This article was downloaded by: [Memorial University of Newfoundland]

On: 24 January 2015, At: 11:03

Publisher: Routledge
Informa Ltd Registered in England and Wales Registered Number: 1072954
Registered office: Mortimer House, 37-41 Mortimer Street, London W1T 3JH, UK

The Journal of General Psychology

Publication details, including instructions for authors and
subscription information:
http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/vgen20

The Word Projector: A

Tachistoscopic Device Programmed
by Punched Tape
a a a
H. S. Fuchs , J. C. Valbracht & H. W. Horeman
a
Instituut voor Perceptie Onderzoek , Eindhoven,
Netherlands
Published online: 06 Jul 2010.

To cite this article: H. S. Fuchs , J. C. Valbracht & H. W. Horeman (1965) The Word Projector:
A Tachistoscopic Device Programmed by Punched Tape, The Journal of General Psychology,
72:2, 373-381, DOI: 10.1080/00221309.1965.9710707

To link to this article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00221309.1965.9710707

PLEASE SCROLL DOWN FOR ARTICLE

Taylor & Francis makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of all the information
(the “Content”) contained in the publications on our platform. However, Taylor
& Francis, our agents, and our licensors make no representations or warranties
whatsoever as to the accuracy, completeness, or suitability for any purpose of the
Content. Any opinions and views expressed in this publication are the opinions and
views of the authors, and are not the views of or endorsed by Taylor & Francis. The
accuracy of the Content should not be relied upon and should be independently
verified with primary sources of information. Taylor and Francis shall not be liable
for any losses, actions, claims, proceedings, demands, costs, expenses, damages,
and other liabilities whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in
connection with, in relation to or arising out of the use of the Content.

This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any
substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing,
systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden.
Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at http://www.tandfonline.com/
page/terms-and-conditions
 T h e Journal of General Psychology, 1965, 72, 373-381.

T H E W O R D P R O J E C T O R : A T A C H I S T O S C O P I C DEVICE
PROGRAMMED BY PUNCHED TAPE*
Insiiiuut v o o r Perceptie Onderaoek, Eindhowen, Netherlands

AND H. W. HORBMAN
H. S. FUCHS,J. C. VALBRACHT,

A. INTRODUCTION
Downloaded by [Memorial University of Newfoundland] at 11:03 24 January 2015

Investigations on discriminability and legibility of symbols (letters, digits,

etc.) require projection on a screen. W h e n combinations of symbols (like
words, syllables, and numbers) have to be presented, the rapidly increasing
number of possibilities causes many slides to be required ; and the sequence of
the presentations is difficult or impossible to program.
These difficulties can be overcome by projecting separately the symbols that
form each combination. Taking combinations of R symbols out of a symbol set
of n, presentation of the combinations would require nk slides to cover all pos-
sibilities; whereas by separate presentation, only k x n slides would be neces-
sary. Further, the projection of separate symbols requires k simultaneous pro-
grams covering n possibilities instead of one program in which nk possibilities
are available.
For the purpose of projecting symbols separately, the author has constructed
a special device. T h e concept underlying its construction is as follows. Each
symbol to be projected is presented by a separate projection system. A number
( k ) of systems are mounted side by side. I n each projection system, a drum
carrying a number ( n ) of slides can be rotated so as to move each of the slides
in the projecting light beam. T h e slide drum can be fixed in each of the n
positions, depending on the information contents of a punched tape. For that
purpose the momentary position of the slide drum is read in code and, by means
of a switching device, is compared with the tape information. As soon as the
positional information of the slide drum matches that of the tape, the slide
drum is fixated and an exposure can be given. After exposure, the slide drum
searches for a new position as prescribed in the program tape.
T h e device is called a “word projector” because (in most of the cases) i t
will serve the purpose of projecting words according to a tape program. But
combinations of other symbols can also be projected. T h e length of the com-
~

* Accepted by David A. Grant of the Editorial Board and received in the Editorial
Office, Provincetown, Massachusetts, on May 6, 1963. Copyright, 1965, by The Journal
Press.
3 73
 374 J O U R N A L OF G E N E R A L PSYCHOLOGY

bination is determined by the number of separate projection systems, Though

five systems are used in the “word projector,” this number is by no means the
limit. T h e “word projector” projects a sequence of combinations of five sym-
bols, each symbol chosen independently as one out of 32 fixed items. T h e con-
tents of each combination is programmed by punched tape; its maximal
rate of projection is once every two seconds. T h i s description deals with the
construction of one single projection system ; the complete device is constructed
by assembling a proper number of systems side by side.
Downloaded by [Memorial University of Newfoundland] at 11:03 24 January 2015

B. THEINSTRUMENT
1. Optical Construction
Each projection system is a simple straightforward system, as schetnatized
in Figure 1. T h e system consists of a small incandescent lamp, a series of 32

<+j-L - 7
stop 4 8mm + 120
#28mm

Jcreen

. --
-6--

FIGURE 1
90-110 *

PROJECTION SYSTEMOF THE WORDPROJECTOR

(Of the series of slides, mounted cylindrically on a drum, only three are shown.
T h e dimensions are in millimeters.)

slides mounted on a drum, a condenser lens and an objective lens. T h e lamp

is a small low-voltage indicator lamp (six volts, 3.5 watts). T h e lenses, with
a strength of 26 and 12 diopters respectively are uncorrected biconvex spectacle
lenses. By means of the condenser, the lamp is focused in the objective lens,
which makes an image of the slide on a screen not shown in Figure 1.
T h e 32 slides are mounted on the surface of a cylindrical drum (112 mm
in diameter, 20 mm in height). By rotating the slide drum, each slide may be
set in position in front of the condenser. T h e tube carrying the objective lens
is adjustable, thus the frame of the projection is variable from 24 x 36 mm
up to 40 x 60 mm (the latter is maximal because the five optical systems are
mounted side by side a t a fixed separation of 40 mm).
Originally, the light source was designed to be in the axis of the slide drum.
However, in trying to obtain sufficiently high luminances the heat dissipation
of the source caused great difficulty. As shown in Figure 1, the lamp is better
placed about half way between the axis of the slide drum and the lens of the
condenser.
 H . S. FUCHS, J. C. VALBRACHT, AND H . W. HOREMAN 375
T h e slides are small sheets of acrylic resin (10 x 15 m m ) in which the
letters or symbols are engraved, with the remaining part of the surface painted
black; thus every projection consists of a bright element on a dark background.
During the engraving, precautions needed to be and were taken to keep the
bottom surface of the rim as clear as possible to avoid scattering. It turned
out that with a proper fraising technique a satisfactory result could be obtained.
Projection on a reflecting screen would require the engraving of the letters
as mirror images. But, as the letters were engraved normally they must be
Downloaded by [Memorial University of Newfoundland] at 11:03 24 January 2015

projected from behind on a translucent screen. Because of the small dimen-

sions of the light source, high luminance values cannot be obtained. With a
piece of translucent paper (drawing paper) as a screen, luminances of 15 and
45 cd/m2 can be obtained in projecting with maximal and minimal size, re-
spectively.
Because, in the “word projector,” five systems are used, exposure can be
secured only by a shutter of a tilting type. T h i s shutter consists of 11 thin
sheets mounted parallel to each other at three-mm distances within a very
light aluminium frame. By means of an electromagnet with a stroke of 3 mm,
the frame is tilted at an angle of 8.5”, and thus the sheets are made to inter-
cept the light. T h e frame of the shutter has a length of 25 cm so as to cover
all projecting lenses ; consequently the five slides can be exposed simultaneously.
Figure does not show the shutter.

2. Mechanicd Construction
T h e main parts in each projection system are the drum carrying the slides
and a smaller code wheel that follows all movements of the slide drum. As
shown in Figure 2, each slide drum and its code wheel are coupled by means of
identical toothed wheels and a rubber driving belt.
T h e slide drum ( D ) can rotate freely around the axis on which it is
mounted. It is a light-weight aluminium drum in the rim of which the 32
slides can be mounted. On the rim, there are 32 pins ( p ) to fixate the position
of the drum by means of a stop-magnet. W h e n the position of the slide drum
is fixated by de-energizing the stop-magnet, the drum holds and the coupled
code wheel stops also.
T h e cylindrical code wheel (C)-32 mm in diameter and 22 mm in height
-is coupled to a driven shaft. As shown in Figure 2, this coupling is of a fric-
tional type and is accomplished by means of permanent magnetic material. If
the code wheel is forced to stop, the magnetic coupling will slip; therefore
the code wheel serves as a replica of the slide drum with respect to the latter’s
position. I n a four-mm coating of acrylic resin on the surface of the code
 376 JOURNAL OF GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY
Downloaded by [Memorial University of Newfoundland] at 11:03 24 January 2015

FIGURE 2
DIAGRAM
OF T H E CONSTRUCTION OF A SLIDE DRUMAND ITS ACCOMPANYING CODE W H E E L
(Both slide drum (D) and code wheel ( C ) bear a toothed wheel and are coupled
by a toothed rubber belt. T h e aluminium slide drum has 32 holes with dovetailed edges
in which the acrylic resin slides can be mounted. T h e slide drum is mounted freely
rotatable on an axis by means of bronze bearings. Thirty-two pins (p) serve to fixate
the slide drum in any position. T h e soft iron code wheel carries an acrylic resin coat-
ing in which silver contact pins (1 to 6 ) are mounted. T h e code wheel is mounted by
means of bronze bearings to a hollow iron cylinder which is rigidly attached to the
driven shaft. By means of permanent magnetic material, a frictional coupling between
code wheel and the iron cylinder is made.)

wheel, there are six rows of metal pins. As shown in Figure 2, five rows of pins
indicate the 32 positions. T h e sixth row of 32 pins, one in each position,
serves a switching purpose.
Sliding on the rows of metal pins, six spring contacts read the position of
the code wheel and thus of the slide drum. T h e isolated spring contacts are
carried by a block (20 X 30 x 25 mm) that is adjustable and that is mounted
at the back of the code wheel (see Figure 3 ) . Adjustment of this block is
necessary to locate the proper position of the contacts with respect to the code
wheel.
T w o bars are mounted over the slide-drum. T h e first bar carries the stop-
magnet that, by blocking the rotation of the drum, serves to fixate the slide
drum in a certain position. In Figure 3, this stop-magnet is indicated schemat-
ically. It is a normal electromagnetic relay yielding a stroke of 3 mm by
 H . S. FUCHS, J. C . VALBRACHT, A N D H. W. HOREMAN 377
Downloaded by [Memorial University of Newfoundland] at 11:03 24 January 2015

FIGURE 3
DIAGRAM OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE W O R D PROJECTOR
(On the left, the side-by-side construction of the five systems is shown. T h e tubes
( T ) carrying the lenses are attached to a heavy frontplate (F). Slide drums ( D ) ,
code wheels ( C ) and contact-carrying blocks (B) are shown, one behind the other.
On the right, a side view is given. T h e distance bolts ( b ) to connect the side plates
as well as the bars (1, 2 ) carrying the stop-magnets ( S ) and the lamp containers (L)
are shown. Note the adjustable mounting of the contacts carrying blocks (B). T h e
overall dimensions are given in millimeters.)

means of a lever. T h e lamp container is mounted on the other bar. By this

container, the lamp is held in its position in the slide drum behind the slides.
As each projection system contains the components mentioned, several pro-
jection systems can be combined by placing the systems side by side. All slide
drums are mounted on one long axis that is firmly attached to two heavy
brass side plates. By means of three distance bolts, the side plate's are kept in
proper position. T h e side plates also carry shafts and bars on which the other
parts are mounted. I n this way the bearings of the driven shaft, to which the
code wheels are coupled, are attached to the side plates. T h e motor driving
the shaft is attached to the outer side of one side plate. T h e bar carrying the
blocks with the spring contacts is not rigidly attached to the side plates, but is
attached in such a way that the bar can move in a concentric way around
the code wheels to provide the adjustment mentioned earlier. T h e bars on
which lamp containers and stop-magnets are mounted are attached rigidly to
the side plates. A survey of this construction is given in Figure 3.
 378 J O U R N A L OF GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY

3. Electrical Construction
Besides the electrical circuit to the motor and the lamps, which circuit is on
the case of the projection systems, there is a separate chassis with the circuitry
linking the program tape to the projection systems. Figure 4 gives a schematic
view.

c >
Downloaded by [Memorial University of Newfoundland] at 11:03 24 January 2015

c
CONTACTS
ON
c CCCEWEEL
$
READER

I.- - c

IN E R
LOCKING f
\c
- c

--
PULSE

ERASE -
--
START

END c
1 I
+-
--
FIGURE 4
RELAY-OPERATED
EQUALIZER UNIT OF THE WORD PROJECTOR
(On the left, the five double-coiled bi-stable memory relays (MA to ME) a r e linked
with the tape-reader contacts provided the contacts ( d 1 to d 5 ) of the distribution
relay ( D ) are closed. T h e second coil of the memory relays is used for erasing. On
the right, the six monostable reading relays (RA to RE and RZ) are connected with
the spring contacts on the code wheel. T h e equalizing circuitry is in the middle. T h e
circuit to the stop-magnet is broken only if Contact rz is open and all combinations
of m contacts and r contacts have opposite positions. A t the start, the stop-magnet
operates, thus the slide drum starts rotating. Breaking the circuit to the stop-magnet
then causes the slide drum to stop. When the slide drum stops, a signal is given by
Contact s to the controlling unit.)

Five bistable miniature relays are used as memory relays to store the infor-
mation that is contained in a pentade of the five-hole tape and that is presented
by a simple electromechanical tape reader. When the information from the
program tape is stored in the memory-relays, their situations can be compared
with the code of a position of the slide drum via the code wheel, provided the
exposure of the preceding turn has been given. Thus, directly after exposure
the stop-magnet gets a signal to release the slide drum which will then proceed
to search for its new position.
 H . S. F U C H S , J . C. VALBRACHT, A N D H. W. HOREMAN 379
T h e spring contacts that wipe over the pins in the code wheel operate on
monostable miniature relays. Five of these relays, which can read the positions
of the code wheel, are compared to the corresponding memory relays. T h i s
comparison cannot be made continuously because the equalizer circuit tends to
flutter at the transitions of the different positions of the code wheel. T h i s flut-
tering can be avoided by using the sixth row of pins. I n every position, the
sixth row carries a pin with a diameter slightly smaller than that of the pins
in the other rows. A comparison between the situation of the memory relays
Downloaded by [Memorial University of Newfoundland] at 11:03 24 January 2015

and that of the reading relays is made only when the sixth contact is closed.
Because of the ‘slightly smaller diameter, the sixth contact closes later than
corresponding code contacts do and opens earlier. No fluttering occurs because
the equalizer circuits, as well as the stop-magnet, are blocked during the time
the sixth contact is open.
When the reading relays have situations conforming to those of the memory
relays, the circuit to the stop-magnet is broken and the slide drum stops its ro-
tation. A t the same time, a signal is given to an eraser to erase the contents of
the memory relays and to ask for new information out of a new pentade of
the program tape. Then the memory relays store the new information, and
the slide drum remains in its proper position and waits for the moment of ex-
posure. T h e moment of exposure is given by an external timing source and has
to be chosen so as not to come before the slide drum has been blocked. An in-
terlocking device prevents operation of the shutter during rotation. After the
exposure, the cycle is repeated.
So far, the description applies to one projection system. I n combining sev-
eral projection systems, there is no need to use more than one tape reader. I n
the case of the “word projector” with five systems, the information about one
exposure is given by five successive pentades in the tape. A multiplication of
the memory relays, the equalizer circuit, and the reading relays is required.
Figure 5 shows a block diagram of the word-projector circuitry in which a
controlling unit adapts one single tape reader to the five systems.
By means of the controlling unit, the sequential information contents are
distributed to the five groups of memory relays. After exposure of the preced-
ing combination, the comparison of memory and reading relays starts simul-
taneously in the five systems. Erasing takes place after each slide drum has
found its position and is followed by a new sequence of information from the
five pentades that will be distributed to the respective memory relays. I n such
a controlling unit, the other blocking signals required for reaching proper se-
quences of operations can be effected. Once all the slide drums have adjusted
 380 J O U R N A L OF GENERAL PSYCHOLOGY

external
timing
Downloaded by [Memorial University of Newfoundland] at 11:03 24 January 2015

L
FIGURE 5
BLOCKDIAGRAM OF THE E L E ~ I C A L
SYSTEM FOR OPERATING THE WORD PROJECTOR
(M: memory relays; E: equalizer circuits; R: reading relays; C: code wheels; D:
slide drums; S: stop-magnets. Each combination of M, E, and R, C, D, and S is one
unit. The distribution of the information, the timing, and interlocking signals are given
by the controlling unit.)

their positions, a signal is given via the controlling unit permitting operation
of the shutter. T h e exposure (i.e., the moment of operation of the shutter) is
given by the external timing source.
Figure 6 shows a time-sequence diagram. As shown, the cycle as well as the
exposure time are given by the external timing source. Directly after the ex-
posure (n-2) of a certain set of symbols, the slide drums start simultaneously
to look for tbeir new positions (n-1). All adjustments will be made within
one revolution of the drums, taking one second.
Next, the memory relays are erased, and the information from the follow-
ing five pentades ( n ) in the tape is stored successively into the respective
memory relays. This storing takes about one second. During the storing proc-
ess, the new exposure (n-1) may be given. T h e minimal cycle available equals
 H. S. FUCHS, J. C. VALBRACHT, AND H. W. HOREMAN 381

- -
external
tim ing
exposorem

adjustment
I

n-2
n
n-1
I

n- I
---
cycle duration

n
n
I

n+l.
/ I

-\
shortest
cycle
Downloaded by [Memorial University of Newfoundland] at 11:03 24 January 2015

FIGURE 6
TIME-SEQUENCE DIAGRAM OF THE OPERATION OF THE WORO PROIECTOR
(On the right, the time sequence is shown for the shortest cycle. Note that storing takes
place simultaneously with exposure.)

the sum of the adjusting time and either the exposure time or the storing time,
depending on which of the two is the larger. T h e minimal cycle is two seconds.
T h e main advantage of this time sequence is that the nth storing directly
follows the ( n - l ) s t adjustment that, in its turn, is started immediately after
the (n-2)nd exposure. T h i s means that, at the start of a series, two cycles will
be necessary in which no exposure can be given; and a t the end of a series,
two exposures will remain after the last five pentades of the tape have been
read out.
C. SUMMARY
A device is described making possible repetitive exposure of different com-
binations of symbols. T h e combinations contain a fixed maximum number ( 5
in text) of symbols whereas each symbol can be chosen as one out of a fixed
number (32 in text) of items. T h e contents of the combinations are pro-
grammed by means of a punched tape.