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Aids for the Handicapped: Development of the Electric Braille Embossing Typewriter

Client

The Howe Press, of the Perkins School for the Blind, Watertown, Massachusetts.

Problem

Braille embossing typewriters consist of six keys which emboss the Braille characters on very thick paper. The force at the keys is very substantial causing early fatigue on operators. A design using an electric assist was desired. A very simple approach had to be found since the market for such machines is rather limited and consumers cannot afford costly machines.

Solution

The approach developed consisted on a modification of the actuator linkages plus the addition of an electric solenoid; all of it fitted within the existing design of the machine. It is simple, unsophisticated, and inexpensive. When the keys are first depressed, the pattern of dots is set, but the embossing does not occur until any one of the keys is depressed further causing the solenoid to be energized and embossing the whole pattern. There is a noticeable, but very small, increase in force over the one required to set the pattern, but when that force is exceeded the embossing occurs. This machine was completely developed at Tufts University. Afterwards, at the Howe Press, the design was expanded to included carriage return. It is now fully commercialized at a cost well accepted by the public.

Photographed above shows the typewriter after being modified for electric operation. It looks exactly the same as the manual model since all the mechanisms are fitted inside. The white card at the side shows the position of a Braille dot for the letter "A" as the proper key is depressed.

Picture of the Electric Braille Embossing Typewriter