US3089385A - Locking mechanism for a tiltable copyboard - Google Patents

Description

May 14, 1963 w. WANIELISTA 3,

LOCKING MECHANISMFOR A TILTABLE COPYBOARD.

Filed June 9, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet l fig 1 fig i 1 4242 1" r -a JF 1a E; I 416 i: 114 i ii 120 INVENTOR.

Ida/Z27 l an 156 233 4 w aw ATTORN YS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 14, 1963 w. WANIELISTA LOCKING MECHANISM FOR A TILTABLE COPYBOARD Filed June 9, 1961 May 14, 1963 w. WANIELISTA LOCKING MECHANISM FOR A TILTABLE COPYBOARD 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 9, 1961 V INVENTOR. Mai fer fi/dz'zE/(r/a UEYS y 14, 1963' w. WANIELISTA 3,089,385

LOCKING MECHANISM FOR A TILTABLE COPYBOARD Filed June 9, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 United States Patent 3,089,385 Patented May 14, 1963 fiice 3,089,385 LOCKING MECHANISM FDR A TILTABLE COPYBOARD Walter Wanielista, Westchester, Ill., assignor to Robertson Photo-Mechanix, Inc., Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed June 9, 1961, Ser. No. 116,055 6 Claims. (Cl. 88-24) This invention relates to a copyboard construction for graphic arts camera apparatus, and more particularly to a copyboard having a supporting and locking means effective to move the copyboard to a predetermined loading position offset from an exposing position and to maintain such position until such time as a hinged glass cover of the copyboard is locked in firm assembly with the other portions of the copyboard.

A special problem in the loading and unloading of copyboards for use with graphic arts apparatus using a reflex type camera is presented, in that the copyboard is normally upright. If the board is tilted to a horizontal position, any movement towards upright position before locking of the cover will misalign the workpiece.

The present invention overcomes this problem by means of a lock pin which is automatically placed in locking relationship with a lock plate on the support for the copyboard, when the copyboard is set horizontally and opened for loading. The lock pin is again released to permit tilting of the copyboard away from loading position only when the copyboard cover is fully closed and locked.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a locking mechanism for a tiltable copyboard for use in praphic arts reproducing apparatus, whereby a copyboard is locked against tilting during loading thereof, and is only released for tilting to the operative position thereof when the copyboard cover has been fully closed and locked.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds in accordance with the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of copyboard mechanism according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational View of the copyboard of the invention;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the structure shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged view, partly broken away and section, of the upper left hand corner of the copyboard as shown in FIGURE 2 (i.e., the lower left hand corner if the drawing is viewed in its vertical alignment);

FIGURE 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along lines V-V of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along lines VI-VI of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged view, partly broken away, of the locking structure shown in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary, top plan view of the locking mechanism seen in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 9 is a vertical sectional view, partly broken away, and taken along lines IXIX of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 10 is a partial view corresponding to the view of FIGURE 6, but showing the locking mechanism in locked position; and

mounted on a track 14 which is shown as supported on a support block 16. A copyboard 18 is pivotally mounted on the upstanding arms 20 and 22 of the support 12 by means of trunnions 24 and 26, as seen in FIGURE 2 The copyboard 18 may be tilted selectively between the upright, operative position shown and a horizontal loading and unloading position, by means of control mechanism including a handle 28, which may extend rearwardly of the copyboard 18, as shown, and journaled on one of the uprights, such as the upright 20, by means of a journal post 30 or the like. The handle 28 may actuate hook elements 32 and 34 adapted to releasably engage stop projections 36 and 38 on the adjacent side of the copyboard 18.

A bell crank 44 is controlled by the handle 28 to actuate the hook 32, and to also actuate the hook 34, by means of a link 42, although it will be understood that other locking and release mechanism may be utilized for the purpose within the scope of the invention. In the example shown, the book 34 is in latching relationship with the stop 38; and actuation of the handle 28 may serve to release the stop 38 from the hook 34 so that the entire copyboard 18 may be pivoted, to cause the stop 36 to engage in the hook 32. Release of the stop 36 from the hook 32 may be accomplished similarly by actuation of the handle 28, to return the copyboard 18 to the vertical position shown.

If the copyboard would be tilted to the vertical position after loading and before the copyboard had been completely closed and locked, the material or workpiece loaded in the copyboard might become misaligned. The present invention overcomes this difficulty by a safety interlock which prevents the copyboard from being tilted to the vertical position after loading, unless the copyboard is completely closed and locked, thereby to eliminate the accidental opening of the cover when the copyboard is in the vertical position. To this end, a lock plate 44 is secured by fastening means 46 to one of the uprights of the support 12, and to the upright 20 in the form shown. The plate 44 has an opening 48 therein, for releasably engaging locking means 50 on the copyboard, and a pin 52 thereof, as hereinafter further described.

The copyboard 18 includes a cover or front section 54 and a main base or back section 56, hingedly interconnected by hinges 53, the trunnions 24 and 26 being preferably mounted in brackets 60 and 62 connected to the back section 56. The cover or front section 54 includes a frame 64 to which is secured a glass plate or the like 66, as understood by those skilled in the art, and the main base or rear section 56 may carry a backing member 68 by means of suitable bolts or the like (not shown) secured to the rear section frame 69. As seen in FIGURE 9, telescoping tubes 70 and 72 may be pivotally mounted at opposite ends of the respective sections 54 and 56 by pivot pins 74 and '76, to control opening and closing of the cover 54 of the copyboard 18.

Referring to FIGURES 1 through 5, it will be seen that the front section 54 has pivotally secured thereto a handle bar 78 joined by arms 8t and 82 to the upper and lower ends of one side of the front section frame 64. A cross bar 34 is pivoted within the frame 69 and connects the arms and 82. In order to lock and release the cover section 54 from the main base section 56, a hook element 86 is fixedly secured to the cross bar 34, and prefera'bly one such element is mounted at each end of the cross bar. A pin 88 is mounted on a side of the frame 69 of rear section 56 to extend perpendicularly relative to the hook 86, and the pin 88 may be suitably adjusted within an opening 99 in a support mounting 92 on the frame 69 by screw means or the like (not shown), it being understood that various forms of mounting for the pin 88 may be utilized within the scope of the invention.

The hook 86 is biased toward locking engagement with the pin 88 by a spring 94 connected to a bracket 96 on the hook and to a portion of the frame 64 (not shown). Control of the extent of angular movement of the hook 86 and also of the handle bar '78 may be afforded by an upper bolt 98 threaded in an angle bracket 1% connected by bolts 182 to the frame 64, and preferably provided with a nut element 184 for the purpose, and a lower bolt 186 mounted on the frame 64 by a support shoulder 188 welded or otherwise secured thereto, and engaging an adjustment nut element 118 or the like.

It will therefore be seen that by clockwise movement of the handle bar 78, in the example shown, the latch 86 may be released relative to the pin 88 to open the copyboard 18, and locking movement may be reversely accom plished, with the limits of movement being determined by the bolt elements 98 and 186, as described.

In order to prevent tilting of the copyboard 18 from the horizontal loading position to the vertical position shown in FIGURE 1, until such time as the hook 86 is in operative locking relationship with the pin 88, the means 50 for selective locking engagement with the plate 44 include spring means such as a helical spring 112 mounted within a cylindrical housing 114 which is welded or otherwise secured to the frame 69, the spring 112 bearing against the external lateral wall surface of the frame and against a stop element 116 on the pin 52. The stop element 116 may be an annulus connected by a screw or the like 118 to the pin 52 at a position such that in the outwardly extended position of the pin the stop element 116 abuts a lower wall 120 of the housing 114. In this position, the pin 52 i extended when the copyboard 18 has been tilted to the horizontal position and unlocked, as hereinafter further described.

The pin 52 extends through an opening 122 in the frame 69 and has a reduced stem portion 124 at its inner end. In order to actuate the pin 52, a cam lever 126 is pivotally mounted on a bracket 128 which may be fixedly secured to the side of the frame 69. As seen in FIGURE 8, the bracket 128 retains a pivot pin 130 which supports the lever 126 at its outer end, a bearing ring or the like 132 being preferably interposed between the lever 126 and the bracket 128, and secured to the pin 130 by a screw or the like 134. One end of the lever 126 adjacent the frame 69 is apertured to receive a stud 136 having a head 138 adjustably receiving the reduced stern portion 124 of the pin 52. The stud 136 may have a stem portion 139 thereof threaded to receive a nut element 140, whereby the stud is maintained in relatively rotatable position on the lever 126. In order to control extension of the pin 52, adjustment of the position of the pin relative to the lever 126 may be accomplished by means of a nut element 142 at the upper end of the reduced portion 124.

The other end of the lever 126 carries a camming pin 144, and in order to control the position of the pin 144, and thus vary the position of the pin 52, a cam member 146 is secured to the side of the frame 64 in predetermined registration with the lever 126. The cam member 146 may have a base 148 attached to the frame by bolt means 150 or the like, and an integral upstanding flange 152 which is out out to form a track 153, as seen in FIG- URE 6, to form a cam track for the pin 144. Thus, the upper and lower edges 154 and 155 of the cam track 153 extend angularly to substantially the edge of the frame 64.

Referring to FIGURE 10, it will be seen that the spring 112 normally biases the pin 52 outwardly of the housing 50. However, when the copyboard sections 54 and 56 are pivoted from an open position, toward one another, as occurs after the copyboard has been loaded in its horizontal position, the pin 144 will be brought into abutting engagement with the upper cam track 154. Thereby, further inward movement of the front section 54 toward the rear section 56 will cam the pin 144 into the cam track so that the other end of lever 126 will pivot inwardly of frame 69. This camming action will take place until such time as the copyboard sections 54 and 56 are fully engaged, whereupon the pin 52 will have been fully retracted. When the copyboard sections are thus engaged, the hook 86 will lock against the pin 88 to lock the said sections in securely assembled relationship. As indicated previously, this locking relationship may be adjusted by the adjustment of the position of the pin 88, and likewise, the extent to which the pin 52 is withdrawn may be controlled by adjustment of the nut element 142 on the pin 52.

In operation, therefore, the copyboard 18 may be released from its vertical position shown in FIGURE 1 by actuation of the arm 28 so that, for example, the hook 34 releases the stop 38, and the handle bar 78 may be used to control pivotal movement of the copyboard and to bring the copyboard into a substantially horizontal position so that the hook 32 is caused to engage the stop 36. 7

As also indicated previously, variation in this particular relationship may be accommodated- Within the scope of the invention, but in any event suitable stop means may be utilized to automatically position the copyboard at a horizontal loading position. Thereupon, the handle bar 78 may be lifted somewhat to disengage the hook 86 from the pin 88. Thereby, the copyboard sections 54 and 56 will be free for mutual relative pivotal movement. Further lifting of the section 54, as by means of the handle bar 78, or otherwise, may cam the pin 144 out of the track 153 by means of the lower edge 155 of the cam track with reference to FIGURE 6. However, the spring 112 will also urge the pin 52 outwardly to effect rotation of the lever 126 with the pin 144 being guided by the upper cam edge 154, as the sections 54 and 56 are pivoted apart.

The locked horizontal position of the copyboard is such that the pin 52 is automatically disposed in register with the aperture 48 in the lock plate 44.

The working surface of the main base 56 is suitably scribed and marked to facilitate precise alignment of a workpiece thereon. Thereafter the cover 54 is closed to lock the workpiece in aligned position.

The synchronized engagement of pin 52 in aperture 48 is afforded by a somewhat elongated configuration thereof, and it will be appreciated that with the horizontal locking means, including the hook 32 released, the lock plate 44 will maintain the copyboard 18 in a relatively horizontal position. An opening 48a is preferably formed in the lock plate, having an arcuate configuration, and which may engage a fastening element (not shown) to [afford adjustment in the angular position of the lock plate if desired. However, when the copyboard is opened, the pin 52 will be projected into locking relationship with the aperture 48 in the lock plate 44 and will prevent tilting of the copyboard 18 to a vertical position until the copyboard is again closed. Therefore, when the copyboard is tilted to a vertical position, there will be no danger that the sections 54 and 56 are in unlocked relation, and the copyboard will not accidentally open. Further, the configuration of the aperture 48 assures that the pin 52 will engage therewith upon opening of the copyboard, despite minor variation in the extension cycle of the pin.

There has thus been provided a copyboard safety interlock which is simple, reliable, and highly effective in preventing a copyboard from being tilted to a vertical position after loading, until the copyboard has been completely closed and locked. And correspondingly, the construction of the invention eliminates accidental opening of the cover of the copyboard when the copyboard is in the vertical position.

Although I have herein set forth and described my invention with respect to certain specific principles and details thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that these may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set 'forth in the hereunto appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A copyboard mechanism comprising a copyboard having a pair of sections, means pivotally connecting said sections for relative angular movement about an axis parallel with one end of said copyboard, support means for said copyboard, means journalling one of said sections to said support means for tiltable movement of said copyboard about an axis perpendicular to the axis of angular movement of said sections, a pin extending laterally outwardly from said one of said sections and at an end of said one of said sections opposite said one end of said copyboard, a lever arm pivotally mounted in said one of said sections and having one end rotatably supporting said pin, means biasing said pin outwardly of said one of said sections, cam means in the other of said sections, a cam element on the other end of said lever arm, said lever arm being pivoted by said cam means and said cam during closing of said sections to retract said pin and said cam means and cam element affording reverse pivoting of said lever arm to release said pin to an outwardly extended position upon opening of said sections, means de fining a lock aperture on said support means, said pin being positioned to enter said lock aperture in a predetermined angular position of said one of said sections and upon relative opening of said sections, to prevent tiltable movement of said copyboard when said sections are in the opened condition thereof and stop means for releasably retaining said one of said sections in said predetermined angular position.

2. A copyboard mechanism comprising a copyboard having a pair of sections, means pivotally connecting said sections for relative angular movement about an axis parallel with one end of said copyboard, support means for said copyboard, means journalling one of said sections to said support means for tiltable movement of said copyboard about an axis perpendicular to the axis of angular movement of said sections, a pin extending laterally outwardly from said one of said sections and at an end of said one of said sections opposite said one end of said copyboard, a lever arm pivotally mounted in said one of said sections and having one end rotatably supporting said pin, means biasing said pin outwardly of said one of said sections, cam means in the other of said sections, a cam element on the other end of said lever arm, said lever arm being pivoted by said cam means and said cam during closing of said sections to retract said pin and said cam means and cam element affording reverse pivoting of said lever arm to release said pin to an outwardly extended position upon opening of said sections, means defining a lock aperture on said support means, said pin being positioned to enter said lock aperture in a predetermined angular position of said one of said sections and upon relative opening of said sections, to prevent tiltable movement of said copyboard when said sections are in the opened condition thereof, stop means for releasably retaining said one of said sections in said predetermined angular position and lock means for releasably locking said sections automatically upon closing of said sections whereby said copyboard is prevented from tilting from said predetermined angular position until said sections are closed and said sections are maintained against inadvertent opening after said closing thereof.

3. A copyboard mechanism comprising a copyboard having a pair of sections, means pivotally connecting said sections for relative angular movement about an axis parallel with one end of said copyboard, support means for said copyboard, means journalling one of said sections to said support means for tiltable movement of said copyboard about an axis perpendicular to the axis of angular movement of said sections, a pin extending laterally outwardly from said one of said sections and at an end of said one of said sections opposite said one end of said copy-board, a lever arm pivotally mounted in said one of said sections and having one end rotatably supporting said pin, means biasing said pin outwardly of said one of said sections, cam means in the other of said sections, a

cam element on the other end of said lever arm, said lever arm being pivoted by said cam means and said cam during closing of said sections to retract said pin and said cam means and cam element affording reverse pivoting of said lever arm to release said pin to an outwardly extended position upon opening of said sections, means defining a lock aperture on said support means, said pin being positioned to enter said lock aperture in a predetermined angular position of said one of said sections and upon relative opening of said sections, to prevent tiltable movement of said copyboard when said sections are in the opened condition thereof.

4. A copyboard mechanism comprising a copyboard having a pair of sections, means pivotally connecting said sections for relative angular movement about an axis parallel with one end of said copyboard, support means for said copyboard, means journalling one of said sections to said support means for til-table movement of said copyboard about an axis perpendicular to the axis of angular movement of said sections, a pin extending laterally outwardly from said one of said sections and at an end of said one of said sections opposite said one end of said copyboard, a lever arm pivotally mounted in said one of said sections and having one end rotatably supporting said pin, means biasing said pin outwardly of said one of said sections, cam means in the other of said sections, a cam element on the other end of said lever arm, said lever arm being pivoted by said cam means and said cam during closing of said sections to retract said pin and said cam means and cam element affording reverse pivoting of said lever arm to release said pin to an outwardly extended position upon opening of said sections, means defining a lock aperture on said support means, said pin being positioned to enter said lock aperture in a predetermined angular position of said one of said sections and upon relative opening of said sections, to prevent tiltable movement of said copyboard when said sections are in the opened condition thereof, stop means for releasably retaining said one of said sections in said predetermined angular position and stop means for releasably maintaining said copyboard in a predetermined exposure position angularly displaced from said predetermined angular position of said one of said sections.

5. A copyboard mechanism comprising a copyboard having a pair of sections, means pivotally connecting said sections for relative angular movement about an axis parallel with one end of said copyboard, support means for said copyboard, means journalling one of said sections to said support means for tiltable movement of said copyboard about an axis perpendicular to the axis of angular movement of said sections, a pin extending laterally outwardly from said one of said sections and at an end of said one of said sections opposite said one end of said copyboard, a lever arm pivotally mounted in said one of said sections and having one end rotatably supporting said pin, means biasing said pin outwardly of said one of said sections, cam means in the other of said sections, a cam element on the other end of said lever arm, said lever arm being pivoted by said cam means and said cam during closing of said sections to retract said pin and said cam means and cam element afiording reverse pivoting of said lever arm to release said pin to an outwardly extended position upon opening of said sections, means defining a lock aperture on said support means, said pin being positioned to enter said lock aperture in a predetermined angular position of said one of said sections and upon relative opening of said sections, to prevent tiltable movement of said copyboard when said sections are in the opened condition thereof, said means for releasably locking said sections in said closed position including a handle bar, end arms on said handle bar, a bar fixedly connected to said end arms and extending through an end of the other of said sections opposite to said one end of said copyboard in journalled relation thereto, a hook connected to said bar extending through said other of said sections, an element in said one of said sections engaging said hook in the closed condition of said sections and means urging said hook into said engaged relation with said element on said one of said sections, said handle bar being selectively pivotal to release said hook and open said sections and to close said sections and engage said hook, and affording means to effect tilting of said copyboard when said pin has been retracted from said aperture.

6. A copyboard mechanism comprising a copyboard having a pair of sections, means pivotally connecting said sections for relative angular movement about an axis parallel with one end of said copyboard, support means for said copyboard, means journalling one of said sections to said support means for tiltable movement of said copyboard about an axis perpendicular to the axis of angular movement of said sections, a pin extending laterally outwardly from said one of said sections and at an end of said one of said sections opposite said one end of said copyboard, a lever arm pivotally mounted in said one of said sections and having one end rotatably supporting said pin, means biasing said pin outwardly of 'jacent the other end of said copyboard, said lock plate defining an opening affording synchronized engagement of said pin therein, said pin being positioned to enter said lock aperture in a predetermined angular position of said one of said sections and upon relative opening of said sections, to prevent tiltable movement of said copyboard when said sections are in the opened condition thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,257,581 Ulsheimer Sept. 30, 1941 2,554,712 Maxwell May 29, 1951 2,713,294 Padgett July 19, 1955 2,897,740 Perrin Aug. 4, 1959 2,957,400 Sussin Oct. 25, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 258,212 Great Britain Sept. 16, 1926

Claims (1)

1. A COPYBOARD MECHANISM COMPRISING A COPYBOARD HAVING A PAIR OF SECTIONS, MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID SECTIONS FOR RELATIVE ANGULAR MOVEMENT ABOUT AN AXIS PARALLEL WITH ONE END OF SAID COPYBOBOARD, SUPPORT MEANS FOR SAID COPYBOARD,MEANS JOURNALLING ONE OF SAID SECTIONS TO SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR TILTABLE MOVEMENT OF SAID COPYBOARD ABOUT AN AXIS PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF ANGULAR MOVEMENT OF SAID SECTIONS, A PIN EXTENDING LATERALLY OUTWARDLY FROM SAID ONE OF SAID SECTIONS AND AT AN END OF SAID ONE OF SAID SECTIONS OPPOSITE SAID ONE END OF SAID COPYBOARD, A LEVER ARM PIVOTALLY MOUNTED IN SAID ONE OF SAID SAID SECTIONS AND HAVING ONE END ROTATABLY SUPPORTING SAID PIN, MEANS BIASING SAID PIN OUTWARDLY OF SAID ONE OF SAID SECTIONS, CAM MEANS IN THE OTHER OF SAID SECTIONS, A CAM ELEMENT ON THE OTHER END OF SAID LEVER ARM, SAID LEVER ARM BEING PIVOTED BY SAID CAM MEANS AND SAID CAM DURING CLOSING OF SAID SECTIONS TO RETRACT SAID PIN AND SAID CAM MEANS AND CAM ELEMENT AFFORDING REVERSE PIVOTING OF SAID LEVER ARM TO RELEASE SAID PIN TO AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDED POSITION UPON OPENING OF SAID SECTIONS, MEANS DEFINING A LOCK APERTURE ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS, SAID PIN BEING POSITIONED TO ENTER SAID LOCK APERTURE IN A PREDETERMINED ANGULAR POSITION OF SAID ONE OF SAID SECTIONS AND UPON RELATIVE OPENING OF SAID SECTIONS, TO PREVENT TILTABLE MOVEMENT OF SAID COPYBOARD WHEN SAID SECTIONS ARE IN THE OPENED CONDITION THEREOF AND STOP MEANS FOR RELEASABLY RETAINING SAID ONE OF SAID SECTIONS IN SAID PREDETERMINED ANGULAR POSITION.

Images