Improvements in Devices to Remove Books from Shelves.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Devices to Remove Books from Shelves.
..
I, JOHN WOOD, of Hillsborough Cottage, Quakers' Hall, Sevenoaks, Builder, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in devices to remove books from shelves
and my invention consists in the combination of parts, constructed and, acting
substantially as hereinafter discribed..
.:
In carrying out my invention I employ a vertical rod of suitable dimensions to
the upper end of which I attach a pair of jaws which jaws are capable of any
desired amount of vertical movement and are also capable of being opened to any
desired necessary extent said jaws when being opened moving preferably parallel
to each other and said jaws may be operated by any suitable means such as a spring
chain rack or, eccentrics.
The vertical rod referred to is also provided with a shelf which is capable-by
means of a pawl and rack or otherwise of being set at any desired height so as to
support the heavier books when gripped between the jaws. The extreme top end
of the vertical rod may also be provided with a hook, finger or other device so as
to steady the rod while being used.,
onl 1
100
:
Improvements in Devices to Remove Books from Shelves.
I, JOHN WOOD, of Hillsborough Cottage, Quakers' Hall, Sevenoaks, Builder, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained. in and by the following
statement:
.
1
This invention relates to improvements in devices to remove books or other
articles from shelves and my invention consists in a device constructed and operat-
ing substantially as hereinafter described.
In order that my invention may be readily understood reference is made to the
accompanying drawings wherein Fig. 1 represents my invention in side elevation
and Fig. 2 in plan view.
In carrying my invention into practice I employ a standard such as A of suit-
able dimensions, to the upper end of which standard I attach a rod or equivalent B
D....031

page_text: which rod carries in any suitable manner two slides such as C, which are parallel
to each other and a sufficient distance apart. Each of the slides C is adapted to
receive a rack D said racks being adapted to be slid in or out of the slides C, and
one slide C and one rack D are provided with jaws J, J¹ as shown the arrangement
being such that if the racks 1) be moved in the direction of the arrow the jaws J, J¹
will be moved apart or opened.
For the purpose of opening the jaws as described I provide toothed segments E
supported on a spindle e carried by brackets b. Said segments E which are in
engagement with the toothed racks D, are capable of being rotated by a lever F
carried on the spindle e to the free end of which lever or arm F I attach a wire
rod or equivalent G the arrangement being such that by pushing the wire rod G
upwards the arm F will be lifted and the toothed segment E rotated and the jaw J'
will be opened or moved away from the jaw J, but if the wire rod G be pulled down-
wards the jaws will be closed together.
The jaws J, J¹ are adapted to be inserted between books more or less closely
arranged say on a shelf, one jaw being placed on each side of the book to be
removed. The rod H is then pulled so that the jaws J, J¹ will grip the book
sufficiently to enable said book being lifted off the shelf.
In the event of the books on a shelf being so close together as not to readily
permit of the insertion of the jaws between them I push the arm F upward as
already described so that the hook or catch H which is hingedly attached at h is
brought to its highest position, which hook is adapted to engage with the back of
the book to enable said book being pulled out or tilted to a sufficient extent so that
the projecting part of the book may be gripped by the jaws J, J¹.
I also provide my improved device with rests K on which the heavier books may
partly rest whilst being removed and I prefer to cover the jaws and if desired
other parts of my improved device with leather or other suitable material to pre-
vent injury to the books and if desired the jaws J, JI may be corrugated.
I prefer also to so affix the mechanism on the top of the standard A that said
mechanism may be fastened so that the jaws open in a horizontal direction or that
the mechanism may be fastened so that the jaws open in a vertical direction as
indicated in dotted lines.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
-
1. A device consisting of two jaws adapted to be closed together or opened by
means of a toothed segment which is rotated by pulling or pushing a rod attached
to an arm, all for the purposes and substantially as set forth.
2. A device consisting in combination of a standard provided at its upper end
with movable jaws adapted to be opened and elosed for the purposes and sub-
stantially as set forth.
1 1
00
1 3
100
vember 10.
JOHN WOOD,
By his Agents, Horn, Son & Co.,
151, Strand (next to Somerset House), London.