US 4,344,701 AGranted

Microfiche recording system with traveling film head

AssigneeEnergy Conversion Devices, Inc.

InventorsPeter H. Klose, Herbert C. Ovshinsky

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Abstract

A controllable film holding and tensioning system for a movable intermediate film strip dispensing head provides a stable and non-film damaging positioning of intermediate images carried on the film strip as it is moved from an exposure station to a final station for image transfer to an archival microfiche film under conditions where bowing stresses are applied to the intermediate film at one or more of the processing stations. An improved pretensioning feature for the source reel minimizes the occasional jamming encountered with conventional cassette film dispensers. Automatic protection is provided by an intermediate film strip break sensor and an end-of-film sensor to guard against archival record loss from these causes. Unique film cassette designs are also described.

Claims26

Dependent claims

In a microfiche film recording system including movable supporting means for supporting an intermediate film strip, film advancing means for advancing a selected area of said film strip into an imaging position thereon, carriage means for moving said supporting means between an imaging station where said selected area of said film strip is exposed and an image transfer station where said image on said selected area is transferred to a microfiche photographic film having frames upon which said image is to be transferred, means for controllably positioning said microfiche photographic film with respect to the selected imaged area of the intermediate film strip, means for transferring said image to a selected frame of said microfiche film, and at least one pressure-applying means which engages with said intermediate film to create tension stresses therein potentially capable of inducing erratic shifting of said film strip and which can cause registration errors in the image transfer to said microfiche photographic film, the improvement comprising film strip holding means movable with said film strip supporting means as said supporting means is moved back and forth by said carriage means between said imaging station and said transfer station and having a film holding condition causing at least one lateral margin of said film strip to be fixed in position at said imaging position and a film releasing condition position, permitting or causing longitudinal movement of the film strip, control means for said holding means for operating said holding means in said holding condition during the exposure of said intermediate film strip and during the movement of said supporting means to said image transfer station and during the transfer of said image thereon to said microfiche photographic film, said control means operating said holding means to said film releasing condition following an image transfer operation, and means for operating said film advancing means for advancing a new unexposed area of said intermediate film to said imaging position during the operation of said holding means in said film releasing condition so that a new area is in position for imaging prior to the next operation of said holding means to said holding condition.

In a microfiche film recording system comprising:

supporting means for supporting an intermediate film strip, film advancing means for advancing a selected area of said film strip into an imaging position thereon, carriage means for moving said supporting means between an imaging station where said selected area of said film strip is exposed, and an image transfer station where said image on said selected area is transferred to a microfiche photographic film having frames upon which said image is to be transferred, means for controllably positioning said microfiche photographic film with respect to the selected imaged area of the intermediate film strip, and means for transferring said image to a selected frame of said microfiche film, the improvement wherein said supporting means includes a fixed supply reel support hub with drag means for retarding rotation of an intermediate film strip supply reel mounted thereover, an intermediate film strip supply reel having a hub bore slidably and removably engaging said fixed supply reel support hub, a takeup reel for taking up said intermediate film strip, a takeup reel support hub, said takeup reel support hub being driven by said advancing means and lockingly receiving said takeup reel, and tension applying means which applies a pull on the film leaving said supply reel which is opposed by said drag means so that there is tension applied to the film leaving the supply reel without causing rotation of said supply reel.

A microfiche film recording system comprising movable supporting means for supporting an intermediate film strip, said supporting means including means for receiving and guiding said film strip between film strip supply and takeup means;

film advancing mean for advancing a selected area of said film strip into an imaging position thereon;
carriage means for moving said supporting means between an imaging station where said selected area of said film strip is exposed and an image transfer station where said image on said selected area is transferred to a microfiche photographic film having frames upon which said image is to be transferred;
means for controllably positioning said microfiche photographic film with respect to the selected imaged area of the intermediate film strip;
means for transferring said image to a selected frame of said microfiche film by directing radiant energy through the selected area of said film strip onto said microfiche film;
film movement sensing means for sensing the movement of said intermediate film strip during the period of operation of said film advancing means;
control means responsive to said film movement sensing means to respond to the absence of said film movement during said period for preventing at least the transfer of an image from said intermediate film strip to said microfiche photographic film;
and alarm means responsive to said control means for alerting an operator.

4 more elements

In a microfiche film recording system comprising movable supporting means for supporting an intermediate film strip, said supporting means including means for receiving and guiding said film strip between film strip supply and takeup means and tension applying means for providing a given tension in the film;

film advancing means for advancing a selected area of said film strip into an imaging position thereon;
carriage means for moving said supporting means between an imaging station where said selected area of said film strip is exposed and an image transfer station where said image on said selected area is transferred to a microfiche photographic film having frames upon which said image is to be transferred;
means for controllably positioning said microfiche photographic film with respect to the selected imaged area of the intermediate film strip;
and means for transferring said image to a selected frame of said microfiche film, the improvement comprising means responsive to reduction in the tension in said film below a given level caused by a film breakage or other cause of tension loss for alerting an operator and preventing at least the transferring of an image from said intermediate film strip to said microfiche photographic film.

1 more element

In a microfiche film recording system including movable supporting means for supporting an intermediate film strip, film advancing means for advancing a selected area of said film strip into an imaging position thereon, carriage means for moving said supporting means between an imaging station where said selected area of said film strip is exposed and an image transfer station where said image on said selected area is transferred to a microfiche photographic film having frames upon which said image is to be transferred, means for controllably positioning said microfiche photographic film with respect to the selected imaged area of the intermediate film strip, means for transferring said image to a selected frame of said microfiche film, and at least two pressure-applying means which engage with said intermediate film to create tension stresses which are potentially capable of shifting said film strip laterally with respect to the initial film plane and which can cause registration errors in the image transfer to said microfiche photographic film, the improvement comprising film holding means movable with said film strip supporting means as said supporting means is moved back and forth by said carriage means between said imaging station and said transfer station and having a locking position causing one lateral side of said selected area of said film strip to be held in a fixed position and a released position, tensioning means for applying compliant tension on the opposite side of said selected area whereby only the one lateral margin of said selected area cannot shift, whereby the lateral margin of said film strip on said opposite side is allowed to pay out under compliant tension;

control means for said holding means for actuating said holding means to said locking position during the imaging exposure of said intermediate film strip and during the movement of said supporting means to said image transfer station and during the transfer of said image thereon to said microfiche photographic film, said control means operating said holding means to said released position following an image transfer operation, means for operating said film advancing means for advancing a new unexposed area of said intermediate film to said imaging position during the operation of said holding means in said released position so that said new area is in position for imaging prior to the next operation of said holding means to said locking position, and limit means for limiting the pressure induced mechanical displacement of said film at said imaging station and at said transfer station to equal values, thereby causing equal lateral film payout from said tensioning means at said stations and causing the image on said intermediate film to be properly centered for said image transfer.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.