GB2385559A

GB2385559A - Apparatus and method for forming a tactile image which can be read by a blind or partially sighted person

Info

Publication number: GB2385559A
Application number: GB0201238A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Steven Ward
Original assignee: SAYGROVE PRODUCT Manufacturing Ltd
Current assignee: SAYGROVE PRODUCT Manufacturing Ltd
Priority date: 2002-01-21
Filing date: 2002-01-21
Publication date: 2003-08-27
Also published as: GB0201238D0

Abstract

In apparatus for and a method of forming an image on a sheet of paper, an image printed on the sheet is subsequently processed to produce a tactile image which can be read by a blind or partially sighted person. The printed sheet is fed through processing means comprising a heater 25 and progress is controlled by electronic control means 5 which control a transfer device comprising endless belts 11 and a pair of rollers 16, 17 in dependence upon signals received from three optical sensors 26, 27 and 28.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR IMAGE FORMING The present invention relates to apparatus for and a method of forming an image on a substrate, particularly but not exclusively a tactile image which can be read by a blind or partially sighted person.

The formation of raised tactile images on paper is well known.

Printers are also known for printing images either in monochrome or colour on substrates under the control of a linked personal computer (p. c. ). These printer computer combinations are not capable of producing the aforesaid tactile image.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for producing a processed image on a substrate comprising a computer for storing data relating to the image to be produced, a printer for receiving data from the computer and for printing an image on the substrate and processor means for receiving the printed substrate from the printer and for processing the image on the substrate.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of producing a processed image on a substrate including the steps of loading data relating to an image into a computer, printing the image using the data so loaded on a printer and processing the printed image.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the processor means comprises a heater for heating a sheet of paper bearing a printed image to produce a corresponding raised tactile image for use by a blind or partially sighted person. Under the action of heat the ink reacts with the paper,

which is a swell paper, to produce the raised image. On entry to the processor means from the printer, the sheet of paper moves across a transfer device comprising one or more endless belts, preferably made of

(pro rubber, having tangs, preferably of nylon, welded to the surface thereof.

The tangs on the or each belt are spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the length of the transfer device to enable them to adopt a parked position in which they permit a sheet of paper to move onto the belt and a drive position in which they abut the trailing edge of a sheet of paper to push the sheet of paper into the processor means. Control electronics control the operation of the transfer device and heater in dependence upon signals received from one or more optical sensors, each comprising a transmitter and receiver, which track the progress of a sheet of paper through the processor. Advantageously, there are three optical sensors respectively disposed at the entrance to the transfer device, downstream of the exit from the transfer device and downstream of the exit from the heater. Between the heater and the latter optical sensor are disposed a pair of rollers which define a nip through which in operation the sheet of paper passes. One of these rollers is driven and the other is free running. The driven roller is driven through an endless chain from an electric motor. This chain and motor drive arrangement also drive the belt or belt of the transfer device through a drive sprocket. The other of the pair of rollers, which is free running, is spring loaded on a heat spring so that the nip between the two rollers is adjustable automatically to sheets of paper of differing thicknesses.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, one embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which :Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the elements of apparatus for producing a tactile image on a sheet of paper, and Figure 2 shows a side elevational view of a processor forming part of the apparatus of Figure 1.

Referring to Figure 1, the apparatus generally comprises a computer 1, a printer 2 connected to the computer 1, a processor 3 disposed at the exit from printer 2. The printer 2 may be an inkjet printer or a laser printer. Appropriate software is loaded on the computer 1 and a paper supply 4 is provided for the printer 2. The software may comprise appropriate images and fonts such as the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) font for Braille. Control electronics 5 control the operation of the processor 3.

Referring additionally to Figure 2, the processor 3 comprises a fabricated sheet metal plattern 10. Mounted on the plattern 10 are two rubber endless drive belts 11 (one only shown) disposed at opposite sides respectively of the plattern 10 and mounted on two paddle wheels 12.

Each drive belt 11 has two tangs 20 extending from the paper sheet contacting surface thereof and spaced a distance substantially equal to half the length of the endless belt 11. Each belt is supported on two paddle wheels 12 one of which is connected to be driven through a drive chain 13 and sprocket 14 arrangement. The drive chain 13 and sprocket

14 form part of a drive arrangement which also comprises an electric drive motor 14 and output sprocket 15, a guide roller 30 and a pair of juxtaposed drive rollers 16 and 17. Drive roller 16 has a drive sprocket 18 connected to it which in turn is drivably connected to the drive chain 13. Drive roller 17 is free running and resiliently mounted by means of a sprung blade 19. In this way a variable nip, which can adjust automatically in operation to different thicknesses of sheet, is defined between rollers.

The drive arrangement is mounted on a housing indicated generally by the reference numeral 21. The rear wall 22 of the housing is painted matt black, is curved and incorporates a cover 23 which is pivotally mounted on pivot 24 to pivot between open and closed positions (open position shown in dashed outline) to allow or close off access to the interior of the processor 3. Mounted on the housing 21 above the cover 23 is an electrical heater 25 in the form of a halogen lamp. Also mounted on the housing 21 are three optical sensors 26,27 and 28 each comprising a transmitter 26A, 27A, 28A and receiver 26B, 27B, 28B.

Operation of the processor is controlled by the control electronics in dependence upon signals received from the three optical sensors 26,27 and 28.

Having loaded the appropriate software on the computer (PC), the above described apparatus operates as follows. A sheet of swell paper is fed from a paper supply 4 to the inkject printer 2 and using proprietary printer software the computer is given the command to print. The data

for printing the desired image is transmitted to the printer buffer and the command given to feed the sheet through the printer 2 in the normal way.

The desired image which may be pictorial, text, Braille or moon text or a combination of these is printed on the sheet of paper using the usual inkjet cartridge. On exit from the printer 2 the sheet of swell paper now bearing the desired image is fed into the processor 3. As the sheet exits the printer 2 and enters the processor 3, the leading edge of the sheet is detected by the first optical sensor 26 as the sheet moves across the drive belts 11 and subsequently by optical sensor 27. When the trailing edge of the sheet is sensed by optical sensor 26 a signal from the sensor is sent to the control electronics which acts to switch on the motor 14 and also the heater 25. The motor 14 rotates and drives through drive chain 13 and belts 11. Tangs 20 at the trailing edge of the belts are brought round by the belts to abut the trailing edge of the sheet and push it forward through the processor. Optical sensor 27 senses the leading edge of the sheet. As the sheet is pushed by the tangs 20 the sheet is curved round the curved surface of the rear wall 22 and heated by the heater 25. The heater causes a reaction between the ink of the printed image and the paper raising the printed image on the paper sheet to produce a tactile image in the shape of the ink printed image and leaving the surrounding parts of the image virtually unchanged.

After passing through the heater 25, the paper sheet enters the nip defined between rollers 16 and 17. These rollers pull the printed sheet through the nip. The leading edge of the sheet is sensed by optical

sensor 28, and the associated control electronics 5 tracks the delay between the paper sheet entering and leaving the processor. If the delay is too great, the lamp switches off and alarms sound to indicate a paper jam. Once the paper sheet is pulled through by the rollers 16 and 17, pushing of the sheet by trangs 20 is no longer necessary. Sensors 27 and 28 monitor the trailing edge of the paper sheet to ensure correct processing. Once the trailing edge of the paper sheet is sensed by optical sensor 28, the heater 25 is switched off, and the belts 11 carrying the tangs 20 moved to a parked position (shown in Figure 2) with the tangs 20 extending at opposite ends respectively of the belts 11 ready for the next sheet of paper. On exit from the rollers 16 and 17 the printed sheet of paper is deposited in an output tray (not shown). The control electronics includes a power supply to the processor and printer which may be set at 110V or 240V and a 12V power supply to the motor. The processor fails safe if the cover 22 is opened or paper tray lifted by switching off the power supply to ensure operator safety.

It will be appreciated that the above embodiment has been described by way of example only and that many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Apparatus for producing a processed image on a substrate comprising a computer for storing data relating to the image to be produced, a printer for receiving data from the computer and for printing an image on the substrate and processor means for receiving the printed substrate from the printer and for processing the image on the substrate.
2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the processor means comprises a heater for heating a substrate bearing a printed image to produce a corresponding raised tactile image for use by a blind or partially sighted person.
3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which a transfer device is associated with the processor means.
4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the transfer device comprises one or more endless belts for transferring a substrate.
5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the endless belt or belts is/are made of rubber.
6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 or 5, in which fangs are connected to the surface of the belt or belts.
7. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which the fangs are made of (R Tm) nylon.

A
8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or 7, in which the fangs are welded to the surface.

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9. Apparatus as claimed in claim 6,7 or 8, in which the fangs are spaced apart a distance approximately equal to the length of the transfer device to enable them to adopt a parked position to which they permit a substrate to move into the belt or belts and a drive position in which they abutt the trailing edge of a substrate to push the substrate into the processor means.
10. Apparatus as claimed in any of claims 3 to 9, in which control electronics are provided to control the operation of the transfer device and heater in dependence upon signals received from one or more optical sensors.
11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 10, in which there are three optical sensors operative to track the progress of a substrate through the processor means.
12. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, in which the or each optical sensor comprises a receiver and transmitter.
13. Apparatus as claimed in claim 11 or 12, in which the three sensors are respectively disposed at the entrance to the transfer device, downstream of the exit from the transfer device and downstream of the exit from the heater.
14. Apparatus as claimed in claims 13, in which a pair of rollers defining a nip therebetween is disposed between the heater and the third optical sensor.
15. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14, in which one of the rollers is driven and the other is free running.

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16. Apparatus as claimed in claim 15, in which the driven roller is driven from a drive arrangement which also drives the belt or belts of the transfer device.
17. Apparatus as claimed in claim 14,15 or 16, in which one of the rollers is spring loaded so that the nip may adjust to differing thicknesses of substrate.
18. Apparatus for producing a processed image substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
19. A method of producing a processed image on a substrate including the steps of loading data relating to an image into a computer, printing the image using the data so loaded on a printer and processing the printed image.
20. A method as claimed in claim 19, in which the printer image is processed by heating it.
21. A method as claimed in claims 19 or 20, in which the substrate is fed through the processor means by a drive belt or belts under the control of control electronics.
22. A method as claimed in claim 21, in which the control electronics controls the feeding of the substrate in dependence upon signals from optical sensors disposed along the path the substrate follows.
23. A method for producing a processed image substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.