JPH04350835A - Mark detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To allow the exact and stable detection of the marks put on an information recording medium, such as microfilm, by interposing a prescribed number of fibers for positioning having the same diameter between respective optical fibers for light transmission and bringing these fibers in tight contact with each other in one array. CONSTITUTION:The pitch in the arranging direction between the optical fibers 29 for light transmission is exactly determined by the optical fibers for positioning arranged in tight contact between the optical fibers 29 for light transmission. The fluctuations in the direction perpendicular to the arranging direction of the respective optical fibers 29 for light transmission are eliminated by previously fixing the optical fibers for positioning at the same diameter as the diameter of the optical fibers 29 for light transmission. Alignment is exactly executed by providing an index member 21C on the extension line of the array of the optical fibers 29 for light transmission and the optical fibers for positioning. Further, the output of a element 26 is stabilized by providing a photoelectric conversion diffusion sheet 30 between the photoelectric converting element 26 and the optical fibers 29.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention is directed to mark detection, which is performed by photoelectrically converting mark information attached to a large amount of information recorded on an information recording medium, such as when searching for a microfilm. Regarding equipment.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a device for detecting marks for image frame retrieval attached to a microfilm has been equipped with an illumination means 102 for irradiating light onto a mark 101 portion of a microfilm 100, as shown in FIG. , a photoelectric conversion means 103 such as a phototransistor for photoelectrically converting the light passing through the microfilm 100 , and a photoelectric conversion means 10
A light guide optical fiber 104 for guiding light from the mark 101 portion up to 3 is provided. That is, when a portion of the microfilm 100 other than the mark 101 passes through, the light from the illumination means 102 is transmitted as is and enters the photoelectric conversion means 103 . On the other hand, mark 10
In the part 1, the light from the illumination means 102 is blocked by the mark 101 and does not enter the photoelectric conversion means 103, so
As the mark 101 passes, the output voltage of the photoelectric conversion means 103 changes, and the mark 101 can be detected.

[0003] In order to reliably identify the length and size of the mark 101, a light guiding optical fiber 10 is used.
4 are arranged in plurality at predetermined intervals in the film transport direction,
The size of the mark 101 and the like are identified based on the timing of the mark 101 detected by each light guiding optical fiber 104.

The plurality of optical fibers 104 are formed in a V-groove 10 in a base member 105 as shown in FIG. 8(a).
6, and each optical fiber 1 is placed in this V groove 106.
04 is attached and fixed with adhesive 107, and presser member 10 is attached.
It was designed to be positioned at a predetermined position by pressing at 8.

[0005]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in such a conventional technique, a plurality of optical fibers 104 are supported by a base member 105, but variations in pitch P and height direction of optical fibers 104 occur. occurs, and a mark 101 with a small length and height
There was a problem that it could not be read accurately.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 8(b), the position of the optical fiber 104 supported by the base member 105 and the holding member 108 is unknown from the outside, and the optical fiber 104 is located at the position of the mark 101 on the film. It is difficult to match, and it is still mark 10.
This made accurate detection of 1 difficult.

Furthermore, due to a poor positional relationship when connecting the optical fiber 104 and the photoelectric conversion means 103, the output when detecting the mark 101 may not be constant, resulting in detection failure.

For example, when a phototransistor or the like is used as the photoelectric conversion means 103, an electrode 110 is attached to the chip 109 of the phototransistor as shown in FIG.
Therefore, depending on the positional relationship between the phototransistor 111 and the optical fiber 104, the light guided by the optical fiber 104 may be blocked by the electrode 110, which greatly affects the positional accuracy during assembly.

The present invention has been made to solve the problems of the prior art described above, and its main purpose is to provide a mark detection device that can accurately and stably detect marks attached to an information recording medium. There is a particular thing.

0010

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention, mark information attached corresponding to each piece of information on an information recording medium such as a microfilm is distributed to a plurality of light guiding devices. A mark detection device that detects light by guiding it to a corresponding photoelectric conversion means through an optical fiber, characterized in that a predetermined number of positioning fibers having the same diameter are interposed between each of the light guiding optical fibers and are closely arranged in a line. do.

[0011] It is effective to provide an index member on an extension line of the row of light-guiding optical fibers on a support member that supports the incident-side end of the light-guiding optical fibers.

[0012] Furthermore, it is preferable to provide an uneven portion on the side surface of the support member to prevent halation.

[0013] The support member is composed of a base member and a holding member that holds the optical fiber for light guide and positioning between the base member, and the holding member is provided with a claw portion that engages with the base member. It is preferable to set it as a structure.

[0014] Furthermore, it is preferable that a diffusion means for diffusing light be interposed between the output end of the light guide optical fiber and the photoelectric conversion means.

[0015]

In the mark detection device having the above structure, the pitch between the light guiding optical fibers in the arrangement direction is accurately determined by the positioning fibers closely arranged between the light guiding optical fibers.

Furthermore, since the positioning fiber is set to have the same diameter as the light guide optical fiber, there is no variation in the direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of each light guide optical fiber.

Furthermore, by providing an index member on the extension line of the row of light-guiding optical fibers, the position of the light-guiding optical fibers and the mark position can be accurately aligned with this index member as a reference. be able to.

Further, by providing an uneven portion on the side surface of the support member to prevent halation, it is possible to prevent reflection of the support member when reading information.

Furthermore, when the support member is composed of a base member and a presser member, by providing the presser member with a claw portion that engages with the base member, there is no fear that the presser member and the baize member will come apart, and the presser member and the baize member can be aligned in a line. It is possible to prevent the optical fiber supported by the optical fiber from turning over.

Furthermore, the light guided through the optical fiber is diffused by the diffusion plate interposed between the output side end of the light guide optical fiber and the photoelectric conversion means, and the light received by the photoelectric conversion means is It is possible to make the light incident on the surface with uniform intensity.

[0021]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be explained below based on the illustrated embodiments. FIG. 4 shows a schematic configuration of a microfilm reader printer equipped with a search device to which the mark detection device of the present invention is applied.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a microfilm as an information recording medium. On this microfilm 1, a large number of image frames as recorded information are recorded, and a counter for counting is placed on the side edge of each image frame 1a. Mark 1b is given.

The microfilm 1 is housed in a roll in a film supply cartridge 2 and is fed out by a capstan roller 6 driven by a feeding motor 5. The capstan roller 6 is movable via a support arm 8 between a position in which it contacts and a position away from the microfilm 1, and the support arm 8 is driven by a solenoid 7. The fed microfilm 1 is wound up by a film take-up reel 13 by guide rollers 9 and 10.

12 is a guide roller, and a spring 1
2a, the winding shaft 13 of the winding reel 13 is
By applying pressure toward point a, the leading end of the film 1 is reliably wound around the take-up shaft 13a of the take-up reel 13.

Further, 3 is a film rewind motor for rotating a film spool (not shown) in the cartridge 1, and 4 is a film take-up motor for rotating a take-up reel 13.

Although not shown, a guide plate is provided for guiding the film 1 along a predetermined film feeding path between the cartridge 2 and the take-up reel 13.

In the above configuration, when the feed motor 5 is driven and the solenoid 7 is activated, the capstan roller 6 rotates and moves to a position where it contacts the microfilm 1, causing the capstan roller 6 and the microfilm 1 to come into contact with each other. The leading end of the microfilm 1 is fed out from the cartridge 2, and the microfilm 1 is fed toward the take-up reel 13 along a predetermined path.

When the leading edge of the microfilm 1 passes the guide roller 9, a film detector (not shown) detects the microfilm 1, and this detection signal drives the take-up motor 4, causing the take-up reel 13 to rotate.

When the leading end of the microfilm 1 is fed to the take-up reel 13, the leading end of the microfilm 1 is automatically wound around the take-up shaft 13a of the take-up reel 13 by the action of the guide roller 12. When the microfilm 1 is wound around the take-up reel 13, the rewind motor 3 and the solenoid 7 are deactivated, and the capstan roller 6 separates from the microfilm 1 and returns to its original position.

The microfilm 1 is taken up on the take-up reel 13
When the microfilm 1 is wound around the winding reel 1
3, the cartridge 12 is transferred to the take-up reel 13.

When rewinding the microfilm 12 into the cartridge, when the rewind motor 3 is driven with the rewind motor 4 inactive, the film spool 9 (not shown) in the cartridge 2 rewinds the microfilm 1. The microfilm 1 is rewound into the cartridge 2 by rotating in the direction shown in FIG. Therefore, by driving either the motors 3 or 4, the microfilm 1 can be moved forward or backward.

14 is a lamp that illuminates the microfilm 1; 15 is a condenser lens; 16 is a mirror 1 that reflects the image of the microfilm 1 illuminated by the lamp 14;
This is a projection lens for projecting the image onto the screen 18 via the mirror 7 or enlarging the image onto the photosensitive drum 30 via the reflecting mirrors 19 and 20.

A sensor unit 11 detects the mark 1b on the microfilm 1. This sensor unit 11 includes Ach and Bch mark detection devices 50 to detect marks 1b attached to both sides of the microfilm 1. Since the Ach and Bch mark detection devices 50 have the same configuration, the Ach mark detection device 50 will be described and the description of the B channel mark detection device 50 will be omitted.

This mark detection device includes a lamp (not shown) as an illumination means for irradiating light onto the mark 1b portion of the microfilm 1, and a photodetector for photoelectrically converting the light passing through the microfilm 1. A photoelectric conversion element 26 as a photoelectric conversion means such as a transistor, and a photoelectric conversion element 2
6 and a plurality of light guide optical fibers 29 for guiding the information light of the mark 1b of the microfilm 1.

The optical fiber 29 for light guiding uses a 0.25 mm φ acrylic fiber in this embodiment, and the symbols IN, P, F1, F2, and B attached to each optical fiber 29 for guiding light are used for each optical fiber 29 for guiding light. The arrangement of optical fibers 29 is shown, and IN and P are reference fibers, and both reference fibers IN and P are closely adjacent to each other. By stopping the end face of the mark on the reference side between the reference fibers IN and P, the stopping position is kept constant. On the other hand, optical fibers 29 labeled F1, F2, and B are used for detecting mark sizes.

One end of these light guide optical fibers 29, for reference and detection, is connected to the microfilm 1.
The other end is located close to the photoelectric conversion element 26 and serves as an output side end that outputs the guided light. The incident side end portions are closely arranged in a line through a predetermined number of positioning optical fibers 29a having the same diameter and interposed between the respective light guide optical fibers 29. The incident side end of this light guide and positioning optical fiber is supported by a support member 40. Positioning optical fiber 29
The length of a is only the predetermined length of the tip. In this embodiment, the positioning optical fiber 29a is made of the same material and has the same diameter as the light guide optical fiber 29. However, the fibers are not limited to optical fibers, and may be made of other materials as long as they have the same diameter.

The support member 40 includes a base member 22 and optical fibers 29, 29 between the base member 22 and the base member 22.
It is composed of a holding member 21 that presses and clamps a. The base member 22 has an L-shape, and a plurality of fibers 29, 29a are adhesively fixed to a flat surface of the base member 22. The base member 22 is a lower base 34 of the sensor unit 11.
It is attached to the top via an Ach base 24 and an Ach arm 23, and is movable in the X and Y directions orthogonal to each other.

On the other hand, the presser member 21 is made of plastic, and has support pieces 21d, 21d extending on both sides thereof so as to embrace the side surfaces of the base member 22, and claws 21a, 21a are attached to the support pieces 21d. The base member 22 is sandwiched and fixed.

Further, on the front surface of the holding member 21, an uneven portion 21b for preventing halation is formed. The uneven portion 21b is formed by forming a plurality of protrusions having a triangular cross section to protrude in the height direction of the holding member 21.

[0040] Then, the support pieces 21 on both sides of the presser member 21
d, an index member 21c is provided on an extension line of the light guide optical fibers 29 in the arrangement direction. This indicator member 21c has a triangular shape and is in contact with the lower glass plate 28 as shown in FIG. 3, and the center of the indicator member 21c points to the center of the fiber diameter.

The light guide and positioning optical fibers 29, 29a held between the presser member 21 and the base member 22 are arranged between the presser member 21 and the base member 22, as shown in FIGS. 5(a) and 5(b). A step 41 may be provided between the two to form a gap equal to the diameter of the optical fiber. In this way, the fiber contact surface is a flat surface, so
Conventional V-groove machining is no longer necessary, making machining extremely easy.

On the other hand, a stepped cylindrical holder 25 with different diameters is fixed to the fiber output side end, and a connection is made between the lower base 34 of the sensor unit 11 and the sensor unit cover 35 via this holder. It's trapped. Further, a printed board 27 on which a photoelectric conversion element 26 such as a phototransistor is attached is attached to the end surfaces of the lower base 34 and the sensor unit cover 35. The printed board 27 includes the photoelectric conversion element 26, an amplifier circuit (not shown), and a mark discrimination circuit, and sends data to the CPU. Then, the holder 25 at the fiber output side end is attached to the printed board 2 by elastic members 33 and 38 such as springs and leaf springs.
7 side, the holder 25 at the fiber output end is pressed in the axial direction and downward direction to position it.

Further, a diffusion sheet 30 as a diffusion means for diffusing light is interposed between the photoelectric conversion element 26 and the fiber output end.

[0044] Instead of this diffusion sheet 30, a
), the light receiving surface 26a of the photoelectric conversion element 26 may be made rough.

Note that 28 is a microfilm guide glass located at the bottom of the sensor unit 11. Further, 39 is a film pressure plate glass, and the microfilm 1 is sandwiched therebetween by a solenoid or the like.

On the other hand, 31 and 32 are dials for sliding the sensor, and the fiber rows are moved between X1 and
It is designed to move in two directions.

The fiber array of the Ach side mark detection device shown in FIG. It can be moved.

[0048] Here, to explain the moving mechanism in the X and Y directions, reference numeral 23 indicates an arm for Ach, and 23' indicates an arm for Bch. Each base member 22 of the Ach and Bch mark detection devices , are fixed on the Ach arms 23, 23'. This Ach and B
The channel arms 23, 23' are provided with elongated holes 23a, 23a' for guides extending in the X direction.
3a, 23a' are fitted with round shafts 24a, 24a'. The sensor sliding dials 31 and 32 have a shaft portion 3.
1a and 32a are provided, and these shaft portions 31a and 32a are
It fits into the recessed portions of the ch and Ach arms 23 and 23'.

[0049] Also, 24, 24' are Bch base, Ac
The h base is provided with elongated holes 24a and 24a' extending in the Y direction, which fit into the shaft portion 34a of the lower base 34 and serve as guides in the Y1 and Y2 directions.

In the mark detection device having the above structure, the light that has passed through the mark 1b on the microfilm 1 passes through the light guide optical fiber 29, passes through the diffusion plate 30, and is irradiated onto the photoelectric element 27.

[0051] The light guiding optical fibers 29,...
The pitch in the arrangement direction between the light guide optical fibers 2
It is precisely determined by the positioning optical fibers 29a, . Furthermore, by setting the positioning optical fiber 29a to the same diameter as the light guiding optical fiber 29,
There is also no variation in the direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction of each light guiding optical fiber 29. Further, by providing an index member 21c on the extension line of the row of light guide and positioning optical fibers 29, 29a, the light guide optical fibers 29 are arranged with reference to this index member 29c.
The position of mark 1b can be accurately aligned with the position of mark 1b.

Further, by providing the uneven portion 21b for preventing halation on the side surface of the holding member 21, it is possible to prevent reflection of the holding member 21 when reading information. By providing the holding member 21 with the claw portion 21a that engages with the base member 22, there is no fear that the holding member 21 and the base member 22 will come apart, and it is possible to prevent the optical fibers 29 supported in a line from turning over. can.

Furthermore, the light guided through the optical fiber 29 is diffused by the diffusion sheet 30 interposed between the holder 25 at the output side end of the light guiding optical fiber 29 and the photoelectric conversion element 26. The light is diffused and can be incident on the light receiving surface of the photoelectric conversion element 26 with uniform intensity, making it possible to stabilize the output.

[0054]

[Effects of the Invention] The present invention has the structure and operation described above, and by closely arranging the positioning fiber between the light guide optical fibers, the pitch in the arrangement direction of the optical fibers and the direction perpendicular to the arrangement direction can be reduced. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of variations in the marks, and it is possible to reliably detect small marks.

Furthermore, by providing an index member indicating the optical fiber position on the support member, the fiber position can be accurately aligned with the mark even if the mark is small, and the mark can be detected reliably. can.

Furthermore, by providing a diffusion means between the photoelectric conversion means and the optical fiber, it is possible to stabilize the output of the photoelectric conversion means without being affected by the positional accuracy between the optical fiber and the photoelectric conversion means. The reliability of mark detection can be improved.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a sensor unit to which a mark detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the mark detection device on the A channel side of the sensor unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of the sensor unit in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of a microfilm reader printer to which the sensor unit of FIG. 1 is applied.

5A and 5B are diagrams showing the arrangement of optical fibers in the sensor unit of FIG. 1. FIG.

6(a) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the light diffusion state near the output end of the optical fiber in FIG.
b) is a diagram showing another embodiment of the diffusion means.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a conventional mark detection device.

FIG. 8(a) is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional arrangement of optical fibers, and FIG. 8(b) is a plan view.

FIG. 9(a) is a cross-sectional view showing the relationship between the output side end of a conventional optical fiber and a photosensor;
b) is a plan view showing the substrate configuration of the photosensor shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Microfilm (information recording medium) 1b Mark 11 Sensor unit 21 Pressing member 22 Base member 23 Arm 25 Holder (output side end) 26 Photoelectric conversion element (photoelectric conversion means) 29 Optical fiber for light guide 29a Optical fiber for positioning 30 Diffusion sheet (diffusion means) 40 Support member 50 Mark detection device

Claims (5)

[Claims] Claim 1: Light is guided through a plurality of light-guiding optical fibers to photoelectric conversion means corresponding to the optical fibers to photoelectrically convert mark information attached to each piece of information on an information recording medium such as a microfilm. What is claimed is: 1. A mark detection device for detecting marks by detecting marks by detecting marks, characterized in that a predetermined number of positioning fibers having the same diameter are interposed between each of the optical fibers and arranged in close contact with each other in a row. 2. The mark detection device according to claim 1, wherein an index member is provided on an extension line of the light guide optical fiber array on a support member that supports the incident side end of the light guide optical fiber. 3. The mark detection device according to claim 2, wherein the support member is provided with an uneven portion for preventing halation. 4. The supporting member includes a base member and a pressing member that holds the light guiding optical fiber and the positioning fiber between the base member, and the pressing member engages with the base member. Claim 2: A claw portion is provided.
The mark detection device described. 5. A mark detection device that detects mark information attached corresponding to each piece of information on an information recording medium such as a microfilm by guiding light to a corresponding photoelectric conversion means through a plurality of light guiding optical fibers. A mark detection device characterized in that a diffusion means for diffusing light is interposed between the output side end of the light guide optical fiber and the photoelectric conversion means.