Abstract: Improved recording head structures having lower recording current requirements and planar construction which are mass-producible with high reliability. Associated with the conductors constituting the recording elements are one or more selected materials, predeterminably situated, for substantially reducing the reluctance of the magnetic writing circuit associated to the conductor recording zone. The material is arranged to at least partially define the recording zones and to shield the recording medium from the magnetic fields associated to the recording elements outside of the recording zones. Through appropriate choice and placement of such material, a pre-biasing effect may be achieved thus enabling further reduction in recording currents.

Abstract: The drawings illustrate the principles involved in an inertial shuttle device originally constructed to operate as an optical character recognition device and adapted to rapid photocomposition.The shuttle is a scanning device which is inherently a very uniform and smooth scanning velocity device and utilizes only a minute amount of driving power. This combination is achieved by means of energy conserving springs which reverse the head very rapidly at the end of each stroke with windage and friction losses made up by a lightweight, low inertia drive motor which itself is variable in power input by alteration of current intensity supplied to the motor.

Abstract: In a photocomposition machine, a method for projecting characters at a selected point size. A first reference position and a second reference position are defined. The variator lens and the collimator lens of the machine are driven to the first and second reference positions, respectively, in predetermined directions. The variator lens is then driven from the first reference position to a first composing position, and the collimator lens is driven from the second reference position to a second composing position. The composing positions are determined by the point size data, and each lens is moved to a composition position only in a direction opposite the predetermined direction.

Abstract: A keyboard entry device with video display for multiple language use. A language selector establishes the language mode of the machine, and the entire keyboard font is displayed on the video screen in the relationship of the keys on the keyboard. Display is either at operator request or machine controlled intervals and may be displayed on only part of the screen or the text being composed may be temporarily removed from the screen and the entire screen used to display the characters in a key related position. Thus, the operator has the capability of locating keys while learning the new keyboard relationship, or refreshing memory for reassurance.

Abstract: A photocomposition machine wherein the lens system includes at least one focusing lens which is moved into point size position by a mechanical drive under a control means which returns the lens carriage to a known reference position prior to a composition routine, which reference position becomes a value in the memory of the control, whereby the mechanical precision and wear alteration of the drive become of no factor in accurate focusing of the lenses.

Abstract: An improved photocomposition machine is provided including a keyboard and a cathode ray tube (CRT) which displays various function commands, such as font, point size, and line length and their selected values, in a function field area on the CRT screen. Changes in point size and font values made by the operator within a line appear on the screen with the type line characters in a sequence which they were entered. Upon completion of a type line, the last selected point size and font values appear in the function field area as the completed line is shifted to a predetermined location on the CRT screen, whereby the operator is provided with a visual record of the point size and font values for both current and previous lines.

Abstract: A photographic compositor having a letter pattern carrying section comprising a plurality of letter pattern carrying discs which are rotatably mounted on a common rotatable shaft at intervals, and an optical system disposed to cooperate with one side of a selected disc wherein a beam for illuminating letter patterns carried in a track on a disc is caused to reside between a pair of adjacent letter pattern carrying discs by interspersing a selected disc with said optical system and then passing the beam through a letter pattern and out through the space between a pair of discs of the following stage, said optical system and said letter pattern carrying section mounted for relative movement in a path perpendicular to the axis of said rotatable shaft, said movement having a first limit which separates the largest disc carried by said shaft from said optical system, and a second limit position preselected to position a track of any selected disc into projection relationship with said system, and means to shift sa