Terminal Data Corporation

Michael W Rudy

Robert D Therien

Edward J Kraemer

Thomas D Horning

Forrest L Langford

Ronald L Whitney

Martin Moses Bondar

Frederick E Walsh

Edward J Kramer

Ronald Bell

Han J Lee

A high precision strip film drive, typically for microfiche film, that includes two spaced-apart drive rollers, separately driven by two servo electric motors. The motors are biased against each other and so maintain a constant tension on the film, while it is stationary or moving. The motors are logic controlled through a pair of rotary encoders. Each encoder is driven by one roller. The outputs of the encoders are combined to give a single servo control signal, devoid of film squew, for accurately spacing the frames upon the microfiche. The encoder electrical outputs are differently handled to provide film velocity information, and still further differently handled to provide direction of motion of the film information. Transverse orthogonal motion of the film is provided by a carriage that supports the rollers, a linear encoder, and a cable system actuated by a third servo motor. The encoder electrical outputs are even further differently handled to accurately finally position the film, as preselected.

Orthogonal film drive

A system for microfilming documents that employs microprocessor control to insure fault-free operation. The aspects of operation; such as document present, size of document, size of photographic mask, the exposure parameter, and system 'ready', must meet necessary criteria, or the microprocessor will halt operations and present a human-readable response as to the cause. Substitutional tables for supporting documents are available, to relate to the characteristics of the document. Simultaneous conflicting commands are executed sequentially according to a priority sequence.

Microfilming system

A programmable printer for printing identifying indicia upon a moving document prior to microfilming the document. The printer is adjustably stationarily mounted above a document transport table. Alpha-numeric characters are selectively formed and briefly depressed to print the desired indicia upon successively presented documents while the same are moving. A programmable microcomputer forms the characters from predetermined data and applies each in correspondence with the motion of the document at an interval of time when microfilming is not occurring.

Indicia printer

A microfilm camera, typically for 16 mm film, having plural coplanar friction-driven belts. The film is held to the belts by vacuum, so that the film and the belts move together. Vacuum film-loop chambers allow accurate low-inertia control of the film positioning for exposure. An intermittently rotatable shutter may be provided for appropriate exposure of the desired image upon the film. Programmable logic receives data from plural sensors and its controls drive means to correlate significant film movement and stationary periods with the functioning of opto-mechanical elements for exposing the film while it is stationary.

Belt microfilm camera

Apparatus for selectively, typically repetitively, moving a fixed message document to and from a photographing position on a document camera system. Logic control means on a fixed messsage carrier apparatus coact with system-operating means and transport means of the camera system to control the to and from movement. Any selected fixed message document can be handled. It is removably stored between flexible belts and cylindrical means that are in peripheral contact, and is unwound therefrom to the photographing position, and vice versa.

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Thousand Oaks, CA, United States of America

Michael W Rudy