JPH04306632A - Microfilm retrieving and reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To shorten the access time and reduce the installation area, by a microfilm retrieving and reading device which is constituted so that the cartridge including an aimed image is selected from an accommodation shelf for microfilm cartridges and the aimed image is read out by an image sensor. CONSTITUTION:A longitudinally placed cylindrical type accommodation shelf 10 for horizontally accommodating a number of cartridges, scanner 20 which is equipped with a microfilm traveling driving device and an image reader and shifts oppositely to the inside of the accommodation shelf 10, memory means 62 for storong the accommodation position of the cartridge, and a control mean 50 which relatively shifting the scanner 20 to the accommodation position of the cartridge 12 including an aimed image and takes the cartridge 12 into the scanner 20 and allows scanner 20 to read out the aimed image, are provided.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention is a microfilm retrieval/reading device that searches for a target image from a storage shelf containing a large number of microfilm cartridges, reads the image using an image sensor, and outputs the image as an image signal. It is related to.

0002

[Technical Background of the Invention] One cartridge is selected from a large number of microfilm cartridges stored in a storage shelf, a target image contained therein is read out by an image sensor, and this image signal is output as a digital signal. A device is being considered. For example, it has been considered to use this image signal to output an image to a CRT, printer, or facsimile, or to output a desired form or document by printing it in combination with the output of another data processing device. That is, by converting microfilm images into digital signals, it becomes possible to collaborate with other digital image processing devices using a data communication network, thereby increasing the usefulness of microfilm.

[0003] As such a device, a rotating shelf type device is conventionally known. In this method, a large number of cartridges are stored in multiple stages in a rotating drum so that they can be attached and detached from the outer circumferential surface of the drum, and a take-out device that only moves up and down at a fixed position takes out the desired cartridge and transfers it to an image reader equipped with an image sensor. It is used to read images.

However, in this case, since the cartridge is transferred in the order of the rotating drum, the ejecting device, and the image reader, the time required to find the target image (access time) becomes longer, and since the ejecting device is located outside the rotating drum, There was a problem that the installation area became large.

[0005]

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a microfilm retrieval/reading device that can shorten access time and reduce the installation area.

[0006]

According to the present invention, the object is to select a cartridge containing a target image from a storage shelf storing a large number of microfilm cartridges, read the target image from the cartridge using an image sensor, and output an image signal. A microfilm retrieval/reading device includes a vertically placed cylindrical storage shelf that stores a large number of cartridges horizontally, a scanner that has a built-in microfilm travel drive device and an image reader, and moves oppositely to the inside of the storage shelf. , memory means for storing the storage position of the cartridge;
This is achieved by a microfilm retrieval/reading apparatus characterized in that it includes a control means for relatively moving the scanner to a storage position of a cartridge containing a target image, and causing the scanner to take in the cartridge and read the target image.

Here, a plurality of scanners can be mounted on one carrier at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, and the carrier can be moved in the axial direction of the storage shelf and rotated around the axis. The scanner may move only in the axial direction and the storage shelf may rotate.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a system using an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a plan view of its carrier.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a cylindrical storage shelf, which is rotatable around a vertical axis A. This storage shelf 10
In this case, a large number of cartridges 12 are arranged horizontally on a circumference around an axis A, and the rings are stacked vertically. The cartridge 12 houses a reel 16 on which a microfilm 14 (see FIG. 2) is wound.

In FIG. 2, 20 is a scanner. The scanner 20 moves in the vertical direction within the storage shelf 10 facing the inner surface of the storage shelf 10. That is, a pair of scanners 20 are mounted at symmetrical positions on a carrier 24 which is held movably up and down by guide rails 22, 22. The carrier 24 is, for example, these guide rails 22, 2.
2 is provided with a feed screw mechanism, and these guide rails 22, 22
It can be moved up and down by rotating. Further, it may be moved up and down by a wire (not shown).

The scanner 20 is constructed as shown in FIG. That is, when facing the inner surface of a certain storage shelf 10, there is a take-in space 26 that faces the cartridge 12 on the storage shelf 10 side and takes in the cartridge 12, a take-up reel 28 located below this space, and a gap between these two. The image reader 30 is disposed in the image reader 30, and a film running drive device that drives the reel 16 and take-up reel 28 of the loaded cartridge 12 and rotates an appropriate number of rollers 32 to run the film 14.

The image reader 30 includes a closed reader unit 34 and an EL plate 36 as a light source. EL board 3
6 can be pressed against and separated from the film 14, and is controlled by an electromagnetic plunger (not shown) or the like. The reader unit 34 includes a glass 38 sandwiching the film 14 and facing the EL plate 36, and a projection lens 4 housed in a sealed case.
0 and an image sensor 42. Here, the lens 40 is moved in the optical axis direction by a motor, a piezoelectric element, etc., and can be focused.

[0013] Thus, when the scanner 20 is brought in front of the target cartridge 12, it takes the cartridge 12 into the take-in space 26. Then, the film traveling device rotates the roller 32 and the reels 16, 28, and the film 14 is rotated.
run. At this time, the EL plate 36 is separated from the film 14. When the target image arrives, the EL plate 36 presses the film 14 against the glass plate 38. The EL plate 36 serves as a surface light source, and the projected image of the film 14 is projected onto the glass plate 38.
, are guided to an image sensor 42 through a lens 40.

The image sensor 42 scans an image and outputs a time-series image signal a (see FIG. 1). This signal a is binarized by the image processing circuit 44, converted into a digital signal, and inputted to the control means 50. Image sensor 42 here
Although a two-dimensional area sensor is preferable, a one-dimensional line sensor may be moved in a direction perpendicular to its length direction (sub-scanning direction) to read the image.

The control means 50 is formed of a small computer, and as shown in FIG.
58 and a RAM 60 for storing data during control, for example, data when performing autofocus. 62 is a memory means, which includes an optical disk, a magnetic disk,
It is composed of a storage medium such as a magnetic tape or a semiconductor memory, and stores data such as the storage address of the cartridge 12 in the storage shelf 10.

Data such as the content and storage address of each cartridge 12 is input to the CPU 52 from the keyboard 64 and stored in the memory means 62. When searching for a target image, the code of the target image or the like is input from the keyboard 64, for example. The CPU 52 searches the memory means 62 for the address of the cartridge 12 containing this target image, and operates a motor or the like to rotate the storage shelf 10 and move the scanner 20 up and down to move it in front of this cartridge 12. The cartridge 12 is then ejected from the storage shelf 10 and taken into the take-in space 26 within the scanner 20. C
The PU 52 controls the reels 14 and 28 to be rotated by a traveling drive device within the scanner 20 so that the target image is placed between the EL plate 36 and the glass plate 38. Note that this target image can be confirmed by reading a blip mark (not shown) recorded in advance on the microfilm 14 with another optical sensor (not shown).

When the target image comes in front of the glass plate 38, the CPU 52 presses the EL plate 36 against the film 14 to emit light. A projected image of the target image is guided to the image sensor 42. The image signal a of the image sensor 42 is sent to the signal processing circuit 4
After undergoing various processing such as correction of variation in characteristics of each light-receiving element, shooding correction, and waveform shaping in step 4, the CPU
52. Further, when performing an autofocus operation, this circuit 44 selects, for example, a predetermined spatial frequency component of the image signal a using a band pass filter, and obtains a contrast signal by integrating the absolute value of this component. The CPU 52 controls the lens 40 to a position where this contrast signal is maximized. Note that it is of course possible to separately prepare another element exclusively for autofocus, such as an element using a phase difference detection method, to perform autofocus.

When the image is read in this way, the CP
U52 outputs this data to various image processing devices. For example, this image may be output to the CRT 66 or printer 68, or may be stored in other external memory means such as the optical disk device 70. It is also possible to output the data to a remote facsimile, CRT, etc. using a data communication network 72 such as a LAN (Local Area Network). Note that the CPU 52 can also read data from an external image processing device using this data communication network 72, and use image data from the outside within this system.

While one scanner 20 is searching and reading the target cartridge 12 as described above, the carrier 24 moves to a position where the other scanner 20 faces the next target cartridge 12. take in. Since the two scanners 20, 20 thus alternately search and read the target cartridge 12, the access time becomes very short.

[0020] In the above embodiment, all controls were explained as being performed by the control means 50. However, a control means composed of a separate microcomputer or the like may be provided for each scanner 20, 20, and the search and reading control of each scanner 20, 20 may be performed independently by this control means.

In the above embodiment, the carrier 24 moves only in the vertical direction and the storage shelf 10 rotates, but the storage shelf 10 may be fixed so that the carrier 24 moves vertically and rotates. . In this case, the guide rails 22, 22 that hold the carrier 24 are connected to the rotary table 74 (
1) and rotate this table 74. Moreover, if the storage shelf 10 and the carrier 24 are rotated together, the access time can be further shortened.

Furthermore, a plurality of carriers 24 are provided as shown by imaginary lines in FIG. 1, and each carrier 24 is moved independently within a range that does not interfere with the vertical direction, or is arranged to share areas divided into vertical regions. Good too.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a part of the second embodiment. This embodiment has two upright guide rails 22A.
, 22A are each provided with a substantially fan-shaped carrier 24D that can be moved up and down, and each carrier 24D can be rotated within a range of 180 degrees. That is, the scanner 20A provided in each carrier 24A is configured to capture, search, and read information within a 180° range from the inside of a storage shelf (not shown).

FIG. 4 is a partial side sectional view of the third embodiment, and FIG.
is a perspective view of the vicinity of one of the carriers. In this embodiment, a carrier 24B is provided for each stage of the storage shelf 10, and each carrier 24B is rotatably held by one guide rail 22B. and one scanner 20 for each carrier 24B.
B is provided. Therefore, according to this embodiment, the carrier 24B does not need to move up and down, and the access time can be further shortened. Note that if the target cartridge 12 is located close to two vertically adjacent stages, the carriers 24B, 24B of each stage may interfere, but in this case, one carrier 24B takes in the cartridge 12. The other carrier 24B waits until the end. In this embodiment, a lamp 36A and a condenser lens 3 are used as light sources.
6B is used, but it goes without saying that this may be replaced with an EL board. Further, when the storage space of the image reader 30A is insufficient, the optical axis may be bent using a prism.

[0025]

[Effects of the Invention] As described above, the present invention stores a large number of cartridges horizontally in a vertically oriented cylindrical storage shelf, and loads the cartridges into a scanner from inside the storage shelf to search and read them. Since the cartridge is only moved between the storage shelf and the scanner, the access time required to read out the target image can be shortened. Furthermore, since the inside of the cylindrical storage shelf is effectively used, the installation area is reduced (Claim 1).

Furthermore, if a carrier on which a plurality of scanners are mounted at equal intervals in the circumferential direction is moved up and down, 1
While one scanner is searching and reading, other scanners can access other cartridges, further reducing access time (claim 2).

Here, the storage shelf may be rotated so that the scanner only moves up and down (Claim 3), or the storage shelf may be fixed so that only the scanner moves up and down and rotates (Claim 4). ), both may be rotated together.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

[Fig. 1] Conceptual diagram of a system using an embodiment of the present invention

[
Figure 2: Plan view of the carrier

[Fig. 3] Partial perspective view showing the second embodiment

[Fig. 4] Partial side sectional view of the third embodiment

[Figure 5] Perspective view of the scanner used for this

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Storage shelf 12 Cartridge 14 Microfilm 20, 20A-B Scanner 30, 30A Image reader 50 Control means 52 Memory means

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A microfilm search/reading device that selects a cartridge containing a target image from a storage shelf storing a large number of microfilm cartridges, reads the target image from the cartridge using an image sensor, and outputs an image signal, comprising: A vertically placed cylindrical storage shelf that stores a large number of cartridges horizontally, a scanner that has a built-in microfilm travel drive device and an image reader and moves inside the storage shelf, and a memory that stores the storage positions of the cartridges. A microfilm retrieval/reading device comprising: means for moving the scanner relatively to a storage position of a cartridge containing a target image, and causing the scanner to take in the cartridge and read the target image. 2. The microfilm retrieval/reading device according to claim 1, further comprising a carrier that moves in the axial direction of the storage shelf, and a plurality of the scanners being mounted on the carrier at equal intervals in the circumferential direction. 3. The microfilm retrieval/reading device according to claim 1, wherein said scanner moves in the axial direction of said storage shelf, and said storage shelf rotates. 4. The scanner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the scanner is rotatable around the axis of the storage shelf and movable in the axial direction.
microfilm search and reading device.