GB1591174A

GB1591174A - Typewriters

Info

Publication number: GB1591174A
Application number: GB4181477A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: HSIN JEN CHANG
Current assignee: HSIN JEN CHANG
Priority date: 1977-10-07
Filing date: 1977-10-07
Publication date: 1981-06-17

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO TYPEWRITERS (71) I, HSIN-JEN CHANG, a citizen of Taiwan U.O.L. of No. 34, Alley 399, Fu Yuan Street, Taipei, Taiwan, do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to typewriters and is particularly concerned with a device for facilitating the reading by a typist of a manuscript to be typed.

According to the present invention there is provided a copy-holder for a typewriter, comprising a lens capable of magnifying a manuscript to be typed and a structure carrying the lens, two opposed platens mounted for rotation on the structure and adapted to receive the manuscript therebetween so that the manuscript is displaced between the platens and behind the magnifying lens with rotation of the platens, means adapted to rotate at least one of the platens, and support means for the structure.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a typewriter including a copy-holder as described in the immediately preceding paragraph.

By the present invention it is possible to position the manuscript at any desisted location by suitable adjustment of the structure and/or the support means, and at the same time the manuscript, or a portion thereof being read, may be magnified by the magnifying lens which may be in the form of an elongate plano-convex lens.

The means for rotating the or one of the platens preferably comprises an electrical motor which may be mounted on the structure and switch means for the motor, which may comprise a microswitch that is conveniently pedal mounted. Generally, the manuscript will require to be movable in opposite directions between the platens and this may be provided by making the motor reversible by suitable gearing. Conveniently manual rotating means will also be provided for rotating the or one of the platens.

In a preferred embodiment the magnifying lens and one of the platens are supported on a bracket pivotally mounted on the structure for movement between a manuscript-feed condition in which the bracket-supported platen is displaced away from the other platen to permit the manuscript to be inserted therebetween, and an operative condition in which the platens are positioned adjacent one to another whereby a manuscript therebetween may be displaced by friction upon rotation of the platens, and in which the magnifying lens is positioned to magnify a portion of the manuscript. Generally only one of the platens will be driven by the rotating means, and the other will be driven directly or indirectly through the manuscript by frictional engagement with the driven platen.Conveniently where one of the platens is bracket-mounted for pivotal movement as above described, the other platen will be driven by the rotating means.

The copy-holder preferably includes illuminating means for the manuscript on the structure. The illuminating means may be located in front of or behind the manuscript and may comprise an elongate fluorescent lamp. A suitable shade may be used to direct light on to the or part of the manuscript and a further shade in the form of a translucent sheet may be used to diffuse the light from the illuminating means. Such translucent sheet may double as a support for any manuscript between the platens.

The support means for the structure of the copy-holder may be located for example on the floor, a table or a wall, or it may be mounted on the typewriter. In any arrangement the magnifying lens is preferably at the eye level of the typist.

One embodiment of a copy-holder in accordance with the present invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows the structure including the platens and rotating means of the copyholder; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the copy-holder including the structure of Fig ure 1; Figure 3 shows a typist using the copyholder shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows part of the copy-holder shown in Figure 2, and Figure 5 is an electric circuit of the copyholder shown in Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings, the copyholder illustrated consists of three major parts, the electrical control system, the structure carrying the platens and the support means. Figure 5 illustrates the electrical circuit of the control system and it may be seen that a switch 1 connects the AC supply to either of coils L1 or L2 of a motor 3 (see Figure 1) for respectively clockwise or anticlockwise drive. A condenser 4 decreases the instantaneous voltage of the circuit. A switch 5 controls the current to a fluorescent lamp 6 having a starter 7 and a current limiter 8 is utilised in the circuit.

The switch 1 comprises a microswitch and is installed in a pedal 2 (Figures 2 and 3) which is controlled by the foot of a typist, who applies pressure to the right-hand end or the left-hand end of the pedal 2 to connect respectively the clockwise coil L1 or the anticlockwise coil L2 of the motor 3.

Referring to Figure 1, the motor 3, which may rotate at only 4 RPM, drives an axle 9 on which two platen-parts 10 are mounted to rotate with the axle. Spaced brackets 11 support the axle 9 on the structure. The two platen-parts 10 are rotatably and respectively engaged in an operative condition by two auxiliary platen-parts 12 so that a manuscript located between the platen-parts 10 and 12 can be moved upwardly or downwardly by frictional force according to the clockwise or anticlockwise rotation of the motor 3. The axle 9 is also rotatable by means of a manual-regulating wheel 13.

The auxiliary platen-parts 12 are freely rotatable on an axle carried by a bracket 14 (Figure 4) which also carries a magnifying lens 17. The bracket 14 is pivotally mounted to end-plates 15 of the structure and is biased by springs 16 into the aforementioned operative condition, in which the auxiliary platen-parts 12 are adapted to be rotated by frictional engagement either directly with the platen-parts 10 or indirectly therewith through a manuscript positioned between the platen-parts 10 and 12. By pivoting the bracket 14 away from the platen-parts 10 against the bias of springs 16, the bracket 14 may be moved into a manuscript-feed condition in which the platen-parts 10 and 12 are spaced to permit the manuscript to be introduced between them.

The magnifying lens 17 is elongate and plano-convex, and has flat upper and lower edges to alleviate distortion of the manuscript as it is magnified. The lens 17 also includes a positioning or alignment line 18 for the manuscript. In the operative condition of the bracket 14 the lens 17 should urge a manuscript against a support to ensure that the manuscript is the preferred distance from the lens for correct magnification, and such support may comprise the bulb or a shade of the fluorescent lamp 6.

Alternatively the lamp 6 may be located adjacent the auxiliary platen-parts 12 and a shade thereof may be so formed as to cause illumination of the manuscript by the lamp 6 from in front of the manuscript.

A translucent sheet 19 is pivotally mounted on top of the structure of the device for movement between an upper position in which it acts as a paper guide or support (as shown in Figures 2 and 3), and a lower position in which it overlies the lens 17 and hence the magnified portion of a manuscript and acts as a shade or light diffuser to soften the light from the fluorescent lamp 6 while still permitting the magnified manuscript to be read therethrough.

In the embodiment shown, the support means for the structure comprises a cranked bracket 20, a sleeve 21, a locking screw 22, a sleeve seat 23 and a base plate 24. The upper part of the cranked bracket 20 is located in a block 25 on the structure (see Figure 1) and its lower part is slidably engaged in the sleeve 21 and locked at a preferred height and orientation by means of the screw 22. The sleeve 21 may be relatively short if the base plate 24 is desk mounted, or longer if the copy-holder is set up on the floor.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A copy-holder for a typewriter, comprising a lens capable of magnifying a manuscript to be typed and a structure carrying the lens, two opposed platens mounted for rotation on the structure and adapted to receive the manuscript therebetween so that the manuscript is displaced between the platens and behind the magnifying lens with rotation of the platens, means adapted to rotate at least one of the platens, and support means for the structure.

2. A copy-holder as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for rotating the or one of the platens comprises an electrical motor and switch means for the motor.

3. A copy-holder as claimed in claim 2 in which the switch means comprises a pedal mounted microswitch.

4. A copy-holder as claimed in claim 2 or claim 3 in which the motor is reversible so as to displace the manuscript in opposite directions between the platens.

5. A copy-holder as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 in which manual rotating means are additionally provided for rotating the or one of the platens.

6. A copy-holder as claimed in any one

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. ure 1; Figure 3 shows a typist using the copyholder shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 shows part of the copy-holder shown in Figure 2, and Figure 5 is an electric circuit of the copyholder shown in Figure 2. Referring to the drawings, the copyholder illustrated consists of three major parts, the electrical control system, the structure carrying the platens and the support means. Figure 5 illustrates the electrical circuit of the control system and it may be seen that a switch 1 connects the AC supply to either of coils L1 or L2 of a motor 3 (see Figure 1) for respectively clockwise or anticlockwise drive. A condenser 4 decreases the instantaneous voltage of the circuit. A switch 5 controls the current to a fluorescent lamp 6 having a starter 7 and a current limiter 8 is utilised in the circuit. The switch 1 comprises a microswitch and is installed in a pedal 2 (Figures 2 and 3) which is controlled by the foot of a typist, who applies pressure to the right-hand end or the left-hand end of the pedal 2 to connect respectively the clockwise coil L1 or the anticlockwise coil L2 of the motor 3. Referring to Figure 1, the motor 3, which may rotate at only 4 RPM, drives an axle 9 on which two platen-parts 10 are mounted to rotate with the axle. Spaced brackets 11 support the axle 9 on the structure. The two platen-parts 10 are rotatably and respectively engaged in an operative condition by two auxiliary platen-parts 12 so that a manuscript located between the platen-parts 10 and 12 can be moved upwardly or downwardly by frictional force according to the clockwise or anticlockwise rotation of the motor 3. The axle 9 is also rotatable by means of a manual-regulating wheel 13. The auxiliary platen-parts 12 are freely rotatable on an axle carried by a bracket 14 (Figure 4) which also carries a magnifying lens 17. The bracket 14 is pivotally mounted to end-plates 15 of the structure and is biased by springs 16 into the aforementioned operative condition, in which the auxiliary platen-parts 12 are adapted to be rotated by frictional engagement either directly with the platen-parts 10 or indirectly therewith through a manuscript positioned between the platen-parts 10 and 12. By pivoting the bracket 14 away from the platen-parts 10 against the bias of springs 16, the bracket 14 may be moved into a manuscript-feed condition in which the platen-parts 10 and 12 are spaced to permit the manuscript to be introduced between them. The magnifying lens 17 is elongate and plano-convex, and has flat upper and lower edges to alleviate distortion of the manuscript as it is magnified. The lens 17 also includes a positioning or alignment line 18 for the manuscript. In the operative condition of the bracket 14 the lens 17 should urge a manuscript against a support to ensure that the manuscript is the preferred distance from the lens for correct magnification, and such support may comprise the bulb or a shade of the fluorescent lamp 6. Alternatively the lamp 6 may be located adjacent the auxiliary platen-parts 12 and a shade thereof may be so formed as to cause illumination of the manuscript by the lamp 6 from in front of the manuscript. A translucent sheet 19 is pivotally mounted on top of the structure of the device for movement between an upper position in which it acts as a paper guide or support (as shown in Figures 2 and 3), and a lower position in which it overlies the lens 17 and hence the magnified portion of a manuscript and acts as a shade or light diffuser to soften the light from the fluorescent lamp 6 while still permitting the magnified manuscript to be read therethrough. In the embodiment shown, the support means for the structure comprises a cranked bracket 20, a sleeve 21, a locking screw 22, a sleeve seat 23 and a base plate 24. The upper part of the cranked bracket 20 is located in a block 25 on the structure (see Figure 1) and its lower part is slidably engaged in the sleeve 21 and locked at a preferred height and orientation by means of the screw 22. The sleeve 21 may be relatively short if the base plate 24 is desk mounted, or longer if the copy-holder is set up on the floor. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A copy-holder for a typewriter, comprising a lens capable of magnifying a manuscript to be typed and a structure carrying the lens, two opposed platens mounted for rotation on the structure and adapted to receive the manuscript therebetween so that the manuscript is displaced between the platens and behind the magnifying lens with rotation of the platens, means adapted to rotate at least one of the platens, and support means for the structure.

6. A copy-holder as claimed in any one

of the preceding claims in which the magnifying lens and one of the platens are supported on a bracket pivotally mounted on the structure for movement between a manuscript-feed condition in which the bracket-supported platen is displaced away from the other platen to permit the manuscript to be inserted therebetween, and an operative condition in which the platens are positioned adjacent one to another whereby a manuscript therebetween may be displaced by friction upon rotation of the platens, and in which the magnifying lens is positioned to magnify a portion of the manuscript.

7. A copy-holder as claimed in claim 6 in which the bracket is biased towards the operative condition.

8. A copy-holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the magnifying lens is in the form of an elongate plano-convex lens.

9. A copy-holder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which illuminating means for the manuscript is provided on the structure.

10. A copy-holder as claimed in claim 9 in which the illuminating means comprises an elongate fluorescent lamp, and wherein shade means is provided for the lamp.

11. A copy-holder as claimed in claim 10 in which the shade means comprises an elongate translucent sheet that is pivotable between a shading position in which it is adapted to diffuse the light from the lamp and a guiding position in which it is adapted to provide additional support for a manuscript between the platens.

12. A copy-holder for a typewriter substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A typewriter including a copyholder as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.