EP0069041B1 - Automatic page turner - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Automatic page turning apparatus, essentially constituted by a chassis (1), by a device (5) for manipulating the pages mounted on the chassis (1) by means of posts (10), the page manipulating or handling device (5) being constituted by strips (23) to be inserted between the pages to be turned and mounted at the end thereof on a guide pin (24), positioned close to one of the posts (10), said strips being displaceable on the pin (24) under the action of a spring (25) bearing on a support and guide member (26), which can be immobilised in the compressed position of the spring by means of a sliding bolt (27) guided in the post (10), said strips (23) being maintained on the end of the pin (24) by means of an eclipsable bolt (29), and by a device (28) for the extraction and displacement of the strips (23), characterized in that the chassis (1) of the apparatus in the form of a desk member which is slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal, is mounted on a pivoting support (2) for supporting a frame (3, 4) for receiving a books or journal as well as an optical control cell (8), and in that the device (28) for the extraction and displacement of the strips (23) is constituted by a carriage (30) displaceable parallel to support (2) on transverse guides by means of a screw (31) - nut (32) assembly driven by an electric motor, provided with a power point (38) and a start-stop switch (39), controlled by pulses from an electronic box (12) and provided with an abutment (33) for the actuating bolt (29), a pawl (34) for displacing a strip (23) co-operating with a lug (35) located beneath the abutment (33) and extending into a slot (36) in the strip (23), as well as an abutment (37) for actuating end of travel contact (7) mounted on each post (10) and controlling changeover relays (6) determining the rotation direction of the drive member of the screw (31) - nut (32) assembly.

Description

The present invention relates to the field of automatic movement control, in particular by people with disabilities, and relates to an automatic page-turning device.

Currently, people with total disabilities can indulge in reading newspapers or books only with the help of third parties who are continuously around them, in order to turn their pages.

This process is however very alienating for the patient and very demanding for the person caring for the said patient, the two must continuously be in the presence of the other. In addition, especially in the case of books, it is often necessary to keep the pages in the open position.

US-A-2 755 580 discloses an automatic page-turning device constituted by a frame in the form of a desk slightly inclined relative to the horizontal, on which is mounted a frame for receiving a book, by a page handling device, by an electrical outlet, and by an on and off switch. The device for maneuvering the pages of this device consists of a rotary support and drive arm for the pages to be turned, and by an alternative drive arm intended to lift the pages to allow them to be taken up by the rotary arm, these two arms being actuated by a single motor, the starting and stopping of which are carried out by means of a manual switch. The apparatus according to the aforementioned publication certainly makes it possible to turn the pages of a book or a newspaper, but an individual grip of each page by means of the arms is difficult to guarantee, and a person having no ability to grasp cannot ensure its functioning.

It is also known, from FR-A 552 793, an automatic page-turning device, the page handling device of which consists of strips to be inserted between the pages to be turned, these strips being mounted at their ends on a guide axis. provided near an upright of the chassis, and being movable on the axis under the action of a spring. In addition, these strips are held on the end of the guide axis by means of an eclipsable lock, and are actuated by an extraction and displacement device. The extraction device is driven mechanically, and the control of this drive is effected by the action of a member of the user. Such an apparatus makes it possible to turn individual sheets of books or notebooks, but cannot operate in a fully automatic manner, that is to say without the intervention of physical control by the user. In addition, a stop of a strip on the left page, in order to allow better maintenance of the pages during reading, cannot be ensured due to the mechanical spring drive of the device for extracting and moving the strips .

The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks.

It has, in fact, for its object an automatic page-turning device, essentially constituted by a frame, by a page handling device mounted on the frame by means of uprights, the page handling device being constituted by strips to be inserted between the pages to be turned and mounted at their end on a guide axis provided near one of the uprights, these strips being movable on the axis under the action of a spring pressing on a support and guide member, which can be immobilized in the compressed position of the spring by means of a sliding latch guided in the upright, these strips being held on the end of the axis by means of an eclipsable latch, and by a device for extracting and displacement of the strips, device characterized in that on its chassis, in the form of a desk slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal, is mounted a pivoting support for supporting a frame for receiving a book or a newspaper , and a cell control optics, and in that the device for extracting and moving the strips is constituted by a carriage movable parallel to the support on transverse guides by means of a screw-nut assembly driven by an electric motor, provided with an electrical outlet (38) and an on and off switch (39), controlled by pulses from an electronic unit, and provided with a stop for actuating the eclipsable lock, a drive finger of a strip cooperating with a lug provided under the stop and entering a groove of the strip, and a stop for actuating limit switches mounted on each upright and controlling determining change-over relays the direction of rotation of the drive motor of the screw-nut assembly.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un appareil conforme à l'invention;
• la figure 2 est une vue en plan d'un cadre de réception d'un journal, et
• la figure 3 est une vue en plan représentant une réglette de manoeuvre de pages pour livre et une autre pour journal.

The invention will be better understood from the description below, which relates to a preferred embodiment, given by way of nonlimiting example, and explained with reference to the appended schematic drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus according to the invention;
• FIG. 2 is a plan view of a frame for receiving a newspaper, and
• FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a strip for operating pages for books and another for newspapers.

In accordance with the invention, and as shown more particularly, by way of example, FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings, the automatic page-turning device essentially consists of a chassis 1 in the form of a desk slightly inclined relative to the horizontal, on which is fixed a pivoting support 2 for supporting a frame 3 for receiving a book or a frame 4 for receiving a newspaper (FIG. 2), by a device 5 for maneuvering the pages, which is controlled in displacement by reversing relays 6, by limit switches 7, by an optical control cell 8, by an electrical outlet 38, and by an on and off switch 39.

The chassis 1 carries, at its front part, the pivoting support 2 by means of a bracket 9, and, at its rear part the operating device 5 by means of two end uprights 10, as well as the reversing relays 6 housed in a protective casing 11, and an electronic unit 12 for adjusting the intensity of the luminous flux and for detecting changes in this flux from the optical control cell 8, which is advantageously fixed to one of the uprights 10 of the operating device 5.

The pivoting support 2 is fixed to the bracket 9 by means of a hinge 9 ', and is constituted by a plate 13 provided on its upper face with two studs 14 for positioning the frames 3 and 4 and a hole 15 of passage of a screw for fixing said frames on the support 2, this plate 13 being provided on its underside, near the end opposite the hinge 9 'with a support 16 for a spring element 17, which tends to tilt the plate 13 around the hinge 9 ', this element 17 being held in the non-use position by means of a sliding latch 18.

On the side opposite to the plate 13, the hinge 9 'is provided with an adjustable stop 19 allowing a pivoting adjustment of said plate 13, and, moreover, the hinge 9' is mounted in an adjustable manner in height by sliding and tightening on the bracket 9. The frame 3 for receiving a book is constituted by a board which can be fixed on the support 2, while the frame 4 for receiving a newspaper is constituted by a fixed support 20 for mounting on the support 2, and by a sliding element 21 guided on the support 20 and tending to press the central part of the newspaper against a central crosspiece under the action of springs 22, or other elastic elements.

The device 5 for maneuvering the pages consists of strips 23 to be inserted between the traps to be turned and mounted at their end on a guide pin 24 provided near one of the uprights 10, these strips being movable on the axis 24 under the action of a spring 25 pressing on a support and guide member 26, which can be immobilized in the compressed position of the spring by means of a sliding lock 27 guided in the upright 10, the strips 23 being maintained on the end of the axis 24 by means of an eclipsable lock 29, and by a device 28 for extracting and moving the strips 23.

This device 28 for extracting and moving the strips 23 is constituted by a carriage 30 movable parallel to the support 2 on transverse guides by means of a screw 31 - nut 32 assembly driven by an electric motor (not shown) controlled by pulses from the electronic unit 12, and provided with a stop 33 for actuating the eclipsable lock 29, with a finger 34 for driving a strip 23 cooperating with a lug 35 provided under the stop 33 and penetrating into a groove 36 of the strip 23 (Figure 3), and a stop 37 for actuating the limit switches 7 mounted on each upright 10 and controlling the reversing relays 6 determining the direction of rotation of the drive motor of the screw assembly 31 - nut 32.

The strips 23 (FIG. 3) are advantageously at least two different lengths, the shortest 23 'being intended to be inserted between the pages of a book, and the longest 23 "being inserted between the pages of a newspaper , and they are preferably made of a transparent material so as not to interfere with reading.

• Après mise en place d'un livre sur le cadre 3 ou d'un journal sur le cadre 4, les réglettes 23 sont insérées entre un certain nombre de pages du livre ou de journal et enfilées sur l'axe 24, l'organe du support 26 étant immobilisé par le verrou 27. L'elément de ressort 17 est alors libéré au moyen du verrou 18, le verrou 27 est retiré, et la plaque 13 du support 2 bascule vers le haut jusqu'à ce que la réglette supérieure vienne en butée contre le verrou éclipsable 29, et l'appareil est mis en marche au moyen de l'interrupteur 39. Arrivé en fin de lecture de la page de droite, l'utilisateur modifie le flux lumineux par déplacement d'un membre ou de la tête dans ledit flux de la cellule optique de commande 8, dont le boîtier électronique 12 envoie une impulsion de mise en marche au moteur de l'ensemble vis 31 - écrou 32 d'entraînement du chariot 30, qui est déplacé vers la droite au-dessus de la réglette supérieure. Le chariot 30 déplace alors le verrou éclipsable 29 libérant ainsi la réglette 23, et au moyen de sa butée 37, il actionne simultanément le contact de fin de course 7 correspondant, qui commande un basculement des relais inverseurs 6 ayant pour effet d'inverser le sens de rotation du moteur et donc le sens de déplacement du chariot 30 vers le contact de fin de course 7 opposé, le chariot emmenant dans sa course, au moyen du doigt 34 et de l'ergot 35, la réglette 23, qui est guidée sur sa face inférieure sur une glissière 40 solidaire des montants 10, cette glissière présentant, du côté opposé à l'axe 24 de guidage des réglettes 23, près du montant 10, un évidement 41 d'éjection des réglettes avant le trajet de retour du chariot 30. Après éjection de la réglette 23, le chariot 30 actionne avec sa butée 33 le contact de fin de course 7, qui inverse à nouveau, par l'intermédiaire des relais 6, le sens de déplacement du chariot 30. Le déplacement du chariot 30 peut être interrompu à tout moment par modification du flux lumineux de la cellule 8 par l'utilisateur. Ainsi, il est possible à ce dernier d'arrêter le moteur quand la réglette est sur la page de gauche du livre afin d'assumer un meilleur maintien des pages. Sous l'évidement 41 de la glissière 40 peut avantageusement être placée une boîte de réception et de rangement des réglettes 23.

The apparatus according to the invention operates as follows:

• After placing a book on frame 3 or a newspaper on frame 4, the sliders 23 are inserted between a certain number of pages of the book or newspaper and threaded on the axis 24, the organ of the support 26 being immobilized by the latch 27. The spring element 17 is then released by means of the latch 18, the latch 27 is removed, and the plate 13 of the support 2 swings up until the upper strip comes in abutment against the eclipsable latch 29, and the apparatus is started by means of the switch 39. When the reader reads the right page, the user modifies the luminous flux by moving a member or the head in said flow of the optical control cell 8, the electronic unit 12 of which sends a start-up pulse to the motor of the screw 31 - nut 32 drive drive assembly 30, which is moved to the right at - above the upper strip. The carriage 30 then moves the eclipsable lock 29, thus releasing the strip 23, and by means of its stop 37, it simultaneously actuates the corresponding limit switch 7, which controls the switching of the reversing relays 6 having the effect of reversing the direction of rotation of the motor and therefore the direction of movement of the carriage 30 towards the opposite limit switch 7, the carriage driving in its stroke, by means of the finger 34 and the lug 35, the strip 23, which is guided on its underside on a slide 40 integral with the uprights 10, this slide having, on the side opposite the axis 24 for guiding the strips 23, near the post 10, a recess 41 for ejecting the strips before the return path of the carriage 30. After ejection of the strip 23, the carriage 30 actuates with its stop 33 the limit switch 7, which again reverses, via the relays 6, the direction of movement of the carriage 30. The movement of the carriage 30 can be interrupted at any m oment by modification of the luminous flux of cell 8 by the user. Thus, it is possible for the latter to stop the engine when the strip is on the left page of the book in order to assume better maintenance of the pages. Under the recess 41 of the slide 40 can advantageously be placed a box for receiving and storing the strips 23.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications remain possible, in particular from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements, or by substitution of technical equivalents, without thereby departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims (8)

1. Automatic page turning apparatus, essentially constituted by a chassis (1), by a device (5) for manipulating the pages mounted on the chassis (1) by means of posts (10), the page manipulating or handling device (5) beeing constituted by strips (23) to be inserted between the pages to be turned and mounted at the end thereof on a guide pin (24), positioned close to one of the posts (10), said strips being displaceable on the pin (24) under the action of a spring (25) bearing on a support and guide member (26), which can be immobilised in the compressed position of the spring by means of a sliding bolt (27) guided in the post (10), said strips (23) being maintained on the end of the pin (24) by means of an eclipsable bolt (29), and by a device (28) for the extraction and displacement of the strips (23), characterized in that the chassis (1) of the apparatus in the form of a desk member which is slightly inclined with respest to the horizontal, is mounted on a pivoting support (2) for supporting a frame (3, 4) for receiving a books or journal as well as an optical control cell (8), and in that the device (28) for the extraction and displacement of the strips (23) is constituted by a carriage (30) displaceable parallel to support (2) on transverse guides by means of a screw (31) - nut (32) assembly driven by an electric motor, provided with a power point (38) and a start-stop switch (39), controlled by pulses from an electronic box (12) and provided with an abutment (33) forthe actuating bolt (29), a pawl (34) for displacing a strip (23) cooperating with a lug (35) located beneath the abutment (33) and extending into a slot (36) in the strip (23), as well as an abutment (37) for actuating end of travel contact (7) mounted on each post (10) and controlling changeover relays (6) determining the rotation direction of the drive member of the screw (31) - nut (32) assembly.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the chassis (1) carries, in its front part, the pivoting support (2) by means of an angle bracket (9), whilst, in its rear part it carries an electronic box (12) for regulating the intensity of the luminous flux and for detecting changes of the optical control cell (8), which is advantageously fixed to one of the posts (10) of the device (5).

3. Apparatus according to any one of the claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the pivoting support (2) is fixed to the angle bracket (9) by means of a hinge (9') and is constituted by a plate (13) which is provided on its upper face with two studs (14) for positioning frames (3, 4) and a hole (15) for the passage of a screw for fixing said frames to the support (2), said plate (13) being provided on its lower face, close to the opposite end to the hinge (9'), with a support member (16) for a spring element (17) which tilts the plate (13) around hinge (9'), said element (17) being maintained in the non-use position by means of a sliding bolt (18).

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that on the side opposite to the plate (13), the hinge (9') is provided with a regulatable abutment (19) permitting a setting of the pivoting of said plate (13), and, in addition, the hinge (9') is mounted in a height-regulatable manner by sliding and locking on the angle bracket (9).

5. Apparatus, according to any one of the claims 1 and 3, characterized in that the frame (3) for receiving a book is constituted by a board, which can be fixed to the support (2), while the frame (4) for receiving a journal is constituted by a fixed support (20) for mounting on the support (2), and by a sliding element (21) guided on the support (20) and tending to press the central part of the journal against a median cross bar under the action of springs (22) or other elastic elements.

6. Apparatus, according to claim 1, characterized in that the strips (23) are advantageously of at least two different lengths, the shorter (23') being intended to be inserted between the pages of a book, and the longer (23") being insertable between the pages of a journal, and they are, preferably, made from a transparent material so as not to disturb the reading.

7. Apparatus, according to any one of the claims 1 and 6, characterized in that, beneath the carriage (30) is provided a slide (40) for guiding strips (23), which is integral with posts (10) and has on the side opposite to the pin (24) for guiding strips (23), close to post (10), a slot (41) for ejecting the strips before the return travel of carriage (30).

8. Apparatus, according to any one of the claims 1, 6 and 7, characterized in that it is advantageously possible to position a book for the reception and arrangement of strips (23) beneath the slot (41) of the slide (40).

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