US3354779A

US3354779A - Apparatus for photographically composing advertisements in column format from advertisements on individual cards

Info

Publication number: US3354779A
Application number: US566951A
Authority: US
Inventors: Robert N Brown
Original assignee: Eltra Corp
Current assignee: Allied Corp
Priority date: 1966-07-21
Filing date: 1966-07-21
Publication date: 1967-11-28
Anticipated expiration: 1984-11-28

Description

Nov. 28, 1967 R. N. BROWN 3,354,779

APPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAPHICALLY COMPOSING ADVERTISEMENTS IN IN COLUMN FORMAT FROM ADVERTISEMENTS ON INDIVIDUAL CARDS Original Filed July 16, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

f w 7 INVENTOR. flab 3Q ROBERT N. BROWN fwmwwww 1967 R. N BROWN APPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAPHICALLY COMPOSING ADVERTISEMENTS IN IN COLUMN FORMAT FROM ADVERTISEMENTS ON INDIVIDUAL CARDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed July 16, 1963 INVENTOR. ROBERT N. BROWN wmsw ma Nov. 28, 1967 R. N. BROWN 3,354,779

APPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAPHICALLY COMFOSING ADVERTISEMENTS IN IN COLUMN FORMAT FROM ADVERTISEMENTS ON INDIVIDUAL CARDS Original Filed July 16, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet A /20 L HI H0 76 7 I b "2 H5 IO H6 INVENTOR. ROBERT N. BROWN Nov. 28, 1967 R. N. BROWN 7 APPARATUS FOR PHOTOGRAPHICALLY COMPOSING ADVERTISEMENTS IN IN COLUMN FORMAT FROM ADVERTISEMENTS ON INDIVIDUAL CARDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed July 16, 1963 E 2H3 IOU-T l l i Fig. 6.

XMLOM United States Patent Cfiice 3,354,? Patented Nov. 28, 196'? APPARATUS FGR PHUTOGRAPHICALLY CUM- POSING ADVERTESEMENTS EN COLUMN FER- MAT FRGM ADVERTISEMENTS N INDIVID- UAL CARDS Robert N. Brown, Columbus, Ind, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Eltra Corporation, Brooklyn, N.Y., a corporation of New York Qontinuation of application Ser. No. 295,474, July 16, 1963. This application July 21, 1966, Scr. No. 566,951

7 Qlaims. (Cl. 8$-24) ABSTRAQT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus is disclosed for photographically arranging classified advertisements of various lengths in column format with individual advertisements abutting one another. Advertisements are mounted on separate cards, coded to indicate the length of the advertisement. The cards are moved continuously through a photographic station Where code reading means are provided to control a means responsive to the code which in turn actuates a driving means to move an amount of sensitized paper through an imaging station in accordance with the length of the advertisement on the card and in synchronism with the movement of the card.

This application is a continuation of my application Ser. No. 295,474, filed July 16, 1963, and now abandoned.

The present invention relates to apparatus for arranging and organizing information and finds particular utility as a method and apparatus for composing classified ads.

Since the invention of cold type or photographic composition of newspapers, one of the most baffling problems in this field has been the composition of a classified advertising page. Cold type lends itself itself well to conventional news make-up and is particularly well suited for display ads inasmuch as small units are usually stuck together to make units big enough to handle easily. On the other hand, classified ads are frequently as short as three lines, are usually as narrow as one column and are usually run repeatedly in the newspaper. As new ads are added to the classified section and as old ads are deleted therefrom, a given classified ad usually appears in a different position on the page each day.

Also, classified ads require classification headings set in a bolder type and hairline separation rules which must 'be inserted between the individual ads. The repeated handling of these ads as individual pieces of paper is difficult and does not produce a uniform end result. The ads become damaged by repeatedly attaching and detaching them from the full-page make-up sheet. Furthermore, it is virtually impossible to secure accurate alignment of the ads in this manner and as a result, the completed page has an uneven appearance. Various solutions have been suggested for the present problem Without complete success.

Consequently, one object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus for arranging and organizing information.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide improved apparatus for handling and composing classified ads.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for composing classified ads in such a manner as to improve alignment and to provide a more even appearance in the completed newspaper page.

Related objects and advantages will become apparent as the description proceeds.

One example of the apparatus of the present invention comprises a card conveyor, a card supply station, a card receiving station and a plurality of cards received in said card supply station. Each of the cards has a first and second aperture therethrough on opposite sides of the card. The apertures actuate sensing means which cause the length of an ad adhered to the card to be added to provide a cumulative total of all the ads on the cards moving on the conveyor. The photo-sensitive means is also used to control a camera for sequentially recording the ads on a roll of film.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a composing apparatus constructed according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal, vertical, fragmentary, enlarged sectional view taken through the apparatus of FIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken along the line 33 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged horizontal section taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a card used for carrying an ad in the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an electrical schematic diagram of the electrical circuit of the device of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged front elevation of an indicating apparatus forming a part of the structure of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a section taken along the line 88 of FIG. 7 in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a completed classified section such as might be prepared by the use of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of certain alternative apparatus which might be used in the present invention.

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawing and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, it should be understood that in general the present invention involves the placing of an ad such as the ad 10 (FIG. 5) upon a card 11. This ad is placed on the card after either typing or after being composed by other methods. The card 11 is provided with two

apertures

12 and 13. Assuming that the end 15 of the ad is the top of the ad and that the end 16 is the bottom of the ad, and that the composition is carried out from the top to the bottom of the page, the aperture 13 is used to actuate photographing and indicating apparatus and the aperture 12 is used to deactivate said photographing and indicating apparatus. The card 11 is carried by a transport system or conveyor 17 through an optical scanning and lighting apparatus 20 which projects the image of the ad onto photographic paper or film 21 by means of a lens and prism system 22. The movement of the photographic paper is carefully coordinated with the movement of the card 11 for a reason that will become evident and in a manner described below.

The above operation produces a roll of photographic paper with each ad sequentially recorded thereon. Classification headings can be placed on the photographic paper by placing the headings on separate cards which are placed in proper order between the cards carryingthe ads thereon. The apparatus disclosed in FIGS. 1-8 operates not only to produce a roll of photographic film with the ads sequentially recorded thereon but also to produce a measurement of the total length of all ads which have been processed through the machine.

This measuring component of the present apparatus can be used simultaneously with the photographing component or preferably is used prior to the photographing component. The information produced by this measuring component can be used to determine whether spaces should be placed between the various classifications or individual ads and the size of those spaces. Alternatively, this information can be used to determine whether the length of the column should be stretched or compressed in a manner to be described below.

Referring now to Fig. 9, an example of a page of classified ads is shown at as including a number of display ads 31 and as also including a number of

columns

32, 33 and 34 of classified ads. It will be noted that the

columns

32 and 34, for example, are of different length. Consequently, the total length of a roll of photographic film carrying the ads must correspond to the total length of the space provided in, for example,

column

32 or 34. Obviously, the roll of film for the column 32 Will be longer than the roll of film for the column 34. Thus, the total length of the ads appearing in the column must be equal to the space provided. This invention contemplates placing the ads for a column on a length or a roll of film and the use of said roll in conventional photographic page make- Usually, the length of the ads range anywhere from three lines on up. In one embodiment of the present invention, a decision is first made as to the number of ads that will be used in a given column. When the total length of these ads as they appear on the cards is added together, a figure is provided which may or may not be exactly the length desired in the column as it appears on the page. In one embodiment of the present invention, this is corrected by photographing the ads in such a manner that the column is stretched slightly or in other words is magnified longitudinally of the column. The apparatus for performing this feature of the invention is described in detail below.

Another way of handling the problem of making the total length of the ads equal to the total length of the column would be to insert spaces, for example, on either side of the

classification headings

35 and 36 in column 32 or above and below the individual ads. These spaces can be automatically inserted by electronic apparatus not shown herein.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, there is illustrated apparatus including a housing and frame 40. Mounted upon the frame is a card hopper 41 within which a plurality of the cards 11 are received. One example of the invention has been illustrated as including a plurality of groups 42 of cards. Each of the groups 42 might represent all of the ads under a particular classification heading or all of the ads in a given column such as the

column

32, 33 or 34. These groups are separated by suitable dividers 45 which clamp on the flanges 46 of the hopper 41 and extend into the hopper to separate the groups.

Each of the cards 11 are removed individually from the hopper 41 by means of a vacuum operated plunger 47. Mounted upon the frame 40 is a bearing 50 within which is reciprocably received the plunger 47. The plunger has a rubber cup 51 mounted on its upper end. The cup has a vacuum passage 52 extending therethrough, said vacuum passage registering with vacuum passage 55 in the plunger itself. The stroke of the plunger is limited by limit elements 56 and 57, the limit element 56 being fixed to the plunger by suitable setscrew and the limit 57 being integral with the plunger.

Vacuum is provided to the suction cup 51 through a vacuum line 59, this action occuring when the plunger is in its uppermost position and is engaging the lowermost card 11 in the lowermost group 42 of cards. It will be noted that a suitable Weight 58 rests upon the group of cards 42 and urges them into contact with limit flanges 60' formed on the lower end of the hopper 41. The bearing 50 also has a port 65 therethrough which ports the passage 55 to atmosphere when the plunger is in its lowermost position thereby releasing the card for travel on the conveyor or transport 17.

The plunger 47 is raised and lowered by the cam 66 which is eccentrically mounted upon a shaft 67 rotatab-ly mounted within a suitable bearing 70 secured to the frame 40. The shaft 67 is driven through a gear train (not shown) which positively connects the shaft to a drive shaft 71 of a suitable electric motor 72 (FIG. 6). The drive shaft 71 is also connected to a drive roller 75 about which is received a pair of belts 76. Mounted upon the belts is a plurality of card-engaging brackets 77 which engage the cards deposited on the belts by the plunger 47 for moving the cards along the card transport 17. The brackets 77 are spaced in such a manner that for each revolution of the cam 66, a bracket 77 passes the card hopper whereby the plunger 47 withdraws a card from the hopper for movement with each of the brackets 77.

The card transport 17 further includes a plurality of idler rollers 80 which are mounted on shafts 81 rotatably received within suitable bearings 82 fixed to the frame 40. The card transport further includes a receiving hopper 79 at the opposite end of the transport 17 from the hopper 41.

The card transport 17 moves the cards sequentially to and beneath a box or lighthouse 85 (FIG. 2) fixed to the frame 40 and forming a part of the optical scanning and lighting apparatus 20. Mounted within the lighthouse 85 is a pair of

light bulbs

86 and 87. Also mounted within the lighthouse 85 is a pair of

switches

90 and 91 housed within a single casing 92 fixed to frame 40. The switch 90 has an actuating arm 95 which is spaced closer to the hopper 41 than is the actuating arm 96 of the switch 91. In order for the

lights

86 and 87 to be turned on, the card 11 must be engaging both

the'arms

95 and 96 and forcing them into the upward position illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

When the

lights

86 and 87 are ignited, they can actuate photo-

cells

100 and 101 depending upon the position of the card 11. As mentioned above, the card 11 is provided with

apertures

12 and 13. The aperture 13 first passes above the photocell 100 permitting actuation thereof by the light 86 through the various openings 102 in the lighthouse 85 and the openings 103 and 104 in guide brackets 105' and 106, respectively. The photo-cell 101 may be actuated by the light 87 when the aperture 12 is in registry therewith and is also registering with

apertures

110, 111 and 112 in the lighthouse 85 and the

brackets

115 and 116, respectively. The

brackets

105, 106, 112 and 116, are fixed in any suitable manner to the frame 40 and function to guide the cards as they move along the transport 17.

A lens and prism system 22 is also fixed to the frame 40 and includes a housing within which is received the lens 126 mounted within member 127 which also has mounted therein aperture-providing member 130. The member 127 is secured upon and in registry with the upper end of a light conduit 131 Within which is mounted a prism 132. The light which passes through the lens 126 from the ad 10 on the lower surface of the card 11 is reflected by the prism 132 leftwardly as viewed in FIG. 2 toward an aperture 135 in a camera housing 136 which contains the photo-sensitive film 21. The aperture 135 is controlled by a conventional electrically operated shutter (not shown in FIG. 2 but indicated at 136 in FIG. 6) Also mounted within the housing 125 is a pair of

lights

137 and 140 which throw light on the ad 11 faciltating photographing thereof. These lights are turned on and turned off simultaneously with the

lights

86 and 87.

The photographic film 21 is wound upon a supply reel 141 received upon a shaft 142 rotatably mounted upon the housing 136. Preferably suitable weak braking means is provided for resisting rotation of the reel 141. The film 21 passes over

idler rollers

145 and 146, thence over a drive roller 147 downwardly to suitable apparatus 150 for developing the roll of film. A cutter 149 is reciprocal on the frame 40 for cutting off film when desired.

Apparatus 150 is fixed to the frame 48 and includes a developer tank 151 and a fixer tank 152 and a wash tank 153. The film 21 is guided through the various tanks by a serpentine guide 155 and part-cylindrical guides 156. One or more of the various rollers 157 is operatively connected to the'drive roller 147 in order to move the film. Preferably, the rollers 157 do not have sprockets so that trimming of sprocket holes in the film is not later necessary. However, in view of the wet nature of the film, it may be necessary to provide drive sprockets such as sprockets 160 on rollers 159 which sprockets would engage sprocket holes in the sides of the film.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is further provided a shaft 165 having grooved rollers 166 mounted thereon. The rollers are driven by the belt 76 and in turn drive the shaft 165 which is rotatably mounted within bearings 167 fixed to the frame 40. At the opposite end of the shaft 165, is fixed a sprocket gear 170 which meshes with a beveled gear 171 fixed to a shaft 172 rotatable within bearing 173 fixed to the frame 40.

A magnetic clutch 17 5 has one portion 175A thereof secured to the shaft 172 and another portion 175B thereof secured to the shaft 176 which is rotatably mounted within bearings 177 fixed to the frame 40. A frusto-conical member 180 is fixed to the shaft 176 and has an external sur face 181 whichis parallel to a shaft 182 having a square shaped cross sectional portion 185. A' wheel 186 is provided with a centrally located square shaped opening through which extends the portion 185 of the shaft 182. The wheel 186 is retained between the legs 187 of a yoke 190 having a threaded aperture therethrough, said aperture receiving a threaded portion 191 of a shaft 192.

The shaft 182 has its opposite ends rotatably mounted in bearings 195 and is suitably coupled to the drive wheel 147 of the camera. The shaft 192 is rotatably mountedwithin bearings 196 secured to the frame 41 and may be rotated to move the wheel 186 longitudinally on the shaft 182. Such rotation of shaft 192 is accomplished by a crank 197. The shaft 192 is geared by sprocket gears 200 and 201 to an indicating apparatus 202 upon which can be read the setting or position of the wheel 186.

The purpose of the crank 197 is to make possible adjustment of the rate of movement of the film 21 rela tive to the rate of movement of the card transport 17. In this manner, the column 34 of classified ads can be stretched orcompressed slightly to perfectly fit the space provided on the newspaper page. Of course, it is desirable that the actual total length of the ads be known before the crank 197 is set at a desired position. If the actual length of the ads in the column is known and if the length of the column space provided is known, the percentage of shrinking or stretching necessary can be calculated. The indicator 202 is calibrated in percentage of compression or percentage of stretching so that the apparatus can be set to produce a roll of film having the desired ads thereon and having the desired length for the space provided on the newspaper page.

As mentioned, it is desirable that the actual length of the ads to appear in the column be known. Assume, for example, that one of the groups 42 of cards will make up one complete column or alternatively assume that it is desired to decide how many ads should appear in a column. The present apparatus can be used to measure the length of the ads without operating the photographing portion of the apparatus.

Referring to FIG. 4, there is illustrated an electromagnetic clutch 205 which has one portion 205A thereof secured to a roller 206 rotatably mounted upon the frame and engaging one of the transport belts 76. The other portion 2058 of the electromagnetic clutch is secured to a shaft 207 which extends forwardly through the front of the frame 41) and is connected to an indicator 210. A dial 211 is mounted for manual rotation upon the frame 40 and can be positioned at various positions through 360. The dial 211 is calibrated in units of distance such as, for example, inches. Mounted upon the dial 211 is a limit switch 212 which is in series with the motor 72. The indicator 21d and the dial 211 can be used to indicate the total length of the ads which have passed the photo-cells and also can be used to shut off the apparatus when a desired length of cards has passed the photo-cells. This shutting-off operation occurs as a result of the opening of the limit switch 212 upon engagement by a protuberance 215 upon the indicator 210.

Referring now more particularly to the electrical schematic drawing of FIG. -6, the device is provided with a power source 225 and with an on-off switch 226. When the switch 226 is closed, the

lines

227 and 230 are provided with power for activation of the various components of the apparatus. Connected across the

lines

227 and 230 is the transport drive motor 72, the switch 212 being in series with the motor 72. The switch 212 is normally closed and is not actuated unless the protuberance 215 engages the actuating arm of the switch 212.

The electromagnetic clutch 205 is connected by a line 231 to the line 227 and is connected in series with a switch 232 and with a pair of

switches

235 and 236. The switch 237 is in parallel with the switch 236 and functions with its coil 240 as a locking-in switch for the circuit through the switch 235. A pair of

coils

241 and 242 are in parallel with one another and are connected between the

lines

227 and 230 and are each in parallel with a respective photo-cell 1G1 and 100.

It will be evident that the operation of the measuring portion of the device is accomplished by placing the switch 245 in engagement with the terminal 246. This disengages the switch arm 245 from the terminal 247 and prevents operation of the shutter 136 of the camera or operation of the magnetic clutch 175 and thus prevents movement of the film 21 in the camera. Each time a card moves beneath the switch arms and 96 pushing them upwardly, the switches 96) and 91 are closed igniting the

lights

86 and 87. As the aperture 13 of the card moves beneath the light 86, the photo-cell 1% is actuated causing the switch 236 to be closed by the coil 24-2.

Closing of the switch 236 energizes the coil 240 and locks in the switch 237 so that the magnetic clutch 285 is maintained energized. Thus, the shaft 207 is rotated causing the indicator 210 to also rotate. Such rotation proceeds until the photo-cell 101 is actuated by the light -87. Such actuation energizes the solenoid 241 opening the switch 235 which breaks the circuit to magnetic clutch 205 and thus stops rotation of the indicator 210. Also, the locking-in switch 237 is opened as a result of the deenergization of the coil 24f Consequently, even though the switch 235 instantaneously closes, the circuit to the magnetic clutch 205 remains broken. This procedure will be repeated each time a card passes between the lights and photo-cells and will continue until either the apparatus has indicated the length desired and the machine shut off by the switch 226 or until the switch 212 is opened by the protuberance 215.

At this point, it should be mentioned that it may be desirable to break up long ads and to place the various portions thereof on a plurality of cards in order that a convenient way is provided for terminating the end of the column. In any event, it can be seen that the present device can be shut off when a group of cards carrying ads of desired total length has been collected. Also, the machine'operator is informed as to the total ad length.

Assuming now that a plurality of cards have been measured as to their total ad length, thesecards may make up a single one of the groups 42 and may again be placed in the receiving hopper 41. Of course, all of the cards that move along the transport 17 pass into the receiving hopper '70 (FIG. 1) located at the end of the card transport and can be easily removed at that point. The switch 245 is then manually moved so that it engages the terminal 247. If it is desired to simultaneously photograph and measure the length of the column, the. switch 232 can be closed so that the magnetic clutch 205 is operated simultaneously with the magnetic clutch 275 and the shutter 136. The cutter 149 might be automatically operated by the switch 212 when the total ad length for a column has been completed as a further alternative of the invention. However, at this point, the operation of photography alone will be described.

Switch 232 is opened and the main switch 226 is closed providing energization across the

lines

227 and 230. The motor 72 drives the transport and the cards 11 are automatically withdrawn from the supply hopper as the plunger 47 is moved up and down by the cam. As each card moves into the box 85-, the

switches

90 and 91 are actuated causing the

lights

86, 87, 137 and 140 to be turned on. In a similar fashion to that above described, the photo-cell 100 energizes

solenoids

242 and 240 when the

apertures

103, 13 and 104 are in alignment. Switch 245, however, is engaging the terminal 246 causing the magnetic clutch 175 to be energized and causing the shutter 136 to be opened.

Energization of the magnetic clutch 175 causes the belts 76 to drive the drive roller 147 through the grooved rollers 166, the shaft 165, gears 170 and 171, shaft 172, frusto-conical member 180, wheel 186 and shaft 182. The

lights

137 and 140 illuminate the ad 10 as it passes through the box 85 and over the lens 126. Consequently, a moving image is thrown onto the film 21, the shutter 136 including the aperture 135 being open. The speed of movement of the film past the aperture 135 is determined by the setting of the wheel 186 on the frusto-conical member 180. This setting is made by the crank 197 positioning the indicator 202 at the desired amount of shortening or lengthening of the film.

As the film moves past the aperture 135, it is also driven by one or more of the rollers 157 in the film developing apparatus 150. The rollers 157 preferably are provided with a separate drive means other than the motor 72 so that the film remains in the various tanks for the proper amount of time to produce a proper developing action. When the card 11 has moved rightwardly a sufficient distance so that the aperture 12 moves into registry with the

apertures

110, 111, and 112, the light 87 actuates the photo-cell 101 opening the switch 235 breaking the circuit to the solenoid 240 which is thereby deenergized. Deenergization of the solenoid 240 opens the switch 237 so that even though the switch 235 instantaneously recloses the circuit through the shutter 136 and the magnetic clutch 175 has been broken. Consequently, the shutter and the magnetic clutch 175 do not again operate until the next card 11 with its aperture 13 reactuates the shutter and magnetic clutch 175. The above described operation is then repeated.

It will be evident that the exposed film 21 will carry sequential images of the various ads moving through the apparatus. After developing and trimming, if necessary, the film can be used as a part of the make-up for a newspaper classified ad page.

In FIG. 10, there is illustrated an alternative embodiment of the invention which includes a receptacle 300 having

sides

301, 302 and 303 projecting from three of the four edges of the back member 305. The two

sides

301 and 302 have inwardly projecting

flanges

306 and 307, one of which 306 carries calibrations 308 indicating the distance from the side 303. A plurality of classified ads 310 are mounted on blocks 311 so that the ads are exposed between the

flanges

306 and 307. The total length of the ads is indicated by the calibrations 308.

The arrangement of FIG. 10. could be used in a photographing device such as has been above described. The photographing device would be modified somewhat so that the apparatus of FIG. 1'0 could be moved upon the transport such as 17. The photographing operation would be used to stretch or compress the final length of the ads on the photographic film.

It will be evident from the above description that the present invention provides an improved method and apparatus. for arranging and organizing information. It will also be evident that the present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for handling and composing classified ads in such a manner as to improve the alignment and to provide a more even appearance in the completed newspaper page. The present invention also has the advantage of reducing the number of persons necessary to prepare the make-up for the. classified ad page of the newspaper.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing. description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the claims are also desired to be. protected.

What is. claimed is:

1. Apparatus for composing and arranging classified advertisements of variable lengths in a column format with individual advertisements abutting one another, which advertisements are individually mounted on separate cards that are coded to indicate the length of the advertisement, said apparatus comprising a photographic station through which advertisement bearing cards are passed, an imaging station through which sensitized material for receiving images of the advertisement is passed, means including an optical system and a source of illumination for projecting an image of the advertisement on a card moving through the photographic station onto sensitized material moving through the imaging station, continuously driven conveyor means for carrying an individual card uninterruptedly through said photographic station, intermittently actuated driving means for moving sensitized material through said imaging station, means for reading the card coding as the card is carried through said photographic station, and control means responsive to said code reading means for actuating said driving means to move a specific amount of sensitized material continuously through said imaging station in synchronism with the movement of a card through said photographic station, whereby the specific amount of sensitized material being moved through the imaging station is variable and dependent on the length of the advertisement on the card moving through the photographic station in synchronism therewith.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the codes on each card include a start of advertisement code and an end of advertisement code, and the control means includes first means responsive to the start code for actuating the driving means to initiate movement of the sensitized material past said imaging station, and second means responsive to the end code for arresting further movernint of the sensitized material.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the card conveyor is continuously operated, and the driving means is intermittently operated to move the sensitized material continuously past said imaging station in synchronism with the passage of an advertisement through the photographic station.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, including shutter means, and means responsive to the start of advertisement code and to the end of advertisement code for opening and closing said shutter means, respectively.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, including source of illumination, and means responsive to the start of advertisement code and to the end of advertisement code for 9 energizing and deenergizing said source of illumination, respectively.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 including card feed means for automatically feeding cards from a hopper to the card conveyor.

7. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the start of advertisement code and the end of advertisement code are perforations in the advertisement bearing card that are separated in the direction of travel of the card by a distance proportional to the length of the advertisement on the card.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,986,967 6/1961 Albert et a1 88-24 3,262,355 7/1966 Kleist et a1. 88--24 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner. R. A. WINTERCORN, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. APPARATUS FOR COMPOSING AND ARRANGING CLASSIFIED ADVERTISEMENTS OF VARIABLE LENGTHS IN A COLUMN FORMAT WITH INDIVIDUAL ADVERTISEMENTS ABUTTING ONE ANOTHER, WHICH ADVERTISEMENTS ARE INDIVIDUALLY MOUNTED ON SEPARATE CARDS, THAT ARE CODED TO INDICATE THE LENGTH OF THE ADVERTISEMENT, SAID APPARATUS COMPRISING A PHOTOGRAPHIC STATION THROUGH WHICH ADVERTISEMENT BEARING CARDS ARE PASSED, AN IMAGING STATION THROUGH WHICH SENSITIZED MATERIAL FOR RECEIVING IMAGES OF THE ADVERTISEMENT IS PASSED, MEANS INCLUDING AN OPTICAL SYSTEM AND A SOURCE OF ILLUMINATION FOR PROJECTING AN IMAGE OF THE ADVERTISEMENT ON A CARD MOVING THROUGH THE PHOTOGRAPHIC STATION ONTO SENSTIZED MATERIAL MOVING THROUGH THE IMAGING STATION, CONTINUOUSLY DRIVEN CONVEYOR MEANS FOR CARRYING AN INDIVIDUAL CARD UNINTERRUPTEDLY THROUGH SAID PHOTOGRAPHIC STATION, INTERMITTENTLY ACTUATED DRIVING MEANS FOR MOVING SENSITIZED MATERIAL THROUGH SAID IMAGING STATION, MEANS FOR READING THE CARD CODING AS THE CARD IS CARRIED THROUGH SAID PHOTOGRAPHIC STATION, AND CONTROL MEANS RESPONSIVE TO SAID CODE READING MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID DRIVING MEANS TO MOVE A SPECIFIC AMOUNT OF SENSITIZED MATERIAL CONTINUOUSLY THROUGH SAID IMAGING STATION IN SYNCHRONISM WITH THE MOVEMENT OF A CARD THROUGH SAID PHOTOGRAPHIC STATION, WHEREBY THE SPECIFIC AMOUNT OF SENSITIZED MATERIAL BEING MOVED THROUGH THE IMAGING STATION IS VARIABLE AND DEPENDENT ON THE LENGTH OF THE ADVERTISEMENT ON THE CARD MOVING THROUGH THE PHOTOGRAPHIC STATION IN SYNCHRONISM THEREWITH.