US4431295A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Photocomposing machine and method
Assignee: Autologic SA
•
Filing: 1982-05-03
•
Granted: 1984-02-14
•
Expires: 2002-05-03
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. A system for inputting images from any one of three separate discs also is provided. A double-dove prism and optical wedges are used for altering the shapes of characters. Rules are formed by operating a flash-lamp very rapidly to shine light through an appropriately-shaped opening and moving the image along the photosensitive surface in a linear path. The matrix can be moved in a varying speed mode in which the matrix is moving slowly or stationary when the character is flashed. This allows the light intensity of the flash lamp to be raised significantly without significant degradation of the quality of the output. Controls are provided for automatically adjusting the base-line of the characters, the margins, the degree of enlargement, the flash intensity, and the focus. A simple attachment is provided for doubling or halving the size of the characters. The machine can produce output on photographic film or paper or electrophotographic material. Means are provided for automatically inserting graphic matter (pictures) into text matter for composing full pages, and for making half-tones.
Inventors
- 👤 Louis M. Moyroud
- 👤 Michel Bongard
- 👤 Paul A. Vernez
- 👤 Michel Moulin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 09:54
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41B; B41B17/00; B41B17/18; B41B17/20; B41B17/24; B41B17/32; B41B17/04; B41B17/10; B41B21/00; B41B21/16; B41B21/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
In or for a photocomposing machine including a rotatable character disc and means for rotating said disc in order to facilitate the selection of characters to be projected onto a photosensitive 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, and means for altering the speed of said spacing mechanism after a character has been projected, so that said disc will arrive at a projection position in coincidence with the arrival of said spacing mechanism at the proper position for projecting the next character onto said surface, said disc consisting of a plurality of segments, each bearing a complete font of characters in a given style.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
In or for a photocomposing machine including a rotatable character disc and means for rotating said disc in order to facilitate the selection of characters to be projected onto a photosensitive 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, and means for altering the speed of said spacing mechanism after a character has been projected, so that said disc will arrive at a projection position in coincidence with the arrival of said spacing mechanism at the proper position for projecting the next character onto said surface, said disc consisting of a plurality of segments, each bearing a complete font of characters in a given style.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A device as in claim 1 including means for setting a standard speed for said character spacing mechanism, means for determining the change from said standard speed required to achieve said coincidence, and means for developing said change, the characters on said disc being arranged to move past a common projection position in the direction of their vertical axes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device as in claim 1 including means for setting a standard speed for said character spacing mechanism, and means for determining said standard speed in accordance with the ultimate size of the characters being composed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device as in claim 1 or claim 2 or claim 3 including means for setting a standard speed for said character spacing mechanism, and means for determining said standard speed in accordance with the average width of characters being composed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
98 words
In a photocomposing machine having a movable character matrix, a flash lamp for exposing characters on said matrix and projecting images thereof towards a recording surface, and moving means for moving said matrix to bring selected characters thereon to a projection position, said moving means being adapted to move said matrix at a relatively high speed when a selected character is relatively remote from said projection position and at a relatively low speed when said character is at said projection position, and operating means for operating said flash lamp when said character is located at said projection position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
98 words
In a photocomposing machine having a movable character matrix, a flash lamp for exposing characters on said matrix and projecting images thereof towards a recording surface, and moving means for moving said matrix to bring selected characters thereon to a projection position, said moving means being adapted to move said matrix at a relatively high speed when a selected character is relatively remote from said projection position and at a relatively low speed when said character is at said projection position, and operating means for operating said flash lamp when said character is located at said projection position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device as in claim 5 in which said matrix is rotatable and includes at least one segment extending over a relatively limited arc of rotation of said matrix, said segment bearing a complete alphabet of characters.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as in claim 6 in which said matrix is a disc and said segment is releasably attached to a hub together with other segments to form said disc.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as in claim 5 in which said operating means includes means for operating said lamp at a relatively high output light intensity level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as in claim 5 in which said relatively high speed is at least ten times greater than said relatively low speed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device as in claim 5 in which said matrix bears a plurality of optical timing marks, means for illuminating said timing marks, said operating means including a differential photocell for detecting light shining through said timing marks and producing corresponding flash lamp energization signals.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
49 words
A device as in claim 10 in which said photocell has two separate photosensitive areas separated by a relatively thin linear dividing zone, each of said timing marks being linear and having sides which are parallel to said linear dividing zone when the mark is aligned with said zone.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of photocomposing, said method comprising forming character images by flashing a flash lamp to illuminate master characters on a matrix, projecting character images onto a recording surface from a projection position, moving said matrix at a relatively high speed when a selected character is relatively remote from said projection position, and at a relatively low speed when said matrix is at said projection position, and operating said flash lamp at a level of light intensity at which the time duration of the flash is excessively long relative to said high matrix speed.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
94 words
A method of photocomposing, said method comprising forming character images by flashing a flash lamp to illuminate master characters on a matrix, projecting character images onto a recording surface from a projection position, moving said matrix at a relatively high speed when a selected character is relatively remote from said projection position, and at a relatively low speed when said matrix is at said projection position, and operating said flash lamp at a level of light intensity at which the time duration of the flash is excessively long relative to said high matrix speed.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as in claim 12 in which said high speed is at least ten times greater than said low speed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as in claim 12 in which said matrix bears optical slits for flash timing, and including the step of utilizing a differential photocell to detect light shining through said marks and thereby precisely detect the center of each slit, and developing a corresponding electrical signal to cause the energization of said flash lamp.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
160 words
In or for a photocomposing machine including a rotatable character matrix and means for rotating said matrix in order to facilitate the selection of characters to be projected onto a photosensitive 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, and means for altering the speed of said spacing mechanism after a character has been projected, so that said matrix will arrive at a projection position in coincidence with the arrival of said spacing mechanism at the proper position for projecting the next character onto said surface, said speed altering means including means for calculating the time required for the matrix to reach said projection position, storage means for storing predetermined speed values corresponding to values of said time, and means for delivering signals corresponding to said speed values to drive means to alter said speed of said spacing mechanism.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
160 words
In or for a photocomposing machine including a rotatable character matrix and means for rotating said matrix in order to facilitate the selection of characters to be projected onto a photosensitive 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, and means for altering the speed of said spacing mechanism after a character has been projected, so that said matrix will arrive at a projection position in coincidence with the arrival of said spacing mechanism at the proper position for projecting the next character onto said surface, said speed altering means including means for calculating the time required for the matrix to reach said projection position, storage means for storing predetermined speed values corresponding to values of said time, and means for delivering signals corresponding to said speed values to drive means to alter said speed of said spacing mechanism.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
51 words
A device as in claim 15 in which the time calculation means includes storing the rank values of the character just projected and the one next to be projected, subtracting those values from one another, and adding to the result of the subtraction the time for one turn of said matrix.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
46 words
A device as in claim 15 including means for determining a predetermined speed for said character spacing mechanism, in accordance with the ultimate size of the characters being composed, and means for causing said mechanism to reach said speed just prior its reaching said projection position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2786400A
Cited
US3296948A
Cited
US3464331A
Cited
GB1236741A
Cited
US3721165A
Cited
US3709117A
Cited
US3886566A
Cited
US3759149A
Cited
US3946294A
Cited
US4135794A
Cited
US4148572A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-02-13 | 1987-08-15 | 1988-02-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-02-13 | 1991-08-15 | 1992-02-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-02-13 | 1995-08-15 | 1996-02-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |