Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENT ION
Phototypesetter machines have been known in the past
but none has been satisfactory for use by a small business
or the like in the making of advertising signs and similar
promotional materials which needs type of different sizes.
Ordinarily such machines do not allow a wide selection of
type sizes or, if they do, involve expensive equipment.
Further, such machines have to have a separate wet process
developing machine to develop the strip of output paper
under semi-darkroom conditions. Usually a "pas~e-up" is
made of the headlines strips and copy material, photographed,
and then developed, fixed and dried. This machine will be
able to combine all the above machines and operations in
one single machine.
It is thus an object of the present invention to
provide a relatively simple, mechanical phototypesetting
machine which is capable of preparing signs, printed material,
and the like in a wide variety of type sizes from a single
font.
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention,
two or more different fonts can be used, e.g. a small letter
font of 6-30 points and the other a big letter font of 18-90
points. They could also be located on the same font if oniy
upper case letters for the big sizes are required. The small
font can accommodate two or three different styles of letters
so that different styles can be printed in a large number of
sizes without exchanging the font.
Another object of the present invention is to provide
a phototypesetter wherein the developing is done one line
at a time so that the compositor can type the next line while
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the previous line is being developed, and so save time in
preparing the material.
In accordance with another embodiment of the invention,
a memory and display unit is provided wherein a display is
provided so that the compositor can type an entire page,
edit it, and then have the entire page printed automatically
thereafter and then have the entire sheet developed at one
time.
Another object of the present invention is to provide
a novel combination of paper advancing and developing mecha- -
nism of simple and fool-proof operation.
Still another object of the present invention is to
provide a correction means for the type font position so
that the stepping motor line up the font to only the
approximate location desired, and the correcting mechanism
will insure accurate alignment.
Still another object of the present invention is to
provide a font for a phototypesetting machine wherein the
opaque parts o the font are highly reflective so that the
font will not be heated unduly by incident light.
A still further object of the presen~ invention is to
provide a novel means of shifting between lower case and
upper case letters.
Still another object of the present invention is to
provide simple means to automatic focusing the lens when
the magnification selector knob is turned.
~ther objects and features of the invention will be
brought out in the specification which follows.
BRIEF DESCP~IPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a phototyper
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embodying the presen~ invention.
Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the
machine with the cover removed.
Figure 3 is a plan view, partly in section , of the
operating parts of t'ne machine.
Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.
Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 3.
Figure 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Figure 3.
Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 of Figure 4.
Figure 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Figure 6.
Figure 10 is a section on the line 10-10 of Figure 6.
Figure 11 is a top plan view of the auto-focus
mechanism.
Figure 12 is a section on the line 12-12 of Figure 11.
Figure 13 is a section on the line 13-13 of Figure 12.
Figure 14 is an enlarged side section of the paper
advancing and developing system.
Figure 15 is a view similar to Figure 14 showing the
motion of the parts.
Figure 16 is a section on the line 16-16 of Figure 4.
Figure 17 is a section on the line 17-17 of Figure 16.
Figure 18 is a section on the line 18-18 of Figure 16.
Figure 19 is a section on the line 19-19 of Figure 16.
Figure 20 is a section on the line 20-20 of Figure 16.
Figure 21 is a schematic diagram of the font and
carriage movement electronics.
Figure 22 is a schematic diagram of the paper advance
electronics.
Figure 23 is a perspective view of another embodiment
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of the invention employing a memory circuit and a CRT
display and also wherein the machine develops an entire
page at one time.
Figure 24 is a perspective view of a portion of the
machine shown in Figure 23 with certain parts cut away to
show the internal features of the machine.
Figure 25 is a section on the line 25-25 of Figure 24.
Figure 26 is a view on the line 26-26 of Figure 25.
Figure 27 is a view on the line 27-27 of Figure 25.
Figure 28 is a side view on the line 28-28 of Figure 27.
Figure 29 is a side view on the line 29-29 of Figure 27.
Figure 30 is a block diagram.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The machine of the present invention as shown in
Figures 1-22 is built on a base 22 having a suitable cover
2~ thereover. The machine is provided with the usual type-
writer keyboard 26 and with a suitable control panel 28.
The control panel 28 has a number of lighted push button
switches which control different features of the machine.
The functions are preferably color coded with different
lights to help the operator in the operation of the machine.
In sequence from left to right of Figure 1, the switches
have the following functions:
a) Pow'er''"'ON"''swi't'ch '21
This switch controls primary power to all machine
functions which are delivered by the multiple
output power supply unit, not illustrated. When
switched on, it lights up in a green color.
b) C'ar'r'ia'g'e''sp'ee'd'sw'i't'ch''23
With this selector switch the operator selects
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the speed of the carriage 62 on rods 64 and 69
(later described in detail). The operator can
select two speeds, either fast or slow. The
slow speed helps in locating the carriage in a
precise position for left hand justification or
a kearning operation between letters. The
operator moves the carriage at slow stepping
speed until the carriage position indicator 25
is in the desired position. Then he switches
the selector switch to the fast operation
position, and the carriage runs in fast speed.
The slow speed position is shown in red light,
and the fast speed position in green light
through the translucent key.
c) Sh'utter'`switch 27
With this selector switch the operator seIects
an "OPEN" or "CLOSE" shutter position~ In the
closed operation he can compose his text or
copy in its position, and spacing with the
different sizes of letters until he has the
right composition without the actual exposure
of the paper. When in "OPEN" position, the
shutter opens during the typing operation
sequence. The "CLOSED" position is indicated
by a red light, and the "OPEN" position by a
green light, both lights (not illustrated)
being located under a translucent key.
d) Leading swit'ch lever''29
The leading selector switch allows selecting
the spacing between words. There are two
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choices, namely 2 spaces or 3 spaces. Both
positions are indicated by a white light.
The two positions show as 353 and 355 on
Figure 21.
e) Line spacing 31
The line spacing seIector switch allows selecting
the spacing between typed lines in two choices,
namely "narrow" and "wide." Both choices are
indicated by a white light.
f) Paper sensitivity potentiometer`33
g) Development temperature potentiometer 35
h) Develo~pment time potentiometer 37
i) An alpha numeric indicator 39 is provided to
indicate the letters which just have been typed
in the present line of letters. It retains the
letters until the return key or the paper
advancement key has been pushed, which clears
the line, so that the next line can be displayed.
A light tight cassette 32 provides a supply of heat
developable paper 34. The finished, developed paper leaves
the machine at 36. A knob 38 actuates roller 40 ~or initially
drawing the paper onto platen 42 where it is exposed while
knob 39 sets the type (point) size.
Adjacent to the platen 42 are the bellows 44 which are
provided with a light-tight frame 46 which is mounted in
sliding relationship in front of the platen. The light tight
frame 46 is mounted for traversing on the guides 48 and 50
which run from side to side in the machine. The frame 46 is
attached to a curtain 52 which passes over rollers 54 and 56.
The curtain eIement 52 serves as a light shield so that that
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portion of the sensitive paper which does not lie directly
under the light shield 46 will not be exposed to stray light.
Also attached to the frame 46 are rods 58 and 60 which
extend on either side of the bellows to the carriage 62
and further to back carriage guide 63 which has a linear
ball-bearing 65 attached to it, which in turn guides the
whole carriage 62 on back guide rod 69 and the front guide
rod 64. Rods 64 and 69 extend from side to side of the
machine. The carriage 62 supports the font mechanism 66
later to be described in detail. The frame 46 and the
attached structures are caused to traverse from side to
side by means later described in detail.
The font mechanism, generally designated 66, will
now be described in detail. The font proper consists of
a disc 78 with two concentric rows of transparent characters,
namely upper case characters 80 and lower case characters 82
near the periphery thereof. The face 84 of the disc 78 is
provided with a reflective surface so that light will be
reflected from the opaque parts of the disc, keeping the font
from getting unduly warm. The font i.s attached to a shaft
86 and is held in place by a knob 88 which has detents 90
fitting into a recess in shafts 86 to make it easy to snap
off one font and substitute another to change the style of
type. Shaft 86 has a gear 92 which mates with gear 94 on
stepping motor 96. Shaft 86 also carries a toothed wheel
98 as is best seen in Figure 10. The nurnber of teeth on
wheel 98 corresponds to the number of characters in each
row of font 84. Adjacent to wheeI 98 is detent 100 which
îs actuated by solenoid 102. It is difficult to operate
the stepping motor 96 with the extreme degree of precision
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required for the placement of the font so that the stepping
motor rotates the font to bring it into approximately the
desired position, and solenoid 102 is actuated, causing the
detent 100 to enter between the two closest teeth on wheel 98
precisely positioning the font. The font itself is flexible
and passes between gates 104 and 106 so that the character
is maintained at the exact first focal plane as shown at
108. Stepping motor 96 is pivoted, as is best seen in
Figure 6. The pivot point is at 110 and the motor is
actuated by lever arm 112 which in turn is attached to the
armature 114 of solenoid 116 through a flexible cable 115.
Thus, referring to Figures 6 and 7, the position of
the parts is shown in solid lines for printing a lower case
character and in phantom for printing an upper case character.
A light source 122 is provided which preferably consists of
a halogen quartz bulb 124 with an attached reflector 126 with
a snap-in connector 128, making it easy to snap in a new bulb
and to position it precisely in holes 129.
~ounted below the light source 122 is a cold mirror
130 and light is reflected off this mirror onto the focal
plane 108 as is shown in dot-dash lines in Figure 6 and
also passing the heat straight down to the base plate 22.
A suitable objective lens 132 held in lens mount 134 focuses
the image of the selected portion of the font onto the
sensitive paper 36 held against platen 42 at the second focal
plane.
The font also has two transparent areas 136 and 138,
and light coming through these areas is sensed by the photo-
cells 140 and 142. The area 136 and photocell 140 are used
for determining a "home" position of the font, and photocell
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142 through area 138 is monitoring the light intensity of
the lamp. An automatic electronic exposure meter circuit
senses the photocells 142 output, and through an integrating
circuit with a capacitor switch when the predetermined exposure
values have been reached. An operational amplifier then triggers
a transistor which operates the electromagnetic shutter 143.
Any variation in the lamp output due to aging or variation in
line voltage or lamp exchange are herewith automatically
compensated.
As was previously stated, the font motor assembly is
mounted on carriage 62. Carriage 62 can move to the front
and to the rear on the guides 58 and 60, and can move from
side to side on the rod 64. The motion from front to rear
obviously determines the size of the character printed, and
this motion is controlled by shaft 144 which is controlled by
knob 39. Rotary switches 146 serve to correct exposure light
level and time as well as controls the width of the traverse
steps and line spacing, depending on the degree of magnifica-
tion and line spacing selected. Shaft 144 has a detent wheel
148 with a spring mounted detent 150 pressing against it. In
this manner, the shaft 144 can stop at certain select points
which will represent certain degrees of magnification of the
font. This shaft also carries an indicator 152 which indicates
the size of type, preferably in points, being printed. Rod
64 is mounted on sliders 154 and 156 which can slide on the
rods 158 and 160. These sliders are attached to the cables
162 and 164 and pass over pulleys 166 and 168 mounted on
shaft 144. Thus, the font assembly 66 can be moved back and
forth in steps determined by the detent wheel 148 and this,
of course, determines the size of the character printed.
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1092872
The method of focusing the camera can best be seen in
Figures 11, 12 and 13. Lying alongside of rod 58 is a cam 172.
A cam follower arm 174 having adjustable cam follower 175
is urged into contact with the cam surface by means of spring
176. The cam follower has an arm 178 which is heId in con~act
with pin 180 by spring 176. Pin 180 is fed through to housin~
182 and connects to the objective lens holder 134 best seen
in Figure 6. Thus, as the carriage assembly 62 moves back
and forth, the lens position changes to cause the image to
stay in sharp focus by the action of cam 172.
As was previously mentioned, the carriage 62 can move
from side to side on rod 64. This movement is obviously
necessary so that one character can be exposed at a time and
the carriage returned to the starting position after having
printed a line. This side-to-side movement is controlled by
the toothed belt 184 which is attached to the carriage 62
as is best seen in Figure 8. The toothed belt 184 is trained
around the pulleys 186 and 188. The position of the belt is
determined by the stepping motor 190 and these steps are
adjusted for the size of the image by switches 146. A carriage
position pointer 25A and scale 25 is provided to indicate the
position of the carriage in respect to the paper width. The
paper width is shown in picas on the scale 25 by pointer 25A
which is connected to the frame 46 and rides behind the trans-
parent scale 25.
As was previously mentioned, the phototypesetter of the
present invention utilizes a light-sensitive, heat developable
paper, and the method of advancing and developing the paper will
now be described. The paper 34 is contained in cassette 32 and
passes through a light-tight passage 210, past the roller 40
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and to the pressure plate 42, where the paper is exposed After
the paper is exposed, it passes over guide 212 in position to
be moved into contact with the heater pad 214 where the develop-
ing takes place. Located over pad 214 is a heated pad 216 which
is arranged for reciprocation on ways 218. It consists of an
electrical heater 214 which has on its front surface a velours
fabric 215 of the proper springiness and friction coefficient
to adjust for irregular surface conditions and misalignment.
On the back side of the heater is a polyurethane pad 217 for
insulation purposes. A sensor in good physical contact with
the heater element and an electronic temperature controller
(not illustrated) keep the heater temperature slaved and con-
trolled to the temperature of the heater plate 214, so that
the paper is controlled in the front as well as in the back
to the proper development temperature parameters. A rack 220
bearing against pinion 222 serves to reciprocate pad 216.
The rack 220 is driven through the angle drive 224. from
shaft 226 which is connected by a belt 228 to motor 230 as
shown in Figure 5. As the pad 216 advances, as is shown by
the arrow in Figure 14, it pulls the paper along with it since
the paper is gripped by the swinging block 232 which is urged
into contact with the paper by means of a friction bar 234.
After the pad 216 has pulled the paper along to the desired
extent determined by the selected photocell, motor 230
reverses, pulling the pad 216 backward, but at this point,
the paper is released by swinging block 232 which is actuated
by tab 233 riding up on friction bar 234 which is held back
by friction pads 237 against ways 218. A sheet of silicon
rubber 235 is affixed to the top of heater 214 and has a
higher coefficient of friction than the heated pad 216 covered
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with velours fabric. Thus, the pad 216 slips over the paper
so that the paper is held against rubber sheet 235 and thus
is not pushed back into the printer. In this way, a simple
means is provided to advance the paper one line at a time
and simultaneously develop it by contact with the pad 216.
A light emitting diode 215 is fastened to the slider 216,
and projects its output to a row of phototransistors 217
fastened to frame 219. The slider moves to the photocell
previously selected by selector switch 146, which is actuated
by the point size selector knob 39, and stops the drive motor
230 through a solid state switching circuit. The motor 230
is a special "two motors on one axis" assembly which is
essentially a drive motor and brake motor on the same shaft.
It stops the motor in a very short time and distance and into
a very repeatable position.
A delay timer sequence is electrically initiated which
keeps the slider assembly with the backheater over the paper,
and the development of the paper takes place. The duration
of the development is selected by the control knob 37 and
the heater plate temperature by the control knob 35. An
additional control 33 is provided to adjust for the different
light sensitivities of the papers by controlling the length of
exposure time.
Two micro switches 369 and 371 are provided to stop the
carriage travel electrically when the carriage reaches the
two end positions left and right. This avoids mechanical
overstresses in the drive system.
The power supply for the machine (not illustrated) is
a multiple output supply which provides the necessary voltages
for all the electrical functions to be performed. It is housed
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in a box which is located separate from the machine, to avoid
electrical and thermal interferences. It connects to the
machine via a power cabIe plug.
The font and carriage movement sequence of events will
now be described particularly with reference to Figure 21:
LOWE~ CASE LETTE~
Pushing a key on keyboard 26 stops the encoder counter
300 at a number which corresponds to the keyed-in letter.
The output of 300 is set, enabling shutter circuit 305 and
sending a "data present" signal to the display 39. The
encoder output is decoded in 307 and applied to the display;
the keyed-in letter appears on the display 307. The "end"
signal enabIes the font comparator 309. The encoder output
is applied to the font comparator causing the direction flip-
flop FF2 of 309 to be set for that direction of the rotation
of the font wheel 78 which corresponds to the keyed-in letter.
A2 of 309 goes low, enabling the font counter 311 and con-
troller 313 and removing the stop signal from clock 2 (315)
and the detent circuit 317. The font wheel begins to move.
Three steps before the wheel reaches the position correspond-
ing to the keyed-in letter, A14 of 309 goes low, placing
clock 315 into the slow mode.
When the number in the font counter 311 equals the
number in the encoder 300, the output A2 of the font com-
parator 309 goes high, stopping font counter 311 and con-
troller 311 and clock 2. It also triggers delay 1 (317
which activates the detent stop 317.
At the end of the deIay 1 period, when the font wheel
has come to rest, the shutter circuit 305 is activated. The
shutter circuit also activates the detent 317.
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At the end of the shutter period the shutter circuit
triggers delay 2 (319) which allows enough time for the
shutter to close completely. Delay 2 also activates the
detent 317.
At the end of the deIay 2 period the detent stop 317
is deactivated and the font return (321) and the carriage
(323) flip-flops are set. The return FF 321 resets the font
counter 311 to zero. This causes A2 of the font comparator
309 to go low, thereby enabling the font counter 311, start-
ing clock 315 and disabling the detent 317. A14 of 309 now
goes high, allowing the signal from clock 315 to reach the
font counter 311. As the return FF 321 through the direction
logic 325 has reversed the font controller direction, the
font wheeI begins to return to its "0" position.
Three counts before the font wheel reaches its "0"
position A14 of 309 goes low and as Q of the return FF is
also low, gate A20 is disabled and clock 2 (315) thus does
no longer reach the font counter, it stops counting. The
font controller, however, keeps receiving clock pulses and
the font wheel keeps moving; it will only stop when the "0"
detector detects the "0" position and resets the encoder;
the font counter and the return FF, the font comparator are
disabled causing A2 to go high. This disables the font
counter, and the Eont controller, and stops clock 2. A2
also triggers delay 1 (317) but delay 1 cannot trigger the
shutter circuit as the AND gate 327 at its trigger input is
disabled by the Q output of FFl (300) which was reset with
the entire encoder. Now the encoder may, or may not, be
ready for the next encoding cycle. This depends on whether
the carriage has co~e to a standstill (carriage FF 323 reset).
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The encoder remains stopped until the carriage has stopped.
When delay 2 (319) at the end of its period triggeredthe return FF 321 and thereby started the return motion of
the font wheeI it also set the carriage FF. When the carriage
FF is set it enables the carriage counter 331 and - through
019 - enables the carriage controller 333 and starts clock 3
(336).
The carriage moves a number of steps which is equal
to 2 times magnification spacing. The magnification is set
by selector switch 337. The spacing depends on the keyed-
in letter. Depending on the encoder output and the state
of the shift circuit one of the 4 outputs of the spacing
decoder 336 goes high determining the spacing as 2x, 3x, 4x
or Sx.
When the counter has reached the number defined above
it produces a low at its "end" output which through the reset
logic resets the carriage FF 323, the spacing FF's 339 and
341, the back space FF 343 and itself. ~ of the carriage
FF 323 goes hig;h causing OR gate 019 (345) to go high, stopping
clock 3 and disabling the carriage controller. If the font
has returned to i~s "O" position the encoder is ready for the
next letter, otherwise the encoder remains stopped until it
does reach its "O" position.
CAP ITAL LETTER
The shift circuit can be activated in two ways: either
by temporary switch 349 or stationary switch 351. To place
it in the temporary mode ST (349) must be depressed; only
as long as it is depressed will the font wheel be shifted
into its upper case position. The font wheel remains in the
upper case position after momentarily depressing Ss 351 until
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ST is depressed when it returns into its lower case position.
I~hen activated, the shift circuit places a high signal OII
the A6 inputs of the display (307) and spacing (335) decoders.
This causes the letter to be displayed as upper case and
influences the spacing (count of carriage counter).
2x and 3x SPACIN&
Blank spacing is accomplished by depressing either
the 2 spaces (353) or 3 spaces (355) switch. This causes
the carriage to move to 2 or 3 times magnification in the
following manner: 2x FF (341) or 3x FF (339) is set.
Through OR gate 357, the carriage FF is set and the carriage
starts moving. The output of the OR gate is also applied
to the A7 inputs of the display and spacing decoders. This
causes a blank to be entered on the display and zeroes all
four outputs of the spacing decoder; depending on whether
the 2 spaces or 3 spaces switch was depressed the 2x or 3x
line of the carriage counter is high (through the OR gates
359 and 361) and the carriage moves the corresponding number
of steps. ~hen the carriage counter reaches the proper
count it causes resetting of the carriage FF and the spacing
FF as in the case of a lower or upper case letter.
BACKSPACE
Depressing the backspace switch 363 sets the backspace
FF 343 which in turn sets the carriage FF 323. This sets
the carriage in motion as described above. T~owever, as the
Q output of the backspace FF goes low and the NA~D gate 365
at the D/U input of the carriage controller goes high,
causing the carriage controller to reverse the carriage
motor. After a number of steps equal to 2 times magnifica-
tion backward the lx output of the carriage goes high and
~092~372
through the reset logic resets the circuits as in the case
of a letter. Note that in this case it does not matter
whether any of the outputs of the spacing decoder are high.
Q of the backspace FF sets the reset logic so that it
accepts a signal ~rom the lx output of the carriage counter.
CARRIAGE FORWARD
Depressing the FWD switch 367 causes 019 to go low,
thereby enabling the carriage controller and starting
clock 3. The carriage keeps moving forward as long as the
FWD switch is depressed.
CARRIAGE RETURN
Depressing the return switch 369 causes 019 to go low
thereby enabling the carriage controller and starting
clock 3. 019 also causes the NAND gate 365 at the D/U input
to go high, causing the carriage motor to reverse its direc-
tion. The carriage keeps moving backward as long as the
return switch is depressed. Depressing the return switch
also clears the display.
DISABLE SWITCH
When in the right-most position the carriage closes
the disable carriage FWD switch 372 which through the reset
logic keeps the carriage FF 323 reset. The carriage counter
and the carriage controller are kept disabled even if a key
is depressed. In the same position the carriage opens the
FWD disable switch 373 making the FWD switch 367 inactive.
When in the left-most position the carriage closes
the disable backspace switch 375 which through the reset
logic keeps the carriage FF reset even when the backspace FF
is set. In the same position the carriage opens t'ne return
disable switch 376 making the return switch 369 inactive.
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1~9Z872
The paper advance system sequence of events will now
be described particularly with reference to Figure 22. At
the start of a developing operation both forward (FWD) 402
and return flip-flop (FF) 404 are reset, Q is high in both
cases, and motor and brakes are de-energized by motor
controller 406. The paper transport is in zero position.
FWD FF is set by closing 408 (start) and gate Al (409)
goes high and motore 230 starts running forward.
The paper transport (i.e. pad 216) moves until the
light emitting diode 410 (LED) lines up with one of the
photo diodes 412 which is connected through S2 and S3 to
pulse shaper 1 (411). In the switch position shown this
photo diode is the one corresponding to lOx magnification,
large spacing. The location of these photo diodes is shown
in Figure 14.
The light from the LED causes a current in the photo
diode which after shaping by the pulse shaper 411 resets
the FWD FF 402.
The motor 230 is de-energized (Q of FWD FF goes low),
brake 1 is activated (Q of FWD FF goes high), the paper
transport stops in the selected (by S2 and S3)position, and
the delay 416 is started.
After a suitable time interval determined by the motor
controller brake 1 is deactivated.
At the end of the delay period, the delay circuit
sets the return FF 404 and gate A2 (41~) goes high so that
the motor runs backward.
The paper transport moves backward until the LED 410
lines up with the zero position diode 413.
The light from the LED causes a current in the photo-
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1~32872
diode which after shaping by pulse shaper 2 (412) resets
the return FF.
The motor is de-energized (Q of return FF 404 goes
low), brake 2 is activated (Q of return FF goes high) and
the paper transport stops in the zero position where it
started from.
After a certain time interval the motor controller
deactivates brake 2 and the paper advance system is back
in its initial state.
The arrangement of the parts in this practical
embodiment of the invention is such that the image projected
on the paper is from two to ten times actual size of the
font so that the variation in area size of a particular
character can be from one to 25. This is a very substantial
difference in size so that the machine is well adapted for
printing advertising signs and the like wherein one wishes
to have some lines in relatively small type and others in
large type. Obviously, by proper selection of focal length
and the like, these ratios can be shifted as desired.
A more advanced version of the machine is shown in
Figures 23-29. Although this machine embodies the general
mechanical structure previously described, it differs in
several important respects. In the first place, a micro-
computer with memory and display monitor unit is provided
so that one can type an entire page and have it recorded
on the workspace of a CRT, edit it, and then push a button
whereupon the machine will print the entire page from the
memory. Then the paper will be cut off and the entire page
will be developed as a unit rather than on a line-by-line
basis as previously described.
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Referring now to Figures 23 through 29, the phototyper
has a case 400 having the usual typewriter keyboard 402.
The phototyper is connected by means of a cable 404 to a
memory and display monitor unit 406. The display monitor
unit 406 is a display tube of the usual CRT type, wherein
the material is displayed as it is typed. After a page has
been typed, as is later described in detail, one pushes the
print button 410 whereupon the machine recalls the typed
material from memory and prints it optically as previously
described. As soon as the sheet is printed, it is developed.
As was previously mentioned, many of the mechanical
parts of this version of the machine are the same as those
previously described so they are not herein described in
detail. The heat sensitive paper is stored in a light
tight magazine 412 and is advanced by means of a drive
roller 414. The paper 416 passes over platen 418 where
it is held in position for exposure as was previously
described. The paper then passes through a light seal 420
through the drive rollers 422. The paper then passes over
the guillotine type cut off blade 424 and is then guided by
deflector 426 between the two sets of endless belts 428 and
430. The amount of paper which can be held between the belts
normally would represent one page as is displayed on the CRT.
Thus, as the paper is exposed and advanced, it passes into
storage between the belts 428 and 430 driven by a belt drive
system 429. As soon as one page is completed, the guillotine
424 direct driven by cut off solenoid 431 cuts off the sheet
and it then passes over the heated roller 432 where it is
developed and is passed out of the machine in finished form
at 434. A light seal 436 is provided at the entrance end of
lO~Z872
the heated roller. Thus, the development is done one
sheet at a time rather than intermittently as previously
described.
The guillotine knife 424 operates against a fixed
member 425 and is caused to move by means of arm 427 which
is attached to shaft 429. Shaft 429 is rotated by the
rotary solenoid 431.
A pinch roller 436 is actuated by arm 438 which moves
in the slot 440. Roller presses the paper against the drive
roller 422 which is driven by paper advance motor 429 and
must be disengaged when the machine is loaded with a new
supply of paper. Arm 438 is actuated through the rotary
solenoid 442 which is attached to arm 444 in the linkage rod
445 or a manual lever 447.
In order to be able to move the carriage in the much
smaller steps now required for the smaller letter sizes
and different styles and widths of letters, a ministepper
movement has been devised that divides each normal step
size in 31 uniform miniature steps. Typical minlmum step
size of 24 mils is now 0.77 mils per ministep.
It was previously mentioned that more than one font
can be employed when it is desired to have an extreme range
of sizes or different styles of type. If more than one font
type size is employed, it is necessary to provide some
adjustable aperture means so that the light beam is restricted
to the particular font size in use. Re~erring now to particu-
larly Figures 25 and 26, a font 446 is shown, a typical font
having small upper and lower case letters 448 and small upper
case letters in italic or bold style 450, and large capitals
452 by way of example. The letters in each row are arranged
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in a statistical order tha~ places letters that are used
most often nearest to the center position, so that the
average writing speed is accordingly increased. If two
rows of characters are used, a two position shift solenoid
is required. If a three row character font is used, a
three position shift solenoid is needed. A rotating aperture
plate 454 has two apertures, namely a small aperture 456
and a large aperture 458. The aperture plate 454 is
connected to a rotary solenoid 460 so that either the small
aperture 456 or the large aperture 458 can be brought into
registrati.on with the desired font. In this manner, an
even larger range of sizes and various type styles can be
provided in the machine of the present invention. In order
to be able to print automatically as described before from
memory when changes in point sizes are required, an electric
magnification stepper motor 462 has been added that makes
it possible to change magnification of letter sizes from
the keyboard or from memory automatically.
In Figure 30, there is shown a typical logic and con-
trol circuit for the version of the machine shown in
Figures 23-29. The legends on the drawings are largely self-
explanatory but in general the operation of the logic is as
follows:
I. General description of basic machine operations
Striking a key on the keyboard places a code correspond-
ing to the key into the video character generator which causes
the CRT display to display the letter, associated with the
code. The code is also transferred to the central processor
unit (CPU) which initiates the printing of the letter.
First, the letter magnification is read. Then the font
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wheel is moved into position and stopped. The detent is
energized, the shutter is opened, the exposure is measured,
and when enough light has been admitted to the paper, the
shutter is closed, and the detent is de-energized. Then the
font wheel starts to run back until the zero position sensor
senses that the font wheel is again in its starting position.
At the same time as the font starts to return, the carriage
motor starts to move the carriage according to the letter
keyed in and the letter magnification. If the carriage
arrives at the right endstop before it completes its movement,
the carriage motor is stopped.
When the space bar is struck, no letter is printed or
displayed, only the carriage moves. The carriage can be
moved left or right by striking corresponding keys. When
at the left stop, the CPU inhibits farther movement to the
left. When at the right stop, the CPU inhibits farther
movement to the right.
The CPU obtains the program instructions from the ROM.
Temporary instructions as letter size and type, and leading
are stored in RAM and displayed on top of the CRT screen.
II. Operational mod;es
The machine operations or modes can be broken down
into five different procedures. At any given time, the
operator is either:
a) typing
b) editing
c) printing
d) developing
e) saving and loading text
Each mode is entered keying in its corresponding code. This
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109287Z
code is generated by either a dedicated key or a combination
of keys.
A. Typing
When text (often referred to as a document) is typed
into the machine, the typed characters appear on a large
screen. The actual screen position of the next typed
character is determined by the location of the cursor. The
cursor is a little white square which appears somewhere on
the screen. The cursor is used as a pointer which indicates
where the next character will be placed. It will be placed
in the location that the cursor currently occupies.
As a document is typed, the text is stored in a work-
space. Since this workspace is considerably larger than
one screen's worth of text, the screen displays only a ,
portion of the workspace, namely the area that is currently
being worked on. If an area of the document that is not
currently on the screen needs work, the document may be
moved up or down until the proper area of the document is
displayed on the screen. Moving through the document is
called scrolling. After the correct area of text is selected,
the exact location within the area is selected by positioning
the cursor.
The workspace area is limited. As text is typed in,
the workspace will fill up. If this occurs, the current
document should be stored on a diskette, and then erased
from the workspace. The workspace is then freed up for
more text entry.
B. Editing
The act of correcting and modifying text is called
editing. Editing may be done while the document is being
`` 10~287;~
typed or after the entire document is entered.
Editing involves deleting, inserting, replacing, or
moving single characters or groups of characters. The
machine has a number of special commands for performing
these functions. The cursor is used in editing as a pointer.
An operator must position the cursor to the exact point
where an edit is to be made and then perform the proper
editing command. Any part of the text within the workspace
may be edited. Text that has been entered and saved on
disket~e must be reloaded into the workspace before it can
be edited.
C. Printing
The machine separates input (typing text) and output
(printing text) into two distinct procedures. The obvious
advantage of such a system is that documents are never
printed until they are perfect. Another benefit of this
type of a system is that a single piece of text can be
prînted in a variety of formats. At print time, an operator
may choose to specify line length, character spacing, line
spacing, right justification and a number of other printing
characteristics.
A document must be in the workspace for it to be
printed. A document stored on diskette must first be loaded
into the workspace before it can be printed.
D. Developing
The development is started by keying in the correspond-
ing command. First the papercutter solenoid is energized
and the paper is cut. Then the cutter solenoid is de-energized
and the roller lift solenoid is energized. Lifing the roller
prevents moving unexposed paper from the carriage into print-
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1092872
ing position. The paper-advance motor is started and the
paper to be deveIoped is moved through the heat developer.
The motor is stepped a number of steps which corresponds
to the maximum size of a page plus a leader. After the
paper to be developed has passed through the developer,
the motor stops, and the roller lift solenoid is de-energized.
The machine is then ready for printing and/or the next
developing cycle.
E. Saving and loading a document
Once a document is entered, an operator may choose to
store this document for future use. This is done by saving
the text on floppy diskette h64. Documents that have been
stored may be placed back into the workspace by commanding
the system to load the diskette.
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