Film viewer

Claim 2

A film viewer comprising: a base a multifunction support member secured to said base, said support member having an aperture therethrough; first means secured to said support member for supporting and dispensing roll film mounted thereon; second means secured to said support member for taking up roll film dispensed by said first means; a lens system secured to said support member intermediate said first and second means and over said aperture; a light system for causing light to be passed through said aperture and toward said lens system; roll film guide means supported by said support member for guiding roll film between said first and second means in a path of travel over said aperture; motive means for operating said first and second means; wherein said first means is removably secured to said support member; and said lens system is removably secured to said support member; and wherein said roll film guide means is movably supported on said support member; and carriage means for carrying plate film, said carriage means being slidably supported by said support member in a path of travel which permits plate film carried by said carriage means to be selectively located in the path of said light.

Claim 3

The film viewer of claim 1 wherein said support member includes roll film track means therein; and said roll film guide means is received by said roll film track means.

Claim 4

The film viewer of claim 2 wherein said roll film track means is defined by a pair of upstanding ribs longitudinally extending along the length of said support member on opposite sides of said aperture.

Claim 5

The film viewer of claim 3 wherein said roll film guide means includes: a slotted body member having a pair of depending film guiding edges spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of said aperture; and at least one pair of rollers rotatably carried by said body member; the periphery of said rollers extending below said film guiding edges, whereby a unitorm gap will be established between said roll film and said film guiding edges regardless of the thickness of the roll film disposed between said roll film track means and said roll film guide means.

Claim 6

The film viewer of claim 3 and further including roll film guide retaining means removably secured to said support member for preventing movement of said roll film guide means in two directions while allowing a predetermined amount of movement of said roll film guide means in a third direCtion; whereby said roll film guide means can be employed with films of various thicknesses.

Claim 7

The film viewer of claim 1 wherein said lens system includes: support bracket means removably secured to said support member; a prism; and prism supporting means movably mounted with respect to said support bracket means for selective vertical and transverse movement of said prism with respect to said support member and for selective rotational movement of said prism with respect to an axis perpendicular to the plane of said support member.

Claim 8

The film viewer of claim 6 wherein said support member includes a retaining channel therein and a retaining wall thereon; said first means and said second means each including an edge portion received in said retaining channel and a seating portion removably secured to said retaining wall; and further including adjustment means cooperating with said retaining wall and a portion of said support bracket means for selective positioning of said axis.

Claim 9

The film viewer of claim 6 wherein said prism supporting means includes: barrel retaining means mounted on said support bracket means for said transverse movement with respect to said support member; and a prism carrying barrel mounted on said support bracket means for said vertical and rotation movement with respect to said support member.

Claim 10

The film viewer of claim 8 wherein said barrel has externally provided rings thereon; said barrel retaining means has an opening therethrough; and further including gear means rotatably mounted with respect to said support bracket means and extending through said opening and into engagement with said rings for effecting said vertical movement of said prism barrel.

Claim 11

The film viewer of claim 9 wherein said gear means is secured to an adjustment shaft rotatably supported with respect to said support bracket means; and wherein said shaft is longitudinally fixed with respect to said barrel retaining means and longitudinally slidable with respect to said support bracket means; whereby said shaft can be slid in a transverse direction with respect to said support member to effectuate said transverse movement, and said shaft can be rotated to effectuate said vertical movement.

Claim 12

The film viewer of claim 10 wherein said shaft is located on one side of said barrel retaining means; and further including friction means located on the opposite side of said barrel retaining means and cooperatively positioned with respect to barrel retaining means and said support bracket means for preselectively restricting the free sliding movement of said barrel retaining means with respect to said support bracket means.

Claim 13

The film viewer of claim 10 wherein said support member includes a retaining channel therein and a retaining wall thereon; said first means and said second means each including an edge portion received in said retaining channel and a seating portion removably secured to said retaining wall; and further including adjustment means cooperating with said retaining wall and a portion of said support bracket means for selective positioning of said axis.

Claim 14

The film viewer of claim 12 wherein said portion of said support bracket means extends parallel to said retaining wall, and said adjustment means comprises at least one screw threaded element threadably received by said portion of said support bracket means; one end of said element being accessible for rotation thereof, the other end of said element being in abuting contact with said retaining wall.

Claim 15

The film viewer of claim 8 wherein said barrel is an extruded plastic cylinder and includes an integral wall extending along and within the length thereof; and said prism is supported within said barrel against said wall.

Claim 16

The film viewer of claim 8 wherein said lens system further includes a primary lens subsystem removably supported by said barrel beneath said prism.

Claim 17

The film viewer of claim 15 and further including a primary lens subsystem support plate removably secured to the bottom of said barrel; said support plate having a notch therein to receive and support said primary lens sub-system and being provided with biased retention means for permitting said primary lens subsystem to be removed from or retained by said support plate.

Claim 18

The film viewer of claim 15 wherein said light system comprises: a light source; a reflecting bowl positioned behind said light source; and condensing lens means positioned to receive light from said source and pass said light through said aperture toward said primary lens subsystem; said light source being positioned with respect to said condensing lens to produce an oversized cone of light whereby said primary lens subsystem can be extensively moved with said barrel without severe light loss.

Claim 19

A film viewer comprising: a base a multifunction support member secured to said base, said support member having an aperture therethrough; first means secured to said support member for supporting and dispensing roll film mounted thereon; second means secured to said support member for taking up roll film dispensed by said first means; a lens system secured to said support member intermediate said first and second means and over said aperture; a light system for causing light to be passed through said aperture and toward said lens system; roll film guide means supported by said support member for guiding roll film between said first and second means in a path of travel over said aperture; and motive means for operating said first and second means; wherein said support member is removably secured to said base; wherein said base includes first and second upstanding side walls, each of said side walls having first and second elongated slots therein to define a tongue section therebetween; each of said tongue sections terminating in an inturned flange portion; said support member being removably secured at opposite ends thereof to said inturned flange portions.

Claim 20

A film viewer comprising: a base a multifunction support member secured to said base, said support member having an aperture therethrough; first means secured to said support member for supporting and dispensing roll film mounted thereon; second means secured to said support member for taking up roll film dispensed by said first means; a lens system secured to said support member intermediate said first and second means and over said aperture; a light system for causing light to be passed through said aperture and toward said lens system; roll film guide means supported by said support member for guiding roll film between said first and second means in a path of travel over said aperture; and motive means for operating said first and second means; wherein said support member is removably secured to said base; wherein said base includes first and second upstanding side walls, each of said side walls having first and second elongated slots therein to define a tongue section therebetween; each of said tongue sections terminating in an inturned flange portion; said support member being removably secured at opposite ends thereof to said inturned flange portions.

Claim 21

The film viewer of claim 18 and further including a generally U-shaped frame member having a pair of strengthening ribs located on the interior surface thereof; said frame member being removably secured to said base member with said slots in said side walls receiving said strengthening ribs of said frame member.

Claim 22

The film viewer of claim 18 wherein said base includes a planar surface disposed between said side walls, said light system being supported on said planar surface beneath said support member.

Claim 23

The film viewer of claim 20 wherein said light system comprises: a light source; a reflecting bowl positioned behind said light source; and condensing lens means positioned to receive light from said source and pass said light through said aperture toward said primary lens sub-system.

Claim 24

The film viewer of claim 2 and further including a housing within which said light source and said reflecting bowl are situated; said housing having an opening in an upper surface thereof; said condensing lens system being situated in said opening, and further including reflecting plate means positioned in said housing beneath said condensing lens system for directing light from said light source up toward said condensing lens system.

Claim 25

The film viewer of claim 22 wherein one end of said housing has air outlet openings therein, and the other end of said housing houses a fan.

Claim 26

The film viewer of claim 23 wherein said heat trap means includes a generally elongated cylinder terminating in a frustroconical portion at one end thereof; the other end of said cylinder being spaced from said reflecting bowl to create a venturi effect for the hot air trapped in said heat trap means when said fan directs air currents past the space between said other end and said reflecting bowl.

Claim 27

A film view comprising: a base a multifunction support member secured to said base, said support member having an aperture therethrough; first means secured to said support member for supporting and dispensing roll film mounted thereon; second means secured to said support member for taking up roll film dispensed by said first means; a lens system secured to said support member intermediate said first and second means and over said aperture; a light system for causing light to be passed through said aperture and toward said lens system; roll film guide means supported by said support member for guiding roll film between said first and second means in a path of travel over said aperture; and motive means for operating said first and second means; and further including a reflecting mirror positioned to reflect light received from said lens system; and further including a generally U-shaped frame member removably secured to said base member, and a front cover section removably secured to said frame member said front cover section having a screen therein to receive light reflected from said reflecting mirror.

Claim 28

A film view comprising: a base a multifunction support member secured to said base, said support member having an aperture therethrough; first means secured to said support member for supporting and dispensing roll film mounted thereon; second means secured to said support member for taking up roll film dispensed by said first means; a lens system secured to said support member intermediate said first and second means and over said aperture; a light system for causing light to be passed through said aperture and toward said lens system; roll film guide means supported by said support member for guiding roll film between said first and second means in a path of travel over said aperture; and motive means for operating said first and second means; and further including a reflecting mirror positioned to reflect light received from said lens system; and further including a generally U-shaped frame member removably secured to said base member, and a front cover section removably secured to said frame member said front cover section having a screen therein to receive light reflected from said reflecting mirror.

Claim 29

The film viewer of claim 25 wherein said base includes first and second upstanding side walls, each of said side walls having first and second elongated slots therein to define a tongue section therebetween; each of said tongue sections terminating in an inturned flange portion; said support member removably secured at opposite ends thereof to said inturned flange portions; wherein said frame member has a pair of strengthening ribs located on the interior surface thereof which are received by said slots in said side walls when said frame member is removably secured to said base; and said front cover section includes a seating flange which seats on one of said strengthening ribs when said front cover section is removably secured to said frame member.

Claim 30

The film viewer of claim 26 and further including a rear cover section removably secured to said frame member; said rear cover section including a seating flange which seats on the other one of said strengthening ribs when said rear cover section is removably secured to said frame member.

Claim 31

The film viewer of claim 27 wherein said reflecting mirror is removably secured along one edge thereof to the other one of said strengthening ribs, and removably secured along a second edge thereof to said other one of said strengthening ribs.

Claim 32

The film viewer of claim 27 wherein said frame member includes: a first set of protuberances on the interior surface thereof and located exteriorly of said one of said strengthening ribs; a first set of retaining clips on the exterior facing side of said one of said strengthening ribs; a second set of protuberances on the interior surface of said frame member and located exteriorly of said other of said strengthening ribs and a second set of retaining clips on the exterior facing side of said other of said strengthening ribs; said front cover section being removably retained against said one of said strengthening ribs by said first set of protubrances and said first set of retaining clips; said rear cover section being removably retained against said other of said strengthening ribs by said second set of protuberances, and said second set of retaining clips.

Claim 33

A film viewer comprising: a base a multifunction support member secured to said base, said support member having an aperture therethrough; first means secured to said support member for supporting and dispensing roll film mounted thereon; second means secured to said support member for taking up roll film dispensed by said first means; a lens system secured to said support member intermediate said first and second means and over said aperture; a light system for causing light to be passed through said aperture and toward said lens system; roll film guide means supported by said support member for guiding roll film between said first and second means in a path of travel over said aperture; anD motive means for operating said first and second means; wherein said first means is removably secured to said support member; said second means is removably secured to said support member; and said lens system is removably secured to said support member; wherein said support member includes a retaining channel therein and a retaining wall thereon; said first means and said second means each including an edge portion received in said retaining channel and a seating portion removably secured to said retaining wall.

Claim 34

A film viewer comprising: a base a multifunction support member secured to said base, said support member having an aperture therethrough; first means secured to said support member for supporting and dispensing roll film mounted thereon; second means secured to said support member for taking up roll film dispensed by said first means; a lens system secured to said support member intermediate said first and second means and over said aperture; a light system for causing light to be passed through said aperture and toward said lens system; roll film guide means supported by said support member for guiding roll film between said first and second means in a path of travel over said aperture; anD motive means for operating said first and second means; wherein said first means is removably secured to said support member; said second means is removably secured to said support member; and said lens system is removably secured to said support member; wherein said support member includes a retaining channel therein and a retaining wall thereon; said first means and said second means each including an edge portion received in said retaining channel and a seating portion removably secured to said retaining wall.

Claim 35

The film viewer of claim 30 wherein said lens system is removably secured at one point thereof to said support member and adjustably positioned at a second point thereof with respect to said retaining wall.

Claim 36

The film viewer of claim 31 wherein said motive means is removably secured to said support member.

Claim 37

The film viewer of claim 32 wherein said motive means is carried by a motor support bracket removably secured to said retaining wall.

Claim 38

The film viewer of claim 30 and further including carriage means for carrying plate film, said carriage means being slidably supported by said support member in a path of travel which permits plate film carried by said carriage means to be selectively located in the path of said light; and wherein said support member includes front and rear retaining edges upon which said carriage means is slidably supported.

Claim 39

The film viewer of claim 31 and further including carriage means for carrying plate film, said carriage means being sidably supported by said support member in a path of travel which permits plate film carried by said carriage means to selectively located in the path of said light; and wherein said support member includes front and rear retaining edges upon which said carriage means is slidably supported.

Claim 40

The film viewer of claim 30 wherein said support member includes roll film track means therein; and said roll film guide means is received by said roll film track means.

Claim 41

The film viewer of claim 36 wherein said roll film track means is defined by a pair of upstanding ribs longitudinally extending along the length of said support member on opposite sides of said aperture.

Claim 42

The film viewer of claim 27 wherein said retaining channel is defined by one of said pair of upstanding ribs and a third upstanding rib laterally displaced from one of said pair of upstanding ribs and extending parallel thereto.

Claim 43

The film viewer of claim 27 wherein said roll film guide means includes: a slotted body member having a pair of depending film guiding edges spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of said aperture; and at least one pair of rollers rotatably carried by said body member; the periphery of said rollers extending below said film guiding edges, whereby a uniform gap will be established between said roll film and said film guiding edges regardless of the thickness of the roll film disposed between said roll film track means and said roll film guide means.

Claim 44

The film viewer of claim 39 and further including roll film guide retaining means removably secured to said support member for preventing movement of said roll film guide means in two directions while allowing a predetermined amount of movement of said roll film guide means in a third direction; whereby said roll film guide means can be employed with film of various thicknesses.

Claim 45

The film viewer of claim 37 wherein said roll film track means includes: a first track of a first predetermined width established by the spacing between said pair of upstanding ribs said first track being situated in a first predetermined plane; and a second track of a second predetermined width less than said first predetermined width, said second track being situated in a second plane below said first predetermined width.

Claim 46

The film viewer of claim 41 wherein said roll film guide means includes: a slotted body member having a pair of longitudinally extending depending film guidinG edges spaced apart by a distance greater than the width of said aperture but less than said second predetermined width; and at least one pair of rollers rotatably carried by said body member and received in said second track; the periphery of said rollers, extending below said film guiding edges.

Claim 47

The film viewer of claim 42 wherein said depending film guide edges have a depth at least equal to the distance between said first and second planes.

Claim 48

The film viewer of claim 42 and further including roll film guide retaining means removably secured to said support member for preventing movement of said roll film guide means in two directions while allowing a predetermined amount of movement of said roll film guide means in a third direction; whereby said roll film guide means can be employed with film of various thicknesses.

Claim 49

The film viewer of claim 44 wherein said body member of said roll film guide means includes a pair of oppositely extending projections; and wherein said roll film guide retaining means includes a pair of arms each of which has a partial channelway therethrough to receive one of said projections; the length and width of said partial channelway being preselectively chosen to restain longitudinal and rectilinear motion of said roll film guide means, the depth of said partial channelways being preselectively chosen to allow said roll film guide means to rise a distance slightly greater than the distance between said first and second plane.

Claim 50

The film viewer of claim 30 wherein said first means includes: a planar support wall for providing a backing surface for a roll film cartridge supported thereon, a lower longitudinal edge of said wall constituting said edge portion of said first means which is received in said retaining channel; and a gear housing secured to the rear surface of said planar support wall, said gear housing having a rear wall which constitutes said seating portion of said first means which is removably secured to said retaining wall.

Claim 51

The film viewer of claim 46 wherein said second means includes: a planar support wall for providing a backing surface for a roll film take up reel supported thereon, a lower longitudinal edge of said wall constituting said edge portion of said second means which is received in said retaining channel; and a gear housing secured to the rear surface of said planar support wall, said gear housing having a rear wall which constitutes said seating portion of said second means which is removably secured to said retaining wall.

Claim 52

The film viewer of claim 47 wherein said lens system is removably secured at one point thereof to said support member and adjustably positioned at a second point thereof with respect to said retaining wall.

Claim 53

The film viewer of claim 30 wherein said lens system includes: support bracket means removably secured to said support member; a prism; and prism supporting means movably mounted with respect to said support bracket means for selective vertical and transverse movement of said prism with respect to said support member and for selective rotational movement of said prism with respect to an axis perpendicular to the plane of said support member.

Claim 54

The film viewer of claim 49 wherein said prism supporting means includes: barrel retaining means mounted on said support bracket means for said transverse movement with respect to said support member; and a prism carrying barrel mounted on said support bracket means for said vertical and rotational movement with respect to said support member.

Claim 55

The film viewer of claim 50 wherein said barrel has externally provided rings thereon; said barrel retaining means has an opening therethrough; further including gear means rotatably mounted with respect to said support bracket means and extending through said opening and into engagement with said rings for effecting said vertical movement of said prism barrel; wherein said gear means is secured to an adjustment shaft rotatably supported with respect to said support bracket means; and wherein said shaft is longitudinally fixed with respect to said barrel retaining means and longitudinally slidable with respect to said support bracket means; whereby said shaft can be slid in a transverse direction with respect to said support member to effectuate said transverse movement, and said shaft can be rotated to effectuate said vertical movement.

Claim 56

A film viewer comprising: a base a multifunction support member secured to said base, said support member having an aperture therethrough; first means secured to said support member for supporting and dispensing roll film mounted thereon; second means secured to said support member for taking up roll film dispensed by said first means; a lens system secured to said support member intermediate said first and second means and over said aperture; a light system for causing light to be passed through said aperture and toward said lens system; roll film guide means supported by said support member for guiding roll film between said first and second means in a path of travel over said aperture; and motive means for operating said first and second means; wherein said light system comprises: a light source; a reflecting bowl positioned behind said light source; and condensing lens means positioned to receive light from said source and pass said light through said aperture toward said primary lens subsystem, and further including a housing within which said light source and said reflecting bowl are situated; said housing having an opening in an upper surface thereof; said condensing lens system being situated in said opening, and further including reflecting plate means positioned in said housing beneath said condensing lens system for directing light from said light source up toward said condensing lens system, wherein one end of said housing has air outlet openings therein, and the other end of said housing houses a fan, and further including heat trap means positioned about a portion of the path of light between said light source and said condensing lens for trapping heat therein; whereby air heated by said light can be contained near the longitudinal center of said housing for efficient disposal thereof by air currents generated by said fan; wherein said heat trap means includes a generally elongated cylinder terminating in a frustroconical portion at one end thereof; the other end of said cylinder being spaced from said reflection bowl to create a venturi effect for the hot air trapped in said heat trap means when said fan directs air currents passed the space between said other end and said reflecting bowl.

Claim 57

A film viewer comprising: a base a multifunction support member secured to said base, said support member having an aperture therethrough; first means secured to said support member for supporting and dispensing roll film mounted thereon; second means secured to said support member for taking up roll film dispensed by said first means; a lens system secured to said support member intermediate said first and second means and over said aperture; a light system for causing light to be passed through said aperture and toward said lens system; roll film guide means supported by said support member for guiding roll film between said first and second means in a path of travel over said aperture; and motive means for operating said first and second means; wherein said light system comprises: a light source; a reflecting bowl positioned behind said light source; and condensing lens means positioned to receive light from said source and pass said light through said aperture toward said primary lens subsystem, and further including a housing within which said light source and said reflecting bowl are situated; said housing having an opening in an upper surface thereof; said condensing lens system being situated in said opening, and further including reflecting plate means positioned in said housing beneath said condensing lens system for directing light from said light source up toward said condensing lens system, wherein one end of said housing has air outlet openings therein, and the other end of said housing houses a fan, and further including heat trap means positioned about a portion of the path of light between said light source and said condensing lens for trapping heat therein; whereby air heated by said light can be contained near the longitudinal center of said housing for efficient disposal thereof by air currents generated by said fan; wherein said heat trap means includes a generally elongated cylinder terminating in a frustroconical portion at one end thereof; the other end of said cylinder being spaced from said reflection bowl to create a venturi effect for the hot air trapped in said heat trap means when said fan directs air currents passed the space between said other end and said reflecting bowl.

Claim 58

The film viewer of claim 52 and further including partition means positioned between said heat trap means and the walls of said housing for directing air currents generated by said fan passed said space to create said venturi effect and for aiding in maintaining air heated by said light close to said center of said housing.

Claim 59

The film viewer of claim 52 wherein said reflecting plate means permits the passage of infrared light therethrough and reflection of white light toward said condensing lens system; and further including a metallic heat sink located behind said reflecting plate means.