Method of and apparatus for multi-galley composition

Abstract

In a photocomposition machine environment the apparatus and method show the concept of advancing the photosensitive material into position normally occupied for composition of text. The known apparatus and method are then modified by providing reverse leading for the paper and re-advance to the starting point followed by composition of a second column lateral to and aligned with the first column. A particular advance in the art is the ability to compose a complex mathematical formula with greatly simplified software using the improved hardware. The point of reference is established by a sensor which is activated upon advance of the paper to the sensor and therefore reversal and re-advancement of the paper will cause an exact repositioning of the paper for each column.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of multi-column composition, comprising the steps of: providing a means for detecting a reference feature of a paper sheet advancing along a path and for producing a control signal from such reference feature when detected;   providing a power-driven paper feed means for advancing a photosensitive sheet along said path;   advancing a sheet along said path until the reference feature thereof is detected by said means, and a control signal is generated;   applying said signal to stop said power-driven paper feed means;   composing characters to produce at least one character in a first column position;   thereafter reversing said paper feed to withdraw the paper to a position retracted from said means for detecting the desired reference feature; and   re-advancing said sheet until another control signal is produced by said means for detecting the reference feature, and,   finally, composing a second at least one character on the same page in a lateral position to the first character and in a predetermined relationship thereto by a relationship to said reference feature;   whereby a multiple column galley is obtained in registration from a common reference.   
     
     
       2. The method of claim 1, wherein said composition takes place in a first column of a multiple number of lines, followed by reverse leading and composition of a second column wherein said lines are aligned with those of the first column. 
     
     
       3. The method of claim 1, wherein said composition placement of the characters is random but aligned in relationship to a common lead reference. 
     
     
       4. A multi-column photocomposition machine, comprising: a photocomposition system including a font of characters and projection means for projecting characters of said font in column lines;   a power-driven paper feed means for advancing a photosensitive sheet along a path defining the image plane of said photocomposition system;   means for producing and thereafter detecting an established reference feature of a paper sheet advancing along said path and for producing a control signal when such feature is detected.   a controller for said machine, said controller providing advance feed of paper until a control signal is recorded, and thereafter providing multiple lines of composition in a column by repeating character-by-character exposure and line-by-line leading advance of said paper feed means;   whereby, the paper may be retracted and re-advanced repeatedly to be again detected and establish a new column starting line in alignment with a previous line.   
     
     
       5. The method of claim 1, wherein a photosensitive sheet is provided with preformed features which are detectable to establish a reverse and new advance leading. 
     
     
       6. The method of claim 1, wherein a photosensitive sheet is provided with a series of features for counting and leading control. 
     
     
       7. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference feature is the lead edge of the paper. .Iadd. 8. A method of irregular baseline composition, comprising the steps of: providing a means for detecting a reference feature of a sheet-web advancing along a path and for producing a control signal from such reference feature when detected;   providing a power-driven, sheet-web feed means for advancing a photosensitive sheet-web along said path;   advancing a sheet-web along said path until the reference feature thereof is detected by said feed means, and a control signal is generated;   applying said signal to stop said feed means;   composing characters to produce at least one character on a first column baseline;   thereafter reversing said feed means to withdraw the sheet-web to a position retracted from said means for detecting the desired reference feature;   re-advancing said sheet-web until another control signal is produced by said means for detecting the reference feature, and;   finally, stepping said feed means a leading distance equal to the distance of said first column baseline from said reference feature and further adjusted by a fractional leading distance to produce subscript and superscript insert positions off the baseline of said composed one character;   whereby an irregular baseline composition is obtained in registration from a common reference. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 9. An irregular baseline photocomposition machine, comprising:   a photocomposition system including a font of characters and projection means for projecting characters of said font in column lines;   a power-driven, sheet-web feed means for advancing a photosensitive sheet-web along a path defining the image plane of said photocomposition system;   means for detecting an established reference feature of a sheet-web advancing along said path and for producing a control signal when such feature is detected;   a controller for said machine, said controller providing advance feed of the sheet-web until a control signal is recorded, and thereafter providing multiple lines of composition in a column by repeating character-by-character exposure and line-by-line leading advance of said feed means; and   said controller also providing for reverse of said feed means to retract said reference feature to a position prior to said means for detecting the feature and readvancing the sheet-web relative to the new detection to a desired leading offset above or below the baseline of the characters previously set;   whereby, the sheet-web may be retracted and readvanced repeatedly to again detect the reference feature and establish a new baseline in accurate reference to the reference feature. .Iaddend.