US 3,941,978 A · Automatic film searching and retrieval system

Abstract

An automatic film retrieval system of the type which utilizes film having a plurality of frames, each frame including document images and an adjacent frame marker to facilitate sensing and counting of the frames has an improved film speed drive control circuit which causes the film to be driven at high speed when a desired film frame is greater than a fixed given number of frames away from the actual present frame and at low speed when the desired film frame is less than or equal to a fixed given number of frames away from the actual present frame. The system additionally has an automatic film drive direction control circuit and a stop-go and reset control circuit.

Drawings

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Drawings

Claims22

Dependent claims

An automatic film searching and retrieval system for use with film having a plurality of frames, each frame including document images and having an adjacent frame marker and wherein the system includes a high speed film drive means and a low speed film drive means for driving the film at high and low speeds respectively, said system comprising:

frame marker sensing means for sensing said frame markers and for providing a marker pulse corresponding to each marker sensed;
counting means for counting said marker pulses, the number of said marker pulses counted representing an actual count;
programming means for preselecting a given film frame represented by a predetermined count;
comparator means coupled to said counting means and to said programming means for comparing the counts of said counting means with said predetermined count;
adding means responsive to said comparator means for adding a fixed given number of counts to said actual count to provide an added actual count when said actual count is less than said predetermined count;
high speed actuating means responsive to said comparator means for actuating said high speed film drive means when said added actual count is less than said predetermined count;
low speed actuating means responsive to said comparator means for providing a low speed drive actuating signal to actuate said low speed film drive means when said added actual count equal said predetermined count;
subtracting means responsive to said low speed drive means signal for subtractingg said fixed number of counts from said added actual count to restore said actual count;
and
stopping means responsive to said comparator means for stopping said low speed drive means when said actual count equals said predetermined count.

7 more elements

The film drive direction control circuit for use in an automatic film retrieval system which uses film having a plurality of frames including document images, and has frame sensing and counting means, a programmer for preselecting a given film frame represented by a predetermined count, a comparator for comparing the counting means count with said predetermined count, film drive means capable of driving the film in either a first or second direction, drive enabling means for providing a drive enabling signal and rewind enabling means for initiating a rewind command, the film drive direction control circuit comprising:

a first gate coupled to said comparator, to said drive enabling means and to said rewind enabling means, and responsive to a first comparator signal when said counting means count is less than said predetermined count, said enabling means drive enabling signal, and the absence of said rewind command to provide a first intermediate drive direction control signal;
a first control means coupled to said first gate for providing a first film drive direction control signal in response to said first intermediate drive direction control signal to cause said drive means to drive said film in said first direction;
a second gate coupled to said comparator and to said drive enabling means and responsive to a second comparator signal when said counting means count is greater than said predetermined count and said enabling means drive enabling signal to provide a second intermediate drive direction control signal;
a third gate coupled to said second gate and to said rewind enabling means for providing a third intermediate direction control signal in response to either said second intermediate control signal or a rewind command signal;
and
a second control means coupled to said third gate for providing a second film drive direction control signal in response to said third intermediate direction control signal to cause said drive means to drive the film in said second direction.

3 more elements

In an automatic film searching and retrieval system for use with film having a plurality of frames, each frame including document images and having an adjacent frame marker and wherein the system includes a high speed film drive means and a low speed film means for driving the film at high and low speeds respectively, frame marker sensing means for sensing said frame markers and for providing a marker pulse corresponding to each marker sensed, counting means for counting said marker pulses, the number of said marker pulses counted representing an actual count, programming means for preselecting a given film frame represented by a predetermined count, and comparator means coupled to said counting means and to said programming means for comparing the counts of said counting means with said predetermined count, a film drive speed control circuit comprising:

adding means responsive to said comparator means for adding a fixed given number of counts to said actual count to provide an added actual count when said actual count is less than said predetermined count;
high speed actuating means responsive to said comparator means for actuating said high speed film drive means when said added actual count is less than said predetermined count;
low speed actuating means responsive to said comparator means for providing a low speed drive actuating signal to actuate said low speed film drive means when said added actual count equals said predetermined count;
subtracting means responsive to said low speed drive means signal for subtracting said fixed number of counts from said added actual count to restore said actual count;
and
stopping means responsive to said comparator means for stopping said low speed drive means when said actual count equals said predetermined count.

3 more elements

A film drive control circuit for use in an automatic film retrieval system which uses film having a plurality of frames including document images, and has frame sensing and counting means, a programmer for preselecting a given film frame represented by a predetermined count, a comparator for comparing the counting means counts with said predetermined count, film drive means for driving the film and a command unit including a go command means for generating a go command signal, a rewind command means for generating a rewind command signal, and a rewind stop command means for generating a rewind stop command signal, the film drive control circuit comprising:

go-enable means coupled to said comparator and to said go command means for providing a first intermediate drive control signal responsive to said go command signal and said comparator when said counting means count is unequal to said predetermined count;
rewind enable means coupled to said rewind command means and to said rewind stop command means for providing a second intermediate drive control signal responsive to said rewind command signal and to the absence of said rewind stop command signal;
and
drive control means coupled to said go-enable means and to said rewind enable means for providing said drive means with a final drive control signal responsive to either said first or second intermediate drive control signals causing said drive means to drive said film.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description10,787 words

Summary1,440 words

#The present invention is generally directed to a microfilm retrieval system and more particularly to a microfilm retrieval system which includes automatic film search control, up-down direction control, and stop-go and reset control.

#One efficient type of information storage and retrieval system that has found widespread acceptance is often referred to as microfilm storage. In such systems, copies of documents and data are recorded on film such as 16mm film with the size of the recording on the film being on the order of 1mm per inch of document size. Obviously such size reduction affords a substantial reduction in document storage volume and greatly simplifies handling of the documents. Such a reduction in size necessarily inhibits direct reading of the stored documents and the usual procedure for reading them is to project the microfilm images onto a screen with their magnification to a size corresponding approximately to the original size of the document.

#Because literally thousands of documents are stored on each film reel, searching for a particular document can be time consuming. Therefore, to overcome this disadvantage automatic search techniques have been developed. Unfortunately, to avoid damage to the film such techniques have incorporated film handling apparatus which move the film at a relatively low rate of speed when searching for a document to avoid breakage of the film when it is stopped. Additionally, systems for determining in which direction the film must be displaced to arrive at the desired document have been complex. In those systems which displace the film at a high rate of speed, very complicated mechanical arrangements have been necessary for disengaging the drive means and stopping the film to avoid film breakage.

Brief description of the drawings8 figures

#The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a microfilm retrieval system embodying the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a partial perspective and block diagram of a document marker sensing means which may be utilized in practicing the present invention;

Detailed description9,123 words

#Referring now to the block diagram representation of the microfilm retrieval system of FIG. 1, the microfilm retrieval system includes a keyboard 10 having a numeric unit 11 and a control unit 12. The numeric unit 11 includes a plurality of keys which are pressed to indicate the number of the desired film frame to be examined. Numeric unit 11 is coupled to encoder and strobe unit 13 which transforms the decimal numeric unit number representation into four, fourbit binary words representing the number of the desired film frame which is then stored in shift register 14. Shift register 14 is coupled to keyboard storage counter 15 which stores the several digits of the number of the desired film frame.

#Control unit 12 includes a plurality of keys each indicating a separate system function such as automatic search, rewind, stop, up one, down one, etc. Control unit 12 is coupled to command sequence control unit 16 which receives from control unit 12 the desired function and controls the system in a given sequence to assure that the system operates in a properly timed manner. Command sequence control unit 16 is also coupled to storage counter 15.

#To detect which particular film frame is being examined, the system includes film frame marker sensor 17 and trigger amplifier 18. Referring briefly to FIG. 2, film frame marker sensor 17 comprises a pair of light pipes 19 and 20 and a pair of photo cells 21 and 22. As shown in FIG. 2 the microfilm 23 includes film frame 24 which includes the photographic representation of the document it bears and in addition, adjacent to film frame 24 there is a marker 25. Marker 25 as shown is rectangular but of course could be of any desired shape. Each film frame on the microfilm includes an adjacent marker. A light source (not shown) projects light in the direction of arrow 26 through marker 25 to be received by light pipes 19 and 20 as the film marker moves past the light pipes.

Facts

Application

05/468,109Filed 8 May 1974

Granted

2 Mar 1976

Term ended

2 Mar 1993

Estimated · how

Pre-1995 term; greater of 17 years from grant or 20 years from filing when eligible. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification4 codes

G03B 21/113
Of roll films: handling roll films
G06K 17/00
Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two
G03B
Apparatus or arrangements for taking photographs or for projecting or viewing them
G06K
Graphical data reading

Description10,787 words

Summary1,440 words

Brief description of the drawings8 figures

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a microfilm retrieval system embodying the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a partial perspective and block diagram of a document marker sensing means which may be utilized in practicing the present invention;

Detailed description9,123 words

Automatic film searching and retrieval system

Life of this patent

Automatic film searching and retrieval system

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims22

Description10,787 words

Drawings

Classification4 codes

Life of this patent

Description10,787 words