CA1227776A - Input machine - Google Patents
Input machineInfo
- Publication number
- CA1227776A CA1227776A CA000469098A CA469098A CA1227776A CA 1227776 A CA1227776 A CA 1227776A CA 000469098 A CA000469098 A CA 000469098A CA 469098 A CA469098 A CA 469098A CA 1227776 A CA1227776 A CA 1227776A
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- Prior art keywords
- film
- films
- rollers
- input machine
- roller
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Abstract
INPUT MACHINE
Abstract of the Disclosure:
An input machine for inputting information correspond-ing to a desired item, comprising a plurality of guide plates arranged substantially parallel to each other and lying substantially on a single plane, a plurality of films on each of which a plurality of items to be inputted are printed and which are adapted to be shifted on the corresponding guide plates, and means for shifting the films simultaneously on the corresponding guide plates is disclosed.
Abstract of the Disclosure:
An input machine for inputting information correspond-ing to a desired item, comprising a plurality of guide plates arranged substantially parallel to each other and lying substantially on a single plane, a plurality of films on each of which a plurality of items to be inputted are printed and which are adapted to be shifted on the corresponding guide plates, and means for shifting the films simultaneously on the corresponding guide plates is disclosed.
Description
` lZZ7776 Background of the Invention:
The present invention relates to an input machine for inputting information into associated apparatuses by select-in a desired item among a plurality of items printed on tapes or films and designating an address, which corresponds to the selected item, among a plurality of addresses stored in a memory in an input equipment, thereby generating an output signal regarding the information corresponding to the desired item. More particularly, the present invention relates to an item selecting apparatus used with such input machine and the like for driving films to quickly select and accurately position a desired item printed on the associated film in a predetermined position.
I; Brief Description of the Drawings:
, Fig. 1 is a partial perspective view of a conventional codeless input machine;
- Fig. PA is a partial perspective view of an input machine corresponding to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2B is a sectional view taken along a line II~II
of Fig. PA, showing the relationship between films and core-sponging rollers;
Fig. 2C is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2B, showing a modification of the rollers;
Fig. PA is a partial perspective view of the input machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
, ' , ~227776 1 Fig. 3B is an end view of a roller-film assembly of - the input machine of Fig. PA;
Fig. 3C is an end view similar to Fig. 3B, showing a first version of the roller-film assembly of Fig. 3B;
Fig. ED is an end view similar to Fig. 3B, showing a second version of the roller-film assembly of Fig. 3B;
Fig. 4 is a partial perspective view of the input machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 5 is a partial perspective view of the input machine according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. PA is a partial perspective view of the input machine according to a fifth embodiment of the present lo invention;
Fig. 6B is a partial end view of Fig. PA, showing means for shifting the films;
Fig. 7 is a partial perspective view of the input machine according to a sixth embodiment of the present 2Q invention;
Fig. 8 is a partial perspective view of the input machine according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 9 is a partial perspective view of the input machine according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention; and
The present invention relates to an input machine for inputting information into associated apparatuses by select-in a desired item among a plurality of items printed on tapes or films and designating an address, which corresponds to the selected item, among a plurality of addresses stored in a memory in an input equipment, thereby generating an output signal regarding the information corresponding to the desired item. More particularly, the present invention relates to an item selecting apparatus used with such input machine and the like for driving films to quickly select and accurately position a desired item printed on the associated film in a predetermined position.
I; Brief Description of the Drawings:
, Fig. 1 is a partial perspective view of a conventional codeless input machine;
- Fig. PA is a partial perspective view of an input machine corresponding to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 2B is a sectional view taken along a line II~II
of Fig. PA, showing the relationship between films and core-sponging rollers;
Fig. 2C is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2B, showing a modification of the rollers;
Fig. PA is a partial perspective view of the input machine according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
, ' , ~227776 1 Fig. 3B is an end view of a roller-film assembly of - the input machine of Fig. PA;
Fig. 3C is an end view similar to Fig. 3B, showing a first version of the roller-film assembly of Fig. 3B;
Fig. ED is an end view similar to Fig. 3B, showing a second version of the roller-film assembly of Fig. 3B;
Fig. 4 is a partial perspective view of the input machine according to a third embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 5 is a partial perspective view of the input machine according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. PA is a partial perspective view of the input machine according to a fifth embodiment of the present lo invention;
Fig. 6B is a partial end view of Fig. PA, showing means for shifting the films;
Fig. 7 is a partial perspective view of the input machine according to a sixth embodiment of the present 2Q invention;
Fig. 8 is a partial perspective view of the input machine according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention;
Fig. 9 is a partial perspective view of the input machine according to an eighth embodiment of the present invention; and
- 2 -'' ' 122~7776 1 Fig 10 is a partial perspective view of the input machine according to a ninth embodiment of the present invention.
A conventional codeless input machine 4 (Fig. 1) comprises an input unit 1 and a film 2 on which a number of items 3 are printed in matrix pattern. Each item printed on the film corresponds to a respective information to be inputted. All of the items printed on the film are grouped into a plurality of pages 5 having a lengthwise dimension B
equal to that of the input: unit, a transverse dimension of each page corresponding to the width of the film. In order to position a desired item 3 on the input unit 1 for input-tying the information corresponding to the desired item, film can be moved yo-yo means of an appropriate film feeding device '15 snot shown) incorporated into the input machine in both directions indicated by an arrow A such that the page 5 including the desired item 3 is aligned with the input unit 1.
When the desired item 3 is energized by a pen-touch or key-push operation, a corresponding input signal is generated;
20 said input signal selecting or designating a corresponding address among a plurality of addresses stored in a memory ` (not shown) through the medium of a control portion (not shown) in the input unit 1, thereby generating an output signal regarding the information corresponding to the desired 25 item. When a new item to be inputted next is not included in the present page, the film must be moved to position a new page including said new item on the input unit 1.
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1 In this conventional input machine, since the movement of the film is effected per "page", when the lengthwise dime-soon of the page it B and toe moving speed of the film is V, it takes at least a time of B/V for changing a page from one to the next one. Particularly, if the first page is changed to tube last page, when the total number of pages is N, it takes a long time of B/V ON - 1). Accordingly, this convent tonal input machine has a disadvantage of time consumption for changing pages with the result that efficiency of input-tying operation is reduced.
By increasing the moving speed of the film, the above drawback of the conventional input machine can be more or less eliminated. However, in this case, there exists another drawback that it is difficult to accurately stop a desired page of the film in a predetermined potion on the input unit.
Summary of the Invention:
; - An object of the present invention is to provide an - input machine for inputting a desired information core-sponging to a desired item selected among a plurality of ; items printed on films, wherein the selection of the desired item can be effected quickly and accurately.
According to a principle of the present invention, a plurality of films each on which a plurality of columns of items are printed are used. Each film is guided and moved on a corresponding guide plate. Each guide plate has a length at least equal to a width of the corresponding film, and a width which can position one column of items printed on the I' , , ` ' . .
issue 1 corresponding film on said guide plate. The guide plates are arranged side by side substantially in a single plane.
Accordingly, a plurality of columns of items (the number of the columns is equal to that of the guide plates) can be positioned or displayed on said single plane; all of the displayed items can constitute a "page" as mentioned aye with respect to the prior art technique. In the present invention, the change of "page" from one to the next one can be easily effected by shifting all of the films simultaneously only by a distance equal to the width of the guide plate.
Therefore, it is clear that a time for changing pages in the present invention is remarkably short in comparison with that of the above-mentioned prior art.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the films are wound, from their one end, on corresponding rollers (first rollers) which are arranged side by side below the corresponding guide plates. Further, the films are wound together, from the other ends thereof, on a common roller (second roller) arranged parallel to the aforementioned first rollers. Thus, all of the films can be shifted in one direct lion by rotating the first rollers simultaneously and in the other direction by rotating the second roller.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments:
The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing embodiments of the input machine according to the present invention. As shown in Figs. PA and 2B, an input machine 10 according to the present invention comprises a plurality of first rollers 11 arranged side by side and parallel to each other and lying on a single plane, and a plurality of guide plates 12 each disposed above the corresponding first roller 11. The guide .
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12;~7776 plates 12 are also arranged side by side and parallel to each other, upper surfaces 13 of the guide plates 12 lying in a single plane. The first rollers 11 are rotatable mounted on a fixed frame (not shown) of the input machine 10 in an appropriate known manner (not shown) by means of end shafts 14 of the rollers 11. The guide plates 12 are fixed to the fixed frame of the machine in an appropriate manner.
A second roller 15 is arranged parallel to the first rollers 11 and is rotatable mounted on the fixed frame of the machine in an appropriate known manner.
On each first roller 11, a corresponding film 16 is wound from its one end. The films 16 extend from the corresponding first rollers 11 to pass on the corresponding guide plates 12 and are wound together on the second roller It 15 from the other ends thereof. Accordingly, when the second roller lo is rotated in an anti clockwise direction (Fig. PA), all of the films 16 are simultaneously unwound from the corresponding first rollers 11 by the same amount, while when all of the first rollers 11 are simultaneously rotated in a clockwise direction (Fig. PA), all of the films 16 are simultaneously unwound from the second roller 15 by the same amount.
The input machine 10 according to the present invention includes a mechanism M for selectively rotating the first and second rollers 11 and 15. This mechanism comprises first bevel gears 18 each fixed to an end shaft 17 of the core-sponging first roller 11 through an appropriate clutch (not shown), and second bevel gears 19 fixed to a driving shaft 21 .
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~2Z7776 connected to a reversible stepping motor 22, each second bevel gear 19 meshing with the corresponding first bevel gear 18 of the first roller 11. The mechanism M further includes a third bevel gear 23 fixed to an end shaft 25 of the second roller 15 through an appropriate clutch (not shown) and a fourth bevel gear 24 fixed to the driving shaft 21 of the motor 22 and engaged by the third bevel gear 23. By rotating the driving shaft 21 in a clockwise direction (shown by an arrow of a solid line in Fig. PA) by means of the motor 22, I all of the films 16 can be wound simultaneously on the core-sponging first rollers 11 by the same amount; on the contrary, when the driving shaft 21 is rotated in an anti clockwise direction (shown by an arrow of a broken line) by means of the motor 22, all of the films 16 can be wound simultaneously on the second roller 15 by the same amount.
Each guide plate 12 has a length at lease equal to a width of the film 16, and a width A' which can position one column of items 26 printed on the corresponding film 16 on said guide plate 12. Accordingly, normally, a plurality of columns of items 26 (the number of the columns is equal to the number of the guide plates) are displayed on the guide plates 12. In this connection, if the films 16 are simulate-nuzzle shifted by means of the motor 22 and the bevel gears 18, 19, 23 and 24 by a distance equal to the width A' of the guide page 12, the columns of the items displayed on the guide plates are changed to the next new columns of the items.
Therefore, by selectively rotating the first and second rollers, a column of the items including a desired item can `" issue be easily positioned on the guide plate 12. Preferably, in order to keep the films 16 in tension condition during the movement or shifting of the films, appropriate tension rollers 27 and 28 are provided in relation to the films }6.
The input machine 10 of the present invention is further provided with a conventional input unit 29 for input-tying the information corresponding to the desired item. The input unit operates in a conventional manner. The operation of the input unit will be apparent from the explanation described later.
Although each first roller 11 of Figs. PA and 2B has a circular cross section as shown, the first rollers are not limited to such configuration. For example, each first roller 11 may have a polygonal cross section such as a triangular cross section as shown in Fig. 2C. In this case, since each outer surface S of the triangular first roller 11 can act as aspirating surface for the film 16 to be displayed in a single plane, the corresponding guide plate 12 can be omitted.
In page changing operation, the triangular first rollers 11 of Fig. 2C are rotated by 120 by means of the motor 22 (Fig. PA). Preferably, circular end flanges F are fixed to both ends of each first roller to correctly guide the core-spodnign film.
Fig. PA shows another embodiment of the input machine 20 according to the present invention. In this embodiment, each of guide-plates 32 arranged side by side in such a way that upper surfaces 33 of the guide plates lie on a single :
plane similar to the aforementioned embodiment comprises a .
I.
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flat top surface portion 31 having a width A' (Fig. 3B) which can position a column of the items printed on a corresponding film 36 on said surface portion, and two semi-cylindrical end portions 35 connected to the flat surface portion 31. Each 5 film 36 associated with the corresponding guide plate 32 is wound around the guide plate and has two end portions aye each of which is housed in a respective cavity 34 of the end portion 35 as a coil-shaped winding. A mechanism M for Jo chieftain the films 36 on the guide plates 32 comprises a plurality of driving rollers 37 each associated with one of the films 36 and which are rotatable mounted on a fixed frame (not shown) of the machine through the medium of end shafts 38 thereof in an appropriate known manner. As shown in Fig.
3B, each driving roller 37 is engaged by two parallel driven 15~ rollers 39 which are also rotatable mounted on the fixed frame of the machine by means of end shafts 41 thereof. Each film 36 extends from one of the coil-shaped end portions aye, pass-s between the driving roller 37 and one of the driven rollers 39 to extend on the corresponding guide plate 32, and then passes between the driving roller 37 and the other driven roller 41, and terminates as the other coil-shaped end portion.
Accordingly, when the driving roller 37 rotates in a clockwise direction (Fig. 3B) or in an anti clockwise direction, the - film 36 is shifted on the guide plate 32 to the left or right, respectively. In order to rotate the driving roller 37, the mechanism M further includes a plurality of first bevel gears 42 each fixed to the end shaft 38 of the corresponding driving roller 37, and a plurality of second bevel gears 43 each _ g _ ~227776 engaged by the corresponding first bevel gear 41 and which are fixed to a driving shaft 44 of a reversible stepping motor 45. With this construction, all of the films 36 can be simultaneously shifted by means of the stepping motor 45 through the driving shaft 44, bevel gears 42, 43, driving roller 37 and driven rollers 31. When the films 36 are shifted by a distance equal to the width A' of the guide plate 32, the displayed column of items printed on the films is changed to the next new column of items. A conventional input unit 40 is also provided.
According to a first version of the film shifting means as shown in Fig. 3C, two driving rollers 46 are provided for each film 36, the rollers 46 being rotatable mounted on the fixed frame (not shown) of the machine by means of end shafts 47 thereof. Each driving shaft 47 is in contact with an undersurface of the corresponding end portion 35 of the guide plate 32 with the interposition of the film portion.
In this case, when the driving rollers 46 are rotated, the film 36 is shifted by friction force.
According to a second version of the film shifting means as shown in Fig. ED, each end portion 35 of the guide plate 32 has an inwardly and upwardly extending bend portion 50 which is engaged by a single driving roller 48 rotatable mounted on the fixed frame of the machine by means of end shafts 49 thereof. The film 36 passes between the bend portions 50 and the driving roller 48. The film is shifted by rotating the driving roller 48 due to a friction force.
Fig. 4 shows a third embodiment of the input machine 30 lZZ7776 according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a plurality of guide plates 51 similar to the guide plates 12 is provided. A pair of parallel rollers 52, 53 are associated with each film 54. Each film 54 wound around the corresponding roller 52 from its one end passes over the corresponding guide plate 51 and is wound around the roller 53 from the other end thereof. The rollers 52, 53 are rotatable mounted on a fixed frame 55 of the machine by means of end shaft aye, aye thereof.
The pair of the rollers So, 53 have corresponding first bevel gears 56, 57 which are engaged by corresponding second bevel gears 58, 59 respectively, the second bevel gears being fixed to a driving shaft 61 of a reversible stepping motor 62. The films 54 can be simultaneously shifted by rotating the pairs of rollers 52, 53 by the stepping motor 62. Also in this case, ; 15 a conventional input unit 63 is provided.
Jo "
Fig. S shows a fourth embodiment of the input machine according to the present invention, similar to the third embodiment of Fig. 4. In this fourth embodiment, one of the :, - rollers 52 and 53 similar to those of the third embodiment 20~ (for example, the rollers 53 as shown in Fig. 5) has core-, . .
sponging bevel gears 57 at their one ends, while the rollers 52 have corresponding bevel gears 56 at the other ends thereof.
The bevel gears 57 of the rollers 53 are engaged by core-sponging bevel gears 59 fixed to a driving shaft 61 connected to a reversible stepping motor 62. On the other end of the input machine 30, the bevel gears 56 of the rollers 52 are :
engaged by corresponding bevel gears 58 fixed to a shaft 69 extending parallel to the driving shaft 61. Further, a cross -- 11 -- .
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shaft 65 having bevel gears 66 and 67 at its both ends extends perpendicular to the shafts 61 and 69. The bevel gear 66 of the cross shaft 65 is engaged by a bevel gear 64 fixed to the driving shaft 61, while the bevel gear 67 of the cross shaft 65 is engaged by a bevel gear 68 fixed to the shaft 69. Thus, when the driving shaft 61 is rotated by the stepping motor 62, the rollers 52 and 53 are also rotated simultaneously in synchronism with each other in the same direction, thereby shifting all of the films by the same amount.
Fig. PA shows a fifth embodiment of the input machine 60 according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a plurality of guide plates 71 are arranged side by side and parallel to each other, as similar to those of Figs 4 and 5.
Each film 76 associated with the corresponding guide plate 71 has one end aye coiled and housed within a semi-cylindrical end portion aye of a film holder 77 and the other coiled end 76b housed within another semi-cylindrical end portion 77b of said film holder 77. Both edge portions of the film 76 project from both ends of the corresponding guide plate 71.
below each guide plate 71 a pair of parallel shafts aye and aye extend parallel to the corresponding guide plate 71.
These shafts are rotatable supported by a corresponding support 78 fixed to the machine frame (not shown). Adjacent to each end of the guide plate 71, the shafts aye and aye have rollers 74 and 75 respectively which can be contacted by the film portions projecting from the ends of the guide plate.
Further, the input machine includes a plurality of shafts 73 extending parallel to the guide plates and rotatable mounted _ ~Z2~776 on the machine frame, each shaft 73 having rollers aye and 73b which can cooperate with the rollers aye and/or 74b.
More particularly, the shafts 73 are so arranged that the two rollers aye of two adjacent shafts 73 are engaged by the pair of rollers aye and aye with the interposition of the projected film portion at one side of the guide plates and the other two rollers 72b of said two adjacent shafts 73 are engaged by the pair of rollers aye and aye with the inter-position of the projected film portion at the other side of the guide plates, as shown in Figs. PA and 6B. Accordingly, when all of the shafts 73 are rotated simultaneously in the same direction, all of the films 76 are shifted simultaneously (on the corresponding guide plates 71) in the same direction by the same amount. To this end, a bevel gear 81 is fixed to one end of each shaft 73. The bevel gears 81 are engaged by corresponding bevel gears 82 fixed to a driving shaft 83 connected to a reversible stopping motor 84. In this manner, when the driving shaft 83 rotates in either direction, all of the films 76 can be shifted in the same direction by the same amount.
Fig. 7 shows a sixth embodiment of the input machine 70 according to the present invention, similar to that of Figs. PA and 6B. In this embodiment, one end of each shaft 73 has a spur gear 87 (different from the bevel gear 81 of ; 25 Fig. PA), all of the spur gears 87 being engaged by a single toothed belt 88. In this case, by positively rotating one of the spur gears 87 by means of a reversible stepping motor 90 connected to said spur gear through a motor shaft 89, all of the films can be shifted simultaneously in the same direct lion by the same amount.
Fig. 8 shows a seventh embodiment of the input machine 80 according to the present invention, similar to that of S Figs. PA and 7. -In this embodiment, one end of each shaft 73 has a toothed wheel 91, all of the toothed wheels 91 of the shafts 73 being engaged by a single endless chain 92.
I; Also, in this case, by positively rotating one of the toothed wheels 91 by means of the stepping motor 90, all of the films can be shifted simultaneously in the same direction by the same amount.
Fig. 9 shows an eighth embodiment of the input machine 100 according to the present invention, similar to those of Figs. PA, 7 and 8. In this embodiment, one end of each shaft 73 has a spur gear 93 fixed thereto, similar to the embodiment of Fig. 7. As shown in Fig. 9, any two adjacent spur gears among these spur gears 93 are engaged by a driving spur gear 95 rotated by a reversible stepping motor 96, while other two adjacent spur gears 93 are engaged by corresponding idle spur gears 94 rotatable mounted on the fixed machine frame (not shown). Also in this case, by rotating the driving gear 95 by means of the motor 96, all of the films can be shifted simultaneously in the same direction by the same - amount.
At last, a ninth embodiment of the input machine 110 according to the present invention is shown in Fig. 10. In this embodiment, a plurality of shafts 97 are arranged similar to the shafts 73 of Figs. PA and 6B. A plurality pairs of second shafts, like the pairs of shafts aye and aye of Fig. 6B
are also provided, one of the pair being indicated by "99"
in Fig. 10 (ends of the second shafts being also indicated by "Lola" and "aye"). Each shaft 97 is provided at its one end s with a roller 98 which is engaged by pair of rollers 101 of the second shafts with the interposition of the projected portion of a corresponding film 102. On the contrary, the other end of each shaft 97 has a pinion 103 fixed thereto.
All of the pinions 103 of the shafts 97 are engaged by an endless toothed belt 104 which is rotatable supported by guide rollers 105 and which can be driven by an appropriate reversible stepping motor (not shown). Accordingly, also in this case, when the toothed belt 104 is rotated, all of the films 102 are shifted on the corresponding guide plates 71 in the same direction by the same amount.
As apparent from the explanation regarding the above embodiments, in the input machine according to the present invention, since all of the films can be simultaneously shifted quickly (and, more particularly, since the presently-displayed items on the machine can be changed by new items by shifting the films at least by a distance equal to the width A' of the guide plate), a desired new item can be easily and very quickly positioned on the corresponding guide plate.
The operation of the input machine according to the present invention is substantially the same as that of the conventional input machine as described above with respect ; to Fig. 1, as far as an inputting operation. Briefly explained, with reference to the input machine of Fig. PA, - i227'776 if a desired item is now not on the corresponding guide plate 12, by shifting all of the films 16 under the control of the stepping motor 22 up to a position where said desired item is positioned on the corresponding guide plate 12. Then, when the desired item is energized by a pen-touch, finger-touch or key-push operation, a corresponding input signal is generated in the input unit 29; said input signal designating a corresponding address among a plurality of addresses stored in a memory (not shown) through the medium of a control portion (not shown) in the input unit 29, thereby generating an output signal regarding the information corresponding to the desired item.
Although the present invention has been explained with reference to the illustrated embodiment, it should be noted that various modifications or variations can be effected by any skilled person in the art without deviating from the scope of the present invention. For example, in the embody-mint of Figs. PA and 2B, when the rollers 11 on which the corresponding film 16 is wound have a polygonal cross section, such as in Fig. 2C, the corresponding guide plates 12 may be omitted.
This application is, therefore, intended to cover any - variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following the general principles thereof and including such departures Jo 25 from the present disclosure as come within known or customary I"
practice in the art to which this invention pertains and fall within the limits of the appended claims.
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A conventional codeless input machine 4 (Fig. 1) comprises an input unit 1 and a film 2 on which a number of items 3 are printed in matrix pattern. Each item printed on the film corresponds to a respective information to be inputted. All of the items printed on the film are grouped into a plurality of pages 5 having a lengthwise dimension B
equal to that of the input: unit, a transverse dimension of each page corresponding to the width of the film. In order to position a desired item 3 on the input unit 1 for input-tying the information corresponding to the desired item, film can be moved yo-yo means of an appropriate film feeding device '15 snot shown) incorporated into the input machine in both directions indicated by an arrow A such that the page 5 including the desired item 3 is aligned with the input unit 1.
When the desired item 3 is energized by a pen-touch or key-push operation, a corresponding input signal is generated;
20 said input signal selecting or designating a corresponding address among a plurality of addresses stored in a memory ` (not shown) through the medium of a control portion (not shown) in the input unit 1, thereby generating an output signal regarding the information corresponding to the desired 25 item. When a new item to be inputted next is not included in the present page, the film must be moved to position a new page including said new item on the input unit 1.
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1 In this conventional input machine, since the movement of the film is effected per "page", when the lengthwise dime-soon of the page it B and toe moving speed of the film is V, it takes at least a time of B/V for changing a page from one to the next one. Particularly, if the first page is changed to tube last page, when the total number of pages is N, it takes a long time of B/V ON - 1). Accordingly, this convent tonal input machine has a disadvantage of time consumption for changing pages with the result that efficiency of input-tying operation is reduced.
By increasing the moving speed of the film, the above drawback of the conventional input machine can be more or less eliminated. However, in this case, there exists another drawback that it is difficult to accurately stop a desired page of the film in a predetermined potion on the input unit.
Summary of the Invention:
; - An object of the present invention is to provide an - input machine for inputting a desired information core-sponging to a desired item selected among a plurality of ; items printed on films, wherein the selection of the desired item can be effected quickly and accurately.
According to a principle of the present invention, a plurality of films each on which a plurality of columns of items are printed are used. Each film is guided and moved on a corresponding guide plate. Each guide plate has a length at least equal to a width of the corresponding film, and a width which can position one column of items printed on the I' , , ` ' . .
issue 1 corresponding film on said guide plate. The guide plates are arranged side by side substantially in a single plane.
Accordingly, a plurality of columns of items (the number of the columns is equal to that of the guide plates) can be positioned or displayed on said single plane; all of the displayed items can constitute a "page" as mentioned aye with respect to the prior art technique. In the present invention, the change of "page" from one to the next one can be easily effected by shifting all of the films simultaneously only by a distance equal to the width of the guide plate.
Therefore, it is clear that a time for changing pages in the present invention is remarkably short in comparison with that of the above-mentioned prior art.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the films are wound, from their one end, on corresponding rollers (first rollers) which are arranged side by side below the corresponding guide plates. Further, the films are wound together, from the other ends thereof, on a common roller (second roller) arranged parallel to the aforementioned first rollers. Thus, all of the films can be shifted in one direct lion by rotating the first rollers simultaneously and in the other direction by rotating the second roller.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments:
The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings showing embodiments of the input machine according to the present invention. As shown in Figs. PA and 2B, an input machine 10 according to the present invention comprises a plurality of first rollers 11 arranged side by side and parallel to each other and lying on a single plane, and a plurality of guide plates 12 each disposed above the corresponding first roller 11. The guide .
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12;~7776 plates 12 are also arranged side by side and parallel to each other, upper surfaces 13 of the guide plates 12 lying in a single plane. The first rollers 11 are rotatable mounted on a fixed frame (not shown) of the input machine 10 in an appropriate known manner (not shown) by means of end shafts 14 of the rollers 11. The guide plates 12 are fixed to the fixed frame of the machine in an appropriate manner.
A second roller 15 is arranged parallel to the first rollers 11 and is rotatable mounted on the fixed frame of the machine in an appropriate known manner.
On each first roller 11, a corresponding film 16 is wound from its one end. The films 16 extend from the corresponding first rollers 11 to pass on the corresponding guide plates 12 and are wound together on the second roller It 15 from the other ends thereof. Accordingly, when the second roller lo is rotated in an anti clockwise direction (Fig. PA), all of the films 16 are simultaneously unwound from the corresponding first rollers 11 by the same amount, while when all of the first rollers 11 are simultaneously rotated in a clockwise direction (Fig. PA), all of the films 16 are simultaneously unwound from the second roller 15 by the same amount.
The input machine 10 according to the present invention includes a mechanism M for selectively rotating the first and second rollers 11 and 15. This mechanism comprises first bevel gears 18 each fixed to an end shaft 17 of the core-sponging first roller 11 through an appropriate clutch (not shown), and second bevel gears 19 fixed to a driving shaft 21 .
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~2Z7776 connected to a reversible stepping motor 22, each second bevel gear 19 meshing with the corresponding first bevel gear 18 of the first roller 11. The mechanism M further includes a third bevel gear 23 fixed to an end shaft 25 of the second roller 15 through an appropriate clutch (not shown) and a fourth bevel gear 24 fixed to the driving shaft 21 of the motor 22 and engaged by the third bevel gear 23. By rotating the driving shaft 21 in a clockwise direction (shown by an arrow of a solid line in Fig. PA) by means of the motor 22, I all of the films 16 can be wound simultaneously on the core-sponging first rollers 11 by the same amount; on the contrary, when the driving shaft 21 is rotated in an anti clockwise direction (shown by an arrow of a broken line) by means of the motor 22, all of the films 16 can be wound simultaneously on the second roller 15 by the same amount.
Each guide plate 12 has a length at lease equal to a width of the film 16, and a width A' which can position one column of items 26 printed on the corresponding film 16 on said guide plate 12. Accordingly, normally, a plurality of columns of items 26 (the number of the columns is equal to the number of the guide plates) are displayed on the guide plates 12. In this connection, if the films 16 are simulate-nuzzle shifted by means of the motor 22 and the bevel gears 18, 19, 23 and 24 by a distance equal to the width A' of the guide page 12, the columns of the items displayed on the guide plates are changed to the next new columns of the items.
Therefore, by selectively rotating the first and second rollers, a column of the items including a desired item can `" issue be easily positioned on the guide plate 12. Preferably, in order to keep the films 16 in tension condition during the movement or shifting of the films, appropriate tension rollers 27 and 28 are provided in relation to the films }6.
The input machine 10 of the present invention is further provided with a conventional input unit 29 for input-tying the information corresponding to the desired item. The input unit operates in a conventional manner. The operation of the input unit will be apparent from the explanation described later.
Although each first roller 11 of Figs. PA and 2B has a circular cross section as shown, the first rollers are not limited to such configuration. For example, each first roller 11 may have a polygonal cross section such as a triangular cross section as shown in Fig. 2C. In this case, since each outer surface S of the triangular first roller 11 can act as aspirating surface for the film 16 to be displayed in a single plane, the corresponding guide plate 12 can be omitted.
In page changing operation, the triangular first rollers 11 of Fig. 2C are rotated by 120 by means of the motor 22 (Fig. PA). Preferably, circular end flanges F are fixed to both ends of each first roller to correctly guide the core-spodnign film.
Fig. PA shows another embodiment of the input machine 20 according to the present invention. In this embodiment, each of guide-plates 32 arranged side by side in such a way that upper surfaces 33 of the guide plates lie on a single :
plane similar to the aforementioned embodiment comprises a .
I.
. .
flat top surface portion 31 having a width A' (Fig. 3B) which can position a column of the items printed on a corresponding film 36 on said surface portion, and two semi-cylindrical end portions 35 connected to the flat surface portion 31. Each 5 film 36 associated with the corresponding guide plate 32 is wound around the guide plate and has two end portions aye each of which is housed in a respective cavity 34 of the end portion 35 as a coil-shaped winding. A mechanism M for Jo chieftain the films 36 on the guide plates 32 comprises a plurality of driving rollers 37 each associated with one of the films 36 and which are rotatable mounted on a fixed frame (not shown) of the machine through the medium of end shafts 38 thereof in an appropriate known manner. As shown in Fig.
3B, each driving roller 37 is engaged by two parallel driven 15~ rollers 39 which are also rotatable mounted on the fixed frame of the machine by means of end shafts 41 thereof. Each film 36 extends from one of the coil-shaped end portions aye, pass-s between the driving roller 37 and one of the driven rollers 39 to extend on the corresponding guide plate 32, and then passes between the driving roller 37 and the other driven roller 41, and terminates as the other coil-shaped end portion.
Accordingly, when the driving roller 37 rotates in a clockwise direction (Fig. 3B) or in an anti clockwise direction, the - film 36 is shifted on the guide plate 32 to the left or right, respectively. In order to rotate the driving roller 37, the mechanism M further includes a plurality of first bevel gears 42 each fixed to the end shaft 38 of the corresponding driving roller 37, and a plurality of second bevel gears 43 each _ g _ ~227776 engaged by the corresponding first bevel gear 41 and which are fixed to a driving shaft 44 of a reversible stepping motor 45. With this construction, all of the films 36 can be simultaneously shifted by means of the stepping motor 45 through the driving shaft 44, bevel gears 42, 43, driving roller 37 and driven rollers 31. When the films 36 are shifted by a distance equal to the width A' of the guide plate 32, the displayed column of items printed on the films is changed to the next new column of items. A conventional input unit 40 is also provided.
According to a first version of the film shifting means as shown in Fig. 3C, two driving rollers 46 are provided for each film 36, the rollers 46 being rotatable mounted on the fixed frame (not shown) of the machine by means of end shafts 47 thereof. Each driving shaft 47 is in contact with an undersurface of the corresponding end portion 35 of the guide plate 32 with the interposition of the film portion.
In this case, when the driving rollers 46 are rotated, the film 36 is shifted by friction force.
According to a second version of the film shifting means as shown in Fig. ED, each end portion 35 of the guide plate 32 has an inwardly and upwardly extending bend portion 50 which is engaged by a single driving roller 48 rotatable mounted on the fixed frame of the machine by means of end shafts 49 thereof. The film 36 passes between the bend portions 50 and the driving roller 48. The film is shifted by rotating the driving roller 48 due to a friction force.
Fig. 4 shows a third embodiment of the input machine 30 lZZ7776 according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a plurality of guide plates 51 similar to the guide plates 12 is provided. A pair of parallel rollers 52, 53 are associated with each film 54. Each film 54 wound around the corresponding roller 52 from its one end passes over the corresponding guide plate 51 and is wound around the roller 53 from the other end thereof. The rollers 52, 53 are rotatable mounted on a fixed frame 55 of the machine by means of end shaft aye, aye thereof.
The pair of the rollers So, 53 have corresponding first bevel gears 56, 57 which are engaged by corresponding second bevel gears 58, 59 respectively, the second bevel gears being fixed to a driving shaft 61 of a reversible stepping motor 62. The films 54 can be simultaneously shifted by rotating the pairs of rollers 52, 53 by the stepping motor 62. Also in this case, ; 15 a conventional input unit 63 is provided.
Jo "
Fig. S shows a fourth embodiment of the input machine according to the present invention, similar to the third embodiment of Fig. 4. In this fourth embodiment, one of the :, - rollers 52 and 53 similar to those of the third embodiment 20~ (for example, the rollers 53 as shown in Fig. 5) has core-, . .
sponging bevel gears 57 at their one ends, while the rollers 52 have corresponding bevel gears 56 at the other ends thereof.
The bevel gears 57 of the rollers 53 are engaged by core-sponging bevel gears 59 fixed to a driving shaft 61 connected to a reversible stepping motor 62. On the other end of the input machine 30, the bevel gears 56 of the rollers 52 are :
engaged by corresponding bevel gears 58 fixed to a shaft 69 extending parallel to the driving shaft 61. Further, a cross -- 11 -- .
, -~2Z777~
shaft 65 having bevel gears 66 and 67 at its both ends extends perpendicular to the shafts 61 and 69. The bevel gear 66 of the cross shaft 65 is engaged by a bevel gear 64 fixed to the driving shaft 61, while the bevel gear 67 of the cross shaft 65 is engaged by a bevel gear 68 fixed to the shaft 69. Thus, when the driving shaft 61 is rotated by the stepping motor 62, the rollers 52 and 53 are also rotated simultaneously in synchronism with each other in the same direction, thereby shifting all of the films by the same amount.
Fig. PA shows a fifth embodiment of the input machine 60 according to the present invention. In this embodiment, a plurality of guide plates 71 are arranged side by side and parallel to each other, as similar to those of Figs 4 and 5.
Each film 76 associated with the corresponding guide plate 71 has one end aye coiled and housed within a semi-cylindrical end portion aye of a film holder 77 and the other coiled end 76b housed within another semi-cylindrical end portion 77b of said film holder 77. Both edge portions of the film 76 project from both ends of the corresponding guide plate 71.
below each guide plate 71 a pair of parallel shafts aye and aye extend parallel to the corresponding guide plate 71.
These shafts are rotatable supported by a corresponding support 78 fixed to the machine frame (not shown). Adjacent to each end of the guide plate 71, the shafts aye and aye have rollers 74 and 75 respectively which can be contacted by the film portions projecting from the ends of the guide plate.
Further, the input machine includes a plurality of shafts 73 extending parallel to the guide plates and rotatable mounted _ ~Z2~776 on the machine frame, each shaft 73 having rollers aye and 73b which can cooperate with the rollers aye and/or 74b.
More particularly, the shafts 73 are so arranged that the two rollers aye of two adjacent shafts 73 are engaged by the pair of rollers aye and aye with the interposition of the projected film portion at one side of the guide plates and the other two rollers 72b of said two adjacent shafts 73 are engaged by the pair of rollers aye and aye with the inter-position of the projected film portion at the other side of the guide plates, as shown in Figs. PA and 6B. Accordingly, when all of the shafts 73 are rotated simultaneously in the same direction, all of the films 76 are shifted simultaneously (on the corresponding guide plates 71) in the same direction by the same amount. To this end, a bevel gear 81 is fixed to one end of each shaft 73. The bevel gears 81 are engaged by corresponding bevel gears 82 fixed to a driving shaft 83 connected to a reversible stopping motor 84. In this manner, when the driving shaft 83 rotates in either direction, all of the films 76 can be shifted in the same direction by the same amount.
Fig. 7 shows a sixth embodiment of the input machine 70 according to the present invention, similar to that of Figs. PA and 6B. In this embodiment, one end of each shaft 73 has a spur gear 87 (different from the bevel gear 81 of ; 25 Fig. PA), all of the spur gears 87 being engaged by a single toothed belt 88. In this case, by positively rotating one of the spur gears 87 by means of a reversible stepping motor 90 connected to said spur gear through a motor shaft 89, all of the films can be shifted simultaneously in the same direct lion by the same amount.
Fig. 8 shows a seventh embodiment of the input machine 80 according to the present invention, similar to that of S Figs. PA and 7. -In this embodiment, one end of each shaft 73 has a toothed wheel 91, all of the toothed wheels 91 of the shafts 73 being engaged by a single endless chain 92.
I; Also, in this case, by positively rotating one of the toothed wheels 91 by means of the stepping motor 90, all of the films can be shifted simultaneously in the same direction by the same amount.
Fig. 9 shows an eighth embodiment of the input machine 100 according to the present invention, similar to those of Figs. PA, 7 and 8. In this embodiment, one end of each shaft 73 has a spur gear 93 fixed thereto, similar to the embodiment of Fig. 7. As shown in Fig. 9, any two adjacent spur gears among these spur gears 93 are engaged by a driving spur gear 95 rotated by a reversible stepping motor 96, while other two adjacent spur gears 93 are engaged by corresponding idle spur gears 94 rotatable mounted on the fixed machine frame (not shown). Also in this case, by rotating the driving gear 95 by means of the motor 96, all of the films can be shifted simultaneously in the same direction by the same - amount.
At last, a ninth embodiment of the input machine 110 according to the present invention is shown in Fig. 10. In this embodiment, a plurality of shafts 97 are arranged similar to the shafts 73 of Figs. PA and 6B. A plurality pairs of second shafts, like the pairs of shafts aye and aye of Fig. 6B
are also provided, one of the pair being indicated by "99"
in Fig. 10 (ends of the second shafts being also indicated by "Lola" and "aye"). Each shaft 97 is provided at its one end s with a roller 98 which is engaged by pair of rollers 101 of the second shafts with the interposition of the projected portion of a corresponding film 102. On the contrary, the other end of each shaft 97 has a pinion 103 fixed thereto.
All of the pinions 103 of the shafts 97 are engaged by an endless toothed belt 104 which is rotatable supported by guide rollers 105 and which can be driven by an appropriate reversible stepping motor (not shown). Accordingly, also in this case, when the toothed belt 104 is rotated, all of the films 102 are shifted on the corresponding guide plates 71 in the same direction by the same amount.
As apparent from the explanation regarding the above embodiments, in the input machine according to the present invention, since all of the films can be simultaneously shifted quickly (and, more particularly, since the presently-displayed items on the machine can be changed by new items by shifting the films at least by a distance equal to the width A' of the guide plate), a desired new item can be easily and very quickly positioned on the corresponding guide plate.
The operation of the input machine according to the present invention is substantially the same as that of the conventional input machine as described above with respect ; to Fig. 1, as far as an inputting operation. Briefly explained, with reference to the input machine of Fig. PA, - i227'776 if a desired item is now not on the corresponding guide plate 12, by shifting all of the films 16 under the control of the stepping motor 22 up to a position where said desired item is positioned on the corresponding guide plate 12. Then, when the desired item is energized by a pen-touch, finger-touch or key-push operation, a corresponding input signal is generated in the input unit 29; said input signal designating a corresponding address among a plurality of addresses stored in a memory (not shown) through the medium of a control portion (not shown) in the input unit 29, thereby generating an output signal regarding the information corresponding to the desired item.
Although the present invention has been explained with reference to the illustrated embodiment, it should be noted that various modifications or variations can be effected by any skilled person in the art without deviating from the scope of the present invention. For example, in the embody-mint of Figs. PA and 2B, when the rollers 11 on which the corresponding film 16 is wound have a polygonal cross section, such as in Fig. 2C, the corresponding guide plates 12 may be omitted.
This application is, therefore, intended to cover any - variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention following the general principles thereof and including such departures Jo 25 from the present disclosure as come within known or customary I"
practice in the art to which this invention pertains and fall within the limits of the appended claims.
:~:
Claims (5)
1. An input machine for inputting information correspond-ing to a desired item, characterized in that it comprises a plurality of guide plates arranged substantially parallel to each other and lying substantially on a single plane, a plurality of films on each of which a plurality of items to be inputted are printed and which are adapted to be shifted on the corresponding guide plates, and means for shifting the films simultaneously on the corresponding guide plates.
2. An input machine according to Claim 1, characterized in that each film is wound, from its one end, on a correspond-ding first roller arranged parallel to the corresponding guide plate, all of said films being wound together, from the other ends thereof, on a second roller, said means for shifting the films comprising means for selectively rotating all of the first roller and the second roller.
3. An input machine according to Claim 2, characterized in that each of said first rollers has a polygonal cross-section, and the guide plates are omitted.
4. An input machine according to Claim l, characterized in that each film is wound on a corresponding pair of parallel rollers arranged below the corresponding guide plate.
5. An input machine according to Claim 1, characterized in that each film has coil-shaped both end portions housed within film holding means.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000469098A CA1227776A (en) | 1984-11-30 | 1984-11-30 | Input machine |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000469098A CA1227776A (en) | 1984-11-30 | 1984-11-30 | Input machine |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1227776A true CA1227776A (en) | 1987-10-06 |
Family
ID=4129269
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000469098A Expired CA1227776A (en) | 1984-11-30 | 1984-11-30 | Input machine |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1227776A (en) |
-
1984
- 1984-11-30 CA CA000469098A patent/CA1227776A/en not_active Expired
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |