US636064A - Image-forming mechanism. - Google Patents

Description

No. 636,064. Patented Oct. 3|, I899. F.- H. RICHARDS.

IMAGE FORMING MECHANISM.

(Application filed July 11, 1898. Renewed Aug. 30, 1899.) (No Model.)

ll SheetsSheet l,

No. 636,064. Patented Oct. 3|, I899.

F. H. RICHARDS.

IMAGE FORMING MECHANISM.

(Application filed July 11, 189B. Renewed Aug. 30, 1899.) 6N0 Model.)

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9 9 B L 6 d e t n e t a DI S D R A H c R H F A 6 7 6 3 6 n N IMAGE FORMING MECHANISM. (Application filed. July 11, 1898. Renewed Aug. 30, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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No. 636,064. Patented Oct. 3f, I899. F. H. RICHARDS.

IMAGE FORMING MECHANISM.

(Application filed July 11, 1898. Renewed Aug. 30, 1899.) N0 MO BL) ll Sheets-Sheet 4.

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No. 636,064. Paten ted Oct. 3|, I899.

F. H. RICHARDS. IMAGE FORMING MECHANISM.

(Application filed July 11, 1898. Renewed Aug. 30, 1899.) (No Model.)

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Patented Oct. 3|, 1899.

F. H. RICHARDS.

IMAGE FORMING MECHANISM.

(Applicltion filed July 11, 189B. Renewed Aug. 30, 1899.)

ll Sheets$heet s ('No Model.

Wi tnesses:

m: Norms PEYERS cu. worommu, WASHINGTON, o c.

Patented Oct. 3!, I899.

F. H. RICHARDS. IMAGE FORMING MECHANISM.

I (Application filed. July 11, 1893. Renewed Aug. 80, 1889.)

(No Model.)

ll Sheets-Sheet 7.

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No. 636,064. Patented Oct. 3f, I899. F.. H. RICHARDS.

IMAGE FORMING MECHANISM.

(Application filed July 11, 1898. Renewed Aug. 30, 1899.)

{No Modem Shets-8heet a.

Fig. a.

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Nu. 636,064. Patented Oct. 3|, I899.

F. H. RICHARDS.

IMAGE FORMING MECHANISM.

(Applicafion filed July 11, 1398 Renewed Aug. 30, 1899.) (No- Model.) ll Sheets-Sheet 9,

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No. 636.064. P'atented Oct. 3|, I899. F. H. RICHARDS.

IMAGE FORMING MECHANISM.

(Application filed July 11, 18887 Renewed Aug. 80, 1899.) No Model.) ll Sheets-Sheet [0 Witnesses: Inventor: W

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No. 636,064. Patentd Oct. 3|, I899. F. H. RICHARDS.

IMAGE FORMING MECHANISM.

(Application filed July 11, 1898. Renewed Aug. 30, 1899.) (No Model.) ll Sheets8heet 1|,

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UNITED STATES PATENT rErcEi FRANCIS I-I. RICHARDS, OF HARTFORD, CONNEC'lICU'l.

IMAGE-FORMING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 636,064, dated October 31, 1899, Application filed July 11, 1898. Renewed August 30, 1899. Serial No. 728,987. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, FRANCIS H. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and usefulImprovementsinImage-FormingMechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to image-forming mechanism, and more particularly to photoprinting mechanism for projecting images onto a suitable receiving medium, and especially onto a sensitized plate or film which may be developed afterward.

My present invention is in the nature of an improvement upon that shown, described, and claimed in my prior application, filed May 7, 1808, Serial No. 680,079, in which there is illustrated a machine adapted for composing mechanically photoprinted matter suitable for the production of printed impressions in a manner analogous to mechanical composition by type-writing, linotyping, and similar methods. In the mechanism illustrated in such prior application objects may be successively or selectively brought to a working position and images thereof projected successively or selectively onto a receiving or sensitized medium in such a manner as to produce either a transitory image on a screen or other non-recording medium or a permanent record upon a sensitized plate or film, and the operation of the mechanism controls the location of each selected object in working position to the exclusion of all the other objects. These objects or characters will usually be the letters, numbers, or other devices common to typography and will be represented by negatives through or around which light may pass to project upon the sensitized sur face of the image recording medium the images of such objects either singly as they may be selected and brought to working position or in groups of any desired number. In the construction shown in my prior application all of these objects or characters are supported on a common carrier and are brought one at a time into working position and light is permitted to pass through or around the positioned character to project an image onto the sensitized medium, which latter will usually be shifted step by step after each projection of an image, a suitable lightcontroller or shutter being operated to permit a ray of light to shine through a character or negative each time that such character is positioned. All of these parts will usually be controlled by keys on a suitable keyboard, and hence by the manipulation of these keys, in substantially the same manner as that in which an ordinary type-writer is operated, the matter to be photoprinted on the sensitized plate may be set up or composed letter by letter and word by word by the striking of the selected keys and the characters photoprinted one by one or group by group in proper order and spaced in such a manner as may be determined by the operation of the mechanism for shifting one or more of the main three cooperative partsviz., the negative, the sensitized medium, and a suitable image-governing light-controller-relatively to the other or others to permit the photoprinting ofsuccessive characters atsucccssive points on the sensitized medium.

The machine forming the subject-matter of this invention is intended to effect the same results as those described in my prior application, but differs from the former machine in many features of construction. In the present machine the several image-forming objects or characters are not mounted upon a common carrier, but are independently movable, each of the characters, which in this instance are double-case characters, being sup ported by a separate carrier capable of move ment independently relatively to all of the others when actuated by proper object-select ing means or key-operated devices. These independentlymovable carriers may be of any suitable construction and type, though I prefer to employ slides for the purpose, and they will have independent movements analogous to the movements of the swinging typearms in ordinary type-writing machines. All of these carriers or slides preferably will be grouped so as to converge toward a common point or center, they being disposed usually in a circle about a central photoprintingpoint. As it is essential that the object or negative to be printed should be located at an exact predetermined point, I prefer to provide means for guiding these carriers or slides in their movements toward and from the working position, and I also make use of suit able devices for latching the carriers or slides momentarily and releasing devices for tripping such latches. In the machine shown in my prior application all of the double-case characters, as before stated, are mounted on a common carrier, and this carrier not only has a movement to bring any desired doublecase character into alinement with the end of the tube through which light is directed onto the image-receiving medium, but also a shifting movement for selecting citherone of the doublecase characters so positioned. In this instance, however, the object carriers or slides are not shiftable to either one of two different case positions, but instead the light controller or shutter,which determines when the light is to be turned on, is so shiftable, and usually the light-directing tube will also be, as well as the holder by which the imagereceiving medium is supported and operated.

In connection with a light-controller and a light-directing tube shiftable to different case positions I prefer to employ a carriage or holder and carriage-feeding or holder-feeding mechanism, also shiftable in a like manner. The feeding mechanism will usually be of a type similar to that found in many type-writing machinesviz., a rack-and-escapement feed mechanism. he rack, of course, should be sliiftable to different case positions in order to shift the carriage and holder, and the escap'cment or pawl may be similarly operative, it having in this instance a working movement transverse to the rack for permitting the step-bystep feed of the latter and also a movement longitudinally of the rack to the respective case positions. The light-controller that I employ in the present machine is an improvement upon that shown, described, and claimed in my prior application, hereinbefore alluded to, it being preferably a rotary light-controller or shutter having a circuit of light-openings, which may be brought successively into position to register with the opening at the end of the light-directing tube. Said light-controller will be rotated intermittently in some suitable manner and will be controlled in such movement by the operation of the selecting means governing the move ments of the objects or characters to be photoprinted. Preferably this light-controller will be mounted for rotation on the light-directing tube and will not only have an intermittent rotary movement, as just described, but will also be shiftable bodily with said tube to the respective case positions of the latter.

These and other features of my present iiivention not hereinbefore described in detail, but which will be set forth fully hereinafter, are shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a plan of an image-forming or photoprinting mechanism embodying my present improvements. Fig. 2 is a front ele vation of the same. Fig. is a transverse section of the same, the section being taken in line 3, Fig. 2. Fig. ais a transverse section of the same, partly in front elevation, the section being taken in line t t, Fig. 3, a portion of the lower front side of the casing being removed in order to illustrate the construction clearly. Fig. 5 is a plan of the machine, showing the mechanism below the top plate, the major portion of the latter being broken away. Fig. (5 is a horizontal section of the machine, partly in plan, the section being taken in line 6 (3, Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section, partlyin plan, the section being taken in line '7 7, Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a sectional plan of the machine, the section being taken in line 8 S,Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is an under side sectional view of the machine, the section being taken in line 9 0, Fig. 3. Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail of a portion of the light-directing tube, the light-controller, and the actuating devices therefor. Fig. 11 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the same. Fig. 12 is an enlarged sectional detail of the same, the section being taken in line 12 12, Fig. 10. Figs. 13 to 16, inclusive, are details of the object selecting and locating devices, illustrating successive positions of these coacting parts; and Figs. 17, 18, and 19 are enlargcd views, in plan and side and end elevations, respectively, illustrating the construction of one of the character-slides.

Similar characters designate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

As hereinbefore stated, my present improvements may be embodied in any mechanism in which suitable image-forming objects or negatives may be brought to a working position by object-selecting means and the projection of the images of these objects permitted by the proper light controller. When the invention is embodied in a photoprinting mechanism, i may employ also in connection with these parts suitable feeding mechanism for a plate or plate-holder, and the objects or characters may advantageously be double case ones. Such a mechanism should also have line-spacing mechanism for shifting the image-receiving medium or plate after a line is finished.

As in the principal machine illustrated in my priorapplication hereinbeforc mentioned, the operation of the several main mechanisms or devices is semi-automatic and depends only upon the striking of the usual keys. lIerc each object the image of which to be projected or photoprinted is controlled by a single key; but only one negative or object is brought to working position at any given time, such selected object being shifted out of the way before another is brought into position to be photoprinted. its to this feature of my invention the operation of the objectloeating mechanism is substantially the same as that of the type-locating mechanism of an ordinary type-writing machine, in which the type are brought selectively and successively toacommon printing-pointbyindependently assess movable type-arms, the objects or negatives in this case being brought in a similar manner selectively and successively to a common locus in the path of the ray or beam of light by which the printing of the selected character is to be effected.

In the construction shown I make use of a basket or ring 13 substantially similar to the type-baskets of writing'machines, and on this basket I may support the principal members of the selecting mechanism or actuating devices by means of which the objects or negatives are to be selected and advanced to their working positions. In this case the characters or negatives are mounted on independently-movable carriers, each of which carriers is designated in a general way by 0. These carriers are preferably character-slides reciprocatory in paths converging toward a common point, said slides being disposed advantageously in a circuit about the ring or shell B. The construction of this slide is shown clearly in Figs. 17, 1S, and 10, from which it will be seen that the slide proper is a thin bar, such as 50, having guides, such as 50, extending from opposite sides thereof, the body of the slide being substantially T- shaped in cross-section. At the inner end thereof the body portion 50 preferably has an offset continuation or arm, such as 51, at the extreme inner end of which objects or negatives may be carried. Each carrier or slide may support double-case characters, such as those shown at o 0', Fig. 17, it being obvious that the vertical axes of all of the characters should be in parallelism with one another, as shown most clearly in Fig. 7. At the rear end thereof the slide proper may have a stop 50 for limiting the advancing movement of the slide when the latter is shifted to its working position. These slides may be supported in any suitable manner for movement toward and from a common point; but I prefer to mount them on a ring or annulus, such as I5, secured to the shell B at the lower end of the latter. This annulus may have a circuit or series of radial guideways in which the ribs or guides 50 of the slides may work, and these guideways will communicate in this instance with corresponding guide openings or slots 52 in the lower edge of the wall of the shell B, Fig. 3. It will be obvious that these guidegrooves in the annulus l3 and the slots 52 in the shell I3 constitute means for guiding the carriers or slides c positively in their movements toward and from the working position and that said slides are therefore directed positively as the character advances, thus guarding effectually against misalinement of the character at the printing moment, as the slides are not only side-guided, but also guided upon the upper and lower faces of the ribs 50'.

By means of suitable connections between a proper keyboard and the several slides a the latter may be advanced selectively toward the working point independently of one another. The actuating connections maybe of any suitable type, but in all cases will be controlled most advantageously by means of key-levers, such as 5, substantially of the type employed in writingmachines. Said key-levers may be supported in any suitable manner as, for example, by a rod 58 at the rear of the machineand may be held normally in their raised positions by means of springs, such as 50, seated in bores in a plate 60, secured to the forward inner side of the casing, which latter is designated in a general way by C and incloses substantially all of the working parts of the mechanism.

The actuating connections between thekeylevers and the character-carriers or characterslides 0 may be of any suitable type, but are preferably short links, such as 61, Fig. 3, connected at their lower ends to the short arms of angle-levers, such as 62, pivoted at the upper end of the basket or shell 13 and having their lower ends in position to cooperate with suitable portions of the slides In this case each slide has a finger 50 rising therefrom, and the actuating angle-lever 62 forsuch slide has a pin 62 projecting therefrom and in position to engage the linger 50 of the slide and push the latter forward when the key corresponding thereto is depressed.

As it is desirable to hold the slide positively momentarily in its working position, I prefer to employ in connection therewith suitable carrier-latching or slide-latching means for locking the slide positively when it reaches the limit of its forward stroke. The latch for each slide may be of any suitable construction, and a good type of device for this purpose is a swinging gravity-latch substantially of the type shown herein at 63, this latch being mounted for oscillation on the annulus 13' for movement in a plane substantially parallel with and adjacent to the path of the corresponding carrier or slide. This latch may have the usual deteut 63, which may engage the extreme outer end of the slide and lock the same at the moment the stop 50 comes into contact with the stop-abutment formed by the flange G lof the annulus B.

In connection with the slide-latching means just described I also employ latch-releasing means for permitting the slide to return to its normal position as soon as the image of its character has been projected and photoprinted. This latch-releasing means may also be of any suitable construction; but in this case the slide-actuating pin 02 also constitutes the latch-releasing means, it cooperating in this instance with a suitable cam or cam-face 63 on the latch 63. The manner in which these parts cooperate is clearly illustrated in Figs. 13 to 10, inclusive. hen a key has been of its own weight.

4- es-aoee ment of the latch adds to the effectiveness of the latter and assures its descent to the limit of its latching movement, when the slide cwill be in its extreme advanced position, as shown in Fig. 1 1-, the detent 03 engaging the rear end of the slide as soon as such position has been reached. Thus momentarily the slide is locked in its working position; but as soon as the key is released, which of course Will be practically instantaneously, the angle-lever 62 will fly back and the pin 62, riding along the can1face 63", will raise the latch once more and release the slide from the detent (53. Immediatelythereafter the slide should be retracted to its normal position, and any suitable means may be employed for effecting this return movement; but as it is desirable that the return stroke should be a rapid one I prefer to make the slide reactive and have therefore illustrated at (it a spring connected with the flange (it and with the forward portion of the slide for retracting the latter quickly as soon as it has been released.

Although of course a single-case key-operated mechanism could be employed advantageously in connection with the independently-movable character-carriers or characterslides, I deem it desirable to make use of a double-case mechanism so operable as to permit the location of either one of any pair of double-case characters in the proper working position, and this doublecase mechanism may be of any suitable type for the purpose and capable of shifting one of the main two image-forming or photoprinting elements viz., the object and the image receiving mediumrelatively to the other in substantially the same manner as the shifting operation is accomplished in type writing machines. Here, however, I prefer to so shift the lightcontroller and the holder for the image-receiving medium as to bring the proper portion of such medium to the proper working position adjacent to either the upper-case or the lower-case character, as may be desired. As it is customary in key-operated mechanisms to accomplish this shifting movement by means of a shift-key at the side of the keyboard, I have illustrated herein also key-operated devices for this purpose. In the present case, however, I prefer to provide two shifting-keys or key-levers, one at each side of the keyboard, in order that the operator may effect the shifting movement with a finger of either hand, and these two shift-keys (indicated herein by 65) may operate a pair of rock-arms, such as (50, secured to the respective members of a two-part spindle, such as 66, journaled in bearings in the side of the casing C, Fig. 5, the inner ends of these spindle-sections being preferably secured to a suitable light-directing tube, through which light may pass to project the images of the selected characters onto the receiving or pho toprinting medium. These keys may be returned to their normal positions and with them the parts controlled thereby in any suitable manner, as by means of springs.

Light may be directed upon the object or character from any suitable source by any suitable meansas, for example, through an elbow-tube T, connected with a funnel-shaped tube i. In the construction illustrated. the rear end of the tube '6 is of small diameter, but is closed by an end wall having therein a small opening 75, corresponding approximately to the area of the receiving medium that is to be uncovered at a single exposure. In the present construction it is intended that the tube 1 shall be shiftable between two different case positions in order that the lightopening may be brought opposite either upper-case characters or lower-ease characters on the slides c, and hence the funnelshaped tube 5 maybe connected. to the elbowtube T in such a manner as to be capable of swinging relatively thereto, it being obvious that owing to the relatively great length of the tube l only a small amount of movement of the latter will be necessary at the point of connection with the elbow-tube. This connection may be made in any suitable manner; but in this instance I have illustrated a ridged annulus, such as 76, forming a close light-tight joint with the tubes '1. and while permitting a slight movement of the latter.

For the purpose of controlling the turning on and shutting off of the light I employ a suitable light-controller, which in this instance is preferably a rotary one,substantially of the type indicated herein by S, Figs. 10,11, and 12. This rotary shutter may be supported advantageously on the tube t adjacent to the small end of the latter and will be carried, preferably, at one side of such tube for rotation in a plane intersecting the axis of the tube. In this case the shutter S is a substantially dish-shaped member having an annular flange '77 in position to rotate in front of the small end of the light-directing tube I and this flange may have a circuit of equidistant light-openings, such as 77, adapted to be brought successively and intermittently into position to register with the opening 75. Any suitably-operated connections may be employed for effecting this intermittent rotation of the shutter S, which of: cours should be controlled by the character-keys of the keyboard; but I prefer to actuate the shutter from a universal bar-such, for example, as that shown at U, Eigs. 3 and 5. This universal bar may be secured at one of its ends to an arm 78, secured to a relatively long sleeve loosely mounted on one of the spindlesections 66, while at its other end said universal bar may be secured to a guide-arm 79, loosely mounted on either spindle-section (50. In this case the sleeve 78 carries a gear, preferably a segmental bevel-gear, such as 79, meshing with a bevel-pinion, such as 80, supported in this case by a spindle 81., carried by the tube '6. At its lower end the spindle 81 may be secured to a large spur-gear, such as S2, journaled in a bracket 83, projecting from the tube 15. In this case the gear 82 drives an annular gear 83", supported byballhearings on a bearing portion 83' of the bracket 83, an annular bevel-gear 84: being also preferably secured to the annular spur-gear, while a second bevel-gear, such as 85, supported directly by the tube 25, meshes with the gear 84 and carries the shutter S.

For the purpose of transmitting the oscillating movement of the spindle Sl to the spurgear and for converting such oscillation into an intermittent rotary movement I may make use of the usual pawl and ratchet-wheel connection between these parts, such transmitting devices comprising in this case a ratchetwheel 86,loose on alonghub 82 of the spur-gear 82, a rock-arm 81, secured to the spindle 81, and the usual pawl 87, carried by said rockarm.

It will be apparent that as each characterkey is depressed the gear-segment 79 will be oscillated and the shutter S correspondingly partially rotated on the return stroke of said gear-segment to bring a new light-opening 77 in the shutter opposite the opening 75 in the end of the tube t.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the operation of the light-controller is governed by the actuation of the character-keys of the keyboard and that the turning of the shutter into position to bring one of its openings opposite the opening 75 is dependent upon the proper positioning of the object or negative containingthe character to be photoprinted. Hence the operation of the shutter mechanism is entirely automatic after a character or negative has been located and is dependent upon and will not occur until the actuation of the carrier corresponding to such character.

While the feed mechanism, by means of which a step-by-step feed movement is obtained for permitting the characters to print successively on successive portions of the sensitized receiving medium, maybe of any suitable construction, and while I may impart such movement to any proper one of the several coacting elements of the photoprinting mechanism, yet in the preferred construction it is desirable to shift the image-receiving or photoprinting medium step by step on the depression of the character-keys. This feed mechanism may be of any proper type; but I deem it advantageous to make use of a stepbystep rack and escapement" mechanism somewhat similar to mechanisms of this class embodied in type-writing machines and corresponding in many details to that shown, described, and claimed in my prior application, to which I have hereinbefore referred. This feed mechanism will therefore be operated to the best advantage from a universal barsuch, for example, as that shown at U, Figs. 5 and 9-said universal bar being supported at its ends by the frame for the space-bar 100,

hereinafter described, and being connected in this instance to a rod JO, which in turn is pivoted to the end of a rock-arm t0, secured to a rock-shaft i0, journaled in suitable bearings, one of which in this case is in the forward side of the casing and the other in a short standard, such as 41, rising from the lower side or base of the casing. (See Figs. 3 and 4-.) In the present construction the escapement device proper, which is designated herein by 20, may comprise a pair of dogs of well-known construction, one fixed and the other preferably movable, both of these dogs being secured in any suitable manner to the rock-shaft i0, which latter, it should be noted, is capable of reciprocating longitudinally as well as oscillating aboutits axis. Obviously as the several character-keys are struck selectively one after another the dogs will be correspondingly oscillated to permit the other member or rack of the escapement teed mechanism to be advanced step by step. In this case the dogs cooperate with ratchet-teeth of a rack, such as 25, forming a part of or secured to a carriage or slide, (designated in a general way by D, Figs. 7 and 8,) on which carriage a holder for a plate, film, or other image receiving medium is supported for movement relatively to the carriage and is designated in a general way by II. This carriage and also the plate-holder may be sup ported in substantially the same manner as in my prior application hereinbefore referred to-that is to say, the carriage may be supported for horizontal movement on a pair of horizontal guide-rods, such as 20 and 21, and the plate-holder may be guided in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the carriage by a pair of guide-rods, such as 22 and 23, forming part of the carriage and supported by the rods 20 and 21.

The two guide- rods 20 and 21 form part of a rectangular frame (designated in a general waybyD) havingat its sides a pair of grooved rods, (see Figs. 3 and 9,) these grooved rods being designated herein by 27 and 28 and being supported on rolls, such as 29. Anglearms, such as 29, may be used to prevent rising of the carriage from the rolls 29. The function of this frame D will be described hereinafter.

In the machine shown in the drawings the direction of feed of the carriage D from the front toward the rear of the machine, and in Fig. 3 the manner in which this feed move ment is obtained is shown clearly. Here the carriage may be normally under tension from any suitable source of power, which in this case will include coiled spring and a driving-band of the usual type, (indicated in a general way by (3.) As the construction and operation of this driving mechanism are well known and are clearly shown herein ,a detailed description thereol is deemed unnecessary. As the several character-keys are struck it will be apparent that the carriage D will be fed step by step fromthe front toward the I eseoee rear of the machine until it reaches a predetermined point-usually, of course, the end of a full line-when suitable line-spacing mechanism may be operated to bring an unexposed transverse portion of the plate into position. For the purpose of returning the carriage to the beginning of a line a reversing member or pull-rod, such as 92, may be employed, this pull-rod being in the present case secured to the carriage in such a manner as to shift the latter back and forth and still be capable of turning to some extent. In the construction shown it is supported to turn in bored lugs 93 on the carriage and has secured to it rockarms, such as 92, connected with the rack 25 in such a manner as to be capable of shifting the latter clear of the dogs when the carriage is to be returned to the beginning of a new line. .(See Figs. 3, 8, and 9.) Itwill benoticed that the rack 25 has a pin-and-slot connection with the carriage and is shiftable bodily sidewise relatively to the dogs, said rack being connected with the rock-arms 02, in the present case by links, suchas 9t. This construction is shown clearly from the under side in Fig. 0. The pull-rod 02, in addition to having the functions just described, serves to indicate the position of the carriage at different points in the line, and said rod has thereon in this instance a scale 92 for such purpose.

In connection with the devices hereinbefore described for feeding the carriage, and hence the plate-holder I-I, step by step for photoprinting the characters of different words I make use of suitable means for spacing between words and also between the lines of the matter to be photoprinted. To space between the words, I may use the ordinary form of space-bar, such as that shown at 100, and this may operate the universal bar U directly, and hence only those parts of the mechanism controlled by said bar, it being only necessary to operate the feed mechanism therefrom. The line-spacing mechanism will preferably be controlled by a key separate from and independent of the character-keys, as are the two ease-keys. In the present construction this line-soacin g key, which is designated by the word liner, operates spring-retracted vertical rod 105 passing between a pair of plates, such as 10 and 10, at the top of the casing and in the rear of the keyboard, these plates or slides when removed permitting access to the interior of the mechanism. In the present instance the rod 105 is connected with an angle-lever 106, loosely mounted on a long shaft 107, supported in suitable bearings at the front and rear of the machine, one arm of this angle-lever carrying a pawl 10S, cooperating with a ratchet-wheel 109, fixed to the shaft 107. This shaft also has secured thereto a gear 30, which meshes with the teeth of a rack 32, secured to the plate-holder II and dis- II, advanced to bring a new printing-line into working position. The feed movement of this rack and the plate-holder is from the right to the left of the machine, as seen in Fig. 4-. The shaft 107 may also carry thereon a toothed detent-wheel 110, cooperating with a springpressed detent 112, by means of which the distances between the lines will be accurately gaged.

When the mechanism is used as a photoprinting-machine, the image-receiving medium may be a plate, film, or other similar article, and the manner in which such medium may be supported is immaterial; but in the construction shown a sensitized photoprinting-plate, such as p, is mounted in a dovetailed channel in the upper face of the plate holder and securely held therein, as shown clearly in Fig.

As it is very essential in the construction shown herein that the holder and feed mechanism shall be capable of shifting between different case positions, I prefer to mount the plate-holder and the rack-and-escapement feed device, including the feed dogs or pawls, in such a manner that all of these parts may be shifted bodily in the direction of the movement of the carriage in order to bring the proper point on the sensitized plate under the upper-case or lower-case character, aecordin g to which is selected. In order to effect this result, the frame D is mounted to have a shifting movement and may be operated directly from one of the shaft-sections (36. By referring to Figs. 3 and 4: it will be seen that a long arm 120 is secured to and depends from such shaft-section, said arm having at its lower end a pin-and-slot connection with such shiftable frame D. For returning said frame to its normal position when the uppercase key is released a suitable spring or springs, as 121, may be used.

In order to effect the reciprocating movements of the rock-shaft 4E0, which have been hereinbefore referred to, some suitable connection should be made between this shaft and the body of the frame D. In this case an arm, such as 122, depends from said frame and has one or more fingers working in a groove in a collar 40, secured to said shaft, this connection serving, of course, to cause the feed dogs or pawls to shift with the rack 25 from one case position to another.

In Fig. 17 I have illustrated in detail the construction of the preferred objects or negatives for use with my photoprinting mechanism. I-Ieretheupper-caseobjectisdesignated by 0 and the lower-case one by 0, and both are represented by disks having opaque surfaces except at those portions which contain the characters to be projected or printed on the sensitized surface of the image-receiving medium. The light directed through the tube 25 and through the openings 75 and 77 is intended to shine through only that portion of the disk or object covered by the character or letter, and no light will pass through the assess a" opaque portion of such object or negative. Hence an exact and perfect image of the character ordevice will be projected upon the receiving medium and will be photoprinted on a definite portion of the surface of the latter, if such medium is a sensitized surface, as should be the case, it being understood, of course, that light should be excluded from all other areas of this surface except that onto which the image may be projected. The objects or negatives may be held in place in any suitable manner, preferably by cement, and may be of any proper material, such as glass, each having a developed film of collodion or other sensitive substance thereon, the opaque portion of which represents the exposed portion of the film and the character the unex posed portion. Ordinarily the machine as a whole will be attached to a Wall of a dark room, andin this case the rear of the machine is open and registers with an opening in the wall to which them achi he is secured. Through this opening the photoprinting-plates may be placed in position and removed from the machine.

The operation of the photoprintingmachine shown herein will be clearly understood from the foregoing description, and it is only necessary at this time to set forth in a general way the successive steps of the operation.

It being understood that a plate has been properly positioned in the plate-holder at the zero-point or other point indicated on the scale marked on the reversing-rod, the character-keys will be struck one after another by the operator in the same manner as are the keys of a type-writing machine to form words or other combinations of devices from successively-selected characters, the depression of a character-key causing the shifting of the corresponding slide 0 to the proper point for bringing the character controlled by such key into working position. Thereupon the carrier will be locked in place by its latch 63. By means of the connections to the feed mechanism from the universal bar U the carriage is fed forward a step on each depression of a character-key into position to bring a new portion of the printing-line to the printingpoint. At the same time the depression of the universal bar U causes the pawl 87 to be shifted into position to turn the ratchet-wheel 80, and hence the shutter S, when the depressed character-key rises. On the release of this key and while the slide is held by its catch the shutter will be rotated, and one of its light-openings will be brought momentarily opposite the end of the lightdirecting tube, and light will shine through the character on the negative and onto the sensitized plate to photoprint thereon a negative of such character. The shutter will rotate during the entire time that the charater-key is returning to its normal position, and the light-openings in the sh utter are so placed that one of them will sweep across the mouth of the tube while the character-key is returning and will pass beyond the open end of the tube a, and such opening will be closed again, the opening being exposed during the time that the anglearm 62 is returning from the position shown in Fig. it to thatillustrated in Fig. 15. The movement of the angle-arm (52 from the position shown in Fig. 15 to that illustrated in Fig. 16 causes the release of the latch 63 and permits the return of the character-slide to its normal position. Of course if the character struck should be an upper-case one one of the upper-case keys would be depressed and held down until the completion of the printing. As soon as a word or other combination of characters has been completed the space-key 100 will be struck in the usual manner to feed the carriage a step independently of the operation of the charactenkeys, and no shifting of a character-slide will take place at this time. On the completion of a line of printed matter on a plate the line-spacing key will be depressed and the plate-holder will be shifted longitudinally to bring another transverse portion of the plate to the print ing-line. Either before or after the depression of the line-spacing key the reversing-rod 92 may be drawn back to return the carriage to the beginning of a newline or to any other predetermined point. After all the surface of a plate has been photoprinted the rod 92 may be turned to the left, as seen in Fig. 3, whereupon the rack 25 will be shifted sidewise to release it from the dogs of the escapement mechanism, whereupon the spring of the driving device (1 causes the carriage to be shifted quickly to the rear of the machine into the open space, where the finished plate may be removed and a new plate slipped into the dovetailed guideway of ,the holder.

A machine constructed in accordance with my present invention, as hereinbefore described, is not only capable of projecting the images of objects of different sorts, but also when used in connection with a sensitized image-receiving medium is capable of operation for setting up selectively typographic matter either for newspaper or book Work, and the plate or film on which the matter is set up constitutes, when properly developed by the ordinary methods, a perfect substitute for the plates usually printed by the indirect processes.

llaving described my invention, I claim 1. In an image-forming mechanism, the con'ibination, with an image-governing lightcontroller and with an image-receiving medium, of independently-movable image-forming objects locatable in working position between the light-controller and the image-re ceiving medium, and object-selecting means.

2. in an image-forming mechanism, the combination, with an image-governinglightcontroller and with an image-receiving medium, of independently-movableimage-forming objects locatahle in working position between the light-controller and the image-receiving medium, and object selecting and locating means.

3. In an image-forn'iing mechanism, the combination, with an image-governinglight controller and with an image-receiving me dinm, of independently movable keycontrolled image-forming objects locatable in working position between the light-controller and the image-receiving medium, and ob ject-selecting means.

i. In an imageforming mechanism, the combination, with a key-controlled imagegoverning light-controller and with an image-receivingmedium,ofii'idependently-movable key-controlled image-forming objects 10- eatable in working position between the lightcontroller and the image-receiving medium, and object-selecting means.

5. In an image-forming mechanism, the combination, with an image-governinglightcontroller and with a holder for a sensitized image-receiving medium, of independentlymovable image-forming objects locatable in working position between the light-eontroller and the imageu'eceiving medium, and object-selecting means.

(5. In a photoprinting mechanism, the combination, with an image-governinglight-controller and with a holderfor a sensitized photo printing medium, of independently-movable image-forming negatives locatable in working position between the photoprinting medium, and negative-selecting means.

'7. In an image-forming mechanism, the combination, with an image-governing lightcontroller, of an image-receiving medium; independently-movable image forming objects selectively locatable in working position between the light-controller and the image-receiving medium, and each constructed to permit the passage of light when placed in the path of alight-beam and to modify the cross-sectionalarea and configuration of such light-beam for projecting a corresponding object-delineating image; and object-selecting means.

8. In an image-forming mechanism, the combination, with an image-gomrning lightcontroller, of an imagereceiving medium; independently-movable translucent imageforming objects selectively locatable in working position between the light-controller and the image-receiving medium and each constructed to permitthe passage of light therethrough for projecting an object-delineating image; and object-selecting means.

9. In an imageforming mechanism, the combination, with an image-governing lightcontroller, of an image-receiving medium; independently-movable image-forming objects selectively locatable in working position between the light-controller and the image-1e ceiving medium and substantially in juxtaposition with the latter; and object-selecting means.

10. In a photoprinting mechanism, the combination, with an image-governing light-com troller, of a holder for a sensitized )rinting medium, and independently-movable keycontrolled image-forming chamcters selectively shiftablein to workingposition between the light-controller and the printing medium and substantially in juxtaposition with the latter.

11. In an image-forming mechanism, the combination, with double-case image-forming objects, of object-selecting means, and an image-governing light-controller shiiitable to different case positions.

12. In an image-forming mechanism, the combination, with double-case image-forming objects, of object-selecting means, and an image-governing light-controller reciprooatory to different case positions.

13. In an image-forming mechanism, the combination, with double-case image-forming objects, of object-selecting means, and an image-governing light-controller oscillatory to different case positions.

14. In an image-forming mechanism, the combination, with key-operated double-case image-forming characters, of an image-governing light-controller operative on each actuation of a key, and means for shifting the light-controller to different case positions.

15. In aphotoprintingmechanism, the eombination, with double-case image-forming objects, of object-selecting means; an imagegoverning light-controller; a holder for an image-receiving medium; and means for shifting the light-controller and the holder to different case positions.

16. In a 1')hotoprinting mechanism, the combination, with double-caseimage-forming objects, of object-selecting means; an imagegoverning lightcontroller; a holder for an image-receiving medium; and means for reciprocating the light-controller and the holder between different case positions.

17. In a photoprinting mechanism, the combination, with double-case in'lage-forming objects, of object-selecting means; an image governing light-controller; a holder for an image-receiving medium; and means for simultaneouslyshiftingthelight-controllerand the holder to different case positions.

18. In a photoprinting mechanism, the combination, with double-case image-forming objects, of object-selecting means; an imagegoverning light-controller; a holder for an image-receiving medium; and means ionoscillating the light-controller and reciprocating the holder between different case positions.

19. In a key-operated mechanism, the combination, with double-case characters and with character-selecting means, of a carriage; feed mechanism for said carriage; and means for shifting said carriage to different case positions.

20. In a key-operated mechanism, the combinatiomwith double-case characters and with character-selecting means, of a carriage; step by-step feed mechanism for said carriage; and means for shifting said carriage to different case positions.

21. In a key-operated mechanism, the combination,with double-case characters and with character-selecting means,of a carriage; rackand-escapement feed mechanism for said carriage; and means for shifting said carriage and the feed mechanism to different case positions.

22. In a key-operated mechanism, the combination,with double-case characters and with character-selecting means, of acarriage; feed mechanism for said carriage and controlled by the character-selecting means; and means independent of said character-selecting means for shifting said carriage to different case positions.

23. In a key-operated mechanism, the combination,with double case characters and with character-selecting means, of a carriage; feed mechanism for said carriage and controlled by the character-selecting means; and keyoperated means independent of said characoer-selecting means for shifting said carriage to different case positions.

24. I11 a key-operated mechanism, the combinatiomwith double-case characters and with character-selecting means,of a carriage; pawland-rack feed mechanism for said carriage; and means for shifting, said pawl to different case positions.

25. In a key-operated mechanism, the combination,with double-case characters and with character-selecting means,of acarriage; pawland-raek feed mechanism for said carriage; and means for reciprocating said pawl to different case positions.

26. In a key-operated mechanism, the combination,with double-case characters and with character-selecting means, of a carriage; a reciprocatory guide-rod; paWl-and-rack carriage-feed mechanism embodying a pawl carried by said guide-rod; and means for reciprocating said guide-rod to shift the pawl to different case positions.

27 In a key-operated mechanism, the combinatiomwith double-case characters and with character-selecting means, of a carriage; an oscillatory reciprocatory guide-rod pawl-andrack carriage-feed mechanism embodying a pawl carried by said guide-rod; and means for reciprocating said guide-rod to shift the pawl to different case positions.

28. In a key-operated mechanism, the combination,with double-case characters and with character-selecting means,of a carriage; pawland-racl; feed mechanism for said carriage; and independent key-operated devices for actuating said pawl in paths transverse to each other.

29. In a key-operated mechanism, the combination,with double-case characters and with character-selecting means,of a carriage; pawland-rack feed mechanism for said carriage; and independent key-operated devices for actuating said pawl in one path, and for shift ing said pawl in another path to different case positions.

30. In a photoprinting mechanism, the combination, with double-caseimage-forming obj ects,of obj cot-selecting means an imagegoverning' light-controller; a holder for an imagereceiving medium; holder-feeding mechanism; and means for shifting said holder to different case positions.

31. In a photoprinting' mechanism, the combination, with double-case image-forming objects, of object-selecting means; an imagegoverning light-controller; a holder for an image receiving medium; holder feeding mechanism for shifting the holder in different directions; and means for shifting said holder to different case positions.

32. In a photoprinting mechanism, the combination, with double-case image-forming objects, of object-selecting means; an imagegoverning light-controller; a holder for an image-receiving medium; holder -feeding mechanism for shifting the holder in directions transverse to each other; and means for shifting said hoider to different case positions.

33. Inaphotoprinting mechanism, the com bination, with double-case image-forming objects, of object-selecting means; an imagegoverning' lightcontroller; a holder for an image receiving medium; separately-operative holder-feeding and line-spacing mechanisms; and means for shifting said holder to different case positions.

34:. In aphotoprinting mechanism, the combination, with double-case image-forming objects, of object-selecting means; an imagegoverning light-controller; a carriage; carriage-feed mechanism; aholder supported on said carriage for movement transversely thereto, and adapted to carry an image-receiving medium; line-spacing mechanism for shifting said holder transversely to the carriage; and means for shifting said carriage to different case positions.

35. In an image-forming mechanism, the

combination, with double-case image-forming objects, of obj ect-selecting means; an imagegoverning light-controller; and a light-directing tube shiftable to different case positions.

36. In an image-forming mechanism, the combinatiomwith double-case image-forming objects, of object-selecting means; an imagegoverning lightcontroller; and a key-oper ated light-directing tube oscillatory to different case positions.

37. In an image-forming mechanism, the combinatiomwith double-case image-forming objects, of object-selecting means; animag'egoverning light-controller; a light-directing tube; and means for shifting said light-controller and tube to different case positions.

38. In an image-forming mechanism, the combinatiomwith double-case image-forming" objects, of objectselecting means; an imagegoverning light-controller; a light dirccting tube; and means for shifting said light-con-

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