Microfiche recorder and processor

Claim 2

A microfiche recorder comprising a flat plate having an aperture, a platen including a flat film mounting surface parallel to the plate, the platen being slidably movable over a sufficient portion of the plate to position substantially any area of the surface over the aperture, a film supply reel mounted to the platen for feeding film onto the surface and moving the film supply with the platen, means for moving the platen in X and in Y directions over the plate, optical means disposed on a side of the plate opposite the platen for forming an image adjacent the surface and focused in a plane of the film when film is placed against the surface, vacuum forming means for firmly biasing film against the platen surface to maintain the film flat in the focal plane, whereby images can be sequentially recorded on the film after intermittent X-Y movements of the platen, and means for removing exposed film from the surface.

Claim 3

A recorder according to claim 1 wherein the plate is substantially horizontal and the platen overlies the plate, wherein the film support surface faces downwardly towards the plate, and wherein the vacuum forming means includes a plurality of port holes distributed over the surface and means for connecting the port holes to a vacuum and assuring a firm contact between the film and the surface.

Claim 4

A recorder according to claim 1 including cutting means for severing exposed film from a remainder of the film after the exposed film has been removed from the surface.

Claim 5

A recorder according to claim 1 wherein the film removing means comprises clamp means for grasping a free end of the film supply, and means for moving the grasping means in one of the X or the Y directions a predetermined distance to thereby pull a fixed length of film including the exposed film past the surface for subsequent processing of the exposed film and for exposure of a fresh film length with the optical means.

Claim 6

A microfilm recording system comprising a horizontally disposed flat reference plate including an optical aperture, a film holding platen including means slidably engaging the plate and spacing a flat film mounting surface of the platen from and parallel to the plate, means for securely biasing a length of film flat against mounting surface of the platen, a film supply storage reel mounted to the platen for feeding film to the film retaining side of the platen, means for moving the platen in perpendicular X and Y directions, means for projecting an image througH the aperture onto the film and for focussing the image in a focal plane of the film retained to the surface, means for intermittently advancing exposed film sections away from the platen to thereby simultaneously advance a fresh, unexposed film section to the side, and means for thereafter severing the exposed section.

Claim 7

A microfilm recording system comprising a horizontally disposed flat reference plate including an optical aperture, a film holding platen including means slidably engaging the plate and spacing a flat film mounting surface of the platen from and parallel to the plate, means for securely biasing a length of film flat against mounting surface of the platen, a film supply storage reel mounted to the platen for feeding film to the film retaining side of the platen, means for moving the platen in perpendicular X and Y directions, means for projecting an image througH the aperture onto the film and for focussing the image in a focal plane of the film retained to the surface, means for intermittently advancing exposed film sections away from the platen to thereby simultaneously advance a fresh, unexposed film section to the side, and means for thereafter severing the exposed section.

Claim 8

An optical recording system for recording projected images on a film comprising: a platen assembly having a flat underside and a plurality of vacuum port holes on the underside for biasing film thereagainst and maintaining it flat to assure high resolution recording, at least one support member projecting from the side of the assembly and terminating in a flat support surface that is parallel to the underside, a flat reference plate permitting uninhibited slidable motions of the member so that substantially every portion of the film retained to the surface can be exposed to an image focused above the plate, means for moving the assembly in X and Y directions over the plate, stationary means projecting the images from a side of the plate opposite the assembly, means for intermittently withdrawing exposed film sections from the underside, and means for automatically passing exposed sections through a film processor for developing the film section for substantially immediate use after recordation on the section while a fresh section on the underside is being exposed to the images.

Claim 9

An optical recording system for recording projected images on a film comprising: a platen assembly having a flat underside and a plurality of vacuum port holes on the underside for biasing film thereagainst and maintaining it flat to assure high resolution recording, at least one support member projecting from the side of the assembly and terminating in a flat support surface that is parallel to the underside, a flat reference plate permitting uninhibited slidable motions of the member so that substantially every portion of the film retained to the surface can be exposed to an image focused above the plate, means for moving the assembly in X and Y directions over the plate, stationary means projecting the images from a side of the plate opposite the assembly, means for intermittently withdrawing exposed film sections from the underside, and means for automatically passing exposed sections through a film processor for developing the film section for substantially immediate use after recordation on the section while a fresh section on the underside is being exposed to the images.

Claim 12

A system according to claim 7 wherein the severing means sever the exposed section at a point spaced from the platen to provide a free film end which protrudes from the platen.

Claim 13

A system according to claim 7 including means for substantially evenly biasing all parts of the section against the underside of the platen.

Claim 14

A system according to claim 9 wherein the biasing means comprises a plurality of vacuum ports distributed over and terminating at the underside of the platen, and a vacuum source connected with the ports.

Claim 15

A microfiche recording and processing unit comprising a flat, horizontal reference plate including aperture means, image producing and projecting means on an underside of the plate projecting an image past the aperture means to a focal plane above the plate, film holding means defining a flat film support surface above the plate, means for evenly biasing a film section against such surface for a flat retention of the film on the surface, means positioning the surface parallel to the plate at a dIstance from the plate placing a side of the section in the focal plane, the positioning means permitting slidable movements of the surface defining means over the plate, servo drive means engaging the surface defining means and positioning the surface defining means at a fixed home position, the servo drive means being operable for moving the surface defining means and the film section mounted thereto in rectilinear fashion over the aperture means, a film supply spool mounted to the surface defining means for rectilinear movement therewith and arranged to prevent film twisting and distortion during such movement, means disposed opposite the film holding means for clamping a film end, means for reciprocating the clamping means a predetermined distance to withdraw an exposed film section from the surface and simultaneously advance a fresh film section to the surface when the surface defining means is in its home position, means for severing the exposed and withdrawn film section from the remainder of the film, a chemical film processor, and means for passing the exposed film section into the chemical processor for film developing and use of the developed film substantially immediately after its exposure and while a fresh film section is being exposed.

Claim 16

A microfiche recording and processing unit comprising a flat, horizontal reference plate including aperture means, image producing and projecting means on an underside of the plate projecting an image past the aperture means to a focal plane above the plate, film holding means defining a flat film support surface above the plate, means for evenly biasing a film section against such surface for a flat retention of the film on the surface, means positioning the surface parallel to the plate at a dIstance from the plate placing a side of the section in the focal plane, the positioning means permitting slidable movements of the surface defining means over the plate, servo drive means engaging the surface defining means and positioning the surface defining means at a fixed home position, the servo drive means being operable for moving the surface defining means and the film section mounted thereto in rectilinear fashion over the aperture means, a film supply spool mounted to the surface defining means for rectilinear movement therewith and arranged to prevent film twisting and distortion during such movement, means disposed opposite the film holding means for clamping a film end, means for reciprocating the clamping means a predetermined distance to withdraw an exposed film section from the surface and simultaneously advance a fresh film section to the surface when the surface defining means is in its home position, means for severing the exposed and withdrawn film section from the remainder of the film, a chemical film processor, and means for passing the exposed film section into the chemical processor for film developing and use of the developed film substantially immediately after its exposure and while a fresh film section is being exposed.