Adjustable Book Container

Do some doodles - think some thoughts - sketch something out, then maybe someone can give you a hand. But don't expect anyone here to do it all for you!.

Thanks for your input. I have "Thought the thoughts" This product will hold your book open to free both hands, and make turning the pages very easy. I need help on the adjustable part of it. It has to adjust to all sizes of books. I just don't know who to contact for that mechanical help I need.

Thanks!

Roxy

Here is a 'Lateral Thought' for you Rocco;

The problem seems to be that books come in different sizes.

Go buy/locate some 'Expanded Polystyrene Sheet' different thicknesses.

Cut out 'Frames' that fit the books. or if you want make those frames from balsa-wood, anything light. you could have the box the size (measure that) that fits most standard book sizes. awkward sizes....use those frames.

Then the books won't rattle about.

Here is a start,

Check out :- http://www.nextag.com/storage-for-books/search-html

You may see something you like? Good luck.

What me whorry!

You wanna read books while driving??? You wanna the head rest designed as one ?

Let's call it a book holder that will let you turn pages easily to another reference.

A very simple one can be made from a support to suit you situation with a top which can be tipped up and locked in position. Next a sheet of clear methyl methacrylate plastic hinged at near edge of the above sloping top. Place the book between the sloping top and the plastic sheet so you can see both pages.

From that humble beginning you can automate, fancify, etc. to suit you particular requirements. I suspect you wish to make rapid ready reference to service manuals and then store them secure from grease, oil, dirt, and damage yet be available for quick reference at a moments notice.

Not much to ask for is it??

Stan, you are a 'Gem'.....My own interest is that precious books fall apart all too easily. There is some 'activated' conservation paper that also prevents 'acid' damage. i.e. where the paper (if unbuffered) turns brown and brittle. It really does work. This paper only has to be in close proximity to prevent damage.

Check out:-

http://www.nedcc.org/resources/leaflets/4Storage_and_Handling/04StorageEnclosures.php

Alastair:

Conservation/preservation of ancient documents is a real problem approached by various methods. Unfortunately I am not aware of any that are absolutely fool proof.

"Send us you product for testing. IF it PASSES our test procedures we will guarantee that it to be 100 % absolutely Fool Proof."

Mechanisms have been built to turn the pages of books for digital photographic copying without damage to the book. So the original request is not beyond coming into being. The big question would be cost and would the need justify the expense.

Rather than building an expensive device as requested it might be better in the long run to copy (digitize the data) in fine detail, make copies on CD/DVD discs and display as needed on a LapTop Computer? Much more durable and convenient for ready reference and depending of number of pages several hundred books can be accomodated on one disc!

Rocco: PROBLEM SOLVED ???

Stan, As ever, I need to find the link that I first read about this some six months ago. I was quite excited at the time, as we have a lot of paper material in Scotland to preserve. As I recall the research work was undertaken in Italy. The conclusion was that harmful gas and vapours in the atmosphere near books was the most significant cause of deterioration. I am sure the product will undergo testing all over the world. It may not even be the best available.

I liked your neat solution. I even use a digital camera to photograph my laptop screen. With a large file, I find it quicker to scroll and click, with the camera mounted on a tripod. A CD after all costs very little. I became utterly exasperated trying to download page after page the Microsoft way. I can even stick arrows and markers and paper notes to the screen..... quicker by far.

I have a much better idea, with the risk of bothering you, but...

Buy electronic copies of the book, or scan it. Insert in a handheld device or tablet computer, and use a voice recognition software to accept the commands of page down or follow the index.

It seems a system as much expensive as a mechanical device to change pages with indexes, and much more flexible, with the ability to hold thousands of publications in just one compact case.

Let us know, is it a homework you're doing?

Like the device that raises a pile of plates in a kitchen, so that the top plate is already at hand height ready for loading?

They use a big spring.

Stirling Stan wrote (8) :-

"....Rather than building an expensive device as requested it might be better in the long run to copy (digitize the data) in fine detail, make copies on CD/DVD discs and display as needed on a Notebook Computer? Much more durable and convenient for ready reference and depending of number of pages several hundred books can be accommodated on one disc!..."

Another advantage of digitising/photographing a book, is that one can enlarge the print on screen. I have an old vacuum cleaner that has adjustable suction. turned down low it is almost silent. After having purchased a whole lot of brand new books, I may take Stan's idea up myself. So as not to damage the 'spine' I plan to have a book stand in wood, that only opens about 120 degrees of arc. To keep the page flat, make a thin matt black perforated wedge(photographic contrast, that attaches to the vacuum cleaner and acts as a miniature vacuum table. that can inserted between pages. A matt black stiff card to hold back the adjacent page. low tech and slow perhaps, but a labour of love.

Christmas 2005 I treated myself to a Sony DSC-R1. the lens alone is worth five times the cost of the camera. It was an answer to Photographer's long years of prayer, under 2mm focal length, an old Leica patent? (ask why Leica eschewed SLRs? long focal lengths allow for chromatic aberrations, the rainbow effect, also the CCD is enclosed, so no dust problems, ever!)

With fractal image enhancement on the RAW setting, one can produce effectively 40 megapixel images. The two mega-pixel setting is fine for most print (under half that when compressed). and there is a black & white monochrome setting. I reckon about three or four? books per CD. So next time I lose my blooming reading glasses (old age creeping up) I can just slam in the CD into the notebook. Thanks Stan. I can now keep those books in pristine 'New' condition. In ten or so years, notebook computers with pseudo-intelligence & terabyte memory etc. may even be capable of holding a conversation on those very same books? who knows?

To The CR4 Team, From somebody in 'Fractal-Land' HAPPY VALENTINE To all Engineers. I am just the Postman. don't blame me!