JPH09127859A - Braille display device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a braille display device small in size and light in weight. SOLUTION: By ruggedness at the upper ends of pins 3 for the number of required characters passing through the pin holding holes 2a of a prescribed pitch pierced on a display plate 2 and held freely movably backwards and forwards from/to the holes, braille is displayed corresponding to input signals from a personal computer or the like. A pin projecting mechanism for selectively projecting the respective pins 3 from the holes corresponding to the input signals is composed of plural pieces of microsolenoids 7 arranged at the same interval as the respective pins 3. The respective microsolenoids 7 are disposed so as to make the lower ends of the pins 3 and the upper ends of the plungers 7a of the microsolenoids 7 face each other on the same forward and backward moving route and the lower ends of the pins 3 are directly driven by the upper ends of the plungers 7a by the excitation of the microsolenoids 7.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a Braille display device for displaying Braille by the unevenness of a plurality of pins that move up and down.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a Braille display device for displaying Braille by the unevenness of the upper end of a pin for a required number of characters arranged on a display board, see the section of "Prior Art" in JP-A-63-91685. As described, the pin (Braille pin) is formed by a laminated piezoelectric element with a small diameter, and it is set in advance by utilizing the longitudinal expansion / contraction effect that occurs when a required voltage is applied to this piezoelectric element. A product has been commercialized in which the tip end of the pin thus formed is projected to the surface of the display plate. Since this device is configured by arranging the above-mentioned laminated piezoelectric element for each pin, its mechanism becomes complicated, and as a result, the device becomes large in size.

Therefore, in the "Braille display device" described in the above-mentioned Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 63-91685, in order to eliminate the drawbacks of the above-mentioned conventional device, eight solenoids and a lever (drive) are mounted on a moving body (bracket). (A piece and a pusher) are arranged to configure the braille pin pushing mechanism, and the movable body is moved in the XY directions by the vertical scale and the horizontal scale, and the braille pin pushing mechanism sequentially pushes up the braille pins. There is.

[0004]

However, in the "Braille display device" described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 63-91685, an ordinary solenoid is used in the Braille pin pushing mechanism as a driving source for the pin. Therefore, it is necessary to drive the pin via a lever such as a drive piece and a pusher.
In other words, the diameter of the pin for forming the Braille is very small, about 2 mm, and the pin interval is specified to be about 2.4 mm. It cannot be directly driven, and a driving piece for driving the pin and a lever such as a pusher are indispensable. Therefore, also in this Braille display device, since the moving body becomes large and heavy, it is practically difficult to downsize the device. The invention according to claim 1 is made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to provide a Braille display device capable of substantially reducing the size and weight of the device.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a Braille display device having a simple structure in which a pin can be directly driven by a solenoid without using a lever or the like.

Further, an object of the present invention is to reduce the size of the device by simplifying the pin locking means for locking the pin in a convex state and to restore the pin to the initial concave state. It is an object of the present invention to provide a Braille display device capable of simplifying the pin lock releasing means.

Further, an object of the present invention is to provide a Braille display device capable of simplifying the pin locking releasing means for returning the pin to the initial concave state and downsizing the device. Especially.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, due to the unevenness of the upper end of the pin for the necessary number of characters that is held through the holes of a predetermined pitch formed in the display plate and is movable back and forth with respect to the holes, A braille display device for displaying Braille according to an input signal, wherein a pin projecting mechanism for selectively projecting each of the pins from the hole in response to the input signal, and a line direction corresponding to each of the pins Pin projection mechanism moving means for moving the pin projection mechanism to an arbitrary position, pin locking means for locking the pin projected from the hole by the pin projection mechanism in a convex state, and the pin locking means. In a Braille display device having pin locking releasing means for releasing the locking of the pin locked in the convex state and returning the pin to the initial concave state,
The pin projecting mechanism includes a plurality of microsolenoids arranged at the same intervals as the pins.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the micro solenoids of the present invention are arranged such that the lower end of the pin and the upper end of the plunger of the micro solenoid are opposed to each other on the same advancing / retreating path. And the lower end of the pin is directly driven by the upper end of the plunger by the excitation of the micro solenoid.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a plurality of pin locking members having locking portions that can be brought into contact with and separated from the pins, and each pin for one line are provided. On the other hand, a locking member support plate that supports all the above-mentioned pin locking members at a predetermined interval so that each locking portion of the pin locking member comes in contact with and separates from the same line direction side, and this locking A support plate holding means for holding the member support plate eccentrically along the line direction, and a direction in which each locking portion of the pin locking member is in pressure contact with each pin for one line described above. The pin locking means is composed of an elastic member that imparts a bias habit to the locking member support plate.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above problems, the pin locking releasing means is moved to the home position side of the pin projecting mechanism moving means,
By deviating the locking member support plate in a direction in which the locking portions of the pin locking member move away from the pins against the elasticity of the elastic member, the respective locking members of the pin locking member are displaced. Each pin locked in a convex state by the stopper is unlocked.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. 1 to 3 show an embodiment of the present invention. 1 to 3, a display plate 2 for displaying Braille is fixed substantially horizontally on the upper surface of the apparatus body 1, and the display plate 2 holds a pin 3 for displaying Braille. The pin holding holes 2a made of through holes are formed at predetermined intervals. A plate 4 is arranged below the display plate 2 in parallel with the display plate 2. The plate 4 also has a penetrating hole for holding the braille display pin 3 like the display plate 2. The pin holding holes 4a formed of holes are formed at positions corresponding to the respective pin holding holes 2a of the display board 2. In this embodiment, 180 pins in total are loosely moved in the pin holding hole 2a of the display plate 2 and the pin holding hole 4a of the plate 4 so as to be able to display 20 characters of Braille so as to be vertically movable. It is inserted and arranged.

A movable body 5 is arranged below the plate 4, and the movable body 5 is guided by a guide rail 6 arranged in parallel with the plate 4 in the longitudinal direction of the display plate 2 (see FIG. 2).
It is supported so as to be reciprocally movable along the direction of arrow a). On this moving body 5, eight micro solenoids (outer diameter 2.0 mm) 7 for one character of braille are provided, and eight micro solenoids for one character of braille are provided.
It is fixed at the same interval as the pin 3 of the book (pitch about 2.4 mm). Further, the moving body 5 is reciprocally driven along the guide rail 6 by a moving body driving mechanism (not shown).
This moving body drive mechanism is configured by connecting the moving body 5 to a drive motor that rotates forward and backward through a timing belt or a wire, similar to the reciprocating drive mechanism of a print head in a wire dot printer, for example. .

Next, a process of displaying Braille in the above embodiment will be described. Braille display power supply (not shown)
When the moving object 5 enters, the moving body 5 first moves to the left end in FIG. 2, stops by the detection signal of the sensor (not shown) that detects the moving body 5, and waits at the home position until the next input signal comes in. To be done. Next, when an input signal from a personal computer or the like is input to the control circuit (not shown) of this device, the moving body 5 is moved to the position shown in FIG.
To the right, and the plunger portion 7a of each micro solenoid 7 temporarily stops at the position corresponding to each pin 3 of the first character. In this state, a predetermined micro solenoid 7 is energized in response to a braille display signal from the control circuit, so that only the plunger portion 7a of the micro solenoid 7 facing the pin 3 necessary to display the first character Braille. The predetermined pins 3 are pushed up, the upper ends of these pins 3 project from the surface of the display plate 2, and the first Braille characters are displayed on the display plate 2. Here, each pin 3 pushed up by the plunger portion 7a of the predetermined micro solenoid 7 is in a state where the upper end thereof protrudes from the surface of the display plate 2, that is, in a state in which the first braille is displayed on the display plate 2. The vertical movement is locked by the pin locking means.

An example of this pin locking means will be described with reference to FIGS. As described above, each pin 3 is connected to the display board 2
When the movable body 5 is waiting at the home position, the pins 3 drop by their own weights and the upper ends of the pins 3 and 4 are arranged so as to pass through the pin holding holes 2a, 4a of the plate 4 and the plate 4, respectively. Are held in a position that is substantially flush with the surface of the display plate 2. That is, as shown in FIG. 4 (a), the falling of each pin 3 above the standby position is caused by the lower end of the flange 3 a formed on the abdomen of each pin 3 coming into contact with the upper surface of the plate 4. Each is regulated.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the pin locking means in this embodiment includes a plurality of pin locking members 8 each having a locking portion 8a that can be brought into contact with and separated from each pin 3. A member for supporting all the pin locking members 8 at a predetermined interval so that the locking portions 8a of the pin locking members 8 come into contact with and separate from the same line direction side with respect to the respective pins 3 of the line. A stop member support plate 9, a support plate holding means for holding the locking member support plate 9 so as to be able to be displaced along the line direction, and the above-mentioned 1
The elastic member 10 is configured to give the locking member support plate 9 a deviation tendency in a direction in which each locking portion 8a of the pin locking member 8 presses against each pin 3 of the line.

As shown in FIG. 6 (a), the pin locking member 8 is made of an elastic body such as a leaf spring having a substantially U-shaped cross section, and the pin 3 is on standby (not shown). In the state (recessed state), as shown in FIG. 4A, the pin 3 is elastically contacted with the fitting portion of the plate 4 and the pin 3 is pushed up by the plunger 7 a of the micro solenoid 7. In the state (convex state), as shown in FIG. 4B, the locking portion 8a is provided on the step portion 3b formed on each portion of the pin 3.
Engage to lock the pin 3 in a convex state.

In this way, each micro solenoid 7
When the predetermined pin of the first character 3 is locked in a convex state by the operation of the pin locking member 8 and the braille of the first character is displayed on the display plate 2, the braille of the next second character is displayed. In order to display, the movable body 5 is moved to the right side of FIG. Then, the plunger portion 7a of each micro solenoid 7
Stops at the position corresponding to each pin 3 of the second character.
In this state, in the same manner as described above, the predetermined micro solenoid 7 is energized in response to the Braille display signal from the control circuit, so that the pin 3 necessary for displaying the second Braille is displayed.
Only the plunger portion 7a of the micro-solenoid 7 that is opposed to is operated to push up the predetermined pins 3, and the upper ends of these pins 3 project from the surface of the display plate 2 to
The second braille is displayed above. And the moving body 5
Is stopped when the input predetermined braille is displayed by repeating the above operation in sequence.

In the convex state of the pin 3 in which Braille is displayed in this way, an initial concave state is produced by pressing the release button (not shown) provided in the apparatus main body 1 by the action of the pin locking release means. It is returned to the state. In the pin locking releasing means in the present embodiment, the return movement of the moving body 5 to the home position side resists the elasticity of the elastic member 10 to separate the locking portions 8a of the pin locking member 8 from the pins 3. By displacing the locking member support plate 9 in the direction in which the pins 3 are locked, the locking of each pin 3 locked in a convex state by each locking portion 8a of the pin locking member 8 is released. .

That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the locking member supporting plate 9 to which the pin locking member 8 is fixed is arranged between the pair of side plates 11 and 12 of the apparatus main body 1 in the reciprocating direction of the moving body 5. The elastic body 10 is arranged so as to be movable along the flat plate, and the flat plate is biased to the right side by the elastic force of the elastic body 10 formed of a leaf spring (a coil spring may be used) fixed to the side plate 11 (see FIG. 5). Deviation behavior in the direction of arrow b), that is, each locking portion 8a of the pin locking member 8 for each pin 3 for one line described above.
A habit of deviation in the direction of pressure contact is given.

Therefore, in this embodiment, by pressing the release button, the moving body 5 returns to the home position side, and the moving body 5 presses the extending end portion of the elastic body 10 to move the elastic body 10. The locking member support plate 9 is displaced in the direction in which the locking portions 8a of the pin locking member 8 are separated from the pins 3 against the elasticity of the member 10 (direction of arrow c in FIG. 5). As a result, each locking portion 8a of the pin locking member 8 is separated from each pin 3, the locking of each pin 3 is released, and all the pins 3 are
Due to its own weight, the respective upper ends are dropped and held at a non-display position where they are substantially flush with the surface of the display plate 2.

On the other hand, the pin locking member 8 shown in FIG.
One is formed in a shape that engages with and disengages from two adjacent pins 3, but this pin locking member 8 is, for example, as shown in FIG. ), It may be formed so as to be detachable with respect to eight pins 3 for one character, or formed so as to act on less than or more than three pins 3. May be.

[0023]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the invention, the pin diameter is about 2.4 mm and the outer diameter is 2.
By using the 0 mm micro-solenoid, the pin protrusion mechanism can be arranged at the same pitch as the pin pitch, and the miniaturization of the device can be realized.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since it is not necessary to dispose a drive mechanism such as a lever between the pin and the micro solenoid, the pin projecting mechanism can be simplified and the miniaturization of the device can be further promoted. .

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the pin locking means is fixed on the single support plate, the mechanism of the pin locking means can be simplified and the pin locking releasing means can be used. The mechanical part of can also be simplified.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the locking of the pin by the pin locking means is released by utilizing the returning operation of the moving body, the locking of the pin without providing a special releasing member. Can be released, the mechanical portion of the device can be further simplified, and the device can be downsized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged sectional view of the pin locking means in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part of the pin lock releasing means in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a locking member of the pin locking means in the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Device body 2 Display plate 2a Pin holding hole 3 Pin 3a Flange part 3b Step part 4 Plate 5 Moving body 6 Guide rail 7 Micro solenoid 7a Plunger part 8 Pin locking member 8a Locking part 9 Locking member support plate 9a Through hole 10 elastic members 11 and 12 side plates

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Hideo Tani, 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Rikai Fukasawa 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo -In stock company Ricoh (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Denawa 1-3-3 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo-In stock company Ricoh (72) Inventor Shigeyuki Araki 1-3-6 Nakamagome-Tokyo Company Ricoh

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An input signal from a personal computer or the like is provided by an unevenness at the upper end of a pin for a required number of characters which is held through a hole of a predetermined pitch formed in a display plate and is capable of advancing and retracting with respect to the hole. A braille display device for displaying braille by means of a pin projecting mechanism for selectively projecting each of the pins from the hole in response to the input signal, and an arbitrary position in the line direction corresponding to each of the pins. A pin projecting mechanism moving means for moving the pin projecting mechanism, a pin locking means for locking the pin projected from the hole by the pin projecting mechanism in a convex state, and a pin locking mechanism for projecting the pin in a convex state. In a Braille display device having a pin locking releasing means for releasing the locking of the stopped pin and returning the pin to the initial concave state, the pin projecting mechanism is arranged at the same interval as each of the pins. Multiple micro solenoids Braille display device characterized by Ranaru. 2. The respective microsolenoids are arranged so that the lower end of the pin and the upper end of the plunger of the microsolenoid face each other on the same advancing / retreating path, and the pin is excited by the excitation of the microsolenoid. The braille display device according to claim 1, wherein a lower end of the plunger is directly driven by an upper end of the plunger. 3. The pin locking means comprises a plurality of pin locking members each having a locking portion capable of coming into contact with and separated from the pins, and the pin locking members for each line of one line. A locking member support plate that supports all the above pin locking members at a predetermined interval so that each locking portion comes in contact with and separates from the same line direction side, and this locking member support plate is used in the above line direction. A support plate holding means for holding the pin so that it can be displaced along the line, and the locking member has a tendency to shift in a direction in which the respective locking portions of the pin locking member are in pressure contact with the pins for one line. The braille display device according to claim 1, wherein the braille display device comprises an elastic member applied to the support plate. 4. The pin locking release means is configured to return the pin projecting mechanism moving means to the home position side,
By deviating the locking member support plate in a direction in which the locking portions of the pin locking member move away from the pins against the elasticity of the elastic member, the respective locking members of the pin locking member are displaced. 4. The braille display device according to claim 3, wherein the lock of each pin locked in a convex state by the stopper is released.