US3226017A - Dual indicator attachment for phototypographical machines - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 28, 1965 H. FINGERLOS 3,225,017

DUAL INDICATOR ATTACHMENT FOR PHOTOTYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES Filed July 15, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 POINT SIZE POINT 5 99 FILM FILM N E ADVANCE 2 I I IE 22 1:! c4] 2.?

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ERNEST H. Fmqanos Dec. 28, 1965 H. FINGERLOS DUAL INDICATOR ATTACHMENT FOR PHOTOTYPOGRAPHICAL MACHINES Filed July 15, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 EVER FRESH FROZEN PEAS KEYBOARD APPARATUS i T KEYBOARD Saw-me, MEcH.

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INVENTOR. %EST H. FIN skLos BY Z United States Patent 3,226,017 DUAL INDICATOR ATTACHMENT FUR PHOTOTYPOGRAPHKCAL MACHINES Ernest H. Fingerlos, San Rafael, Calif., assignor to Eltra Corporation, a corporation of New York Filed July 15, 1963, Ser. No. 295,139 2 Claims. (Cl. 234-5) This invention relates to phototypographical machines especially those in which a line of text material is composed at a keyboard. More particularly the invention relates to apparatus which facilitates the keyboarding of certain specialized composition such as food store advertisernents.

The apparatus of the present invention may be used to advantage in a keyboard machine of the type disclosed in United States Patents Nos. 2,848,049 and 3,056,545, wherein various means are provided for the keyboard op erator to control the line length of a justified line, the point size of the image to be photographed and the amount of film advance as between successive lines of type. Once these controls are effected by the setting of appropriate dials, a record button is depressed and the point size and film advance information is recorded on a perforated control tape. When this information is decoded in the photographic unit of the system, the optical components of the unit are automatically set to provide the proper point size of the recorded character images and thefilm magazine is automatically set to provide the right amount of film advance for successive lines of character images. The line length setting is effective within the keyboard unit to control the extent of line composition and to enable the computation of justification, quad right and centering information, which information is coded on the control tape for each composed line.

In normal text composition the line length, point size and film advance settings are made and the keyboard operator then proceeds to compose the text material without further reference to the various setting dials. However, when composing food store advertisements, for example, it is necessary for the operator to continually change the setting dials. This requirement stems from the fact that an advertised item in food store advertisements quite often contains type of three different point sizes arranged in juxtaposition. Thus it has been necessary for the operator to set the dials, compose one or two words, reset the dials, compose one or two more words, reset the dials, and compose one or two more words, all to obtain a single food store advertisement. The next advertisement would involve the same procedure with the dials again being reset in the same sequence. Thus, it is clear that in such type work a considerable amount of time and energy is spent in a repetitive non-productive effort.

It is to obviate such effort that the apparatus embodying the present invention is provided.

In carrying out the invention there is provided a plurality of groups of setting dials, each group comprising a line length dial, a point size dial, and a film advance dial, and a selector switch for switching a group of dials into operative relationship with the remainder of the keyboard apparatus. In use, the operator will set one group of dials to accord with the line length, point size and film advance for one group of type characters in the advertisement, the second group of dials to accord with the line length, point size and film advance for the second group of characters in the advertisement and the third group of dials to accord with the line length, point size and film advance for the third group of characters in the advertisement. Then, it is not necessary for the operator to reset dials before composing each group of characters but only to actuate the selector switch to bring the appropriate pre-set group of dials into operation.

Features and advantages of this invention will be gained from the foregoing and from the description of a preferred embodiment thereof which follows.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an auxiliary panel comprising two groups of setting mechanisms according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a typical food store advertisement that is composed on a keyboard embodying the present invent1on;

FIG. 3a is an enlarged view of one entry in the food store advertisement;

FIG. 3b is a view illustrating the first step in the composition of the advertisement;

FIG. 30 is a view illustrating the second step in the composition of the advertisement;

FIG. 3d is a view illustrating the third step in the composition of the advertisement; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram illustrating the incorporation of the groups of setting mechanisms into the keyboard apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows an auxiliary panel 10 that is adapted to be placed atop the keyboard shown in FIG. 1 of US. Patent No. 3,056,545. The panel comprises a plurality of dials for setting the keyboard apparatus in accordance with a selected point size, film advance and justified line length.

When the point size dial and the film advance dial are set, the settings do not directly affect the operation of the keyboard unit but rather when a record button is depressed, the information corresponding to the dial settings is recorded on the perforated control tape. The control tape then can control certain components of the photographic unit to insure that character images are photographed in the proper point size and that the film is advanced the proper distance between lines. In a single unit machine where the keyboard and the photographic units are integral the dial settings will directly control the appropriate machine components. In any event, the point size and film advance determinations must be made by the keyboard operator and set into the mechanism before the beginning of keyboard composition of text material. Also, these factors may be changed from time to time in the course of composition.

The line length setting dial will set the keyboard apparatus for a selected justified line length. In the keyboard apparatus disclosed in the aforementioned patent, the line length is set in ems and units-of-an-em and so will be determined by the absolute line length measured in picas and points and the point size in which the characters are to be imaged on the film. By way of example, if the absolute line length is 11 /2 picas (11 picas 6 points) and the point size is 8 points, and the line length in ems and units will be 17 ems and 5 units. For the same absolute line length, but for a point size of 10 points, the line length will be 13 ems and 14 units, there being in all cases 18 units to an em.

The information represented by the line length setting is directly usable in the keyboard apparatus since it conditions the line length visual indicator mechanism and the computer mechanism which determines the justification answer for each composed line. The computer mechanism also provides a quad right answer and a centering answer when required, all in accordance with the teachings of the aforementioned patent. Consequently, there is no need to reiterate the description with regard to the particular mechanisms employed to perform these functions.

Turning now to the present invention, attention will be directed to FIG. 2 which shows a typical food store advertisement. Each advertised item will be seen to comprise composition of three different point sizes. For example, in the first item shown ever fresh frozen, ozs., and pkgs, are of one point size, peas is of a second point size, and 2 and 25 are of a third point size.

Referring again to the advertisement for peas, FIGS. 3a to 3d illustrate how the advertisement is composed at the keyboard. In the first place, the smaller point size items are composed first as in FIG. 36. The first line ever fresh frozen is keyboarded and quadded left. The film is advanced and the second line 10 ozs. is keyboarded and centered. The film is again advanced and the third line pkgs. is keyboarded and centered. The next larger point size words are next keyboarded. Thus, peas will be keyboarded and quadded left. Lastly, 2, several quad spaces (as determined by the operator), and 25 are keyboarded and quadded right. Heretofore, before keyboarding the text material of a point size it was incumbent on the operator to reset the various dials. Thus it is clear that in a single advertisement such as the one just described, the operator will generally spend more time in setting dials than in composing the advertising material. Also, it should be kept in mind that What was described is a single advertisement and a full page layout comprises a good many individual advertisements.

The invention will be described in operational detail with respect to the above mentioned advertisement using actual sizes. It will be assumed that the advertisement is 30 picas in length and that it will be composed in 8, 18 and 24 point type.

The operator will in the first instance keyboard the information 10 ozs. without recording the information. This is done to determine the width of this type. It will be assumed to be 2 picas in width. The operator then determines the distance of the center of this type from the left hand margin. This will be approximately 24 picas. Thereupon the operator sets the first group of dials as follows. The point size dial 111 is set for 8 points. The film advance dials 12 and 13 are set for 8 points film advance and the line length dials are set for 2 times 24 picas or 48 picas for a reason that will hereinafter be apparent. The 48 picas converts at 8 points to 72 ems 0 units. Thus dial 14 is set to 7; dial 15 is set to 2; and dial 16 is set to 0.

The second group of dials (those located on the keyboard and not shown) which are identical to those just described, will be set as follows. The point size dial will be set to 18 points, the film advance dials to 2 points, and the line length dials to 30 picas or at 18 points, 20 ems.

The third group of dials will be set as follows. The point size dial 21 will be set to 24 points, the film advance dials 22 and 23 to 4 points and the line length dials 24, 25 and 26 to 30 picas, or at 24 points, 15 ems.

The conversions from picas to ems and units for various point sizes are available from a chart that is furnished with each keyboard apparatus. Also, the appropriate film advances for various combinations of point sizes that may be mixed for food store advertisements have been predetermined and are available to operators.

Having thus arranged the various dial settings, the operator is ready to begin composition of the advertisements. Selector switch 30 is turned to point to left unit which has been set for 8 point composition. Then record button 31 is depressed on the information set by the point size dial 11 and the film advance dials 12 and 13 is recorded on the perforated control tape. The computer mechanism within the keyboard mechanism is set for a line length of 72 ems in accordance with the setting of dials 14, 15 and 16.

The operator then keyboards the text ever fresh frozen and presses the quad left button (not shown) on the keyboard apparauts. This completes one line. He then keyboards 10 ozs. and presses the center button (not shown) but also on the keyboard apparatus. He then keyboards the text pkgs. and again presses the center button. When the information is thus coded on the perforated tape, the characters will be imaged in the photographic unit as shown in FIG. 3b.

The operator then flicks the selector switch 30 to the vertical position as shown and depresses record button 31. Immediately the point size information and the film advance information set in the second group of dials is recorded on the control tape and the computer mechanism of the keyboard apparatus is set for a line length of 20 ems. The operator keyboards the word peas and presses the quad left button. In this way the text shown in FIG. 30 is photographed in the photographic unit of the system.

The operator then flicks the selector switch 30 to point to right unit which represents the settings for the 24 point text material. He depresses the record button 31 and the point size information 24 is coded on the control tape as is the film advance information 4. The computer mechanism is reset for a line length of 15 ems. The operator then keyboards the number 2, approximately 3 picas or 1 /2 ems of quad spaces, 25, and depresses the quad right button (not shown) provided on the keyboard apparatus. This results in the text shown in FIG. 3d being produced in the photographic unit.

The operator then returns the selector switch 30 to left unit and depresses the record button 31 to again code the point size and film advance information set by that group of dials in the control tape. He then keyboards Millers and depresses the quad left button. He then keyboards the word for and depresses the center button. Since there is no third line of the small point size, he will keyboard a quad space and depress the quad left button to get the proper film advance. He then flicks the selector switch 30 to the vertical position, depresses the record button 31 to record on the tape the point size and film advance information for the next text material. He then keyboards canned milk and depresses the quad left button. The selector switch 30 is then pointed to right unit and the information represented by those dials is recorded. The operator then keyboards 2, approximately 3 picas or 1 /2 ems of quad spaces and 27, and depresses the quad right button.

The process is continued for the remainder of the advertisements. It is thus clear that'complicated advertising matter can be set very readily merely by flicking a switch that selectively brings into operation various groups of pre-set dials, thus obviating the need to re-set a single group of dials before composing text material of a different point size and on different line measures.

FIG. 4 schematically illustrates that three complete separate sets of dials, each of which accords with the corresponding dials shown in the aforementioned patents, are provided and that they are selectively connected to the keyboard apparatus as selector switch 30 is actuated.

Having thus disclosed my invention, many different modes of use and application will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art and many changes and apparently different embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it is intended that what is shown and described be interpreted as illustrative rather than in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In or for a keyboard machine which controls the operation of a phototypographical composing machine, said machine having a justification computing mechanism and a group of machine controls including means for setting said justification mechanism to accord with a selected justified line length, film advance setting means and point size setting means, the improvement which comprises, in combination therewith, a second group of machine controls including second means for setting said justification computing mechanism to accord with a selected justified line length, second film advance setting means, and second point size setting means, means for operatively connecting in the keyboard machine one of the groups of machine controls, and manually operable means for causing signals representative of the settings of the operatively connected film advance setting means and the point size setting means to be stored in a memory.

2. In or for a keyboard machine which Controls the operation of a phototypographical composing machine, said machine having a justification computing mechanism and a group of machine controls including means for setting said justification mechanism to accord with a selected justified line length, film advance setting means, and point size setting means, the improvement which comprises, in combination therewith, a plurality of groups of machine controls, each group including additional means for setting said justification computing mechanism to accord with a selected justified line length, addition film ad- References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,056,545 10/1962 Donahue et al. 234-4 3,083,897 4/1963 Vierling et al 234-5 3,106,336 10/1963 Dirks 234-5 WILLIAM W. DYER, JR., Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM S. LAWSON, Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN OR FOR A KEYBOARD MACHINE WHICH CONTROLS THE OPERATION OF A PHOTOTYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINE, SAID MACHINE HAVING A JUSTIFICATION COMPUTING MECHANISM AND A GROUP OF MACHINE CONTROLS INCLUDING MEANS FOR SETTING SAID JUSTIFICATION MECHANISM TO ACCORD WITH A SELECTED JUSTIFIED LINE LENGTH, FILM ADVANCE SETTING MANS AND POINT SIZE SETTING MEANS, THE IMPROVEMENT WHICH COMPRISES, IN COMBINATION THEREWITH, A SECOND GROUP OF MACHINE CONTROLS INCLUDING SECOND MEANS FOR SETTING SAID JUSTIFICATION COMPUTING MECHANISM TO ACCORD WITH A SELECTED JUSTIFIED LINE LENGTH, SECOND FILM ADVANCE SETTING MEANS, AND SECOND POINT SIZE SETTING MEANMS, MEANS FOR OPERATIVELY CONNECTING IN THE KEYBOARD MACHINE ONE OF THE GROUPS OF MACHINE CONTROLS, AND MANUALLY OPERABLE MEANS FOR CAUSING SIGNALS REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SETTINGS OF THE OPERATIVELY CONNECTED FILM ADVANCE SETTING MEANS AND THE POINT SIZE SETTING MEANS TO BE STORED IN A MEMORY.

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