CA1125081A - Daylight loading system for microfiche cassettes - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract Daylight loading system for microfiche cassettes.

A daylight loading device (40) for loading a microfiche cassette (10) with unexposed microfiches makes use of an inclined platform (50) having guides (51) and (52) upon which the microfiche cassette (10) may be positioned. Micro-fiches are fed from an adjacently positioned dispensing sta-tion (43) via a slot (46) and a transport roller pair. In order to provide for an optimum registering of the micro-fiche in the bottom of the microfiche cassette (10) a spade-like element (55) is temporarily positioned near the latter.
A mechanism is provided for re-locking the microfiche cas-sette (10) after loading.

GV.1001

Description

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Daylight loadin~ system for microfiche cassettes.
The present invention is concerned with microfiche systems. More particularly, it is concerned with a system by means of which a microfiche cassette can be loaded with unexposed microfiches in an illuminated room.
In contradi tinction to microfilms which are provided on a so-called daylight reel, microfiches are in the form of a sheet film having the dimensions approximating those of a postcard. A plurality of said sheet films are packed together and in order to bring one of them into a micro-fiche camera, installed in a well-lit room, it has to be put in an appropriate cassette which screens off the ambient light duri~g the transfer from the loading station (normal-ly a darkroom) to the place where exposures are carried out and vice versa.
In order to dispense with the use of a darkroom, which in the microfiche field is only part-time used, systems have been devised for unloading and loading a microfiche cassette in well-lit conditions.
Such a loading/unloading device is disclosed in the German Patent Specification no. 2,544,818 filed October ~, 1975 by A.Jacknau. This disclosure deals with a table top model loading/unloading device in which three compartments are provided, namely one compartment for storing unexposed microfiche sheets, one for the storage of exposed microfiche sheets and one in which the microfiche cassette may be lo-~ GV.1001 .

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cated. The interior of the device can be reached by hand via a light impervious, loosely hanging tube which is tapered and through which an operator may carry out manipulations such as unloading a cassette, taking an unexposed microfiche sheet from a stack of such sheets and putting it into the emptied cassette. The latter is taken out of the device whereupon it is suited for a subsequent exposure cycle.
It will be clear that this way of handling microfiche sheets requires a considerable amount of skill and attention from the part of the operator and that the chance of making mistakes is not excluded.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device for separately loading microfiche cassettes so that the risk for intermixing unexposed and exposed microfiches is avoided. Moreover, the invention provides for a device for automatically loading microfiche cassettes in daylight conditions.
A separate unloading device is disclosed in our co-pending application No. 326.439 filed on even date herewith for "Daylight Unloading System for Microfiche Cassettes".
A microfiche cassette unit, the description of which follows hereinafter, will be called "a microfiche cassette of the type referred to".
According to the invention, there is provided :
A device for loading a microfiche cassette of the type referred to in daylight conditions, comprising a housing, a door capable of light-tightly screening off ligh~ from the interior of said housing, a space in which a stack of unexposed microfiches may be housed in darkroom conditions, a platform for positioning said microfiche cassette in said housing in unlocked and opened condition, means to take hold of the uppermost one of said stack of unexposed microfiches and to forward the latter towards said opened GV.1001 .. ,~,, ~ ... .~

cassette, means to ~orm a temporary guide ~or the micro-fiche in the course of being forwarded so that the latter goes to a predetermined position in said microfiche cas-sette, preferably in the bottom thereof, and means for the closing and the relocking o~ said micro~iche cassette after withdrawal of said temporary guide.
Preferably, the cassette is introduced in the device in inclined position whereafter it is opened by hand and the door closed.
The means forming the temporary guide may comprise a pivotab]e spade-like element having the approximate dimensions of the bottom of the micro~iche cassette and which is positioned parallel with said bottom at a dis-tance of for example 1 to 3 and preferably about two mil-limeters. Moreover, another resiliently biased element may be located at the other side of the bottom and also in parallel relation therewith so that a small gap is formed through which the microfiche being dispensed is guided into a groove peripherally extending around the bottom.
The guides may be actuated by hand or by means of an electric motor.
After loading the cassette may be closed and locked by a mechanism imparting a mechanical impulse to the cover, the latter performing a pivoting motion on the cassette hinges. ~ adequately choosing the magnitude o~ the mecha-nical impulse, the latter may be sufficiently high to im-part a momentum to the cassette cover which suf~ices ~or forcing the locks of the locking mechanism to snap into their corresponding holes, in this way re~locking the microfiche cassette.
The microfiches are stored in a light-tight compartment in the housing which is provided with an exit opening via which t-he microfiches are dispensed. The exit opening, in periods of non-dispensing, is provided with a displaceable light trap~ so that in periods of non-use, or when the door GV.1001 s~

of the housing is open, accidental exposure is totally ex-cluded.
The mechanism for taking the uppermost microfiche of' the stack is of rather conventional design in that it in-corporates a suction member which is cam-operated and which performs a cycle of movements enabling a microfiche to be taken hold of and dispensed without risk for scrat-ches, static electrification, etc. in this way avoiding phenomena and manipulations which would impair the quality of the light-sensitive surface coated on the microfiche.
Supplementary expedients may be provided which avoid the risk of dispensing more than one microfiche at the time.
The microfiche dispensing station may be additionally be equipped with means which assure a correct aligning of the stack in order to avoid that any misalignment, which e.g. occurs when a microfiche would ~all off the sucker cup, is automatically corrected. The scope and spirit of the invention will be better understood at the hand of a description of a preferred embodiment and in the light of following figures, in which :
Figure l is an illustration of a microfiche cassette unit of the type referred to, Figure 2 shows a cross-sectional view of the loading device.
Figure 3 shows more clearly the formation of the tem-porary guide, Figure 4 gives a cross-sectional view of the micro-fiche storage station.
Figure 5 shows how a microfiche cassette is introduced into the loading device 3 and Figures 6 to 9 illustrate the consecutive steps neces-sary for dispensing a microfiche.
Figure l illustrates a microfiche cassette unit lO of the,type re~erred to used in combination with the micro-fiche cassette loading device according to the invention.

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The microfiche cassette unit forms no part of the inventionbut is illustrated in order to facilitate the working prin-ciple of' the loading device and to facilitate the under-standin~; of the particular problems arising from khe non-conventional structure of the concerning microfiche cas-sette.
As the latter is composed of more elements than mere a co1~er and a bottom, it will be called "a microfiche cassette unit of the type referred to".
The microfiche cassette unit 10 is composed of a cover 11, a boktom 12 and a screen 13. The cover and the bottom are hingedly connected to each okher by means of a pair of hinges 14 and 15.
. In the bottom 12 an opening 16 is provided having khe approximate dimensions of a microfiche 17 (only a part of the latter being shown by an hatched area). Microfiche 17 rests with its edges in groove 18 provided in bottom 12 along the whole periphery of opening 16. ~hen in closed - condition, the cover 11 is substantially coincident with the surface as defined by the upper surface of groove 18 in opening 16.
The cover 11 and the bottom 12 are locked together by means of spring-~iased locks 19 and 20 whose protruding portions 21 respectively 22 mate with corresponding ope-nings 23 and 24 in khe bottom 12, which openings are pro-vided in members 25 respectively 26, fixedly secured to the bottom 12.
In order to protect the microfiche 17 from exposure ko ambienk lighk (as the boktom structure is open) a supple-mentary screen 13 is provided during the transport fromthe,loading station to the exposure station such as a micro-fiche camera (not shown) and again from the exposure stakion to the unloading station.
The screen is provided on iks side edges with guides 27 and 28 in which the side edges 29,30 of the bokkom 12 may freely move. An abukmenk member 39 is provided ak the GV.1001 trailing edge of the screen 13 so that the set, formed by the cover 11 and the bottom 12 is allowed to per~orm a sliding movement into and out of the screen 13. Once in the camera, the screen 13 is removed from the rest of the microfiche cassette unit 10 so that the microfiche 17 con-tained therein may be exposed.
For the purpose of facilitating a reproducible posi-tioning of the microfiche cassette unit 10 in the camera, the screen 13 is also provided with profiles 31 and 32 at its leading edge which mate with and are arrested by cor-responding profiles (not shown) at the camera whereinafter the bottom 12 and the cover 11 may be slid into the camera in locked condition. The camera then becomes ready for exposure.
After exposure, the reverse action takes place, in that, after positioning the screen 13 again, the set formed by the cover 11 and the bottom 12, locked together, and containing an exposed microfiche 17, is withdrawn from the camera, caught by the screen 13 and subsequently trans-ported to an unloading station in a light-tight condition.
With the unloading station may be associated intermediate storage facilities or a microfiche processing apparatus.
Figure 2 shows a microfiche cassette loader 40 accord-ing to the invention. It comprises a housing 41 capable of being light-tightly closed in ~hich a number of com-partments are provided. So are provided the loading sta-tion 42, the dispensing station 43 and a station 44 in which the electric circuitry, wiring and power supplies are provided. Another compartment 45 is provided via which a pack of microfiches may be introduced into the dispenslng station 43. The loading station 42 and the dispensing sta-tion 43 communicate with each other via a slot 46 which in periods that no loading has to be performed is masked by means of a light screen 47 which may be brought either in operative or inoperative condition by means of an arm 48 upon partial rotation of the latter by master shaft 49.
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In the loading station 42 is provided an inclined platform 50 having guides 51 and 52 showing the same pro-file as those provlded in the screen 13 (see preceding figure) so that the bottom 12 is capable to perform a la-teral sliding into and out of the guides 51 and 52 and3consequently, into and out of the microfiche cassette loader 40.
The microfiche cassette is introduced into the micro-fiche loader 40 in opened condition. The cover 11 rests against a resiliently biased abutment member 53 which is capable to pivot around shaft 54. Around shaft 54 are provided spring means (not shown) which polarize member 53 so as to come back into the position as illustrated.
The opening angle and the inclined position of the cover 11 and the bottom 12 of the microfiche cassette are such that ample space is provided for permitting spade-like element 55 to be located in close proximity of the bottom 12 during the periods that a loading of the micro-fiche cassette has to take place.
The spade-like element 55 is suspended by means of a connecting member 56 to master shaft 49. Due to the small distance between the bottom 12 and the spade-like element, a guide channel 57 is created through which a microfiche (not shown) is effectively guided in the grooves provided in the bottom 12 (see again fig. 1).
Part of the platform 50 is also resiliently displacea~
ble (see fur~her) in that an area of it may become substan-tially flush with the grooves in the bottom 12 in order to exclude the slightest misalignment of the microfiche dis-pensed. The concerned part of the platform 50 is broughtin operative position with the help of an eccentric 58 which displaces the part in question over a few millimeters.
When the loading cycle has come to an end, the spade-like element 55 is rotated (see arrow 59) in upward direc-tion in order to assume the position 55b as indicated indotted lines. The rotation of master shaft 49 has also GV.1001 .
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the effect in that the extremity of arm 48 assumes a lower position, thereby bringing light screen 47 over slot 46 and light-tightly closing the la~ter. At that moment, a mechanical impulse is given to the cover 11 having such a magnitude that the center of gravity of the cover 11 is displaced over the hinges 14, 15 so that the cover 11 is accelerated. The momentum acquired at the instant the bottom 12 is met, is sufficiently high to overcome the resistance of the spring-biased locking elements 19, 20 so that the latter may snap into their associated holes in the bottom, thereby locking the microfiche cassette.
The screen 13 (see fig. 1 and further) is then posi~
tioned relative to the platform 50 so that the guides pro-vided on the latter and in the screen are substantially in direct line of each other so that the cover 11 and the bot-tom 12, now locked together may be slid from the platform 50 to the screen 13, so that no risk exists for the micro-fiche to become fogged.
The working of the dispenslng station 43 is illustrat-ed and detailed in the further course of the description.
The dispensing station 43 and compartment 45 are se-parated from each other by a wall 60 in which an opening is provided which is light-tight:ly screened by means of a cover 61. When a pack of microfiches has to be placed in the dispenslng station 43, the operator slips his hands via opening 62 in the side walls in which is provided a loosely hanging tapered tube 63 in light opaque material.
Opening 64 of the tube 63 is provided with a rubber band which tightly fits around the wrists of the operator so that the protecting sleeve around the pack of microfiches may be safely removed and placed in the dispensing station 43 via the opening in wall 60, whereinafter khe opening ,. i, is closed by cover 61. In so doing, no danger exists that the contents of the dispensing station 43 would be inad-vertently struck by ambient light.
In figure 3 is illustrated in more detail how the tem-~ GV.1001 ~ ~ ~ 5~4~

_ g _ porary guide, necessary for a reproducible feeding ol a microfiche into the microfiche cassette, is formed.
The main constituents of the mechanism are formed by the platform 50 and the spade-like element 55 which is 5 linked to master shaft 49 by means of connecting member 56.
Master shaft 49 is pivoted by means of a slide 65 which upon longitudinal displacement imparts a rotating motion to element 66 fixedly secured to master shaft 49. The element 66 is resiliently biased by means of a spring 67 or analogous device, which biasing is such that master shaft 49 will tend to take such a position that the spade like element 55 is kept in its uppermost direction. Upon displacing slide 65 in the direction of arrow 68 the spade-like element 55 assumes the working position as illustrated.
As may be derived, platform 50 is provided with a U-shaped groove 69 which defines a rectangular part 70 which, due to the fact that one edge of it is integral with the platform 50, is capable to undergo small elastic defor-mations under the influence of eccentric 58 conkacting its bottom side. The width of the rectangular part 70 is some-what smaller than that of the opening 16 in botkom 12 of the cassette (see fig. 1) so that when rectangular part 70 is urged upwardly by means of the eccentric 58, its fore-front edge is capable to assume a position which is sub-25 stantially coinciding with the groove 18 in the bottom 12of the microfiche cassette. In so doing, a microfiche (not shown) being dispensed will always be directed such as to be positioned upon the peripheral groove 18 (see again fig. 1) as any misalignment would be compensated by the up-ward deviation exerted by the part 70 in biased position.The part 70 of the platform 50 is brought in upwardly biased position with the help of eccentric 58 which exerts its driving force as a consequence of the partial rokation of shaft 71. This partial rotation is caused by the push ~5 exerted by rod 72 mounted on slide 65 upon the upwardly bent portion 73 of shaft 71 during the dispensing and loading cycles of the microfiche cassette loader.
GV.1001 ~ ' -, .

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As may also be derived from fig. 3, the cover 11 (which is only partially represented for the sake of cla-rity) rests against a support wheel 74 carried by a twice bent shaft 75. The latter bears at its other extremity 5 a cam 76 which may be pivoted over a predetermined angle by the projection 77 on slide 65 during the longitudinal displacement of the latter. The mounting of cam 76 on shaft 75 occurs through the intermediary of a spring-element 78 which prevent that the rotation of cam 76 would involve a corresponding rotation of the shaft 75 when slide 65 advances in the direction indicated by arrow 68.
During the returning movement of slide 65 after loading, however, when spade-like element 55 is moving upwardly, the rotation of cam 76 is transmitted to shaft 75 so that the support wheel 74 pushes the cover 11 of the microfiche cassette in the sense indicated by arrow 79. This pushing causes the center of gravity of the cover 11 to pass past the hinges of the microfiche cassette (see fig. 2) so that the cover 11 acquires a momentum of growing magnitude when falling towards the bottom. The magnitude of the momentum may become so high that it suffices for overcoming the biasing forces exerted upon the locks of the cover 11 (see fig. 2) so that the locks 19, 20 snap in their correspond-ing holes 23, 24 and the microfiche cassette becomes locked.
It will be clear from the foregoing that the loading and closing of the microfiche cassette may be carried out in a reliable position. It must be kept in mind that the mecha-nism as illustrated and described may be su~jected to va-riations and that there may be devlsed a variety of equi-valents for the parts and mechanisms involved.
In fig. 4 are illustrated the dispensing station 43and compartment 45 via which a stack of microfiches is placed into the former. As the loading through opening 62 has already been described with reference to fig. 2, the description of this cycle will not be repeated. The door 61 (in fig. 2) has been replaced by one which is capable GV.1001 ~L~''72~

to be brought in light-screening position by a sliding movement. Within the dispensing station Ll3 is located a stack of microfiches 79 which abut against abutting mem-ber 80 for the purpose of proper aligning. The correct 5 placing of the stack of microfiches 79 against abutting member 80 is greatly facilitated by the provision of down-wardly directed guide 81 which guides the stack towards abutting member 80 in a reproducible way.
In order to keep the stack cf microfiches 79 aligned in the course of the use of the loading device, a supple-mentary abutting member 82 is provided which is resilient-ly and displaceable mounted in a housing 83 under the in-fluence of a spring 84. The inclined mounting of the housing 83 and the consequent movement of abutting member 15 82 provides that the protruding portion 85 of the latter remains in contact with the trailing edge of the stack 79 so that any misalignment is automatically compensated. The uppermost microfiche of the stack 79 is taken by means of a sucker-cup 86. The description of the complete dispensing cycle will follow hereinafter.
Fig. 5 shows the general set up of the microfiche cas-sette loading device 40 according to the invention during the insertion of an empty cassette 10 prior to the loading or the withdrawal of the latter after the loading step.
I'he screen 13 forming part of the microfiche cassette unit 10 is placed in mating relationship with platform 50 through the intermediary of profiles 31 and 32 which engage corresponding profiles 87, 88 on the platform 50. This permits the microfiche cassette cover and bottom to slide out of the screen 13 and to be caught by the platform 50 via the guides 51 and 52 ( see fig. 2 ) which lie in the direct line of the corresponding guides 27, 28 in the screen (fig. 1). Due to the fact that the mating of the screen 13 and the platform 50 occurs in intimate relationship para-35 sitic light can be excluded from falling upon a microfiche(not shown) kept in the groove 18 in the bottom 12 of the GV.1001 microfiche cassette (see fig. 1).
The interior of the housing 41 can be kept light-tight by means of a slidable door 89.
In figs. 6, 7, 8 and 9, finally, are represented the steps to be performed by the microfiche dispensing mecha-nism during one dispensing cycle.
The dispensing mechanism 90 essentially comprises one or a plurality of sucker-cups 86 located above the stack of microfiches 79 in the vicinity of the leading edge of the latter. In case more than one sucker-cup 86 is provided, they are mounted on a common support which is positioned in parallel relationship with the leading edge of the microfiches constituting the stack.
The sucker-cup or sucker-cups 86 is (are) suspended from a suction tube 91 via which air can be aspirated when connected to a source of vacuum (not shown) which vacuum is transmitted via the suction tube 91 to the interior of the sucker cup or sucker-cups 86. The suction tube 91 is freely suspended in a pair of arms 92 (one located at each side edge or longitudinal edge of the stack 79) which are fixedly secured to an associated lever 93. The set formed by the arm 92 and the lever 93 is pivotable around a spindle 9l~ The free extremity of lever 93 carries a small roller bearing 95 ~hich rests against a rotating cam 96, the latter by the movement conferred to the lever 93 and arm 94, controlling the microfiche dispensing cycle. Apart ~rom being suspended from the suction tube 91, the sucker-cup 86 is provided with a small roller 97 which rests against a cam 98. By the fact that the centers of the ~0 suction tube 91 and of the roller 97 do-not coincide, the sueker-cup 86 is capable to perform small canting move-ments around the suction tube 91. The stack of microfiches .,.
79 rests against an abutting member 80 as already explained.
On top of the abutting member is fitted a knife 99, the purpose of which will be explained further.
In order to provide for a driving force for a dispensed - G~,r . 1 0 0 1 5v$~

microfiche towards the loading station (not shown) a plura-lity of transport rollers 100, 101~ and 102 are provided.
In fig. 6 is illustrated the starting of the dispensing cycle. At that moment, the sucker-cup 86 takes hold of the uppermost sheet 103 of the stack of microfiches 79. Vacuum is applied to the interior of the sucker-cup 86. Even with the help of a slight underpressure, the surface of the uppermost sheet 103 firmly adheres to the suction mouth of the sucker-cup 86. The small roller 97 rests at the bott;ommost point of the inclined surface of cam 98.
In fig. 7 is shown the situation after that the cam 96 has performed a quarter of one revolution. Due to the in-creased distance between the center of rotation of the cam 96 and the roller 95, the whole set formed by the arm 92 and the lever 93 has canted over an angle ~ so that as a consequence, the sucker-cup 86 is lifted and due to the in-clined plane on cam 98 assumes a position which facilitates the separation from the uppermost sheet 103 from the rest of the stack 79.~,The uppermost sheet 103 assumes a concavely shaped configurat~on ~hile being displaced in upward direc-tion.
Fig. 8 shows the situation when the cam 96 has performed a 180 degrees rotation. At that moment, the leading edge of the uppermost sheet 103 reaches the knife 99 and is ar-rested by the latter during a small time lapse, which ishowever sufficiently long to permit any other microfiche sheet which by accident should stick to the uppermost one to get separated from the latter and to fall on the stack !, again. Sticking of film sheets together may be caused by static electrification, the creation of a partial vacuum between adjacent sheetsg etc. These phenomena are suffi-ciently known in the art and need therefore no further ex-planation. The presçnce of knife 99 serves the purpose in that a microfiche ad~ering to the uppermost one 103 is forced to undergo a small displacement. This relative slid-ing from both sheets destroys the partial vacuum or slight-GV.1001 ,: -.;., :, ' - ' ' ' , : ' ~5~

_ lL~ _ ly separates the sheets from each other so that the adhe-sion forces are lowered and are not sufficient angmore to carry the weight of the sheet which was taken from the stack by accident.
In fig. 9 is illustrated the situation at the moment the uppermost sheet 103 is delivered to the transport roller unit 100, 101, and 102. At that moment, the unit formed by arm 92 and lever 93 has acquired the maximum swinging angle and the vacuum in the interior of the sucker cup 86 is released. The leading edge of the uppermost sheet 103 is consequently released and is taken in the nip of rollers lO0 and 102 which direct it to the proper loading station. The loading cycle was descr:ibed with reference to figs. 2 and 3.

GV.lO01

Claims (10)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OR
PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A device for loading in daylight conditions, a microfiche cassette of the type having a bottom, a cover hinged to said bottom and locking means therefor including spring loaded detents snapable into associated recesses, comprising:
a housing a door in said housing capable of being opened and closed and when closed light-tightly shielding light from the interior of said housing a space in said housing in which a stack of unexposed microfiches may be housed in darkroom conditions a platform in said housing for supporting said microfiche cassette in said housing in unlocked and opened condition for receiving a microfiche on one of said bottom or cover guiding means movable between a withdrawn inoperative position and operative position proximate the part of the cassette receiving the microfiche to form a temporary guide channel for the microfiche being delivered as the latter approaches said platform so that the microfiche assumes a predetermined position on the part receiving it and means for the closing and relocking of said microfiche cassette after loading with said microfiche.

2. A device according to claim 1, in which said platform is mounted in inclined position.

3. A device according to claim 1, in which said temporary guide is formed by a spade-like foot which is positioned parallel with said cassette part in said operative position.

4. A device according to claim 3, in which the distance between said spade-like foot and said cassette part amounts generally to between 1 and 3 mm.

5. A device according to claim 3, in which said cassette part has an opening therein which is adapted to be closed when the cassette is removing from the loading device and including a flexible tongue disposed along the opposite side of said part from said guide foot and means for flexing said tongue to an operative position projecting into said opening with its leading edge lying sub-stantially flush with the upper surface of the cassette part receiving said microfiche.

6. A device according to claim 5, in which said flexible tongue is brought into operative position with the help of an eccentric.

7. A device according to claim 1, in which when said cassette is in open supported position on said platform, the open part thereof is above the supported part and said means for closing and relocking said microfiche cassette comprise a mechanism imparting a mechanical impulse to the open part, the latter as a consequence performing a pivoting motion around the cassette hinges.

8. A device according to claim 7, in which said mechanical impulse has such an amplitude as to impart a momentum to the open part which is sufficiently high to overcome the biasing force exerted upon the cassette locks which as a consequence snap into their associated holes, thereby relocking the cassette.

9. A device according to claim 1, in which said space in which said stack of unexposed microfiches is stored is closed by a retractable light screen when said device is in inoperative condition.

10. A device according to claim 1, in which said means to take hold of of the uppermost one of said stack of microfiches comprises a cam controlled sucker-cup capable of gripping a microfiche when vacuum is applied to the interior of said sucker-cup.