JP2745248B2 - Microfilm search / reader - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cartridge containing a reel wound with a strip-shaped microfilm, searching for a target image from a storage rack containing a large number of cartridges, reading the target image with an image sensor, and reading an image signal. The present invention relates to a microfilm retrieval / reading device that outputs as "?".

[0002]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION One cartridge is selected from a number of strip-shaped microfilm cartridges stored in a storage shelf, a target image contained in the cartridge is read out by an image sensor, and this image signal is output as a digital signal. Such a device has been considered. For example, it has been considered that an image is output to a CRT, a printer, or a facsimile using this image signal, or a desired form or document is output by printing in combination with the output of another data processing device.

[0003] As such an apparatus, a rotary shelf type is conventionally known. In this method, a large number of cartridges are detachably stored in a rotating drum from an outer peripheral surface thereof in a multi-stage manner, and a desired cartridge is taken out by a take-out device which only moves up and down at a fixed position in a circumferential direction. To read the image. Here the cartridge is on the opposite side of the film
Label on the side, and take out the
The cartridge is transferred by engaging the
I have.

However, in this case, since the cartridge is moved in the order of the rotary drum, the take-out device, and the image reader, the time required for searching for the target image (access time) becomes long, and the take-out device and the image reader are located outside the rotary drum. Therefore, there is a problem that the installation area becomes large.

Therefore, it is conceivable to omit the take-out device and directly move the image reader to the target cartridge to take in the cartridge. In this case, it is desirable to store the cartridge in the storage shelf so that the entrance of the film faces the image reader, for the convenience of drawing the film into the image reader or returning the film to the cartridge. That is, it is desirable to store the film so that the entrance of the film appears outside the rotary drum type storage shelf.

[0006] However, this cartridge is usually provided with a label on the surface opposite to the film entrance, so that the contents of the film, identification codes and the like can be entered. Therefore, when the film is stored so that the film entrance is exposed outside the storage shelf, the label cannot be confirmed from the outside of the storage shelf. For this reason, there is a problem that the contents of the cartridge stored in the storage shelf cannot be visually confirmed.

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and can shorten the access time, reduce the installation area, and visually check the cartridge label from the outside while being stored in the storage shelf. It is an object of the present invention to provide a microfilm search / read device that can be easily checked.

[0008]

According to the present invention, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cartridge for accommodating a strip-shaped microfilm wound on a reel, by attaching a label to a surface of the cartridge opposite to a film entrance and a target image from a storage shelf accommodating many cartridges. In a microfilm retrieval / reading apparatus that selects a cartridge including a cartridge, reads out a target image from the cartridge by an image sensor, and outputs an image signal, a large number of the labels are located outside so that the labels can be viewed from outside. A vertical cylindrical storage shelf for storing the cartridge, a carrier moving inside the storage shelf,
A scanner that moves respectively mounted on the rear incorporates a microfilm travel drive apparatus and an image reader to face the inside of the storage rack, housed uptake and conversely a cartridge containing a target image from the storage rack within the scanner shelf
Transfer means for moving the cartridge back to the storage position, memory means for storing the storage position of the cartridge, and control for relatively moving the scanner to the storage position of the cartridge containing the target image, loading the cartridge into the scanner and reading the target image. Means for retrieving and reading microfilm.

The transfer means may be operated by a drive source provided on a carrier holding the scanner, or may be configured to push a target cartridge from the outside of the storage shelf to the inside of the storage shelf and transfer it to the image reader. Can be.

[0010]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a system using one embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cartridge.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 denotes a cylindrical storage shelf which is rotatable about a vertical axis A. The storage shelf 10 has a large number of cartridges 12 arranged vertically and on a circumference around the axis A. Are stored in such a manner that the rings arranged in the vertical direction are stacked in the vertical direction. The cartridge 12 contains a reel 16 around which a microfilm 14 (see FIG. 3) is wound.

The cartridge 12 has a substantially square box shape, and a label 12B is attached to a surface of the film 14 opposite to a surface having the entrance 12A. The content recorded on the film 14 and the identification code are written on the label 12B. The cartridge 12 is stored so that the label 12B appears on the outside of the storage shelf 10.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 20 denotes a scanner. The scanner 20 moves up and down in the storage shelf 10 so as to face the inner surface of the storage shelf 10. That is, a pair of the scanners 20 are mounted on symmetrical positions on a carrier 24 which is vertically movably held by guide rails 22 and 22. The carrier 24 includes, for example, the guide rails 22, 2
2 is provided with a feed screw mechanism.
It is moved up and down by rotating. Further, it may be moved up and down by a wire or the like (not shown).

The scanner 20 is configured as shown in FIG. That is, a take-up space 26 for taking in the cartridge 12 facing the cartridge 12 on the storage shelf 10 side, a take-up reel 28 located above this space, and an image reader 30 disposed between the two. And a film running drive for driving the reel 16 and the take-up reel 28 of the cartridge 12 and rotating the film 14 by rotating an appropriate number of rollers 32.

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

The transfer means 100 for transferring the cartridge 12 from the storage shelf 10 to the take-in space 26 is shown in FIG. That is, a feed screw 102 and a feed claw 104 screwed to the feed screw 102 are provided on each shelf of the storage shelf 10, while a drive that can move forward and backward so as to engage and disengage with a front end of the feed screw 102 is provided on the scanner 20 side. It has a shaft 106 and an electric motor 108 as a drive source for driving the shaft 106 to rotate.

Accordingly, when the scanner 20 is carried in front of the target cartridge 12, the motor 108 advances and the drive shaft 106 engages with the feed screw 102. When the feed screw 102 is rotated in a predetermined direction by the motor 108, the feed claw 10
4 moves rightward in FIG. 2 and pushes the cartridge 12 into the intake space 26 of the scanner 20.

When a certain amount of the cartridge 12 enters the take-in space 26, the roller 110 provided on the scanner 20 contacts the lower surface of the cartridge 12 and moves to a predetermined position by the rotation of the roller 110 to take the cartridge 12 into the take-in space. Take in 26. Then, the film 14 is run by rotating the reels 16 and 28 and the roller 32 by the film running device. At this time, the EL plate 36 is separated from the film 14. When a target image comes, the EL plate 36 presses the film 14 against the glass plate 38. The EL plate 36 serves as a surface light source, and the projected image on the film 14 is guided to the image sensor 42 through the glass plate 38 and the lens 40.

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

The control means 50 is formed of a small computer, and as shown in FIG. 1, a CPU 52, input / output interfaces 54 and 56, and a ROM for storing a control program.
58, a RAM 60 for storing data during control, for example, data for performing auto focus, and the like.
62 is a memory means which is an optical disk, a magnetic disk,
It is formed of a storage medium such as a magnetic tape or a semiconductor memory, and stores data such as the storage address of the cartridge 12 in the storage shelf 10.

Data such as the contents of each cartridge 12 and the storage address are input from the keyboard 64 to the CPU 52 and stored in the memory means 62. When searching for a target image, for example, a code of the target image is input from the keyboard 64. The CPU 52 finds the address of the cartridge 12 containing the target image from the memory means 62, operates the motor or the like to rotate the storage shelf 10, and moves the scanner 20 up and down to move it in front of the cartridge 12. Then, the cartridge 12 is discharged from the storage shelf 10 and is taken into the taking space 26 in the scanner 20. CP
U52 controls the reels 14 and 28 by the traveling drive device in the scanner 20 so that the target image enters between the EL plate 36 and the glass plate 38. The target image can be confirmed by using a blip mark (not shown) or the like recorded on the microfilm 14 in advance by another optical sensor (not shown).
It is possible by reading with.

When the target image comes before the glass plate 38, the CPU 52 presses the EL plate 36 against the film 14 to emit light. The projected image of the target image is guided to the image sensor 42. The image signal a of the image sensor 42 is
After receiving various processes such as variation correction of characteristics of each light receiving element, shading correction, and waveform shaping in 4, the CPU
52 is input. When performing an auto-focus operation, the circuit 44 selects a predetermined spatial frequency component of the image signal a with a band-pass filter, for example, and obtains a contrast signal by integrating the absolute value of this component.
The CPU 52 controls the lens 40 to a position where the contrast signal becomes maximum. Needless to say, another element dedicated to autofocusing, for example, an element of a phase difference detection method or the like may be separately prepared to perform autofocusing.

When the image is read in this way, the CP
U52 outputs this data to various image processing devices.
For example, this image is output to a CRT 66 or a printer 68, or stored in another external memory means such as an optical disk device 70. The data can also be output to a remote facsimile, CRT, or the like using a data communication network 72 such as a LAN (local area network). Note that the CPU 52 reads data from an external image processing device using the data communication network 72, and can also use external image data in this system.

As described above, while the search and reading of the target cartridge 12 are performed by one of the scanners 20, the carrier 24 moves to the position where the other scanner 20 faces the next target cartridge 12. Take in.
As described above, since the two scanners 20 alternately search and read the target cartridge 12, the access time becomes very short.

In the above embodiment, all the controls are performed by the control means 50. However, a control unit including a separate microcomputer or the like may be provided for each of the scanners 20, and the search / read control of each of the scanners 20 may be independently performed by the control unit. The carrier 24 may be equipped with one scanner.

In the above embodiment, the carrier 24 moves only in the vertical direction and the storage shelf 10 rotates. However, the storage shelf 10 may be fixed and the carrier 24 may move up and down and rotate. . In this case, the guide rails 22 for holding the carrier 24 are connected to the rotary table 74.
(FIG. 1), and the table 74 may be rotated. If the storage shelf 10 and the carrier 24 are rotated together,
Access time can be further reduced. Further, a plurality of carriers 24 may be provided as shown by phantom lines in FIG. 1, and each carrier 24 may share an area divided in the vertical direction.

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the second embodiment, and FIG.
Is a sectional view taken along line VV. Transfer means 1 of this embodiment
Reference numeral 20 includes a delivery roller 122 that rolls in contact with the lower surface of each cartridge 12 in the storage shelf 10A, and a drive roller 124 that is provided on the scanner 20 and that can move forward and backward. The rollers 124 and 122 are rotated by the motor 126 while contacting the rollers 122A. The cartridge 12 is moved to the loading space 26 by the rotation of the roller 122.
When a part of the cartridge 12 enters the intake space 26, it may be further fed to an appropriate position by another roller 128. In order to make the movement of the cartridge 12 smooth, it is desirable to provide an appropriate number of rollers 130 that are in contact with the upper and lower surfaces.

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of the third embodiment. The transfer means 140 of this embodiment includes a slide member 144 that slides on the bottom plate 142 of the storage shelf 10B and engages with the label attaching surface of the cartridge 12, and a spiral spring 146 that urges the slide member 144 in the pushing direction of the cartridge 12.
And wire 148, release pin 150, scanner 2
And a plunger 152 provided on the 0 side. The slide member 144 includes an engagement claw 144A having a downward protruding behavior. The engagement claw 144A engages with the engagement hole 144B on the bottom plate 142 side at the storage position of the cartridge 12. The release pin 150 has an engaging claw 144A at the tip thereof and an engaging hole 144A.
It has a slope 150A that is pushed upward from B.

Therefore, when the plunger 152 as a drive source provided on the scanner 20 side is urged, the rod 152A
Protrudes and pushes in the release pin 150. Then slope 15
0A pushes up the engaging claw 144A and escapes from the engaging hole 144B. Therefore, the slide member 144 is moved rightward in FIG. 6 by the wire 148 pulled by the spiral spring 146, and at this time, the cartridge 12 is pushed out. When a part of the cartridge 12 enters the intake space 26, the roller 154 on the scanner 20 side further feeds to a predetermined position.

To return the cartridge 12 from the scanner 20 to the storage shelf 10 in each of the above embodiments, an appropriate mechanism using a plunger, a roller, or the like may be provided in the scanner 20.

FIG. 7 shows a fourth embodiment. The transfer means 160 of this embodiment includes a drawer rod 162 provided on the scanner 20 side, and a feed screw mechanism 164 for moving the rod 162 forward and backward. The feed screw mechanism 164 is driven by a motor (not shown) or the like. Rod 1 here
62 and the feed screw mechanism 164 can be slightly moved up and down. The leading end of the pull-out rod 162 is inserted into the storage shelf 10C along the lower surface of the cartridge 12 by the feed screw mechanism 164, and if the leading end is engaged with the cartridge 12 and then pulled back, the cartridge 12 is pulled out to the intake space 26. . If the rod 162 is pushed back to the storage shelf 10C again and then the rod 162 is lowered and detached from the cartridge 12, the cartridge 12 can be returned to the storage shelf 10C.

The transfer means 100, 12 in each of the embodiments described above.
0, 140, and 160 are motors 1 as drive sources.
08, a plunger 152 and the like are provided on the scanner 20 side, that is, on the carrier 24 side. However, in the present invention, a drive source may be provided on the storage shelves 10, 10A to C side. For example, a plunger or the like may be provided for each cartridge 12, and after the scanner 20 moves to the target cartridge, the corresponding plunger is excited to push out the cartridge.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing a fifth embodiment, and FIG. 9 is a side sectional view thereof. In this embodiment, a push-out mechanism 180 is provided outside the storage shelf 10D to push the target cartridge 12 toward the scanner 20 inside the storage shelf 10D. Here, the storage shelf 10D is rotatably supported by a roller bearing 184 provided on the base 182. Inside and outside the storage shelf 10D, four vertical guide rails 22A whose upper ends are connected to each other above the storage shelf 10D.
Is standing up.

On these guide rails 22A, a carrier 24A for accommodating the scanner 20 is held inside the storage shelf 10D, and a push-out mechanism 180 is held vertically movable outside the storage shelf 10D. And these carriers 2
4A and the push-out mechanism 180 move up and down while opposing the storage shelf 10D from outside and inside. These are suspended by wires 185 and 186 as shown in FIG. 9, and the other ends of these wires 185 and 186 are connected and integrally wound around the motor 188.

Accordingly, the rotation of the motor 188 causes the carrier 24A and the push-out mechanism 180 to move up and down while always facing each other with the storage shelf 10D interposed therebetween via the wires 185 and 186. On the other hand, the storage shelf 10D is provided with a motor 19 provided on a base 182.
Rotated by zero. Thus, the target cartridge 12 can be positioned between the scanner 20 and the pushing mechanism 180 by the rotation of the storage shelf 10D and the vertical movement of the scanner 20 and the pushing mechanism 180.

The pushing mechanism 180 can be constituted by a plunger 192, for example, as shown in FIG. That is, the excitation of the plunger 192 causes the rod 194 to protrude toward the storage shelf 10 </ b> D, and pushes out the cartridge 12 to the scanner 20. The cartridge 12 is connected to the scanner 2
To return from 0 to the storage shelf 10D, for example, a plunger 196 may be provided on the scanner 20 to push the cartridge 12 back.

FIG. 11 is a side sectional view showing the concept of the sixth embodiment. In this embodiment, the storage shelf 10E is fixed to the floor, while a vertical support shaft 200 passing through the center thereof is rotatably provided, and a carrier 24B accommodating the scanner is provided on the support shaft 200 so as to be vertically movable. A guide rail 22B that rotates integrally with the support shaft 200 is provided vertically outside the storage shelf 10E, and the pushing mechanism 202 is held on the guide rail 22B so as to be vertically movable. Reference numeral 204 denotes a roller bearing, which slidably supports a ring supporting the lower end of the guide rail 22B on a circular locus outside the storage shelf 10E.
The carrier 24B and the push-out mechanism 202 are moved up and down in synchronization with each other, and by rotating them around the support shaft 200, the target cartridge can be positioned between them. The pushing mechanism 202 is shown in FIG.
Can be configured similarly to

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention, a large number of cartridges are stored in a vertical cylindrical storage shelf so that their labels appear on the outside, and the transfer means is transferred to a scanner located inside the storage shelf. Fetch cartridges and search /
Since the label is read, the contents of the stored cartridge can be easily checked by directly viewing the label from the outside of the storage shelf. Further, since the movement of the cartridge is only performed between the storage shelf and the scanner, the access time required to read the target image can be reduced. Furthermore, since the inside of the cylindrical storage shelf is effectively used, the installation area is reduced (claim 1).

If the drive source of the transfer means is provided on the side of the carrier having the scanner and the target cartridge is driven from this side of the carrier, the structure of the storage shelf can be simplified (claim 2). Further, a push-out mechanism may be provided outside the storage shelf so that the target cartridge is pushed out from the outside to the inside and transferred to the scanner.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram of a system using one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cartridge.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of a part of the second embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a side sectional view thereof.

FIG. 10 is a side sectional view showing an extrusion mechanism.

FIG. 11 is a side sectional view showing the concept of the sixth embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 10A to E Storage shelf 12 Cartridge 12B Label 14 Microfilm 20 Scanner 24, 24A, 24B Carrier 30 Image reader 50 Control means 62 Memory means 100, 120, 140, 160 Transfer means 108 Motor as drive source 152 As drive source Plunger 180, 202 Extrusion mechanism

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A label which is attached to a surface of a cartridge for accommodating a band-shaped microfilm wound on a reel, opposite to a film entrance, and selects a cartridge containing a target image from a storage shelf accommodating a large number of the cartridges. A microfilm search / reader that reads a target image from an image sensor by using an image sensor and outputs an image signal, wherein the label is positioned outside and the label is positioned from outside.
A vertical cylindrical storage shelf for storing a large number of the cartridges so as to be visible, and moving inside the storage shelf;
Including that a carrier, and a scanner that moves to face the inside of the front <br/> Symbol accommodating shelf respectively mounted a built-in microphone <br/> b film travel drive apparatus and an image reader to the carrier, the target image wherein the scanner cartridge from the storage rack
Transfer means for moving the scanner back to the storage shelf, and memory means for storing the storage position of the cartridge, and relatively moving the scanner to the storage position of the cartridge containing the target image to load the cartridge into the scanner. Control means for reading a target image. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transfer means has a drive source provided on a carrier holding said scanner. 3. The microfilm retrieval / reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said transfer means has an extruding mechanism opposed to said scanner with said cartridge on said storage shelf interposed therebetween.