Abstract:
An apparatus is disclosed for automating the insertion of spherically and non-spherically shaped members on an architectural sign face into pre-drilled holes in the sign corresponding to the pattern of Braille letters designed to be formed in the sign. A device is disclosed for holding a reservoir of spherically or non-spherically shaped members, delivering the members from the reservoir pan to a spindle and hammer assembly whereby the member is forcibly inserted into the pre-drilled hole on the sign face by the spindle and hammer in an arrangement desired for accurately duplicating Braille letters.

Description:
DESCRIPTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for automatically feeding and inserting members, both spherical and non-spherical, such as ball bearings and elongated members with a rounded tip, respectively, into pre-drilled holes to form Braille letters on architectural and other signs.  
         BACKGROUND ART  
         [0002]    Signs in buildings that direct people from place to place or identify locations sometimes have a message both in print, to be read by sighted people, and in Braille to be read by blind people. There has been a general trend toward putting Braille on signs, but this trend has been greatly accelerated because of federal legislation requiring that Braille be placed on architectural signs, both new and old.  
           [0003]    There is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,245,744 and 5,403,189 a method and apparatus for placing spherically shaped members into holes on sign faces to form Braille letters. Those patents, however, required manually inserting each member into a hole, which was both time consuming, labor intensive and inefficient. The present invention automates that process, thereby allowing for increased productivity and savings of both time and labor cost.  
           [0004]    Accordingly, there is a need for an apparatus for applying Braille to a sign face that overcomes the aforementioned problems.  
         DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    The present invention relates to an apparatus for automatically feeding and inserting members, both spherical and non-spherical, into pre-drilled holes thereby creating Braille letters or cells on an architectural or other sign face.  
           [0006]    A device is disclosed for storing and automatically feeding and inserting spherically and non-spherically shaped members or the like into pre-drilled holes formed in a sign face, whereby Braille letters are formed in the sign face.  
           [0007]    An object of the present invention is to provide an improved apparatus for placing Braille letters on an architectural sign face.  
           [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for placing Braille letters on an architectural sign face which is inexpensive and which is simple to use.  
           [0009]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for economically, easily, quickly and dependably inserting spherically and non-spherically shaped members or the like into holes in a sign face for making Braille signs.  
           [0010]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide a simple, automatic and dependable apparatus for inserting spherically and non-spherically shaped members into the holes formed in the sign face by the aforementioned apparatus.  
           [0011]    Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a side view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1, excluding the hammer assembly;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a front view of the body and reservoir pan of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS AND BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION  
       [0015]    Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows an apparatus constructed in accordance with the present invention for automatically feeding and inserting spherically and non-spherically shaped members or the like into pre-drilled holes in a sign face in a pattern corresponding to Braille letters to produce a sign face with Braille lettering in addition to the normal printed lettering.  
         [0016]    The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 includes a body  1  having a bottom surface  2 , an upper portion  3 , said upper portion  3  having a vertical front face  4 , a middle portion  5  having a diagonal front face  6 , and a lower portion  7  extending outward from the middle portion  5  and having a lower portion top side  8 , an outer vertical front face  9  and an inner vertical front face  10  indented from the outer vertical front face  9 . The body  1  can be constructed as a single machined piece of material, or as two halves, machined to its particular specifications and attached together with screws or the like.  
         [0017]    Still referring to FIG. 1, the body  1  further comprises a top  11 , a front top edge  12  and a back top edge  13 , the top  11  being angled slightly downwards from the back top edge  13  to the front top edge  12 , the preferred embodiment having the upper portion  3  extend down for a length of approximately 0.482 inches, the middle portion  5  extending down diagonally approximately 0.4106 inches and the lower portion  7  extending down approximately 0.4134 inches. Of course, those approximate lengths can be more or less, and can vary according to the size of the apparatus desired.  
         [0018]    Referring now to FIG. 2, a tubular delivery means  14  is situated within the body  1 , either through boring or machining to achieve a pathway in which the spherically and non-spherically shaped members will travel through the body  1 . The tubular delivery means  14  has an upper opening  15  in the top  11  of the body  1  near the front top edge  12  and a lower opening  16  extending into the lower portion  7  of the body  1 . The preferred embodiment of the tubular delivery means  14  is to have the tubular delivery means  14  situated within the body  1  parallel to the vertical front face  4  of the upper portion  3  for approximately the length of the upper portion  3  and then bending at an angle to be parallel to the diagonal front face  6  of the middle portion  5  of the body  1  and continuing straight at that same angle into the lower portion  7 . A circular bore  17  is made in the lower portion  7 , extending vertically from the lower portion top side  8  through the entire lower portion  7 .  
         [0019]    Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a spindle assembly  18  is mounted within and fixedly attached to the circular bore  17  within the lower portion  7  of the body  1 , preferably with a screw or a plurality of screws, although other attaching means may also be used. The spindle assembly  18 , is comprised of a cylindrical spindle  19  with an outer spindle surface  20 , a spindle top  21 , and a spindle bottom  22 . The spindle bottom  22  is comprised of a cutout portion  23  and an annular notched portion  24 , situated immediately below the cutout portion  23  and extending slightly below the bottom surface  2  of the body  1 . The cutout portion  23  is comprised of a cutout portion top  25  and a cutout portion front face  26 , whereby the cutout portion front face  26  is flush with the inner vertical front face  10  of the lower portion  7  of the body  1 . The preferred embodiment would have the annular notched portion  24  approximately 0.05 inches long with a resulting diameter of approximately 0.127 inches, however, these specifications may vary depending once again on the overall size of the apparatus desired. A first cylindrical bore  27  is disclosed through the center of the spindle assembly  18  and extends from the spindle top  21  to a point approximately two-thirds the length of the spindle assembly  18 , the first cylindrical bore  27  having a circumference  28 , a top aperture  29  and a bottom portion  30 . The preferred embodiment of the first cylindrical bore  27  would disclose a diameter of 0.1560 inches, although that diameter may vary depending upon the desired size of the apparatus. A second cylindrical bore  31  extends from the bottom portion  30  of the first cylindrical bore  27  to the spindle bottom  22 . The preferred embodiment of the second cylindrical bore  31  would disclose a diameter of approximately 0.067 inches, although that diameter may vary depending upon the desired size of the apparatus. The preferred embodiment of the cutout portion  23  of the spindle bottom  22  would disclose that the cutout portion  23  extends inward approximately 0.1005 inches, thereby forming the cutout portion top  25 , and extends upward from the spindle bottom  22  approximately 0.2134 inches, thereby forming the cutout portion front face  26 . Again, depending upon the desired size of the apparatus, these measurements may vary. A third cylindrical bore  32  is disclosed opposite the cutout portion  23  of the spindle bottom  22  and extending upwards from the second cylindrical bore  31  at an approximate 45-degree angle through to the outer spindle surface  20 .  
         [0020]    Referring now to FIG. 1, fixedly attached to the top  11  of the body  1  is a reservoir pan  33  that holds a plurality of spherically or non-spherically shaped members such as ball bearing members or the like. The spherically and non-spherically shaped members would preferably be made out of acrylic, however, other materials would work equally as well. FIG. 1 shows the components of the reservoir pan  33 . A reservoir pan bottom  34 , a reservoir pan front end  35 , a reservoir pan back end  36 , a plurality of reservoir pan sides  37 , and a reservoir pan cover  38  hingedly attached to the reservoir pan  33  are disclosed.  
         [0021]    Referring to FIG. 2, the reservoir pan bottom  34  has a hole  39  of sufficient diameter to allow the travel of the spherically or non-spherically shaped members from the reservoir pan  33  to the tubular delivery means  14 , the hole  39  being located such that it aligns with the tubular delivery means  14  of the body  1 . The reservoir pan  33  is attached to the top  11  of the body  1  whereby the hole  39  in the reservoir pan bottom  34  aligns with the upper opening  15  of the tubular delivery means  14  in the body  1 .  
         [0022]    The preferred embodiment of the reservoir pan  33  discloses a syncline bottom  40 , as shown in FIG. 3 with the lower portion of the syncline running along the midline of the reservoir pan bottom  34  from the reservoir pan back end  36  to the reservoir pan front end  35 . Accordingly, the preferred embodiment of the shape of the body top  11  is syncline as well, to allow for a firm attachment between the body  1  and the reservoir pan  33 .  
         [0023]    Referring now to FIG. 2 a cap  41  with an attaching means is disclosed, whereby the attaching means can attach to computerized routing or engraving equipment. A main pin  42  having a pin top  43 , a pin upper portion  44  of a sufficient diameter to slide within the first cylindrical bore  27 , and a pin lower portion  45  of a sufficient diameter to slide within the second cylindrical bore  31  is disclosed and is slidable within the spindle assembly  18 . The pin top  43  is fixedly attached to the cap  41 , thereby moving up and down in concert with the movement of the computerized routing or engraving equipment.  
         [0024]    Referring still to FIG. 2 a barrel assembly  46  is fixedly attached to the cap  41  whereby the barrel assembly  46  is slidably connected to and disposed around the spindle assembly  18 , thus allowing the barrel assembly  46  to freely move within a predetermined range up and down about the spindle assembly  18 . The predetermined range can be controlled by various means, such as that shown in the preferred embodiment. The preferred embodiment discloses a slot or plurality of slots in the barrel assembly  46 , within which a screw or pin or the like that is fixedly attached to the spindle assembly  18  can slide.  
         [0025]    A barrel spring  47  is disposed around the barrel assembly  46  between the cap  41  and the lower portion  7  of the body  1 , thereby acting as a compression spring to cause the main pin  42  to move upwards in the spindle assembly  18 , as shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0026]    Referring to FIG. 1 a hammer assembly  48 , comprising a hammer cocking pin  49  fixedly attached to the cap  41 , a hammer spring rod  50  comprising a first end  51 , a middle  52  and a second end  53 . A hammer  54  fixedly attached to the middle  52  of the hammer spring rod  50 , and a hammer mount  55  fixedly attached to the second end  53  of the hammer spring rod  50  and fixedly attached to the reservoir pan  33  are also disclosed. A hammer trigger  56  fixedly attached to the vertical front face  4  of the upper portion  3  of the body  1  is disclosed, whereby the hammer cocking pin  49  pushes the hammer spring rod  50  past the hammer trigger  56 , thereby cocking the hammer  54  and causing its release, whereby the hammer  54  strikes the reservoir pan bottom  34  causing the spherically or non-spherically shaped members to be moved by vibration resulting from the striking of the hammer  54  on the reservoir pan bottom  34 .  
         [0027]    Referring now to FIG. 3, the hammer trigger  56  is shown as attached to the vertical front face  4  of the upper portion  3  of the body  1 . A toe clip  57  is also disclosed. The toe clip  57  is adjustably attached to the inner vertical front face  10  of the lower portion  7  of the body  1  with a spring screw or another such adjustable attaching means.  
         [0028]    In operation, in order to practice the invention:  
         [0029]    The apparatus operates in concert with the routing or engraving equipment. As the router or engraving equipment is programmed to move up or down, the spherically or non-spherically shaped members held in the reservoir pan  33  sequentially drop into the hole  39  in the reservoir pan bottom  34  and travel down the tubular delivery means  14 , the downward motion aided by gravity, and each spherically or non-spherically shaped member then continues to travel through the tubular delivery means  14  at which time the spherically or non-spherically shaped member enters the third cylindrical bore  32  and continues down the third cylindrical bore  32  and enters the second cylindrical bore  31 , at which time the spherically or non-spherically shaped member is stopped by contacting the toe clip  57 . The continued downward movement of the routing or engraving equipment to which the apparatus is attached causes the body  1  to contact the sign face, thereby compressing the barrel spring  47  which pushes the barrel assembly  46  along with the cap  41  and the main pin  42  down, whereby the spherically or non-spherically shaped member, being held by the toe clip  57 , is then pressed into the hole on the sign face by the main pin  42  as the apparatus continues its downward movement. The continued downward movement causes the main pin  42  to push the member free of the toe clip  57  and into the pre-drilled hole. The main pin  42  then acts as a valve to prevent the next or subsequent member from entering the second cylindrical bore  31 .  
         [0030]    Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the present invention does indeed accomplish the aforementioned objects. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.