Bell + Howell Company

David G Stites

K George Rabindran

John R Flint

Paul H Friedrich

Robert D Zuelke

Michael L Kreuser

A microimage recording apparatus of the type utilizing an elongated master film strip movable along a master film processing path and a duplicate film strip movable along a duplicate film strip processing path for making duplicates of successive developed image areas on the master film strip includes a duplication station having a support for the master film strip to position a developed image area thereon in a duplication position along the master film strip path. Support is provided for the duplicate film strip along a segment of the duplicate film processing path merging with the master film strip path at the duplication station. The master and duplicate film strips are biased together in close contact at the duplication station against a glass platen and light is passed through a developed image area on the master film strip to create a latent, duplicate image area on the duplicate film strip for subsequent development. A master film transport system is provided for moving successive developed image areas into and out of the duplication position along the segment of merged film paths and a separately controlled duplicate film transport apparatus is provided for positioning and moving the duplicate film into and out of the duplication position for exposing the duplicate film through a selected developed image area on the master film strip to make one or more duplicates thereof.

Film duplication system for microimage recorders

An apparatus for correcting aberrations in prisms in convergent light paths. The prism has a transparent entrance and exit face which are connected by a hypotenuse surface. The effect of adding a wedge-shaped addition is made on one of the entrance or exit faces to create a compensating dispersive spectrum to compensate for lateral chromatic aberration. The hypotenuse surface is formed as a spherically convex surface to produce a compensating astigmatic aberration to compensate for the astigmatic aberration caused by the entrance and exit faces of the prism.

Dove prism for convergent light paths

A film transport mechanism moves film from area to area and then stops it to project an image. During the period while the film is being transported, the lens is shuttered and glass flats on either side of the film are opened. This way, the viewer does not see a blurred montage of images being moved across a screen at a high rate of speed, and there is a much less chance of scratching film. The shutter may be either a mechanical blade which cuts across a beam of light or an electrical circuit which dims a light supply to darken the screen. Dimming is preferred to switching a lamp off or on since it is much less damaging to a filament if it remains continuously energized.

Microfilm transport with shuttered lens and glass flat control

A pair of glass flats are mounted in a removable carrier frame assembly, which is adapted to be inserted into a microfilm reader/printer. Supports on the carrier frame may be rested upon a front panel of a reader/printer in order to facilitate an alignment and an insertion of the carrier. A solenoid controlled mechanical linkage normally holds the glass flats in an open position except when the film is actually being projected. Then, they close. Signals are sent back to indicate to the reader/printer whether the flats are opened or closed and to control it in response thereto.

Microfilm reader/printer with normally open and removable glass flat

A roll film reader/printer transports film to a selected photographic area of imagery. Transparent areas are also left at any one or more selected locations on the roll film. When it is necessary or desirable to read an image on a separate and discrete piece of film, the roll of film is transported through the reader/printer in order to display a transparent area. There, a carrier for the separate and discrete piece of film is manually inserted into the reader/printer and over the transparent area on the roll film. An optically detectable symbol may be provided on the carrier so that a signal may be given when the carrier is in a reading position. Either suitable interlock switches or signals responsive to the optically detected symbol may disable the roll film transport mechanism while the carrier for the manually inserted film is in the reader/printer.

Growing community of inventors

Elgin, IL, United States of America

David G Stites