US3688656A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Microfilm printer
Assignee: Image Products Corp
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Filing: 1969-10-06
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Granted: 1972-09-05
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Expires: 1989-10-06
Abstract
Abstract A microfilm printer is disclosed for printing computer output data on microfilm. This film is advanced along a transport incrementally one line for each line of computer output data, and a line of data is imaged on one side of the film while the film is stopped between incremental advances. Periodically, generally much less often than the imaging of data lines, the image of a form is projected onto the film from the other side so that the film where finally developed displays the data entered in the form.
Inventors
- 👤 James E Applequist
- 👤 James E Johnson
- 👤 Clifford B Akers
- 👤 Donald V Daniels
- 👤 Richard N James
- 👤 Daniel M Roberts
- 👤 Daniel James Guzy
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 01:16
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; G09G3/008; G03; G03B; G03B17/00; G03B17/24; G03B17/245; G03B27/00; G03B27/32; G03B27/46; G03B27/465; G03B27/52; G03B27/58; G03B27/587; G06; G06K; G06K15/00; G06K15/02; G06K15/12; G06K15/1295; G03B2217/00; G03B2217/24; G03B2217/242; G03B2217/243
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
433 words
A computer output microfilm printer comprising: a. transport means for moving a photosensitive film along a transport path, b. first optical means for establishing a first optical path for transmitting images onto film in said transport path from one side of said transport path, c. second optical means for establishing a second optical path for transmitting images onto the film in said transport path in the some area of said path as the image from said first optical means from the other siDe of said transport path, d. display means for displaying a form in said first optical path at a location spaced away from said film to be imaged on said film by said first optical means, e. a character generator for displaying controlled characters in said second optical path at a location to be imaged on said film by said second optical means, f. means in said second optical means and said character generator for establishing an image of a plurality of selected characters along a line in said transport path with said line extending perpendicular to the direction of film movement in said transport path, g. means in said first optical means and said display means for establishing an image of said form in said transport path with said image of said from having a width measured parallel to said direction of film movement which is many times greater than the width of said line of characters measured parallel to said direction, h. incremental drive means in said transport means for moving said film along its length by a predetermined distance approximately equal to said width of said line of characters and stopping said film after said film has travelled said predetermined distance, i. means for supporting supply and take-up rolls of photographic film, j. a supply capstan for driving film along said path from said supply roll, k. a take-up capstan for driving film along said path to said take-up roll, l. an incremental drive capstan between said supply capstan and said take-up capstan for advancing film along said path in short predetermined increments of film length and stopping said film after the film has travelled said increments, m. film loop sensing means between said supply capstan and said incremental drive capstan and connected to said supply capstan for controlling the amount of film between said supply capstan and said incremental drive capstan, and n. film loop sensing means between said incremental drive capstan and said take-up capstan and connected to said take-up capstan for controlling the amount of film between said incremental drive capstan and said take-up capstan.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
433 words
A computer output microfilm printer comprising: a. transport means for moving a photosensitive film along a transport path, b. first optical means for establishing a first optical path for transmitting images onto film in said transport path from one side of said transport path, c. second optical means for establishing a second optical path for transmitting images onto the film in said transport path in the some area of said path as the image from said first optical means from the other siDe of said transport path, d. display means for displaying a form in said first optical path at a location spaced away from said film to be imaged on said film by said first optical means, e. a character generator for displaying controlled characters in said second optical path at a location to be imaged on said film by said second optical means, f. means in said second optical means and said character generator for establishing an image of a plurality of selected characters along a line in said transport path with said line extending perpendicular to the direction of film movement in said transport path, g. means in said first optical means and said display means for establishing an image of said form in said transport path with said image of said from having a width measured parallel to said direction of film movement which is many times greater than the width of said line of characters measured parallel to said direction, h. incremental drive means in said transport means for moving said film along its length by a predetermined distance approximately equal to said width of said line of characters and stopping said film after said film has travelled said predetermined distance, i. means for supporting supply and take-up rolls of photographic film, j. a supply capstan for driving film along said path from said supply roll, k. a take-up capstan for driving film along said path to said take-up roll, l. an incremental drive capstan between said supply capstan and said take-up capstan for advancing film along said path in short predetermined increments of film length and stopping said film after the film has travelled said increments, m. film loop sensing means between said supply capstan and said incremental drive capstan and connected to said supply capstan for controlling the amount of film between said supply capstan and said incremental drive capstan, and n. film loop sensing means between said incremental drive capstan and said take-up capstan and connected to said take-up capstan for controlling the amount of film between said incremental drive capstan and said take-up capstan.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
115 words
The printer of claim 1 in which said incremental drive capstan comprises: a. an elongated drive shaft having a generally cylindrical film engaging surface thereon b. a frame rotatably supporting said shaft c. drive means on said frame for rotating said shaft d. a clutch interconnecting said drive means and said shaft e. an electrically controlled brake interconnecting said shaft and said frame f. an apertured disc mounted on said shaft and having a plurality of apertures therein distributed along a circular path around said shaft with the distance between said apertures proportional to said predetermined increment of film length, and g - means mounted on said frame for sensing the apertures in said disc.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
189 words
The printer of claim 2 in which: a. said clutch comprises driving and driven members mounted adjacent to each other, a fluid mixture of ferromagnetic particles between said driving and driven members for connecting said members together, and an electromagnetic coil adjacent to said driving and driver members for generating a magnetic field to solidify said fluid mixture with said driving member connected to said drive means and with said driven member connected to said shaft, b. said brake comprises driving and driven members mounted adjacent to each other, a fluid mixture of ferromagnetic particles between said driving and driven members for connecting said members together, and an electromagnetic coil adjacent to said driving and driven members for generating a magnetic field to solidify said fluid mixture with said driving member connected to said shaft and with said driven member connected to said frame, and c. control means are connected to said clutch and brake for starting and stopping said shaft by reducing the current to the coil of said brake to start said shaft and reducing thE current to the coil of said clutch to stop said shaft.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
91 words
The printer of claim 1 in which each of said film loop sensing means comprises: a. an arm pivotally mounted adjacent to said transport path and having a film engaging wheel on its outer end b. resilient support means connected to said arm for pivoting said arm in a direction to move said wheel away from said transport path, and c. first and second limit switches positioned to be engaged by said arm at different pivotal positions of said arm and connected to said capstan for starting and stopping said capstan.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
309 words
A computer output microfilm printer comprising: a. transport means for moving a photosensitive film along a transport path b. first optical means for establishing a first optical path for transmitting images onto film in said transport path from one side of said transport path, c. second optical means for establishing a second optical path for transmitting images onto the film in said transport path in the some area of said path as the image from said first optical means from the other side of said transport path, d. display means for displaying a form in said first optical path at a location spaced away from said film to be imaged on said film by said first optical means, e. a character generator for displaying controlled characters in said second optical path at a location to be imaged on said film by said second optical means, f. means in said second optical means and said character generator for establishing an image of a plurality of selected characters along a line in said transport path with line extending perpendicular to the direction of film movement in said path, g. means in said first optical means and said display means for establishing an image of said form in said transport path with said image of said from having a width measured parallel to said direction of film movement which is many times greater than the width of said line of characters measured parallel to said direction, h. incremental drive means in said transport means for moving said film along its length by a predetermined distance approximately equal to said width of said line of characters and stopping said film after said film has travelled said predetermined distance, and i. means included in said incremental drive means for continuously advancing said film an integral multiple of said predetermined distance before stopping said film.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
309 words
A computer output microfilm printer comprising: a. transport means for moving a photosensitive film along a transport path b. first optical means for establishing a first optical path for transmitting images onto film in said transport path from one side of said transport path, c. second optical means for establishing a second optical path for transmitting images onto the film in said transport path in the some area of said path as the image from said first optical means from the other side of said transport path, d. display means for displaying a form in said first optical path at a location spaced away from said film to be imaged on said film by said first optical means, e. a character generator for displaying controlled characters in said second optical path at a location to be imaged on said film by said second optical means, f. means in said second optical means and said character generator for establishing an image of a plurality of selected characters along a line in said transport path with line extending perpendicular to the direction of film movement in said path, g. means in said first optical means and said display means for establishing an image of said form in said transport path with said image of said from having a width measured parallel to said direction of film movement which is many times greater than the width of said line of characters measured parallel to said direction, h. incremental drive means in said transport means for moving said film along its length by a predetermined distance approximately equal to said width of said line of characters and stopping said film after said film has travelled said predetermined distance, and i. means included in said incremental drive means for continuously advancing said film an integral multiple of said predetermined distance before stopping said film.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-05 | 1976-03-06 | 1976-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-05 | 1980-03-06 | 1980-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-05 | 1984-03-06 | 1984-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |