US3778141A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic advance mechanism for microfiche reader
Assignee: PALISADES EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION Inc
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Filing: 1972-06-22
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Granted: 1973-12-11
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Expires: 1992-06-22
Abstract
Abstract A microfiche reader keyed to a tape recorder includes a platen receiving a microfiche having a series of images or frames arranged in successive parallel rows and columns. The platen is mounted slidably on a carriage for movement laterally of the reader in the direction of a row or X axis of the microfiche and the carriage is in turn mounted slidably on a chassis for movement front-to-back in the direction of a column or X axis of the microfiche. The platen and carriage are each spring-biased in one direction of their travel into end positions placing one of the images in the beam of a light source. A track in a face of the platen of a grid formation has parallel track sections for the respective columns interconnected at the ends. A guide pin on the chassis engages this track and a pawl-rack mechanism is operable to step the carriage against the force of its return spring by successive images. When the guide pin has reached the end of a track section the pawl is disengaged and the carriage is spring returned and the platen spring shifted sidewise to place the first image of the next column into the light beam, and so on until all images have been scanned. When the end of the microfiche is reached the guide pin is disengaged causing the carriage to be spring returned home and the platen is shifted manually against its spring bias to start position after which the guide pin is reengaged with the track. The microfiche may then be replayed or be replaced by another.
Inventors
- 👤 J Peterpaul
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:15
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B31/00; G03B31/06; G03B21/00; G03B21/10; G03B21/11; G03B21/115; G03B21/116
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
In automatic advance mechanism for a microfiche reader having picture frames equally spaced along successive rows and columns: the combination of a carriage mounted for movement along a first axis, a platen mounted on said carriage for movement relative thereto along a second axis at right angles to said first axis, a fixed light-beam source, a portion of said platen being adapted for receiving a microfiche and for permitting passage of said light beam through the respective picture frames thereof depending on the right angle positioning of said platen, a gridtype track formation in the face of a second portion of said platen comprising a pair of parallel groove sections looped back on themselves along one of said axes for each row or column of picture frames of said microfiche with the last portion of each pair being joined to the first portion of the next succeeding pair, and a guide pin engaging said track formation to guide said platen back and forth along said successive groove sections whereby successive columns of said picture frames are scanned by said light beam source as the first sections of said successive pairs are traversed by said guide pin.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
In automatic advance mechanism for a microfiche reader having picture frames equally spaced along successive rows and columns: the combination of a carriage mounted for movement along a first axis, a platen mounted on said carriage for movement relative thereto along a second axis at right angles to said first axis, a fixed light-beam source, a portion of said platen being adapted for receiving a microfiche and for permitting passage of said light beam through the respective picture frames thereof depending on the right angle positioning of said platen, a gridtype track formation in the face of a second portion of said platen comprising a pair of parallel groove sections looped back on themselves along one of said axes for each row or column of picture frames of said microfiche with the last portion of each pair being joined to the first portion of the next succeeding pair, and a guide pin engaging said track formation to guide said platen back and forth along said successive groove sections whereby successive columns of said picture frames are scanned by said light beam source as the first sections of said successive pairs are traversed by said guide pin.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
88 words
The automatic advance mechanism set forth in claim 1 including spring means biasing said carriage home along a first axis and biasing said platen in an advance direction along said second axis, a pawl and rack mechanism successively actuatable for stepping said carriage along said first axis against the return force of said biasing means with said biasing means being operable to shift said platen sidewise along said second axis to the next groove section of each pair when the end of the first groove section is reached.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The automatic advance mechanism set forth in claim 2 including a latch pawl for detenting said platen in each step position thereof, and means for releasing said latch pawl to permit return of said platen along the second of each pair of groove sections by said spring means when said guide pin has reached the end of the first groove section of each pair.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
72 words
The automatic advance mechanism set forth in claim 3 wherein said latch pawl is biased over center between engaged and disengaged positions, including means for camming the latch pawl into disengaged position when said guide pin reaches the end of the first groove section of each pair and for camming the latch pawl back into engaged position when the guide pin reaches the end of the second groove section of each pair.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The automatic advance mechanism set forth in claim 3 wherein said guide pin is mounted for movement into and out of engagement with said groove formation, including means biasing said guide pin into engaged position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The automatic advance mechanism set forth in claim 5 including manually operable cam means for disengaging said guide pin from said groove formation.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The automatic advance mechanism set forth in claim 6 including means for shifting said latch pawl into disengaged position simultaneously as said guide pin is disengaged.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
The automatic advance mechanism set forth in claim 7 including a push button depressible for camming said guide pin free of said track formation and for simultaneously shifting said latch pawl into disengaged position, and means for shifting Said platen relative to said carriage while said push button is held depressed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
147 words
The automatic advance mechanism set forth in claim 1, including a first spring means biasing said carriage to home position, a second spring means biasing said platen relative to said carriage in an advance direction, a pawl and ratchet mechanism for stepping said carriage ahead against the force of said return spring, a latch pawl for detenting said carriage in each stepped position thereof, means for camming said latch pawl to disengaged position simultaneously as said plate is shiftd sidewise at the end of the first groove section of each pair whereby said carriage is thereupon returned home with said pin traversing the second section of each pair, and a cam portion at the end of the second section of each pair for camming said platen sidewise to bring the first frame of the next column in line with said light source when said carriage reaches home.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
70 words
The automatic advance mechanism set forth in claim 9, including manual means operable to disengage said latch pawl and said pin from said track formation for causing said carriage to be returned home by said first spring means and for enabling said platen to be shifted manually against said second spring means to start position before said manual means is released to latch said pin again with said track formation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
84 words
The automatic advance mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein said microfiche reader includes, a solenoid for successively actuating said pawl and rack mechanism, a recorder having a record medium with separate successive recordings keyed to the successive picture frames of said microfiche, wherein said record medium has a control signal recorded thereon at the end of each of said recordings for momentarily activating said solenoid to step said microfiche ahead by one picture frame at the end of each of said recordings.
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) | 1976-12-10 | 1977-06-11 | 1977-12-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-12-10 | 1981-06-11 | 1981-12-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-12-10 | 1985-06-11 | 1985-12-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |