Harris Corporation

Floyd F Keesler

David C Bailey

A film loader (16), loads a planar film sheet (58), such as a microfiche, onto a vacuum head (54) associated with an X/Y positioner (56). The film sheet is edge supported between slots (106) in two side plates (36, 38), and is transported along the path defined by these slots by driven rollers (40, 110). The vacuum head (54) is positioned at a location transversely adjacent and partially intruding into this film path. Stop pins (62) block the movement of the film sheet beyond this location so that the film sheet comes to stop with an edge (68) resting on the vacuum head. Guide pins (64) are inserted into the film path upstream of this location, and are moved downstream so as to confine the film sheet to a well defined position between the guide pins (64) and the stop pins (62). An actuator (70) forces the film sheet transversely against locator pins (66) which protrude from the vacuum head (54), thus precisely aligning the film sheet (58) onto the vacuum head (54). A plate (154) flattens the film sheet against the vacuum head (54) as a vacuum is applied thereto so that the film sheet is captured by the vacuum head. The stop pins (62) and actuator (70) are then disengaged from the film sheet to permit the film sheet (58) to be positioned by the positioner (56).

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Indialantic, FL, United States of America

Floyd F Keesler