JPS6295661A - Information reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To attain the use of the 2nd cartridge even while the 1st cartridge is used by providing a cartridge holding member which holds the cartridges storing the information recording medium at least at two positions in a loadable/ unloadable way. CONSTITUTION:In such a case where the urgent use of the film of an external cartridge 12 is desired while a cartridge 10 is used, the external cartridge 12 is loaded to the 2nd cartridge reception member 13 and an interruption command switch is turned on. Thus the film is taken up into the cartridge 10 and the use of the cartridge 10 is interrupted. Then a feed-out roll 36 has a contact with the film of the cartridge 12 and feeds out the film. When a desired frame is retrieved, the drive of a motor is stopped and the desired frame is projected on a screen.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an information reading device using a cartridge containing an information recording medium such as microfiche or roll microfilm.

[Prior art]

This type of device has a storage section that stores multiple film cartridges containing microfiche or roll film, and a storage section that stores a plurality of film cartridges containing microfiche or roll film. The film is automatically advanced from this cartridge to capture the desired image.
The searched film image is projected onto a screen in a mt-reader or onto copy paper in a printer. ing.

In this reader, a target cartridge is selected from the gold storage section and transported to a predetermined position, and the film is fed out from the cartridge placed at the predetermined position and transferred to the reading section, where the target frame on the film is picked up. After reading or printing, the intended use of the first cartridge is completed by returning the film to the cartridge and then returning the cartridge to its original position in the storage section. After the use of the first cartridge is completed, by transporting a new second cartridge to a predetermined position, the film in the second cartridge can be projected onto the projection unit and used for reading, etc. There is a problem that it takes a long time until the film of the cartridge can be used, and even if you want to use the second cartridge immediately while the first cartridge is in use,
The second cartridge could not be used until the first cartridge was returned to its original position, which was extremely inconvenient.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention aims to solve the above-mentioned inconvenience, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an information reading device that can interrupt the use of a second cartridge while the first cartridge is being used.

An object of the present invention is to provide an information reading device #L that allows the next cartridge to be used in a short time without returning the currently used cartridge to its original position.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention is a cartridge containing an information recording medium? a cartridge holding member that is detachably held in at least two positions; a transfer means that selectively transfers the information recording medium of each cartridge held by the cartridge holding member to a common reading section; and an interrupt command means; Control is performed to return the information recording medium in use held at the first position into the cartridge when an interrupt is commanded, and to transfer the information recording medium of the cartridge held at the second position to the reading section. With the means to do it? All features of the information reading device are included.

〔Example〕

The present invention will be explained below with reference to illustrated embodiments.

Is Fig. 1 the device of the present invention? This figure shows a film reader printer equipped with 1. It consists of a second machine box 2 at the bottom and an operation panel 3 for commanding various operations. A screen 4 and an external cartridge insertion slot 5 are provided on the front surface of the upper machine box 1.

Inside the upper machine box 1, as shown in FIG.

A first one for holding an internal cartridge 10 automatically selected from a cartridge storage in the lower machine box 2 in a first position.
Cartridge receiving member 11 and external cartridge insertion port 5
A second cartridge receiving member 13 that holds the external cartridge 12 manually inserted in the second position, an illumination unit 15 that illuminates the microfilm sent out from the cartridge 10 or 12, a locking lens 16, and an image sensor. 17, a take-up reel 18, etc. are arranged.

The second cartridge receiving member 13 is installed above the first cartridge receiving member 11. In addition, the first machine box 1 and the second
The machine box 2 is separable, and the first machine box can also be used alone. The film in the cartridge 10.degree. 12 is wound into a roll around a core.

Illumination section 151'i lamp 20. condenser lens 21
and a mirror 22, and the light from the lamp 20 passes through a condenser lens 21. The light is projected through the entire mirror 22 onto the microfilm F placed between a pair of glass plates Gl and G2. The light transmitted through the microfilm is reflected by the storage lens 1stab and the sler 23, 24, and is projected onto the image sensor 17. The image sensor 17 is composed of a light receiving element array such as a CCD, and converts the image on the microfilm into an electrical signal. The face identification signal output from the image sensor is processed by a signal processing circuit and then sent to a known printer such as a laser beam printer, and a copy is obtained by the printer. When using the above device (IJ-Goo), the light passing through the iron lens 16 is projected onto the screen 4 via an optical system (not shown), and the image of the microfilm is observed on the screen. Instead of the sensor 17, a known photoreceptor kW may be placed at this position to perform copying.

FIG. 3 shows the microfilm feeding passage, and the microfilm inside the internal cartridge 10 is transported through the first passage 31.
' through the second passage 32, and then the glass plate G1. G2
The microfilm in the external cartridge 12 passes through the third passage 33 and then the second passage 32, and is guided to the take-up reel 18 through the glass plates G1. It passes through the gap G2 and is guided to the take-up reel 18. First passage 31 and third passage 3
3 merge at the second passage 32, and the cartridge 10.
The 12 microfilms are transferred to a common second path 32. Along each path 30-33), a film guide plate is provided, and each film is guided along a predetermined path by the film guide plate.

35 and 36 are film feed rollers, 37 is a film guide roller, and 38 is a mark detector.

The film feed roller 35 is connected to a motor, and is moved by a first solenoid (not shown) between a position in which it contacts the microfilm in the cartridge 10 placed in the first position and a position away from the film. Rich. The film feed roller 36 is coupled to a motor M,
A second solenoid (not shown) moves the microfilm trap in the cartridge 12 placed in the second position to a position where it comes into contact with the film and a position where it is separated from the film.

When using the internal cartridge 1O, the search command causes the roller 35 to rotate and move to a position where it contacts the microfilm F inside the cartridge 10, and the roller 35 sends the leading edge of the microfilm out of the cartridge 1o. This film F passes through the first passage 31. It passes through the second passage 321 and is fed to the winding wheel 18. The take-up reel 18 is driven by a motor when a search command is issued, and when the leading edge of the microfilm is fed, it automatically winds up the leading edge of the film. The tip of the microfilm is on the take-up reel 18
When the film wraps around the film, the rotation of the roller 35 stops and the roller 35 moves to a position where it is separated from the film. Thereafter, the film is pulled out from the internal cartridge by rotation of the take-up reel and wound onto the take-up reel. When rewinding the microfilm into cartridge 10, use cartridge LO.
The inner film core is rotationally driven in the winding direction by a rewind motor (not shown).

When using the external cartridge 12i, the shutter roller 36 rotates according to the search command and moves to a position where it contacts the microfilm inside the cartridge 12. --, 736
The cartridge 12 is fed out with the leading edge of the microfilm, and this film is transferred to the third passage 33. 2nd aisle 3
2 and is fed to the take-up reel 18, and is wound onto the take-up reel 18 in the same manner as described above. When the leading end of the microfilm is wound around the take-up reel 18, the rotation of the roller 36 is stopped and the roller 36 is moved to a position away from the film. Thereafter, the film is pulled out from the external cartridge by rotation of the take-up reel and wound onto the take-up reel. When rewinding the microfilm into the cartridge eco, the film core inside the cartridge eco is rotated in the winding direction by a motor (not shown).

The mark detector 38 is for detecting the counting mark attached to the side of each frame of the microfilm, and is not a photoelectric conversion element, but the film is sandwiched and driven to the opposite side of the illumination section 15. . The mark on the microfilm has a different density from its surroundings, and when the microfilm is fed, the light incident on the mark detector 38 is interrupted by the mark, so that the mark detector 38 outputs a mark detection signal. The mark detection signal that is output when the mark detector detects a mark is counted by the counting section, and the counted value of the counter is compared with the address number of the desired frame, and when the two match, the film is stopped. A desired top can be searched for, and the searched top is placed in the projection optical path.

Details a1 of this retrieval device are described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 15691/1983, and will therefore be omitted.

Inside the lower machine box 2, as shown in FIG. 4, there is a cartridge storage section 50 storing a large number of cartridges 10i;
A cartridge gripping and transporting mechanism (hereinafter referred to as CHL) 51 is arranged to select and take out one of the cartridges in the storage section 50 and transport it to a first position.

The cartridge storage section 50 includes an internal cartridge lO'
ft: Drums 50A to 50F arranged and held radially
are stacked at predetermined intervals, and each drum 50A to 50
F rotates around a central axis 52. Each drum is of identical construction, with compartments radially provided for separate storage of each cartridge.

CHL51 is an elevating member 5 that moves up and down in the direction of the arrow along a ball 55 vertically installed near the cartridge storage section 5o.
6, and a moving member 5 disposed on the elevating member 56 and moving forward and backward on the elevating member 56 in the horizontal direction (in the direction of arrow B).
7, and a hand 58 that is disposed at the tip of the moving member 57 and grips the cartridge. Does the lifting member 56 extend from the top to the bottom of the ball 55? It is designed to be able to move up and down. The moving member 57 reciprocates between a forward end position where the cartridge can be gripped by the cartridge hand 58 in the storage section 50 and a backward end position where the cartridge gripped by the hand is positioned outside the storage section 50, and is in a horizontal state. It is designed to rotate in the direction of arrow C from the position to the vertical position. The handle 58 has a claw structure that can grip the cartridge lithography 22 stored in the storage section 50, and can grip and release the cartridge.

In the above configuration, in the initial state, the movable member 57 is in the horizontal position shown in FIG. 4, at the end-of-retraction position.

The elevating member 56 is at the bottom or intermediate home position of the ball 55.

Now, input the number of the desired car (IJ) and the number of the desired piece in this cartridge into the input device of the operation panel 3 to command the start of the search, and the elevating member 56 will move to the drum position where the desired cartridge is stored. The drum rotates as it moves up and down. When the main picture chamber storing the desired cartridge reaches a position where it can be gripped by the hand 58, the rotation of the drum is stopped and the designated cartridge and the print 58 face each other. Next, the moving member 57 is advanced to the forward end position, and when the hand 58 comes into contact with the cartridge 10, the switch is operated and the cartridge 10 is moved forward.
grasp. The cartridge full-diameter moving member 57 is moved backward, and when the moving member 57 reaches the end position of the backward movement, the elevating member 56 is raised and the moving member 57 is rotated to the upright position. The movable member 57 is in the upright state before the elevating member 56 reaches the top of the ball 55, and after that, the cartridge 10 is transported to the first cartridge receiving member 11 by the upward movement of the elevating member 56 and is moved to the first position. placed in The cartridge 10 includes a moving member 57 and an elevating member 5.
6, it is held in the first position.

Next, while the feed roller 35 rotates, it contacts the film in the cartridge 10 placed in the first position 1 and releases the microfilm outside the cartridge 10. The desired frame is retrieved from the microfilm. After the desired cartridge 100 microfilm is used for reading or the like in a part of the reader or a part of the printer, when rewinding is commanded, the microfilm is rewound into the cartridge 10, and after the rewinding is completed, the elevating member 56 holding the cartridge 10 is lowered, and the moving member 57 rotates to a horizontal state. Lifting $i
56 has been lowered to the drum position where the cartridge is returned, and the moving member 57 is in the horizontal position shown in FIG. 4, the used cartridge can be returned to its original compartment by moving the moving member 57 forward. . After this return, if an instruction is given to search for the internal cartridge money to be used next, the above-mentioned operation money will be repeated.

On the other hand, an external cartridge is inserted through the external cartridge insertion port 5, held by the external cartridge receiving member 13, and placed in the external cartridge 12 at the second position. Then, when a desired frame number in the external cartridge 12 is input into the keyboard of the operation panel 3 and a search start is commanded, the feed roller 36 rotates and comes into contact with the film in the external cartridge 12 placed at the second position. The microfilm is fed out of the cartridge 12 and a desired frame is searched for on the microfilm in the external cartridge.

FIG. 5 shows a block diagram of the search control circuit of the above device, where 3A is an interrupt command switch arranged on the operation panel 3, and switch 3A? When turned on, the mode changes to a mode in which all use of the internal cartridge currently in use is stopped and an external cartridge is used, and when turned off, the mode changes to a mode in which the internal cartridge is used.

3B is an input device arranged on the operation panel 3, which includes a power switch, a numeric keypad, a search start command key, a print key, a rewind key, and the like.

100 is a control unit consisting of a micro combinator, a central processing unit (CPU), and a ROM as a program memory.
, a RAM as a data memory, etc., and operate each drive unit in a predetermined order and perform calculations for each error according to a program stored in the ROM. Also, the control unit 1
00 determines the presence or absence of a mark based on the output signal of the mark detector 3B.

A counter counts the signals output when a mark is detected.

101 is an IIM that is a drive unit that drives CHL 51k.
.

is the first motor that drives the feed roller 35, Ms is the second motor that drives the feed roller 36, Ha is the third motor that drives the take-up reel 18, and Peng is the drum 50A to 50Ft in the storage section 50. Rotating drum drive motor, Sl
S is a first llenoid that feeds the film and moves the roller 35 to the film contact position and the film separation position, and S is a second lunoid that moves the film feeding roller 36 to the film contact position and the film separation position. 103 to 106 are motor drive circuits that control the connected motors;
07 and 108 are solenoid drive circuits that control the respective connected solenoids.

1st. When the second solenoid St, S is turned on, it moves to a position where it contacts the coupled feed roller 35, 36t-film, and when it is turned off, it moves to a position away from the film. 111 is a first film detector that detects whether or not a film is present in the first passage 31; 112 is a second film detector that detects whether or not a film is present in the third passage 33;
It is a film detector.

The detectors 111 and 112 are composed of microswitches, photointerrupters, and the like.

6 to 8 show flow diagrams of the operation of the above device. When the power switch is turned on in step ■, the drums 50A to 50F are rotated and placed at the predetermined home position rotation angle position in step ■, and the CHL 51 is driven and placed at the predetermined home position (initial setting operation), and the device enters the standby state (step ■).

Next, proceed to step ■, turn off the interrupt command switch 3A, enter the desired cartridge number and target frame number using the numeric keys of the input device 3B in step ■, and then press the search start key in step ■. and turn it on.

In step (3), the control unit 100 calculates the first shelf row of drums in which the desired cartridge is located based on the input cartridge number, and selects the drums 50A to 50 based on the calculated value.
Rotate 8'ft and drive CHL51 to select the desired cartridge? Search (step ■). , the desired cartridge 10 is searched (step [phase]), and the hand 5
8, the elevating member 56 rises and the moving member 57 rotates (Step 2). When the desired cartridge reaches the first position (Step O), the searched cartridge 10 is moved to the first cartridge. It is attached to the receiving member 11.

Installation is complete (step 0). Next, the process advances to step 0 shown in FIG. 7, the motor is turned on, the first solenoid S1 is turned on, and the feed roller 35 contacts the film in the cartridge IO to feed the film (step [phase] hmm.

When the leading edge of the film is wound around the take-up reel 18 (step O), the first film S is connected to the motor.

is turned off (step 0). The motor tow continues to rotate and the film continues to be fed onto the take-up reel 18. When the target frame is searched in step [phase], the motor stops in step [phase], the film stops tb, and the search operation ends (step [phase]). At this time, the target top is projected onto the screen, and the acquaintance of this top is read on the screen. After using this top, when the rewind key of the input device 3B is turned on, a rewind motor (not shown) coupled to the film core in the internal cartridge 10 is driven, and the film is rewound into the cartridge 10.

After rewinding, CHL51 operates in the opposite manner to the above.
The used cartridge is returned to its original drum. By the way, if the external cartridge is to be used while the internal cartridge is in use, the process proceeds to 70- in FIG. 8.

If you wish to use the film money of the external cartridge quickly while using the internal cartridge 1O, attach the external cartridge 12t to the second cartridge receiving member 13 and turn on the interrupt command switch 3Aft in step @.

Next, in step 0, enter the number of the target frame on the film of the external cartridge using the numeric keypad of the input device 3B, and turn on the search start key t in step @. Internal cartridge 1 placed in
The rewind motor coupled to the film core in the internal cartridge 10 is turned on, and the film is rewound into the internal cartridge 10.
Internal cartridge usage is interrupted.

Is the first film detector 111 a film in step [phase]? When it is no longer detected, that is, when the film is completely rewound into the internal cartridge 10, the rewinding operation stops and the process advances to step [phase].
, M, , the second solenoid S is turned on, and the feed roller 36 contacts the film in the cartridge 12 to feed the film (step O). When the film is wound onto the take-up reel 18 (step [phase]), motor M8.
The second lunoid S, is turned off (step [phase]). The motor head continues to rotate and continues to feed the film take-up reel 18.

When the target frame is searched in step ■, the motor is stopped in step ■, and the film stops. The search operation is completed (step 0). At this time, the target frame is projected on the screen, and the frame is Both edges are viewed on a screen.

Therefore, by turning on the interrupt command switch and changing to interrupt mode while the internal cartridge is in use,
Put the film back into the internal cartridge and use the internal cartridge? The film in the external cartridge can then be transferred to the projection section for use, and the second cartridge can be inserted and used while the first cartridge is being used. After using the film frame in the external cartridge, when the rewind key t of the input device 3B is turned on, the rewind motor connected to the film spool in the external cartridge 12 is driven, and the film is rewound into the cartridge 12.

Is the second film detector 112 a film? When it is no longer detected, that is, when the film has been completely rewound into the external cartridge, the rewinding operation stops.

Next, the motor MI enters step 0 in FIG. 7 again.

The first lens S is turned on, and the film is fed out from the internal cartridge 10. The following steps [phase] ~■? After that, the desired frame of the film in the internal cartridge is projected onto the screen again, and this frame becomes usable, and the interruption is canceled. In the above embodiment, the internal cartridge 10 is attached to the first cartridge receiving member 11. If you want to use the external cartridge when the internal cartridge is not in use, you just need to attach the external cartridge to the second cartridge receiving member and turn on the interrupt command switch 3Ai. In Fig. 8, steps [Yes] and [Phase] are omitted, and steps [Phase] to [Phase] and [Phase] to 0 are sequentially executed to search the projection unit for the desired frame of the film in the external cartridge. It turns out.

In addition, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the external cartridge is held in one position, but the external cartridge is held in a plurality of positions, and the external cartridge held in each position? It may also be possible to selectively feed into a common path.

Further, in the above embodiment, the cartridge is manually attached and detached from the second cartridge receiving member 13, but the cartridge may be automatically attached and detached from the second cartridge receiving member 13. When the cartridge is attached to and removed from the second cartridge receiving member, the cartridge can be transported from the same cartridge storage section as described above to the second cartridge receiving member by the cartridge gripping and transporting mechanism described above.

Also, a cartridge? The mounting positions are not limited to two, but the cartridges can be mounted at three or more different positions, and the films of the cartridges mounted at each position are selectively sent to a common projection section.

In the above embodiment, a cartridge containing a roll film is used, but a cartridge containing a plurality of microfiche or a cartridge containing a magnetic tape on which information is magnetically recorded may also be used. If using magnetic tape gold.

The information is read by a known magnetic reproducing device.

Furthermore, the mechanism for selecting the cartridge stored in the storage unit is not limited to the embodiment, but may be any known cartridge selection mechanism. Can be used.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, the second cartridge can be used while the first cartridge is in use, and the first cartridge in use is returned to its original position as in the conventional case. There is no need to wait for the device to open until
It is extremely convenient in practical terms because it can handle urgent work in a short time.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Figure 1 shows the external appearance of a film reader printer equipped with the device of the present invention, and Figure 2 shows the inside of the upper machine box. 3 is a side view showing the film feeding passage, FIG. 4 is a side view showing the inside of the lower machine box, FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the search control circuit, and FIGS. 6 to 8 are the same as those described above. FIG. 3 is a flow diagram of the operation of the device. 4...Screen%10.12...Cartridge. 18... Take-up reel, 31.32.33... Film transport path, 50... Cartridge storage section.

Claims (1)

[Claims] a cartridge holding member that removably holds a cartridge containing an information recording medium in at least two positions;
a transport means for selectively transporting the information recording medium of each cartridge held by the cartridge holding member to a common reading section; an interrupt command means; An information reading device comprising means for returning the information recording medium in use into the cartridge and controlling the information recording medium in the cartridge held at the second position to be transferred to the reading section.