Overhead type file sheet projectors, and file sheets and jacket holders for use in such projectors

Abstract: An overhead type file sheet projector (1) is disclosed, which comprises a projector body with a cover provided at an upper face opening thereof, a light source and a projecting condenser (2) lens placed in the projector body, a support arm (6) extending from one side of the projector body to above said projecting condenser lens, a reflecting mirror (4) and a projecting lens (5) system held by the support arm, a stage (8) movably fitted to guide rails provided at opposite sides of an upper portion of the projector body, and guide members (9) provided on the stage. The guide members are adapted to allow movement of the file sheet (15) in a direction orthogonal to the guide rails. A file sheet and a jacket holder for use in such an overhead type file sheet projector are also disclosed. The file sheet and the jacket holder are characterized in that pitch movement cuts (16) are formed at at least one edge of the file sheet body or the jacket holder body. The pitch movement cuts are formed such that the pitch movement cuts may be engaged with a file sheet pitch movement fitting member formed on a stage movably placed on an upper portion of the projector body in a given direction.

Description: The present invention relates to overhead type file sheet projectors which can directly project slides in an enlarged scale in the state that they are held in a file sheet, file sheets and jacket holders for use in such overhead type file sheet projectors. As shown in Figs. 14 and 15, in a conventional overhead type file sheet projector, a lower stage 28 is movable to-and-fro by means of guide rails provided on opposite sides of a projector body at an upper portion thereof, and an upper stage 29 is fitted to guides 30 provided at front and rear upper end portions of the lower stage 28 in a direction orthogonal to the guide rails. The upper stage is slidably right and left supported by guide rollers 31. A file sheet 15 to which a number of color slides are preliminarily mounted is fitted to the upper stage 29, and the color slides are located and projected at a given position by moving the stage to-and-fro and right and left. However, in such a conventional projector, when a hard file sheet having a relatively great thickness is to be mounted on the upper stage, members for locating and holding the file sheet in place must be provided at four sides of the upper stage so that the file sheet may not slip. Therefore, since the file locating holders hinder fitting and detachment of the file sheet, smooth fitting and detachment could not be made. In particular, since the vertical length varies among file sheets, the file sheet having a shorter length needs to be pressed and fixed to one side by using a spring. Further, since the conventional projector is provided with two stages, its construction is complicated and operation of both the stages is troublesome. A further overhead projector for projecting slides mounted in a file sheet is disclosed in US-A-4133605 and meets the preamble of appended claim 1. It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems, and to provide an overhead type file sheet projector which makes attachment and detachment of a file easy and facilitates movement of the file to a desired location. It is another object of the present invention to provide a file sheet for use in such a projector. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a jacket holder for use in such a projector. In order to accomplish the above objects, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an overhead type projector for projecting slides mounted in a file sheet, said projector being in accordance with the characterising clause of the appended claim 1. Second and third aspects of the present invention are arranged to be suited for the projector according to the first aspect of the present invention. That is, if a conventional file sheet is to be fitted to the projector of the first aspect of the present invention, it is difficult to rapidly locate colour slides held by the file sheet at the projecting site. Namely, if the stage itself is moved on the projector body, the stage will be able to be moved at a specific pitch relative to the projector body through pitch grooves and a pitch roller corresponding to the size of frames of the file sheet. However, it is difficult to move the file sheet only on the stage at the pitch. In particular, according to the second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a file sheet for use in the overhead type slide projector of appended claim 1, said file sheet being in accordance with appended claim 5. According to the third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a jacket holder for use in the overhead type slide projector of appended claim 1, said jacket holder being in accordance with appended claim 6. By adopting the second or third aspect of the present invention, the file sheet can appropriately and rapidly be moved on the stage by a specific pitch distance. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 is an entirely perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view illustrating a use state of the first embodiment; Figs. 3A and 3B are a plan view and a front view of a stage, respectively; Fig. 4 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the stage in the present invention; Figs. 5A and 5B are a plan view and a side view of a third embodiment of the stage in the present invention, respectively; Figs. 6A and 6B are a plan view and a front view of a fourth embodiment of the stage in the present invention, respectively; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment according to the present invention; Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a use state of the fifth embodiment; Figs. 9A and 9B are a plan view and a IXb-IXb sectional view of a stage, respectively; Fig. 10 is a front view of a file sheet; Fig. 11 is a modification of Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a use state in which the file sheet in Fig. 10 is mounted on the projector; Figs. 13A and 13B are a plan view and a side view of a jacket holder, respectively; and Figs. 14 and 15 are a perspective view of a conventional projector and an exploded view of a part of the conventional projector, respectively. Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the first embodiment of the overhead type file sheet projector according to the present invention. Reference numerals 1, 2, 3 and 4 are a projector body, a projecting condenser lens, a translucent plate covering the upper face of the projector body 1, and a reflecting mirror, respectively. Reference numerals 5, 6, and 7 are a projecting lens system, a support arm extending from the rear side of the projector body 1 to above the projecting condenser lens 2, and an adjusting screw for the projecting lens system 5, respectively. A stage 8 is movable to-and-fro (in a Y-axis direction) of the projector body 1 by means of guide rails 11 provided on right and left upper sides of the projector body 1. A pair of guide plates 9 and 10 are provided at the upper face on front and rear sides of the stage in a direction (an X-axis direction) orthogonal to the Y-axis direction. A stage window 13 elongated in the Y-axis direction is provided at the center of the stage 8 such that light beams emitted from the light source through the projecting condenser lens 2 and required for projecting may not be interrupted by the stage even when the stage 8 moves in the Y-axis direction. A reference numeral 12 is a file sheet keep piece, which is vertically movably located at the center of each of the guide plates 9 and 10 as shown in Fig. 3. A file sheet is prevented from floating by downwardly pressing it with the hold pieces at side edge portion of the file sheet. Since the projector according to the present invention is constituted in this manner, as shown in Fig. 2, desired objects on the file sheet are projected in an enlarged scale by moving the file sheet 15 to-and-fro and right and left. That is, the file sheet 15 is placed on the upper face of the stage 8, while the upper and lower end portions are sandwiched between the guide plates 9 and 10 to prevent deviation, and the file sheet is prevented from being floated by vertically adjusting the file sheet hold piece 12. By moving the stage in the Y-axis direction, it is possible to select any arbitrary one of rows vertically arrayed in the file sheet 15. In order to select any one of laterally arranged frames in the thus selected one of the rows, the file sheet 15 may be moved by grasping an edge portion of the file sheet 15 and moving it in the X-axis direction. In this case, the file sheet 15 can easily be moved along opposed inner surfaces of the guide plates 9 and 10 without using the stage 8 or another stage movable in the X-axis direction. The stage 8 is moved in the Y-axis direction in such a manner that stage rails 14 provided on the lower side of the stage 8 slide along the guide rails 11 provided on the upper portion of the projector body 1 through slide rollers (not shown). In order that the stage 8 may be moved at a specific pitch corresponding to the size of each frame of the file sheet 15, pitch grooves are formed in either one of the projector body 1 and the inside of the stage 8, a pitch roller is provided on the other, and appropriate pitch movement of the file sheet 15 can be confirmed when the pitch roller is engaged with the pitch groove. Fig. 4 shows a stage as a second embodiment for the overhead type file sheet projector. In order to move the file sheet 15 on the stage 8 in the X-axis direction, a click stop roller 18 is provided in the center of one of the guide plates 9, instead of the file hold piece. The roller 18 is supported by a spring. Thereby, a file sheet 15 having cuts 16 formed at its end portion as shown in Figs. 10 and 11A and 11B can smoothly be moved in the X-axis direction at a specific pitch. Figs. 5A and 5B show another stage as a third embodiment for the overhead type file sheet projector, which is a modification of the second embodiment. The file holder comprises grooves 26 for receiving an edge portion 25 and a support member 28 (see Figs. 11A and 11B). Thereby, the jacket holder can smoothly be moved on the stage 8 in the X-axis direction at a specific pitch. Figs. 6A and 6B show a still another stage as a fourth embodiment of the overhead type file sheet projector, which modifies the first embodiment by providing two round discs 22 and 23 instead of the guide plates. By so constructing, the file sheet 15 can smoothly be moved in the X-axis direction through the minimum point contacts between the edges of the file sheet 15 and the round discs 22 and 23. In order to assure more smooth movement, the round discs 22 and 23 are designed as rotary members. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment of the overhead type file sheet projector, in which file sheet-handling recesses 19 and 20 are provided extending from opposite sides 21 of the stage 8 in the direction orthogonal to the file sheet-moving direction to near the stage window 13. This embodiment is contrived for the following reason. That is, when the file sheet fitted to the stage 8 is to be moved, an end face of the stage 8 hits upon a finger of a hand to make smooth movement of the file sheet difficult. Therefore, it is necessary that a side portion of the file sheet opposed to a projecting side portion in a moving direction is grasped and pulled by the other hand to some extent. Thus, the inconvenient necessity that the file must be moved by both hands is eliminated. By so doing, as shown in Fig. 8, when the file sheet 15 is moved in the X-axis direction by grasping an edge of the file sheet 15, the fingers are not hindered by the stage at all until the right test column of the slides in the file is located immediately below the projecting lens system 5. In this embodiment, since the file sheet-handling recesses 19 and 20 are provided on the right and left sides, the file sheet 15 can be moved by one hand only from either side. Figs. 9A and 9B are a plan view and a IXb-IXb sectional view of a stage, respectively. Needless to say, a file sheet-handling recess may be formed on either one of the sides of the stage. In this case, the file sheet is moved only in one direction. The file sheet-handling recess is effective when the stage 8 is moved in the Y-axis direction together with the stage 8. Fig. 10 shows an embodiment of the file sheet. Cuts 16 are formed at an edge portion of the file sheet corresponding to each of slide films. When the file sheet 15 is moved in the X-axis direction, the click stop roller 18 is engaged with the cut 16. Therefore, appropriate pitch movement of the file sheet can be realized. Reference numerals 17 and 32 are a slide film inserted into the file sheet 15 and a binding hole, respectively. A reference numeral 33 is a lug for holding a slide. Fig. 11 is a modification of Fig. 10, in which cuts 16 are formed on the opposite edge portion of the file sheet. The cuts 16 may be formed on either one of the edges of the file sheet depending upon the construction of the stage, and the kind of the file sheet. Further, in Figs. 10 and 11, the cuts are formed only in one edge portion of the file sheet. Such cuts 16 may be formed in the opposite edge portions of the file sheet to facilitate smooth pitch movement. Further, cuts 16 may be formed in more than two edge portions of the file sheet so that the file sheet may be suited for more than one kind of stages. Fig. 12 shows the use state in which the file sheet shown in Fig. 10 is mounted on a projector with the stage as shown in Figs. 5A and 5B. Figs. 13A and 13B show an embodiment of the jacket. The hard file sheet 15 as shown in Fig. 10 may be directly moved on the stage. If a film strip is to be projected in the state that it is inserted into the jacket 27, it is difficult to directly place and move the jacket 27 on the stage 8, because the entire assembly is thin and soft. For this reason, the soft jacket 27 is moved on the stage 8 in the stage that the jacket 27 is sandwiched by jacket holding members 24a and 24b as shown in Figs. 13A and 13B. A reference numeral 34 is a knob for opening or closing the jacket holder. It goes without saying that the jacket holding members 24a and 24b are constituted by a hard transparent material such as a glass plate so that no trouble may occur in the projection of the films in the jacket 27. The jacket holding members 24a and 24b can be moved by a specific pitch by forming a pitch movement cuts 16 at an edge 25 of each of the jacket holding members 24a and 24b, which cuts are to be engaged with "a jacket pitch movement fitting member" such as a click stop roller 18. A reference numeral 28 is a support for allowing the jacket to be opened in an arcuate fashion. Needless to say, the position of the cuts 16 is not limited to one in this embodiment. As mentioned above, according to the present invention, the number of parts which hinders locating of the file sheet onto the stage is reduced to make the attachment and detachment of the file sheet extremely easy. Further, the file sheet can be moved to-and-fro and right and left by using a single stage. Thus, the construction is simplified, and movement of the file sheet can be facilitated. Consequently, the projector can be less expensively produced. Further, when the file-handling recesses are formed in the stage, the file sheet can be moved to a desired location by a single hand without being hindered by the stage.

Claims: An overhead type slide projector for projecting slides mounted in a file sheet, the projector comprising a projector body (1), a light source and a projecting condenser lens (2) placed in the projector body, a support arm (6) extending from one side of the projector body to a position above said projecting condenser lens, a reflecting mirror (4) and a projecting lens system (5) held by the support arm (6), pitch movement fitting means (18) for accurately positioning the slides with respect to the optical axis, and a stage (8) for supporting the file sheet, characterised in that the stage (8) is movably mounted to guide rails provided at opposite sides of an upper portion of the projector body, and is movable only in the direction of the guide rails, and in that guide members (9, 10; 22, 23) are provided on the stage for guided movement of the file sheet in a direction orthogonal to the guide rails. An overhead type slide projector according to claim 1, characterised in that said guide members comprise planar members (9, 10) arranged for location at opposite edges of the file sheet. An overhead type slide projector according to claim 1, characterised in that said guide members comprise a plurality of round discs (22, 23) arranged for location at opposite edges of the file sheet. An overhead type slide projector according to claim 1, characterised in that a file sheet-handling recess (19, 20) is formed at a portion of the stage on at least one of sides thereof orthogonal to the moving direction of the file sheet, said file sheet-handling recess extending from said at least one of sides to a given location spaced therefrom in said moving direction of the file sheet. A file sheet (15) for use in an overhead type slide projector according to claim 1, said file sheet comprising a file sheet body being adapted to detachably mount a plurality of slide frames in spaced, coplanar relation therein, and pitch movement cuts (16) spaced apart at distances according to the slide frames and adapted to fit into a file sheet pitch movement fitting member provided on the stage of the projector, characterised in that the pitch movement cuts (16) are of notch like shape and formed at at least one edge of the file sheet body. A jacket holder (27) for use in an overhead type slide projector according to claim 1, said jacket holder comprising a jacket holder body (24A, 24B) comprising jackets (27) for holding film strips in spaced, coplanar relation therein, and pitch movement cuts (16) on the body spaced apart at distances according to the jackets and adapted to fit into a pitch movement fitting member provided on the stage of the projector, characterised in that said pitch movement cuts (16) are of a notch like shape and formed at at least one edge of the jacket holder body.

Inventors: OZEKI JIRO, OZEKI, JIRO
Applicants: SLIDEX CORP, SLIDEX CORPORATION
Application year: 1989
Main classification: G03B21
IPC codes: G03B21