Method and apparatus for retrieving coded information on film

Claim 2

A film reader for use with film having a plurality of document images thereon and code means before each document image or series of document images, the code means comprising one or more code variations each of which relates to the document images immediately following, the reader comprising means for driving the film at a relatively high speed in a given direction, means for programming a selected code variation; means for reading each code variation on the film, exclusive comparator means responsive to the programming means and the reading means for recognizing correspondence between the programmed code variation and the code variations on the film, means responsive to the comparator means when correspondence is recognized for instantaneously applying an extreme braking force to the film drive means instantaneously reducing the film speed to a relatively low speed in the same direction, and means for stopping the film on the next document without overrunning the document.

Claim 3

The film reader of claim 1 including means for controlling the relatively high film speed to within predetermined limits.

Claim 4

The film reader of claim 2 wherein the speed control means includes means for sensing the speed of the film, and means responsive to the sensing means for disengaging the film drive means until the film speed is slowed to a predetermined rate.

Claim 5

The film reader of claim 3 wherein the sensing means and the means responsive to said sensing means include a disc associated with the drive means, means for rotating the disc at a speed directly related to the speed of the film, the disc having equally spaced holes around its periphery, a light source aligned to transmit light successively through each of the holes as the disc rotates, a photosensitive means aligned with the light source on the other side of the holes to receive the light successively transmitted therethrough as the disc rotates, the photosensitive means generating an electrical signal each time a hole passes between the light source and the photosensitive means, means for generating a pulse of fixed width in response to each signal from said photosensitive means whereby the rate of these pulses is directly related to the speed of the film, and means responsive to the rate of these pulses for disengaging said film drive means when the pulse rate exceeds a predetermined value.

Claim 6

The film reader of claim 4 wherein the film drive means includes a motor, a film take-up means, the take-up means having associated therewith a clutch for engagement and disengagement of the take-up means with the motor, and means responsive to the pulse rate, for disengaging the clutch when the pulse rate exceeds a predetermined value.

Claim 7

The film reader of claim 1 wherein the extreme braking means includes electromagnetic braking means associated with the drive means, and means responsive to the exclusive comparator means when correspondence is recognized for instantaneously applying a relatively narrow-high voltage pulse to the electromagnetic braking means.

Claim 8

The film reader of claim 6 including means for controlling the relatively high film speed to within predetermined limits.

Claim 9

The film reader of claim 7 wherein the film speed is controlled not to exceed a speed of approximately 125 - 150 inches per second.

Claim 10

The film reader of claim 6 wherein the amplitude of the high voltage pulse is substantially higher than the rated voltage of the electromagnetic braking means.

Claim 11

The film reader of claim 6 including a document mark associated with each document image, and means responsive to the document mark associated with the document image next following a corresponding code variation for stopping the film on the next document image, after correspondence is recognized and the high voltage pulse is applied.

Claim 12

The film reader of claim 1 wherein the high speed film rate is at least 100 inches per second.

Claim 15

The film reader of claim 12 wherein the high speed film rate is at least 100 inches per second.

Claim 18

The method of claim 14 wherein the close proximity of some of the code variations on the film to their related document images is such that the total distance the film travels after correspondence is recognized until it stops on the next document may be less than one inch.

Claim 19

A film reader for use with film having a plurality of document images thereon and code means before each document image or series of document images, the code means comprising one or more code variations each of which relates to the document images immediately following, the reader comprising means for driving the film at a relatively high speed, means for programming a selected code variation, means for reading each code variation on the film, exclusive comparator means responsive to the programming means and the reading means for generating a HIT signal when correspondence between the programmed code variation and a code variation on the film is obtained, electromagnetic braking means associated with the drive means, means responsive to the HIT signal for generating a relatively narrow-high voltage pulse, the amplitude of the pulse being high relative to the rated voltage of the electromagnetic braking means, means for applying the high voltage pulse to the electromagnetic braking means, and means for stopping the film on the next document after the high voltage pulse is applied without overrunning the document.

Claim 20

A film reader for use with film having a plurality of document images thereon and code means before each document image or series of document images, the code means comprising one or more code variations each of which relates to the document images immediately following, the reader comprising means for driving the film at a relatively high speed, means for programming a selected code variation, means for reading each code variation on the film, exclusive comparator means responsive to the programming means and the reading means for generating a HIT signal when correspondence between the programmed code variation and a code variation on the film is obtained, electromagnetic braking means associated with the drive means, means responsive to the HIT signal for generating a relatively narrow-high voltage pulse, the amplitude of the pulse being high relative to the rated voltage of the electromagnetic braking means, means for applying the high voltage pulse to the electromagnetic braking means, and means for stopping the film on the next document after the high voltage pulse is applied without overrunning the document.

Claim 21

The film reader of claim 16 wherein the width of the high voltage pulse is approximately between 1 and 100 miliseconds.

Claim 22

The film reader of claim 16 wherein the close proximity of some of the code variations on the film to their related document images is such that the distance the film travels after an HIT signal is generated until it stops on the next document may be less than one inch.

Claim 23

The film reader of claim 16 including means for controlling the relatively high film speed to within predetermined limits.

Claim 24

The film of claim 16 wherein the high speed film rate is at least 100 inches per second.