Abstract: Line broadening is eliminated in dry heat-developed films by using a development temperature which is higher than the manufacturer-recommended standard temperature, so that a much shorter development time can be used, and masking the edges of the film to prevent exposure thereof. The hot/short development cycle and the masking of the film edges substantially eliminate image smearing caused by emulsion shrinkage and migration.

Abstract: In the preferred embodiment of the invention the jitter in the output signal of a phase-lock loop is minimized by driving a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) with the average voltage level that appears across a capacitor. The voltage level is maintained by selectively pumping a charge into the capacitor as a function of the deviation of the output signal, from the VCO, from a desired output in a first direction. The charge on the capacitor is allowed to partially bleed off to ground through a variable resistance such that the charge on the capacitor is maintained at levels that cause a slight phase lag in the operation of the voltage controlled oscillator. The phase-locked loop more specifically utilizes an error detector for receiving an incoming digital signal to which the phase-locked loop is to lock and a reference signal corresponding to a divided output signal from the phase-locked loop.

Abstract: An improved dry film developer for use with a machine of the type that processes aperture cards which developer incorporates a holding mechanism for holding and stretching the aperture card while a heating block having an arcuate projecting surface is urged against the undeveloped dry film, mounted in the aperture card, to slightly stretch the film so as to insure a uniform contact of the undeveloped film with the heating block for a period of time sufficient to develop the film.

Abstract: A lead screw driven by a motor has a drive nut threadably connected to the lead screw for reciprocation therealong. The drive nut is rotationally restrained thereby limiting its movement along the axis of the lead screw. Three disk members each having an opening through their centers are positioned on the lead screw. The two outer disk members each have at least a pair of bearing members, such as ball bearings, positioned along a diameter of the disk on adjacent sides of the opening. A keeper member is positioned on the lead screw to sandwich the three disk members between the drive nut and the keeper member. Indexing members are positioned on the drive nut and the keeper member to maintain the diameters of the two outer disks, having the bearings mounted therein, orthogonal with respect to each other.

Abstract: A plotter for recording data from a modulated laser beam onto a recording medium mounted covering the aperture of an aperture card wherein the aperture is located toward one end of the aperture card with a blank margin on either side of the aperture, the plotter including an aperture card supply module for supplying the aperture card from a plurality of aperture cards, a carriage module having a recording station and a platen member for stepping the aperture card past the recording station, a laser scanning module for scanning a row of data from the modulated laser beam laterally across the recording medium through the recording station as the recording medium is stepped past the recording station by the platen member, a dry developer module for developing the data recorded on the recording medium by the laser scanning module, a feed path from the aperture card supply module through the carriage module and the dry developer module, and transport apparatus for transporting the aperture card along the feed path

Abstract: A system for controlling the intensity of a scanning laser beam used to plot a computer-output microfilm image on an aperture card. The intensity of the beam is controlled by an acousto-optic modulator, which varies the light contained in various components of the modulated output. The first order beam is used for scanning the microfilm because it can be varied from its maximum intensity down to essentially cut-off without requiring large amounts of modulator drive. The intensity control is accomplished in two stages. First, before each scan across the microfilm, a known fraction of the first order beam is split off and sensed for intensity level. This level is directly proportional to the scan beam intensity. The sensed level is then compared to a preset voltage representing the proper exposure operating point for that manufacturer's microfilm characteristics. An error signal is produced by the comparison and is fed into a hold circuit.

Abstract: A nonoscillatory single step operation of a stepping motor is obtained by using normal driving circuitry and voltage to start the stepping operation in the desired stepping direction and by simultaneously starting a timer which is adjusted in duration to correspond to the time it takes for the rotor to almost reach the null position. At that time an increased voltage, of the same polarity as the normal stepping voltage, is applied, so as to strongly lock the rotor to the null position with minimum oscillation.