Manually-operated tray assembly for dispensing and receiving overhead projector transparencies

A tray assembly for holding transparencies prior to projection, dispensing transparencies for projection, and receiving transparencies following projection on an overhead projector;

• the overhead projector including a light source, a platen for holding a transparency, and an optical system for passing light from the light source through a transparency located on the platen and for focusing an image of the illuminated transparency on a remote viewing screen;
• the tray assembly comprising:
• an upper and a lower plate spaced apart and connected to each other by two longitudinal side walls and an end wall, configured to form a chamber with a first opening at one end, said opening opposite said end wall and between said upper and lower plates;
• said chamber mounted adjacent an edge of the projector platen and capable of holding a stack of transparencies;
• said upper plate having an upward-oriented face with a retaining means for holding a stack of transparencies on said upward-oriented face prior to projection;
• a spacing means for holding said chamber in proper spatial relationship relative to said platen so that a transparency slid from said upward-oriented face toward the projector slides onto said platen, and a transparency slid from said platen toward said tray assembly slides into said chamber;
• a mounting means for mounting said tray assembly adjacent said platen;
• whereby the tray assembly is operated by placing a stack of transparencies on said upward oriented face, placing one or more fingers on uppermost transparency in said stack of transparencies, sliding said uppermost transparency from said upward-oriented face onto said platen, removing said one or more fingers from said transparency, projecting an image of said transparency onto a remote screen, again placing one or more fingers on said transparency, and sliding said transparency from said platen into said chamber, in which the transparencies accumulate in an orderly sequence.

A system for facilitating the handling of transparencies on an overhead projector;

• the overhead projector including a light source, a platen for holding a transparency, and an optical system for passing light from the light source through a transparency located on the platen and for focusing an image of the illuminated transparency on a remote viewing screen, the system comprising:
• a tray adjacent an edge of said platen, said tray capable of holding a stack of transparencies prior to projection;
• said tray including a plate, said plate having a first face and a second face, said fast face oriented substantially upwards;
• a retaining means on said first face for holding transparencies on said plate, said plate disposed at an upward-sloping angle to said platen of the projector;
• a mounting means for holding said tray adjacent an edge of the platen;
• whereby said system is operated by placing a stack of transparencies on said tray, placing one or more fingers on uppermost transparency in said stack of transparencies, sliding said uppermost transparency onto said platen, and projecting an image of transparency while located on said platen, and whereby said upward-sloping angle of said tray hinders the movement of underlying transparencies during transfer of said uppermost transparency to said platen.

A method for facilitating the handling of transparencies on an overhead projector comprising the steps of:

• applying a stack of transparencies to a first tray adjacent an edge of the projector platen;
• placing one or more fingers on uppermost transparency in said stack of transparencies;
• sliding said uppermost transparency from said first tray onto the platen of projector;
• removing said one or more fingers from said transparency;
• projecting an image of said transparency while it is located on said platen;
• again applying one or more fingers to said transparency while it is located on said platen;
• sliding said transparency, in the opposite direction to its initial movement, from the platen onto a second tray that is mounted adjacent the same edge of the projector platen;
• and,
• repeating this set of steps with each successive transparency in said stack of transparencies such that the transparencies accumulate in said second tray in an orderly sequence.

A manually-operated tray assembly for facilitating the handling of transparencies on an overhead projector;

• the overhead projector including a light source, a platen for holding a transparency, and an optical system for passing light from the light source through a transparency located on the platen and for focusing an image of the illuminated transparency on a remote viewing screen, the tray assembly comprising:
• a first tray adjacent an edge of the projector platen and positioned such that a transparency located on said first tray and slid in the direction of the projector is transferred to the platen of the projector;
• a second tray connected to said first tray and adjacent the same edge of the projector platen and positioned such that a transparency located on said platen and slid in the opposite direction to its initial movement, toward the way assembly, is transferred to said second tray;
• and
• support means for holding said first tray and said second tray adjacent the projector;
• whereby said tray assembly is operated by placing an initial stack of transparencies on said first tray, placing one or more fingers on uppermost transparency in said initial stack of transparencies and sliding said uppermost transparency onto platen of projector, removing said one or more fingers from said transparency, projecting an image of said transparency while it is on said platen, again placing one or more fingers on said transparency and sliding said transparency, in the opposite direction to its initial movement, onto said second Way, and repeating this set of steps with each transparency in said initial stack of transparencies whereby the transparencies accumulate in an orderly sequence in said second tray.