US3880269A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Braille communication terminal
Assignee: TRIFORMATION SYSTEMS Inc
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Filing: 1973-09-04
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Granted: 1975-04-29
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Expires: 1993-09-04
Abstract
Abstract A Braille Telecommunications Terminal is described herein which is adapted to emboss complete lines of braille characters at high speed in response to code characters received by the terminal from a communications line or from a keyboard in the terminal. A plurality of pairs of pins are disposed in a row and are actuable to move forward to an extended position against an embossable sheet to form pairs of code elements of the characters in a line of braille characters. The sheet is advanced and successive pairs of code elements are embossed upon each advance until the code elements which constitute the braille characters are embossed. In this manner an entire line of braille characters can be embossed at very high speeds. The pins and the advancing of the sheet are automatically controlled in response to code signals received by the terminal, or from the keyboard.
Inventors
- 👤 Guy P Carbonneau
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 01:58
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J3/00; B41J3/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
87 words
Braille communications apparatus which comprises: a. means including a collinear row of embossing elements grouped in a plurality of pairs for embossing the collinearly disposed code elements in a line of braille code characters on a sheet, and b. means coupled to each of said embossing elements and responsive to code signals representing said characters for successively operating said embossing means to emboss on each of said successive operations successive entire lines of said braille code elements until an entire line of braille code characters is formed.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
87 words
Braille communications apparatus which comprises: a. means including a collinear row of embossing elements grouped in a plurality of pairs for embossing the collinearly disposed code elements in a line of braille code characters on a sheet, and b. means coupled to each of said embossing elements and responsive to code signals representing said characters for successively operating said embossing means to emboss on each of said successive operations successive entire lines of said braille code elements until an entire line of braille code characters is formed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said embossing means includes means for advancing said sheet to present lines on said sheet which have a first displacement from each other between the lines of collineraly disposed code elements in each line of braille charactes, which lines of elements are embossed on each advance until the line of code characters is formed, and second displacement greater than said first displacement between successive lines of braille characters.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said embossing means comprises a row of pins each corresponding to a different braille character code element, and means for reciprocating said pins into and out of embossing relationship with said sheet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The invention as set forth in claim 3 wherein different pairs of said pins are laterally offset from each other in said row for embossing successive pairs of code elements of different braille coDe characters in each said line of braille code characters.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The invention as set forth in claim 4 including a member havng a plurality of pairs of recessed dies corresponding to said pins and disposed in a row, said member being disposed opposite to said pins and spaced therefrom to permit said sheet to pass therebetween, and with said dies aligned with their corresponding pins.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The invention as set forth in claim 5 further comprising a plurality of electromechanical actuators each for a different one of said pins.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention as set forth in claim 6 wherein pairs of said plurality of actuators are provided for each of said pairs of pins, each of said actuators in each of said pairs being disposed on an opposite side of said row of pins.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention as set forth in claim 6 wherein each of said actuators includes a solenoid, and a link pivotally mounted intermediate the ends thereof and extending between said solenoid on the one of said pins actuated by said solenoid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention as set forth in claim 8 including spring means for biasing each of said pins away from said sheet, said bias being overcome by said solenoid when actuated to advance said pin into embossing relationship with the sheet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention as set forth in claim 9 wherein said solenoids are disposed in rows parallel to said row of pins and on opposite sides of said row of pins, and wherein said links extend perpendicularly to said row of pins.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
105 words
The invention as set forth in claim 10 wherein said rows of solenoids are offset at different distances form said row of pins, said links being of different length corresponding to the distance between their respective solenoids and the pins actuated thereby, and a plurality of members each defining a fulcrum on which said links are separately pivotally mounted, said fulcrum members being disposed in rows parallel to said row of pins and offset from said pin rows by different distances in accordance with the lengths of the links pivoted thereon whereby said links have substantially equal travel paths when actuated by their respective solenoids.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
63 words
The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein said advancing means comprises a pin tractor mechanism adapted to engage holes disposed along the edge of said sheet, and an electromagnetic actuator for providing stepwise movement of said pin tractor mechanism for electively feedng said sheet a distance corresponding to the separation of one or a plurality of braille character code element lines.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
74 words
The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein said operating means comprises means for receiving code signals representing successive characters, means having storage for a plurality of said characters which are adapted to constitute a line of braille characters, and means for reading out said storage means a plurality of times, each time to read out simultaneously all of the signals corresponding to the collinearly disposed elements in said line of braille characters.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
110 words
The invention as set forth in claim 13 wherein said storage means comprises a plurality of registers each for a successive one of said braille characters, each of said registers having a plurality of stages which provide storage for code signals correponding to different ones of the code elements of said braille characters, and means for successively reading out of said registers the different pairs of said code signals, each of said pairs corresponding to a collinearly disposed pair of code elements of a braille character whereby the collinearly disposed code elements in each line of element constituting a line of braille elements are presented for operating said embossing means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
85 words
The invention as set forth in claim 14 wherein said embossing means comprises a separate pair of pins for embossing each of said pairs of code elements, said pins being disposed in a row extending across the sheet, and electromagnetic means for actuating said pins into embossing relationship with said sheet, saiD operating means further comprising means responsive to each of said different pairs of code signals read out of said registers for operating said actuating means for each of said separate pairs of pins.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The invention as set forth in claim 15 including means for feeding said sheet upon each read-out of said pairs of code signals and the embossing of line of said braille code character elements in response thereto.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
61 words
The invention as set foth in claim 16 including means for operating said feeding means for feeding said sheet a distance greater than the distance said sheet is fed after read-out of a line of said braille code character elements when a plurality of said pairs of said code signals constituting an entire braille character are read out of said registers.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
81 words
The invention as set forth in claim 14 wherein said register read-out means comprises means for simultaneously reading the code signals stored in two of the stages of said registers, and means for shifting said code signals through said register stages a plurality of times, each such shifting providing a successive pair of said code signals for read-out, and means responsive to said shifting means for operating said embossing means in response to each of said successive pairs of code signals.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention as set forth in claim 18 further comprising means included in said receiving means for converting said code signals representing each of said characters into braille character code signals, and means for entering said braille character code signals serially into said registers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
145 words
The invention as set forth in claim 19 wherin said registers comprise a plurality of groups of registers each having storage for a plurality of said braille character code signals equal in number to the number of said braille characters adapted to be embossed in each of said lines of braille characters, and means operative when the one of said registers in one of said plurality of groups which has storage for the braille character to be embossed at the beginning of the line is full for operating said reading out means for reading out said full register in said one register group while enabling another of said plurality of register groups to receive additional braille character code signals whereby successive lines of said braille characters corresponding to braille character code signals stored in differnt ones of said register groups are embossed on said sheet.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-28 | 1978-10-28 | 1979-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-28 | 1982-10-28 | 1983-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-28 | 1986-10-28 | 1987-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |