Composing reducing camera

Abstract

Apparatus for automatically producing microfiche from microfilm and microfilm from microfilm in different formats or reductions. In particular, a reel of microfilm having frames of sequentially recorded photographic images thereon is loaded into a microfilm film transport and the microfilm is automatically stepped, frame by frame, past a film-illuminating device. The frames on the microfilm are reduced in size by a reducing lens and imaged at a plane within a microfilm recorder device. The microfilm recorder device is automatically controlled in a manner whereby film contained therein is movable in two dimensions in a plane which is coplanar with the image focal plane. The movement of the film is such that a plurality of frames or microimages arranged in columns and rows and corresponding to the microfilm frames being illuminated are arranged on the film in a preselected microfiche format. The apparatus includes an automatic optical titling device which titles each microfiche with information provided by a keyboard operator. Optical pagination is also provided for imposing additional page numbers on the individual frames on the microfiche, if so desired.