Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Daylight loadin~ system for microfiche cassettes.
The present invention is concerned with microfiche
systems. More particularly, it is concerned with a system
by means of which a microfiche cassette can be loaded with
unexposed microfiches in an illuminated room.
In contradi tinction to microfilms which are provided
on a so-called daylight reel, microfiches are in the form
of a sheet film having the dimensions approximating those
of a postcard. A plurality of said sheet films are packed
together and in order to bring one of them into a micro-
fiche camera, installed in a well-lit room, it has to be
put in an appropriate cassette which screens off the ambient
light duri~g the transfer from the loading station (normal-
ly a darkroom) to the place where exposures are carried
out and vice versa.
In order to dispense with the use of a darkroom, which
in the microfiche field is only part-time used, systems have
been devised for unloading and loading a microfiche cassette
in well-lit conditions.
Such a loading/unloading device is disclosed in the
German Patent Specification no. 2,544,818 filed October ~,
1975 by A.Jacknau. This disclosure deals with a table top
model loading/unloading device in which three compartments
are provided, namely one compartment for storing unexposed
microfiche sheets, one for the storage of exposed microfiche
sheets and one in which the microfiche cassette may be lo-
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cated. The interior of the device can be reached by hand via a light
impervious, loosely hanging tube which is tapered and through which
an operator may carry out manipulations such as unloading a cassette,
taking an unexposed microfiche sheet from a stack of such sheets and
putting it into the emptied cassette. The latter is taken out of the
device whereupon it is suited for a subsequent exposure cycle.
It will be clear that this way of handling microfiche sheets
requires a considerable amount of skill and attention from the part
of the operator and that the chance of making mistakes is not
excluded.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device
for separately loading microfiche cassettes so that the risk for
intermixing unexposed and exposed microfiches is avoided. Moreover,
the invention provides for a device for automatically loading
microfiche cassettes in daylight conditions.
A separate unloading device is disclosed in our co-pending
application No. 326.439 filed on even date herewith for "Daylight
Unloading System for Microfiche Cassettes".
A microfiche cassette unit, the description of which follows
hereinafter, will be called "a microfiche cassette of the type
referred to".
According to the invention, there is provided :
A device for loading a microfiche cassette of the type referred
to in daylight conditions, comprising a housing, a door capable of
light-tightly screening off ligh~ from the interior of said housing,
a space in which a stack of unexposed microfiches may be housed in
darkroom conditions, a platform for positioning said microfiche
cassette in said housing in unlocked and opened condition, means to
take hold of the uppermost one of said stack of unexposed microfiches
and to forward the latter towards said opened
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cassette, means to ~orm a temporary guide ~or the micro-
fiche in the course of being forwarded so that the latter
goes to a predetermined position in said microfiche cas-
sette, preferably in the bottom thereof, and means for the
closing and the relocking o~ said micro~iche cassette
after withdrawal of said temporary guide.
Preferably, the cassette is introduced in the device
in inclined position whereafter it is opened by hand and
the door closed.
The means forming the temporary guide may comprise
a pivotab]e spade-like element having the approximate
dimensions of the bottom of the micro~iche cassette and
which is positioned parallel with said bottom at a dis-
tance of for example 1 to 3 and preferably about two mil-
limeters. Moreover, another resiliently biased element
may be located at the other side of the bottom and also
in parallel relation therewith so that a small gap is
formed through which the microfiche being dispensed is
guided into a groove peripherally extending around the
bottom.
The guides may be actuated by hand or by means of an
electric motor.
After loading the cassette may be closed and locked
by a mechanism imparting a mechanical impulse to the cover,
the latter performing a pivoting motion on the cassette
hinges. ~ adequately choosing the magnitude o~ the mecha-
nical impulse, the latter may be sufficiently high to im-
part a momentum to the cassette cover which suf~ices ~or
forcing the locks of the locking mechanism to snap into
their corresponding holes, in this way re~locking the
microfiche cassette.
The microfiches are stored in a light-tight compartment
in the housing which is provided with an exit opening via
which t-he microfiches are dispensed. The exit opening, in
periods of non-dispensing, is provided with a displaceable
light trap~ so that in periods of non-use, or when the door
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of the housing is open, accidental exposure is totally ex-
cluded.
The mechanism for taking the uppermost microfiche of'
the stack is of rather conventional design in that it in-
corporates a suction member which is cam-operated and
which performs a cycle of movements enabling a microfiche
to be taken hold of and dispensed without risk for scrat-
ches, static electrification, etc. in this way avoiding
phenomena and manipulations which would impair the quality
of the light-sensitive surface coated on the microfiche.
Supplementary expedients may be provided which avoid the
risk of dispensing more than one microfiche at the time.
The microfiche dispensing station may be additionally
be equipped with means which assure a correct aligning
of the stack in order to avoid that any misalignment,
which e.g. occurs when a microfiche would ~all off the
sucker cup, is automatically corrected. The scope and
spirit of the invention will be better understood at the
hand of a description of a preferred embodiment and in the
light of following figures, in which :
Figure l is an illustration of a microfiche cassette
unit of the type referred to,
Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the loading
device.
Figure 3 shows more clearly the formation of the tem-
porary guide,
Figure 4 gives a cross-sectional view of the micro-
fiche storage station.
Figure 5 shows how a microfiche cassette is introduced
into the loading device 3 and
Figures 6 to 9 illustrate the consecutive steps neces-
sary for dispensing a microfiche.
Figure l illustrates a microfiche cassette unit lO of
the,type re~erred to used in combination with the micro-
fiche cassette loading device according to the invention.
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The microfiche cassette unit forms no part of the inventionbut is illustrated in order to facilitate the working prin-
ciple of' the loading device and to facilitate the under-
standin~; of the particular problems arising from khe non-
conventional structure of the concerning microfiche cas-
sette.
As the latter is composed of more elements than mere
a co1~er and a bottom, it will be called "a microfiche
cassette unit of the type referred to".
The microfiche cassette unit 10 is composed of a
cover 11, a boktom 12 and a screen 13. The cover and the
bottom are hingedly connected to each okher by means of a
pair of hinges 14 and 15.
. In the bottom 12 an opening 16 is provided having khe
approximate dimensions of a microfiche 17 (only a part of
the latter being shown by an hatched area). Microfiche 17
rests with its edges in groove 18 provided in bottom 12
along the whole periphery of opening 16. ~hen in closed
- condition, the cover 11 is substantially coincident with
the surface as defined by the upper surface of groove 18
in opening 16.
The cover 11 and the bottom 12 are locked together
by means of spring-~iased locks 19 and 20 whose protruding
portions 21 respectively 22 mate with corresponding ope-
nings 23 and 24 in khe bottom 12, which openings are pro-
vided in members 25 respectively 26, fixedly secured to
the bottom 12.
In order to protect the microfiche 17 from exposure
ko ambienk lighk (as the boktom structure is open) a supple-
mentary screen 13 is provided during the transport fromthe,loading station to the exposure station such as a micro-
fiche camera (not shown) and again from the exposure stakion
to the unloading station.
The screen is provided on iks side edges with guides
27 and 28 in which the side edges 29,30 of the bokkom 12
may freely move. An abukmenk member 39 is provided ak the
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trailing edge of the screen 13 so that the set, formed by
the cover 11 and the bottom 12 is allowed to per~orm a
sliding movement into and out of the screen 13. Once in
the camera, the screen 13 is removed from the rest of the
microfiche cassette unit 10 so that the microfiche 17 con-
tained therein may be exposed.
For the purpose of facilitating a reproducible posi-
tioning of the microfiche cassette unit 10 in the camera,
the screen 13 is also provided with profiles 31 and 32 at
its leading edge which mate with and are arrested by cor-
responding profiles (not shown) at the camera whereinafter
the bottom 12 and the cover 11 may be slid into the camera
in locked condition. The camera then becomes ready for
exposure.
After exposure, the reverse action takes place, in
that, after positioning the screen 13 again, the set formed
by the cover 11 and the bottom 12, locked together, and
containing an exposed microfiche 17, is withdrawn from the
camera, caught by the screen 13 and subsequently trans-
ported to an unloading station in a light-tight condition.
With the unloading station may be associated intermediate
storage facilities or a microfiche processing apparatus.
Figure 2 shows a microfiche cassette loader 40 accord-
ing to the invention. It comprises a housing 41 capable
of being light-tightly closed in ~hich a number of com-
partments are provided. So are provided the loading sta-
tion 42, the dispensing station 43 and a station 44 in
which the electric circuitry, wiring and power supplies
are provided. Another compartment 45 is provided via which
a pack of microfiches may be introduced into the dispenslng
station 43. The loading station 42 and the dispensing sta-
tion 43 communicate with each other via a slot 46 which
in periods that no loading has to be performed is masked
by means of a light screen 47 which may be brought either
in operative or inoperative condition by means of an arm
48 upon partial rotation of the latter by master shaft 49.
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In the loading station 42 is provided an inclined
platform 50 having guides 51 and 52 showing the same pro-
file as those provlded in the screen 13 (see preceding
figure) so that the bottom 12 is capable to perform a la-
teral sliding into and out of the guides 51 and 52 and3consequently, into and out of the microfiche cassette
loader 40.
The microfiche cassette is introduced into the micro-
fiche loader 40 in opened condition. The cover 11 rests
against a resiliently biased abutment member 53 which is
capable to pivot around shaft 54. Around shaft 54 are
provided spring means (not shown) which polarize member
53 so as to come back into the position as illustrated.
The opening angle and the inclined position of the
cover 11 and the bottom 12 of the microfiche cassette are
such that ample space is provided for permitting spade-
like element 55 to be located in close proximity of the
bottom 12 during the periods that a loading of the micro-
fiche cassette has to take place.
The spade-like element 55 is suspended by means of a
connecting member 56 to master shaft 49. Due to the
small distance between the bottom 12 and the spade-like
element, a guide channel 57 is created through which a
microfiche (not shown) is effectively guided in the grooves
provided in the bottom 12 (see again fig. 1).
Part of the platform 50 is also resiliently displacea~
ble (see fur~her) in that an area of it may become substan-
tially flush with the grooves in the bottom 12 in order to
exclude the slightest misalignment of the microfiche dis-
pensed. The concerned part of the platform 50 is broughtin operative position with the help of an eccentric 58
which displaces the part in question over a few millimeters.
When the loading cycle has come to an end, the spade-
like element 55 is rotated (see arrow 59) in upward direc-
tion in order to assume the position 55b as indicated indotted lines. The rotation of master shaft 49 has also
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the effect in that the extremity of arm 48 assumes a lower
position, thereby bringing light screen 47 over slot 46
and light-tightly closing the la~ter. At that moment, a
mechanical impulse is given to the cover 11 having such a
magnitude that the center of gravity of the cover 11 is
displaced over the hinges 14, 15 so that the cover 11 is
accelerated. The momentum acquired at the instant the
bottom 12 is met, is sufficiently high to overcome the
resistance of the spring-biased locking elements 19, 20 so
that the latter may snap into their associated holes in
the bottom, thereby locking the microfiche cassette.
The screen 13 (see fig. 1 and further) is then posi~
tioned relative to the platform 50 so that the guides pro-
vided on the latter and in the screen are substantially in
direct line of each other so that the cover 11 and the bot-
tom 12, now locked together may be slid from the platform
50 to the screen 13, so that no risk exists for the micro-
fiche to become fogged.
The working of the dispenslng station 43 is illustrat-
ed and detailed in the further course of the description.
The dispensing station 43 and compartment 45 are se-
parated from each other by a wall 60 in which an opening
is provided which is light-tight:ly screened by means of a
cover 61. When a pack of microfiches has to be placed in
the dispenslng station 43, the operator slips his hands
via opening 62 in the side walls in which is provided a
loosely hanging tapered tube 63 in light opaque material.
Opening 64 of the tube 63 is provided with a rubber band
which tightly fits around the wrists of the operator so
that the protecting sleeve around the pack of microfiches
may be safely removed and placed in the dispensing station
43 via the opening in wall 60, whereinafter khe opening
,. i,
is closed by cover 61. In so doing, no danger exists that
the contents of the dispensing station 43 would be inad-
vertently struck by ambient light.
In figure 3 is illustrated in more detail how the tem-
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porary guide, necessary for a reproducible feeding ol a
microfiche into the microfiche cassette, is formed.
The main constituents of the mechanism are formed by
the platform 50 and the spade-like element 55 which is
5 linked to master shaft 49 by means of connecting member 56.
Master shaft 49 is pivoted by means of a slide 65 which
upon longitudinal displacement imparts a rotating motion
to element 66 fixedly secured to master shaft 49. The
element 66 is resiliently biased by means of a spring 67
or analogous device, which biasing is such that master
shaft 49 will tend to take such a position that the spade
like element 55 is kept in its uppermost direction. Upon
displacing slide 65 in the direction of arrow 68 the spade-
like element 55 assumes the working position as illustrated.
As may be derived, platform 50 is provided with a
U-shaped groove 69 which defines a rectangular part 70
which, due to the fact that one edge of it is integral with
the platform 50, is capable to undergo small elastic defor-
mations under the influence of eccentric 58 conkacting its
bottom side. The width of the rectangular part 70 is some-
what smaller than that of the opening 16 in botkom 12 of
the cassette (see fig. 1) so that when rectangular part 70
is urged upwardly by means of the eccentric 58, its fore-
front edge is capable to assume a position which is sub-
25 stantially coinciding with the groove 18 in the bottom 12of the microfiche cassette. In so doing, a microfiche (not
shown) being dispensed will always be directed such as to
be positioned upon the peripheral groove 18 (see again
fig. 1) as any misalignment would be compensated by the up-
ward deviation exerted by the part 70 in biased position.The part 70 of the platform 50 is brought in upwardly biased
position with the help of eccentric 58 which exerts its
driving force as a consequence of the partial rokation of
shaft 71. This partial rotation is caused by the push
~5 exerted by rod 72 mounted on slide 65 upon the upwardly
bent portion 73 of shaft 71 during the dispensing and
loading cycles of the microfiche cassette loader.
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As may also be derived from fig. 3, the cover 11
(which is only partially represented for the sake of cla-
rity) rests against a support wheel 74 carried by a twice
bent shaft 75. The latter bears at its other extremity
5 a cam 76 which may be pivoted over a predetermined angle
by the projection 77 on slide 65 during the longitudinal
displacement of the latter. The mounting of cam 76 on
shaft 75 occurs through the intermediary of a spring-
element 78 which prevent that the rotation of cam 76 would
involve a corresponding rotation of the shaft 75 when
slide 65 advances in the direction indicated by arrow 68.
During the returning movement of slide 65 after loading,
however, when spade-like element 55 is moving upwardly, the
rotation of cam 76 is transmitted to shaft 75 so that the
support wheel 74 pushes the cover 11 of the microfiche
cassette in the sense indicated by arrow 79. This pushing
causes the center of gravity of the cover 11 to pass past
the hinges of the microfiche cassette (see fig. 2) so that
the cover 11 acquires a momentum of growing magnitude when
falling towards the bottom. The magnitude of the momentum
may become so high that it suffices for overcoming the
biasing forces exerted upon the locks of the cover 11 (see
fig. 2) so that the locks 19, 20 snap in their correspond-
ing holes 23, 24 and the microfiche cassette becomes locked.
It will be clear from the foregoing that the loading and
closing of the microfiche cassette may be carried out in a
reliable position. It must be kept in mind that the mecha-
nism as illustrated and described may be su~jected to va-
riations and that there may be devlsed a variety of equi-
valents for the parts and mechanisms involved.
In fig. 4 are illustrated the dispensing station 43and compartment 45 via which a stack of microfiches is
placed into the former. As the loading through opening 62
has already been described with reference to fig. 2, the
description of this cycle will not be repeated. The door
61 (in fig. 2) has been replaced by one which is capable
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to be brought in light-screening position by a sliding
movement. Within the dispensing station Ll3 is located
a stack of microfiches 79 which abut against abutting mem-
ber 80 for the purpose of proper aligning. The correct
5 placing of the stack of microfiches 79 against abutting
member 80 is greatly facilitated by the provision of down-
wardly directed guide 81 which guides the stack towards
abutting member 80 in a reproducible way.
In order to keep the stack cf microfiches 79 aligned
in the course of the use of the loading device, a supple-
mentary abutting member 82 is provided which is resilient-
ly and displaceable mounted in a housing 83 under the in-
fluence of a spring 84. The inclined mounting of the
housing 83 and the consequent movement of abutting member
15 82 provides that the protruding portion 85 of the latter
remains in contact with the trailing edge of the stack 79
so that any misalignment is automatically compensated. The
uppermost microfiche of the stack 79 is taken by means of a
sucker-cup 86. The description of the complete dispensing
cycle will follow hereinafter.
Fig. 5 shows the general set up of the microfiche cas-
sette loading device 40 according to the invention during
the insertion of an empty cassette 10 prior to the loading
or the withdrawal of the latter after the loading step.
I'he screen 13 forming part of the microfiche cassette unit
10 is placed in mating relationship with platform 50
through the intermediary of profiles 31 and 32 which engage
corresponding profiles 87, 88 on the platform 50. This
permits the microfiche cassette cover and bottom to slide
out of the screen 13 and to be caught by the platform 50
via the guides 51 and 52 ( see fig. 2 ) which lie in the
direct line of the corresponding guides 27, 28 in the screen
(fig. 1). Due to the fact that the mating of the screen
13 and the platform 50 occurs in intimate relationship para-
35 sitic light can be excluded from falling upon a microfiche(not shown) kept in the groove 18 in the bottom 12 of the
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microfiche cassette (see fig. 1).
The interior of the housing 41 can be kept light-
tight by means of a slidable door 89.
In figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, finally, are represented the
steps to be performed by the microfiche dispensing mecha-
nism during one dispensing cycle.
The dispensing mechanism 90 essentially comprises
one or a plurality of sucker-cups 86 located above the
stack of microfiches 79 in the vicinity of the leading edge
of the latter. In case more than one sucker-cup 86 is
provided, they are mounted on a common support which is
positioned in parallel relationship with the leading edge
of the microfiches constituting the stack.
The sucker-cup or sucker-cups 86 is (are) suspended
from a suction tube 91 via which air can be aspirated when
connected to a source of vacuum (not shown) which vacuum
is transmitted via the suction tube 91 to the interior of
the sucker cup or sucker-cups 86. The suction tube 91 is
freely suspended in a pair of arms 92 (one located at each
side edge or longitudinal edge of the stack 79) which are
fixedly secured to an associated lever 93. The set formed
by the arm 92 and the lever 93 is pivotable around a
spindle 9l~ The free extremity of lever 93 carries a small
roller bearing 95 ~hich rests against a rotating cam 96,
the latter by the movement conferred to the lever 93 and
arm 94, controlling the microfiche dispensing cycle. Apart
~rom being suspended from the suction tube 91, the sucker-
cup 86 is provided with a small roller 97 which rests
against a cam 98. By the fact that the centers of the
~0 suction tube 91 and of the roller 97 do-not coincide, the
sueker-cup 86 is capable to perform small canting move-
ments around the suction tube 91. The stack of microfiches
.,.
79 rests against an abutting member 80 as already explained.
On top of the abutting member is fitted a knife 99, the
purpose of which will be explained further.
In order to provide for a driving force for a dispensed
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microfiche towards the loading station (not shown) a plura-
lity of transport rollers 100, 101~ and 102 are provided.
In fig. 6 is illustrated the starting of the dispensing
cycle. At that moment, the sucker-cup 86 takes hold of the
uppermost sheet 103 of the stack of microfiches 79. Vacuum
is applied to the interior of the sucker-cup 86. Even with
the help of a slight underpressure, the surface of the
uppermost sheet 103 firmly adheres to the suction mouth
of the sucker-cup 86. The small roller 97 rests at the
bott;ommost point of the inclined surface of cam 98.
In fig. 7 is shown the situation after that the cam 96
has performed a quarter of one revolution. Due to the in-
creased distance between the center of rotation of the cam
96 and the roller 95, the whole set formed by the arm 92
and the lever 93 has canted over an angle ~ so that as a
consequence, the sucker-cup 86 is lifted and due to the in-
clined plane on cam 98 assumes a position which facilitates
the separation from the uppermost sheet 103 from the rest
of the stack 79.~,The uppermost sheet 103 assumes a concavely
shaped configurat~on ~hile being displaced in upward direc-
tion.
Fig. 8 shows the situation when the cam 96 has performed
a 180 degrees rotation. At that moment, the leading edge
of the uppermost sheet 103 reaches the knife 99 and is ar-
rested by the latter during a small time lapse, which ishowever sufficiently long to permit any other microfiche
sheet which by accident should stick to the uppermost one
to get separated from the latter and to fall on the stack !,
again. Sticking of film sheets together may be caused by
static electrification, the creation of a partial vacuum
between adjacent sheetsg etc. These phenomena are suffi-
ciently known in the art and need therefore no further ex-
planation. The presçnce of knife 99 serves the purpose in
that a microfiche ad~ering to the uppermost one 103 is
forced to undergo a small displacement. This relative slid-
ing from both sheets destroys the partial vacuum or slight-
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ly separates the sheets from each other so that the adhe-
sion forces are lowered and are not sufficient angmore to
carry the weight of the sheet which was taken from the
stack by accident.
In fig. 9 is illustrated the situation at the moment
the uppermost sheet 103 is delivered to the transport
roller unit 100, 101, and 102. At that moment, the unit
formed by arm 92 and lever 93 has acquired the maximum
swinging angle and the vacuum in the interior of the sucker
cup 86 is released. The leading edge of the uppermost
sheet 103 is consequently released and is taken in the nip
of rollers lO0 and 102 which direct it to the proper loading
station. The loading cycle was descr:ibed with reference
to figs. 2 and 3.
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