The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 24, 1992
Filed:
Mar. 17, 1989
Shunkichi Igarashi, Tokyo, JP;
Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd., Kanagawa, JP;
Abstract
A microfilm searching and reading device for selecting a microfilm cartridge containing a target image from multiple microfilm cartridges and for reading the target image to produce image signals. The device is composed of a storage rack and a scanner including an image reader and a driving unit for winding and rewinding the microfilm roll contained in the selected microfilm cartridge. According to one aspect of the invention, the scanner is moved along the vertical direction to a position aligned with the selected cartridge and then the selected cartridge is ejected from the rack to be received by the scanner. According to another aspect of the invention, the scanner is moved into the rack to receive the selected cartridge to read the target image and then retracted from the rack. According to a further aspect of the invention, the scanner includes a driving unit which has a drive shaft removably engaging with the driven shaft of the selected cartridge. The drive shaft of the scanner may be replaced by a drive roller which is to be engaged with a driven disk operatively associated with the reel of each microfilm cartridge or each support plate of the storage rack. The device further is composed of a memory mechanism for storing the positional data of respective microfilm cartridges, and a control mechanism for controlling the movement and operation of the scanner. The access time can be markedly reduced and changes in system scale can be readily accommodated.