JPH11109508A - Searching device of microfilm - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To maintain the optical axes of the end faces of optical fibers holding a film inbetween with high accuracy by inserting and adhering an optical fiber to a fine pipe which is inserted into a block and resin-formed. SOLUTION: A metal plate 100A, 102A and a fine pipe where an optical fiber 104, 106 are to be inserted are previously fixed in a die, and a resin is injected to form a block. As for the optical fiber 104, 106, a resin coating layer 202 of one end is peeled in a specified length, and the fiber is inserted through the lower side to the holding hole for the fine pipe. In this process, an adhesive 208 is applied on the inner face of the hole and on the optical fiber 104, 106, and the cavity is filled with an adhesive 210. After the adhesive 208, 210 is hardened, the surface of the block is ground into a mirror face. In this process, the projecting part of the fine pipe and the optical fiber 104, 106 from the block surface are removed and polished to form the same level of the surface as the metal plate 100A, 102A and the resin 100B, 102B exposed on the surface.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a microfilm search apparatus for judging the presence or absence of a frame from a change in density of a microfilm in a running direction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to search for microfilms,
A device is known in which a search mark (blip) is attached to each frame at a position that does not overlap the traveling locus width of the frame, and the blip is detected and searched.

On the other hand, it has been considered that a search is performed by detecting the presence or absence of a frame instead of the blip. That is, a density sensor is provided within the width of the traveling locus of a frame, and the presence or absence of a frame is determined from a change in film density detected by the density sensor.

[0004]

In order to detect the presence or absence of a frame, the end faces of a pair of optical fibers are opposed to each other with the film interposed therebetween, and light incident on one of the optical fibers is guided to the film and transmitted through the film. It is conceivable that light is received by the other optical fiber and the amount of the received light is detected by an optical sensor. In the case of running the film between the end faces of the optical fibers facing each other, it is necessary to precisely align the optical axes of the end faces of the two optical fibers.

However, optical fibers are extremely fine. For example, in order to detect a frame of a 16 mm-wide microfilm, it has been studied by the present inventor to detect a film density for each feed amount of 0.1 mm of the film. Needs to be about 0.5 mm. For this reason, it is required that the alignment of the optical axis of the optical fiber can be performed with high accuracy and that the optical axis does not become out of order even after long-term use.

Therefore, it is conceivable to provide a pair of opposing optical fiber holding blocks on both sides of the film, and to hold these blocks so that the end faces of the paired optical fibers oppose each other across the film. However, since this optical fiber is extremely fine, it is very difficult to form a small hole through which the optical fiber passes into an optical fiber holding block.

For example, when this small hole is formed by drilling, the blade of the drill becomes extremely thin, and the tip of the drill blade moves during the processing, making it difficult to position the hole. Cannot be processed well. Further, when the block is formed by injection molding with a resin, it is necessary to fix a pin for forming the small hole in the mold. However, since this pin is extremely fine and weak, The pins break or bend due to the pressure of the resin during injection molding. For this reason, it was also difficult to form small holes with high precision.

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and a small hole for passing an optical fiber is provided with a high precision in an optical fiber holding block for holding the end of the optical fiber so as to face the film. It is an object of the present invention to provide a microfilm search device that can be formed with high precision and can hold the optical axis of the end face of an optical fiber with a film therebetween with high accuracy.

[0009]

According to the present invention, an object of the present invention is to provide a microfilm search apparatus which determines the presence or absence of a frame based on a change in density in the running direction of a microfilm. A pair of optical fiber holding blocks facing each other, a plurality of optical fibers whose end faces penetrated and held by both blocks are opposed to each other across a microfilm, and light is guided to an optical fiber held by one block. A light source, an optical sensor that detects the amount of light incident on the optical fiber held by the other block, a binarizing unit that binarizes the output of the optical sensor, and determines whether or not a frame exists based on the binarized signal. A search unit for determining and searching for a frame, wherein the block is formed of a resin by inserting an ultrafine pipe, and the optical fiber is inserted into the ultrafine pipe. There microfilm retrieval apparatus characterized by being inserted bonded is achieved by.

Here, the ultrafine pipe is made of metal, and an optical fiber is inserted through the ultrafine pipe and bonded and fixed, and then the optical fiber and the ultrafine pipe are polished together with the surface of the block to smooth the surface of the block. it can.

[0011]

FIG. 1 is a view showing a use state of one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the inside of a scanner used here, FIG. 3 is a side view showing an arrangement of main parts of the scanner, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a line sensor driving unit, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a main part, and FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining an arrangement of optical sensors.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a computer main body, which incorporates a CPU and the like. Reference numeral 12 denotes a display means such as a CRT or a liquid crystal plate, and 14 denotes a keyboard, which are placed on a desk 16. Reference numeral 18 denotes a scanner housed under the desk 16, which incorporates the microfilm search device of the present invention. Reference numeral 20 denotes a printer placed beside the desk 16.

The scanner 18 has a cartridge insertion port 22 at the upper part of the front surface thereof.
4 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), the image of the micro-roll film 26 having a width of 16 mm is read at a low density. The read image is subjected to predetermined image processing by a CPU or the like in the computer main body 10 and then displayed on the display unit 12.

This image reading is performed while the line sensor 96 described below is stopped and only the film 26 is run.
In the meantime, the display means 12 of the CRT displays the read image while changing it continuously in synchronization with the running of the film 26. Therefore, the display on the display means 12 moves in synchronization with the running of the film 26, and an image substantially similar to that projected on the screen can be displayed on the display means 12.

At the time of a manual search, the operator looks at the image on the display means 12 and instructs output for an image that needs to be printed. Based on this output instruction, the scanner 18 positions the frame at the correct position and reads the entire image with high-density image quality. This high-density image is printed out to the printer 20, stored in a memory such as a magneto-optical disk, or transferred to an external processing device.

At the time of automatic search, the address of the target frame is input from the keyboard 14. In this automatic search, a target frame is searched by detecting frames and counting the number of frames. This frame search is performed by using the determination result of the determination unit 112 described later indicating the presence or absence of the frame, and
16 is performed.

Next, the configuration of the scanner 18 will be described. The scanner 18 has a vertically long housing 28, and a supply-side reel drive unit 30 is provided above a front portion of the housing 28, and a take-up reel drive unit 32 is provided below the front portion. The supply-side reel drive unit 30 inserts the cartridge 2 into the cartridge insertion slot 22.
When the cartridge 4 is inserted, the cartridge 24 is automatically moved to engage the reel 24A with the rotating shaft. Further, the leading end of the film 26 is pulled out, sent downward, and guided to the take-up reel 32A of the take-up reel drive unit 32.

Here, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the film 26 passes through the rear side of the gap between the reel drive units 30 and 32, that is, the rear side as viewed from the front of the housing 28. In FIG. 3, 34, 34,
36, 36 are guide rollers for the film 26. Accordingly, a space 38 is formed between the gap and the front panel 28A of the housing 28, and a light source unit 52 described later is accommodated therein.

The take-up reel drive section 32 has a drive belt 40 that runs in contact with the reel 32A as shown in FIG. This drive belt 40 is a guide roller 4
2, 44, a drive roller 46, an encoder 48, and a tension roller 50, and are driven by the drive roller 46 to travel in the film winding direction (the direction of the arrow). The encoder 48 controls a constant feed amount of the film 26 (for example, 0.1 m
m) to output a sampling signal.

Numeral 52 denotes a light source unit accommodated in the space 38 between the reel driving units 30 and 32, and a lamp 54,
It includes a reflecting mirror 56, a condenser lens 58, an appropriate filter, and the like. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 60 denotes a power supply circuit, and 62 denotes a power control circuit such as a motor.

Next, the line sensor driving section 64 will be described.
The line sensor driving section 64 is integrated with the projection lens 66. That is, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the frame (rotating frame) 68 of the line sensor driving unit 64 is integrally formed with a cylindrical portion 70 for holding the projection lens 66.
The projection lens 66 held by the cylindrical portion 70 has a fixed focal point and a magnification of about twice. The cylindrical portion 70 is rotatably held by a frame (fixed frame) 72 fixed to the housing 28 so that the inclination of the image to be read can be corrected. Here, the cylinder 70 rotates about an optical axis 74 perpendicular to the film 26.

The cylindrical portion 70 of the rotating frame 68 and the pulley 76 of the servomotor 76 attached to the fixed frame 72
A belt 78 is wound around A. The rotation frame 68 is rotatable around the optical axis 74 by the rotation of the motor 76.

As shown in FIG. 4, a movable base 80 is attached to the rotating frame 68 on a surface opposite to the cylindrical portion 70. That is, the movable base 80 is provided with a pair of guide rods 82, 82.
Slidably held by the optical axis 74 near the opening of the cylindrical portion 70.
Can be reciprocated in a direction orthogonal to.

A belt 86 wound around pulleys 84, 84 is provided on the rotating frame 68 in parallel with the reciprocating direction of the movable table 80.
And one side of the movable table 80 is fixed to the belt 86. One pulley 84 has a servo motor 8
The rotation of 8 is transmitted via the belt 90. As a result, by rotating the servo motor 88 forward and backward, the movable table 8 is rotated.
0 can be reciprocated on a plane orthogonal to the optical axis 74.

The movable table 80 has guide rods 82, 82
A long window 92 is formed in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the movable table 80, that is, in a direction perpendicular to the reciprocating direction of the movable table 80. This long window 92
Is located on the optical axis 74 in the longitudinal direction. A printed wiring board 94 is fixed to the rear surface of the movable base 80, that is, the surface opposite to the cylindrical portion 70 so as to be orthogonal to the optical axis 74.

A CCD line sensor 96 facing the long window 92 is fixed to the substrate 94 (FIG. 3). The substrate 94 is also provided with a preamplifier for amplifying the output of the line sensor 96. CCD line sensor 9
Of course, the light receiving surface of No. 6 coincides with the image forming surface of the projection image of the projection lens 66.

Next, an apparatus for detecting frames will be described with reference to FIG. The upstream side of the image reading position of the microfilm 26, that is, the position of the optical axis 74 (the supply reel 24A side)
The film 26 is traversed in the width direction and the film 26
A pair of optical fiber holding blocks 100 and 102 facing each other with a slight gap therebetween are provided. Nine optical fibers 104 and 106 arranged in the film width direction are inserted through these blocks 100 and 102. The structure of these blocks 100 and 102 will be described later.

The optical fibers 104 and 106 are held perpendicular to the film 26, and their end faces face each other with the film 26 interposed therebetween. That is, the end faces of the nine optical fibers 104 face the end faces of the nine optical fibers 106, respectively. As a result, nine combinations in which the end faces face each other with the film 26 interposed therebetween can be obtained.

The nine optical fibers 104 held by the block 100 are bundled and guided to the vicinity of the lamp 54 of the light source 52. Therefore, light enters the nine optical fibers 104 from the lamp 54 and is guided to one surface (the surface on the block 100 side) of the film 26.

Light emitted from nine optical fibers 104 opposed to each other enters the nine optical fibers 106 held by the block 102 via the film 26. 9
The optical fibers 106 are guided from the block 102 to the optical sensors 108, respectively. The density signals output from the nine optical sensors 108 are separately input to a binarization unit 110, where they are binarized in synchronization with a sampling signal output from the encoder 48.

Each of the nine binarized signals is determined by a decision unit 112.
The determination result of the presence or absence of a frame is obtained based on the output of each optical sensor 108 here. This determination unit 112
Is also supplied with a signal from the sensor selection unit 114. The sensor selection unit 114 controls the optical fiber 106 whose end face is located within the traveling locus width of the frame corresponding to the film shooting method.
And the optical sensor 108 connected thereto. The determination unit 112 selects only the determination result of the sensor 108 selected by the sensor selection unit 114 from these nine determination results, and determines the presence or absence of a frame according to a shooting method such as simplex, duplex, or duo.

As shown in FIG. 6A, the end faces of the nine optical fibers 104 and 106 are on a straight line orthogonal to the running direction of the film 26, that is, on the optical sensor array line L. It is at a different position in the width direction. In this embodiment, since the optical sensor 108 detects the amount of light incident on the optical fiber 106,
The optical sensor 108 is located at a position where the end face of the
Is the same as where Therefore, in FIG. 6, the optical sensor 1 is located at the end face position of the optical fiber 106 on the film 26 side.
08 is located.

These nine optical sensors 108 are positioned in the film width direction so that a plurality of optical sensors 108 always pass through one frame even when the film photographing method is different. FIG. 6A shows the case of the simplex system, in which case the determination unit 112 determines whether the sensor selection unit 1
The frame is detected by the eight optical sensors 108 (A) based on the output of No. 14 and the blip 1 is detected by the other optical sensor 108B.
18 is detected. Therefore, the determination unit 112 determines the presence or absence of a frame using the binarized signals output from the eight binarization units 110. For example, if a majority or a certain percentage or more of the determination results is black, it is determined that a frame exists. In this case, it is also possible to search using the output of the optical sensor 108B that detects the blip 118.

FIG. 6B shows the case of the duplex system, in which the front and back of a document are simultaneously photographed on the upper and lower channels, and there is an optical sensor 108C which does not detect a frame between both channels. Therefore, in this case, the determination unit 11
2 detects the frame of each channel based on the output of the sensor selection unit 114, using the output of each of the three optical sensors 108D and 108E passing within the width of the upper and lower channels except for the output of the optical sensor 108C. I do.

FIG. 6C shows a case of the duo system.
The center optical sensor 108F does not detect a frame. For this reason, based on the output of the sensor selection unit 114, the determination unit 112 detects the frame of each channel by four optical sensors 108G and 108H included in the two groups divided into the upper and lower groups. The search unit 116 searches for a target frame by integrating the determination signals output from the determination unit 112.

Next, the optical fiber holding blocks 100 and 102 for holding the ends of the optical fibers 104 and 106 are shown in FIGS.
Explanation will be made using 0. 7A and 7B are a side view and a plan view showing a combined state of these blocks 100 and 102, FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of both blocks, and FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the disassembled state of both blocks. 10 is a sectional view showing the block before the optical fiber is fixed, and FIG. 11 is a view showing a procedure for fixing the optical fiber to the block.

Blocks 100 and 102 having exactly the same structure are used in combination by inverting each other. That is, the two blocks 100 and 102 have their opposing surfaces made of metal plates 100A and 102A such as stainless steel, and after these metal plates 100A and 102A, synthetic resins 100B and 102 such as polybutylene terephthalate (PBT).
B is integrally molded. Metal plate 100
A, 102A and the resin 100B, 102B extend at both ends, and are attached to a frame (not shown) of the apparatus.
C and 102C. Here, the mounting parts 100C, 1
02C is displaced in the width direction of the blocks 100 and 102. Therefore, when the blocks 100 and 102 are combined and mounted on the apparatus frame (see FIG. 7B), it is possible to prevent a tool such as a driver from interfering with the other mounting portion 100C or 102C.

At the center in the length direction of the two blocks 100 and 102, the nine optical fibers 104 and 106 are straight lines L.
On the (optical sensor array line) (see FIGS. 6A and 7B)
At a predetermined interval. Here, both blocks 100 and 102 are resin (100B, 1) in a mold (not shown).
02B by injection molding. The metal plates 100A and 102A and the optical fiber 10
The ultra-fine pipe 300 into which the holes 4 and 106 are inserted is fixed in advance, and the above-described PBT or the like is injection-molded in the mold. The mold is provided with a portion for forming a cavity 304 (FIG. 10) in which a resin coating layer 302 for covering the optical fibers 104 and 106 enters.

As a result, the resin-injected block 10
Reference numerals 0 and 102 indicate that the ultrafine pipe 300 is implanted on the surfaces of the blocks 100 and 102 and the inside of the cavity 304 with both ends protruding as shown in FIG. The inside of the ultrafine pipe 300 becomes the optical fiber holding hole 306. As shown in FIG. 11A, the resin coating layer 302 at one end of the optical fibers 104 and 106 is peeled off by a predetermined length (several mm).
From the lower side into the holding hole 206 of the ultrafine pipe 300 (the cavity 30
4) (see FIG. 11B). At this time, an adhesive 308 is applied to the inner surface of the holding hole 306 and the optical fibers 104 and 106, and the adhesive 310 is filled in the cavity 304.

After the adhesives 308 and 310 have hardened, the surfaces of the blocks 100 and 102 are polished to a mirror surface (see FIG. 11C). At this time, the ultrafine pipe 300 and the optical fibers 104 and 106 are
The portion protruding from the surface of the metal plate 100A is removed.
102A and resin 100B, 102B exposed on the surface
The same surface is polished. Here, as the ultrafine pipe 300, a metal pipe such as stainless steel can be used. In this case, the accuracy of the inner diameter of the ultrafine pipe 300 and the linearity thereof are preferably improved. Note that a resin pipe may be used as long as accuracy and other conditions can be maintained. In addition, the resin coating layer 3 of the optical fibers 104 and 106
02 is bonded to and adhered to the ultrafine pipe 300.
Can be formed by setting a rod holding one end as a core in a mold.

One of these blocks 100 and 102
At 02, a positioning reference pin 208 and a coupling pin 210 are fixed at positions as far apart as possible in the longitudinal direction. These pins 208 and 210 are pipe-shaped, are internally threaded at both ends, and have a flange 212 at the center. The reference pin 208 is inserted from the metal plate 102A side into a circular hole (reference hole) 214 formed in the metal plate 102A and the resin 102B of the block 102, and the screw 216 is screwed into the block 102 from the resin 102B side. Fixed.

Similarly, the connecting pin 210 is connected to the metal plate 102A.
In addition, screws 220 are temporarily fixed to long holes 218 long in the longitudinal direction of the block 102 formed in the resin 102B. On the other hand, the other block 100 has a circular reference hole 222 into which the reference pin 208 is non-movably fitted, and an elongated hole 224 long in the longitudinal direction of the block 100 into which the coupling pin 210 is movably engaged. .

Therefore, when assembling these blocks 100 and 102, first, the reference holes 22
2 is fitted to the reference pin 208 of the block 102,
At the same time, the blocks 100 and 102 are combined while the slot 224 is engaged with the coupling pin 210. Then, screws 226 and 228 are inserted from the block 100 side into the pin 208
The screw 220 of the connecting pin 210 may be screwed from the block 102 side. At this time, the flanges 212 of the pins 208 and 210 are
The gap size of 00, 102 is kept constant.

As described above, both blocks 1 are
Since the positioning in the width direction is performed by the connecting pin 210 while the positioning in the longitudinal direction of 00 and 102 is performed, both blocks 1
The optical axes of the optical fibers 104 and 106 of 00 and 102 can be aligned and held with high precision. Pin 208,
By unscrewing the screws 216, 220 or 226, 228 of the 210, the two blocks 100, 102 can be easily disassembled, and the end faces of the optical fibers 104, 106 can be cleaned to remove dirt.

The reference holes 2 of both blocks 100 and 102
The processing of 14, 222 and the long holes 218, 224 for coupling can be performed as follows. One method is to set both blocks 100 and 102 in a separately prepared jig, fix the optical fibers 104 and 106 with their optical axes aligned, and then drill by passing through both blocks 100 and 102. The reference holes 214 and 222 or the coupling long holes 218 and 224 may be simultaneously processed. Another way is
The resin 100B and 102B sides of the blocks 100 and 102 are integrally formed by one common mold, and the reference holes 2 are formed.
After the holes 14, 218 and the connecting long holes 218, 224 are simultaneously drilled, the resin portion is divided by a cutter.

In this embodiment, blocks 100 and 102
Are molded integrally with the stainless metal plates 100A and 102A and the PBT resins 100B and 102B, so that deformation due to temperature change is unlikely to occur. Further, since the metal plates 100A and 102A are exposed on the surface facing the film 26, the film 26 can be prevented from being charged by grounding the metal plates 100A and 102A to the apparatus frame.

In the embodiment described above, since light is guided to each optical fiber 104 by using the light source section 52 for photographing, there is an advantage that the light source can be simplified. However, the present invention may use another light source or use a plurality of light sources to guide light to each optical fiber 104.

In this embodiment, the optical fiber 1
04, 106, the narrow film 26
The end faces of these optical fibers 104 and 106 can be arranged close to each other in the width direction. However, the present invention also includes the case where one optical fiber is held in each of the blocks 100 and 102. In this case, the binarizing unit 110
Is directly used as a determination signal indicating the presence or absence of a frame, so that the determination unit 112 is unnecessary.

According to the present invention, a density sensor (optical sensor)
Are arranged on a straight line L orthogonal to the film running direction, the presence or absence of a frame can be detected at the same timing in terms of time. For this reason, as in the case where a plurality of density sensors (optical sensors) are displaced in the running direction of the film,
It is not necessary to correct the output timing of each density sensor (optical sensor), and the circuit configuration is simplified.

[0050]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, an optical fiber holding block for holding an optical fiber is formed of a resin by inserting a microfine pipe, and the optical fiber is inserted into the microfine pipe and bonded and fixed. Therefore, it is possible to hold the optical axes of the end faces of the optical fibers held by the pair of blocks with high precision while holding the film therebetween, thereby improving the detection accuracy of the microfilm frame. it can.

Here, if the ultrafine pipe is made of metal, the accuracy and linearity of the inner diameter of the ultrafine pipe can be improved, and the holding precision of the optical fiber can be further improved (claim 2).

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a use state of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the inside of a scanner used here in a see-through manner;

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the arrangement of the main part.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a line sensor driving unit.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a main part.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an arrangement of optical sensors.

FIG. 7 is a side view and a plan view showing a combined state of both blocks.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of both blocks.

FIG. 9 is an exploded sectional view of both blocks.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing a block before fixing an optical fiber.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a procedure for fixing an optical fiber to a block.

[Explanation of symbols]

 26 Microfilm 52 Light source unit 54 Lamp 100,102 Optical fiber holding block 104,106 Optical fiber 108 Optical sensor 110 Binarization unit 112 Judgment unit 114 Sensor selection unit 116 Search unit 300 Ultrafine pipe 302 Resin coating layer 304 Cavity 306 Optical fiber Holding holes 308, 310 Adhesive

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A microfilm search apparatus for determining the presence or absence of a frame from a density change in a running direction of a microfilm, comprising: a pair of optical fiber holding blocks that cross the microfilm in a width direction and face both sides of the microfilm. A plurality of optical fibers whose end faces respectively penetrated and held by both blocks are opposed to each other with a microfilm interposed therebetween, a light source for guiding light to the optical fiber held by one block, and held by the other block. An optical sensor for detecting the amount of light incident on the optical fiber, a binarizing unit for binarizing the output of the optical sensor, and a search for retrieving a frame by determining the presence or absence of a frame based on the binarized signal. Department and
The said block is resin-formed by inserting a very thin pipe, The said optical fiber is penetrated and adhered to the said very thin pipe, The microfilm search apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned. 2. The microfilm search apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ultrafine pipe is made of metal, and the ultrafine pipe and the optical fiber inserted and bonded therethrough are polished together with the surface of the block.