Device for digital reproduction of damageable historic books and documents with critical condition, especially for books that cannot be opened for more than 45°. All movements are done manually for maximum protection of the book.

Modular concept: The user chooses the suitable camera and lighting.

Functional principle:

The opened book is placed in a V-shaped book cradle and retained there. A V-shaped wedge with a glass plate on one side and a mirror on the opposite side is moved manually into the opened book and is locked into position. The two side rests, that are opened at an angle of a bit more than 45° are now manually moved to the book cover at exactly 45°. The glass plate of the wedge flattens the page that has to be reproduced. The mirror image is now digitally photographed or scanned. A suitable software will now convert the digital image into a true sided image.

Provisions:

• horizontally movable table for precise positioning

• padded book spine rest with foam filling and fabric cover

• padded book cover rests are individually horizontally movable via gear rack with hand drive for alignment to the thickness of the book

• adjustment of the inclination of the side rests via hand-operated swivel mechanism

• vertically movable mirror wedge with counterbalance mounting and hand-operated brake via bowden wire

• separate camera stand with H-foot and vertical column

• height adjustable feet

• camera carrier with 22.5 inclination and 40 cm (15 in) travelling distance for frame adjustment

• holding arm for camera with gear rack and hand crank