Portable braille writing machine
[ Apr. 8, 1975 3,099.7ll 7/l963 Foley et l97/l R 3.331667 8/l967 [97&#34; R 3,340,984 9/l967 l97/l R Primary E.wminerEdgar S. Burr Assistant Examiner-Edward M. Coven [57] ABSTRACT A hand held braille writing machine has a handle portion and a carriage portion, the former having a plurality of keys for selectively actuating an embossing cell in the latter. The carriage portion is adapted to receive full size and less than full size braille paper. and the braille characters may be embossed line by line in face-up relation. The carriage is shiftable in ei- [Ian Joffe, l 16 Uziel St., Ramat-Gan, Israel Filed: Mar. 14, 1973 Appl. No.2 341,178  
 US. Cl. l97/6.l Int. B4Ij 3/32 Field of Search l97/l R, 6.l, 4, 9, 98; lOl/3. 93 C References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS United States Patent Joffe PORTABLE BRAILLE WRITING MACHINE [76] Inventor:  
 ther direction to permit writing braille in languages read from left to right or from right to left.  
 I5 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures Swindler........I........  
 Heater O&#39;Regan................. Steffen..m..............u  
  ill a 52l 977 980 l l4l 2155 PORTABLE BRAILLE WRITING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a portable braille writing machine, and particularly to such a machine that may be hand held and is capable of writing on full size and less than full size paper in face-up relation.  
  Prior art braille writing machines have included braille writers. similar in appearance and operation to the typewriters having many keys, each able to effect embossing of an entire braille character. Another type of machine is similar to the typewriter, but has only six keys for operating respective styli for embossing and a seventh key for shifting the carriage. A last type of machine for writing braille has six keys for operating respective styli and has a fixed carriage, thus, being suitable only for writing on tape. These prior art devices are restricted to writing in one direction only and to use on a solid surface. Additionally. the former two require a large roller for backing and/or movement of the paper sheet, adding to their weight and bulkyness.  
 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, a primary object of the invention is to provide a portable, light weight braille writing machine.  
  A further object of the invention is to provide a compact. light weight braille writing machine that can handle a plurality of sizes of paper sheets without the need for a large roller.  
  Another object ofthe invention is to provide a portable braille writing machine that is hand held, writes braille characters on a full size and less than full size recording medium or sheet in a face-up relation.  
  An additional object of the invention is to provide a portable braille writing machine for writing braille in a left to right or right to left reading direction.  
  A still further object of the invention is to provide an embossing apparatus for selectively embossing a recording medium with elements of an array.  
  These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.  
  To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described, the following description and the annexed drawings setting forth in detail a certain illustrative embodiment of the invention, this being indicative, however, of but one of the various ways in which the principals ofthe invention may be employed.  
 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the annexed drawings:  
  FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a portable, hand held braille writing machine;  
  FIG. 2 is an isometric view partially broken away of the portable braille writing machine of FIG. 1;  
  FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the shaft actuating members of the portable braille writing machine;  
  FIG. 4 is a section view of an embossing cell taken along the lines 44 of FIG. 2;  
  FIG. 5 is a section view of an actuating key taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 2;  
  FIG. 6 is a section view of another actuating key taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 2;  
  FIG. 7 is a plan view ofthe underside of the top plate of the carriage;  
  FIG. 8 is a section view taken on the line 8-8 of FIG. 2 of the shaft and roller biasing mechanism: and  
 FIG. 9 is an illustration of a braille array.  
 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements in the several figures, a portable hand held braille writing machine is generally indicated at I in FIGS. 1 and 2. The machine has a handle portion 2 and a carriage portion 3, the latter having a shiftable or movable part 4 and a fixed part 5 attached to the handle portion, A knob 6 is connected to shift the shiftable part of the carriage to a plurality of discreet positions representing columns on the recording sheet, and a further knob 7, rotatable to a plurality of discreet row locations as determined by a novel biasing and stop arrangement 10 shown more specifically in FIG, 8, is connected to a shaft 11 and rol lers 12 for drawing a recording sheet 13, such as for example, braille writing paper through the shiftable part of the carriage portion. Six keys 14 are located in the handle portion 2 for finger actuation to rotate respective shafts 15 either by direct mechanical connection or by a power assist, electrical, for example, by a switch 16 and solenoid I7 arrangements, one of which is shown schematically to effect operation of an embossing cell in the fixed part of the carriage.  
  In FIG. 2 sections of the portable braille writing machine have been broken away to illustrate more clearly the invention. The shiftable part 4 of the carriage portion 3 has two elongated F-shape bottom sup ports 20, 21 the former having teeth 22 therein, to form a rack mating with a pinion gear 23. The pinion gear is directly coupled to the knob 6, which alternatively may be located on the back side of the carriage, for shifting the shiftable part of the carriage with respect to the fixed part 5 thereof. Each of the bottom supports 20, 21 is positioned to slide within openings 24, 25 defined by overlapping rigid members 26, 27 and the main body portion of the fixed part of the carriage.  
  An opening 30 is formed between the top plate 31 of the movable part 4 of the carriage and the top surface of the respective bottom supports 20, 21 to permit the recording medium or sheet to slide therethrough. The top plate 31 is rigid to provide support for the recording medium as it is being embossed and has a plurality of depressions 32 formed in the underside thereof for insertion of respective styli 33 in the embossing cell 34. A spring 35 having a cam 36 extending therefrom to mate with a plurality of notches 37 formed in the underside of the bottom support 20 retains the shiftable part 4 of the carriage in locations, with movement from location to location being effected by the knob 6 and pinion gear 23. A plurality of openings 40, 4] formed through the top plate 31 and the upper leg 42 of the F- shape bottom support 21 provide for insertion of a stop member 43 which is adapted to abut against one of the walls 44, 45 of the main body portion of the carriage portion. The detent member 43 thus narrows the effective width of the slot 30 to accommodate various sizes of braille paper which are smaller than the full size sheet, while providing a stop to avoid carriage movement beyond the extent of the paper.  
  The embossing cell 34 is positioned on the main body of the fixed part 5 of the carriage portion, for example, by screws 46. The embossing cell is defined by a casing 47 formed of respective substantially planar parallel side walls 50 only one of which is shown in the figure, and substantially planar parallel end walls 51, only one of which is shown A cut-out section 52 is formed in the side walls proximate the bottom of the embossing cell 34, and six plungers 53 having generally smooth side surfaces to facilitate sliding are positioned in the embossing cell extending in a direction generally from the bottom to the top thereof with a respective stylus 33 fixed to the top of each plunger. The plungers and respective styli are arranged in an array corresponding to that used in a six dot braille arrangement illustrated, for example, in FIG. 9; and selective actuation of the plungers causes the respective styli to emboss braille characters on the recording medium.  
  Three elongated rigid shafts 54, 55, 56 are coupled at respective terminal end portions 57, 58, 59 in the handle portion 2 to three respective keys 60, 61, 62 and at respective terminal end portions in the carriage por tion 3 to operate the three plungers 53 on the left side of the embossing cell 34, representing positions 1, 2, and 3 in a braille array. the respective positions being shown in FIG. 9. Each of the shafts 54, S5, 56 are mounted on the handle portion 11 in sleeves 64, 65, 66 by respective brackets 74, 75, 76 to permit rotation of the shafts about their respective longitudinal axes. Additional sleeves and brackets are positioned proximate or in the carriage portion 3 to facilitate rotation. A fulcrum plate 77 is positioned on the main body of the fixed carriage part to provide support for the respective shafts 54, 55, 56 as they are rotated to avoid bending therein and to effect firm actuation of the plungers 53.  
  Each of the terminal end portions 57, 58, 59 in the handle portion 2 are angularly disposed with respect to the respective longitudinal axes of the shafts to permit insertion into operational relation with the respective keys 60, 61, 62, and each of the terminal end portions in the carriage portion 5 are also angularly disposed with respect to such longitudinal axes to effect operation of respective plungers 53 when the respective shafts are actuated to rotate.  
  The key 48 on the left hand side of the handle portion as well as the keys 78, 79 on the right hand side thereof are coupled to operate the plungers 53 on the right hand side of the embossing cell 34 representing the 4, 5, 6 positions in a braille array However, since the key 48 on the left hand side is coupled to actuate the elongated shaft 80 on the right hand side of the handle portion 2, it is necessary to provide the extension member 81 directly coupled to the key 48 to actuate such shaft at the terminal end portion 82. As seen in FIG. 1, the keys 78, 79 are normally actuated by the thumb, such keys being so designed that the shafts operated by them are located slightly to the right of the keys as will be described in more detail below with reference to FIG. 5.  
  A switch 16 connected to energize an electrical solenoid 17 having an external power lead 18 may be positioned to be selectively opened and closed by action of the key 62 to provide a power assist replacing the fingers as an energy source for rotating the elongated shafts and activating the plungers. A schematic presen tation of a switch and solenoid is shown in FIG. 2. Similar switch and solenoid arrangements may be provided for each of the keys on both sides of the handle portion 2.  
  Referring now more specifically to FIG. 3, the elongated shafts 54, 55, 56, 80, 83, 84 are shown with their respective sleeves 64, 65, 66, 85, 86, 87 and holding brackets 74, 75, 76, 88, 89, 90. The sleeves 85, 86, 87  
 5 may be welded together at welds 91, 92 for added stability. The holding bracket 89, for example, has a downwardly extending tab portion 93 that locks the same in place to the handle portion 2. The shaft 80 not only has its actuating terminal end 82 turned opposite those terminal end portions 94, 95 of the other shafts 83, 84 for reversal of motion, but also has a folded or detour portion 96 overlapping the other terminal ends 97, 98 proximate the embossing cell 34. Thus, the shaft 80 operates the plunger 53 in the number 4 position of the braille character or array. The fulcrum plates 77, 77&#39;, one for each side of the embossing cell 34, provide a pivot or fulcrum for the respective terminal ends 97 through 102 of the shafts as they rotate to avoid downward bending of the shafts proximate the terminal ends resulting in the loss of upward embossing force applied on the plungers by respective terminal ends as respective shafts are actuated.  
  Referring now to FIG. 4, the embossing cell 34 is shown with two of the plungers 53 and styli 33 in alignment with two of the depressions 32 formed in the un derside surface of the top plate 31 of the shiftable part 4 of the carriage portion. The depressions 32 are curved interiorly thereof to correspond to the general configuration of the styli, although the former are somewhat larger than the latter to allow space for the recording sheet. The cut-out sections 52 in the side walls 50 of the embossing cell are sufficiently large to permit complete movement of the two terminal ends 99, 100 of the shafts 80, 54. Of course, the same cutout sections extend forward to accommodate all the respective terminal ends.  
  Each of the plungers 53 is prismatic having a square or rectangular cross-section normal to its longitudinal axis, although other cross sections may also be used. The side surfaces or walls thereof are sufficiently smooth to avoid any substantial friction with neighboring plungers and/or the walls of the embossing cell 34, which themselves are also smooth. A small space is provided between plungers and the interior side walls of the embossing cell to prevent interference between plungers when actuated, such space, however, being sufficiently small to prevent the plungers from losing their expected course of movement causing the respective styli to miss the depressions 32 formed in the underside of the top plate 31. In the preferred embodiment the plungers have no return spring directly connected thereto for returning the same after embossing has occurred, such return action, however, being provided by respective springs which bias the keys 60, 61, 62, 48, 78, 79 as shown in more detail in FIGS. 5 and 6.  
  The slots 103 formed in the plungers 53 are sufficiently large to permit unrestricted movement therein of the respective terminal end portions 99, 100, yet are sufficiently narrow to permit almost instantaneous plunger movement as the terminal end portions operate. Plural sets of depressions 32, in the underside of the top plate 31 are shown, and as the carriage is shifted to the next position either to the left or right for embossing the next braille character on the recording sheet 13, the respective styli align with the appropriate next set of depressions. The full complement of depressions 32 in the top plate 31 are shown in more detail in FIG. 7, each set or array of six depressions representing a location along the linear carriage shifting path to permit embossing of a braille character at each location.  
  Referring now more specifically to FIGS. 5 and 6 in which the keys 79, 62 are shown. respectively, each key has a push rod portion 110 having a cut-out 111 for receiving the respective terminal end portions 95, 59 of the shafts 84, 56. The cut-out portion 101 is angled at one side to permit full movement of the terminal end portions without restriction. A resilient spring 112 is positioned in a recess 113 within the main body of the handle portion 2 for biasing the key and push rod to a non-activated position. The springs 112 also effect return of the respective plungers in the embossing cell to non-actuated positions. Cover plates 114, 115 permit access to the springs and push rod portions, and the holding bracket 76 in FIG. 6 coupled to a plateau portion 116 of the main body of the handle portion 2 by a fastener [17 and by a tab portion 118 in a slot in such main body.  
  Referring now more specifically to FIG. 8, the biasing and stop mechanism for urging the shaft 11 and rollers 12 in a downward direction to maintain the latter in contact with the recording sheet 13, is shown in detail. The mechanism 10 includes a spring 130 which is compressed and inserted into a slot portion 131 formed in the top plate 31, the spring producing a force against the shaft 11 urging the same in a generally downward direction. One of two such mechanisms is located proximate each end of shaft 11. Preferably, the shaft ll is of generally round cross-section having at least one flat surface defined along a cord thereof at the area of contact with the spring. The lower end of the spring 130 is in contact with the shaft 11 along at least one linear portion of the former and perpendicular to the axis of the later, such linear or planar portion is relatively restricted from displacements and rotations except of elastic displacements along the axis of action of the spring. A Z-shape spring is chosen for the sake of a clear illustrative presentation. Thus, in operation, as the shaft 11 is rotated by the knob 7, the spring 130 presses against the shaft; and when the flat surface of the shaft is facing in a generally upward direction directly against the spring, the shaft tends to remain in such position, each alignment ofthe flat portions of the spring and shaft being representative of distance between two adjacent rows on the braille paper. Therefore, the spring 130 and shaft 11 cooperate to provide a detent mechanism for the braille writing machine, whereby braille paper may be drawn row by row through the carriage by pressure and friction of the rollers 12 against the surface of the paper, and the operator will notice the effective detent while turning the knob 7 to indicate proper row locations.  
  Mechanism 10 allows the possibility of a sufficient upward lifting of shaft 11 to enable each roller to be slided freely along the shaft to fit the width of the recording sheet. The cross-section of the shaft is to be made non circular preferably by extending at least one of the defined flat surfaces of mechanism 10 along the shaft parallel to the axis thereof. The rollers fit the perimeter of the shaft thus being restrained from spinning independently of the shaft. The exterior cylindrical surfaces of the rollers 12 have a substantially higher friction co-efficient than that of the upper surface of the F-shape support 20 to effect smooth shifting of the re cording sheet as the rollers are made to roll.  
  In operation of the portable braille writing machine 1 the detent member 43 is inserted through the top plate 31 if necessary due to use of smaller than full size braille paper. and a sheet of braille paper 13 is inserted in the receiving opening 30 in the carriage to engage the rollers 12. The knob 7 is rotated until the shaft 11 is in a detained position with respect to the spring and the rollers retain the braille paper in position. The knob 6 may be rotated to shift the shiftable part 4 of the carriage, for example all the way to the right, to permit starting a line at the left side of the braille paper.  
  Selected ones of the keys 60-62, 48, 78-79 may be depressed by individual fingers on the hand of the operator to effect rotation of respective shafts that in turn raise respective plungers and styli, the latter embossing dots on the braille paper to effect the imprinting of a braille character thereon. When only keys 78 and/or 79 are depressed, for example, by the thumb of the right hand, the left hand on the knob 6 at the carriage of the machine aids in support thereof.  
  After a single character is embossed on the braille paper 13, the knob 6 is rotated, for example, counterclockwise to shift the movable part of the carriage to the left, the carriage stopping at the next space as determined by the cam 36 on the spring 35 which fits into an appropriate notch 37 formed in the bottom support 20. After a line has been completed. the knob 7 may be rotated, for example, clockwise to move the braille paper to the next line, and the knob 6 may be rotated clockwise to shift the shiftable part of the carriage all the way to the right to begin embossing on the next line. Of course, if desired, the carriage may be moved in either direction manually without using the knob 6 by providing sufficient force to the carriage to overcome the locking force of the spring 35 and cam 36 mechanism.  
  While the above description is drawn to a machine for writing braille, such machine may be used for writing other types of codes by embossing information on a recording medium. While the machine is useful for writing in either direction across the paper, it may be similarly used to emboss in a vertical direction.  
  Although the machine has been described as operating under manual power or electrical power, it may be easily modified to include other power assists. for example, by using compressed gas, etc. coupled to actuate the shafts and/or plungers.  
  The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
 1. An embossing apparatus comprising:  
 a casing having a pair of substantially parallel side walls and a pair of substantially parallel end walls, said casing being substantially open at the top;  
 a plurality of reciprocable plungers positioned in said casing; a groove formed in each of said plungers, each groove being located substantially below the lower face of said side wall adjoining thereto; a  
 means for selectively actuating said reciprocable plungers, said means for actuating comprising: a plurality of levers, each lever having respective first and second ends, each of said first end of said lever engaging a respective plunger by being positioned inside said groove thereof,  
  said lever being adapted to oscillate about an axis of oscillation positioned proximate said second end of said lever. said axis of oscillation being oriented perpendicularly to the source of reciprocation of said plungers; means for effecting oscillation of said levers, whereby upon oscillation of a lever, said first end thereof effects reciprocation of a respective plunger in said casing. 2. An embossing apparatus as set forth in claim I, wherein said means for oscillating comprising:  
 plural elongated shafts, each shaft having a substantially longitudinal axis positioned co-linearly with a respective said axis of oscillation. one end of each of said shafts being rigidly connected to said second end of a respective lever to effect oscillation of the latter and thus effect selective reciprocation of said plungers upon rotation of said shafts; and means for effecting rotation of said shafts about their said respective substantially longitudinal axes. 3. An embossing apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said shafts have respective further terminal ends angularly disposed with respect to said axes. and key means for effecting operation of said respective terminal ends to effect rotation of said respective shafts. 4. An embossing apparatus as set forth in claim 3, further comprising:  
 resilient means for biasing said key means, shafts, and  
  plungers. to a normal unactuated position. 5. An embossing apparatus as set forth in claim 2, further comprising:  
  fulcrum means positioned proximate said terminal ends of said shafts for supporting said shafts upon rotation thereof to effect firm actuation of said respective plungers. 6. An embossing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, including means for effecting rotation comprising:  
 key means; solenoid means responsive to said key means to effect oscillation of said oscillating levers. 7. A potable braille writing machine comprising: a handle. a carriage.  
 said carriage being adapted for supporting of a record medium, said carriage being slidably mounted with respect to said handle; reciprocable means mounted on said handle adjacent said carriage for selectively embossing information on said record medium; means coupled between said handle and said means for selectively embossing for actuating the latter to effect selective embossing of information on said record medium; said means for actuating comprising plural elongated shafts, each of said elongated shafts having a substantially longitudinal portion rotatably mounted on said handle, each of said shafts having respective first and second terminal ends; a plurality of manually actuable key means supported in said handle for actuating said first terminal ends to effect rotation of said elongated shafts; said second terminal ends being positioned to effect reciprocation of said reciprocable means for selectively embossing said record medium upon rotation of said shafts. 8. A portable braille writing machine as set forth in claim 7 further comprising:  
 resilient means for biasing said key means and said elongated shafts to an unactuated position. 9. A portable braille writing machine as set forth in claim 7, further comprising:  
 means coupled to said handle for supporting said elongated shafts for rotation about said respective substantially longitudinal axes; and fulcrum means positioned in said handle for providing support for said plural elongated shafts at said second terminal ends to effect firm actuation of said means for selectively embossing upon rotation of respective ones of said elongated shafts. 10. A portable braille writing machine as set forth in claim 7, wherein said means for selectively embossing comprises a casing having a pair of substantially parallel side walls and a pair of substantially parallel end walls, said casing being substantially open at the top, a cut-out section formed in at least one of said side walls, a plurality of plungers positioned in said casing, said plungers extending from the bottom toward the top of said casing, and a plurality of styli. each coupled to a respective plunger for embossing information on said record medium; and said means for actuating being selectively coupled to said respective plungers through said cut-out section. 11. A portable braille writing machine as set forth in claim 10, wherein said carriage being movable to a plurality of positions with respect to said means for selectively embossing. said carriage comprising a planar surface positioned to overlie said means for selectively embossing, and a plurality of depressions formed in said planar surface, said depressions being arranged in a plurality of arrays, each of said arrays being located to overlie said styli when said carriage is in respective positions.  
 12. A portable braille writing machine as set forth in claim 7, wherein said carriage being adapted for receipt of a record medium having a width and breadth sufficient to permit embossing information thereon at a plurality of spaced locations in each of a plurality of rows and columns; and further comprising means for retaining said record medium in said carriage to permit embossing information thereon, said means for retaining including means for providing pressure on such record medium and means for releasing such pressure and means for moving said record medium in definite and equal portions in said carriage to permit embossing information thereon in a plurality of rows and in face-up relation.  
  10 claim 7, further comprising:  
 solenoid means responsive to said key means for operation of said means for actuating. 15. A portable braille writing machine as set forth in claim 7, wherein said terminal ends are positioned to extend angularly with respect to said substantially Iongitudinal axis.