Film-positioning system

Claim 2

A film-positioning system for enabling rapid sequential exposure of film framelets arranged in a longitudinal row substantially defining the beginning and end of a larger film frame on film provided from a payout reel of film fed to a takeup reel, comprising, in combination: a. means defining an exposure area through which said film passes; b. fixed exposure means positioned to expose said film in a given portion of said area corresponding to the area of each framelet; c. first loop-forming means positioned between said payout reel and said exposure area for forming a loop in said film of a first given loop size; d. second loop-forming means positioned between said takeup reel and said exposure area for forming another loop in said film of a second given loop size; and e. drive means for incrementally moving said film from said first loop-forming means to said second loop-forming means to thereby decrease said first loop size and simultaneously increase said second loop size so that said successive exposures may be made without any paying out or taking up of film by said payout and takeup reels, respectively.

Claim 3

A system according to claim 1, in which means are provided to incrementally move the mechanism including said means defining an exposure area, first and second loop-forming means, and payout and takeup reels, in a transverse direction, whereby a plurality of rows of framelets may be successively exposed.

Claim 4

A system according to claim 1, in which said means defining an exposure area comprises a film gate, and means for moving said film gate transversely in incremental steps relative to said fixed exposure means whereby a plurality of rows of framelets may be successively exposed.

Claim 5

A system according to claim 1, in which said means defining an exposure area comprises a film gate, said drive means being coupled to said film gate to move said film gate and large film frame defined by said gate together in the longitudinal direction of said film.

Claim 6

A system according to claim 4, including means for moving said film gate transversely in incremental steps relative to said fixed exposure means whereby a plurality of rows of framelets may be successively exposed.

Claim 7

A system according to claim 1, in which said larger film frame includes additional longitudinal rows of framelets, said drive means for incrementally moving said film being reversible to return the film from said second loop-forming means to said first loop-forming means, preparatory to exposing an additional longitudinal row; and means to incrementally position the adjacent longitudinal rows in line with said fixed exposure mean, whereby a plurality of rows of framelets may be successively exposed.

Claim 8

A microfiche film-positioning system for enabling rapid sequential exposure of film framelets arranged in rows to define a larger microfiche film frame, the length of each row substantially defining the length of said microfiche film frame and the number of rows in side-by-side relationship defining substantially the width of said microfiche film frame, whereby successive microfiche film frames from a roll of microfiche film on a payout reel fed to a takeup reel, are provided for subsequent exposure of framelets, comprising, in combination: a. a base; b. a table mounted to said base for transverse movement, said table supporting said payout and takeup reels; c. a film gate mounted to said table, microfiche film from said payout reel passing through said gate to said takeup reel, said gate defining an exposure area for at least a portion of a microfiche film frame; d. a lens fixed relative to said base in a position to expose a given portion of said microfiche frame corresponding to one framelet in area; e. a first film loop-forming means mounted on said table for forming a first film loop of a first given loop size in a portion of said film between said payout reel and its entrance into said film gate; f. a second film loop-forming means mounted on said table for forming a second film loop of a second given loop size in a portion of said film between its exit from said film gate and said takeup reel; g. first drive means on said base coupled to said table for moving said table, payout reel, takeup reel, film gate, and said first and second film loop-forming means in transverse directions given successive incremental distances each defined by the width of a framelet and, h. second drive means on said table for moving said film relative to said table in longitudinal directions given successive incremental distances each defined by a length of a framelet, said first given loop size being sufficient to store a length of film at least equal to the length of one microfiche film frame, whereby operation of said second drive means successively moves said microfiche film in longitudinal positions for successive exposures of said framelets making up a row, without any movement of said table and payout and takeup reels, said first film loop size decreasing and said second film loop size increasing to accommodate the movement, said second drive means then returning said film to its initial position to thereby increase said first film loop size and decrease said second film loop size to their original sizes, said first drive means then moving said table transversely one incremental distance so that a second row of framelets may be successively exposed, the process being repeated until all framelets on said microfiche frame are exposed, said second drive means then causing said first and second film loop-forming means and said payout and takeup reels to move in cooperation to pay out and take up a microfiche film frame length to thereby position at least a portion of a next microfiche film frame in said gate for successive exposures.

Claim 9

A microfiche film-positioning system for enabling rapid sequential exposure of film framelets arranged in rows to define a larger microfiche film frame, the length of each row substantially defining the length of said microfiche film frame and the number of rows in side-by-side relationship defining substantially the width of said microfiche film frame, whereby successive microfiche film frames from a roll of microfiche film on a payout reel fed to a takeup reel, are provided for subsequent exposure of framelets, comprising, in combination: a. a base; b. a table mounted to said base for transverse movement, said table supporting said payout and takeup reels; c. a film gate mounted to said table, microfiche film from said payout reel passing through said gate to said takeup reel, said gate defining an exposure area for at least a portion of a microfiche film frame; d. a lens fixed relative to said base in a position to expose a given portion of said microfiche frame corresponding to one framelet in area; e. a first film loop-forming means mounted on said table for forming a first film loop of a first given loop size in a portion of said film between said payout reel and its entrance into said film gate; f. a second film loop-forming means mounted on said table for forming a second film loop of a second given loop size in a portion of said film between its exit from said film gate and said takeup reel; g. first drive means on said base coupled to said table for moving said table, payout reel, takeup reel, film gate, and said first and second film loop-forming means in transverse directions given successive incremental distances each defined by the width of a framelet and, h. second drive means on said table for moving said film relative to said table in longitudinal directions given successive incremental distances each defined by a length of a framelet, said first given loop size being sufficient to store a length of film at least equal to the length of one microfiche film frame, whereby operation of said second drive means successively moves said microfiche film in longitudinal positions for successive exposures of said framelets making up a row, without any movement of said table and payout and takeup reels, said first film loop size decreasing and said second film loop size increasing to accommodate the movement, said second drive means then returning said film to its initial position to thereby increase said first film loop size and decrease said second film loop size to their original sizes, said first drive means then moving said table transversely one incremental distance so that a second row of framelets may be successively exposed, the process being repeated until all framelets on said microfiche frame are exposed, said second drive means then causing said first and second film loop-forming means and said payout and takeup reels to move in cooperation to pay out and take up a microfiche film frame length to thereby position at least a portion of a next microfiche film frame in said gate for successive exposures.

Claim 10

A microfiche film-positioning system according to claim 7, in which said film gate is mounted for longitudinal movement to said table, said gate having means for clamping and unclamping the film, and said gate accommodating a film frame the size of one microfiche, said second drive means on the table for moving said Film relative to said table in longitudinal directions including means to drive the moving film gate, which when clamping the film will then move the film with it.

Claim 11

A microfiche film-positioning system according to claim 7, in which said film gate is mounted for longitudinal movement to said table, said gate having means for clamping and unclamping the film, and said gate accommodating a film frame the size of one microfiche, such that when said moving film gate is clamped to the film, said second drive means for moving said film relative to said table in longitudinal directions, will cause the film gate to be pulled along by the moving film.

Claim 12

A microfiche film-positioning system according to claim 7, in which said first and second film loop forming means include drive roller means, said second drive means including a servo drive having a position-sensing means and clutch means connected to said drive roller means all cooperating together such that when said second drive means causes said cooperating means to position at least a portion of a next microfiche film frame in said gate for successive exposures, said position-sensing means is reset.