Optical retrieving system

Claim 1

In an optical system for reading information recorded on a translucent film, where the system is of the kind having (i) a source of light for illuminating information recorded on the film, and (ii) optical means having a lens for reading information from the film, the improvement wherein the light source is movable and wherein the optical means further includes (a) a flexible optical fiber having one end situated to emit light onto the lens, and (b) means holding said one end of the flexible optical fiber aligned with the optical axis of the lens, said means holding the lens and said aligned one end of the flexible optical fiber stationary relative to the movable light source, and wherein the improvement further comprises carriage means having the light source and the other end of the flexible optical fiber mounted thereon in a manner enabling the film to be interposed between the light source and said other end of the flexible optical fiber with the carriage means movable across the film, said other end of the flexible optical fiber being situated to intercept light passing through a localized area of the film illuminated by the light source and transmit that light along the flexible optical fiber to said one end whereby the film can be scanned to read out the recorded information through the stationery lens.