US3785553A

US3785553A - Apparatus for determining the unit value of a line of type characters

Info

Publication number: US3785553A
Application number: US00368171A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Brown
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-06-08
Filing date: 1973-06-08
Publication date: 1974-01-15
Anticipated expiration: 1991-01-15

Abstract

Apparatus useful for determining the proper point size of type to set for a given copy which must fit within a given line length. A perforated endless belt or screen is operatively trained about a pair of end rolls within a boxlike housing. One run of the belt passes beneath an opening in the top or cover plate of the housing, which opening extends for substantially the entire transverse width of the belt. A card having a series of parallel slots is adapted to be received within a card locating means on the cover plate with the slots of the card encompassed within the boundaries of the opening. Each slot extends longitudinally of the adjacent run of the belt and is of a length proportional to the width of a character or letter of type. Different cards are provided for different type styles. With the card in position on the housing, a stylus is inserted through a slot in the card and engaged with the perforated belt or screen. The belt is then manually advanced by the stylus for a distance corresponding to the full length of the slot. By successively inserting the stylus through a plurality of slots to advance the belt corresponding to the letters or characters of the given copy, the belt is moved a total distance representative of a total ''''unit value'''' for the copy. This distance of advancement is indicated by a counter operatively coupled to one of the belt end rolls. The ''''unit value'''' thus obtained is then divided into a number representative of the given or required line length to obtain a number called the ''''set width factor.'''' The ''''set width factor'''' thus obtained is then applied to a chart which indicates the particular point size of type required to fill the given line length with the given copy.

Description

United States Patent [1 1 Brown APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE UNIT VALUE OF A LINE OF TYPE CHARACTERS [76] Inventor: Willard D.,Brown, 324 S.Salem,

' Aurora, Colo. 80012 22 Filed; June a, 1973 21' Appl. N 368,171

[52] US. Cl 235/80, 235/71 R, 235/125 [51] Int. Cl G06c 27/00 [58] Field of Search 235/35, 74, 80, 86,

6/1908 Burtis..'... 7/1968 Adler 235/71 R Primary ExaminerLawrence R. Franklin AttorneyRalph F. Crandell [57 ABSTRACT Apparatus useful for determining the proper point size of type to set for a given copy which must fit within a given line length. A perforated endless belt or screen is operatively trained about a pair of end rolls within a boxlike housing. One run of the belt passes beneath an Jan. 15, 1974 opening in the top or cover plate of the housing, which opening extends for substantially the entire transverse width of the belt. A card having a series of parallel slots is adapted to be received within a card locating means on the cover plate with the slots of the card encompassed within the boundaries of the opening. Each slot extends longitudinally of the adjacent run of the belt and is of a length proportional to the width of a character or letter of type. Different cards are provided for different type styles. With the card in position on the housing, a stylus is inserted through a slot in the card and engaged with the perforated belt or screen. The belt is then manually advanced by the stylus for a distance corresponding to the full length of the slot. By successively inserting the stylus through a plurality of slots to advance the belt corresponding to the letters or characters of .the given copy, the belt is moved a total distance representative of a total unit value for the copy. This distance of advancement is indicated by a counter operatively coupled to one of the belt end rolls. Y

, The unit value thus obtained is then divided into a number representative of the given or required line length to obtain a number called the set width factor. The set width factor" thus obtained is then applied to a chart which indicates the particular point size of type required to fill the given line length with the given copy. 1

5 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJMJ w sum 1 or 2 XXXXXX FIG. 3.

APPARATUS FOR DETERMINING THE UNIT VALUE OF A LINE OF TYY PE CHARACTERS "BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The presentinvention is specifically devised to obtain a rapid, accurate and easily acquired solution to the problem of determining the proper point size of type necessary to fit a given name, message or other copy in a particular type style within a given line length. This particular problem is frequently encountered in setting up letterheads, business cards, advertising copy, labels, etc. For a given style of type, the proportionality between the height and width of a given letter remains constant regardless of the size of point" of the type. However, for a given point size of type, the width or line length required for each character or letter varies. The letter i is generally representative of a character of minimum width, while the letter m represents a character of maximum width. For a given point size and style of type, capital letters will normally have a greater width than the corresponding lowercaseletter. Thus, in determining the length of'line required for a given phrase in a particular style and point size of type, it is not possible to merely count the number of characters and spaces and multiply this figure by a width factor. Instead, each letter or character of the particular font has a unit value (of width) assigned to it and the line length must be determined by first adding the unit values of the required characters, and then multiplying this by a conversion factor dependent upon the point size.

Conventionally, this task is performed by laying out the copy, referring to a table of unit values for each of the characters and then adding all of the individual character unit values to obtain a total unit value for the given copy. Where the given copy must fit in a given line length, the total unit value thus obtained is divided into a number representative of the given line length to obtain what is known as a set width factor. With the set width factor in hand, a second table is then entered to find the point size of the particular type font which corresponds most closely to the calculated set width factor.

Calculation of the total unit value by summing the individual unit values, each'of which is obtained by reference toa table, is frequently a tedious operation which is highly susceptible to error. The present invention is directed to an apparatus which enables this operation to be performed rapidly and accurately.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is of relatively simple construction and includes a box-like housing within which an endless perforate belt or screen is operatively trained about a pair of spaced parallel end rolls. The rolls are mountedwithin the housingso that one run'of the belt lies immediatelybeneath the top or cover plate of the housing and a generally rectangular opening through the cover plate extends tranversely across substantially the entire width of thisrun of the belt. Preferably, a backingplate underlies the upper run of the belt in opposition tothe opening. Pins projecting radially from the end rolls pierce the belt to prevent slippage between the belt. and rolls. One of the two rolls is operatively coupled to a counter.

A rectangular card having dimensions exceeding that of the opening of the cover plate is formed with a series of parallel slots arranged on the card to be encompassed within the boundaries of the opening when the card is seated in a card locating device on the cover plate. Each of the slots corresponds to a given letter or character of a particular type style and the length of each slot is proportional to the unit value of its assigned character.

With the card positioned in the card locator, a stylus is inserted through the card at one end of a selected slot and the stylus tip is engaged within a perforation of the belt or screen. The stylus is then manually advanced for the full length of the slot to correspondingly advance the belt and hence rotate the roller which is coupled to the counter. The slot lengths and counter are calibrated to each other so that the counter maintains a count of total unit value as the stylus is manipulated in the foregoing manner successively through the various characters of the copy. The counter is provided with a re-set mechanism operated after the total unit value has been determined and transcribed.

The apparatus employs a set of cards, each card corresponding to a given type style or font so that the total unit value of the desired copy can be rapidly determined for any selected type style represented by a slotted card.

Determination of the point size for a given line length is then determined by dividing the given line length by the total unit value indicated on the counter to determine the set width factor and, from the set width factor, the point size of type is determined from a table which may be conveniently printed directly on the slotted card.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following specifications and the drawings.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view showing an apparatus embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 1 taken on line 2-2 of FIG; 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view, partially broken away, taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawings, apparatus embodying the present invention includes a base plate 10 and a cover member designated generally 12 mounted on base plate 10 to define with the base plate a hollow box-like housing. A pair of angle members 14 are fixedly secured to base plate 10 in parallel-spaced relationship to rotatably support a pair of end rolls 16 and l8for rotation about spaced parallel axes. As best seen in FIG. 4, end roll 16 is supported by angle members 14 for rotation about a fixed axis defined by a stub shaft 20 at each end of roll 16 which is rotatably received in a bore 22 in each of angle members 14. The stub shafts 24 for end roll 18 (see FIG. 4) project through an enlarged opening 26 in angle members 14 and are rotatably received in a plate 28 having an elongate slot 30 which can be clamped in selected positions of adjustment relative to angle members 14 as by screws 32 to regulate the tension in an endless belt 34 which is operatively trained about end rolls l6 and 18.

Belt 34 is preferably formed from a flexible screen or wire mesh or otherwise provided with perforations. Radially projecting pins 36 mounted on each of end rolls l6 and 18 project through the perforations in belt 34 to lock the belt against slippage relative to end rolls 16 and 18. A flat backing plate 38 (FIGS. 2 & 3) is mounted upon and extends between angular members 14 in underlying relationship to the upper run of endless belt 34.

A counter 40 of known construction is mounted upon base plate and is drivingly coupled via a belt and pulley coupling to shaft of end roll 16 so that counter 40 is actuated by rotation of end roll 16. Counter 40 includes a reset button 44 which may be employed to reset the counter to zero.

The top or cover plate 46 of cover member 12 is formed with a rectangular opening 48 which, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, is substantially coextensive with back up plate 38. A reversely bent framing lip 50 is mounted upon cover plate 46 to extend around three sides of opening 48 to form a card locating slot adapted to receive and position one of a series of type unit value cards 52 upon cover plate 46 in overlying relationship with opening 48.

Cards 52 are each formed with a series of parallel slots 54, each slot 54 having a length which is proportional to the unit value of a specific letter or character of a particular type style. An individual card 52 is provided for each type style.

Operation of the apparatus is as follows:

As an example, it will be assumed that it is desired to determine the point size of type for a particular type style which will be required to set the words United States Patent Office" within a line length of 2% inches. To make this determination, a card 52 corresponding to the desired type style is positioned within the locating means 50 as shown in FIG. 1 and reset button 44 is depressed to set the counter to zero.

The operator then inserts the point of a stylus S into the slot of card 52 corresponding to the letter U so that the stylus is positioned at the uppermost end of this slot as viewed in FIG. 1, and then lowers or points the stylus vertically until the stylus tip passes through a perforation in belt 34 and engages the upper surface of backing plate 38. The operator then draws the stylus along the full length of the slot, thus advancing belt 34 and causing end roll 16 to rotate to advance the counter. When the stylus reaches the bottom of the slot, it is withdrawn, and the process is repeated by successively inserting the stylus in the slots 54 of the card which correspond to the remaining letters and spaces of the desired phrase.

The lengths of the individual slots 54 and the drive coupling the belt 34 to counter 40 are calibrated with each other so that the counter gives a reading in the form of a number representative of the sums of the unit values of the characters. Thus, when all of the individual characters and spacings in the phrase United States Patent Office have been set into the device in the foregoing manner, the counter reading is in the form of a number, for example 308, which is called the total unit value, for this particular phrase in the selected style of type. The desired line length, is usually in this process expressed in terms of picas, for example 2% inches being equal to 14 picas, and the line length then divided by the total unit value as read from counter 40 to obtain a second number (0.0455) which is called the set width factor." The point size of this particular style of type which will fit within the selected line length is ,thenldetermined by reference to a table of set width factors versus point size.

While one embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the described embodiment may be modified. Therefore, the foregoing description is to be considered exemplary rather than limiting, and the true scope of the invention is that defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for calculating the unit value of a line of type characters comprising a frame, a pair of end rolls mounted in said frame for rotation about parallel axes, a perforate endless belt operatively trained about said end rolls, a card having a plurality of spaced parallel stylus receiving slots therethrough, each of said slots having a length corresponding to the unit length of a given character of a particular type font, card locating means on said frame for positioning said card in overlying relationship to one run of said belt with said slots extending perpendicular to the axes of said rollers, said belt being manually movable to rotate said rollers by means of a stylus inserted through a slot in said card and engaged in a perforation in said belt, and a counter operatively coupled to one of said rollers for indicating a unit value number representative of the distance the belt is manually advanced.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a cover plate on said frame overlying said one run of said belt in spaced parallel relationship thereto, said cover plate having a generally rectangular opening therethrough extending substantially entirely across said belt in a direction parallel to the roller axes, said slots in said card being located to overlie said opening when said card is positioned in said card locating means.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 further comprising a back up plate on said frame underlying said one run of said belt in opposed relationship to said opening.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 wherein said card locating means comprises means mounted on said cover plate defining a card edge receiving slot extending along three sides of said opening.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of radially projecting pins mounted on each of said rollers adapted to pierce said belt to lock said belt against slippage relative to said rollers.