JPH0363053B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a microfilm retrieval device that has a function of automatically updating information recording media such as film, has an extremely large capacity, and is capable of searching at high speed.

In conventional microfilm retrieval devices,
Sheet films attached to jackets are arranged and stored in a radial direction in a drum housing that starts and stops around a vertical axis, and one jacket with a sheet film containing a desired frame is mechanically removed from the drum housing. The jacket is pulled out, the jacket is positioned corresponding to, for example, a fixedly installed reading projection lens system, and the jacket is moved two-dimensionally, that is, vertically and horizontally, to select a desired film frame. Another type of microfilm retrieval device is a reading projection lens system in which a large number of strips or sheets of film are attached to a disk or drum that rotates at a constant speed, and that moves randomly in one direction. There have also been proposals that perform search operations in combination with In this case, the projection lens system is positioned directly below the film row containing the desired film frame, and is aligned with the desired film frame on the disc or drum. The image of the corresponding film frame is formed on the image pickup tube, and this is extracted as an electrical signal.

Among the microfilm search devices mentioned above, the former type generally has a large capacity, but the operation of selecting and pulling out the jacket on which the film is attached and the operation of selecting the frame are performed consecutively, so it takes time to search. Therefore, it is not suitable as a center image information file device that requires high-speed search operations. On the other hand, in the latter case, although the search operation is quick, the information, that is, the film, is semi-fixedly stored in the disc or drum container of the search device, making the information exchange operation complicated. Furthermore, when the capacity is increased, there are drawbacks such as difficulty in performing high-speed search operations.

Furthermore, two types of selective operations are performed: intermittent rotational drive control of a plurality of film storage bodies and intermittent linear drive control of optical carriers arranged corresponding to each film storage body. By combining multiple optical components such as mirrors, image rotation angle correction prisms, and lenses in an optical system that corresponds to the body, an optically normal image is formed at a fixed position on a single image pickup tube at high speed. There is also a microfilm retrieval device that allows you to do so. However, in this device, the structure of the optical system components is complicated, it is difficult to achieve high accuracy in angle adjustment and positioning of images read out from a plurality of film containers, and furthermore, the structure is such that the rotation of the film containers is controlled. Therefore, increasing the capacity leads to increasing the size of the film container, which also has drawbacks such as the inability to realize high-speed retrieval.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has the following features:
A small and lightweight fiber lens using optical fibers that can be bent freely is mounted on the lens carrier to speed up random search operations while correcting the position and angle of reproduced images coming from multiple information storage bodies. In order to make it easier to increase the precision of configured to coordinate, perform fast searches normally available for online use, and automatically update files from a spare information file device as needed, with appropriate storage distribution of information;
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new microfilm retrieval device that eliminates the complexity of updating, has an extremely large capacity as a whole, and can be used at high speed.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view of a microfilm retrieval device showing one embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a skeleton-structured film storage carrier that stores one or more sheet films 2, and the sheet films 2 are provided in pairs as shown in FIG. Images are arranged in a matrix. 3 is a film transport carrier, 4 is an objective lens, 5 is an objective lens carrier, and 6 is an illumination optical system. These members constitute each film selection mechanism 7. For example, as shown in the figure, there are 9 in 5 stages and 2 rows. are arranged. Also, corresponding to each film selection mechanism 7, an optical fiber 8 is connected to each of the objective lenses 4 so as to transmit an image from each objective lens 4, and the transmitted image is formed on an image pickup tube 9. An imaging lens 10 and an imaging lens carrier 11 on which the imaging lens 10 is mounted are arranged. In this case, the film selection mechanism 7, the optical fiber 8, the imaging lens 10, the imaging lens carrier 11, and the image pickup tube 9 constitute a main body of the mechanism that enables high-speed searching.

Reference numeral 12 denotes a spare information file device for each film storage carrier 1 of the film selection mechanism 7.
The film accommodating body 14 includes a motor 13 and a film accommodating body 14 which can be rotated intermittently by the motor 13. Although the spare information file device 12 does not have a search function by itself, it stores a large amount of information, ie, sheet film as shown in FIG. 5, and is arranged in correspondence with the film selection mechanism 7. Information can be automatically exchanged with the search device main body as needed.

FIG. 3 shows a set of film selection mechanism 7, optical fiber 8, imaging lens 10, imaging lens carrier 11, and image pickup tube 9 extracted from the components of the search mechanism main body, and the above-mentioned search mechanism main body. A spare information file device 12 corresponding to
FIG. 4 is a plan view depicting the same, and FIG. 4 is a side view thereof.

To explain in more detail along with FIGS. 3 and 4, a skeleton-structured film storage carrier 1 that stores one or more sheet films (microfissures) 2 as shown in FIG. 5 is operated by a servo motor. (not shown) and guide mechanisms 15 and 16, each row of the matrix-shaped sheet film 2 is provided as a minimum unit and can be linearly moved randomly and intermittently in the direction of the arrow shown in the figure, that is, in the horizontal direction. The spare information file device 12 is equipped with a film transport carrier 3 for transporting the sheet film 2 from the film storage body 14 or carrying the sheet film 2 into the film storage body 14.

In addition, the objective lens 4 that reads the film image is
The objective lens carrier 5 is mounted on an objective lens carrier 5 corresponding to the film storage carrier, and the objective lens carrier 5 is slidably provided parallel to the sheet film 2, and the film is moved by a motor and a guide mechanism 17 (not shown). Randomly and intermittently linearly move perpendicularly to the storage carrier 1.

Corresponding to the objective lens 4, an illumination optical system 6 is fixedly installed on the opposite side of each film storage carrier, that is, on the opposite side with the sheet film 2 in between. 2 (one row in the sliding direction of the objective lens carrier 5) is illuminated. Therefore, any one film frame of the sheet film 2 stored in the film storage carrier 1 is selected by the selection operation in the horizontal direction of the film storage carrier 1, that is, the X direction in FIG. 5, and the objective lens carrier 5.
A two-dimensional search is performed by the selection operation in the vertical direction, that is, the Y direction in FIG.

The film frame selection operation in the film storage carrier 1 is performed as described above, but in this embodiment of the present retrieval device, nine film storage carriers are constructed, and one image pickup tube 9 receives an image from each. It is necessary to guide These image optical paths include an objective lens 4, an optical fiber 8,
As another example of a film frame formed by an optical system consisting of an imaging lens 10, the optical path sequence for reading out film frames is explained. The image is projected onto one end (incidence end face) of the optical fiber 8, transferred to the other end (output end face) by the optical fiber 8, and then optically transferred to one image pickup tube 9 by the imaging lens 10. A normal image is formed at a fixed position and electrically read out as a video signal. Here, the imaging lenses 10 are placed at a distance to form an image correctly on the imaging tube 9, and in this embodiment, nine lenses are arranged in one row on one plane and mounted on the imaging lens carrier 11. , a motor (not shown) and a guide mechanism 18 are arranged so that they can be driven intermittently linearly. That is, the third
As shown in the figure, nine imaging lenses 10 are mounted on an imaging lens carrier 11 and selectively moved in a straight line in the direction of the arrow as shown in the figure, so that one of the nine imaging lenses is selected. By positioning only the image pickup tube 10 in correspondence with the image pickup tube 9, only a desired frame image can be obtained as an output image.

Next, the configuration and operation of the spare information file device 12 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

The spare information file device 12 includes a film container 14 and a motor 13 linked thereto, as described above.
and a rotating shaft 19, and nine film storage bodies 14 are arranged in this embodiment, one for each film storage carrier 1, as shown in FIG. This film storage body 14 can be rotated intermittently by a motor 13, and is normally located at an initial position _C1 as _shown in FIG. This is a position that does not hinder the horizontal linear movement of the film storage carrier 1.
Only when the film storage body 14 is held at the _C1 position, a high-speed retrieval operation of the sheet film 2 in the X direction (see FIG. 5) by linear movement of the film storage carrier 1 is possible.

The film storage body 14 includes the rotation shaft 19.
A large number of sheet films 2 radially centering on
(Fig. 5) is accommodated, and in response to an information exchange command, the film accommodating body 14 is rotated so that the desired sheet film 2 is placed directly under the guide mechanism 15 of the corresponding film accommodating carrier 1. After positioning, the sheet film is conveyed.

Further, a film transport carrier 3 carries out the sheet film 2 of the film storage body 14 from the film storage body 14 to each film storage carrier 1 or transports the sheet film 2 from each film storage carrier 1 to the film storage body 14. teeth,
Although it can function in the same way if it is installed in the spare information file device 12, this embodiment shows an example in which it is installed in the film storage carrier 1. That is, in this embodiment, the film transport carrier 3 is moved linearly in the radial direction of the film storage body 14 as shown by the arrow by a servo motor (not shown) and a guide mechanism 15 shared with the film storage carrier 1. It is arranged as follows.

Further, the film transport carrier 3 has a film transport lever 20, and only when carrying out or loading the sheet film 2, the film transport carrier 3 is moved from the film storage carrier 1 on which the film transport carrier 3 is mounted, for example by releasing an electromagnet, etc. It is provided so that it can freely move linearly on the guide mechanism 15 by being separated, and by using the metal fitting 21 (see FIG. 5) of the desired sheet film 2 and, for example, a film holding electromagnet different from the above. Then, the film transport lever 20 of the film transport carrier 3 can be engaged, and only the film transport carrier 3 is linearly driven while the film storage carrier 1 remains fixed. On the other hand, when the search mechanism itself receives a search command,
While the metal fitting 21 of the sheet film 2 and the film transport lever 20 are engaged, they are also engaged with the film storage carrier 1 having a skeleton structure using, for example, the electromagnet, so that the sheet film 2 can be held. The film transport carrier 3 is mounted on the film storage carrier 1 and integrated, and is intermittently linearly driven in the direction of the arrow by guide mechanisms 15, 16 and a servo motor (not shown), thereby achieving high-speed retrieval. Operation becomes possible. The operation for unloading the sheet film 2 from the film container 14 is as follows: First, a desired sheet film 2 is selected by the rotational movement of the film container.
It is positioned directly below the guide mechanism 15 of the corresponding film transport carrier 3. At this time, in advance, in response to a film transport command, the film transport carrier 3, which has been separated from the film storage carrier 1 corresponding to the desired sheet film 2, is placed at the upper part of the film storage body 14, at the innermost side of the guide mechanism 15, that is, the sheet film. The metal fitting 21 of the desired sheet film ₂ is inserted into the film transport carrier 3 immediately after the rotational positioning of the film container 14 is completed. It is engaged with the film transport lever 20 mounted thereon. Immediately thereafter,
The desired sheet film 2 is transferred to the film transport lever 2.
0, the servo motor (not shown) and the guide mechanism 15 move the outermost part of the film storage carrier 1, that is, the outermost part of the guide mechanism 15 disposed in the radial direction of the film storage body 14. while moving the film container 1 in a straight line to the position.
Immediately thereafter, the sheet film 4 returns to the initial position _C1 by the motor 13, and the sheet film 2 selection and unloading operation is completed.

Also, the sheet film 2 is placed in the film container 14.
It will be understood that the loading operation is performed in the opposite direction to the unloading operation of the sheet film 2, and the start position _C2 of the unloading operation of the film transport carrier 3 is the end position of the loading operation. To release the engagement between the film transport lever 20 and the metal fitting 21 of the sheet film 2,
A detection element (not shown) provided on the guide mechanism 15 or the film transport carrier 3 detects that the film transport carrier 3 has been positioned at a predetermined point _C2 , and the film holding electromagnet is activated. This is done by stopping the drive.

Further, as an example of updating information, the sequence of operations from the film storage carrier 1 to the film storage body 14 will be described below. First, when the sheet film 2 that requires information update is specified, the film storage carrier 1 corresponding to the required sheet film 2 moves the metal fitting 21 of the sheet film 2 to the film transport lever 20 together with the film transport carrier 3. While being engaged, the guide mechanism 15 is linearly moved to the outermost position of the guide mechanism 15 arranged in the radial direction of the film container 14. After detecting that the film storage carrier 1 is positioned at the outermost position of the guide structure 15, the film storage 14 becomes rotatable and the sheet film 2 should be stored from the initial position _C1 . Select a blank position and rotate it. Immediately after the positioning of the film storage body 14 is completed, the film transport carrier 3 is separated from the film storage carrier 1 storing the required sheet film 2, and the film transport carrier 3 is moved to the film transport lever 20.
While being engaged with the metal fitting 21 of the sheet film 2, the sheet film ₂ is linearly driven to the innermost position C2 at the top of the film container 14. Subsequently, the sheet film 2 is stored in the blank space of the selected film container 14, and immediately after that, the film container 14 rotates and returns to the initial position.
It returns to the _C1 position, and the process of carrying in the sheet film 2 from the search mechanism main body and storing it in the film storage body 14 is completed.

Place the new sheet film 2 into the film container 14.
As already mentioned, the operation of selecting and carrying out the film from a predetermined position and inserting and storing it into the film storage carrier 1 is the reverse of the procedure of transporting the film from the film storage carrier 1 to the film storage body 14.

In the above-mentioned embodiment, after receiving the information update command and inserting and storing the sheet film 2 carried out from the film storage body 14 of the spare information file device 12 into each film storage carrier 1, the high-speed search operation is performed. , it is also possible to selectively drive intermittently by vectorial two-dimensional movement in the X and Y directions of the objective lens carrier 5 on which the objective lens 4 is mounted. Therefore, at this time, the film storage carrier 1 containing the desired sheet film 2 is fixed at a position moved to the outside of the spare information file device 12, and the illumination optical system illuminates the entire surface of one set of sheet films 2. I will do it.

Further, the imaging lens 10 is connected to the imaging lens carrier 1.
1 and selects a desired frame by linear selection movement, an individual shutter mechanism is provided corresponding to each film selection mechanism 7, and one large-diameter imaging lens is fixedly installed. It is also possible to form only one image optically normally and at a fixed position. That is, a projection lens is placed in correspondence with each exit end face of the optical fiber 8 so as to be at the focal position, and the light beam is directed to a large-diameter imaging lens having an effective aperture that covers the resulting parallel light beam. The image is made incident on the surface of the image pickup tube placed at the focal length of the imaging lens, and only one image is selectively operated by the aperture operation of the shutter mechanism arranged corresponding to each projection lens. It may be set as follows.

As described in detail above, the present invention provides a reading lens fiber lens using an optical fiber for one or more independent film selection mechanisms, and a sheet film on each film selection mechanism. The small and lightweight fiber lens is controlled to be driven at high speed so that one piece of image information can be selected from a large number of pieces of image information stored in the computer and transmitted.
A combination search mechanism is used to form an optically normal image at a fixed position from the image information transmitted and transferred from each film selection mechanism to one image pickup tube through one or more optical fibers. The microfilm retrieval device consists of a main body and a spare information file device that automatically matches each of these film selection mechanisms and can update the information medium, so it can accommodate an extremely large amount of information. It is possible to speed up the search operation, and it is also easy to increase the accuracy of the position and angle of the reproduced image.In addition, it is possible to relieve the complexity of updating information and prevent the contamination of dust, etc. that accompanies this work. In addition to having advantages, it also has the advantage of being economical as an ultra-large capacity still image file device for natural images.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a simplified side view of a microfilm retrieval device showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a simplified plan view of the same portion, FIG. 3 is an enlarged simplified plan view of the same portion, and FIG. 4 is a simplified plan view of the same portion. FIG. 5 is an enlarged and simplified side view of the same part. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Film storage carrier, 2... Sheet film, 3... Film transport carrier, 4... Objective lens, 5... Objective lens carrier, 6... Illumination optical system,
7... Film selection mechanism, 8... Optical fiber, 9... Image pickup tube, 10... Imaging lens, 11... Imaging lens carrier, 12... Spare information file device, 13... Motor, 14... Film container, 1
5, 16, 17, 18...Guide mechanism, 19...Rotating shaft, 20...File transport lever, 21...Metal fittings for sheet film 2.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A sheet film with recorded images arranged in a matrix is stored, and one of the arranged recorded images is stored.
A film storage carrier that can be linearly driven in rows as the minimum unit, and a fiber lens for reading out one frame of the image of the sheet film are mounted thereon, and the film storage carrier is driven parallel to the sheet film in a direction perpendicular to the driving direction of the film storage carrier by a servo motor. A combination of a film selection mechanism including a lens carrier that is driven intermittently and selectively and an illumination optical system that illuminates the entire surface of at least one row of recorded images on the sheet film, and one of the images from the film selection mechanism. a film retrieval mechanism for selecting and forming an image on an image pickup tube; an intermittently drivable film storage body containing sheet film for updating information for each of the film selection mechanisms;
A microfilm retrieval device comprising: a spare information file device including a film transport carrier for transporting a sheet film of the film storage between the film storage and the film selection mechanism.