Information storage and reproduction system

An information storage and reproduction system comprising:

• (a) master information storage means carrying recorded information,
• (b) first reading means mounted adjacent to said information storage means,
• (c) said first reading means adapted to read said recorded information,
• (d) means for relatively moving said master information storage means and said first reading means to permit said reading means to read different portions of said recorded information,
• (e) a plurality of monitor stations each including information storage means,
• (f) information selection means at said monitor station information storage means,
• (g) said first reading means controlled by said information selection means for reading selected information from said master station information storage means, and
• (h) master control means provided between said first reading means and said monitor stations for controlling the transmission of selected and different portions of information from said master information storage means to selected ones of said monitor stations.

An information storage and reproduction system comprising:

• (a) master information storage means carrying recorded information,
• (b) first electro-optical reading means mounted adjacent to said information storage means and positional to read said recorded information,
• (c) one of said master information storage means and said first reading means being controllably movable relative to the other so that said reading means can read different selectable portions of said recorded information,
• (d) a plurality of monitor stations each including further information storage means,
• (e) information selection means coupled to said monitor station information storage means,
• (f) second electro-optical reading means coupled to said information selection means for reading information selected thereby from said monitor station information storage means, and
• (g) master control means coupled between said first reading means and said monitor stations adapted to effect the transmission of selected and different portions of information from said information storage means to selected ones of said monitor means for storage and later reading at said monitor station.

An information storage and reproduction system including:

• (a) an information storage medium carrying a plurality of groups of recorded information,
• (b) first electro-optical reading means mounted adjacent to said information storage medium and controllable to read all or selected portions of said recorded information,
• (c) means for relatively moving said information storage medium and said first reading means to permit said reading means to read different selectable portions of said groups of recorded information,
• (d) a plurality of monitor stations each including information storage means, information selection means coupled to said information storage means,
• (e) reading means coupled to said information selection means for reading information selected thereby, and
• (f) master control means coupled between said first reading means and said monitor stations adapted to control transmission of selected and different portions of information from said information storage medium to selected ones of said monitor means.

An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination:

• (a) conveying means containing a plurality of image frames arranged in a tandem array,
• (b) means for guiding and moving said conveying means in a fixed path,
• (c) scanning means adapted for scanning said conveying means,
• (d) an image field generating means operatively connected to said scanning means, and having storage means energizable by said scanning means for generating an image field,
• (e) an image copy recording member,
• (f) a copy producing apparatus including servo means for moving said copy recording member through the field of said image field generating means, control means for said servo means,
• (g) selection control means for causing the modulation of said image field generating means by means of selected image information derived when said scanning means scans selected of said plurality of image frames,
• (h) said selection control means being operatively connected to said servo of said copy recording member for controlling operation of said servo in a manner whereby said copy recording member is moved through the field of said image field generating means to provide a new section of said copy recording member in said field for recording further information thereon.

An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination:

• (a) a conveying means containing a plurality of image frames arranged in a tandem array,
• (b) means for guiding and moving said conveying means in a fixed path,
• (c) scanning means adapted for scanning said conveying means,
• (d) an image field generating means operatively connected to said scanning means, and including a storage means energizable by said scanning means to generate image fields of the scanned image frames,
• (e) an image copy recording member and means for positioning said recording member to become exposed to image information as generated on said image field generating means,
• (f) a copy producing apparatus including servo means for moving said copy recording member through said image field, control means for said servo means.
• (g) selective control means for selectively modulating said image field generating means to generate an image field from information derived when said scanning means scans selected of said plurality of image frames.
• (h) said control means including a plurality of code-bearing cards, and a reading means for the codes on said cards,
• (i) means for operating said reading means in a manner to generate coded command signals from said codes on said cards, and
• (j) means for employing said command signals in sequence to effect the energization of said control means for said servo in a manner to control the movement of said image copy recording member and the activation of said scanning means to scan selected frames of information and to modulate said image storage means with selected image information.

An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination with a multi-track conveying means for a plurality of document recordings, said recordings occupying predetermined tandem areas of a plurality of parallel tracks of said conveying means and defining lateral rows of document recordings, means for scanning said document recordings comprising a plurality of video transducers each of which is operatively positioned for scanning a respective track of said document recordings and is operative for providing picture signals on the outputs of said scanning means as generated in scanning said recordings, a plurality of monitor stations, storage means for picture signals at each monitor station, switching means operative to connect the outputs of a selected of said video transducers with selected storage means of said monitor stations, control means at each monitor station operative to activate said switching means to operatively connect the input to the storage means of the monitor station with a selected video transducer and including gating means operative to provide picture signals on a connected circuit to the storage means of a monitor station and control document recording selection, said control means for each monitor station adapted for activating said gating means to provide picture signals on the connected circuit generated in scanning selected recordings.

An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination with a conveying means for a plurality of document recordings, said recordings occupying predetermined tandem areas of a plurality of parallel recording tracks on said conveying means and defining lateral rows of said recordings, means for moving said conveying means in a path parallel to said tracks of document recordings, means for scanning said document recordings comprising a plurality of video transducers each of which is operatively positioned for scanning a respective of said parallel columns of document recordings, there being at least one transducer positioned for scanning each of said tracks, said transducers each operative for providing picture signals on the outputs of said scanning means generated in scanning said recordings, a plurality of monitor stations, means for storing a plurality of picture signals at each monitor station, switching means operative to connect the output of a selected of said scanning means with a selected of said storage means of said monitor stations, first selection means for each monitor station adapted, when operated to activate said switching means, to operatively connect the input to the storage means of the monitor station with a selected scanning means, gating means operative to pass picture signals on a connected circuit to the storage means of a monitor station and to control document recording selection, control means for each monitor station adapted for activating said gating means to provide picture signals on the connected circuit generated in scanning selected recordings, and second selection means at each monitor station operative to effect the selective reproduction of picture signals from the monitor station storage means and to effect transducing of said signals to visible images.

An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination, a plurality of document recordings provided as separate groups of recordings, a plurality of video scanners adapted for scanning individual recordings, conveying means for said recordings operative for presenting individual recordings of each group in the scanning field of a respective scanner whereby the recordings of each group may be individually scanned, an output means for each scanner on which picture signals derived from scanning said recordings are generated, a plurality of monitor stations, monitor means at each station including storage means for picture signals and image generating means operatively connected to said storage means, a communication system including a plurality of communication channels, switching means operative to connect the output of a selected of said video scanners with a storage means of a selected monitor station, a first control means at each monitor station including a selection means adapted when operated to activate said switching means to operatively couple the monitor station with a selected scanning means along one of said communication channels for scanning recordings of a selected group, a plurality of gating means including at least one switch for each monitor station operative to pass picture signals to the storage means thereof from a scanner connected thereto, control means at each monitor station for activating said gating means for passing picture signals generated in scanning selected recordings to said picture signal storage means and providing selected images on said image generating means.

Recording and reproduction apparatus comprising in combination:

• (a) a first endless track record bearing member having a plurality of optically scannable information recordings provided on a first record track area thereof,
• (b) electro-optical means for scanning said recordings mounted off said record member,
• (c) a second recording member having an endless track erasable recording area,
• (d) means for simultaneously driving said second and first recording members in substantially predetermined paths,
• (e) said electro-optical scanning means being operatively coupled to scan said first recording member and to transduce signals derived therefrom onto said erasable recording member,
• (f) selective control means for effecting the transducing of only predetermined information recordings from said first record-bearing member to said second recording member,
• (g) pick-up means operatively coupled to scan said second recording member and to transduce recordings thereon to electrical signals, and
• (h) a further transducing means operatively coupled to said recording member pick-up means for converting said electrical signals to a monitorable form.

An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination:

• (a) a conveyor having provided thereon a plurality of image fields arranged in a tandem array and adapted to be moved by said conveyor in a predetermined path,
• (b) means for scanning said image fields,
• (c) said scanning means comprising a plurality of video scanners each having a respective output and adapted to produce on its output a picture signal of each of said image fields scanned thereby,
• (d) a plurality of monitor stations, switching means having a plurality of inputs which are adapted to receive picture signals generated by a selected of said video scanners, control means for said switching means and operative for connecting the output of a selected scanning means with a selected monitor station,
• (e) picture signal selection means for each of said monitor stations adapted when operated to gate through said switching means picture signals derived when said scanning means scans selected of said image fields,
• (f) storage means at each of said monitor stations adapted to receive and store plural picture signals gated thereto from said scanning means, and
• (g) video display means at each of said monitor stations adapted to convert picture signals received from said scanning means into a visual image on a viewing screen thereof.

An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination:

• (a) a conveyor for a plurality of image fields, means for moving said conveyor intermittently along a fixed path,
• (b) a video scanning means positioned with respect to said conveyor for scanning predetermined image fields thereof,
• (c) said image fields being provided on said conveyor in a tandem array and being so spaced that each will be essentially centered in the scanning field of said scanning means during the intermittent stoppage of said conveyor,
• (d) the dwell period of said intermittent conveyor motion being substantially equal to the time said video scanning means takes to completely scan an image field while said conveyor is stopped and to permit said scanning means to generate a picture signal on an output thereof which picture signal is a modulated electrical signal representative of the image field scanned,
• (e) a plurality of monitor stations,
• (f) a plurality of communication channels and switching means for selectively connecting said monitor stations and said scanning means,
• (g) each of said monitor stations having a signal input which is operatively connectable to said output of said scanning means through switching means,
• (h) selection means for each of said monitor stations operative to gate through said switching means video signals derived when said scanning means scans selected of said image fields,
• (i) storage means at each of said monitor stations adapted to receive and store picture signals information transmitted thereto from said scanning means,
• (j) and display means at each of said monitor stations adapted to convert a picture signal received from said scanning means into a visual image field on a viewing screen thereof.

An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination:

• (a) an endless track conveyor having a plurality of tracks of image frame information provided thereon which frame information is scannable from at least one side of said conveyor,
• (b) said image frame information being arranged as a plurality of rows of frames extending across said conveyor,
• (c) a plurality of video scanners arranged in a lateral row extending across said conveyor with each scanner of said row positioned whereby a respective of said tracks will pass through the scanning field of said scanner,
• (d) automatically operative means for intermittently moving said conveyor in a manner whereby when said conveyor is stopped, respective frames of a row are each aligned in the scanning field of a respective of said scanners and each frame remains in scanning relationship with its scanner for a sufficient period of time to permit the scanning means to scan said respective fields and to each produce a respective picture signal on the outputs of said [cameras] scanners ,
• (e) a switching system,
• (f) a plurality of monitor stations each having signal input means operatively connectable to the output of one of said scanners through said switching system,
• (g) selection means for each of said monitor stations operative to gate thereto through said switching system picture signals derived from a selected of said scanners generated in scanning selected of the image frames passing through its scanning field.

An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination:

• (a) image field scanning means, conveying means for a plurality of different image field recordings arranged in a tandem array and adapted to be moved by said conveying means in a predetermined path relative to said scanning means,
• (b) said scanning means being operative for producing on an output thereof a picture signal of each of said image fields scanned thereby,
• (c) a plurality of monitor stations each having a signal input which is operatively connectable to said output of said scanning means, switching means operatively connecting said communication channels and said monitor stations,
• (d) selection means for each of said monitor stations operative to gate through said switching means video signals derived when said scanning means scans selected of said image fields,
• (e) storage means including a recording apparatus at each of said monitor stations adapted to receive and record plural picture signals gated thereto from said scanning means, video image generating means at said monitor stations,
• (f) selection means at said monitor stations for selectively reproducing said picture information recorded in said storage means and for presenting said information at the input of said video image generating means and means for converting said information to a video image field.

An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination:

• (a) a conveyor including an elongated member having a plurality of tandem arrays of image fields provided thereon which are visible from at least one side of said elongated member,
• (b) said arrays of image fields being arranged in a plurality of parallelly extending tracks with the image fields of adjacent tracks arranged in a plurality of lateral rows which are parallel to each other,
• (c) a plurality of video scanners mounted off said conveyor, each adapted to scan a respective of said columns of image fields and to provide picture signals on respective outputs of said scanners of respective of said image fields when said fields are in the scanning fields of said video scanners,
• (d) a plurality of monitor stations each having a signal input and switching means for connecting said input to receive picture signals generated by any one of said video scanners,
• (e) selection means for each of said monitor stations for operating said switching means to gate video signals derived when said scanning means scans selected of said image fields to said video scanners,
• (f) erasable storage means at each of said monitor stations for receiving and storing a plurality of picture signals gated thereto from said scanning means, and
• (g) display means at each of said monitor stations including means for converting a picture signal derived from said storage means into a visual image field on a viewing screen thereof.

An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination:

• (a) conveying means for a plurality of image frames arranged thereon as a plurality of tracks, a plurality of video scanners arranged in a row across said plurality of tracks,
• (b) said image frames each occupying substantially the same area and being provided on said conveying means in a plurality of parallelly extending tracks with the frames of each column aligned in adjacent columns which extend in substantially parallel rows across said conveying means with the frames of each row adapted to simultaneously enter and leave the scanning fields of said row of scanners,
• (c) said conveying means having a position-indicating code track provided on a longitudinal strip area thereof,
• (d) means for reading said code track as said conveyor moves and for providing said code as an electrical signal on an output of said reading means,
• (e) said code track being divided into tandemly arranged code units each of which units, when reproduced by said reading means, is indicative that a particular row of said image frames is in the scanning fields of said row of said scanners,
• (f) a plurality of monitor stations and a switching system, each of said monitor stations having a signal input which is operatively connectable to the output of any of said scanners through said switching system,
• (g) image frame reproduction selection means for each of said monitor stations and operative to pass to its monitor station picture signals derived from a selected of said scanners as it scans selected of the image frames passing through its scanning field, a code matching relay means having input means connected to said means for reading said codes,
• (h) said selection means including a switching means for operatively connecting the output line of a selected of said scanners with a line to any of said monitor stations,
• (i) means for adjusting said code matching relay to cause it to become energized when a predetermined code is present on its input means from said code reading means,
• (j) said code-matching relay including normally open switching means for gating the picture signal output of said selected scanner to a storage means at said connected monitor station for a predetermined period of time after said code matching relay becomes energized.

An information storage and reproduction system comprising in combination:

• (a) a conveyor for a plurality of image frames including means for automatically moving said conveyor in a fixed path relative to plural rows of video scanning cameras,
• (b) each of said image frames occupying substantially the same area and being provided on said conveyor in a plurality of parallelly extending tracks with frames of adjacent tracks aligned in rows and extending as a plurality of substantially parallel rows across said conveyor whereby the frames of each row simultaneously enter and leave the scanning fields of respective of said cameras,
• (c) said cameras in each row being positionally staggered relative said conveyor whereby a camera in one row scans a particular column of said frames and the column adjacent thereto is scanned by a camera in another row of said cameras such that the spacing of said columns may be closer than the separation of the scanning fields of two adjacent cameras when their housings are in touch with each other,
• (d) means for scanning said columns of image information and providing picture signals of said scanning on the outputs of said cameras.

Information storage and reproduction apparatus comprising in combination:

• (a) transport means for an elongated flat record-bearing member containing a plurality of record tracks defined as separate rows of first image frames extending longitudinally along said record-bearing member and parallel to each other,
• (b) means for monitoring information contained on said flat record member including:
• (i) electro-optical means for scanning selected or said image frames, and
• (ii) visual monitor means in operative relation with said electro-optical means and including a visual presentation means having an image screen,
• (c) means for operaing said electro-optical means to scan a first track of said record member,
• (d) frame selection means for selectively presenting enlarged still images representative of selected of the images of said first image frames, one at a time on said screen,
• (e) means operative to control the relative movement of said electro-optical means and said transport means for said elongated flat record-bearing member to permit the scanning of selected image frames of said record-bearing member by said electro-optical means,
• (f) a first manual control means connected to said frame selection means for effecting the scanning of a selected row of image frames, second control means operative to cause the transmission of information generated in scanning a selected image frame of a selected row of said record-bearing member and the generation of a still image of said selected frame on said screen for the visual monitoring thereof,
• (g) said first and second selection control means each being variably selectively operative to effect the scanning of selected others of said rows of image frames and the generation of images of selected frames in said rows on said screen in any order depending on how both said selection control means are operated.

An information storage and reproduction system comprising:

• (a) master information storage means carrying recorded information defined as a plurality of discrete document recordings,
• (b) first reading means for reading said document recordings,
• (c) monitor means including viewing means communicating with the output of said first reading means,
• (d) first control means at said monitor means,
• (e) second control means selectively operable for causing selected information to be read and transmitted from said storage means to said monitor means,
• (f) a plurality of record members containing coded information for retrieving information from said master information storage means,
• (g) said first control means including means for removably receiving a record member and reading said coded information from said record member,
• (h) means for operatively connecting the output of said reading means of said first control means to said record control means for selectively operating said second control means to transmit selected information to said monitor means,
• (i) said monitor means including a viewing screen modulatable by information received from said first reading means to permit the viewing of document information as selected by coded information generated in reading selected record members.

An information storage and reproduction system comprising:

• (a) conveying means for image information including an elongated flat record-carrying member having a plurality of parallel record tracks each containing a tandem array of different image frames,
• (b) means for guiding and moving said conveying means in a fixed path,
• (c) a scanning system including scanning means for selectively scanning each row of image frames and
• (d) image field generating means including a screen in operative relation with said scanning means for monitoring scanned information,
• (e) means for generating the images of a selected row of scanned image frames on said screen,
• (f) a hard copy producing means including means for positioning an image copy recording member in operative relation with said image field generating means and means for generating an image in said recording member concurrently with the image generated on said screen, and
• (g) control means for selectively operating said hard copy producing means and said scanning means to generate selected images on said screen and to produce hard copy recordings in said recording member of selected of the images so generated.