Reading machine for the blind

Claim 2

A reading machine for the blind comprising, in combination with a sheet on which lines of character are delineated, an endless belt having a plurality of circular perforations therein, means for moving said endless belt, a plurality of spherical bodies for removable placement and retention in some of said perforations and in partial relief in relation to said endless belt, and means for positioning said spherical bodies in said circular perforations in the form of a line of characters corresponding to a line of characters delineated on said sheet for tactile sensing by a blind person.

Claim 3

A reading machine for the blind as set forth in claim 1 wherein said endless belt has a read-out section in which said spherical bodies are removably retained for tactile sensing by a blind person, and a drive belt underlying said endless belt for holding said bodies in said read-out section of said endless belt and in partial relief in relation to said belt for tactile sensing by a blind person.

Claim 4

A reading machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein said drive belt moves away from underlying relation to said endless belt at one end of said read-out section of said endless belt to permit said spherical bodies to drop by force of gravity from said perforations, and a hopper for receiving and retaining said spherical bodies dropped from said endless belt at one end of said read-out section thereof.

Claim 5

A reading machine for the blind as set forth in claim 3, and a plurality of solenoids for releasably holding said spherical bodies in said hopper until released therefrom upon energization of said solenoids.

Claim 6

A reading machine for the blind as set forth in claim 4 and an electronic circuit containing said solenoids, and a plurality of light-responsive sensors each co-related with a separate solenoid connected into said electronic circuit to effect energization of said solenoids and release of said bodies from said hoppers onto said endless belt for the building of a line of characters thereon to be read by a blind person using the tactile sense.

Claim 7

A reading machine for the blind as set forth in claim 5, and means for actuating said sensors by scanning the characters delineated on said sheet.

Claim 8

A reading machine for the blind as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means comprise a plurality of fiber-optics conductors individually connected to each of said plurality of light-responsive sensors.

Claim 9

A reading machine for the blind comprising in combination with a sheet having successive lines of characters delineated thereon, a frame, a scanner movably mounted on said frame in overlying relation to said sheet, a sheetholder for supporting said sheet for scanning movably mounted on said frame for movement in directions at right angles to the directions of movement of said scanner, and a linear actuator including a shaft secured to said sheetholder for moving said sheetholder by predetermined step-by-step advancement so that successive lines of characters on said sheet may be scanned from the top line to the bottom line of said sheet after the completion of scanning of each complete line thereof, a rotatable disc mounted on an extension of said shaft, said disc having a finger opening therein for enabling facile rotation thereof, and a stop on said sheetholder extending partially across said disc to limit the extent of rotation thereof by the engagement of the finger of a hand with said stop; rotation of said disc effecting linear movement of said sheetholder and said actuator to and fro on the shaft thereof.

Claim 10

A reading machine for the blind comprising in combination with a sheet having successive lines of characters delineated thereon, a frame, a scanner movably mounted on said frame in overlying relation to said sheet, a sheetholder for supporting said sheet for scanning movably mounted on said frame for movement in directions at right angles to the directions of movement of said scanner, and a linear actuator including a shaft secured to said sheetholder for moving said sheetholder by predetermined step-by-step advancement so that successive lines of characters on said sheet may be scanned from the top line to the bottom line of said sheet after the completion of scanning of each complete line thereof, a rotatable disc mounted on an extension of said shaft, said disc having a finger opening therein for enabling facile rotation thereof, and a stop on said sheetholder extending partially across said disc to limit the extent of rotation thereof by the engagement of the finger of a hand with said stop; rotation of said disc effecting linear movement of said sheetholder and said actuator to and fro on the shaft thereof.

Claim 11

A reading machine for the blind comprising, in combination with a sheet having successive lines of characters delineated thereon, a frame, a sheet holder on said frame for supporting said sheet for scanning, a scanner movably mounted on said frame in overlying relation to said sheet, an electrical circuit, a primary motor connected into said circuit for driving said scanner in one direction of travel, and a return motor connected into said circuit for driving said scanner in an opposite direction of travel.

Claim 12

A reading machine for the blind comprising, in combination with a sheet having successive lines of characters delineated thereon, a frame, a sheet holder on said frame for supporting said sheet for scanning, a scanner movably mounted on said frame in overlying relation to said sheet, an electrical circuit, a primary motor connected into said circuit for driving said scanner in one direction of travel, and a return motor connected into said circuit for driving said scanner in an opposite direction of travel.

Claim 13

A reading machine for the blind as set forth in claim 9, a first limit switch in said circuit located at the extreme limit of travel of said scanner in one direction of travel, and a second limit switch in said circuit located at the extreme limit of travel of said scanner in the opposite direction; actuation of said limit switches occurring by engagement of said scanner therewith to stop said primary motor and start said return motor and vice-versa.