Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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2 The present invention relates to a microfilm cassette
3 which may be either put into or removed from a reading apparatus
4 without the film having to be rewound. It also relates to means
)5 which make it possible to proceed, with such a cassette, to a
)6 possible search.
)7 Known microfilm cassettes comprise only one magazine.
)8 To read the film, it is necessary to engage a starting strip on a
)9 receiver spool. To remove the film it is first necessary
to rewind the entire film into the loader. Those manoeuvers
Ll require a non-negligible time and require of the operator a
12 handling with two hands.
13 One object of the present invention consists in
14 providing for a microfilm cassette which avoids those drawbacks,
and which is easy and fast to handle.
16 According to a characteristic of the invention, there
17 is provided for a microfilm cassette, similar to a magnetic tape
18 cassette, provided with two magazines, each one of them having in
l9 its center a winding shaft, the width of the cassette being
slightly greater than the width of the microfilm, the two
21 magazines being joined by a pair of separate plates which extend
22 the wal.ls of the magazines, so that the film runs between the two
23 plates, the central zone of the two plates being transparent.
24 According to another characteristic, the width of the
interval between the two plates is small so that it presses the
26 film and thus accurately positions its portion to be viewed on
27 the light trajectory.
28 According to another characteristic, the apparatus for
29 using the cassette comprises, in addition to the classical
optical devices, a chassis with two shafts capable of driving the
31 shafts of the spools of the cassette's magazines.
32 According to another characteristic, the apparatus
33 comprises a cradle mounted on glides which make possible its
34 transverse displacement, said cradle being fit to receive the
cassette and comprising an opening or a transparent zone facing
36 the transparent zone of the cassette, with driving means for the
37 transverse displacement of the cradle, the shaft of the chassis
38 sliding in the shafts of the spool.
39 According to another characteristic, each shaft of the
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02 chassis can be driven only in its direction of the rewinding of
03 the spool located in the corresponding mayazine.
04 In general, the inventive microfilm device is comprised
05 of a cassette having an integral pair of cylindrical chambers
06 joined in separate positions by closely spaced parallel flat
07 surfaces for holding a film in an optical plane of a format area,
08 whereby film may be transported from either chamber between the
09 flat surfaces and through the format area to the other chamber.
A chassis is included having an optical system with an optical
ll axis for projecting an image which is in the optical plane, in
12 the format area. A cradle apparatus is mounted on the chassis and
13 is configured with complementary contours for matingly and slidingly
14 receiving the joined chambers in order to support the cassette with
a traverse sliding movement apparatus at locations relative to the
16 chassis in order to position the format area in an optical path.
17 Shafts are associated with the cylindrical chambers for winding and
18 transporting the film in either direction between the chambers
l9 while the cassette is in the cradle apparatus. Further apparatus
transmits driving forces to the shafts.
21 The above-mentioned characteristics of the present
22 invention, as well as others, will appear more clearly upon
23 reading of the description of one example of execution, said
24 description being given with respect to the attached drawing,
among which:
26 Figure 1 is a schematic view, in perspective, of a
27 microfilm cassette according to the present invention.
28 Figure 2 is a schematic front view of an apparatus in
29 which the cassette in Figure l may be used.
Figure 3 is a schematic view, in section, of the
31 apparatus in Figure 2.
32 Figure 4 is a schematic view, in perspective, of a
33 cassette cradle used in the apparatus according to Figure 2.
34 Figure 5 is a front view of the cradle in Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a schematic plane view of a chassis
36 provided for the cradle in Figure 4, in the apparatus according
37 to Figure 2.
38 Figure 7 is a partial schematic view of the cradle in
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02 Figure 6, with a reversed (switched) gear position, and
03 Figure 8 is a cross sectlon view of the chassis in
04 Figure 6, along line VIII-VIII.
05 The cassette in Figure 1 is formed of two partial
06 cylinders 1 and 2, closed at their non-visible ends, and
07 comprising the one a slit 3 and the other a slit 4 along
08 generatrices, the slits of the edges of 3 and 4 being
09 respectively joined by plates 5 and 6. In their centers, as
limited by rectangle 7, the plates 5 and 6 are transparent.
11 In the centers of the closing plates, not shown, of
12 cylinders 1 and 2, there are provided for bearings, not
13 represented, in which are mounted spool shafts 8 and 9. Shafts 8
14 and 9 are hollow, with longitudinal ribs and grooves on the
inside, to make their being driven possible. Film 10 which runs
16 between plates 5 and 6 forms two spools 11 and 12, respectively,
17 around shafts 8 and 9. The space between plates 5 and 6 is
18 reduced so that the plates serve as film-pressing device,
19 positioning the film with precision in the optical trajectory.
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2 of co~rse, the space existing between the two cylinders
~3 1 and 2, below zone 7, must be free from an opa~ue obstacle, in
)4 order to let the light go through. The rear closing plates, not
,~5 represented, are closed by a veil which closes the edges between
)6 plates 5 and 6. Such a veil also is provided on the front face
~7 to make the cassette dustproof.
)8 Inside the cylinders, felts 13 and 14, respectively
~)9 carried by springs 15 and 16, are respectively mounted, in a
0 suitable manner, to ensure the tightening of the windings of
1 spools 11 and 12, and to prevent an ill-timed unwinding of the
2 film. Another braking and dustproofing (tightness-ensuring)
3 system for the spools can also be executed using two toric joints
4 per spool, mounted, respectivel~, at the ends of the shafts of
.5 the spools, and which are in abutment on the front and rear
6 veils.
.7 ~ On the external surface of each one of cylinders 1 and
8 2, there is provided for in a suitable location, which may be
9 chosen closed to the fore of the cassette as indicated in Figure
1, a hollow 17 meant to cooperate with a locXing ball which will
~-~1 be seen below.
~2 In the representation of the projection apparatus in
!3 Figure 2, there can be recognized a cassette 19 identical with
~4 the one in Figure 1, which is introduced and maintained in a
'5 casing, the opening of which is protected by a shutter 20. The
~6 front face of the apparatus comprises, further, a button 21 which
!7 governs the passing of the film in cassette 19, a button 22 which
~8 governs the translation of the cassette from the front to the
!9 rear (and vice-versa) in its casing, a button 23 which regulates
the lens of the apparatus, a go-stop button 24 which also makes
31 it possible to adjust the intensity of light, a "on" signal 26
32 and a screen 26. In Figure 2 there has also been represented in
33 dash lines a halogen lamp 27, its reflector 28 and a condenser
; ~4 29.
In the section (view) in Figure 3, there is seen again,
36 in the casing lamp 27, condenser 29, plates 5 and 6 which hold
37 the film 10 as if in a sandwich, a first mirror 31 sending back
38 the light beam received from 27 through 10 toward a second mirror
39 32 which sends the light back to the rear face of the screen 26.
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l2 Buttons 23, 22 and signal 25 also are indicated. The section
l3 (view) in Figure 3 makes it possible to illustrate the optical
)4 functioning of the apparatu~, which is entirely classical.
~5 In Figure 4, there has been represented in perspective
a cradle meant to receive cassette l9. It i9 essentially formed
)7 of a rigid sheet 33 comprising an upper flat face 34, with an
)8 indentation (hollow) 35 corresponding to zone 7 of the cassette,
)9 the flat face being extended to the right and to the left by two
L0 half-cylinders 36 and 37, the common diameter of which
Ll corresponds to the common external diameter of of l and 2. Each
L2 half-cylinder 36 or 37 carries on the outside, along its
L3 horizontal generatrix, a slider respectively 38 or 39. In
l4 addition, slider 38 has at its two ends, toward the outside, two
L5 small blocks 40 and 41 which comprise threaded holes which are
l6 aligned and which define the axis of an endless screw 42, Figure
L7 6, driven along by button 22. The rear ends of the
18 half-cylinders 36 and 37 form veils presenting openings for
l9 shafts 43 and 44 which drive the shafts of spools 8 and 9.
Finally, the cradle comprises, in front of sliders 3~ and 29,
21 lodgings for clacsical locking balls 45 and 46, which may assume
22 an unlocked position toward the outside and a locked position
23 toward the inside. Locking systems other than the one which has
24 just been described could also be used.
In Figure S there has been represented cradle 47 seen
26 from the front, mounted in the casing of the projection
27 apparatus. The casing is limited by two lateral faces 48 and 49,
28 but especially it comprises two vertical partitions (walls~ which
29 each comprise a groove 52 or 53, horizontally placed, inside
which there respectively slide sliders 38.
31 The view from the top in Figure 6 shows the other parts
32 of the casing according to Figure 5, that is to say bottom 54, a
33 vertical wall 55, perpendicular to walls 50 and 51, and placed
34 slightly forward of bottom (back) 54, and a front face 56 in
which there is cut out an opening making it possible to introduce
36 the cassette, said opening being normally closed by the shutter
37 20 in Figure 2. Endless screw 42 at the end of which button 22
38 is mounted, is carried by bearings from bottom (back) 54, and of
39 the front face 56. As screw 42 runs through the threaded holes
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~2 of blocks 40 and 41, it is possible to displace in translation,
~3 by operating button 22, cradle 47 in grooves 52 and 53. A shaft
~04 57 at the end of which button 21 is mounted, is carried by
~5 bearings of bottom (back) 54 and of the front face 56. Shaft 57
06 is solidary of a gear 58 close to bottom (back) 54. Shaft 44 is
D7 carried or supported by bearings of bottom or back 54, and of
08 wall 55. There are provided for two gears 59 and 60 placed in
~39 front of each other between 54 and 55. Gear 59 comprises a
! 10 circular groove on which there is mounted a belt 61 which runs
11 over a pulley 62 mounted on the shaft 43 between 55 and 54.
12 Shaft 43 is carried or supported by bearings of 54 and of 55.
13 It appears in Figure 6 that the depth of cradle 47 is
14 of the order of one half the depth of the volume defined by
partitions or walls 50, 51 and 55. In that volume, the shafts 43
16 and 44 form pins on which come to fit the hollow shafts 8 and 9
17 of the cassette mounted in cradle 47. Shafts 43 and 44 of course
18 have ribs and grooves, so as to be able of driving shafts 8 and 9
19 into rotation.
Shaft 57 now can rotate when button 21 is depressed,
~21 but it can be pushed in as shown in Figure 6, a position in which
22 its gear 58 engages gear 60 which is solidary of shaft 44, or it
23 can be pulled towrd the front, as shown in Figure 7, a position
24 in which its gear 58 engages gear 59 which is mounted free on
shaft 44.
26 There results from the above that in the pushed down
27 position, when button 21 is rotated in the direction opposite
28 that of the hands of a clock, the film is wound around 9, driven
29 by 44 and that, in the pulled out position it is possible, by
rotating button 21 in the opposite direction, to rewind the film
31 around 8, driven by 43, 62, 61 and 59. A wrong manoeuver is
32 ea~ily detected because the film does not move.
33 It thus appears that by manoeuvering button 21 it is
34 possible to cause the film to run under area 63, from the right
to the left, or from the left to the right. In addition, by
36 manoeuvering button 22, there is translated cradle 47 which
37 carries the cassette, that is to say the film, that is to say
38 that the film is displaced from the front to the rear or
39 vice-versa under area 63. Area 63 being the one located on the
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~2 optical axis of the apparatus, it thus appears that buttons 21
~3 and 22 make it possible to center the image which it is desired
~4 to consult on screen 10.
~5 Figure 8 is a section view along line VIII-VIII in
06 Figure 6, in which there are found again button 22, shaft 42, the
~7 blocks 40 and 41, and partition 50.
08 With reference again to Figure 6, it appears that the
D9 internal front parts of walls SO and 51 are made thinner in 64
and 65, to make it possible for locking devices 45 and 46 to
11 disappear.
12 In order to use the projection apparatus with film
13 cassettes, according to the present invention, the empty cradle,
14 by means of button 22, is displaced forward. It is assumed that
grooves 52 and 53 are closed toward the front in order to form an
16 abutment. When the cradle has come to hit against said abutment,
17 the locking devices 45 and 46 are unlocked, this making possible
18 the introduction of the cassette into the cradle. The cradle is
19 pushed in completely. Afterwards, as soon as the cradle which
contains said cassette moves back, the locking system immobilizes
21 the cassette in the cradle.
22 As a function of the picture projected, the operator
23 either unwinds or winds the film. It is possible to provide, for
24 example, on the edge of the film for a footage marking. Once the
good zone has been found, the image is centered by means of 21
26 and 22, then, possibly button 23 is used to permit a change of
27 lens and ensure the correct magnifying power of the image which
28 has to be consulted.
29 It must further be understood that the cassette and the
apparatus make it possible to view the microfilm either over its
31 entire width and over a length which is the equivalent of the
32 transparent window 7 of the cassette, or over a reduced part,
33 using lenses with different magnifying powers, associated with
34 adjustable diaphragms or a slide with holes lodged above the
condenser.
36 It is also possible to provide for a motorization of
37 the reading table, the buttons of the manual mechanical control
38 being replaced by pushbuttons governing micro-motors mounted,
39 especially at the ends of sh~ft} 42 and ~7.
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2 In addition, it is possible to provide, on the edge of
3 the film for a magnetic footage marking which, associated with a
4 suitable reading head, makes it possible to perform an automatic
search.
6 On the transparent parts of plate 5, horizontally
7 indexed marking lines may be engraved, traced or drawn, so that
B is is possible to locate, during projection, the lateral zone
looked for.
O The apparatus can, for example, serve as map reader in
1 a ~ehicle, the maps to be consulted being recorded on the film.
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