CA1044616A - Microfiche reader - Google Patents
Microfiche readerInfo
- Publication number
- CA1044616A CA1044616A CA239,907A CA239907A CA1044616A CA 1044616 A CA1044616 A CA 1044616A CA 239907 A CA239907 A CA 239907A CA 1044616 A CA1044616 A CA 1044616A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- microfiche
- cartridge
- carrier
- reader
- film
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06K—GRAPHICAL DATA READING; PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- G06K13/00—Conveying record carriers from one station to another, e.g. from stack to punching mechanism
- G06K13/02—Conveying record carriers from one station to another, e.g. from stack to punching mechanism the record carrier having longitudinal dimension comparable with transverse dimension, e.g. punched card
- G06K13/08—Feeding or discharging cards
- G06K13/0843—Feeding or discharging cards from or back into the same magazine
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03B—APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR TAKING PHOTOGRAPHS OR FOR PROJECTING OR VIEWING THEM; APPARATUS OR ARRANGEMENTS EMPLOYING ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR
- G03B21/00—Projectors or projection-type viewers; Accessories therefor
- G03B21/10—Projectors with built-in or built-on screen
- G03B21/11—Projectors with built-in or built-on screen for microfilm reading
- G03B21/115—Projectors with built-in or built-on screen for microfilm reading of microfiches
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Automatic Disk Changers (AREA)
- Holders For Sensitive Materials And Originals (AREA)
- Projection-Type Copiers In General (AREA)
- Sheets, Magazines, And Separation Thereof (AREA)
Abstract
Abstract Of Disclosure A microfiche carrier has mechanically interlocking features which makes it possible to store a library file of microfiche in a cartridge so that it is not necessary to manually manipulate the individual microfiche. The reader automatically extracts a selected microfiche from a cartridge and then returns it to the vacated cartridge location. The interlocks prevent movement of the reader parts in a sequence which would damage the microfiche while they are out of the cartridge.
Description
MICROFICHE READER
.
This invention rela~es to microfiche readers and more -particularly to readers for automatically selectin~ and project-ing ima~es photocopied on microiche, especially--althou~h not ex-elusively--preloaded or preloadable in cartridges which may simply be inserted into the readër.
Microfiche film is a known form of graphic data pre-sentation wherein a number of pages are photographically repro- ~ -duced on a single "card" of microfiche film (such as a card of 10. 3" x 5" to 4" x 6", for example). Any suitable number (up to, say, a thousand or so) of pages may be photographically formed in ~
an orthogonal array on a single microfich~ "card" of photographic - `
film. The microfiche film may then be placed in an optical reader and moved with a rectilinear motion until an image of a selected page is positioned in an op~ical projection pa~h leading to a dis- ~
play screen. ~;
` It would be uneconomical to have a microfiche reader system for a single microfiche card; therefore, the user is likely to have an entire library file including many microfiche which must 20 be kept in a specific order for quick recall Therefore, it should be apparent that use of microfiche involves filing and $toring in a library file, removal and mechanical manipula~ion of ~he micro-; ~iche, and then refiling in the library ile. Eàch microLiche must be found in the library ile with little or almost no search, and then returned to the same spot in the library file, for future `~
reference.
The mechanical manipulation o a micro~iche involves slid-ing the microiche into and out of the library ~ile. Then, it must be placed in a carricr in ~he readcr. Next, the carricr must be 30 moved in X and Y dircctions, over a rectilincar pa~h until the A
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! selected image in the ortho~onal array is positioned in the optical path o~ a projector. Thereafter, the microfiche is removed from the reader and returned to the library file.
Human efor~s lead to further problems. If manually kept, the microfiche library file is thumbed and soon becomes dog eared. Any grease on the fingers clouds the ~ilm and re-~ duces the quality of the reproduced image. Human error may lead to misfiling and an effective loss of the microfiche. The manipulation of the microfiche within the reade~ could cause ~' lO scratches on the ilm.
To avoid these and other problems, it is possible to ;-~
:,;- : ., keep the microfiche library file in cartridges to that only the -cartrïdges need be touched by the human operator. The mechanical .: .
microfiche reader equipment may be designed to manipulate the 'r''~' cartridge, to find and extract the desired microiche and, after , ~. ..
use, to return it to its proper library file loca~ion within the ~ -cartridge without damage. There should be mean~ for saely retain-ing the entire library file during storage, wi~hout danger of any individual microfiche falling from the cartridge.
An object of the invention is to provide new and improved microiche readers using cartridges for storing library files.
Here, an object is to provide suitable interlocks so that the in-dividual microfiche cannot be lost or damaged. In greater detail, ~--,.; .:
an object is to enable microfiche to bc loaded into many cartridges which may then be selected and inserted in~o the microfiche reader.
, A urther object is to provide a number o mechanicalinterloclcs which prevent ~he reader from bein~ operated incorrectly or misused to damage or lose a microfiche. Accordin~ly, an object 'of the invention is ~o provide a simplc and obvious orm o operatin -- . ,, ~ .
~ 2 -~hiCh may be used by people ~ho ~ve no speci~l training in the use of a micro~iche reader. ~exe an object is to enable, say a caSual p~tron of a public libx~r~, for example, to use the reader after havin~ recei~ed only the s~mplest form of instructions.
~ particular object is to provide a microfiche xeader where even simple maintenance may be performed by persons ~-~aving little or no training.
In keeping with an aspect of the invention, these and other objects are accomplished by providing a microfiche - `
reader having a number of mechanically interacting parts. A
cartridge containing a library file may be inserted into an elevator of the reader which is then operated until a selected microfiche is brought adjacent an extractor mechanism. The -extractor withdraws the microfiche from the cartridge and passes it through the reader and onto a carrier. The carrier moves and a selected image comes into an optical path which projects it onto a screen. Thereafter, the microfiche is returned to the same location in the cartridge from which it was extracted. Suitable mechanically interlocking parts prevent ~20 an improper operation which might damage either the microfiche ;~ or the reader.
Thus broadly, the invention contemplates a microfiche reader system of a type which uses a cartridge -~
~ .. . .
containing a library file of microfiche film stored in a -spaced parallel relationship. A carrier means receives a selected film from the file for transporting the film with a rectilinear motion through the reader, and an extraction means ;~
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r~moves the selected film fro~ the cartridge fo~ inserting ~t ~nto the carrier. Thereafter the film is returned r'' from the carrier to the cartridge. An interlocking means x~
~recludes movement of the cartridge at all times while a icrofiche film i9 out of the cartridge and precludes a sequence ~
of mechanical movements of the reader parts which might damage --the film while it is out of the cartridge. ~
The nature of a preferred embodiment of the ,;-~ -invention may be understood best ~y a study of the attached :~ la drawing wherein: , Fig. lA shows the inventive microfiche reader in perspective; ~ ~-Figs. lB and lC (when assembled as shown ~r~, '' in Fig. lDl form an exploded view of the inventive reader;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of a microfiche cartridge as it is being inserted into an elevator mechanism built into the reader;
Fig. 3 is a front elevation view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;
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Fig, 4 is a perspeetive view o~ a corner of t:he cartrid~e showing a locking mechanism ~or holding a library file of micro-iehe film in the eartridge un~il it is loclced in place withln the reader and is ready for an extraction ole a microfiche film;
Fig, S is a schematie front view (similar t:o Fig. 3) of an elevator mechanism for selectively raising the cartrid~e to a microfiche selecting position;
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Fig. 6 is a schematic view, in perspective, of an end ~-~
o~ the cartrid~e positioned adj acent an extractor mechanism;
. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a fragment of the ex~
traetor mechanism and a micro~iche carrier showing an interlock ~ -mechanism for insuring against improper carrier motion while a mierofiche is being extraeted;
Fig. 8 is a perspect1ve view of an eXtraCtoL; mechanism;
Fig. 9 is a first stop motion, schema~ic view of the extractor mechanism shortly after the start of the microfiche - :
extraetion process;
Fig, 10 is a second and similar stop motion, schematic -view at the end of the extraction process;
Fi~. 11 is a plan view of a fragment of a corner of a microfiche carrier and an extractor hook;
Fig. 12 is a schematic disclosure of how the extractor hook is lifted to the Fig. 10 position wi~hout dama~e to the ...
microfiche; and Fig. 13 is a sehematic diagram showing how image ~onning lens holders slide over the upper surfaee of a microfiehe cover glass on the earrier , witllout ehipping the edge of the -;
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The major assemblies of the inventive microfiche reader ~ ;
(Fig. lA) are a hood 50, screen 51, housing 52, lamp tray 53, elevator 54, cartridge 55, carrier 56 and convenience -~
tray 57. The hood 50 is a first self-contained unit com-prising a hollow box which includes a number of mirrors (not shown) defining a folded optical path by which an image is projected onto a screen 51, such as ground glass , or an equivalent plastic material. When as image on a microfiche film is placed under a~ image forming lens 60 .
(Fig. lB), that image is projected over the folded path .
within the hood and onto the screen 51.
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The chassis of the microfiche reader is a second self-.
contained unit which comprises a base 61 having the hou~ing ~ ~-52 superimposed thereon. The method of completing the base to housing attachement is irrelevant, the housing could be ;~
welded to the base unit. The base unit 61 includes a -~
sliding tray 53 having condenser lens 62 positioned to directc~the light of a bulb (not shown) into the optical path, Tray 53 glides on tracks 63, 64 formed in the base 61. A connector 65 in the base mates with a corresponding connector 66 in the tray-53. Thus, to change a light bulb, ~.
replace a condenser lens, or the like, it is only necessàry to remove one tray 53 and to replace it with another tray.
This is important because modern bulbs tend to break if handled owing to a deposit of minute amounts of the salt -normally found all human fingers. Accordingly, one person r: . ' may be trained to use special tools to replace a bulb, but -the casual operator does not have to touch it. He only ~
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has to replace a tray.
The tray 53 is covered by a plate 70 which slides into tracks 71, 72 superi,mposed above the tray. A hole 73 is formed in the plate 70 to enable passage of a light beam from the condenser . .
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lens 62 to the image forming lens 60. On the plate 70 is printed or otherwise formed a grid 74 which identifies the individual microfiche images by letter and number. For example, as here shown, the image on the upper left hand .
corner of a microfiche may have the address Al, the one on the upper right the address A14, and the one on the lower right the address H14. Likewise, every other microfiche image has a similar address. If the plate 70 is removed -and inverted or replaced, the addresses of any of many different sizes of microfiche images may be provided.
Carrier means are provided for extracting and manipula-ting a microfiche from the library file packed into the cartridge. This carrier is supported on a pair of spaced, ~: . . .: .
parallel guide rails 76, 77 extending transversely across - -the top of the base unit. A rectangular lower carrier 80 -~
has four wheels (two of which are numbered 81, 82 --Fig.
lB) which roll in the tracks 76, 77. Hence, lower carrier 80 may be pushed back and forth in directions A and B.
Mounted on tracks 83, 84, which are perpendicular to tracks 76, 77 is an upper carrier 90 having four wheels, two of which are numbered 91, 92, which ride on tracks 83, 84.
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Hence, upper carrier 90 may move back and forthc~in direc-tions C, D. Acoordingly, it should be apparent that the upper carrier may be rectilinearly moved in X and Y dir-ections to almost any spot, which is within the tracks 76, 77, 83, 84.
Attached to the front of upper carrier 90 is transparent plastic plate 93 carrying one or more knobs 94 for moving the carriers 80, 90. Crosshairs or other optical aids 95 engraved on the plastic plate 93 may be positioned over any address on scale 74 in order to locate a microfiche image under the image lens 60.
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A pair of spaced parallel glass plates lOO, lOl are mounted on the upper carrier 90. In greater detail, lower plate lOl lies on carrier 90 in the space between parallel side rails 102, 103. Upper plate 100 is cemented or other-wise attached to a hinge member 105 having opposed pins ;
106, 107 which rest in bearings 108, 109 formed in the ~ ~
side rails. Hence, to m~nually load, replace or clean a ~ -microfiche, upper glass plate lOO may be lifted and a micro-fichellO may be placed between it and the lower glass plate lOl. It should now be apparent how the microfiche image lll is placed under the image lens 60 when knob 94 is moved to place the crosshairs 95 over the address Al4, for example. Likewise, any other microfiche image may also be placed under the image lens in a similar manner.
Mounted, in any suitable manner, inside housing 52, and over hole 73 and condeser lens 62 is an image lens support plate 120. A cutout 121 enables passage of the light from condenser lens 62 through plate 120 and to the image lens 60. Over the support plate 120 is a lens selecting plate ;~
122 having a slot 123 therein. A pair of screws 124, 125 fit through slot 123 and into threaded holes (not shown) in the plate 120. Thus, a lever and knob 126 may be slid -in directions E,F to selectively slide plate 122 over plate 120 and thereby selectively place on the image lens 60 or 128 in the optical path. One lens may project one size microfiche image and the other a different size microfiche image, for example.
Integrally mounted on each lens mount is a bracket 130, 131 having aligned bearings 132, 133 for receiving a focus-ing rod 134. An L-shaped groove 135 is formed in the rod 134 to fit into windows 136, 137 in the lens mounts and gear against a lens fitted 1~)44616 therein. A thumb wheel 140 may be rotated in directions G, H to turn the rod 134 and thereby lift or lower the lens. If the rotary motion is in direction H, the L groove 135 lifts the lens 60, 123 in mounts 136, 137. Likewise motion in direction F causes L-groove 135 to lower the lens in the mounts 136, 137. As the lenses raise or lower, the image is focused on the screen 51. Lever and knob 126 fit through slot 142 and thu~b wheel 140 fits through slot;l43 in housing 52. -According to the invention, an elevator 54 is provided for raising a cartridge to a discrete level for thereby - .
selecting a particular microfiche from a library file. -;
In greater details, a number of microfiche~fillm 150 (Fig.
3) are packed in a spaced parallel relationship inside a cartridge. Shelves (not shown) are formed inside the car-tridge to hold the microfiche in their respective discrete places. It is irrelevant how the microfiche are put into the cartridge. They may be inserted by the user, either by hand or by placing a microfiche film between plates 100, 101 and then allowing the reader to insert it automatically into the cartridge.
The outside vertical cartridge walls have grooves 151, 152 formed in opposite sides to receive tabs 153, 154 formed on an elevator base plate mechanism 155. As seen in Fig. 2, the cartridge 55 is being slid into place be- ~-twe~nthe tabs 153, 154 on the elevator base plate. When the cartridge is snuggly in place, it fits against the front of the elevator base plate 155. The top of the cartridge is broken away at 157 (Fig. 2 and in Fig. 6) to reveal the upper most mocrofiche in the library file. A
pair of notches 158, 158 (Fig. 6) are formed on each of the opposing front corners of each of the microfiche so that extractor hooks may enter . .
1044616 ::
the front of the cartridge, ride up or down through the ~ ~ -vertically aligned microfiche notches 158, 158 and stop adjacent a selected one of the microfiche. Then, the ~ -extractor hook is withdrawn in direction 159 to thereby pull the microfiche at the selected cartridge height from ~
the library file inside the cartridge. -Means in the form of the elevator of Figs. 2-6 are provided to raise or lower the cartridge by a precisely selected distance, to thereby position the extractor hooks adjacent the selected microfiche. The elevator motion is -controlled by a lever arm tab 161 which slides in a slot 162 on the top of the microfiche reader housing. ~lph-numerical characters are printed on base unit 61 adjacent ~
the lever tab 161 to identify the height of the elevator ~ :
and, therefore, the microfiche selected from cartridge 55.
The elevator mechanism compri~es the elevator base plate ~-. ,: , .
170 (Fig. lC), an elevator shaft 171, a pair of oppositely disposed guides 172, 173 and a control plate 174. The elevator base plate 170 includes a pair of opposed slots .~ - -176, 177 (Fig. 2) which receive the edges of guides 172, 173. The elevator shaft 171 includes an elongated slot ;~, 180 which fits behind the edge guide 173. A screw 179 fitsthrough the slot 180 in the shaft and turns into hole ~-181 in edge guide 173 and the bottom of the shaft 171 is attached to a member 155 which is vertically dependent from the elevator base plate 170 (Fig. 3) thereby vertically stabilizing the shaft. Accordingly, the elevator base plate 170 can slide up and down on the edge guides 172, 173 without binding. q Fig. 4 explains the first interlock mechanism whereby the microfiche are locked into the cartridge while the cartridge is out of the reading position. In greater detail, a plate 190 ,'~
`'~' ~4~6~6 . .
-. havinp, a detent 1~1, is pivotally mounted at 192 and at an -~
oppositely disposed pivo~ point on the bottom of the cartridge. .
A spring (not shown) biases the pla~e 190 in direction IC, whereby -``; detent 191 enters the cartridge to fit into a notch in the - micro.fiche and prevent ~heir removal from the cartridge. To `... ..
~ manually load and unload the cartrid~e, a tab 193 inte~rally formed ;' on plate 190 is pressed in direc~ion J. PlaLe 190 then pivots to ~ .... , , ~ . ..
move detent 191 out of the cartridge and out of the notch in the microfiche. Microiche may be inserted into or removed from the ' ~10 cartridge 55. Then, the tab 193 is released. Responsive to a `~
spring bias, plate 190 pivots on point 192, detent 191 re-enters ~,;," ::
the cartridge, and the microfiche are again locked into the cartridge.
~,i Means are provided for interlocking the cartridge into ~
~;~ the reader to preclude its removal while a microfiche is removed ~ ;
therefrom. The microfiche are also locked in the cartridge so that :~, ,; . -they-cannot be inadvertently removed therefrom except when the ---cartridge is locked in the reader. More par~icularly, as the elevator base plate 170 slides up the edge guides 172, 173, it engages the shoulders 182, 183 which control the interlock for thc microiche in cartridge 55. The vertical space below shoulders 182i~183 provides a clearance for the insertion of a cartridge SS into the elevator mechanism.
As the elevator 54 raises, the edge guides 172, 173 (Fig. 5) slide in slots 176, 177 without contacting the cartridge 55 until shoulders 182, 183 enter slots (194) (Fig. 4) on the cartridge.
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~ The eIevator continues rising after it reaches the shoulders 182, ~ `
i~ 183. As the shoulder 183 passes over plate 190, it pivots in li .~ direction J to lift the detent 191 out of the cartridge and out ; of the notches in the micro~iche. The microfiche may now be ^ 11 - ~, ~ G
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extracted fxom the caxtx~d~e~ but the caxtridge cannot be xemoYed - from the reader owl~ng to ~nter~erence of the edge gui~des aboye - shoulders 182, 183 ~n slots~ 194 of th~ cartr~d~e. Thi~s inter-ference occurs wRen the caxtrid~e 55 ~s moYed upward to coxrespond -~
to microf~che po~tlon No. 1, as-well as all other correspond~ng ;;
, .. ~ - , , , positions. `
- The elevating control mechanism comprises a vertically ' oriented plate 174 (Fig~ 5] havi~ng an inclined slot 200 formed there~
t.,:~ in. Dependent from and integral ~ith the elevator base plate 170 is ^
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the vertical plate 155 having a pin 202 fixed perpendicularly there-to. The pin 202 rides in slot 200. Therefore, as plate 174 moves back and forth in directions L, M, the pin 202 slides along the in-clined slot 200 to move the elevator up and down in directions N, P
~¦ ~e.g., dotted lines in Fig. 5 show how the inclined slot has moved ,t,.
to position 200a to thereby lower the pin to the position 202a).
'~l The plate 174 has lower edge wheels 204, 205, which ride h~
~; on a rail 203 (Figs. 1, 5). Integrally formed on plate 174 is an upper tab 207 which fits into a slot 208 on a plate 209 (Fig. 1) ~, in base unit 61. A control lever 211 having tab 161 is pivotally .i~ 20 attached at 212 to plate 174. A clock spring 213 (Fig. 5) urges ! j the lever to a raised position. In such a position, the tab 161 projects upwardly through the slot 162 in the top of the base 61.
-~ A detent 214 is integrally formed on the lever 211 having tab 161. ~-~;i! Detent 214 fits into any one of many holes 215 longitudinally `
disposed in plate 209 along a path parallel to the slot 162.
~I Thus, the lever arm tab 161 may be pushed downwardly against the bias of clock spring 213, and slid in directions L, M to a .i., .,~;,. . .
selected spot which is identified by the a~pha-numerical scale i~
,~ 163 ~Fig. lA), representing an index of the microfiche contained G 30 in cartridge 55. Then, the tab 161 is released, and spring 213 . .
~ forces detent 214 into the ad~oining hole 215. The mechanical ~`
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i dimensions are such that a selected microfiche, identified by the .. .... . .
;~ alpha-numerical scale 163 is opposite an extractor arm whenever detent 214 i~ in a hole 215 identifying that microfiche. ``
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This way, any Microiche in ~he library file may be selected ~-and extracted from the cartridge.
Means are provided for extracting the selected micro-ficl~e 150 rom the cartridge 55. In greater detail, an extractor plate 220 (Fi~s. lC, 8, 9, 10~ has a generally box shape with extractor hoolcs 221, 222 dependent from the leading corners thereo~.
(The term "leadin~" means the end of the extractor plate which enters the cartridge.) The bottom of the extractor plate 220 has a pair of wheels 223, 224 which ride in directions C and D
,:- .:, alon~ a U-shaped channel 225 on the inside front of housing 52 (~ig. 8).
~: A third wheel 226 on the back of the extractor plate rides in a slot 227 on the back of the housin~ 52. A flange on wheel 226 -~
;i ; enables extractor plate 220 to be tipped in directions T, V with-~ ..... .
out pulling the wheel 226 from the slot 227. A no~ch 230 is cut out o the top of the U-shaped rail 225 so that wheel 223 may be ~; . , lifted out o the track when the extractor plate tips up in direction T, as will be explained.
; Lever 231 is ~ixed in a hole 232 on the extractor plate ~ 220 and fits through a slot 233 on the housin~ 52. There~ore, it ,,~ 20 should now be apparent that the extractor plate 220 rolls back , .:
.~ and orth in directions C, D and tips up and down in directions T, V under the control of the sliding ~ile extraction lever 231 : as it is manually moved alon~ slot 233. The tipping motion is controlled when lever 231 slides up and down in the o~ vertical .. slot 234.
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. The top o the extractor plate 220 is cut ou~ at 237 il:
'~` so that the micro~iche ima~e may be pl-Oj cctcd upwar(lly there :: .
, throu~ rom the ima~e lcns. The cut out at 238 enal~lcs a re-. . ~
;~.` moval of the lcns ~or maintcnance, rcpail-, or replaccmcnt.
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1~44f~16 The microfiche extraction operation should be most i`~` apparent from an inspection o~ Fig. 6. In grcater detail, the slidin~ extraction lever 231 is moved in direction C (Fig. 8) to the end - of slot 233. This places the extractor hooks 221, 222 in a : ,. ..
position which is over the vertical notches 158, 158 in the ~ ; microiche. The cartridge 55 is then slipped into the eleva~or.
''!-', Tapered internal front walls 240, 241 (Fig. 6) of the cartridge .~
~ cooperate with the tapered corners 242, 243 on ~he front of the ;~ microfiche in order to ~uide and direct the cartridge to a position , ,. i : .
; lO where the notches 158, 15S are directly under the extractor hoolcs 222, 223 As the elevator raises or lowers, the notches 158 of a selected microfiche 155 come to rest adjacent the ends o~
extractor hooks 221, 222. When the sliding extraction lever 231 moves in direction S, the microfiche is pulled out of cartridge 55, ;,, .. :-with motion in direction 159. When the sliding lever 231 is !~
pulled in direction R, the microfiche is returned into place in the cartridge frolll which it was extracted. Since the elevator is not able to move while the microfiche is out of ~he cartridge, it is 20 returned to the exact same place in the cartridge. -Means are provided for preventin~ an extraction or return ~~ o the microfiche unless the elevator cartridge and carrier are .:'.~,1 properly interloclced. More specifically, the elevator shaft 171 ,.` (Fig. lC) includes a row o~ holes 250 which mate with a detent .: (not shown) that can only be unlatchcd when the extractor platc 220 , ." . : .
is in the extract position. Hence, the elevator cannot be raised ::
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~; or lowered ater slidin~, extraction lever 231 ;.s n~ovcd ~ny apprcciable ~,~ distance in direction S. This means ~hat, when a micro~iche is extracted, the vacatcd spo~ in the li~r;lry file remains propcrly `r 30 located for the re~urll and rci.nseI^tioll o~ the micro~icllc.
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104~16 ~` Me~ns are proY~ded ~oX pxevent~ng moYement of the carr~age 80, 90 during the ext~act~on and relns~rt~on of the .. . :
microfiche. More part~cularly, the Back of hous~ng 52 includes two cut outs 253, 254 ~g. 7~ w~ch are part of an ~nterlocking mechan~sm w~ich must be val~dly posi~tioned before an extraction or return of a microf~che is possible. Carrier 90 includes a protruding detent 255 wh~ch fits into the cut out 253. Therefore, the carrier 90 cannot be moved into a microfiche extraction position unless carrier 9Q ~s first moved all the way in direction C and then carrier 80 is moved all the way in direction B. When in this position, detent 255 enters the cut out 253. When the extractor plate 120 is also moved all the way in direction C, the extractor hooks 221, 222 are resting between~the side flanges and in the bottom of the L-shaped rails 102, 103 as hook 221 is shown resting in Fig. 7.
It should now be apparent that detent 255 prevents carrier , . .
,~; movement in directions C, D and hooks 221, 222 prevent carrier movement in directions A, B. Therefore, only one path can be ~I followed during the extraction and reinsertion of a microfiche.
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~' 20 That path is for the hooks 221, 222 to glide between the L-shaped ~
, ., rails.
Briefly in resume of the operation thus far, a cartridge 55 is inserted onto the elevator base plate 170 and lever tab 161 is pushed down and slid to select an alpha-numerical indication which pla~es extractor hooks 221, 222 in the notches 158 of a selected microfiche. Next, the sliding extract lever 231 is moved in direction D (Fig. 9) to move extractor plate 220, thereby pulling the selected microfiche from the cartridge. The microfiche 110 (Fig. lB~ slides in between the ~
glass plates 100, 101 of the upper carrier 90. Continued `
movement of the select lever 231 brings the microfiche 110 ,;~" : .,.
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to the proper operating position between glass plates 100, ~; 101. At that time it is necessary to remove the extractor . ...
hooks 221, 222 from the microfiche notches 158 and to raise . the hooks above the L-shaped carrier rails 102, 103 so that -`
. rectilinear carriage movement may proceed. More over, it iS necessary to back the hooks 221, 222 somewhat in the `~;
~; notches 158 to avoid damaging the microfiche when the hook i. . .
,'.a~ i s lifted. -~`
`'i Means are provided for lifting the extractor hooks out of the microfiche notches and for releasing the carrier . , interlocks illustrated in Fig. 7. In greater details, it should be noted that the vertical end 234 of slot 233 is inclined somewhate to the left of vertical (as viewed in ~
Figs. 8-10). This inclination is in the direction C which '~ `
is opposite to the direction D in which the microfiche `' ' travels as it is extracted from the cartridge. Therefore, when the lever 231 is lifted into slot 234, the extraction plate is actually pushed back in;`direction C. This causes r .:
hooks 221, 222 to back off from the leading edge of the notch 158 which are engaged during extraction. The in-,~ clination of slot 234 is such that the hooks 221, 222 do not move back far enough to touch the trailing edge of the notch 158.
Beneath the cutout 230 in the U-shaped channel 225 is ~.
a leaf spring 260 for upwardly urging the extractor plate wheels 223, 224. When wheel 224 rolls over the leaf spring -260, the leaf spring has no effect because lever 231 is then moving in the horizontal slot 233 to restrict any lifting movement. Thus, the wheel 224 rides smoothly past cutout 230 and continues its travel in the U-shaped channel 225.
When the extractor plate 220 reaches the operating pos-~,~ ition, at the extremity of its excursion in direction D, lever 231 is opposite the vertical slot 234 and wheel 223 `
is opposite .
...
~`' . , ' . .
0~616cutout 230. The li~ht sprin~, 260 tends to form an lnclined plate as shown in Fi~. 12, with a resulting wheel 223 motion i.n direction V. This means that the hooks 221, 222 will be backed slightly and also lifted in direction V, ~hereby cleari.n~ notches 158 in ;. the microfiche witllout touching them. As a result, the extraction ~ .
plate 220 is tipped, as shown in Fig. 10, thereby raising the hooks 221, 222, out o the L-shaped carrier rails 102, 103 and .. ,.. ~ . :
;.~ releasin~ one of ~he carrier interlocks, seen in Fig. 7. The . .
~ carrier may now be pulled in direction A and then direction D, .
t,..'` 10 whereupon the microflche may ~e moved freely to any location so that cross hairs 95 may be placed over any ima~,e locator index at 74 (Fig. lC).
,, ., ~, ,,~. An additional interlock feature of the present invention ~....... .
' prevents movement of extractor plate 220, and lever 231, when -~
carriage 80, gO is anywhere but in the load positi.on, shown in -.. Fi~. 7. As extractor plate 220 moves upward, as sho~n in Fig. 10, ~. ..... .
. to lift hooks 221, 222 from L-shaped carrier rails 102, 103, ;~ carrier 80, 90 is free to move to any location. When so moved, ,, .
.: the top of plate 266 on the rear of upper carrier 90, as well as ::- 20 the edges of the plate 266, interfer with hooks 221, 22? and :. .
~i prevent the do~ward movement of the hooks and extractor plate 7~
;~. 220. Slide lever remains locked upward in slot 234, and ~he -i,: i ti~ extractor cannot move. Thus, once a microfiche 110 has been located in the carrier 80, 90, and the carrier moved away from ~ :
~ the load position, the above described interlock prevents another c~, fiche from bein~ ex~rac~ed from the cartrid~e 55. Conversely, ~ -.. eacl~ fiche must he rcplaced in the same lo~:ation in tlle cartrid~e -., ~, , .
~j ~rom ~hich it was extractcd, due to an in~er].ock or elevator ~ ~
.,," :;,, :
. mechanism 171 (~i~,. lC), and a second iclle callno~ be removed j~
., .
.' ~ ' '.
until th~ preYious~ ~che h~s been reinserte~d in the c~tridge.
It is apparent that th~s ~nterloc~ system l`nsures t~e i~ntegxity of the librar~ file and pEe~ents ~nadvertent oper~tion.
Means are provided for insur~ny a proper focus. Briefly, all mechanical parts are certain to have manufacturing tolerances.
The looser the tolerances, the lower the cost. Therefore, it is desirable for the image lenses in mounts 60, 128 to have a focal length wh~ch is ~ndependent of these tolerances. A moments re- `
~ . . .
flection makes it clear that the image lens mounts should ride -, 10 freely upon the top of glass plate 100. The sides of the glass ... ,~ ... .
are exactly parallel. The thickness of the glass is precisely ~- dimensioned. The microfiche 110 (Fig. lC) is held firmly against ~
`~ the underside of the cover g~ass plate 100. Hence, the image lens ~ ~-and the microfiche always have the same ~pacial relationship if the lens mount 60 merely glides across the floats on the top of ~; the cover glass.
; For the foregoing reasons, the lens mounts sit loosely ~; in sockets on plate 122 (Fig. lC). Focusing rod 134 is supported `~
by bearings 132, 133 integrally attached to the loose lens mounts ~-; 20 60, 128. A pivot point 263 frees rod 134 from any rigid alignment .~.. ,;.................................................................... ...
with housing 52 and allows focusing rod 134 to tip to any position `~
~~ fixed by the bearings 132, 133 (i.e., a position parallel to the ; surface of the cover glass 100). The bottom 264 (Fig. 13) of the ~, lens mount 60 is rounded or otherwise shaped to enable the lens ,~ to glide smoothly over the surface of glass 100.
~;~ The problem is that the lens mount 60 must be removed .
~ from the top of glass plate 100 when the carrier 90 is pulled ; .~, ~ .
~` forward (direction A~ so that the glass plate 100 may be lifted - ~
., .
- ~ ' ., : .
, ~ . ~ ~ .. .. . .......................... . . .
l~J4~16 , . .
to manually~change a m~cxQf,~che ~n ~he carr~x. H~eyex~ if the lens mount floats~freel~ on the cover glass~surface~ ~t w~ll tend to r~de off and ch~p the edge of the ~lass, as it ~s so ~emoved from and th~en returned onto the glass 100. Accord-. ~ .
ingly, a sheIf 266 ~such as sta~nless steelL ~5 formed adjacent the edge o~ the cover glass on the back of the carrier 8Q to receive and support the lens mounts 6Q, 128 when the carrier is moved to its extremity d~rection A.
~, More specifically, at the position 6QC, the lens mount rests upon and sl;~des-over the upper surface of glass plate 100 as ~.: ,, ;;
'; it is moved to locate a microfiche ~mage. As the carrier 9Q is ~; pulled in direction A, the lens mount 60 engages the shelf at ~; point 267. There, the edges of the shelf 266 and the lens mount are in the shape of mutually inclined planes. Thus, the lens mount ~; 60 is lifted to the position 60b before it moves off the edge of cover glass 100. Thus, at the point where the edge is likely to -chip, the lens mount is raised by a distance so that chipping is `1 not possible.
Finally, the carrier 90 reaches the outward extremity of its movement in direction A and the lens mounts 60, 128 are resting upon the stainless steel shelf 266. ~;
~! The microfiche carrier glass plate 100 may now be lifted in any suitable manner. The microfiche between plates lOQ, 101 !1j`,. .. :` : ~
~;l may be removed, cleaned, replaced or otherwise adjusted. Then, j the carrier 90 is pushed back in direction B and the lens mount ~:
60 returns over the path indicated by the three positions 60a, ~¦ 6Qb, 60c until they again glide smoothly over the top of the ~ ;
! glass sheet 100. ~ ~`
~ 1 r.~ Detent means compris~ng holes 201 lFig. lC~ are provided `
in elevator mechanism 171 to cooperate wtth a lever ~not shown~ `
.. ' ~.. ::
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~19,~
~: .:
~,:, .
-~ :
~: 10446~6 activated by movement of upper carrier 90 into and out of ~:
the load position shown in Fig. 7. The lever is connected to elevator base plate 170, and`prevent the elevator .::
..: : . .
,:: mechanism from raising or lowering unless the carrier 80, .
.,` . ~
, 90 are in the load position. This interlock structure in- , :
sures that any microfiche film 110 extracted from cartridge - .
. 55 is returned to the same place in the library file from ~. which it was removed. - ~
',:,' . .
, Those who are skilled in the art will readily perceive ' .
how various modifications may be made.within the scope and the spirit of the invention. Therefore, the appended claims '.~ ' ,.; are to be construed to cover all equivalent structures.
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This invention rela~es to microfiche readers and more -particularly to readers for automatically selectin~ and project-ing ima~es photocopied on microiche, especially--althou~h not ex-elusively--preloaded or preloadable in cartridges which may simply be inserted into the readër.
Microfiche film is a known form of graphic data pre-sentation wherein a number of pages are photographically repro- ~ -duced on a single "card" of microfiche film (such as a card of 10. 3" x 5" to 4" x 6", for example). Any suitable number (up to, say, a thousand or so) of pages may be photographically formed in ~
an orthogonal array on a single microfich~ "card" of photographic - `
film. The microfiche film may then be placed in an optical reader and moved with a rectilinear motion until an image of a selected page is positioned in an op~ical projection pa~h leading to a dis- ~
play screen. ~;
` It would be uneconomical to have a microfiche reader system for a single microfiche card; therefore, the user is likely to have an entire library file including many microfiche which must 20 be kept in a specific order for quick recall Therefore, it should be apparent that use of microfiche involves filing and $toring in a library file, removal and mechanical manipula~ion of ~he micro-; ~iche, and then refiling in the library ile. Eàch microLiche must be found in the library ile with little or almost no search, and then returned to the same spot in the library file, for future `~
reference.
The mechanical manipulation o a micro~iche involves slid-ing the microiche into and out of the library ~ile. Then, it must be placed in a carricr in ~he readcr. Next, the carricr must be 30 moved in X and Y dircctions, over a rectilincar pa~h until the A
... ` . . . .
. . ~ , .
. ... ~ . . .
'' 10 44~ 1~
! selected image in the ortho~onal array is positioned in the optical path o~ a projector. Thereafter, the microfiche is removed from the reader and returned to the library file.
Human efor~s lead to further problems. If manually kept, the microfiche library file is thumbed and soon becomes dog eared. Any grease on the fingers clouds the ~ilm and re-~ duces the quality of the reproduced image. Human error may lead to misfiling and an effective loss of the microfiche. The manipulation of the microfiche within the reade~ could cause ~' lO scratches on the ilm.
To avoid these and other problems, it is possible to ;-~
:,;- : ., keep the microfiche library file in cartridges to that only the -cartrïdges need be touched by the human operator. The mechanical .: .
microfiche reader equipment may be designed to manipulate the 'r''~' cartridge, to find and extract the desired microiche and, after , ~. ..
use, to return it to its proper library file loca~ion within the ~ -cartridge without damage. There should be mean~ for saely retain-ing the entire library file during storage, wi~hout danger of any individual microfiche falling from the cartridge.
An object of the invention is to provide new and improved microiche readers using cartridges for storing library files.
Here, an object is to provide suitable interlocks so that the in-dividual microfiche cannot be lost or damaged. In greater detail, ~--,.; .:
an object is to enable microfiche to bc loaded into many cartridges which may then be selected and inserted in~o the microfiche reader.
, A urther object is to provide a number o mechanicalinterloclcs which prevent ~he reader from bein~ operated incorrectly or misused to damage or lose a microfiche. Accordin~ly, an object 'of the invention is ~o provide a simplc and obvious orm o operatin -- . ,, ~ .
~ 2 -~hiCh may be used by people ~ho ~ve no speci~l training in the use of a micro~iche reader. ~exe an object is to enable, say a caSual p~tron of a public libx~r~, for example, to use the reader after havin~ recei~ed only the s~mplest form of instructions.
~ particular object is to provide a microfiche xeader where even simple maintenance may be performed by persons ~-~aving little or no training.
In keeping with an aspect of the invention, these and other objects are accomplished by providing a microfiche - `
reader having a number of mechanically interacting parts. A
cartridge containing a library file may be inserted into an elevator of the reader which is then operated until a selected microfiche is brought adjacent an extractor mechanism. The -extractor withdraws the microfiche from the cartridge and passes it through the reader and onto a carrier. The carrier moves and a selected image comes into an optical path which projects it onto a screen. Thereafter, the microfiche is returned to the same location in the cartridge from which it was extracted. Suitable mechanically interlocking parts prevent ~20 an improper operation which might damage either the microfiche ;~ or the reader.
Thus broadly, the invention contemplates a microfiche reader system of a type which uses a cartridge -~
~ .. . .
containing a library file of microfiche film stored in a -spaced parallel relationship. A carrier means receives a selected film from the file for transporting the film with a rectilinear motion through the reader, and an extraction means ;~
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~ ~ ... . .~ - , .. . . . .
~44f~16 . .
r~moves the selected film fro~ the cartridge fo~ inserting ~t ~nto the carrier. Thereafter the film is returned r'' from the carrier to the cartridge. An interlocking means x~
~recludes movement of the cartridge at all times while a icrofiche film i9 out of the cartridge and precludes a sequence ~
of mechanical movements of the reader parts which might damage --the film while it is out of the cartridge. ~
The nature of a preferred embodiment of the ,;-~ -invention may be understood best ~y a study of the attached :~ la drawing wherein: , Fig. lA shows the inventive microfiche reader in perspective; ~ ~-Figs. lB and lC (when assembled as shown ~r~, '' in Fig. lDl form an exploded view of the inventive reader;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of a microfiche cartridge as it is being inserted into an elevator mechanism built into the reader;
Fig. 3 is a front elevation view taken along line 3-3 of Fig. 2;
`
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61~;
Fig, 4 is a perspeetive view o~ a corner of t:he cartrid~e showing a locking mechanism ~or holding a library file of micro-iehe film in the eartridge un~il it is loclced in place withln the reader and is ready for an extraction ole a microfiche film;
Fig, S is a schematie front view (similar t:o Fig. 3) of an elevator mechanism for selectively raising the cartrid~e to a microfiche selecting position;
.
Fig. 6 is a schematic view, in perspective, of an end ~-~
o~ the cartrid~e positioned adj acent an extractor mechanism;
. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a fragment of the ex~
traetor mechanism and a micro~iche carrier showing an interlock ~ -mechanism for insuring against improper carrier motion while a mierofiche is being extraeted;
Fig. 8 is a perspect1ve view of an eXtraCtoL; mechanism;
Fig. 9 is a first stop motion, schema~ic view of the extractor mechanism shortly after the start of the microfiche - :
extraetion process;
Fig, 10 is a second and similar stop motion, schematic -view at the end of the extraction process;
Fi~. 11 is a plan view of a fragment of a corner of a microfiche carrier and an extractor hook;
Fig. 12 is a schematic disclosure of how the extractor hook is lifted to the Fig. 10 position wi~hout dama~e to the ...
microfiche; and Fig. 13 is a sehematic diagram showing how image ~onning lens holders slide over the upper surfaee of a microfiehe cover glass on the earrier , witllout ehipping the edge of the -;
eover g l;~ s s .
_ 5 _ .
. : . . ~ . .
104461~6 :
The major assemblies of the inventive microfiche reader ~ ;
(Fig. lA) are a hood 50, screen 51, housing 52, lamp tray 53, elevator 54, cartridge 55, carrier 56 and convenience -~
tray 57. The hood 50 is a first self-contained unit com-prising a hollow box which includes a number of mirrors (not shown) defining a folded optical path by which an image is projected onto a screen 51, such as ground glass , or an equivalent plastic material. When as image on a microfiche film is placed under a~ image forming lens 60 .
(Fig. lB), that image is projected over the folded path .
within the hood and onto the screen 51.
..
The chassis of the microfiche reader is a second self-.
contained unit which comprises a base 61 having the hou~ing ~ ~-52 superimposed thereon. The method of completing the base to housing attachement is irrelevant, the housing could be ;~
welded to the base unit. The base unit 61 includes a -~
sliding tray 53 having condenser lens 62 positioned to directc~the light of a bulb (not shown) into the optical path, Tray 53 glides on tracks 63, 64 formed in the base 61. A connector 65 in the base mates with a corresponding connector 66 in the tray-53. Thus, to change a light bulb, ~.
replace a condenser lens, or the like, it is only necessàry to remove one tray 53 and to replace it with another tray.
This is important because modern bulbs tend to break if handled owing to a deposit of minute amounts of the salt -normally found all human fingers. Accordingly, one person r: . ' may be trained to use special tools to replace a bulb, but -the casual operator does not have to touch it. He only ~
' '.: :
has to replace a tray.
The tray 53 is covered by a plate 70 which slides into tracks 71, 72 superi,mposed above the tray. A hole 73 is formed in the plate 70 to enable passage of a light beam from the condenser . .
6 ~ `
~ . . .
lens 62 to the image forming lens 60. On the plate 70 is printed or otherwise formed a grid 74 which identifies the individual microfiche images by letter and number. For example, as here shown, the image on the upper left hand .
corner of a microfiche may have the address Al, the one on the upper right the address A14, and the one on the lower right the address H14. Likewise, every other microfiche image has a similar address. If the plate 70 is removed -and inverted or replaced, the addresses of any of many different sizes of microfiche images may be provided.
Carrier means are provided for extracting and manipula-ting a microfiche from the library file packed into the cartridge. This carrier is supported on a pair of spaced, ~: . . .: .
parallel guide rails 76, 77 extending transversely across - -the top of the base unit. A rectangular lower carrier 80 -~
has four wheels (two of which are numbered 81, 82 --Fig.
lB) which roll in the tracks 76, 77. Hence, lower carrier 80 may be pushed back and forth in directions A and B.
Mounted on tracks 83, 84, which are perpendicular to tracks 76, 77 is an upper carrier 90 having four wheels, two of which are numbered 91, 92, which ride on tracks 83, 84.
:: ~
Hence, upper carrier 90 may move back and forthc~in direc-tions C, D. Acoordingly, it should be apparent that the upper carrier may be rectilinearly moved in X and Y dir-ections to almost any spot, which is within the tracks 76, 77, 83, 84.
Attached to the front of upper carrier 90 is transparent plastic plate 93 carrying one or more knobs 94 for moving the carriers 80, 90. Crosshairs or other optical aids 95 engraved on the plastic plate 93 may be positioned over any address on scale 74 in order to locate a microfiche image under the image lens 60.
. . : . : . ,.:: , 1044616 ~ ~
A pair of spaced parallel glass plates lOO, lOl are mounted on the upper carrier 90. In greater detail, lower plate lOl lies on carrier 90 in the space between parallel side rails 102, 103. Upper plate 100 is cemented or other-wise attached to a hinge member 105 having opposed pins ;
106, 107 which rest in bearings 108, 109 formed in the ~ ~
side rails. Hence, to m~nually load, replace or clean a ~ -microfiche, upper glass plate lOO may be lifted and a micro-fichellO may be placed between it and the lower glass plate lOl. It should now be apparent how the microfiche image lll is placed under the image lens 60 when knob 94 is moved to place the crosshairs 95 over the address Al4, for example. Likewise, any other microfiche image may also be placed under the image lens in a similar manner.
Mounted, in any suitable manner, inside housing 52, and over hole 73 and condeser lens 62 is an image lens support plate 120. A cutout 121 enables passage of the light from condenser lens 62 through plate 120 and to the image lens 60. Over the support plate 120 is a lens selecting plate ;~
122 having a slot 123 therein. A pair of screws 124, 125 fit through slot 123 and into threaded holes (not shown) in the plate 120. Thus, a lever and knob 126 may be slid -in directions E,F to selectively slide plate 122 over plate 120 and thereby selectively place on the image lens 60 or 128 in the optical path. One lens may project one size microfiche image and the other a different size microfiche image, for example.
Integrally mounted on each lens mount is a bracket 130, 131 having aligned bearings 132, 133 for receiving a focus-ing rod 134. An L-shaped groove 135 is formed in the rod 134 to fit into windows 136, 137 in the lens mounts and gear against a lens fitted 1~)44616 therein. A thumb wheel 140 may be rotated in directions G, H to turn the rod 134 and thereby lift or lower the lens. If the rotary motion is in direction H, the L groove 135 lifts the lens 60, 123 in mounts 136, 137. Likewise motion in direction F causes L-groove 135 to lower the lens in the mounts 136, 137. As the lenses raise or lower, the image is focused on the screen 51. Lever and knob 126 fit through slot 142 and thu~b wheel 140 fits through slot;l43 in housing 52. -According to the invention, an elevator 54 is provided for raising a cartridge to a discrete level for thereby - .
selecting a particular microfiche from a library file. -;
In greater details, a number of microfiche~fillm 150 (Fig.
3) are packed in a spaced parallel relationship inside a cartridge. Shelves (not shown) are formed inside the car-tridge to hold the microfiche in their respective discrete places. It is irrelevant how the microfiche are put into the cartridge. They may be inserted by the user, either by hand or by placing a microfiche film between plates 100, 101 and then allowing the reader to insert it automatically into the cartridge.
The outside vertical cartridge walls have grooves 151, 152 formed in opposite sides to receive tabs 153, 154 formed on an elevator base plate mechanism 155. As seen in Fig. 2, the cartridge 55 is being slid into place be- ~-twe~nthe tabs 153, 154 on the elevator base plate. When the cartridge is snuggly in place, it fits against the front of the elevator base plate 155. The top of the cartridge is broken away at 157 (Fig. 2 and in Fig. 6) to reveal the upper most mocrofiche in the library file. A
pair of notches 158, 158 (Fig. 6) are formed on each of the opposing front corners of each of the microfiche so that extractor hooks may enter . .
1044616 ::
the front of the cartridge, ride up or down through the ~ ~ -vertically aligned microfiche notches 158, 158 and stop adjacent a selected one of the microfiche. Then, the ~ -extractor hook is withdrawn in direction 159 to thereby pull the microfiche at the selected cartridge height from ~
the library file inside the cartridge. -Means in the form of the elevator of Figs. 2-6 are provided to raise or lower the cartridge by a precisely selected distance, to thereby position the extractor hooks adjacent the selected microfiche. The elevator motion is -controlled by a lever arm tab 161 which slides in a slot 162 on the top of the microfiche reader housing. ~lph-numerical characters are printed on base unit 61 adjacent ~
the lever tab 161 to identify the height of the elevator ~ :
and, therefore, the microfiche selected from cartridge 55.
The elevator mechanism compri~es the elevator base plate ~-. ,: , .
170 (Fig. lC), an elevator shaft 171, a pair of oppositely disposed guides 172, 173 and a control plate 174. The elevator base plate 170 includes a pair of opposed slots .~ - -176, 177 (Fig. 2) which receive the edges of guides 172, 173. The elevator shaft 171 includes an elongated slot ;~, 180 which fits behind the edge guide 173. A screw 179 fitsthrough the slot 180 in the shaft and turns into hole ~-181 in edge guide 173 and the bottom of the shaft 171 is attached to a member 155 which is vertically dependent from the elevator base plate 170 (Fig. 3) thereby vertically stabilizing the shaft. Accordingly, the elevator base plate 170 can slide up and down on the edge guides 172, 173 without binding. q Fig. 4 explains the first interlock mechanism whereby the microfiche are locked into the cartridge while the cartridge is out of the reading position. In greater detail, a plate 190 ,'~
`'~' ~4~6~6 . .
-. havinp, a detent 1~1, is pivotally mounted at 192 and at an -~
oppositely disposed pivo~ point on the bottom of the cartridge. .
A spring (not shown) biases the pla~e 190 in direction IC, whereby -``; detent 191 enters the cartridge to fit into a notch in the - micro.fiche and prevent ~heir removal from the cartridge. To `... ..
~ manually load and unload the cartrid~e, a tab 193 inte~rally formed ;' on plate 190 is pressed in direc~ion J. PlaLe 190 then pivots to ~ .... , , ~ . ..
move detent 191 out of the cartridge and out of the notch in the microfiche. Microiche may be inserted into or removed from the ' ~10 cartridge 55. Then, the tab 193 is released. Responsive to a `~
spring bias, plate 190 pivots on point 192, detent 191 re-enters ~,;," ::
the cartridge, and the microfiche are again locked into the cartridge.
~,i Means are provided for interlocking the cartridge into ~
~;~ the reader to preclude its removal while a microfiche is removed ~ ;
therefrom. The microfiche are also locked in the cartridge so that :~, ,; . -they-cannot be inadvertently removed therefrom except when the ---cartridge is locked in the reader. More par~icularly, as the elevator base plate 170 slides up the edge guides 172, 173, it engages the shoulders 182, 183 which control the interlock for thc microiche in cartridge 55. The vertical space below shoulders 182i~183 provides a clearance for the insertion of a cartridge SS into the elevator mechanism.
As the elevator 54 raises, the edge guides 172, 173 (Fig. 5) slide in slots 176, 177 without contacting the cartridge 55 until shoulders 182, 183 enter slots (194) (Fig. 4) on the cartridge.
. ~ ~
~ The eIevator continues rising after it reaches the shoulders 182, ~ `
i~ 183. As the shoulder 183 passes over plate 190, it pivots in li .~ direction J to lift the detent 191 out of the cartridge and out ; of the notches in the micro~iche. The microfiche may now be ^ 11 - ~, ~ G
.; ` , .
extracted fxom the caxtx~d~e~ but the caxtridge cannot be xemoYed - from the reader owl~ng to ~nter~erence of the edge gui~des aboye - shoulders 182, 183 ~n slots~ 194 of th~ cartr~d~e. Thi~s inter-ference occurs wRen the caxtrid~e 55 ~s moYed upward to coxrespond -~
to microf~che po~tlon No. 1, as-well as all other correspond~ng ;;
, .. ~ - , , , positions. `
- The elevating control mechanism comprises a vertically ' oriented plate 174 (Fig~ 5] havi~ng an inclined slot 200 formed there~
t.,:~ in. Dependent from and integral ~ith the elevator base plate 170 is ^
:::, . . .
the vertical plate 155 having a pin 202 fixed perpendicularly there-to. The pin 202 rides in slot 200. Therefore, as plate 174 moves back and forth in directions L, M, the pin 202 slides along the in-clined slot 200 to move the elevator up and down in directions N, P
~¦ ~e.g., dotted lines in Fig. 5 show how the inclined slot has moved ,t,.
to position 200a to thereby lower the pin to the position 202a).
'~l The plate 174 has lower edge wheels 204, 205, which ride h~
~; on a rail 203 (Figs. 1, 5). Integrally formed on plate 174 is an upper tab 207 which fits into a slot 208 on a plate 209 (Fig. 1) ~, in base unit 61. A control lever 211 having tab 161 is pivotally .i~ 20 attached at 212 to plate 174. A clock spring 213 (Fig. 5) urges ! j the lever to a raised position. In such a position, the tab 161 projects upwardly through the slot 162 in the top of the base 61.
-~ A detent 214 is integrally formed on the lever 211 having tab 161. ~-~;i! Detent 214 fits into any one of many holes 215 longitudinally `
disposed in plate 209 along a path parallel to the slot 162.
~I Thus, the lever arm tab 161 may be pushed downwardly against the bias of clock spring 213, and slid in directions L, M to a .i., .,~;,. . .
selected spot which is identified by the a~pha-numerical scale i~
,~ 163 ~Fig. lA), representing an index of the microfiche contained G 30 in cartridge 55. Then, the tab 161 is released, and spring 213 . .
~ forces detent 214 into the ad~oining hole 215. The mechanical ~`
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i dimensions are such that a selected microfiche, identified by the .. .... . .
;~ alpha-numerical scale 163 is opposite an extractor arm whenever detent 214 i~ in a hole 215 identifying that microfiche. ``
., ~ .
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10~4~1G
This way, any Microiche in ~he library file may be selected ~-and extracted from the cartridge.
Means are provided for extracting the selected micro-ficl~e 150 rom the cartridge 55. In greater detail, an extractor plate 220 (Fi~s. lC, 8, 9, 10~ has a generally box shape with extractor hoolcs 221, 222 dependent from the leading corners thereo~.
(The term "leadin~" means the end of the extractor plate which enters the cartridge.) The bottom of the extractor plate 220 has a pair of wheels 223, 224 which ride in directions C and D
,:- .:, alon~ a U-shaped channel 225 on the inside front of housing 52 (~ig. 8).
~: A third wheel 226 on the back of the extractor plate rides in a slot 227 on the back of the housin~ 52. A flange on wheel 226 -~
;i ; enables extractor plate 220 to be tipped in directions T, V with-~ ..... .
out pulling the wheel 226 from the slot 227. A no~ch 230 is cut out o the top of the U-shaped rail 225 so that wheel 223 may be ~; . , lifted out o the track when the extractor plate tips up in direction T, as will be explained.
; Lever 231 is ~ixed in a hole 232 on the extractor plate ~ 220 and fits through a slot 233 on the housin~ 52. There~ore, it ,,~ 20 should now be apparent that the extractor plate 220 rolls back , .:
.~ and orth in directions C, D and tips up and down in directions T, V under the control of the sliding ~ile extraction lever 231 : as it is manually moved alon~ slot 233. The tipping motion is controlled when lever 231 slides up and down in the o~ vertical .. slot 234.
, ., ~ :
. The top o the extractor plate 220 is cut ou~ at 237 il:
'~` so that the micro~iche ima~e may be pl-Oj cctcd upwar(lly there :: .
, throu~ rom the ima~e lcns. The cut out at 238 enal~lcs a re-. . ~
;~.` moval of the lcns ~or maintcnance, rcpail-, or replaccmcnt.
-. !
... .
, - 13 -: . ., . , . . . . - . .
1~44f~16 The microfiche extraction operation should be most i`~` apparent from an inspection o~ Fig. 6. In grcater detail, the slidin~ extraction lever 231 is moved in direction C (Fig. 8) to the end - of slot 233. This places the extractor hooks 221, 222 in a : ,. ..
position which is over the vertical notches 158, 158 in the ~ ; microiche. The cartridge 55 is then slipped into the eleva~or.
''!-', Tapered internal front walls 240, 241 (Fig. 6) of the cartridge .~
~ cooperate with the tapered corners 242, 243 on ~he front of the ;~ microfiche in order to ~uide and direct the cartridge to a position , ,. i : .
; lO where the notches 158, 15S are directly under the extractor hoolcs 222, 223 As the elevator raises or lowers, the notches 158 of a selected microfiche 155 come to rest adjacent the ends o~
extractor hooks 221, 222. When the sliding extraction lever 231 moves in direction S, the microfiche is pulled out of cartridge 55, ;,, .. :-with motion in direction 159. When the sliding lever 231 is !~
pulled in direction R, the microfiche is returned into place in the cartridge frolll which it was extracted. Since the elevator is not able to move while the microfiche is out of ~he cartridge, it is 20 returned to the exact same place in the cartridge. -Means are provided for preventin~ an extraction or return ~~ o the microfiche unless the elevator cartridge and carrier are .:'.~,1 properly interloclced. More specifically, the elevator shaft 171 ,.` (Fig. lC) includes a row o~ holes 250 which mate with a detent .: (not shown) that can only be unlatchcd when the extractor platc 220 , ." . : .
is in the extract position. Hence, the elevator cannot be raised ::
... .
~; or lowered ater slidin~, extraction lever 231 ;.s n~ovcd ~ny apprcciable ~,~ distance in direction S. This means ~hat, when a micro~iche is extracted, the vacatcd spo~ in the li~r;lry file remains propcrly `r 30 located for the re~urll and rci.nseI^tioll o~ the micro~icllc.
J' -- 14 ~
104~16 ~` Me~ns are proY~ded ~oX pxevent~ng moYement of the carr~age 80, 90 during the ext~act~on and relns~rt~on of the .. . :
microfiche. More part~cularly, the Back of hous~ng 52 includes two cut outs 253, 254 ~g. 7~ w~ch are part of an ~nterlocking mechan~sm w~ich must be val~dly posi~tioned before an extraction or return of a microf~che is possible. Carrier 90 includes a protruding detent 255 wh~ch fits into the cut out 253. Therefore, the carrier 90 cannot be moved into a microfiche extraction position unless carrier 9Q ~s first moved all the way in direction C and then carrier 80 is moved all the way in direction B. When in this position, detent 255 enters the cut out 253. When the extractor plate 120 is also moved all the way in direction C, the extractor hooks 221, 222 are resting between~the side flanges and in the bottom of the L-shaped rails 102, 103 as hook 221 is shown resting in Fig. 7.
It should now be apparent that detent 255 prevents carrier , . .
,~; movement in directions C, D and hooks 221, 222 prevent carrier movement in directions A, B. Therefore, only one path can be ~I followed during the extraction and reinsertion of a microfiche.
," ,~ .
~' 20 That path is for the hooks 221, 222 to glide between the L-shaped ~
, ., rails.
Briefly in resume of the operation thus far, a cartridge 55 is inserted onto the elevator base plate 170 and lever tab 161 is pushed down and slid to select an alpha-numerical indication which pla~es extractor hooks 221, 222 in the notches 158 of a selected microfiche. Next, the sliding extract lever 231 is moved in direction D (Fig. 9) to move extractor plate 220, thereby pulling the selected microfiche from the cartridge. The microfiche 110 (Fig. lB~ slides in between the ~
glass plates 100, 101 of the upper carrier 90. Continued `
movement of the select lever 231 brings the microfiche 110 ,;~" : .,.
- 15 ~ ~
, .~ ' - , .
`: ~ ;
to the proper operating position between glass plates 100, ~; 101. At that time it is necessary to remove the extractor . ...
hooks 221, 222 from the microfiche notches 158 and to raise . the hooks above the L-shaped carrier rails 102, 103 so that -`
. rectilinear carriage movement may proceed. More over, it iS necessary to back the hooks 221, 222 somewhat in the `~;
~; notches 158 to avoid damaging the microfiche when the hook i. . .
,'.a~ i s lifted. -~`
`'i Means are provided for lifting the extractor hooks out of the microfiche notches and for releasing the carrier . , interlocks illustrated in Fig. 7. In greater details, it should be noted that the vertical end 234 of slot 233 is inclined somewhate to the left of vertical (as viewed in ~
Figs. 8-10). This inclination is in the direction C which '~ `
is opposite to the direction D in which the microfiche `' ' travels as it is extracted from the cartridge. Therefore, when the lever 231 is lifted into slot 234, the extraction plate is actually pushed back in;`direction C. This causes r .:
hooks 221, 222 to back off from the leading edge of the notch 158 which are engaged during extraction. The in-,~ clination of slot 234 is such that the hooks 221, 222 do not move back far enough to touch the trailing edge of the notch 158.
Beneath the cutout 230 in the U-shaped channel 225 is ~.
a leaf spring 260 for upwardly urging the extractor plate wheels 223, 224. When wheel 224 rolls over the leaf spring -260, the leaf spring has no effect because lever 231 is then moving in the horizontal slot 233 to restrict any lifting movement. Thus, the wheel 224 rides smoothly past cutout 230 and continues its travel in the U-shaped channel 225.
When the extractor plate 220 reaches the operating pos-~,~ ition, at the extremity of its excursion in direction D, lever 231 is opposite the vertical slot 234 and wheel 223 `
is opposite .
...
~`' . , ' . .
0~616cutout 230. The li~ht sprin~, 260 tends to form an lnclined plate as shown in Fi~. 12, with a resulting wheel 223 motion i.n direction V. This means that the hooks 221, 222 will be backed slightly and also lifted in direction V, ~hereby cleari.n~ notches 158 in ;. the microfiche witllout touching them. As a result, the extraction ~ .
plate 220 is tipped, as shown in Fig. 10, thereby raising the hooks 221, 222, out o the L-shaped carrier rails 102, 103 and .. ,.. ~ . :
;.~ releasin~ one of ~he carrier interlocks, seen in Fig. 7. The . .
~ carrier may now be pulled in direction A and then direction D, .
t,..'` 10 whereupon the microflche may ~e moved freely to any location so that cross hairs 95 may be placed over any ima~,e locator index at 74 (Fig. lC).
,, ., ~, ,,~. An additional interlock feature of the present invention ~....... .
' prevents movement of extractor plate 220, and lever 231, when -~
carriage 80, gO is anywhere but in the load positi.on, shown in -.. Fi~. 7. As extractor plate 220 moves upward, as sho~n in Fig. 10, ~. ..... .
. to lift hooks 221, 222 from L-shaped carrier rails 102, 103, ;~ carrier 80, 90 is free to move to any location. When so moved, ,, .
.: the top of plate 266 on the rear of upper carrier 90, as well as ::- 20 the edges of the plate 266, interfer with hooks 221, 22? and :. .
~i prevent the do~ward movement of the hooks and extractor plate 7~
;~. 220. Slide lever remains locked upward in slot 234, and ~he -i,: i ti~ extractor cannot move. Thus, once a microfiche 110 has been located in the carrier 80, 90, and the carrier moved away from ~ :
~ the load position, the above described interlock prevents another c~, fiche from bein~ ex~rac~ed from the cartrid~e 55. Conversely, ~ -.. eacl~ fiche must he rcplaced in the same lo~:ation in tlle cartrid~e -., ~, , .
~j ~rom ~hich it was extractcd, due to an in~er].ock or elevator ~ ~
.,," :;,, :
. mechanism 171 (~i~,. lC), and a second iclle callno~ be removed j~
., .
.' ~ ' '.
until th~ preYious~ ~che h~s been reinserte~d in the c~tridge.
It is apparent that th~s ~nterloc~ system l`nsures t~e i~ntegxity of the librar~ file and pEe~ents ~nadvertent oper~tion.
Means are provided for insur~ny a proper focus. Briefly, all mechanical parts are certain to have manufacturing tolerances.
The looser the tolerances, the lower the cost. Therefore, it is desirable for the image lenses in mounts 60, 128 to have a focal length wh~ch is ~ndependent of these tolerances. A moments re- `
~ . . .
flection makes it clear that the image lens mounts should ride -, 10 freely upon the top of glass plate 100. The sides of the glass ... ,~ ... .
are exactly parallel. The thickness of the glass is precisely ~- dimensioned. The microfiche 110 (Fig. lC) is held firmly against ~
`~ the underside of the cover g~ass plate 100. Hence, the image lens ~ ~-and the microfiche always have the same ~pacial relationship if the lens mount 60 merely glides across the floats on the top of ~; the cover glass.
; For the foregoing reasons, the lens mounts sit loosely ~; in sockets on plate 122 (Fig. lC). Focusing rod 134 is supported `~
by bearings 132, 133 integrally attached to the loose lens mounts ~-; 20 60, 128. A pivot point 263 frees rod 134 from any rigid alignment .~.. ,;.................................................................... ...
with housing 52 and allows focusing rod 134 to tip to any position `~
~~ fixed by the bearings 132, 133 (i.e., a position parallel to the ; surface of the cover glass 100). The bottom 264 (Fig. 13) of the ~, lens mount 60 is rounded or otherwise shaped to enable the lens ,~ to glide smoothly over the surface of glass 100.
~;~ The problem is that the lens mount 60 must be removed .
~ from the top of glass plate 100 when the carrier 90 is pulled ; .~, ~ .
~` forward (direction A~ so that the glass plate 100 may be lifted - ~
., .
- ~ ' ., : .
, ~ . ~ ~ .. .. . .......................... . . .
l~J4~16 , . .
to manually~change a m~cxQf,~che ~n ~he carr~x. H~eyex~ if the lens mount floats~freel~ on the cover glass~surface~ ~t w~ll tend to r~de off and ch~p the edge of the ~lass, as it ~s so ~emoved from and th~en returned onto the glass 100. Accord-. ~ .
ingly, a sheIf 266 ~such as sta~nless steelL ~5 formed adjacent the edge o~ the cover glass on the back of the carrier 8Q to receive and support the lens mounts 6Q, 128 when the carrier is moved to its extremity d~rection A.
~, More specifically, at the position 6QC, the lens mount rests upon and sl;~des-over the upper surface of glass plate 100 as ~.: ,, ;;
'; it is moved to locate a microfiche ~mage. As the carrier 9Q is ~; pulled in direction A, the lens mount 60 engages the shelf at ~; point 267. There, the edges of the shelf 266 and the lens mount are in the shape of mutually inclined planes. Thus, the lens mount ~; 60 is lifted to the position 60b before it moves off the edge of cover glass 100. Thus, at the point where the edge is likely to -chip, the lens mount is raised by a distance so that chipping is `1 not possible.
Finally, the carrier 90 reaches the outward extremity of its movement in direction A and the lens mounts 60, 128 are resting upon the stainless steel shelf 266. ~;
~! The microfiche carrier glass plate 100 may now be lifted in any suitable manner. The microfiche between plates lOQ, 101 !1j`,. .. :` : ~
~;l may be removed, cleaned, replaced or otherwise adjusted. Then, j the carrier 90 is pushed back in direction B and the lens mount ~:
60 returns over the path indicated by the three positions 60a, ~¦ 6Qb, 60c until they again glide smoothly over the top of the ~ ;
! glass sheet 100. ~ ~`
~ 1 r.~ Detent means compris~ng holes 201 lFig. lC~ are provided `
in elevator mechanism 171 to cooperate wtth a lever ~not shown~ `
.. ' ~.. ::
;i,~, ~ .~. :
~19,~
~: .:
~,:, .
-~ :
~: 10446~6 activated by movement of upper carrier 90 into and out of ~:
the load position shown in Fig. 7. The lever is connected to elevator base plate 170, and`prevent the elevator .::
..: : . .
,:: mechanism from raising or lowering unless the carrier 80, .
.,` . ~
, 90 are in the load position. This interlock structure in- , :
sures that any microfiche film 110 extracted from cartridge - .
. 55 is returned to the same place in the library file from ~. which it was removed. - ~
',:,' . .
, Those who are skilled in the art will readily perceive ' .
how various modifications may be made.within the scope and the spirit of the invention. Therefore, the appended claims '.~ ' ,.; are to be construed to cover all equivalent structures.
. ~. ~.' ' .
, ,, ~, I ... .
.. '' ~ '',":
!~;;~ .
!i.i ~, .,, - ' ~, .
I,c~
~,:, ~'.. ' :, `
?~
' .~.: ' ~;', ' ' .
~'~:';' ,'. ' ~;~, ` ' ' ':
. :
.', '''' ' .
...
, ...
.,'
Claims (20)
1. A microfiche reader system of a type which uses a cartridge containing a library file of microfiche film stored in a spaced parallel relationship, carrier means for receiving a selected film from said file and for transporting said film with a rectilinear motion through said reader, extraction means for removing said selected film from said cartridge, for inserting it into said carrier, and for thereafter returning it from said carrier to said cartridge, and interlocking means for precluding movement of said cartridge at all times while a microfiche film is out of the cartridge and for precluding a sequence of mechanical movements of said reader parts which might damage the film while it is out of said cartridge.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein said carrier means comprises means for enabling movement of said carrier while containing said film when said interlock means is locked, said last named means comprising upper and lower carriers, at least one track on said reader for enabling movement of said lower carrier back and forth in a first direction of rectilinear motion, and at least one track on a verticle edge of said lower carrier for enabling movement of said upper carrier back and forth in the other direction of said rectilinear motion.
3. The system of claim 2 and a pair of glass plates in face-to-face relationship on said upper carrier, and means whereby said extraction means inserts and removes selected microfiche film between said glass plates.
4. The system of claim 3 and lens means for projecting an image appearing on a selected microfiche film via said projection path; image lens mounting means floating freely over and fully supported on the surface of one of said glass plates for fixing the spacial relationship between said image lens and said microfiche films, and means for selectively removing said image lens mounting means for floating on said cover glass when carriers are at an extremity of said rectilinear motion.
5. The system of claim 2 wherein each of said upper and lower carrier means includes detent and capture means, which must be locked or unlocked in a predetermined order while said microfiche is being removed from or returned to said cartridge.
6. The system of claim 1 and elevator means for selectively moving said carriage transversely by and adjacent to said extraction means, said elevator comprising means for longitudinally moving a first plate having freedom to move in a first direction, an inclined slot formed in said first plate, an elevator base plate having freedom to move in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction, pin means dimensioned to move in said slot for joining said base plate to said inclined slot whereby said elevator base plate moves perpendicular to said first plate responsive to the movement in said first direction, indicator means for identifying a selected microfiche in terms of the extent of the plate movement in said first direction, and means responsive to movement of said carrier means for operating said interlock to preclude movement of said elevator while said microfiche film is out of said reader.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein each microfiche film has two opposed notches formed on opposite sides thereof for enabling an extraction of said film from said cartridge, said extraction means comprises a pair of hooks fitting into the two opposed notches on said film, and means for moving said hooks over a disengaging path in which said hooks are backed and then lifted out of said notches without damaging said film.
8. The system of claim 7 wherein said extraction means comprise a plate having at least one wheel mounted on a track for moving said plate back and forth in a film extraction motion, and said moving means comprises means responsive to a movement of said wheel through a cutout in said track for tipping said extractor plate to back and lift said hook out of said notch.
9. The microfiche reader system of claim 2 including:
housing means for said reader; latch means on said upper carrier means; slot means in said housing for mating with said latch means and restraining said upper carrier against lateral movement when said upper and lower carrier are in position for receiving a film from said cartridge.
housing means for said reader; latch means on said upper carrier means; slot means in said housing for mating with said latch means and restraining said upper carrier against lateral movement when said upper and lower carrier are in position for receiving a film from said cartridge.
10. The microfiche reader system of claim 9 including: notch means in each of said microfiche film, extraction means for mechanically engaging the notch in a selected one of said microfiche carrier and withdrawing it from or returning it to said cartridge; a pair of opposed rail means extending laterally across said upper carrier defining a channel therebetween; said extraction means disposed in said channel when moving to mechanically engage and extract said microfiche; said extraction means preventing forward movement of said upper carrier when disposed in said channel.
11. The microfiche reader system of claim 10 including: means to remove said extraction means from said channel when said extraction means has completed withdrawing a microfiche film from said cartridge and placing said film into said upper carrier, whereby said upper carrier is no longer restrained against forward movement.
12. The microfiche reader system of claim 11 including:
plate means forming part of said upper carrier and extending therefrom; said plate means engaging a portion of said extraction means when said upper carrier is moved through said rectilinear motion and preventing said extraction means from moving into position to withdraw additional microfiche.
plate means forming part of said upper carrier and extending therefrom; said plate means engaging a portion of said extraction means when said upper carrier is moved through said rectilinear motion and preventing said extraction means from moving into position to withdraw additional microfiche.
13. The microfiche reader system of claim 12 wherein:
said means to remove said extraction means from said channel tilts said extraction means vertically upward, and said plate means prevents downward vertical movement of said extraction means when said upper carrier is moved through said rectilinear motion.
said means to remove said extraction means from said channel tilts said extraction means vertically upward, and said plate means prevents downward vertical movement of said extraction means when said upper carrier is moved through said rectilinear motion.
14. The reader system of claim 1 or 2 including: housing means for said reader; and hood means removably seated on said housing means.
15. The reader system of claim 1 including an image lens mounting means carrying a plurality of image forming lenses of different magnifications ratio which float freely on the surface of one of said glass plates and control means for selectively sliding the mounting means to locate a selected one of said image forming lenses.
16. The reader system of claim 2 including an image lens mounting means carrying a plurality of image forming lenses of different magnifications ratio which float freely on the surface of one of said glass plates and control means for selectively sliding the mounting means to locate a selected one of said image forming lenses.
17. The reader system of claim 15 or claim 16 including manually operable focus control means disposed in said reader;
and single connecting means between said focus control means and said image forming lenses for selectively varying the vertical position of said lenses.
and single connecting means between said focus control means and said image forming lenses for selectively varying the vertical position of said lenses.
18. The microfiche reader system of claim 10 including: elevator means for moving said cartridge in a vertical direction with said extraction means passing through said notch means; detent means connected between said elevator means and said housing and actuated by the position of said upper carrier for preventing movement of said elevator means when said upper carrier is moved through said rectilinear motion.
19. The microfiche cartridge reader system of Claim 1, including at least one longitudinally elongated guide means and a clearance space adjacent one end thereof, said cartridge having at least one longitudinal groove on the outer surface thereof for receiving said guide means, said, clearance space and cartridge having mutually complimentary contours whereby said cartridge may be inserted into said clearance space and then moved longitudinally with said guide means fitting into said groove, whereby said cartridge cannot be removed from said reader until it is moved back to said clearance space, other guide means perpendicular to said one guide means, and other contours on said cartridge whereby said cartridge may be moved over said perpendicular guide means at the end of said longitudinal movement.
20. The system of claim 19 wherein said clearance space is formed by notching out a section of said guide means, a shoulder formed on said guide means, said shoulder entering said groove responsive to said longitud-inal movement for locking said cartridge into said reader.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US53280274A | 1974-12-16 | 1974-12-16 | |
| US05/532,803 US4015900A (en) | 1974-12-16 | 1974-12-16 | Microfiche reader |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1044616A true CA1044616A (en) | 1978-12-19 |
Family
ID=27063956
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA239,907A Expired CA1044616A (en) | 1974-12-16 | 1975-11-18 | Microfiche reader |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPS5194915A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1044616A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2555616A1 (en) |
| FR (1) | FR2295498A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4149784A (en) * | 1977-01-13 | 1979-04-17 | Bell & Howell Company | Roll film reader/printer with manually insertable discrete film |
| US4131273A (en) * | 1977-05-13 | 1978-12-26 | Oce-Industries Inc. | Record card feeding apparatus |
-
1975
- 1975-11-18 CA CA239,907A patent/CA1044616A/en not_active Expired
- 1975-12-10 DE DE19752555616 patent/DE2555616A1/en active Pending
- 1975-12-15 JP JP50148577A patent/JPS5194915A/ja active Pending
- 1975-12-15 FR FR7538354A patent/FR2295498A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE2555616A1 (en) | 1976-07-01 |
| JPS5194915A (en) | 1976-08-20 |
| FR2295498A1 (en) | 1976-07-16 |
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