DRAFTING APPARATUS

Abstract: A drafting apparatus having a substrate or working surface preferably in the form of a tensioned belt (11), support means for supporting the substrate which is preferably in the form of a support base (13) and actuating means for actuating movement of the substrate. The actuating means is preferably a pair of actuating rollers (14) driven by an electrical motor (15). Suitably the tensioned belt (11) has slots (17) which engage or mesh with cogs or teeth (16) on the external surface of each actuating roller (14).

Description: DRAFTING APPARATUS This invention relates to an improved drafting apparatus suitable for commercial or amateur draftsmen. Hitherto conventional drafting apparatus have comprised a fixed substrate on which was supported a sheet of paper or other material on which a drawing was to be done by a draftsman seated before the fixed substrate. Usually the fixed substrate comprised a board or easel supported by an appropriate support frame. If desired the board could be tilted relative to the support frame and thus it could be pivoted from an orientation approximating a horizontal plane to an orientation approximating a vertical plane. While a conventional drafting apparatus has proved satisfactory in most respects it nevertheless must be appreciated that when the drafting board remained in a horizontal plane the draftsman was often required to lean over the drafting board in an uncomfortable and impractical position. If the draftsman was required to spend a relative¬ ly long period of time at the drafting board then often he would become tired or fatigued and this would adversely affect the quality of his work. Other problems with conventional drafting boards were that access to the top part of the drawing sheet was difficult in a seated position especially if a drawing of an intricate nature was required. Also having a drawing sheet attached to a fixed substrate did not provide efficient working conditions for the draftsman because he did not have maximum room for manouvrability in relation to concentrating o different portions of the drawing sheet. it is therefore an object of the invention to provide drafting apparatus which alleviates the above mentioned difficulties associated with the prior art. The drafting apparatus of the invention includes a substrate or working surface, support means for supporting said substrate which is movable relative thereto, and - Tf E OMPI actuating means for actuating movement of said substrate, In one form the movable substrate may comprise a flexible sheet which may be supported by rollers at the top and bottom thereof * One roller may comprise an idler roller and the other an actuating roller which may be moved manually, mechanically or driven by appropriate drive means. More preferably, however, the movable substrate is in the form of a continuous tensioned belt and is supported on an appropriate support base. The belt and 0 support base may be located in a horizontal plane and if desired the belt and support base may be tilted if required. The belt may be moved relative to the support base manually by rotation of a support roller located at one end of the base. This movement may be achieved manually such as by the 5 support roller having an actuating handle. Alternatively a mechanical actuating means may be provided. Most preferably, however, a drive means such as an electric motor is provided having an output shaft directly attached to an axle of the support roller. 0 in a particularly preferred form of the invention the drive means includes a pair of rotatable support rollers located at one end of the support base. Each roller may have interposed therebetween an electric motor which is directly connected to each support roller. 5 Reference will now be made to a preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in the attached drawings, wherein: FIG 1 is a perspective view of drafting apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention; FIG 2 is a schematic view showing the drive means Q for driving the actuating rollers in the apparatus shown in FIG 1; and FIG 3 is a perspective view of a modified form of drafting apparatus which is different to that shown in FIG 1. The drafting apparatus 10 includes a movable substr- 5 ate in the from of a continuous tensioned belt 11 having a drawing sheet 12 attached thereto as shown. The belt 11 is supported on a fixed base 13 which may be in the form of a rigid panel, board or frame. Suitably base 13 is rectangular in shape. Belt 11 may be supported by a pair of actuating rollers 14 at one end of the base 13. Each roller may be directly attached by shafts 12a to an electric motor 15 shown in FIG 2. Shafts 12a may be directly connected to the axles of rollers 14 in any suitable manner. Each roller is provided with a plurality of teeth 16 which engage in geared or meshed relationship with a plural¬ ity of slots 17 located on belt 11 at each side thereof of complementary shape to teeth 16. This provides a positive means of actuating movement of belt 11 relative to base 13. There is also shown side panels 18 for attachment to base 13 and curved end members 19 for attachment or location adjacent to the front and rear of base 13. There is also shown chair 20 on which the draftsman may sit and treadle or foot pedal 21 electrically connected to electric motor 15 by cord 21a. Treadle 21 may comprise an operating switch for motor 15. In a variation of the above mentioned embodiment an actuator button (not shown) may be provided mounted on end panel 19 instead of treadle 21. In FIG 3 another variation is shown wherein belt Ua is translucent or transparent and there is provided a window 22 on the top surface of base 13. Base 13 in this embodiment may be hollow and include a light source (not shown) which may illuminate window 22 when required. In operation a draftsman may sit on chair 20 and by operation of treadle 21 may through the action of rollers 14, teeth 16 and slots 17, effect movement of the belt 11 or 11a as described above toward and/or away from him as required. This enables him to draw on sheet 12 with minimum discomfort as he may then draw on the nearest part of sheet 12 without stretching or leaning. O PI In yet another variation, instead of using drawing sheet 12, the draftsman may draw directly on belt 11 which in this embodiment is of a s-uitable material to facilitate removal of the drawing if required. In this aspect of the invention the belt 11 may have a shiny or laminated surface whereby the drawing may be removed by a cloth in a rubbing motion on belt 11. In FIG 3 the draftsman may operate directly on belt 11a especially when the drawing area is illuminated by a light source shining through window 22. Appropriate tensioning means (not shown) may be used to tension belts 11 and 11a when required.

Claims: WE CLAIM; 1. Drafting apparatus including: a substrate or working surface, support means for supporting said substrate which is ^ movable relative to the support means; and actuating means for actuating movement of said sub¬ strate. 2. Drafting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the substrate is a continuous flexible belt supported on a support base wherein said belt is movable relative to the support base. 3. Drafting apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the continuous belt is supported at one end of the support base by an actuating roller wherein rotation of said roller causes movement of said belt. 4. Drafting apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the continuous belt is supported at one end of the support base by a pair of actuating rollers interconnected by drive means. 5. Drafting apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein there is provided gear means interconnecting the con¬ tinuous belt and said support roller or rollers. 6. Drafing apparatus as claimed in claim 5 wherein the gear means comprises a plurality of teeth located on said support roller or rollers which engage with slots located in each longitudinal edge portion of the continuous belt. 7. Drafting apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein said drive means is an electric motor and an operating treadle or foot pedal is provided connected to said motor to effect movement of said continuous belt. 8. Drafting apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said support base includes a window in a top surface thereof permitting illimination of the continuous belt by a light »' source located in said support base wherein said continuous belt is formed from translucent or transparent material.

Inventors: GOODWIN JOHN CHARLES, GOODWIN, JOHN, CHARLES
Applicants: GOODWIN JOHN CHARLES, GOODWIN, JOHN, CHARLES
Application year: 1982
Main classification: B43L5
IPC codes: B42D19, B43L5