Back to results
US 9,179,019 B2Granted
Digital microform imaging apparatus
Assigneee-ImageData Corp.
InventorTodd A Kahle
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A microform imaging apparatus comprising a chassis including a microform media support structure configured to support a microform media within a plane substantially orthogonal to a first optical axis, a fold mirror supported along the first optical axis to reflect light along a second optical axis that is angled with respect to the first optical axis, a lens supported along one of the first and second optical axis, an area sensor supported along the second optical axis, a first adjuster for moving the area sensor along at least a portion of the second optical axis and a second adjuster for moving the lens along at least a portion of the one of the first and second optical axis.
Claims101
A digital microform imaging apparatus, comprising:
- a chassis,
- a fold mirror supported by the chassis and including a reflecting surface for directing light from a first optical axis to a second optical axis;
- a first elongated and substantially strait lead member supported by the chassis and aligned along a substantially horizontal axis, the first lead member including an elongated shaft;
- a first drive mechanism supported by the chassis and extending alongside and spaced apart from the first lead member;
- a first motor including a first motor shaft that engages the first drive mechanism;
- a first carriage coupled to the first lead member for movement there along and coupled to the chassis via the first drive mechanism and the first motor such that rotation of the first motor shaft causes the first carriage to move along the first lead member along a trajectory that is substantially parallel to the second optical axis;
- an area sensor supported by the first carriage and aligned with the second optical axis for movement along the second optical axis within a first range to adjust a distance between the area sensor and the fold mirror;
- and
- a lens supported by the chassis along the second optical axis and positioned between the area sensor and the fold mirror;
- wherein the lens and area sensor are located on a first lateral side of the first lead member and located on a first lateral side of the first drive mechanism.
7 more elements
A digital microform imaging apparatus, comprising:
- a chassis,
- a first elongated and substantially strait lead member supported by the chassis and aligned along a substantially horizontal axis, the first lead member including first and second ends;
- a fold mirror supported by the chassis at the first end of the first lead member, the fold mirror including a reflecting surface for directing light from a first optical axis to a second optical axis, the fold mirror having a top edge;
- a first drive mechanism supported by the chassis and extending alongside and spaced apart from the first lead member and substantially parallel to the second optical axis;
- a first carriage supported by the first lead member for movement along a trajectory substantially parallel to the first lead member;
- a first motor having a first motor shaft, the first motor and the first drive mechanism linking the first carriage to the chassis and the first motor shaft engaging the first drive mechanism to move the first carriage along the first lead member through a first range of motion as the first motor shaft rotates;
- an area sensor supported by the first carriage for movement therewith to adjust a distance between the area sensor and the fold mirror, the area sensor aligned with the second optical axis;
- a second drive mechanism supported by the chassis and extending alongside and spaced apart from the first lead member;
- a second carriage supported by the second drive mechanism for movement along a trajectory substantially parallel to the first lead member;
- a second motor having a second motor shaft and supported by the chassis, the second drive mechanism coupling the second motor to the second carriage to move the second carriage along the trajectory substantially parallel to the first lead member through a second range of motion;
- and
- a lens supported by the second carriage and positioned between the area sensor and the fold mirror along the second optical axis;
- wherein the first lead member is supported at a height below the top edge of the fold mirror.
10 more elements
A digital microform imaging apparatus, comprising:
- a chassis,
- a first elongated and substantially strait lead member supported by the chassis and aligned along a substantially horizontal axis, the first lead member including first and second ends;
- a fold mirror supported by the chassis at the first end of the first lead member, the fold mirror including a reflecting surface for directing light from a first optical axis to a second optical axis, the fold mirror having a top edge;
- a first drive mechanism supported by the chassis and extending alongside and spaced apart from the first lead member and substantially parallel to the second optical axis;
- a first carriage supported by the first lead member for movement along a trajectory substantially parallel to the first lead member;
- a first motor having a first motor shaft, the first motor and the first drive mechanism linking the first carriage to the chassis and the first motor shaft engaging the first drive mechanism to move the first carriage along the first lead member through a first range of motion as the first motor shaft rotates;
- an area sensor supported by the first carriage for movement therewith to adjust a distance between the area sensor and the fold mirror, the area sensor aligned with the second optical axis;
- a second drive mechanism supported by the chassis and extending alongside and spaced apart from the first lead member;
- a second carriage supported by the second drive mechanism for movement along a trajectory substantially parallel to the first lead member;
- a second motor having a second motor shaft and supported by the chassis, the second drive mechanism coupling the second motor to the second carriage to move the second carriage along the trajectory substantially parallel to the first lead member through a second range of motion;
- and
- a lens supported by the second carriage and positioned between the area sensor and the fold mirror along the second optical axis;
- wherein the first lead member is supported at a height below the top edge of the fold mirror and to one lateral side of the lens and the area sensor and wherein the first drive mechanism is also located at a height below the top edge of the fold mirror and to one lateral side of the lens and the area sensor.
10 more elements
A digital microform imaging apparatus, comprising:
- a chassis that forms a first cavity and a substantially horizontal window;
- a housing cover that forms a second cavity, the cover supported by the chassis with a front portion of the cover positioned above the horizontal window and the second cavity extending rearward from the front portion to a rear portion, the front portion of the housing spaced from the horizontal window by a gap;
- a first illumination source supported within one of the cavities to direct light along a first optical axis through the horizontal window and the gap and toward the other of the cavities;
- a fold mirror including a reflecting surface, the fold mirror supported within the other of the cavities so that the reflecting surface forms a substantially 45 degree angle with the first optical axis and directs light along a substantially horizontal second optical axis that forms a substantially 90 degree angle with the first optical axis, the second optical axis extending away from the reflecting surface and into the other of the cavities;
- a first carriage supported in the other of the cavities for motion along a trajectory that is substantially parallel to the second optical axis;
- a second carriage supported in the other of the cavities for motion along a trajectory that is substantially parallel to the second optical axis;
- an area sensor supported by the first carriage within the other of the cavities and aligned along the second optical axis;
- a lens supported by the second carriage within the other of the cavities and aligned along the second optical axis between the fold mirror and the area sensor;
- a first motor supported in the other of the cavities and coupled to the first carriage for driving the first carriage to positions where the area sensor is at different locations along the second optical axis;
- a second motor supported in the other of the cavities and coupled to the second carriage for driving the second carriage to positions where the lens is at different locations along the second optical axis;
- and
- a microform media support structure supported by the chassis and configured to support a microform media within a plane substantially orthogonal to the first optical axis and so that the first optical axis passes through the microform media, the media support structure located within the gap between the front portion of the housing and the horizontal window.
9 more elements
A digital microform imaging apparatus, comprising:
- a chassis;
- a housing cover that forms a cavity, the cover supported by the chassis with a front portion of the cover positioned above the front portion of the chassis and the cavity extending rearward from the front portion to a rear portion, the front portion of the housing spaced from the chassis by a gap;
- a fold mirror including a reflecting surface, the fold mirror mounted within the front portion of the housing cover and positioned so that the reflecting surface forms a substantially 45 degree angle with a substantially vertical first optical axis and directs light along a substantially horizontal second optical axis that forms a substantially 90 degree angle with the first optical axis, the second optical axis extending away from the reflecting surface and into the cavity;
- an area sensor supported within the cavity for movement along the second optical axis;
- a lens supported within the cavity between the fold mirror and the area sensor for movement along the second optical axis;
- a bracket supported by the chassis adjacent the gap for sliding motion with respect to the chassis along a longitudinal direction substantially parallel to the second optical axis between first and second positions;
- a coupler supported by the bracket within the gap for sliding motion with respect to the bracket along a transverse direction substantially perpendicular to the second optical axis;
- a microform media support structure supported by the coupler for sliding motion along with the coupler substantially perpendicular to the second optical axis, the media support structure configured to support a microform media within a plane substantially orthogonal to the first optical axis, the media support structure horizontally aligned with the gap for sliding motion within the gap along the transverse direction and along the longitudinal direction, wherein the media support structure is moveable along the longitudinal direction between a forward position and a rearward position;
- a supply side roll film attachment supported by the bracket for sliding motion therewith along the longitudinal direction;
- and
- a take up side roll film attachment supported by the bracket for sliding motion therewith along the longitudinal direction;
- wherein the supply side and take up side roll film attachments are located on opposite lateral sides of the front portion of the housing cover when the media support structure and roll film attachments are in the rearward position.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.