flash tube 37 providing an instantaneous flash of light through the space code openings in the disk corresponding to the selected character. On the opposite side :of the disk there is mounted a bank of ten code reading photocells 38, one for each of the characteristic space code positions. When tube 67 flashes, the light will pass to those photocells opposite which there is an opening at the time of the flash, and the resultant output pulses from one or more of the photocells provide the space code information.

The output connections of these photocells are divided between two output lines or cables 39' each of which include five leads from the photocells corresponding to the space code for a character in one font. Thus, when a given font is selected one or the other of these outputs can be switched into a circuit, as will later be described, to provide the corresponding relative space data for the character selected from the desired font.

A lens of the optical system 82 is shown in FIG. 6, with the vertical and horizontal transverse axes of the system indicated appropriately by the x-x and yy lines. The character field is indicated by the dotted lines 40, and it 'will be noted that a base line 42 across the field is coincidental with the xx axis, so that descenders will fall below this axis. The left side line of the character field coincides with the y-y axis, and thus enlargement or reduction of the character images by the optical system, with respect to the master characters on the matrix, will not change the base and side lines in the system, and the left side or reference line of the character field will always occupy the same position in the optical system with magnification preceding away from this line.

Selection between the font zones 12 and 14 is provided by directing the flash of light to the desired character in the desired font Zone, and redirecting the image-bearing light beam thus formed along the common optical axis or path 30, which is the path through the lens system 32. This is accomplished by means of reflecting means such as an elongated prism 45 which has opposite end faces parallel to each other, and preferably at 45 to the front and rear thereof. This arrangement is seen most clearly in FIG. 7. The prism is mounted such that it will rotate about the center of the optical path 30, which is also the central or longitudinal axis of the lens system 32, and this axis intersects the center of one end face of the prism, as indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The other face of the prism thus swings in an are between the two fonts on the matrix, and preferably in the position where the character is vertical, as shown in FIG. 2, such that a character selected from either font will occupy the same precise vertical position.

The length of the light passing through the prism is the same for each position, and due to the nature of the reflecting surfaces, a character from either font appears centered and properly erect on the optical path. This is indicated by the dotted lines in FIGS. 3 and 4 which denote the reference side and bottom of the character field, and it will be seen that the character field is the same in both cases. Thus in FIG. 3 the character A is selected from the [font sector :14, and in FIG. 4 A is selected from the font sector '12, and ineaoh case the character image appears in the same line on the optical path with the image being thence transmitted through the lens system.

In order to provide a simplified and essentially uniform light source, a further prism 46, hereinafter referred to as the light directing prism, is mounted on the opposite side of matrix 10. This prism is of the same construction as prism 45, and is mounted reversely. It receives the light from the source 28, and directs this light through one or the other of the font sectors. Accordingly, the 46 is mounted to swing about the same axis 30 as the prism 45, and the flash of light will pass only through the desired font. Therefore, the same light source is used for all fonts, it may be mounted stationary, considerably simplifying the construction and controls of the light source.

It may be desirable to provide an unusual character, known in the art as a pi character, which does not appear in the fonts on the character carrier or disk. In accordance with the present invention it is possible to use the same flashing light source, i.e., the sparking electrodes 28, and by providing a third position for the prisms 45 and 46, to insert a master pi character plate, indicated generally at 48 in FIG. 5, in a position laterally of, and generally aligned with the character carrier or disk 10. Thus, with the pi character plate or insert mounted in this position, by moving the prisms such that their facing portions are beyond the edge of the disk, light may pass from the light source along the optical axis 30, and around the edge of the disk through the master pi character and thence through the optical system 32. Therefore, if the master pi character is the same as the master characters in the fonts on the disk, i.e., of the same relative dimension, it is unnecessary to disturb the optical system, and the pi character image thus formed will appear at the same relative size as the other character images during the course of composition.

Of course, there is a limit to the number of fonts that can be placed conveniently upon a single character carrier or disk, and since it is desirable to provide substantial versatility in font selection in high speed photocomposing machines such as those contemplated by this invention, it is desirable to incorporate more than one master character disk or carrier in the system. Thus, referring to FIGS. 8-10, a construction with a pair of disks and 10a is provided, incorporating the features of the invention previously described. A base 50 provides a mounting for a pair of inverted generally Y- shaped standards 52 and 53 (FIGS. 8 and 9) which are joined at their top by a cross member 54. This cross member is mounted on a shaft 55, which is suitably rotatably supported in the upper ends of the standards 52 and 53, and a character carrier yoke is secured to, and depends from, the cross member 54, shown in the form of an inverted generally T-shaped arm 57. At opposite ends of this arm are bearing mountings 60 and 62 for rotatable shafts '65 and 66, respectively.

The disk 10 is fastened to one end of shaft 65, and disk 10:: is fastened similarly to one end of shaft 66. At their opposite ends, these shafts carry pulleys 68 and 69, receiving a belt 70 which provides for essentially continuous uniform rotation of the two disks. Behind each of the pulleys 68 and 69 the shafts 65 and 66 each carry a friction wheel 72 and 73, respectively, and these wheels are adapted for frictional driving engagement with a friction wheel 75 mounted on the drive shaft of an electric motor 77 which is supported extending forwardly from the rearward mounting standard 53 such that the disk in operative position, the disk 10 in FIGS. 8 and 9, has its friction wheel engaged with the motor drive, and the other disk follows along.

Accordingly, even though but one disk is driven, the other non-operative disk is rotated concurrently, and when it is desirable to shift the position of the disks, to use a font on disk 10a for example, these disks operate with a fly wheel effect to maintain their high speed rotation as the driving relation is changed. Therefore, there is no substantial slowing of the spining disks as they are transferred into and out of operative position.

The apparatus for swinging arm 57, and thus shifting the disks 10 and 1012, includes a cross arm 80 connected at its opposite ends through suitable pivot joints to the piston rods 52 and 83, respectively, of pneumatic cylinders 84 and 85, each of which is provided with a pivotal anchor to the base. Therefore, when fluid under pressure, such as compressed air, is supplied to one or the other of these pneumatic cylinders the appropriate character disk is swung to the operative position.

The base 50 includes a supporting bed or way which preferably includes dovetail slots 92 forming a convenient mounting and alignment arrangement for the font selec tion and lightdirecting prisms 45 and 46, and also for the light source, which is shown only schematically in FIG. 9. The mounts for the prisms are provided by a block 95 having a dovetail member 96 secured to its bottom and received in the slots 92. On the mounting block 95 is a U-shaped bearing support bracket 98 which provides rotary mounting bearing surfaces for opposite ends of the prism control and mounting member 100.

This member is formed as an integral unit having a cutaway center section along one side of which extends an integral cross piece 102. Arms 103 and 105 extend laterally from this member, and each is provided with an L-shaped platform 108 (only one shown in FIG. 10) which is machined or otherwise precisely formed on the arm to provide an exact mounting surface for the prisms 45 and 46 respectively. Outwardly of these arms, the mounting member 100 is provided with cylindrical bearing surfaces, one of which is shown at 109 in FIG. 10, and these may be machined or otherwise suitably formed precisely to define the axis of rotation of the member 100, these bearings being mounted in opposite arms of the mounting bracket 98. Through each of the arms 105, and coaxially aligned with the bearing surfaces 109, there is a central hole or passage 110 providing a path for light directed into and out of the prism system. The mounting member 95 is located on the way 90' such that the active font disk can be swung into the space between the prisms, as shown particularly in FIG. 9, preferably with the outer ends of the prisms generally aligned vertically beneath the axis of rotation of the active disk, as shown in FIG. 8.

Control of the prisms is provided by a fluid power cylinder 115, preferably pneumatic, mounted on bed 90 and which has its output rod 117 extending through a side of the block 95 and into engagement with an end of control arm 118 which in turn is secured to the prism control and mounting member 100. An adjustable stop screw 119 defines one position of the prisms, preferably the position wherein the innermost font row is being selected, as shown in FIG. 8, and in this position the cylinder rod 117 will be retracted. The extension of the cylinder can be predetermined by suitable built-in stops or the like such that the piston rod 117 will extend a precise distance, and thus swing arm 118 through an exact arc to move the prisms into alignment with the outer font row. Thus, the font selection and light directing prisms, which together with their mounting member 100 are a lightweight relatively low inertia system, can be moved quickly and accurately between positions wherein light is directed through different fonts on the character carrier or disk, and at the same time the light path remains of constant length.

Above the prism controlling and mounting parts, on the upper arm of the front standard 52, is a mounting box 120 for the photocell bank 38. Thus, these photocells are aligned with the space code information for the characters in each font which are diametrically opposite thereto on the disk. The controls for the pneumatic font selecting cylinder 118 will also govern a double throw switch to connect one 'or the other of the output cables 39 into the space computing apparatus, depending upon which font is benig used.

Adjacent to the prism mounting is a pi character mounting and control apparatus provided by an elongated slide 125 which includes a dovetail 126 formed on its base and received in a complementary slot 127 in the base member or bed 98 (FIG. 8). Movement of the slide is controlled by a handle 128, and at its forward end the slide includes a pi character mounting frame 130 which is supported to one side of the slide 125 on an arm 132. This arm positions the frame 13% for alignment directly beneath the active character disk, and in a position where the prisms 45 and 46 can be swung into alignment therewith, as explained previously in connection with FIG. 5. Thus, a pi character of the same relative size as the master characters on the disk can be mounted in frame 130 and inserted into the machine readily for selection at any time, and of course different pi characters can readily be provided by exchanging them within the frame 136*.

The selection of a pi character involves actuation of an overriding pneumatic cylinder 135 which has its piston rod 136 connected through a link 3137 with the arm 118. Thus, when cylinder 135 is operated it will withdraw the arm 113 from either the rod 117 or stop screw 119, whichever the arm may be pressed against under bias of the internal spring 140 in cylinder 135, and the prisms will be swung into position to photograph the pi character. Then, when the cylinder 135 is deactivated the arm 118 will return to whatever was its previous setting, or to a new setting if such has been selected. Accordingly, it is possible with the present in vention to project a pi character at the same point size (since the optical system need not be disturbed) as any other character from the carrier or disk, and the phototypesetting operation can proceed rapidly with a minimum of delay while the special or pi character is selected. This system, therefore, lends itself to high speed operation and automatic control, as from a perforated tape or other previously prepared record.

For example, referring particularly to 'FIG. 11, a perforated tape record 150 can be read by a decoder or reader 152 of standard construction, and information thus determined from the tape can be transmitted to the character selecter 22, for the purpose previously described, and information also can be transmitted through line 153 to a font control unit 155, which may also include circuits responsive to information relating to the selection of a pi character. The pneumatic cylinders 83 and 85 can be connected to a supply line 157 of pressure fluid, such as compressed air obtained from a suitable source, and these cylinders may be connected selectively to the pressure source through conventional solenoid operated valves 158 and 159, which are controlled respectively through lines 160 and 161 from the font control unit. Thus, opening of one or the other of these valves will position the appropriate disk or 10a in the photographing position.

Similarly, line 165 is connected to control a valve 166 which in turn controls the supply of pressure air to the font selector cylinder 115, and whether or not this valve is open will determine the positioning of the font selecting prisms to select from characters on the inner or outer font row on the disk in photographing position. Also, the pi character control cylinder is connected to the pressure air source through a valve 170, having a control connection through circuit line 172 by means of which this valve may be opened to move the prisms into a position whereby the pi character in frame 139 can be photographed.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Hi h speed font selection apparatus for phototypesetting machines, comprising a character carrier having a plurality of fonts of master characters each arranged with the characters thereof at a common radial distance from an axis of said carrier and with different fonts in separate concentric pat hs, means connected to rotate said carrier continuously about said axis including a fixed mounting for said carrier maintaining said axis. in a stationary position, a light source mounted adjacent said carrier and cooperating with said carrier to illuminate by flash one character at a time and to produce an essentially stationary image of each illuminated character, optical means receiving image bearing light beams from said carrier and directing said beams along a common optical path to focus in a common plane, and font selector means operable on said optical means to move said optical means to direct image bearing light beams from any selected font into said optical means While maintaining constant the optical path in the system.

2. Font selection apparatus for phototypesetting machines, comprising the combination of a character carrier mounted for continuous rotation and having a plurality of fonts of master characters thereon, different fonts being arranged in different circles concentric with the axis of rotation of said carrier, 21 flashing source of light mounted adjacent said carrier and adapted for high intensity short duration illumination sufficient to direct a beam of light through a selected one of said master carriers to create a relatively stationary image bearing light beam, optical means associated with said carrier and said light source to receive said beams and. to focus an image of each successfully selected character in a common plane, a plurality of reflecting elements maintained a fixed distance apart and pivotally mounted as a unit to swing about a fixed axis which is aligned with said optical means and which axis extends through one of said elements, and font selector means connected to said reflecting elements and operative for selective positioning thereof in alignment with one of said font circles to direct light fromsaid source through a selected one of said character images in a selected font While maintaining said light source and the axis of rotation of said carrier in a fixed position.

3. In apparatus of the character described a rotatable character carrier having a plurality of fonts of characters formed as parts of differential light transmitting ability, each font having the characters thereof located in a circle concentric with the axis of rotation of said carrier and separate from the other fonts, means defining an optical axis along which an image bearing light beam of a selected one of said characters may be directed for recording, a flash source of light including controls therefor arranged to energize said light source for a sufficiently short duration and in such exact timing as to project a stationary image of a selected single character from a selected one of said fonts, means for directing the light from said flash source selectively toward a desired one of said font circles, and reflecting means including beam directing surfaces operative between the selected one of said fonts and said optical axis defining means to direct the image bearing light beams of selected characters in any one of said fonts into said optical axis defining means, said beam directing surfaces being mounted at fixed spacing to maintain a constant optical length between said character carrier and said optical system.

4. In apparatus of the character described a rotatable character carrier having a plurality of fonts of characters formed as parts of differential light transmitting ability, each font having the characters thereof located in a circle concentric with the axis of rotation of said carrier and separate from the other fonts, means defining an optical axis along which an image bearing light beam of a selected one of said characters may be directed for recording, a flash source of light including controls therefor arranged to energize said light source for a sufliciently short duration and in such exact timing as to project a stationary image of a selected single character from a selected one of said fonts, means for directing the light from said flash source selectively toward a desired one of said font circles, reflecting means openative between the selected one of said fonts and said optical axis defining means to direct the image bearing light beams of selected characters in any one of said fonts into said optical axis defining means while maintaining a constant optical length between said character carrier and said optical system, support means for mounting a pi character plate laterally of said character carrier, and controls operative on said reflecting means to move said reflecting means beyond said carrier and into alignment with said support means to direct an image of a pi character along said optical axis.

5. Font selection apparatus for phototypesetting machines, comprising the combination of a character carrier mountable for continuous rotation and having a plurality of fonts of character image defining portions thereon arranged in separate circles concentric with the axis of rotation of said carrier, a flash source of light mounted adjacent said carrier and adapted to emit a flash of relatively high intensity and short duration such as to direct a beam of light through a selected one of said character image defining portions to create an essentially stationary image-bearing light beam of a selected character, optical means associated with said carrier and said flash source of light to direct said image bearing light beams along a common optical path for recording thereof in the succession of character selection, said optical means including apparatus for selectively varying the size of the images projected therefrom, and font selector mechanism operable between said carrier and said optical means including reflecting elements mounted to pivot about a fixed axis which is aligned with the optical path through said optical means and adapted for selective positioning in alignment with one of said font circles to project character images from a selected font while maintaining a constant optical length between all of said font circles and the axis of said optical means.

6. In photographic type composing apparatus of the character described, the combination of a character carrier having a plurality of master characters thereon, a flash source of light mounted adjacent said carrier and adapted to emit a flash of relatively high intensity such as to direct a beam of light through a selected single master character on said carrier to create an image hearing light beam of the selected character, selector means including controls for said light source and operable to project images of single characters in selected succession, optical means associated with said carrier and said light source to direct the image bearing light beams along a common optical path for recording thereof in the succession of character selection established by said selector means, support means for mounting a master pi character adjacent said character carrier, and selectively movable reflecting means mounted adjustably to direct light from said source through said master pi character instead of through said carrier and to direct the resultant pi character image bearing light beam through said optical means for projection of a pi character image not obtainable from said character carrier.

7. In photographic type composing apparatus of the character described, the combination of a character carrier having a plurality of characters arranged in a circle thereon and including means for continuously rotating said carrier about the axis of said circle to circulate the master characters on said carrier through a photographing position, means providing a fixed mount for said carrier maintaining the axis of rotation thereof in a stationary position, a light source mounted adjacent said carrier at said photographing position and cooperating with said carrier to illuminate by flash one character at a time to produce an essentially stationary image of each illuminated character, optical means receiving image bearing light beams from said carrier and directing said beams along a common optical path to focus in a common plane, support means for mounting a master pi character laterally of said character carrier, and reflecting means operative between said light source and said optical means to direct light from said light source selectively through a selected character on said carrier and through said master pi character to direct an image of a pi character through said optical means by light emanating from said light source while maintaining the same length of optical path between said optical means and master characters selected from said carrier and/or from said master pi character.

8. In apparatus of the character described a rotatable character carrier having a plurality of fonts of characters formed as parts of differential light transmitting ability, each font having the characters thereof located in a circle concentric with the axis of rotation of said carrier and separate from the other fonts, means defining an optical axis along which an image bearing light beam of a selected one of said characters may be directed for recording, a flash source of light including controls there-for arranged to energize said light source for a sufliciently short duration and in such exact timing as to project a stationary image of a selected one of said fonts, means for directing the light from said flash source selectively toward a desired one of said font circles, reflecting means operative between the selected one of said fonts and said optical axis defining means to direct the image bearing light beams of selected characters in any one of said fonts into said optical axis defining means while mamtaining a constant optical length between said character carrier and said optical system, font selector means defining a selected position of said reflecting means, support means for mounting a pi character plate laterally of said character carrier, controls operative on said reflecting means independently of said font selector means to move said reflecting means beyond said carrier and into alignment with said support means to direct an image of a p1 character along said optical axis and to return said reflecting means to the control of said font selector means.

9. In apparatus of the character described a plurality of rotatable character carriers each having a plurality of fonts of characters formed as parts of diiferential light transmitting ability, each font having the characters thereof located in a circle concentric with the axis of rotation of the associated said carrier and separate from the other fonts, means defining an optical system having an axis along which an image bearing light beam of a selected one of said characters may be directed for recording, a flash source of light including controls therefor arranged to energize said light source for a sufliciently short duration and in such exact timing as to project a stationary image of a selected single character from a selected one of said fonts, means mounting said carriers for selective positioning in an operative position relative to said light source, means for directing the light from said flash source l. 21 1 selectively toward a desired one of said font circles on maintaining a constant optical length between said charthe carrier located in said operative position, and reflectacter carrier in operative position and said optical system.

ing means operative between the selected one of said Refgrences Cited in the file of this Patent fonts on the carrier in said operative position and said optical system to direct the image bearing light beams of 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS selected characters in any one of said fonts on the ca"- 2,180,417 Huebner Nov. 21, 1939 rier in operative position into said optical system while 2,951,428 Higonnet Sept. 6, 1960 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,099 .945 August 6, 1963 Richard C. O'Brien in the above numbered pat- It is hereby certified that error appears atent should read as ent requiring correction and that the said Letters P corrected below.

Column 1. line 64 after "situation" insert by displacing the carrier with respect to the light source, column 2 line 7, strike out "by displacing the carrier with respect to the light source,"; line 56, for "ad read and column 3, line 31, after "other" insert of column 4, lines 10 and 41, for "include" read includes column 9 line 75 for "mounted adjustably" read adjustable Signed and sealed this 3rd day of March 1964,

(SEAL) Attest:

A? J: (I Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer

Claims (1)

1. HIGH SPEED FONT SELECTION APPARATUS FOR PHOTOTYPESETTING MACHINES, COMPRISING A CHARACTER CARRIER HAVING A PLURALITY OF FONTS OF MASTER CHARACTERS EACH ARRANGED WITH THE CHARACTERS THEREOF AT A COMMON RADIAL DISTANCE FROM AN AXIS OF SAID CARRIER AND WITH DIFFERENT FONTS IN SEPARATE CONCENTRIC PATHS, MEANS CONNECTED TO ROTATE SAID CARRIER CONTINUOUSLY ABOUT SAID AXIS INCLUDING A FIXED MOUNTING FOR SAID CARRIER MAINTAINING SAID AXIS IN A STATIONARY POSITION, A LIGHT SOURCE MOUNTED ADJACENT SAID CARRIER AND COOPERATING WITH SAID CARRIER TO ILLUMINATE BY FLASH ONE CHARACTER AT A TIME AND TO PRODUCE AN ESSENTIALLY STATIONARY IMAGE OF EACH ILLUMINATED CHARACTER, OPTICAL MEANS RECEIVING IMAGE BEARING LIGHT BEAMS FROM SAID CARRIER AND DIRECTING SAID BEAMS ALONG A COMMON OPTICAL PATH TO FOCUS IN A COMMON PLANE, AND FONT SELECTOR MEANS OPERABLE ON SAID OPTICAL MEANS TO MOVE SAID OPTICAL MEANS TO DIRECT IMAGE BEARING LIGHT BEAMS FROM ANY SELECTED FONT INTO SAID OPTICAL MEANS WHILE MAINTAINING CONSTANT THE OPTICAL PATH IN THE SYSTEM.

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