VARIABLE RIGHT-HAND MARGIN-CONTROL SYSTEM

摘要

A system which accepts an input tape and provides an output copy having a right-hand edge which is controlled by means of a variable control zone. The control zone may be made relatively wide, such that the occurrence of a word space with automatic carrier return in the zone is virtually assured which results in minimum operator intervention but with a resultant ragged right-hand edge; or may be made quite narrow if a relatively uniform right-hand edge is desired but with much greater operator intervention since the likelihood of a space occurring within the zone is greatly reduced. The system is operable such that in the event that more than one space occurs in the zone, the space nearest to the right-hand side of the zone which corresponds to the end of the measure is chosen. Reading of words and spaces between words on the input tape always continues until the first space following the word which overruns the measure is read, and the system then drops back, prints to the previous space, and causes a carrier return of the printer if this previous space occurred in the control zone. Upon overrun and dropback, if no space occurred in the control zone, the line is printed out and stopped for a hyphenation decision at this previous space.