Bell + Howell Company

Heinz E Hertel

John R Flint

A film developing system for a microimage recording apparatus of the type including an elongated film strip movable under tension along a film path. The film strip is of the type utilizing heat for developing latent image areas formed at an exposure station, and the improved developing station includes a support for holding the film strip between spaced apart support elements extending transversely across the film strip on opposite sides of a previously exposed latent image area. A developer shoe having an outwardly convex heated surface is adapted to contact a facing surface of the film strip between the supports for developing the latent image area. The developer shoe is mounted for movement between a first position spaced away from the film path and a second position wherein the film strip is tensioned to conform to the heated surface of the shoe for developing during a selected time period. A back-up assembly is provided between the supports including a collector spaced from and adjacent to an opposite surface of the film strip for enclosing the developing area and retaining any gases generated and for conserving the heat generated by the developer shoe while in contact with the film strip. The back-up assembly includes a peripheral seal and a replaceable collection element adapted to collect and retain any residue that may be formed on the film strip at the developing station during heated contact with the developer shoe.

Film developing system for microimage recording apparatus

A light tight cartridge for dispensing a light sensitive film strip wound on a spool comprises a container body having an exit port formed between spaced side walls in a transverse wall therebetween for accommodating a film strip extending outwardly of the container on a tangential film path which angularly changes relative to the container as the amount of the film on the spool is varied. A floating light seal is mounted in an exit port enclosure for shifting movement in a direction generally transverse to the film path and continuously provides a light sealing engagement with opposite surfaces of the film strip preventing outside light from entering the container body. The exit port enclosure and floating light seal cooperate to permit relative movement of the floating light seal in a direction generally normal to the path of the film and thereby accommodate different angular paths of film travel from the internal spool toward a fixed locational relationship such as an external film roller.

Light tight film cartridge with floating light seal

The present invention is used in photo-recording machines, such as microfiche recorders, which receive a document and record an image of the document on a photo-recording medium such as photoplastic film. The invention inhibits double exposures on frames of the film by use of distinctive indicator marks recorded on the film at preselected locations called indicator mark fields. The presence or absence of an indicator mark in such an indicator mark field signifies, respectively, that its corresponding frame is or is not available for recording a document image. In an improved recorder, prior to a proposed recording, a detector scans the indicator mark field corresponding to the frame selected for recording. If the detector detects an indicator mark, the recorder is inihibited from recording the document in the selected frame. A projection light source forms the image of the indicator mark field and projects it along an optical path in which a sensor of the detector is interposed. Where the indicator mark includes lighter and darker portions, the sensor responds to the intensity variations and may be mounted on motive means and swept thereby across the optical path transversely. The sensor output is automatically evaluated by means which may include or cooperate with a logic circuit responding to an evaluation signal and preventing recording despite a operator-entered record instruction. If no indicator mark is dectected, document recording proceeds in the selected frame, and an indicator mark is simultaneously recorded in the corresponding indicator mark field.

Recorded image detection system for updatable microfilm

The disclosure relates to a web roll retainer for retaining a web roll and for maintaining constant resistance to rotation of the roll as the web is withdrawn. The web roll retainer includes an axial support member, a roll end support mounted at each end of the support bar in non-rotational relation to the support bar and end support holding means for maintaining the end supports in fixed axial relation on the support bar. Each end support includes an annular bearing surface for supporting a web roll extending between the end supports and for providing constant resistance to web roll rotation through friction resulting from the gravitational force between the web roll and the end support annular bearing surfaces.

Web roll retainer

The disclosure relates to a core for holding web material. The core includes a first cylinder having an axis of rotation and an axially extending slot for receiving the web material, a second cylinder within the first cylinder and substantially concentric with the first cylinder about the axis to form an annular channel therebetween and an annular channel floor between the first and second cylinders to maintain the cylinders in fixed substantially concentric relation. The core also includes a post within the annular channel and angularly spaced from the axial slot beyond the point of tangency between the outer peripheral surface of the second cylinder and the axial slot. With an end of the web doubled over and threaded through the slot into the channel and looped around the post, the conjoint effect of the restraining action of the post on the web and the frictional contact between the resulting two layers of the web about the second cylinder holds the web securely to the core.

Growing community of inventors

Mount Prospect, IL, United States of America

Heinz E Hertel