Device for use in Braille printing or paperless Braille communication

A device for forming Braille characters for tactile sensation or impression onto an embossable substrate including:

• i) a substantially block-like main body having a flat upper surface, said main body being elongated in the direction beneath said upper surface, said body being provided with an array of first cylindrical bores extending downwardly from said upper surface, each said first bore having a lower end which is remote from said upper surface, and with an array of second cylindrical bores, each said second bore being associated with a respective first bore, extending transversely to the associated first bore and intersecting the lower end of the associated first bore;
• ii) at least one array of six Braille printing pins contained in said body in two parallel rows each having three pins to constitute a 2.times.3 Braille cell, each said pin having a tip and being contained in a respective first cylindrical bore and being movable between a retracted position whereby said pin does not protrude from said body, and an extended position whereby the tip of said pin protrudes from said upper surface of said body;
• iii) a plurality of means each associated with a respective pin for maintaining the respective pin in an extended position, each said means (iii) comprising a first rod movable in a respective second bore to a position beneath said pin to push said pin to its extended position and hold it there;
• iv) an array of second rods, each said second rod being disposed in a respective first bore for movement along the respective first bore and having a lower end which is directed toward the lower end of the respective first bore and an upper end which is directed away from the lower end of the respective first bore, wherein each said second rod has a larger diameter than each said pin and each said pin extends co-axially upwardly and outwardly from said upper end of a respective second rod;
• v) a flat plate secured against said upper surface of said main body and provided with an array of apertures aligned with said first bores so that each said pin extends through a respective aperture at least when said pin is in the extended position;
• and
• vi) a plurality of springs each located in a respective first bore and extending from said upper end of a respective second rod, around a respective pin and against said flat plate;
• wherein each said first rod comprises a flat, ramp-like cam surface that bears against the lower end of a respective second rod, whereby forward motion of said first rod causes said second rod to move up.