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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a microfilm and a printer adapted for use with a
microfilm, and more particularly, to means for detecting and
discriminating the sizes of microimages photographed on the microfilm.
In a microfilm, a large number of microimages are photographically formed
on a reduced scale in proportion to corresponding A3, A4 size sheets, for
example. Therefore, when the microimages are enlarged and copied from the
microfilm by a reader/printer or a printer, it is necessary to supply
correct sizes of copying sheets, such as A3, A4 and the like,
corresponding to the sizes of the respective microimages.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a reader/printer or the like, when the microimages are read or copied,
the size detection and discrimination of microimages has been
conventionally conducted as follows.
An operator directly visually observes the microfilm or a screen on which
the microimages are enlarged and projected, in order to discriminate the
sizes of the microimages. However, such a detecting method is troublesome
for the operator and sometimes causes errors in detection, and therefore,
errors in selection of the copying sheets. Where such errors occur, the
correct copying sheets are not supplied in the printer, so that if, for
example, an A4 sheet was incorrectly supplied in place of an A3 sheet, a
part of image would not be formed on the copying sheet, conversely, if the
A3 sheet was incorrectly supplied in place of the A4 sheet, the image
would be copied only on the central portion of the copying sheet and toner
would be adhered to the peripheral portion thereof, which would increase
the consumption of the toner.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 50-53050 discloses a
reader/printer for apertured cards, each card having an aperture
containing information indicating the size of the microimage
photographically formed on the card. Therefore, the size of microimage can
be detected by reading out the aperture information. However, at least an
exclusive detecting means is necessary for reading out such information.
Therefore, in this reader/printer, the means for projecting images and the
peripheral structural portions thereof must become complicated.
A detecting means, such as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent
Publication No. 59-30550, is also known, in which a plurality of detecting
sensors are arranged so as to come into and out of the whole effective
area of the optical path from the microimage of the microfilm and the size
of the microimage is directly detected and discriminated in accordance
with the signals from these sensors, so that a correct size of copying
sheet corresponding to the size of the microimage is selectively supplied.
However, this detecting system requires many sensors, which not only
increases the total cost but also makes the process of discrimination
complicated, and a special driving means is necessary for driving the
plurality of sensors coming into and out of the optical path. Therefore,
in continuous copying, it is difficult to increase the efficiency of
operation.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,744,890, a microfilm is provided with marks at the
peripheries of the microimages. However, these marks do not serve to
indicate the sizes of the microimages, but are either frame detection
marks or frame group (case) indication marks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a microfilm which is
provided with size marks photographically formed on the peripheries of the
microimages in order to easily and accurately detect the sizes of the
microimages.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a microfilm printer,
capable of detecting the microimages of the microfilm and supply correct
size copying sheets in correspondence to the sizes of the microimages.
According to the present invention, there is provided a microfilm
comprising: a film base; a plurality of microimages defining film frames
photographically and continuously formed on the film base; and each of the
microimages being provided at a periphery thereof on the film base with a
size indication mark which has a distinctiveness for indicating the size
of the corresponding microimage.
The printer adapted for use with such a microfilm comprising: means for
enlarging and projecting the microimages of the microfilm on a
photo-sensitive media, means for transferring the enlarged images on the
photo-sensitive media to copying sheets, means for detecting said size
indication marks; means for controlling a sheet supply signal in
accordance with a signal from the mark detecting means; and means for
selectively supplying the copying sheets on the basis of the sheet supply
signal from the controlling means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 are plan views of roll-film type microfilms according to
the present invention; in which FIGS. 1 (1) to (4) show microfilms having
size marks as well as blip marks; FIGS. 2 (1) to (4) show microfilms
having marks used both as size marks and blip marks; and FIGS. 3 (1) to
(4) show microfilms having marks some of which are used both as size marks
and blip marks;
FIGS. 4 (1) and (2) are plan views of other embodiments of the microfilm
according to the present invention;
FIGS. 5 (1) and (2) are plan view of fish films according to the present
invention;
FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 illustrate an embodiment of a reader/printer; in which
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the basic system thereof; FIG. 7 is a
perspective view of the printer; FIG. 8 is a front view thereof, and FIG.
9 is a side elevational cross-sectional view thereof;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a roll film carrier;
FIGS. 11 to 14 illustrate a first embodiment of a detecting and controlling
means according to the present invention; in which FIGS. 11 (1) and (2)
illustrate the detecting means including two detecting elements, one for
detecting long size marks and the other for detecting short marks; FIG. 12
is a block diagram showing the control means; and FIG. 13 is a timing
chart illustrating the signals in this control means; and FIGS. 14 (1),
(2), and (3) illustrate a basic control process, a retrieval routine, and
a discrimination routine, respectively;
FIGS. 15, 16, and 17 illustrate second and third embodiments; in which
FIGS. 15 (1) and (2) show the second embodiment of the means for detecting
long and short size marks; and FIGS. 15 (3) and (4) show the third
embodiment of the detecting means for detecting wide and narrow size
marks; FIG. 16 shows a block diagram of the control means; and FIG. 17
shows a flow chart of the basic control;
FIGS. 18 to 21 illustrate a fourth embodiment using dark size marks and
light size marks; in which FIGS. 18 (1) and (2) show the detecting means,
FIG. 19 shows the control means; FIG. 20 shows the respective signals; and
FIG. 21 shows a block diagram of the basic control;
FIGS. 22, 23 and 24 (1), 24 (2), and 24 (3) illustrate a fifth embodiment
using two size marks an one size mark for indicating different sizes; in
which FIGS. 22 (1) and (2) show the detecting means; FIG. 23 shows the
control means; and FIGS. 24 (1), 24 (2) and 24 (3) show the control
process thereof; and,
FIGS. 25, 26, and 27 illustrate a sixth embodiment for detecting two size
marks and one size mark by an exclusive third detecting element; in which
FIGS. 25 (1) and (2) show the detecting means; FIG. 26 shows the control
means; and FIG. 27 shows the basic control process.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Microfilm
Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, the microfilm 1 is an elongated roll
film strip having a width of 16 or 35 mm, and includes a plurality of
continuous microimages 28 and 29 of two kinds of sizes. These two sizes
are the sizes of the microimages corresponding to, for example, A3 and A4.
However, the combination of sizes of course may be, for example, B4 and
B5, A4 and A5, or any other combination. There also may be a combination
of three kinds of sizes. The roll film 1 may be a single stage simple
reflex type or a two stage "duo" type.
The roll film 1 has size marks 30 and 31 indicating the sizes of the
respective microimages 28 and 29 adjacent thereto, and located at a margin
of the microfilm 1. Thus, for example, the A3 size microimage 28 is
provided with the marks 30 and the A4 size microimage 29 is provided with
the marks 31, respectively. Each mark 30 and 31 has an optical
transparency different from that of a peripheral film base F.
The size marks 30 and 31 are made distinctive from each other so as to be
detectable by a detecting means as mentioned hereinafter. In FIGS. 1, 2,
and 3, the respective portions (1) illustrate films including long marks
30L and short marks 31L which have different lengths along the
longitudinal direction of the microfilm 1; the respective portions (2)
illustrate films including wide marks 30W and narrow marks 31W which have
different widths along the transverse direction of the microfilm 1; the
respective portion (3) illustrate films including dark marks 30D and light
marks 31D which have different optical transparencies; and the respective
portions (4) illustrate films including marks 30N and marks 31N which have
a different number, but the same size, of respective mark areas. The marks
30 and 31 also can be made distinguishable by changing the respective
color, various size, shape, position, and the like. Among these varieties,
the size marks 30L and 31L having different lengths, as shown in FIGS. 1,
2, and 3 by the portions (1), can be constituted by applying conventional
blip marks B thereto.
Although, in the above mentioned microfilm 1, the sizes of the respective
microimages 28 and 29 have the 30 and 31 indicating their sizes, it is
also possible to detect the sizes of the microimages 28 and 29 by
detecting whether or not there is a size mark. Therefore, in order the
distinguish two kinds of sizes of the microimages 28 and 29, it is not
always necessary to provide a plurality of distinguishing marks.
The relationship between the size marks 30 and 31 and the blip marks B will
now described. The blip mark B is conventionally used as a frame detection
mark, a frame group (or case) indication mark, or the like, for accessing
a frame page of the respective microimages 28 and 29, or a frame group
consisting of a series of frames, or for determining a frame position. In
the embodiments shown in FIG. 1, the channel B, i.e., the upper margin in
the drawing of the microfilm 1, is provided with size marks 30 and 31 and
the channel A, i.e., the lower margin in the drawing of the microfilm 1,
is provided with blip marks B. Therefore, there is no particular
relationship between the size marks 30 and 31 and the blip marks B. In the
embodiments shown in FIG. 2, the channel B is not provided with marks, but
the channel A is provided with marks which serve both for the size marks
30 and 31 and for the conventional blip marks B as frame detection marks.
Thus, the conventional blip marks used as frame detection marks also can
be rearranged to be used as size marks 30 and 31. In the embodiments shown
in FIG. 3, the channel B is provided with the blip marks B.sub.1 as frame
group indication marks, and the channel A is provided with marks which
serve both for the size marks 30 and 31 and for conventional blip marks
B.sub.2 as frame group indication marks. The above-mentioned marks which
serve both for the size marks 30 and 31 and for conventional blip marks
B.sub.1 as frame detection marks have an advantage in that a means for
detecting conventional blip marks B can be most easily applied for this
purpose.
As shown in FIG. 4 (1), long marks may also be used as blip marks B.sub.1
serving as frame group indication marks, and middle and short marks also
may be used as the marks which serve both for the blip marks B.sub.1 as
frame detection marks and for the size marks 30L and 31L. In this case,
there are no microimages 28 and 29 at the positions where the long marks
as blip marks B.sub.1 are located.
In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, a front edge of each of the
size marks 30 and 31 is aligned with the front edge of each of the
microimages 28 and 29. This is advantageous if the marks also serve as
marks for frame positioning. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4 (2),
the marks also may be located at the respective center positions of the
microimages 28 and 29 in the longitudinal direction of the microfilm 1.
The microfilm 1 shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4 is a roll film as mentioned
above, but a fish film, as shown in FIG. 5, also may be used for this
purpose. Consequently, the fish film in which a plurality of microimages
28 and 29 are arranged in multistages, regardless of whether or not it is,
for example, a jacket type, includes size marks 30 and 31 in a similar
manner as mentioned above. In FIG. 5 (1), an embodiment is shown in which
the front edges of the long size marks 30L and the short size marks 31L
are aligned with the front edges of the respective microimages 28 and 29.
Conversely, FIG. 5 (2) illustrates an embodiment in which such marks are
located at the central positions of the respective microimages 28 and 29
in the longitudinal direction of the microfilm 1.
Reader/Printer
FIGS. 6, 7, 8, and 9 illustrate an embodiment of a reader printer, in which
FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the basic system thereof, FIG. 7 is a
perspective view of the printer, FIG. 8 is a front view thereof, and FIG.
9 is a side elevational cross-sectional view thereof. In FIG. 6, a reader
printer according to this invention generally includes a microfilm 1, a
sheet supplying means 13, a detecting means 44, and a control means 53.
This reader printer is operated either in a reading mode, in which the
microimages in the microfilm 1 are set in a predetermined place and
enlarged and projected onto a screen 2, or in a printing mode, in which
the enlarged images are printed on copying sheets.
Light emitted from a light source 3, such as a luminance lamp, is focussed
by a condenser lens 4 and irradiated toward the lower surface of the
microfilm 1 so that a microimage is enlarged by a projection lens 5.
In the reading mode, the light is reflected by a reader first mirror 6,
which exists in a reading position (a lower position in FIG. 9), and a
fixed reader second mirror 7, so that the enlarged image is projected on
the screen 2 which is located at an upper front position of the printer
body. In this mode, a print first mirror 8 and a print third mirror 9 are
in the right and front positions, respectively, so that they are retracted
from the reader light path.
In the printing mode, the above-mentioned reader first mirror 6 is moved
upward from the reading position and retracted from the printer light
path. On the other hand, the print first mirror 8 and print third mirror 9
are simultaneously moved leftward and rearward, respectively, to a
scanning start position, and subsequently, are moved rightward and
forward, respectively, toward a scanning end position to conduct scanning.
Thus, the light is transversely reflected by the print first mirror 8,
directed rearward by a fixed print second mirror 10, and directed downward
by the print third mirror 9. Thus, the microimage is slit-exposed through
a fixed fourth mirror 11 on a drum-like photosensitive media 12, so that
an enlarged latent image is formed on the photosensitive media 12 which is
uniformly static-electrified.
A sheet supplying means generally indicated by a reference numeral 13 is
capable of selectively supplying one of various sizes of copying sheets,
in accordance with a signal from the control means 53, to a transfer
station as mentioned hereinafter. In the illustrated sheet supplying means
13, pickup rollers 14 and 15 are arranged in sheet cassettes 16 and 17,
respectively, in such a manner that they are in firm contact with the
uppermost of the sheets of various sizes, such as A3 and A4, accommodated
in the sheet cassettes 16 and 17, respectively. The pickup rollers 14 and
15 are selectively rotated by driving means switched in accordance with
signals selectively output from a control means 53. Therefore, in
accordance with such signals, either the pickup roller 14 or the pickup
roller 15 is rotated so as to supply either A4 or A3 copying sheets from
the corresponding cassette 16 or 17. The copying sheets are subsequently
fed by rollers 18 or 19, arranged in certain positions, and rollers 20 to
timing rollers 21, which are arranged in the vicinity of the transfer
means 23. When fed to the timing roller 21, the front edges of the copying
sheets are detected by a sensor 22 so as to intercept the driving force
from transmitting to the rollers 20 and so on.
The sizes of the copying sheets accommodated in the cassettes 16 and 17
correspond to the respective sizes of the microimages on the microfilm 1,
which may be any combination of sheet sizes, such as A3 and A4, as well as
B4 and B5, A4 and B5, and the like. It is also possible to increase the
number of cassettes so that the variety of sheet sizes can be increased.
The latent image formed on the photosensitive media 12 as mentioned above
is then developed by adhering toner thereto and transferred to the copying
sheet supplied by the timing roller 21 driven synchronously with the
forward edge of the developed image on the photosensitive media 12. The
transferred sheet is then fed by a feeding means 24 to a heating and
fixing station 25, in which the transferred image is fixed on the copying
sheet. Then the copied sheet is discharged by rollers 26 to a copy tray 27
located in a front part of the printer body. In FIG. 7, reference numeral
45 indicates a roll-film carrier, and 46 a control board.
Detecting Means
FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a roll film carrier 45, in which
reference numeral 1 indicates a roll film type microfilm; 3, a light
source; 4, a condenser lens; 5, a projecting lens; 32, a roll film
cartridge; and 33, a feed roller for feeding the microfilm 1 accommodated
in the cartridge 32. The feed roller 33 is rotated by a drive motor A 34
and comes into contact with the microfilm 1 in the cartridge 32 when a
solenoid 35 is turned ON, but moves away from the microfilm 1, when the
solenoid 35 is turned OFF. The microfilm 1 supplied from the cartridge 32
by the feed roller 33 is then guided along an idle roller 36 and
transported in the direction X to the plate portion 37. Then, it is guided
again along an idle roller 38 and taken-up by a spool 40 rotated by a
driving motor 39. A drive motor 41 serves to rewind the microfilm 1 in the
direction Y opposite to X, to accommodate the film in the cartridge 32. An
encoder 42 is connected to the idle roller 36 to generate a pulse signal
in proportion to the distance moved by the microfilm 1. The plate portion
37 is provided at the center thereof with an aperture 43, which is located
so as to be aligned with the microimages 28 and 29 of the microfilm 1 and
between the condenser lens 4 the projecting lens 5.
A detecting means 44 serves to detect the size marks 30 and 31 of the
respective microimages 28 and 29 as well as the presence of such size
marks. This detecting means 44 is arranged at or over the aperture 43 of
the plate portion 37 so as to receive optical signals from the light
source 3, which signals have been transmitted through the size marks 30 or
31, or film base F therearound, and to output electrical signals when
detecting the size marks 30 and 31. The detecting means 44 may be made
from any one of photoelectric elements, such as CdS, or any one of
photovoltaic elements, such as SPD, or may be one of any other elements
generally used for such a purpose. The number, position, or arrangement of
such detecting elements should be determined in accordance with the actual
embodiments of the detected objects, i.e., the size marks 30 and 31. The
timing for detecting the size marks 30 and 31 may be the time when the
microimages 28, 29 are projected onto the screen 2 in the reading mode, or
the time for retrieving or searching by means of blip marks B, or the time
when the printing key is ON, or any other time.
FIG. 11 illustrates a first embodiment of the detecting means 44 including
two detecting elements, one for detecting long size marks 30L and the
other for detecting short marks 31L. That is, the detecting means 44 in
this embodiment includes two optical fibers 47 and 48 having light
receiving portions 49 and 50, respectively, which are arranged in series
in the longitudinal direction of the microfilm 1 so as to face the long
and short size marks 30L and 31L and the film base F therearound, and are
connected to first and second optical detecting elements 51 and 52
respectively. The optical signals from the long and short size marks 30L
and 31L and the film base F therearound are received by the respective
light receiving portions 49 and 50 and transmitted through the optical
fibers 47 and 48 to the first and second optical detecting elements 51 and
52, whereby the optical signals are changed to electrical signals. The
distance between both light receiving portions 49 and 50 is shorter than
the shorter size mark 31L, and is determined so that noise is not
generated. In the illustrated embodiment, although the detecting means 44
and the long and short size marks 30L and 31L also serve for the blip
marks B, exclusive marks and an exclusive detecting means may be, of
course, employed. This also applies to the other embodiments as mentioned
hereinafter. The optical fibers 47 and 48, the first and second detecting
elements 51 and 52, and the like, are covered by a cover member K and
mounted on the plate portion 37 around the aperture 43.
Control System
A control means 53 selectively outputs a sheet supply signal to the sheet
supplying means 13 in accordance with the detected signals obtained by the
above-mentioned detecting means 44.
FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of the control means
53. FIG. 13 is a timing chart illustrating the various signals in this
control means 53 and shows the signals of the size marks 30L and 31L
passing through the first and second detecting elements 51 and 52, where
the speed of the microfilm 1 is constant.
First and second mark detectors 54 and 55 are buffers for the first and
second detecting elements 51 and 52, respectively, of the detecting means
44. These detectors 54 and 55 receive the output signals from the
corresponding detecting elements 51 and 52, respectively, amplify and
reform the wave of the signals, and generate mark-detected signals
.circle.A and .circle.B , such as voltage level "1" or the like, when
the first and second detecting elements 51 and 52 detect the size marks
30L and 31L. The mark-detected signals .circle.A , and the signals
.circle.B reversed therefrom through a NOT gate 56, are sent to an AND
gate 57, and an output signal .circle.C therefrom is sent to a
positioning detector 58, an output of which is supplied to the
microcomputor 59. The mark-detected signals .circle.A and .circle.B
are sent to an OR gate 60, an output of which is given as a frame mark
signal .circle.D to an AND gate 61, a frame counter 62, and the
microcomputor 59.
The AND gate 61 is opened or closed in accordance with the frame mark
signal .circle.D and receives the pulse signal .circle.E from the
encoder 42. Therefore, the number of pulses .circle.F which have passed
while the gate is open, on the basis of the frame signal .circle.D , is
counted in a counter 63, so that the count "n" in the counter 63
corresponds to the length of the size mark 30L or 31L. Then, the count "n"
is read out by the microcomputor 59 and compared with a predetermined
value "n.sub.0 " to discriminate the size of the microimage 28 or 29, so
that the status of the size flag m corresponding to the frame number m is
determined. The microcomputor 59 selectively outputs a signal 64 for A3
sheets or a signal 65 for A4 sheets to the sheet supplying means 13 in
accordance with the status of the size flag m. Therefore, in the sheet
supplying means 13, a drive means is changed so as to drive either the
pick-up roller 14 or the pickup roller 15 to supply the corresponding A3
or A4 size copying sheets to the transferring means 23 from the
corresponding sheet cassettes 16 or 17.
The positioning of the microfilm 1 is carried out as follows. The
microcomputor 59 outputs control signals to the motor 39 and motor 41 in
accordance with input of the above-mentioned frame mark counter 62, frame
mark signal .circle.D , and input of the positioning detector 58. Thus,
microfilm 1 is transported in the direction X and searched. If the count
number of the frame mark counter 62 reaches the frame m in question, the
microfilm 1 once passes through the aperture 43 until the frame mark
signal .circle.D is turned OFF while the frame mark signal .circle.D
is observed. Then, the microfilm 1 is reversed in the rewinding direction
Y and controlled by the signal from the positioning detector 58, and the
microimage 28 or 29 in question is positioned at a projecting position
facing the aperture 43 and is stopped.
In this embodiment, the size discrimination as mentioned above is carried
out while the microfilm 1 is positioned as such. In addition, although two
kinds of sizes are discriminated in this embodiment, three or more sheet
sizes also can be discriminated. In this case, the sheet supplying means
should be, of course, constructed to supply three or more sizes sheets,
correspondingly. In FIG. 12, key input for instructing the count number m
is indicated at 66.
Operation of Reader/Printer
FIG. 14 (1) illustrates a basic control process. When a main switch is
turned ON, and therefore the light source 3 is also turned ON, the system
is started. The microfilm 1 supplied and transported from the cartridge 32
is irradiated with the light from the light source 3 at a position
opposite to the aperture 43 of the plate portion 37. Then the
initializing, reading, and retrieval processes are conducted in
succession.
FIG. 14 (2) illustrates a retrieval routine. After a key input, registering
processes, such as setting frame for searching, are processed, and a
retrieval process is started when a search key is turned ON. The frame m
in question is retrieved by the frame marks, i.e., blip marks B, of the
microimages 28 and 29 and stored in a memory for positioning. The size
discrimination process is carried out by means of size marks 30L and 31L.
FIG. 14 (3) illustrates a discrimination routine. The optical signal from
the size mark 30 or 31 of the microimage 28 or 29 is detected by the
detecting means 44. In accordance with the signals from the first and
second detecting elements 51 and 52, the count "n" in the discriminating
counter 63 is read out by the microcomputor 59. The counter 63 is reset
for a counting operation for the next frame.
In the microcomputor 59, size discrimination of the microimage 28 or 29 is
conducted by comparing the count value with the above-mentioned
predetermined value "n.sub.0 ". The value "n.sub.0 " is predetermined as a
value between "n" for A3 size and "n" for A4 size. If the count "n" for A3
is 5 or 6 and the count "n" for A4 is 3 or 4, the value "n.sub.0 " can be
set as 5, since the count "n" is substantially constant and corresponds to
the distance of sheet transportion, regardless of the speed thereof.
If "n.gtoreq.n.sub.0 " (YES), the status of the size flag m corresponding
to the frame number m of the microimage 28 is set as A3, i.e., "1". If the
result is NO, the status of the size flag m corresponding to the frame
number m of the microimage 29 is set as A4, i.e., "0". The process then
returns to the start.
The purpose of size discrimination is thus attained by conducting such
discrimination only for the microimage 28 or 29 in question. But it would
be more effective if the size flag m and the status thereof are set, in a
place of the flag area m of the memory corresponding to the frame number m
in question, and thereafter printing is conducted with reference to the
status thereof for the frame which has been once discriminated. In such an
embodiment, since the size discrimination can be done while passing
through the frames, it would be more advantageous if, during the search
operation, all of the frames passing therethrough are subjected to the
size discrimination, and thereafter the printing process is effected with
reference to the status of the memorized respective size flag m.
After being returned to the routine of FIG. 14 (1), when a print key is
turned ON, the size flag m corresponding to the frame number m of the
microimage 28 or 29 in question is recalled and a status discrimination is
carried out to determine whether or not the status m=1. The microcomputor
59 of the control means 53 selectively outputs a sheet supply signal for
supplying either A3 or A4 copying sheets. Thus, as mentioned above, the
sheet supply means 13 selectively supplies either A3 or A4 size copying
sheets to the transferring means 23 for printing. After the printing
process, the system is returned to the reading mode.
Thus, a correct size of copied sheet corresponding to the microimage 28 or
29 can be easily obtained. In addition, the above-mentioned processes,
such as detecting, discriminating, and supplying sheets are automatically
carried out without trouble to the operator, and the copying of a group of
frames can be smoothly carried out even if they include different sizes of
microimages 28 and 29.
Other Embodiments of Reader/Printer
The detecting means 44 and the control means 53 also can be constructed as
follows. FIGS. 15, 16, and 17 illustrate second and third embodiments of
the present invention, in which FIGS. 15 (1) and (2) show the second
embodiment of the means for detecting long and short size marks 30L and
31L, and FIGS. 15 (3) and (4) show the third embodiment of the detecting
means for detecting wide and narrow size marks 30W and 31W. FIG. 16 shows
a block diagram of the control means 53, and FIG. 17 shows a flow chart of
the basic control.
In the second and third embodiments, first and second detecting elements 51
and 52 serve only to detect blip marks B, and a third detecting element 67
serves to detect size marks 30 and 31. The optical signal from the size
marks 30L, W and 31L, W and the film base F therearound is received by a
light receiving portion 68 and transmitted through an optical fiber 69 to
the third optical detecting element 67, by which the optical signal is
changed to an electrical signal. The detected signal is transmitted to a
third mark detector 70. The microcomputor 59 observes whether the output
signal from the third detector 70 is ON or OFF while a frame counter is
counting the frame number m and effects the size discrimination. In the
second embodiment, the light receiving portion 68 of the third detecting
element 67 is arranged in series in the longitudinal direction with
respect to the light receiving portions 49 and 50 of the first and second
detecting elements 51 and 52 so as to detect the size marks 30L and 31L.
On the other hand, in the third embodiment, the light receiving portion 68
is arranged offset from the longitudinal line, on which the light
receiving portions 49 and 50 are arranged, in the direction of width by a
distance larger than the width of the narrower size mark 31W so as to
detect the presence of size marks 30W and 31W. However, since the third
detecting element 67 is not used for positioning, the light receiving
portion 68 may be arranged at a position other than the illustrated
position, provided that the location is limited by the shapes of the size
marks 30W and 31W. Retrieval and positioning can be conducted in the same
manner as in the above-mentioned first embodiment.
In these second and third embodiments, it is not necessary to measure the
length and the like of the size marks 30 and 31 in correspondence to the
transportation of the microfilm 1, and therefore, the encoder 42 for size
discrimination is not necessary. The size discrimination can be done
either when the microfilm 1 is transported or stopped. In FIG. 17, after
the searching is in process, and after the printing key is turned ON, the
size discrimination is conducted by observing the third detecting element
67.
FIGS. 18 to 21 illustrate a fourth embodiment using dark size marks 30D and
light size marks 31D, in which FIG. 18 shows the detecting means 44, FIG.
19 shows the control means 53, FIG. 20 shows the respective signals, and
FIG. 21 shows a block diagram of the basic control.
The signals of the first and second detecting elements 51 and 52 for
detecting the size marks 30D and 31D, respectively, are amplified by
amplifiers 71 and 72 and supplied to comparators 73, 74, and 75 as signals
.circle.G and .circle.H , respectively. The comparative voltage has two
standard points Th1 and Th2. The signal .circle.G or .circle.H from
the detecting element 51 or 52 for the positioned size mark 30D or 31D is
divided by the two standard points Th1 and Th2. Th1 serves to detect the
blip marks B. The signal .circle.I or .circle.J from the comparator 73
or 74 is reformed at an AND gate 76 to be a signal .circle.L , which is
supplied to a frame mark counter 62 and positioning detector 58 and input
to the microcomputor 59 in which retrieval positioning is conducted. Th2
serves to initiate size discrimination. The signal .circle.K for density
is input from the comparator 75 to the microcomputor 59, in which size
discrimination is carried out on the basis of a signal ON or OFF.
Reference numerals 77 and 78 indicate semi-solid resistances for setting
the level of density.
In the fourth embodiment, retrieval and positioning can be conducted in a
conventional manner and it is easy to use the marks both as size marks 30D
and 31D and as blip marks B.
FIGS. 22, 23 and 24 illustrate a fifth embodiment using two size marks 30N
and one size mark 31N, in which FIG. 22 shows the detecting means 44, FIG.
23 shows the control means 53, and FIGS. 24 (1), (2) and (3) show the
control process thereof.
In this embodiment, the construction of the detecting means 44 is
substantially the same as that of the first embodiment. However, since it
is not necessary to measure the length of the size marks 30N and 31N, the
encoder 42 for size discrimination is not necessary. In this embodiment,
since the size discrimination can be conducted while the frames pass
through, in the same manner as mentioned above in the first embodiment, it
would be more effective to discriminate the size of the frames having
passed through, and thereafter, to conduct the printing with reference to
the status of the size flag m corresponding to the respective memorized
frames.
After the size discrimination, the microfilm 1 is stopped and positioned.
Since each size mark 30N consists of two marks, the manner of stopping the
microfilm 1 must be taken into account. That is to say, the manner
necessary when the microfilm 1 is transported in the direction X is
different from that when it is transported in the rewinding direction Y.
In the positioning detector 58 served for this purpose, the microfilm 1
might be stopped at a position corresponding to the head of the first mark
of each size marks 30N and 31N. Therefore, when the microfilm 1 is
transported in the direction X, it is correctly positioned if the
microfilm 1 is returned in the rewinding direction Y and stopped at a
position of the second positioning signal for the two size marks 30N, and
a position of the first positioning signal for the single size mark 31N.
On the other hand, when the microfilm 1 is transported in the rewinding
direction Y, it is correctly positioned if the microfilm 1 is returned in
the transporting direction X and stopped at a position of the first
positioning signal for both the size marks 30N and 31N. In FIG. 24 (3), in
the count "n" in the discrimination counter 63, "1" corresponds to A4 and
"2" corresponds to A3.
FIGS. 25, 26, and 27 illustrate a sixth embodiment for detecting two size
marks 30N and one size mark 31N by an exclusive third detecting element
67, in which FIG. 25 shows the detecting means, FIG. 26 shows the control
means 53, and FIG. 27 shows the basic control process.
The constructions of the previous fifth, second, and third embodiments are
also applied to this sixth embodiment, in which, however, the size
discrimination is conducted after the microfilm 1 is positioned and
stopped, so that there is no problem in the timing of the size
discrimination.
In the second, third, fourth, and fifth embodiments, other members,
elements, circuits are indicated by the same or corresponding numeral
references and marks, therefore the descriptions regarding the
constructions, functions and operations of the first embodiment therefore
may, of course, be applied to those of the above or any other embodiments.
* * * * *
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