DE2106759A1 - Method and apparatus for typesetting publications - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for the set of printed pages, and more particularly to one Method and device for setting newspapers, books and magazines

When setting print pages, the individual articles or items are usually in different places and prepared at different times. This material must be collected and arranged as it will appear in the print should be done before printing plates are made

In the newspaper industry, the individual pages are usually put together or set in that individual poets are glued on from proofs. The glued-on side then serves as the basis for production

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Patent attorneys Dipl.-lng. Martin Licht, Dipl.-Wirtsch.-Ing. Axel Hansmann, Dipl.-Phys. Sebastian Herrmann

a corresponding printing plate using photographic and photo-etching processes.

Newspapers and other publications have a so-called layout department that does the job has to allocate specific space within the publication to individual articles or departments.

In the newspaper industry, portions of the advertisements and advertisements are commonly used as proofs from a general Advertising department related. These deductions are made in a conventional manner when betting on assigned sections of a particular Glued to the side of the newspaper that the newspaper's design department has designated for this purpose. Local advertisements and advertising, including prints that were made not only in the newspaper's own editorial office, but also outside of it also to the typesetting department and are affixed to the space allocated by the design department. Both general as well as local advertisements often contain graphical representations. In addition, the design department also instructs the special advertising department and newspaper room to the editorial staff. In the newspaper industry, the term "editorial space" denotes generally those parts of the newspaper that are neither advertising nor special sections. The editorial part contains the images belonging to the editorial text. Some of the editorial material, such as the daily articles from Columnists, require a designated daily space in a designated location within the newspaper. Other

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editorial material is provided by the newspaper's various reporters and is used by the design department assigned to the respective reporter staff.

In accordance with the present invention, a computer is used to obtain the design information for a publication save. The design department has a computer station that can display sections of newspaper pages, with those sections of the page that are already assigned to a specific article as assigned space, preferably are marked by a border. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the design station has visual display devices, as described in the present applicant's U.S. patent application, Serial Ko. 16,626 dated February 20 1970 with the title "Composing Method and Apparatus" are set out. Such visual display devices can serve to when displaying a page to indicate that a certain section of the page is associated with a particular article. On command, the design station takes the coordinate values characterizing the relevant newspaper space in the memory of the Computer, so that when the page is requested again from the computer, the selected space is outlined or on another Way is visibly marked. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, in addition to the coordinate values, Data relating to the information entered into the computer so that the image display also indicates the article that is on should be printed out for the allocated space.

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After the newspaper space has been allocated or divided by the design department by adding in the calculator Design information has been saved, the computer can be operated in such a way that it either prepares a proof, in which the areas for the individual articles are specified and the identification of the individual articles in the respective surface areas is displayed, or with a cathode ray tube (CRT) aroeitenae light printing machine operates to set the pages with the editorial material, the surface areas for graphic representations and proofs have been otherwise inaccessible or detached. In a special embodiment the proofs from various sources are scanned and stored in a run-length code in the computer saved; the computer is then used to control the CRT photocomposing machine, to generate the fully set page including text and images.

In the practice of the invention, a print, such as a graphic representation, is scanned and thereby scanned received digital information entered into the computer in order to be able to reconstruct the print. Both a Line copy in black and white style as well as a halftone copy or a copy corresponding to the continuous tone values, z. A conventional photograph, can be scanned. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, when scanning a code is generated which the length of the segments with different

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Indicates brightness levels; when scanning a photograph corresponding to the continuous tone values, the light values are used to determine the point size which is used to reconstruct the photograph in halftone fashion. For such a copy, the character memory of the phototypesetting machine preferably contains instructions for the production of characters which consist of a dot pattern which, when repeated along a scan line, provides a half-tone copy of the correct dot size. Each dot pattern is identified by a character code and during scanning the respective light level of the copy is converted into a digital number which is decoded to specify the correct dot character required to make a halftone copy. The invention also provides for the reproduction of halftone prints in color by using color filters in scanning. The invention can be summarized as follows: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for the typesetting of publications, such as newspapers, prints from various sources being entered in coded form into a computer which controls a photographic printing machine which supplies a print of a page. ^u ewisse prints with graphics that may be present in Halbtonmanier or continuous tone values are sampled in order to create the information necessary for controlling the Lichtdruckeetzmaechine numerical data, while text material is first edited at a Redaktionestation and then with or without

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Light setting instructions are stored in the Hechner. Everyone Article to be included in the publication is identified by a title and a design department Enters the space in the newspaper allotted to each article into the calculator. The design department a design station at the surface areas of Newspaper pages can be displayed with already assigned sections highlighted and identified, while the coordinates of the newly assigned sections can be entered into the calculator. The station can Show surface areas also on a larger scale. When reproducing copies with continuous tonal values dot characters are stored in character memory and provide various halftone screen sizes.

There now follows a description of a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of the present invention applied to the newspaper set.

Figure 2 is a block diagram showing one used in practicing the present invention Scanner.

Figure 3 shows a dot mark for making half-tone copies.

Figure 4 shows a design station in conjunction with the present invention.

Figure 5 is an electrical diagram showing

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the circuit used for the design station from Figure 4,

Figure 6 is a portion of a phototypesetting machine "used in the present invention.

In FIG. 1, the operation sequence is shown in the manner of a diagram, such as a newspaper according to the present invention Invention is handled or set. The material to be set can be obtained from a general publicity department 10, a Individual advertising department 11, which primarily relates to local advertisements, an editorial department 12 and a special department or Classified Ads Department 13. The material received from general publicity department 10 consists of the generally from proofs which can be photographed to thereby make printing plates. The proofs can contain both text and images. According to the present embodiment of the invention, the advertising material is preserved an identification and is scanned by a scanner 18 which digitizes the proof. The digital Information and the identification title are entered into a memory of the computer 19. When scanning the Information obtained from the print is available in such a way that the computer receives the necessary commands to control a CRT light printing machine 17, which reproduces the proof as part of a page of the publication. Information regarding of the advertisements is also sent to a design department 20 *. The task of the design department is to Advertisement assigning newspaper space.

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The individual advertising department dealing with local advertisements generally prepares the advertisements for them Publication before. These advertisements usually contain both text and images. In the present exemplary embodiment the individual advertising department contains a computer station 21 for a computer 22. This enables the individual advertising department encode the text of the advertisement for use by a CRT collotype machine 23 can be printed. The station 21 contains a cathode ray tube to the stored in the computer 22 Display textual material, and is preferably designed so that the operator can edit the material and as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3 »165.045 is set out. The edited material can then be put in the collotype machine 23 can be printed out and forwarded to the gluing table 24, where it is connected to the image material. The visual material and the text becomes the desired itec advertisement glued together, which is then photographed by a camera department 26 so that there is a print for scanning by the scanner 18. The material from the individual advertising department is scanned and entered into the computer together with the identification of the print. Information regarding the advertisement goes to the design department. The computer 22 is connected to the computer 19 so that the Computer 19 can enter the type required according to the instructions or operate the type setter as desired. The Ausaruck "editorial" means in the newspaper

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were generally such material that is not financially supported Unü therefore does not fall under the heading of "general advertising, individual advertising or classified ads". The editorial Part therefore generally includes the sports section, business section, features section, editorial section and general news, both local and international. The editorial department 12 has a computer station 28 where the text material is encoded and can be entered into the computer 19. Station 28 is an editorial station where the editorial department has the Can view and edit text material before it is entered into the computer. The station 28 contains a computer that checks the text and enters the necessary code instructions for the type setter, the latter also being provided by the computer 19 can be carried out. The editorial department also contains a scanner 27 »which corresponds to the scanner 18, to digitize image material and convert it into a form that can be stored in the computer; the scanner is used also to control a light printing machine to reconstruct the print.

The classifieds department also has a computer station 28 which is designed in the same way as the computer station for the editorial department.

As already mentioned, the design department 20 is responsible for the design of the newspaper and the allocation of the newspaper space for the various departments and for the advertisements to be printed in the newspaper.

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The design department has a computer station 34 at which the coded data relating to the newspaper room is transferred to the xiechner on which the various advertisements can be entered and articles should appear. The computing station preferably holds a CRT picture display that shows parts of Can display newspaper pages. The one from the gestation department Allocated or divided areas are marked as occupied on the image display; H. outlined, where an identification of the article or text material that is to appear there is assigned to the newspaper room in question.

As already mentioned, the editing stations 21 and 28 can be designed in a known manner, for example as in U.S. Patent Ko. 3,248,705 of April 26, 1966 by J. B. Dammann et al. is set out. The text copy is stored in the memory connected to the station via a keyboard entered. The print is divided into pages, paragraphs, lines, words, and finally characters (including spaces). Signals for identifying the characters, coded in any way, are used to represent the copy in the Memory saved. The station keypad is designed so that the correct code is entered when the appropriate Key for the letter or command is printed on the keyboard. The station also contains other codings, such as space, paragraph, etc., to store the instructions used, after those from the characters words, lines and paragraphs are formed. In addition, this can be done at the station

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Stored text material can be displayed on the screen of a cathode ray tube, with corrections of the displayed material being possible, such as insertions or deletions. When the copy is then available as required, the station can create a tape that is flush or non-flush at the edge of the text or otherwise cause the stored information to be read out and stored in the memory of the computer that ultimately sets the entire newspaper. Each text material entered into the computer 19 via the stations 28 is associated with an identification of the article; For this reason, the computer can, if the design department assigns a particular place in the newspaper article, this set Ä _r Tikel at that point. Each station contains the necessary codes for entering the identification titles into the computer 19.

A scanner used in connection with the present invention is shown in FIG. The one to be scanned Copy is clamped with a clamp 51 on a drum 50 which a motor 52 rotates. The motor is a synchronous motor, which rotates the drum 50 at a constant speed. A pulse generator 54 is operated by the drum and supplies a pulse for a respective partial revolution of the drum via line 55.

While the copy rotates on the drum 50, "
they are scanned by a scanning head 58 which is a photodiode

60 contains. The scanning head 58 rests on a lead screw 62

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mounted which rotates a stepper motor 64 and thereby placed the scanning head along the drum 50. The stepping motor 64 switches with each revolution of the drum 50 one step further, so that the scanning head 58 is in a fixed position for every full revolution of the drum is scanned and then switched to the immediately adjacent position for the next scanning process. Of the The scanning head 58 therefore scans the copy one after the other, each in a radial plane of the drum 50 lie. The scan lines are preferably variable between 180 and 720 lines per inch.

The scanning head 58 is indexed through a drum addressing circuit 70 which, with each revolution of the Drum 50 delivers a pulse to the stepper motor. As As shown in FIG. 2, the drum addressing circuit 70 may include a counter 72 which counts the pulses from the pulse generator 54, to provide encoded data indicating the address of the angular position of the drum. The pulse generator preferably delivers 54 a pulse via line 74 at the beginning or end of each full revolution. The signal on line 74 is from the Step pulses separately and resets the address counter to ensure that any pulse errors do not add up.

The scanning head 58 for scanning the copy contains a mirror Ö0, which a scanning light beam of a laser aimed at the copy. The light reflected from the copy

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is received by a photodiode 60 which is essentially a & i »delivers a signal consisting of two amplitude values, if black and white copies are scanned, namely either black, i. H. a line or mark, or white, d. H. Background. At the beginning of a scan, the copy is said to be white, and an amplitude or light voltage detector 83 scans the output of the photodiode 60 from the value white. While the white background is being scanned, pulses from the pulse generator b> 4 arrive via an AND gate 112 to a run length counter 86, which the Pulse from pulse generator 54 counts to the length of a sampled Segment. If the beam passes over a black line or other black section of the copy, the amplitude of the photodiode applied to the detector changes to black, causing the detector to generate a control signal to a gate 87 in order to extract the number stored in the counter, and supplies a Huckteilsignal to the counter 86. The counter can be designed so that it is read out by resetting the stages. The signal from the amplitude detector is via AND gate 88, OR gate 89, AND gate 91 and OR gate 90 en of the gate circuit 87 and via the output of AND gate 91 and OR gate 92 at the reverse terminal of the Counter 86. When readout gate 87 is activated, the number in counter 86 is applied to a Huffman encoder 96. The Huffman encoder converts the number from the counter 86 to Huffman code and stores this code in a core memory 98

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As the key continues, the counter 86 again counts pulses from the pulse generator 54 until the signal returns changed to white. Then the gate 87 is through again activates detector 83 and reads the count in counter 86 and resets counter 86. From the above it can be seen that the amplitude detector delivers a gate return signal every time the output amplitude of Y / eiss changed to black or vice versa. Amplitude detector circuits, suitable for this purpose are known to those skilled in the art and may include a multivibrator circuit, which switches to one state at a first amplitude for the color value white and is reset at a lower amplitude value that corresponds to an amplitude value, which is slightly higher than that of a black copy.

With each full revolution of the drum 50, a new line of the copy is scanned, where indicated it must be that the one scanning path is ended and a new one begins. The drum addressing circuit stores an end-of-line code (EOI = Lnd Of Line) in a storage register 104j a scan end register and a comparator 105 provide a signal when the count in counter 72 with the setting in the end of scan circle 105 coincides. This setting is preferably made by the operator.

The signal from the end of scan register and comparator 105 causes the counter 86 to be reset via OR gate 92 and also activates read gate circuit 87 so that

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the count of run length counter 86 to the Huffman encoder 96 is transmitted. The end of scan signal is applied to AND gate 106 with a delay in order to include the EOL code to be applied to the Huffman encoder.

As it is not necessary at the end of a scan line encoding a run length for white background will do that the gate circuit 87 activating the scanning end signal is applied to one input of an AND gate 109, the output of which Gate 87 is activated via OR gate 90. The second input of AND gate 109 is represented by a "not-white" output signal set by the detector 83 in the standby state. So if .the signal from the amplitude detector shows "white", the Huffman goder is not activated in the case of an end-of-scan signal.

The end-of-scan signal also sets a bistable control multivibrator 110, which sends the pulses to counter 86 disables and prevents the amplitude detector from applying the count of the run length counter to the Huffman encoder. Of the Control multivibrator 110 has a reset output or EMERGENCY output, normally the AND gate 112, through which the pulses go to the counter 86, and the MD gate 91 in the Set standby state, via which the change in the signal from the amplitude detector 83 to the read gate 87 for the run length counter 86 is running.

* As already mentioned, the address counter is reset by the signal on line 74 from pulse generator 54,

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when the clamp 51 begins to move past the readhead. When the clip 51 is past the scanning head and a new one If sampling is to start, a start-of-sample circuit becomes activated by the count in the address counter, thereby resetting the control multivibrator 110. As long as the control multivibrator is set, changes in the output signal from the amplitude detector do not result in any input in the run length counter 86 stored zero count in the encoder; when the scan starts again, the first is at the Encoder transmitted signal the run length number for the background at the beginning of the next scan. The "beginning" - and "End" scan registers and comparators 105 and 114 can can be set to provide start and end signals at selected addresses for the drum.

From the above it can be seen that the scanner supplies a run-length code which is stored in the core memory 98 is saved. The run length code indicates the scan length of the material that is white, being at a particular one Point is started and then indicates the length of the first black segment encountered; all following numbers affect alternately white and black segments. If that

When the end of a circular scan is reached, the EOL code is entered to indicate that a new scan is beginning. This information is used to operate the beam of a cathode ray tube used to reproduce the material being scanned will. When the beam is initially brought to a position

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where the scanned copy is along the X or horizontal coordinate "should begin, and is then moved along a scan line by as many units as the length of the segment of the first white section in the line, with no beam switched on, i.e. H. with hidden Beam, and then when the beam is turned on while advancing a distance in a controlled manner is determined by the run-length code of the black segment is specified, and if this is repeated alternately during each scan, while the beam is the corresponding It can be seen that the image is reproduced when scanning lines pass through. The end-of-line code is used for the reconstruction after each scan line to return the beam of the cathode ray tube to the original coordinate in the direction of the scan, however, the beam is one unit pitch, corresponding to the pitch of the scanning head 58, on the vertical Axis shifted iat.

The core memory 98, in which the codes were stored in a conventional manner, serves as a buffer to store the information from the Huffman encoder 96 while the information from the core memory is transferred to magnetic tape by a reader 120. LIit the scanning system is also a title input logic 122 connected to the identification to put the copy on tape, including scanning resolution, d. H. the step distance between circumferential Samples, column length and column width. The column width

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is usually standardized and can be entered by the operator directly from the copy, while the Column length is taken directly from the copy or from the drum addressing circuit. If they are out of the drum addressing circuit is taken, the circuit contains a column length counter 124, which is activated whenever if there is an output on line 74 from pulse generator 54. The column length counter 124 can be used for this purpose, if desired will determine the scan length; in such a case it can be set to a preselected number, and if so the output of the counter switches to iiull, it delivers Signal that interrupts scanning.

The Huffman encoder is a conventional encoder, which serves to reduce the storage capacity necessary for information storage to a minimum. In a Huffman coding circuit becomes a code consisting of binary bits of the run length according to the frequency of their occurrence assigned so that the most common run length As few bits as possible are required for storage.

The information stored on magnetic tape by the reading device 120 is entered into the memory of the computer together with the title information. On the other hand, the data can also be entered directly from the core memory 98 into the computer 19 in time-sharing mode .

The amplitude detector should expediently also be able to scan continuous tone values. The so far

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■ The system described relates to the scanning of black and white lines or images made from halftone dots. In contrast to the halftone manner, continuous tone values require halftone information data be created in order to be able to create a printing plate. When scanning continuous tone values, the signals from the scanning head are sent to an analog / digital converter 150 supplied, the digital output of which supplies the signal output instead of the amplitude detector 83. The numerical one The output of the A / D converter 150 is converted by a decoder 151 into an encoded halftone dot map. Everyone Raster point can comprise a certain range of output values of the A / D converter 150, or else the A / D converter 150 is designed so that a change in its digital output corresponds to a change in grid size. When scanning Photographs then become the number in the run length counter 86 is printed when a change in light value causes a change in the output of the raster size decoder 151. If at Operation occurs when there is a change in the output of the halftone dot decoder 151, a change in the output circuit 153 provides a signal which activates the read gate 87 via OR gate 89, AND gate 91 and OR gate 90 in order to determine the run length in to input the Huffman encoder 96, furthermore being represented by the Signal of the output circuit the new raster point is entered into the encoder by a delay Read gate circuit 154 is activated. The output of the detector circuit 153 is connected to one input of an AND

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Gate 15 !? is applied, the output of which the gate circuit 154 via a delay circuit and an OR gate 155a activated. The other input of AND gate 155 is switched to the reset output of scan control circuit 110 Ready state set so that when the scan control circuit is set at the end of a single scan, detector 153 does not activate gate 154 until scan control circuit 110 is reset.

Instead of a delay for the gate circuit 154, the outputs from the counter 86 and decoder 151 can also are simultaneously applied to buffer memories in the encoder 96, which read out one after the other, so that the stored in the run length counter Number first and only then the number representing the new raster point is read into the core memory. the The address of the run length counter at the time of output change of the A / D converter 150 determines the length of the previous one Scanning segment applicable to the raster point. In reproduction dot marks are placed along the scanning segment at a certain distance from one another along the scanning line, depending on the information contained in the character memory. When scanning continuous tone values the decoder 151 supplies a "not-white" signal to the AND gate 156 to pass the defeat end signal, which activates read gate 154 to read the halftone dot for the previous run length if the copy is being scanned of the previous segment is not white.

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MD gate 156 provides an output to OR gate 155a over a delay to activate gate 154 and vice versa to cause the run length counter 86 to be read out via OR gate 90.

When the circuit is used to sample continuous tone values, a selected, bistable one becomes Control circuit 158 is set, which sets AND gate 159 to the standby state in order to receive a signal from detector 153 to let through; in addition, the control circuit 158 sets an input of the AND gate 156 to the standby state. At the In black-and-white operation, the selected circuit is in the reset state to the AND gates 88 and δ8a in to set the standby state so that the amplitude detector 83 operates.

In the reproduction of the photograph, which consists of continuous tone values, every raster point is passed through a code symbol is shown. A character buffer or disk store contains the instruction after which each dot character is formed. The point symbols are composed of a series of closely spaced points, where distance and The arrangement of the points varies depending on the grid size. Figure 3 shows, on an enlarged scale, dot characters for a given Grid size along a line, with each character consisting of several points. If each character point is used as a Characters are viewed, the dot mark can be seen be formed using the same process,

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_ ₂₂ _ 210R759

which is used to produce an alphanumeric character by inserting a cathode ray in and out at certain points which together form the alphanumeric character. Light reset systems that work according to this principle work are known in the art.

It can be seen that the present system is also suitable for reproducing color photographs when a color filter is used is used and the continuous tone value scanning for color is carried out. With color scanning it can Scanning light can be guided in different ways, each of which contains a special color filter in order to pass through it to determine the "gray value" for each color. Also can the computers are used to generate laterally offset dot patterns for the different colors, and accordingly Grids that are laterally offset from one another to form Koir6 patterns to avoid.

As mentioned earlier, the design department allocates newspaper space to general and local advertising and the editorial department. At station 34, the design department generates information relating to the assigned space for the advertising and editorial departments and stores this information in the computer. FIG. 4 shows a design station that includes a cathode ray tube 160. The cathode ray tube 160 is part of the reading display, with which information stored in the computer relating to the page layout is read out. The design saved in the computer

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information contains data for the image reproduction of a page, with already assigned sections of the page outlined and is preferably provided with a note about the relevant article assigned to this space. If a section is assigned, data is stored in the computer that identifies the page on which the article is to appear of the article and coordinate values relate to those with which a conventional one is suitable for graphic reproduction Circuit outlines the assigned sections when the design department requests that the page be reproduced will.

The assigned areas are outlined by lines that extend along the page along the X and Y coordinates. Cathode ray tube circuits for generating graphics and displaying lettering in accordance with information stored in the computer are known in the art. When assigning surface sections, the design department encodes coordinates of the assigned section in relation to the coordinate origin of the newspaper or newspaper page and provides title information by operating a conventional alphanumeric keypad 161 which contains a key for each character. When the " ^x " button is pressed, a character code is generated so that the character can be retrieved from a character memory and displayed in a conventional manner on the screen of a cathode ray tube.

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Station 160 has visual display devices by means of which the coordinates of a section to be assigned are determined. The display device includes an X coordinate marker 162 and Y coordinate marker 165. The. X and the Y coordinate marker consist of transparent bodies 164 extending parallel to the X and Y coordinates); everyone Ruler-like body contains a line of sight 165 which is perpendicular to the corresponding coordinates. The X- and the Y coordinate markers are movable along the X and Y coordinates; each marker contains one as a handle Serving section 167, which contains a digital display device 168, the coordinate value related to the zero point of the sheet, indicating. In this example, the upper left corner of the CRT is to be the zero point for the X and Y coordinates when a whole newspaper sheet is displayed. By moving the markers 162 and 163, the lines of sight 165 are placed so that they run along the desired outline of the portion to be assigned, whereby the Coordinates of the end points of the border lines of the section can be set. Iiechner stations with a cathode ray tube image display, with which lines can be drawn if the coordinates of the endpoints of the lines are given, are known. As can be seen by those skilled in the art, sections on the bottom right and top left etc. can only go through Specification of the coordinates of the corner of the section facing the center of the sheet. It can be

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obviously because the other coordinates are the outer edge of the sheet, and a code key on the keypad 169 can conveniently provide a code that includes the line of the coordinates of the inner Corner should be drawn to the outer edge of the sheet. For this purpose, special code keys can be provided, for example “above” right, underneath right, top left, bottom left ". for example, if the lower right corner is assigned, the space immediately above the lower right corner thereby assigned that the key for "lower right corner" is pressed after the coordinates for the upper inner Corner if the left coordinate for the new section is the same as that in the lower right The section assigned to the corner. That in this case those to the edge of the lying immediately above the lower right section Space-serving instruction draws a line to the lower edge of the sheet along the left X-coordinate, is irrelevant, because the line with the already drawn border of the assigned right lower section coincides. If there are no such special code keys, the Sections in a conventional image display can be outlined by specifying the coordinates of the corners of the sections.

The cathode ray tube belonging to the design department 163 and parts of the circuit for deriving the X and Y coordinates of a section are shown in FIG. By Moving the X coordinate marker along the X axis is

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a tap I70 of a potentiometer 172 moves. The potentiometer 172 is between a voltage source 174 and a Voltage sink 175. Those at both ends of the potentiometer 172 determine the dominant potentials of the sink and the source the amount of voltage at the various points along the potentiometer. For displaying a full page on the Cathode ray tube is the voltage of the sink EuIl and thus characterizes the deflection WuIl from the (point of origin along the X-axis j the voltage of the source has the necessary Height to allow full deflection of the beam to the right edge, e.g. B. 10 YoIt. When the X coordinate marker 162 is moved, the potential at the wiper 170 changes from a smallest value L'ull at which the arm is on the mullion point of the X-axis, up to a maximum of 10 Y, depending on the position of the arm along the X-axis. These Voltage is converted from a digital to analog circuit 178 into a Number converted and thereby represents the X coordinate. The digital output of the circuit 1 '/ 8 is also due to the digital one Display device 168 of X-coordinate markers 162, so that the operator has an airect reading of the coordinate size receives. In addition, the digital output of the A / D circuit 178 is applied to an electronic adapter 179, so that it can be saved in the computer at any time.

A similar control circuit is for the x-coordinate marker 163 is provided which can be shifted along the Y coordinates; the circuit components for the

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y-coordinates have the same ± 5 reference numbers as the corresponding Components of the X-coordinate circuit, only are they are also marked with an apostrophe ('). If now the X-coordinate marker is along a long side of the to-be-assigned Section and the Y-coordinate marker is placed along a horizontal side, the coordinates the corner of the section to be bordered formed by the intersecting arrows can be easily established.

According to one feature of the present invention the operator selects a section from the newspaper sheet and enlarges it on the surface of the cathode ray tube to reproduce scale. For this purpose, the voltage source 174 and the voltage sink 175 can be set so that that the coordinates of the enlarged section on the original coordinates of the original sheet, but not on the iiull point of the image area are related. For example, if the lower right quarter of the newspaper is displayed on the image surface of the tube, the X-coordinate appears the left edge of the sheet (assuming the voltage along the X-axis is from zero volts to 10 volts i «iaxii: rash extends) at a point on the cathode ray tube ivull volts, but 5 volts in absolute coordinate values. The sink potential is in this skin kept at 5 volts and the potential of the voltage source at 10 volts, so that the full deflection of the cathode ray tube a difference across the entire potentiometer 172

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of 5 volts. -Probably these correspond 5 volts differential voltage the 5 volts that occur along the X-axis when the full sheet is imaged. The potential at tap 170 there is in reality the deflection voltage, based on the point of origin of the sheet. If now the Coordinate marker moved along the coordinate axes the coordinate display of the digital display device 168 takes place in relation to the zero point of the sheet, and also any other information for the computer relates to this left point of the sheet.

In order to be able to enlarge a section, the source 174 and the sink 175 each contain a register and a digital-to-analog converter 182 to convert the register setting into an analog voltage. The registers are set to numbers that correspond to those X-iCoordinate that represent the left and right edges of the portion to be displayed. The digital / analog converter converts convert this number into a corresponding voltage so that the voltage at the left end of the potentiometer is the X coordinate of the left I \ ands of the section and the voltage at the right end of the potentiometer of the X coordinate of the right edge is equivalent to.

The circuit for changing the scale of the Y coordinate marker 163 is the same as for the X coordinate marker 162 and bears the same reference numerals only with the addition of an apostrophe (')

109

As can be seen, registers 180 and 180 'can be set to accommodate a newspaper page that would normally be would not extend over the full picture area of the cathode ray tube, it is stretched so that it fills the picture area fills out.

When the operator is editing an enlarged section of the newspaper, it must be attached to the tube The graphical information supplied can be modified in such a way that the tube uses the assigned values that are present on this surface section - ^ shows cuts correctly. The operator can do this enter the right and left X coordinate values into registers 190 and 191. Station 34 includes one Subtraction circle 19 ^ Zug Subtract the X coordinate values and a dividing circle 193 to measure the voltage for full scale to divide by the difference when reproducing the whole sheet, which gives the scale factor. The distraction signals for the cathode ray tube from the line and character generator according to the information supplied by the computer then changed by having a circuit 194 the voltage the lower X coordinate value from the X deflection signal subtracts that the character generator needs, and that the upper Y-coordinate, which is stored in a register 189 and is converted into an analog signal in a D / A circuit 159a, from which the Y deflection voltage is subtracted »the resulting Voltages are then multiplied by the scale factor in a circuit 195. This will make the output

1 0 9 - ^: ■. / hü 4 4

for the cathode ray tube enlarged and the selected one Correctly assigned area.

The design station preferably contains several CRT image display devices, so that the design Responsible those on the front and on the back of the "relevant newspaper sheet appearing and, in the case of systems with enlarging devices, at the same time the page being processed has been shown in full. Such CRT image displays are indicated by reference numerals 197, 198, 199. The cathode ray tube for the full display of the newspaper page does not require an enlargement circuit to modify the output of the character and line generator associated with the image display. The cathode ray tubes 197, 198, 199 have a character memory, character generator and line generator that are time-shared computer controlled as noted for cathode ray tube 160.

The design station 34 can also contain a point-shaped pointer according to the invention, which is indicated by the Cathode ray of an electron gun is formed in the display and controlled via a joystick 2CO, kit Indicators provided with such pointers are known in the art. They operate in the manner that the respective Position of the pointer on the screen of the cathode ray tube, expressed in the corresponding coordinates, on command in the calculator can be entered. Obviously you have to

the coordinates of the pointer converted into absolute coordinates when using an enlarged representation of the newspaper sheet referring to the point of origin of the sheet and not to the point of origin of the deflection of the cathode ray tube relate.

For the X axis, the X coordinate values of the pointer can be multiplied by a scale factor, e.g. B. ^a / 2 when half of the page is displayed along the X-axis on the screen; if a full page is displayed, the size of the X coordinate of the left hand of the section must be added. This converts the X values of the pointer relative to the screen of the cathode ray tube when the enlarged section is displayed in a measuring stick which allows a full sheet of paper to be displayed on the screen. The Y coordinates can be converted in a similar manner.

From the foregoing it can be seen that the station $ A contains circuits and control circuits for entering the coordinates of points on the cathode ray tube into the "computer" IS so that an item or suit is always assigned to an item or suit. The iiechner also contains those control circuits which are required to request the display of a sheet or a section of it on the cathode ray tubes of the stations. Station 34 also includes a character memory 197 for storing information used to generate alphanumeric characters so that

1 0 3 I ^ .i'lU

a character and line generator 198 provides the necessary deflection signals supplies for the cathode ray tube, through which the character appears in a position specified by the computer. The coordinates of the upper left corner of the assigned section can be obtained from circuit 198 as starting coordinates used to reproduce alphanumeric lettering on items associated with the section. The character generator circuit 198 provides deflection signals initially starting the beam at a coordinate corresponding to these coordinates Position; the drawing instructions in the memory or from the computer then change the main setting signal to a known one Way to position the beam after a character is made for the next character.

The editorial department also has a design station 34 so that the design department allocated newspaper space in the editorial department can be further divided. When the editorial department Assigns newspapers, it provides alphanumeric information, which relates to the respective article, so that the article can be found again after it has been stored in the computer can be printed out when the page is set.

When the entire newspaper is stored in the computer, the computer can read out the articles page by page, including the necessary instructions for the phototypesetting machine. Ersieht Ί icherweise the articles of a page can be read arbitrarily, without an elected

1 0 'j.

Order must be adhered to. The computer can be programmed so that it appears on the newspaper page Finds the article in the store and then produces a punched tape or an ivlagnet tape or the collotype directly is operated so that a page is reproduced from the stored information.

Purely in connection with the present invention used light printing machine, a type setter of known type can be used, the computer being used for Operation of the type setter provides the necessary instructions. How a computer is programmed so that it does provides the necessary instructions for a type setter who creates a copy of the information stored in the computer, can be done by professionals without difficulty. In the same way, the operating mode of a computer is known, after the misaligned text is made flush and instructions for pauses and spaces as well as other important ones Purposes to be delivered.

The phototypesetting machine controlled by the computer 19 preferably operates to produce a character by turning the beam off and on, thereby forming dots representing the character. In a similar type of font, the beam can be switched off and on at certain points according to the instructions from the character memory , while the beam moves in a raster pattern across the screen. Such a device is described in the (JS patent

10903 R / 0944

registration, Serial Eo. 591,734 of November 3, 1966. On the other hand, the beam can also be indexed step-by-step from position to position at which it is located according to the step-by-step instructions from the draftsman is either on or off, as detailed in the concurrently pending 0. S. patent application, serial Ιϊο. 710,349 of July 4, 1968 by Lidwin R. KoITd.

Both embodiments of a collotype setting machine generally contain a cathode ray tube 210 for transferring the copy onto film 211. Usually the vertical! guidance of the copy is carried out by a vertical movement of the Films carried out j a guide circuit 212 suitable for this purpose, which is controlled by the computer, is shown in FIG shown.

The collotype printer includes a character memory 213 which contains a certain group of character instructions. These character instructions serve to control a character generator 215 which, upon request from the computer, generates a special one Characters generated. The character generator provides vertical and horizontal deflection signals to the cathode ray tube 210, the the character position signals from the character position circuit 216 must be added. The position switch receives from Computer code signals relating to space and information data for the initial setting of the refractive ray. The position circuit can be switched on while the cathode ray tube is on

109836/0944

Word writes information from the character generator after each character received with respect to the position of the beam for the next character within the word.

^ he programming of the computer 19 »so that a Text stored in the computer is written out flush and code signals and instructions are entered to the Recording text with the cathode ray tube 210 on film 211 presents no difficulty to those skilled in the art.

For scanned copies, the computer provides instructions to the position circuit 218 and the routing circuit, to put the copy in the right place on the newspaper page. The collotype preferably includes a scan copy generator 220 for reconstructing the scanned copy. The scan copy generator shown here contains a horizontal accumulator 222 in which the run length number is set to be a step size for the define horizontal deflection along the X-axis. At the beginning of a scan, the computer gives the first white Run length in the accumulator; this number is from one D / A converter 224 converted into a deflection voltage to the Deflect the beam for an appropriate number of steps. Then the calculator enters the next run length number that represents black segment, in a counter 226. When a number is entered in the counter 226, it becomes a gate activated, so that pulses from the oscillator 230 to the horizontal accumulator 222 and the counter back to zero.

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counting. This causes the cathode ray to be adjusted accordingly Stride distracted and exposed the film. When the counter reaches zero, gate 228 is turned off and the Calculator gives the run length number for the next white segment into the accumulator, and so on until the full scan is performed. ^ ann causes the EOL instruction stored in the computer, that the accumulator 222 is reset to jnuH and the necessary beam guidance takes place according to the data for the resolution.

If the collotype is to be used to reproduce continuous i'on values, the computer controls the character memory, which then the necessary instructions for the formation of radio characters according to the appropriate grid size lielert. The run length is entered into an accumulator 2 ^ 6, and each time a dot character is generated, one stored together with the dot character is specified Width subtracted from the accumulator The accumulator ensures that the character memory repeats the character as long as until the accumulator has counted down to zero, after which then the computer delivers new instructions. White run lengths will be The position circuit is supplied as spaces. The end-of-line instruction causes the computer to run the character position circuit returns to the scanning start position.

As has already been mentioned, it is easy for those skilled in the art to program the computer so that it works in the above way works to stored text and scanned

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Reproduce material in the manner described.

After the film is exposed to make a copy of a page, it is developed and used as a basis for a printing plate to be produced.

Although a largely automated system has been described above, it will be seen that certain parts and features of the system and the invention are used individually and independently of one another in a simpler system can be.

As already described, the text material of the individual departments is activated by operating a conventional Character code keypad encoded, whereby the character code required for the character memory is generated. Everyone up articles stored in this way and each scanned item that is stored together with an identification code, so that the related location of the item or lot can be determined if it is according to the design information is to be reproduced on a newspaper page in progress is then read from the memory; this activates the collotype device in order to reproduce the article at that point on the newspaper sheet which is specified by the design data code. The design data code contains coordinate values for the upper left and for the section on which the article is to be reproduced, these data, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, can be used in a conventional manner to control the PiIm so that the article gets to the right place.

10983C / 09AA

Claims (12)

PATENT CLAIMS / Ί ,) Device for setting and preparing page prints for a publication, characterized by a photocopier (17) »to write text on a film according to coded instructions which are supplied to the photocopier} first devices (198) with storage devices (197 ) for storing character encodings for characters to be reproduced by the collotype printer in order to reproduce the characters, the first device including a character memory (197) in which a set of characters each having an address is stored -Code in order to be able to look up the character when it is to be reproduced on film by the collotype, computer devices (19) to select characters from the memory and to operate the collotype, the computer containing memory devices for text material to be printed out in the form of a binary character code, thereby specifying the characters to be selected from the character memory are; first computer 1 0 8 HJ b / 0944. on terminal devices (21, 28) connected to the computer for the characters of the textual material to be printed To convert articles into code characters and to these code characters and a "binary identification of each consisting of text material Store articles in the storage device; second storage devices (19) for storing location data and encoded information relating to page number and location on the page where articles are to be printed; and second Connection devices (34) for transferring to the second memory device an encoded identification of the page of a publication on which the article is to appear and encoded coordinate data in the second storage device indicating the location of the article on the page according to those stored in the second storage device Sowing, the connecting device (34) devices (160) which are computer controlled and which provide a visual indication of the page of the publication, with those sections of the page already assigned to an article being marked on the display. 2. Device for setting and preparing side prints according to claim 1, characterized in that the second connection device (34) contains devices (162, 163) which are connected to the display (160) and which are used to to visibly indicate newly assigned sections and the coordinates of the new section in the storage device 109 8 .; υ / M ^r HA to store, the first device so operated can that it reads the articles from the first storage device in order to put the collotype in operation and to place the article on a page in a location determined by the stored in the second storage device Data is given. 3. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by scanning devices (18, 27) to scan prints and to create encoded data with which the light retractor scanned one Copy generated, the coded data being stored in the computer (19). 4. Apparatus according to claim 3 »characterized in that the scanner includes means for scanning the print along scan lines and through encoded data specify the length of segments with each scan, each of which has a certain tone value, with the collotype Contains devices to reproduce these tonal values for a specific segment segment, according to the encoded data indicating the length of a line segment to be reproduced. 5 «Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the character memory (197) instructions for the formation of characters contains that when repeated along a line segment 1 09836 / 09AA create a line segment with the mentioned tone value, where each character has an address code and where the Scanning apparatus includes devices responsive to the tonal value of the scanned material and, accordingly, one of the Create an output code corresponding to the tonal value. A phototypesetting machine for reproducing continuous tone photographs in halftone fashion, characterized by means (153) for sampling continuous color values providing an output signal which varies with tone values } means (96) for providing data encoded in accordance with the output signal which indicate the tone values and the length of the tone values encountered during the scan; a character memory in which instructions for building a character are stored which, when repeated along a line segment, provide a halftone reproduction of the desired tone values; and light resetting devices which, in accordance with the encoded data of the scanning device, select the tone character to be used and indicate the length of the segment for which the character is to be reproduced, thereby reproducing continuous tone values. 7 light printing machine with a light printing device, around text appearing in graphical representations according to to record encoded data on a recording medium characterized by a character memory containing instructions 1 0 9 B Ί f: i / 0 9 k 4 for forming the characters from a set of stored characters and can be operated in accordance with encoded data to control the operation of the light presser in accordance with encoded data cause each character in the memory has an address code and the light printing machine according to encoded Data can be operated which indicate the length of a line segment to be printed, whereby a line segment is written ^ will; Storage devices for storing data for controlling the photoprinters to store, with devices for storing encoded data indicating the address codes for the ones to be printed Provide characters, and having means to store encoded data indicating the length of the segments involved in the Reproduction to be made by the phototypesetting machine; Connection devices for supplying coded characters, which are stored in the storage device according to the text to be printed; and scanners that encoded Provide data representing scan lengths, thereby creating a "Production of a print is created by the scanner has been scanned. 8. A method for setting a print page, characterized by the following method steps: input of coded design data into a calculator to assign a section of a page to a specific article by adding a page, on which the material is to appear is displayed visually, with already assigned sections of the displayed page 1 0 9 ^ are visibly marked; visual indication of a one Article to be assigned section on the image display} Conversion of the visual display into coordinate data for the section to be assigned, this coordinate data from Eecians can be used to edit the sections on the Locate the page and, if requested, outline it on the page; Enter the coordinate data and data for identification of the article to appear in the assigned section in the Kechnerj coding of articles that are based on the Page are to appear by generating a code signal for each Baci letter appearing in the text in order to encode coded character data to accomplish; Save the encoded character data in Medhner together ax an address identification for each sof articles saved this way; and operation of the Eec3hners according to the design information to the collotype accurately control the encoded character data so that the article on the page at which by the coordinate data and using the Eecimer to control a phototypesetting machine so that a publication page is generated on which the assigned articles are displayed. 9. The method according to claim 8, further characterized by the method steps that image material is scanned, to get digital data entered into the calculator the digital data are such that the computer 109C 3i / niUA can operate a cathode ray tube setting machine that produces the scanned material including image material, wherein the computer according to the design information is operated to reproduce pages on which both text and images are set by means of the photosetting machine. 10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that the prepared trigger is scanned by a scanner is used to generate bit signals for line copy and halftone copy and to provide sample data lengths that are the length of a Sampling of an image representation consisting of continuous tonal values and the length of those that occur during the sampling Show segments with specific tonal values, and to perform tone measurements that determine the tonal value of the continuous Specify tone value scanning j where the continuous tone signals are further converted into digital data and together with Coordinate data are entered into the computer, the coordinate data indicating those points of each scan at which the image material consisting of continuous tone values begins and ends j and where the digital tone value data for Control of the effective halftone screen size of a halftone reproduction of the image material on a cathode ray tube of the photosetting machine, and where the length data is used to determine the dimensions of the halftone reproduction to control. 109:; (IfU 4 11. Procedure for setting a side print of a Publication, characterized by the following procedural steps: Assigning sections of the page to specific articles, by entering encoded design data into a computer programmed to display a cathode ray tube display a page on which assigned sections are outlined when coordinate data related to them Sections are stored in the computer; Derive the encoded data by receiving from the computer a display of a selected page on a cathode ray tube and operated by visual pointing devices independently of the computer that indicate the sections to be assigned on the picture display} Create electrical signals, the coordinate data represent according to the setting of the pointing devices, and applying the electrical signals to the computer to get coordinate data that determine the location of the pointing device, the assigned section along with an identification define the article intended for the section; and producing a page proof in accordance with the stored design information. 12. Apparatus for reproducing continuous tone values, characterized by means for scanning a print along scanning lines and for generating a signal which varies with the strength of the tone value scanned; Data generation devices for indicating the sampled tone values and the 109836/0944 Range of the different tone values in the form of a run length code, wherein the data generating device is aiaplitude scanning devices contains, according to the signal for the tones specify the color screen sizes of the copy; Storage devices for storing collotype instructions to form dot characters which, when repeated at a time along a line are reproduced, generate a halftone pattern of a given screen size fc; and light reset devices that respond to data from respond to the data generator to generate a specified reproduce dot mark that is stored in memory is for as long as the run length code specifies, thereby reproducing the print. 9 * 36/0944