GB2025082A - Viewer - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable viewer for displaying information on a roll of paper or film 17 has a case 2 enclosing two spools 13, 14 carrying the roll and a viewing aperture 10 past which the paper is progressively moved by rotating discs 16 fixed to the spools. The discs 16 are rotated manually, or by engagement with motor driven rollers (28, Fig. 2 not shown). Internal illumination 23 can be provided and the viewer is suitable for use by handicapped persons. The information or illustrations displayed can be optically magnified and provision is made for the user to write on the paper if necessary. The components are suitable for volume production methods. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Viewer This invention relates to a viewer for displaying information on a continuous strip of paper or other character recording medium carried on a spool and in particular to a viewer which can be readily carried in and operated by hand.

Information can be provided on a continuous strip of paper carried on a pair of spools between which the paper can be moved by rotation of the spools to reveal progressively the information recorded on the paper. This has the advantage that facts, knowledge, directions, instructions, illustrations and other information can be dispensed in an unbroken sequence without the inconvenience of page turning. Route guides, guides to historic buildings and directions for carrying out processes are examples of uses of information of this kind to which continuous visual display is applicable.

In order to view such information, an apparatus for accommodating the spools and permitting their rotation to reveal the matter recorded on the paper is required to utilise the advantages of this form of record. Whilst paper is the normal medium for recording such information, other materials including transparent film may be used and the term "tape" is hereinafter used to include material in roll form suitable for recording such information.

According to the present invention a portable viewer for displaying information on a roll of tape comprises a case having in its interior two pairs of mountings for rotatably supporting two spools each carrying a part of the roll of tape enclosed within the case, each spool being provided with at least one coaxial disc, apertures in the case for permitting access to a peripheral portion of each disc for effecting rotation of the spools and a viewing aperture in the case between the spool mountings for exposing to view a portion of the tape, the discs being rotatable to impart movement of the tape.

Preferably the case is a moulded plastics box having a lid provided with the apparatus for the discs and the viewing aperture.

Preferably also the case includes a pair of tape supporting bars extending between opposite side walls parallel to the axes of the spools and located on either side of and adjacent the underside of viewing aperture. The tape supporting bars maintain the tape close to the viewing aperture and may be removable, in which case they are accommodated in grooves provided in the side walls.

The viewing aperture may be glazed and may be provided with a magnifying lens which may be detachably mounted on the case and may include adjustment means for focussing the magnifying lens.

For use in poor lighting conditions, the viewer may have an internal lighting source e.g. an electric lamp for illuminating the tape either above or below the tape. Preferably a battery or transformer is located in the case between the spools with an external control switch. A reflective material may be used to line the case adjacent the lamp. The viewer may be operated by manual rotation of the discs or by an electric motor rotating the discs.

A viewer in accordance with the invention is advantageous in that it can be of small size and yet store a large amount of information which can be easily displayed. The paper record is protected against dirt, fingermarks, tearing, creasing and so forth. Furthermore, it allows the information to be progressively revealed by merely turning a disc or knob, and this facility is particularly useful for handicapped persons since a disc can be adapted for easy operation by handicapped persons. The electrically driven version is especially suitable for the hanicapped. It is simple in construction and can be produced by modern mass production methods. Being portable the viewer can be used as a route or other descriptive guide.

Two embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings of which Figure 1 is a plan view of a viewer in accordance with the invention with a portion of the case removed to show the internal arrangement, and Figure 2 is a plan view of an arrangement for electrically operating the viewer.

Referring to the drawings the case 1 of the viewer consists of a box portion 2 having a lid 3.

The box portion 2 is moulded from a rigid plastics material and includes in the side walls 4 mountings 5 formed by open slots in an integrally formed rib 6. Grooves 7 in the side walls 4 between the mountings 5 are engaged by the ends of tape supporting bars 8 which extend between the side walls 4.

The lid 3, also of moulded plastics, is a snap fit on the box portion 2, and incorporates slots 9 at both ends, and a viewing aperture 10 extending across the lid 3 and closed by a transparent panel 11 and secured therein by a bezel 12. The panel 11 may be hinged to the lid 3.

Within the box portion 2 are two spools 13 and 14 consisting of a spindle 1 5 to which two discs 1 6 with knurled edges are secured, the ends of the spindle 1 5 being received in the mountings 5 so that the spools are rotatably supported.

Extending between the spools 13 and 14 is a roll of paper 17 (shown in chain line) bearing information (a tape) which passes under the viewing aperture 10 in the lid 3. A portion of the discs 1 6 protrudes through the slots 9 when the lid 3 is in position.

The spindle 1 5 is formed by two spindle members 1 8 and 1 9 of semicircular cross-section placed with their flat surfaces together and gripped together by engagement with an axial bore in the disc 16. Relative movement between the spindle 1 5 and the disc 16 can be prevented by means of a mechanical key e.g. a projection on the spindle 1 5 engaging in a recess in the disc 1 6.

The ends of the paper 17 are gripped on their respective spools 1 3 and 14 between the flat surfaces of spindle members 1 8 and 19, the discs 16, which may be of an elastomeric material, being pushed over the ends of the spindle 1 5.

Between the tape supporting bars 8 and beneath the paper 1 7 is a battery 20 located and secured in a suitable compartment formed integrally with the box portion 2. A switch on the exterior of a side wall 4 and connections 22 provide a lighting circuit for the bulbs 23 (shown schematically) located above the paper 1 7 on either side of the viewing aperture 10.

In operation, with the lid 3 removed, a pair of spools 13 and 14 with a roll of paper 1 7 bearing the desired information secured to each spool, is placed with the spindle 1 5 located in the mountings 5 with the paper 17 extending over the tape supporting bars 8. The lid 3 is replaced with the discs 1 6 protruding through the slots 9 so that the knurled edges can be contacted by the hand to permit rotation of the discs 1 6 and hence of the paper 17. Only one of the spools i.e. the take-up spool, is rotated so that paper is drawn off the other of the spools, which is freely rotatable in its mounting 5, across the viewing aperture 10, through which the information is visible, aided, if necessary, by illumination of the bulbs 23.

In variations of the above described construction, the lid 3 may be hinged and provided with latching means. The discs 1 6 may be replaced by knobs which extend through the side walls 4 of the box portion 2. Where a strip type magnifying lens is to be fitted, the lid 3 may be provided with clips, lugs, or adjustable legs by which the lens can be secured in position over the viewing aperture 10, with or without a window in the lid.

The discs can be adapted by suitable means e.g.

indentations, for a handicapped person to be able to turn the disc. Instead of the battery 20, a transformer for connection to the mains supply may be mounted in the box portion 2. For translucent tape the bulbs 23 can be arranged underneath the tape. The discs 1 6 can be arranged to protrude through the bottom of the box portion 2 and furthermore the discs can be arranged to be driven be a electric motor. The motor can be in a separate unit attachable to the case 1, or within the case, and may impart rotation to the spools, for example by means of rollers pressing against the discs 1 6 protruding through the bottom of the box portion 2.

Obviously the discs 1 6 and the rollers could be provided with meshing gear teeth if required.

The second embodiment illustrated in Figure 2 shows an arrangement in which the tape is advanced by means of an electric motor contained within the case 1 shown in Figure 1.

Mounted in the case 1 in place of the battery 20 shown in Figure 1 is an electric motor 24 having a pulley 25 at each end of the driving shaft of the motor. Shafts 26 carried in bearings 27 are mounted parallel to the axes of spindles 1 5 and are provided at each end with rubber rollers 28 for engagement with the discs 1 6. The drive from the pulleys 25 to pulleys 29 on shafts 26 is transmitted by a belt 30, the relative sizes of the pulleys 25 and pulleys 29 being selected to produce the required rotational speed of the shafts 26. Control of the motor is achieved by means of a variable speed, reversible controller 31 having a control knob 32 on the exterior of the case 1 and a transformer 33 for connection to a mains supply is contained within the case 1 for supplying a low voltage to the motor 24.Instead of the transformer 33 a battery may be provided and either the battery or the transformer can also supply lighting.

In alternative arrangements of the second embodiment two electric motors may be provided, one connected to each of shafts 26, each motor being separately energised to drive its respective shaft in one direction. Another arrangement is by worm and wormwheel, the worms being at each end of a shaft driven by the motor and one disc on each spool being formed as a wormwheel, thus eliminating parallel shafts 26.

In the second embodiment, where the discs 1 6 on both spools are driven from a common shaft as Figure 2 or where the worm drive is concerned, it is necessary to provide means by which the spools may rotate at different speeds when the roll of tape on one spool is of greater diameter than the roll on the other spool. This difference in relative speeds will change gradually as tape is transferred from one roll to the other. One such means is to provide for slip through limited frictional resistance under a predetermined load between various coupled rotating components to prevent tearing of the tape or overloading of the motor. Another such means is to provide freewheeling so that reversal of the drive shaft is transmitted to only one of the spools, the other of the spools then idling. A combination of these methods may be necessary.Thus slip can be arranged between disc 16 and spindle 15, between either of pulleys 25 or 29 and their respective shafts or between the belts 30 and those pulleys forming the transmission to one of the spools e.g. where one of the components such as disc or pulley is of rubber and is mounted on a smooth surface. Freewheeling can be arranged by either of pairs of pulleys 25 or 29 being provided with freewheeling devices e.g. ratchet and pawl arrangements respectively operable in opposite senses to rotate only the take up spool in either forward or backward movement of the tape.

The use of a separate motor for each spool will accommodate relatively different spool speeds since only the take up spool is driven, and therefore only one of the motors is energised.

Where it is desired to provide a facility for the user of the viewer to write on the tape, a supporting surface may be provided over which the tape passes and this may be located between the spools 1 3 and 14, between or instead of the tape bars 8. Conveniently the supporting surface may be a removable cover for the battery 20 or the motor 24, or may be translucent plastics panel which permits illumination from below.

Claims (21)

Claims

1. A portable viewer for displaying information on a roll of tape comprising a case having in its interior two pairs of mountings for rotatably supporting two spools each carrying a part of the roll of tape each spool being provided with at least one coaxial disc, apertures in the case permitting access to a peripheral portion of each coaxial disc for effecting rotation of the spools and a viewing aperture in the case for exposing to view a portion of the tape, the discs being rotatable to impart movement to the tape.

2. A portable viewer according to claim 1 wherein an internal lighting source is provided within the case for illuminating the tape.

3. A portable viewer according to claim 2 wherein the internal lighting source is energised by means of a battery or a transformer.

4. A portable viewer according to any of the portable viewer according to any of the preceding claims wherein an electric motor is arranged to rotate the spools through a transmission rotatably engaging the discs.

5. A portable viewer according to claim 4 wherein the electric motor is located within the case in driving engagement with a pair of rotatable shafts parallel to the axes of the spools having wheels or rollers engagable with the periphery of the discs.

6. A portable viewer according to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the electric motor is controlled by a variable speed reversible controller.

7. A viewer according to claim 4 or claim 6 wherein the electric motor is mounted in a separate unit and includes driving means engageable with the discs for rotating the spools when the hand viewer case is located in an operative position on the said separate unit.

8. A portable viewer according to any of claims 4, 5, 6 or 7 wherein two electric motors are provided, one motor being arranged to rotate one spool in one direction and the other motor being arranged to rotate the other spool in the reverse direction and motor control means are adapted to energise selectively either one or the other motor.

9. A portable viewer according to claim 5 or claim 7 wherein the spools may be rotated at relatively different speeds by provision of means in the transmission permitting slip by virtue of limited frictional resistance at a predetermined load.

10. A portable viewer according to claim 5 or claim 7 wherein the transmission includes in the drive to each spool a freewheel device, each such device being arranged to transmit the drive in the opposite rotational direction to the other such device.

11. A portable viewer according to any of the preceding claims wherein the case includes a pair of tape supporting bars parallel to the axes of the spools and located on either side of and adjacent the underside of the viewing aperture.

12. A portable viewer according to any of the preceding claims wherein the case includes a supporting surface for the tape to permit writing on the tape.

13. A portable viewer according to claim 12 wherein the supporting surface is a translucent panel.

14. A portable viewer according to any of the preceding claims wherein the viewing aperture is closed by means of a transparent panel.

1 5. A portable viewer according to claim 1.4 wherein the transparent panel is hinged to the case to permit access to the tape.

1 6. A portable viewer as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein each spool includes a spindle comprising two spindle members each of substantially semicircular cross section and each having a longitudinally extending flat surface, said surfaces being located in face to face contact and gripped together by engagement of opposite ends of the spindle in an axial bore in each of two discs.

1 7. A portable viewer as claimed in claim 16 wherein each spindle member includes a projection engagable with a recess in the disc.

18. A portable viewer as claimed in claim 1 6 or claim 17 wherein the spindle members are moulded from plastics material.

19. A portable viewer as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein an optical magnifier is located over the viewing aperture.

20. A portable viewer as claimed in any of claims 1-3 or 11-19 wherein the discs are adapted to be rotated by a handicapped person.

21. A portable viewer substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.