US4329026A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Photocomposing machine and method
Assignee: Autologic SA
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Filing: 1980-10-17
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Granted: 1982-05-11
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Expires: 2000-10-17
Abstract
Abstract Character matrices are stored in and retrieved from a magazine automatically. The matrices can be complete discs or pie-shaped "petals" which are assembled to form a disc. A single pivotably-mounted support arm is used to support the spinning disc, and to move it for selection of concentric arrays on the disc, as well as for storage and retrieval of matrices. A reversed zoom lens is used to magnify the characters. The character spacing carriage can move continuously in order to increase the speed of operation. Proper location of the characters can be done by simply altering the carriage speed between projections, or by using a shuttling lens for character spacing compensation, together with flash delay and carriage deceleration.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis M. Moyroud
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 17:42
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41B; B41B21/00; B41B21/16; B41B17/00; B41B17/04; B41B17/10; B41B17/18; B41B17/20; B41B17/24; B41B17/32; B41B21/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 44
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A rotatable character matrix for photocomposition, said matrix bearing characters in circular rows concentric about the axis of rotation of said matrix, said characters being further arranged in groups transverse to said rows, the characters in each group being arranged along an arc of a circle with a center at a substantial distance from said axis of rotation, and a single timing slit aligned with the characters of each group to time the flash illumination of any character within that group.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
A rotatable character matrix for photocomposition, said matrix bearing characters in circular rows concentric about the axis of rotation of said matrix, said characters being further arranged in groups transverse to said rows, the characters in each group being arranged along an arc of a circle with a center at a substantial distance from said axis of rotation, and a single timing slit aligned with the characters of each group to time the flash illumination of any character within that group.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A matrix as in claim 1, said matrix having the shape of a segment of a circle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A matrix as in claim 2 in which said matrix bears a complete font of characters in one style.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A matrix as in claim 2 having a pair of circumferentially spaced apart mounting holes, the radially innermost portion of said segment being truncated, and said holes being located adjacent the radially innermost edge of said segment, in an area devoid of characters.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A matrix as in claim 2 having an area devoid of characters adjacent the radially outermost edge of said segment, said area being suitable for engagement with matrix handling equipment.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A matrix as in claim 2 having approximately six of said rows of characters with approximately twenty-two characters in each row.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A matrix as in claim 2 in which the most often used characters in a selected language are located in one of said circular rows.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A matrix as in claim 2 in which the most often used characters in a selected language are concentrated near the center of the character-bearing area of said matrix.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A matrix as in claim 1 in which said timing slit is on a line which is tangent to said circle at the approximate center of each of said groups.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A matrix as in claim 1 including a plurality of code indicia identifying said matrix.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A matrix as in claim 1 including a plurality of code indicia identifying the weight of a type style on said matrix.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A matrix as in claim 1 which is a disc bearing characters in a plurality of styles.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
59 words
In or for a photocomposing machine, a pivotable support for a rotatable character matrix bearing concentric rows of characters, said support comprising a member pivoted adjacent one end, a rotatable matrix support mounted adjacent the other end, and drive means for swinging said member about its pivot axis to bring different characters on said matrix to a projection location.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
59 words
In or for a photocomposing machine, a pivotable support for a rotatable character matrix bearing concentric rows of characters, said support comprising a member pivoted adjacent one end, a rotatable matrix support mounted adjacent the other end, and drive means for swinging said member about its pivot axis to bring different characters on said matrix to a projection location.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as in claim 13 having a flash timing slit detector mounted on said member adjacent said matrix.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as in claim 13 having a detector mounted on said member for detecting each complete revolution of said matrix and producing a corresponding electrical signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device as in claim 13 having a portion of said member extending beyond the edge of said matrix, at least one image-forming element secured to said extension and located on an arc of a circle passing through said projection location and having said pivot axis as a center.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
61 words
A device as in claim 13 having a portion of said member extending beyond the edge of said matrix, one of a code element and a detector element mounted on said portion, said code element having a plurality of position-indicating indicia thereon, and the other of said elements being secured in a stationary position on said machine adjacent the first element.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device as in claim 13 in which said drive means includes an arcuate rack secured to said member, the center of the arc of said rack being said pivot axis, and a stationary drive pinion positioned to drivably engage said rack.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device as in claim 13 in which said member has two radial arms joined by an arcuate section at a location spaced radially outwardly from said pivot axis.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as in claim 13 having a detector for detecting coded matrix identification marks on said matrix, said detector being mounted on said member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as in claim 13, in which said rotatable matrix support comprises a hub with a plurality of projections for mounting a plurality of segments to form a circular disc.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device as in claim 21 in which said hub has a substantial flat surface area in the plane of said disc, and resilient means for holding said segments against said surface.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
97 words
In or for a photocomposing machine including a movable character matrix and means for moving said matrix in order to facilitate the selection of characters to be projected onto a photo-sensitive surface, a character spacing mechanism for spacing characters from one another when projected onto said surface, means for moving said mechanism substantially continuously while composing a line of characters, deflecting means located between said matrix and said photo-sensitive surface for deflecting each character image to one side or the other, and means for controlling said deflecting means to properly locate said character image on said surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
97 words
In or for a photocomposing machine including a movable character matrix and means for moving said matrix in order to facilitate the selection of characters to be projected onto a photo-sensitive surface, a character spacing mechanism for spacing characters from one another when projected onto said surface, means for moving said mechanism substantially continuously while composing a line of characters, deflecting means located between said matrix and said photo-sensitive surface for deflecting each character image to one side or the other, and means for controlling said deflecting means to properly locate said character image on said surface.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as in claim 23 including means to selectively decelerate and accelerate said spacing mechanism.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device as in claim 23 in which said deflecting means comprises a lens, and including a motor for moving said lens.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device as in claim 23 including a flash lamp for illuminating characters on a matrix, and means for delaying the operation of said flash lamp in order to allow said spacing carriage to reach the proper location for projecting a selected character image onto said surface.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
95 words
In a photocomposing machine, character presentation means for presenting at a projection location images selected from any of at least three character matrices and projecting said images along an optical axis, said matrices being located so as to direct images towards a reference location which is spaced from said projection location, said images being directed from said matrices at varying different angles with respect to said optical axis, and a orthogonally movable rotary reflector at said reference location, said reflector being rotatable to various different positions to deflect images from said matrices along said axis.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
95 words
In a photocomposing machine, character presentation means for presenting at a projection location images selected from any of at least three character matrices and projecting said images along an optical axis, said matrices being located so as to direct images towards a reference location which is spaced from said projection location, said images being directed from said matrices at varying different angles with respect to said optical axis, and a orthogonally movable rotary reflector at said reference location, said reflector being rotatable to various different positions to deflect images from said matrices along said axis.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
43 words
A device as in claim 27 in which said angle for one of said matrices is zero, and including means for orthogonally moving said reflector out of the way of images from said one matrix to let them reach said projection location directly.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device as in claim 27 in which angles of two of said matrices are 90°, said reflector being rotatable to at least two positions 90° apart.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
139 words
In or for a photocomposing machine including image presentation means for presenting images at a projection position, and image projection and location means for projecting said images from said position and locating said images in a pre-determined order on a photosensitive record surface, said image presentation means including storage means for storing a plurality of image-bearing matrices, selection means responsive to coded signals for selecting one of said matrices and moving the matrix so selected from said storage means to said projection position for projection of images therefrom, each of said matrices being a disc bearing a plurality of characters, a plurality of pivotable supporting members, one for rotatably supporting each of said matrices, and means for pivoting a selected one of said members to move said matrix from said storage means to a projection position and back again.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
139 words
In or for a photocomposing machine including image presentation means for presenting images at a projection position, and image projection and location means for projecting said images from said position and locating said images in a pre-determined order on a photosensitive record surface, said image presentation means including storage means for storing a plurality of image-bearing matrices, selection means responsive to coded signals for selecting one of said matrices and moving the matrix so selected from said storage means to said projection position for projection of images therefrom, each of said matrices being a disc bearing a plurality of characters, a plurality of pivotable supporting members, one for rotatably supporting each of said matrices, and means for pivoting a selected one of said members to move said matrix from said storage means to a projection position and back again.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device as in claim 30 in which said storage means comprises a plurality of said pivotable support members mounted on a slidable carriage, means for sliding said carriage to position a selected one of said matrices at a pre-determined position.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
42 words
A device as in claim 30 in which characters are located in concentric circular arrays on said disc, with the characters in adjacent rows being aligned along a radius of said disc, and means for selecting one of said rows for projection.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device as in claim 32 including an aperture for allowing only one character image to pass, and movable reflecting means mounted for movement transversely of said rows to project characters from one of said rows towards said aperture.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as in claim 33 in which said reflecting means is a pair of 45° mirrors mounted on a carriage.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device as in claim 30 including selectively engageable drive means on each of said pivotal support members, and stationary drive means positioned to engage the drive means on said support member when it is pivoted into said projection position.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as in claim 35 in which said selectively engageable drive means includes a curved rack, and said stationary drive means includes a pinion engageable with said rack when said rack nears its operative position.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device as in claim 30 including a projection on each of said pivotable support members, drive means for selectively engaging said projection to cause said pivotable support member to pivot between an inactive storage position and an operative position.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
90 words
A device as in claim 30 including drive means for rotating said disc, a drivable member secured to said disc, said drive means including a pivotable arm, a rotary drive member mounted on said pivotable arm, a motor, coupling means for drivably coupling said motor to said drive member, means for pivoting each of said pivotable support members and said disc for selection among concentric character arrays on said disc, and means for maintaning engagement between said drive member and said drivable member as said disc pivots for array selection.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as in claim 38 in which said arm is elongated and said coupling means comprises a toothed belt.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1985-05-10 | 1985-11-09 | 1986-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1989-05-10 | 1989-11-09 | 1990-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1993-05-10 | 1993-11-09 | 1994-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |