JPS62218951A - Microfilm reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To properly prevent an image or the like of a microfilm from being projected to a screen by dividing an electrooptical shutter changing light transmissivity in accordance with a voltage impressed into sections based on prescribed procedure and driving respective parts in accordance with necessity. CONSTITUTION:When the microfilm 3 is set up in a roll film carrier part 1, the microfilm 3 is projected by light projected from a light source 16 and retrieved by a retrieving means 24. On the other hand, the address of a required image 19 is inputted to a microcomputer 26 by a retrieval address input key 28 in a controller 27. When the retrieval key in the controller 27 is turned on, a shutter ON signal is outputted to the 1st part 36 of the liquid crystal shutter 35 prior to the start of retrieval processing and the 2nd part 37 is kept on at it is. Thereby, the 1st part 36 of the shutter 35 is driven and light projected from the light source 16 and projected to the screen 21 through the 1st part 36 is interrupted. Thus, the image 19 or the like of the microfilm 3 can be prevented from being projected to the screen 21 during retrieval.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION "Field of Industrial Application" The present invention is applicable to reader-only readers that project microfilm images onto a screen for viewing, reader printers that can also project images onto a photoreceptor and make copies, etc. Regarding microfilm readers. For details, use a controller etc.
The present invention relates to a shutter mechanism in a microfilm reader that automatically searches for a desired image based on blip marks imprinted around the image on the microfilm.

``Prior Art'' Normally, blip marks such as frame marks corresponding to each image and item marks governing each image are imprinted around the images on microfilm.

When attempting to view an image on such a microfilm using a reader, the image on the microfilm set in the film carrier section is illuminated with light from a light source along with blip marks.

Then, search processing is performed as follows based on the blip marks imprinted around the image on the microfilm. That is, when the search address of a desired image is inputted by the controller and the search process is executed, the microfilm is then automatically transported. During this time, the blip mark on the microfilm is detected by the sensor, the detected value is compared with the previous address input value, and the film drive means is controlled until the two match. In this way, a desired image is automatically searched, and the microfilm is stopped from being transported at a predetermined position.

Thereafter, the desired image can be viewed, copied, etc.

"Problems to be Solved by the Invention" By the way, the following problems have been pointed out with such conventional readers.

That is, even during the above-described search process, the light from the light source illuminates the image on the microfilm, and the image is projected onto the screen. In this image projection state, the microfilm is transported for retrieval, so that each image appears to flow one after another on the screen.

Therefore, in actual use, it has been pointed out that eye fatigue caused by looking at the screen and following the flow of images during a search is caused.
In particular, there have been complaints that the high-speed conveyance of microfilm and the particular conveyance speed at which it rises and falls causes discomfort, which has been a problem.

On the other hand, while images are being viewed, blip marks, sensors, and other objects may also be projected onto the screen, making them an object of attention when viewing the images.

As a countermeasure for the former problem, it is first conceivable to provide a mechanical shutter on the pressure plate section of the film carrier section or the like. However, since the pressure plate part and the like have a complicated and elaborate structure, such as the need to be provided with a sensor for detecting blip marks, it is difficult to introduce a mechanical shutter. Moreover, even if such measures are taken, the latter problem cannot be improved at all.

In the conventional example, the above points were pointed out.

In view of these circumstances, the present invention has been made to solve the problems of the conventional example described above, and is to divide an electro-optical shutter whose light transmittance changes in accordance with an applied voltage into predetermined sections. It is an object of the present invention to propose a microfilm reader that can be used as a microfilm reader and drive each part as necessary to prevent images, blip marks, etc. from being projected onto the screen as appropriate.

"Means for Solving the Problems" The technical means of the present invention to achieve this objective are as follows.

This reader projects the microfilm image onto a screen for viewing.

It also includes the following transparent plate and search means.

That is, the transparent plate is made of a glass plate or the like located corresponding to the microfilm in the optical path from the light source.

The search means detects blip marks imprinted around the image on the microfilm, and searches for a desired image based on the detection results.

The transparent plate has an electro-optical shutter such as a liquid crystal shutter whose light transmittance changes depending on the applied voltage.

This electro-optical shutter is divided into at least a first portion and a second portion, each of which is independently driven by controlling an applied voltage or the like.

The first portion corresponds to the area of the microfilm containing the image, and the second portion corresponds to the area of the microfilm containing the blip marks.

"Function" Since the present invention consists of such means, it works as follows.

After the main switch of the reader is turned on, when the microfilm is set in the film carrier, its image, along with blip marks, etc., is illuminated with light from a light source.

The search process by the search means is performed as follows. That is, when the address of a desired image is input and a search process is executed, the microfilm is automatically transported. During this time, the blip mark on the microfilm is detected by the sensor and compared with the previous address input value.
Based on the match, the desired image is automatically searched and the microfilm is stopped from being transported at a predetermined position.

Here, only the first portion of the electro-optical shutter is driven as necessary to change its light transmittance, thereby appropriately blocking light from the light source that reaches the screen via the first portion. In this way, images on microfilm can be appropriately prevented from being projected onto the screen during retrieval.

On the other hand, when viewing images on a screen, the following occurs. That is, in this case, only the second portion of the electro-optic shutter is driven as necessary to change its light transmittance, thereby appropriately blocking light from the light source via the second portion and reaching the screen. In this way, blip marks and the like on the microfilm can be appropriately prevented from being projected onto the screen during viewing.

Furthermore, since these utilize the shutter function of electro-optic materials, they can be realized reliably and easily.

"Example" The present invention will be described in detail below based on the example shown in the drawings.

First, we will outline the roll film carrier section of the reader printer.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the reader printer, FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the roll film carrier section thereof, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the upper plate, etc.

In the roll film carrier section 1, a long roll-shaped microfilm 3 that has been wound up on a take-up reel 2 in a cartridge (not shown) during film setting is fed out and placed on a guide plate (not shown). 5), and is sent to the pinch roller 4, and then transferred to the pressure plate section 5. It passes through a pair of upper rollers 6 and lower rollers 7, is guided by a guide plate (not shown), and is wound onto a spool 8.

The microfilm 3 can be transported in forward and reverse directions by a first motor 9 for winding connected to the reel 2 and a second motor 10 for rewinding connected to the spool 8.

Reference numeral 11 denotes an encoder, which is attached coaxially to the upper roller 6 and generates a number of pulses corresponding to the amount of transport of the microfilm 3. Then, in combination with a later-described sensor for detecting blip marks, the size of the blip mark, etc. is determined based on the number of pulses within its on time.

The pressure plate section 5 consists of an upper plate 13 on the fixed side having an aperture 12 in the center, and a lower transparent plate 4 such as a glass plate or the like on the pressing movable side facing the upper plate 13. An upper transparent plate 15 is fitted. The upper transparent plate 15 and the lower transparent plate 14 can press the microfilm 3 into contact with each other from both sides when the conveyance of the microfilm 3 is stopped.

Light from a light source 16 such as a lamp is directed upward by a condenser mirror 17, and then passed through a condenser lens 18.
The light is focused by the microfilm 3 and irradiates the image 19 of the microfilm 3 located corresponding to the aperture 12 of the pressure plate section 5. During this time, the image 19 on the microfilm 3 is enlarged and projected onto the upper screen 21 via the projection lens 20 etc., and is made available for viewing.

The roll film carrier section 1 has, for example, the following structure.

Next, the search means will be explained.

Examples of this are shown in FIG. 6, the plan view of the main part in FIG. 1, and the block diagram in FIG.

22 is an A channel sensor, and 23 is a B channel sensor, both of which constitute the search means 24, and are made of photoelectric conversion elements. The A channel sensor 22 and the B channel sensor 23 are located opposite to the passage path of the blip mark 25 imprinted on the A channel A side and the B channel B side, which are the periphery of the image 19 on the microfilm 3. Detect. The A channel sensor 22 and the B channel sensor 23 are arranged facing each other on both sides of the upper plate 13 facing the aperture 12, and are positioned at the maximum protruding position in the illustrated example. The blip mark 25 is, for example, a comma mark imprinted on the A channel A and an issue mark imprinted on the B channel B, but it is also possible to use the opposite channels, or even to imprint only on one channel. It may be possible to do so. Correspondingly A
Only one of the channel sensor 22 and the B channel sensor 23 may be used.

26 is a microcomputer, and the detection signals of the blip mark 25 from the A channel sensor 22 and the B channel sensor 23 are input to this microcomputer 26. The microcomputer 26 also has a search address input key 2 provided in the controller 27 (see FIG. 4).
8, the address of the desired image 19 to be searched is input. During the search process, the address input value, which is the target value, and the count value of the blip mark 25, which is the current value, are compared, and the first motor 9. Appropriate drive control signals are output to the two film drive means such as the second motor 10.

Reference numeral 30 denotes a connector, and the A channel sensor 22 and the B channel sensor 23 are connected to the microcomputer 26 and the like through this connector 30 and lead wires. 31.32 indicates the position of the A channel sensor 22 in X and Y
33 and 34 are knobs for finely adjusting the position of the B channel sensor 23 in the X and Y directions.

The search means 24 is configured as described above.

Next, the electro-optical shutter will be explained.

In FIG. 1, 35 is a liquid crystal shutter, and this liquid crystal shutter 35 is an example of an electro-optical shutter whose light transmittance changes depending on the applied voltage.

The liquid crystal shutter 35 is provided on a transparent plate corresponding to the microfilm 3 in the optical path from the light source 16, in the illustrated example, the upper transparent plate 15. Note that it may be provided in the lower transparent plate 14 or other transparent plates.

The liquid crystal shutter 35 is encapsulated in the upper transparent plate 15, and is made of, for example, a nematic liquid crystal sandwiched between a polarizing plate and a transparent electrode on the front and back sides, and the light transmittance changes when driven, and the light shielding property changes. It does not necessarily have to have a complete light-shielding property as long as it has a light-shielding property. The size of the liquid crystal shutter 35 is determined by the size of the aperture 12 and the upper transparent plate 1 as shown in the illustrated example.
In addition to the pattern corresponding to 5, the length along the longitudinal direction of the microfilm 3 is equal to or greater than the length of one frame of the maximum size of the image 9, and the width is the edge of the aperture 12 on both sides. It is sufficient if the pattern is equal to or larger than the width of , and other patterns are also possible.

The liquid crystal shutter 35 has at least a pattern divided into a first portion 36 and a second portion 37, which are each independently driven by controlling each applied voltage. The first portion 36 is the microfilm 3 that passes through it.
The second portion 37 corresponds to the area including the blip mark 25 of the same microfilm 3.

As the first portion 36 and the second portion 37, the following three examples can be considered as representative examples based on the relationship with the position where the blip mark 25 is imprinted. i.e. blip mark 25
However, it corresponds to ■the first case in both A channel A and B channel B of microfilm 3, ■the second case in only A channel A, and ■the third case in only B channel B. , the following three examples. First part 36
■ corresponds only to image 19 area in the first case, ■ corresponds to image 19 and B channel B in the second case.
, and in the third case, image 1
9 and corresponds to the area including channel A. Next, the second portion 37 corresponds to an area including both channel A and channel B in the first case, and corresponds to an area including channel A in the second case. However, the third case corresponds to the area including the B channel B.

The first portion 36 and the second portion 37 are partitioned to be driven independently. In this partitioning method, in addition to a method in which the electrodes are each divided and the applied voltage is controlled respectively, at least one polarizing plate is divided and the angle of each polarization axis is shifted by 90 degrees, and each is reversed and driven. There are methods etc. Furthermore, even with the above-mentioned split electrode method, depending on the combination of the angles of the polarization axes of the opposing polarizing plates, there are types in which the required portions are shielded from light when energized and the shutter is turned on, and conversely, required portions are shielded from light when not energized. A driven type is possible.

Next, the first portion 36 and the second portion 37 are controlled as follows.

That is, as shown in FIG. 2, by providing a light-shielding portion selection switch 38 that selects and specifies the first portion 36 and the second portion 37 depending on the form of the microfilm 3, it is possible to Drive control of the first portion 36 and the second portion 37 is performed.

Then, as in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, which will be described later, the microcomputer 2
6 outputs a shutter on/off signal to the first part 36 and the second part 37 as appropriate, and the shutter of the first part 36 is turned on at the start of the search, and the shutter of the first part 36 is turned on at the end of the search.
6 is shuttered off, and the second portion 37 is shuttered on and off in an inverted manner with respect to the first portion 36.

The first portion 36 and the second portion 37 are typically represented by the three partitions (1), (2), and (2) described above, and these are specifically realized as follows. That is, the liquid crystal shutter 35 is divided into a part corresponding to the image 19, a part corresponding to the area including the A channel A, and a part corresponding to the area including the B channel B, and each part is driven independently. ,
The first portion 36 and the second portion 37 are configured and driven by synchronously driving each portion in accordance with the above-mentioned partition examples ①, ②, and ② based on the input of the light-shielding portion selection switch 38.

In the figure, a lead wire from the transparent electrode of the liquid crystal shutter 35 also enters the terminal of the connector 3o and is connected to the microcomputer 26 and the like.

Electro-optical shutters such as the liquid crystal shutter 35 are configured in this manner.

The above is the explanation of the configuration.

Next, the operation of this reader will be explained with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG.

After the main switch is turned on, when the microfilm 3 is set on the roll film carrier section 1, the microfilm 3 is irradiated with light from the light source 16.

Then, search processing is performed by the search means 24.

First, the address of the desired image 19 is input into the microcomputer 26 using the search address input key 28 of the controller 27 .

Then, before the search key of the controller 27 is turned on and the search process is started, the first
A shutter-on signal is output to section 36. In addition, the second
Part 37 remains activated.

Therefore, the first portion 36 of the liquid crystal shutter 35 is driven, and the light that reaches the screen 21 from the light source 16 via the first portion 36 is blocked. Therefore, images 19 and the like on the microfilm 3 can be prevented from being projected onto the screen 21 during the search.

Then, the search process is performed while the image 19 is not projected.

That is, because the second portion 37 is inactive, the blip mark 25 on the microfilm 3 is caused by the A channel sensor 22 . It is guaranteed that it will be detected by both or one of the B channel sensors 23, and the detection signal will be input to the microcomputer 26. Then, the address input value of the desired image 19, which is the target value, and the count value of this blip mark 25, which is the current value, are compared, and the first motor 9. Film drive means 29, such as a second motor 1°, are controlled. In this way, the microfilm 3 is transported forward and backward as appropriate, and stops at the projection position where the desired image 19 faces the aperture 12 and the like.

When the automatic search process is completed, the microcomputer 26 outputs a shutter-off signal, and the first portion 36
is no longer driven, and the desired image 19 is projected onto the screen 21.

That is, the viewer only sees one image on the screen 21 at this point, and no longer sees a flow of images 19 and the like during the search.

On the other hand, viewing of the image 19 on the screen 21 is performed as follows.

That is, in this case, the second portion 3 of the liquid crystal shutter 35
Only 7 is driven, changing its light transmittance,
As a result, light from the light source 16 passing through the second portion 37 and reaching the screen 21 is blocked.

In this way, the blip marks 25. A channel sensor 22. B channel sensor 23.
It is also possible to appropriately prevent blank spaces and the like from being projected onto the screen 21 during viewing.

Note that since these are made of electro-optical materials such as the liquid crystal shutter 35, they can be realized reliably and easily.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the liquid crystal shutter 35 is provided on the upper transparent plate 15 of the upper plate 13 of the pressure plate section 5,
The upper plate 13 is also provided with an A channel sensor 22 and a B channel sensor 23 of the search means 24.

Therefore, firstly, the terminal of the connector 30 attached to the upper plate 13 for the search means 24 and the terminal for the liquid crystal shutter 35 can be used in parallel, and the wiring of the liquid crystal shutter 35 is also easy.

Second, if the search means 24 is not used at all, the upper plate 13 can be removed from the reader and a different form of the upper plate 13 not equipped with the liquid crystal shutter 35 can be attached. It also has the advantage of being convenient and can be removed all at once.

Thirdly, if the liquid crystal shutter 35 is provided on the projection lens 20 side, it will be necessary to install the liquid crystal shutter 35 for each projection lens 20 with a different magnification, but in this embodiment, this is not necessary and the liquid crystal shutter 35 It has the advantage of requiring fewer numbers.

Note that the present invention is not limited to the case where the first portion 36 and the second portion 37 of the liquid crystal shutter 35 are driven in reverse as a shutter in synchronization with the operation of the search means 24 as in this embodiment. , can also be controlled independently. That is, in parallel with the automatic search by the search means 24, by stopping the driving of the first portion 36 as appropriate and projecting the image 19 onto the screen 21, a so-called skimming search can be performed or the image 19 on the screen 21 can be Accurate positioning etc. may also be performed.

"Effects of the Invention" As explained above, the microfilm gluer according to the present invention uses an electro-optical shutter such as a liquid crystal shutter whose light transmittance changes depending on the applied voltage, divided into predetermined sections. By driving each part as necessary, it is easily realized to prevent microfilm images, blip marks, etc. from being projected onto the screen as appropriate. Therefore, it is possible to eliminate the flow of images projected on the screen during a search, and it is also possible to eliminate blip marks and other unnecessary parts that are projected onto the screen during viewing. It no longer causes discomfort to people,
Moreover, since it uses electro-optical material, the structure is simple, it can be applied to pressure plate parts, etc., and the operation is reliable. There is something remarkable and great about it.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing essential parts of an embodiment of a microfilm reader according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an electric circuit showing the control means, and FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an example of the control. FIG. 4 is a front view of the reader printer, FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the roll film carrier section thereof, and FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the upper plate and the like. 1... Roll film carrier part 3... Microfilm 15... Upper transparent plate (transparent plate) 16... Light source 19... Image 21... Screen 2/1... Search Means 25...Blip mark 35...Liquid crystal shutter (electro-optical shutter) 36...
・First part 37...Second part Fig. 1

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] A reader that projects an image on a microfilm onto a screen for viewing, comprising: a transparent plate positioned corresponding to the microfilm in the optical path from a light source; the transparent plate includes an electro-optical shutter whose light transmittance changes in response to applied voltage; , the electro-optic shutter has at least a first portion corresponding to an area of the microfilm containing an image, and a second portion corresponding to an area of the microfilm containing a blip mark, each of which is driven independently. A microfilm reader characterized by being partitioned.