Improvements in Devices to Facilitate the Reading of Copy.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 4th Mar., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices to Facilitate the Reading of Copy.
I, JOHN JOSEPH HILL, of 1970 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois, United
States of America, Mining Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved device for rendering the more convenient,
particularly, the work of the copyist in copying from manuscript, printed or other
such matter.
To facilitate the operation of copying, it is usual to support the copy in an
upright position of proper inclination to bring the matter into convenient visual
range and thus avoid the inconvenience that would ensue to the reader of the copy
were the copy to rest flat on the table or other surface upon which it is supported.
It is common for typewriters to use frames, affording copy-rests, for the purpose
referred to; and it is also common to employ line-indicating means with or without
such rests, to supplant the requirements for the exercise of the great care and
attention that would otherwise be required to be exercised to avoid skipping lines
of the copy in the copying operation.
My object is to provide a simple and inexpensive device which shall supplant the
copy-rest by being adapted, by reflection, to bring the copy, in any convenient
position, (thus including the position of resting flatwise on a horizontal surface) one
or more lines at a time, into any convenient visual angle with relation to the
reader or copyist. Besides, my improved device may afford, at the same time, a
line-indicator of especial advantage. My further object is to provide the device
with a suitable feed, for use, particularly, when the copy is in the form of one or
more sheets, to enable the latter to be fed through the device in copying to suit the
convenience of the copyist with regard to the lines.
My improvement is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which
Figure 1 is a broken perspective view of the device.
Figure 2 is a cross section of the same taken at the line 2 on Figure 1 and
viewed in the direction of the arrow.
Figure 3 is a view of the device in end elevation showing a modification of
the feed.
Figure 4 is a cross sectional view like that presented in Figure 2, but showing
another modification of the feed.
Figure 5 is a broken bottom plan view of the device.
Generally stated, my improved device comprises a suitable frame supporting two
reflectors (which may be ordinary mirrors, or magnifying or diminishing ones)
arranged in such position with relation to each other in the frame and with one in
such relation to the open base or side, that the reading matter of the copy will be
reflected, in inverted condition on the one mirror, which will again reflect it in
right position to the desired angle of convenient vision of the reader of the copy.
Following is a description of the best construction, as to details, so far as I have
been able to ascertain, for my improved device:
A is a frame composed of the end-pieces r, r, shown in the form of shoes and
affording bearings for the ends of strips p and p¹ carrying reflectors or mirrors B
and B. The rear strip p, at least, should, for purposes of the relative adjustment
of the reflectors and that of the reflector B with the open base between the strips,
be pivotally supported; and I form the strips preferably of sheet metal with their
edges bent over those of the reflectors, to retain them bent with the ends of each,
if both are pivotal (as they may be) or of the one p if the other be immovable,
open, to permit the reflector it contains to be conveniently inserted and withdrawn

page_text: lengthwise, as, say, in substituting a magnifying reflector for a mere mirror.
C is
a base on which the frame A is supported, preferably by hinging it at one side, as
at the heel-portions of the shoe-shaped end pieces r, whereby it may be raised and
lowered in adjusting the copy in place on the feed hereinafter described.
The feed illustrate for my purpose is a friction roller D journaled at opposite
ends in the base C (and which roller may be of wood or other suitable material
covered, or not, with rubber) and protruding above the plane of the top of the base
through a longitudinal opening o therein; a roller D', journaled in the ends of
the reflector-frame A co-operates with the feed-roller D, which is provided with a
handle for turning it, shown in Figure 1 as a milled wheel E, and which is housed
in an extension C of the base C and protrudes at a portion of its periphery through
an opening in the extension. To increase the resistance to turning the roller D
I may provide a friction-plate or spring n to bear against one of its journals.
To adjust the copy, the hinged frame A (which may have a spring m on its
hinge-rod to tend to lower it) is raised and the copy placed between the rollers D
and D'; and the weight of the hinged frame is sufficient to hold the paper between
the rollers, whereby it may be fed in either direction by turning the wheel E to
actuate the feed-roller.
In Figure 3 I show the wheel E as a ratchet and a spring lever E¹ supported on
the adjacent end of the base C and carrying a pivotal spring-controlled dog E²
engaging the teeth of the ratchet whereby pressure on the end of the lever turns
the wheel, the extent of the turning by each stroke of the lever being regulated
by an adjustable stop 1, shown as a screw in a bearing under the free end of
the lever.
The modification in Figure 4 differs from that presented in Figure 3, in having
a lever E extending under, instead of over, the center of the ratchet E, with its
dog engaging the teeth from the rear side; and the lever is under the top of
the base-extension C with a key E³ extending upward through it.
To apply my improvement the device may be used as follows with copy of a
kind (such as a book) not adapted to be fed through the apparatus:
The copy may rest, and is preferably intended to rest, flatwise upon a horizontal
surface, such as the horizontal top of a table or desk. The device rests at its base
upon the copy and the reflector B is turned to such an angle with relation to a
given line (or more than one line) of the copy as to reflect it, through the open
base upon the reflector B', the adjusted position of which is such as to again reflect
the reflected matter to an angle convenient to the vision of the user. By moving
the device from line to line, or from covering a series of lines to covering another
series thereof, it serves as a line-indicator as well as a reflector.
The operation of my improvement for use with copy of a kind (as loose sheets)
adapted to be fed through the device will be understood to be the following:
The frame A being raised on its hinge, the copy is adjusted to extend across the
base C and roller D when the hinged frame is lowered upon the copy with the
roller bearing against it with the weight and spring-resistance of the frame.
The reflector B is adjusted in the manner herein before described. By turning the
roller D from time to time at its handle, the copy may be fed to bring succeeding
lines into desired position in the device to be reflected into the angle of vision of
the user; and, as will be seen, the device thus serves as a line-indicator as well
a reflector. The wheel E shown in Figure 1, without the lever and dog
attachment, and which affords the simplest form of handle for actuating the
roller D, permits feeding of the copy in either direction (thus reversal of the feed,
a function which is obviously desirable); while the other forms of handle, with
the lever and dog attachments, permit feeding in only one direction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a device for facilitating the reading of copy, the combination with a

page_text: suitable frame having an open base and adapted to rest at its base on the copy, of
a pair of reflectors occupying relative positions the one to reflect the copy upon
the other and the latter to again reflect the reflection into the angle of vision of
the user, substantially as described.
2. In a device for facilitating the reading of copy, the combination with a
suitable frame having an open base and adapted to rest at its base on the copy, of
a pair of reflectors adjustable relatively into positions to cause the one to reflect
the copy, through the open base, upon the other and the latter to again reflect the
reflection into the desired angle of vision of the user, substantially as described.
3. A. device for facilitating the reading of copy, comprising, in combination, a
frame A. formed with end-pieces and hinged to a base C and reflectors Band B'
supported on the end-pieces, substantially as described.
4. A device for facilitating the reading of copy, comprising, in combination, a
frame A formed with end-pieces carrying strips p and pl, reflectors B and B
fastened on the strips, and a base C on which the frame is hinged, substantially as
described.
5. In a device for facilitating the reading of copy, the combination of a frame
having an open base through which to expose the copy, a pair of reflectors in the
frame, occupying relative positions the one to reflect the copy upon the other and
the latter to again reflect the reflection into the angle of vision of the user, and a
feed for the copy, substantially as described.
6. In a device for facilitating the reading of copy, the combination of a
frame having an open base through which to expose the copy, a pair of reflectors
in the frame, occupying relative positions the one to reflect the copy upon the
other and the latter to again reflect the reflection into the angle of vision of the
user, a base on which the said frame is supported, a feed-roller on said base having
a suitable handle for turning it, and a bearing-roller in the frame to co-operate
with the feed-roller, substantially as described.
Dated this 17th day of January 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.