Abstract: Apparatus for holding film strips of the type having a plurality of miniaturized film images carried thereon, wherein the apparatus is to be used with an optical system which illuminates and projects the images on an enlarged scale so that they can be viewed on a projection screen. The apparatus includes a rotary film holder or cassette having a number of concentric cylindrical segments defining a pair of coaxial cylinders, the segments being provided with grooves to permit insertion of a plurality of film strips in the cassette. The inner segments are longer than the outer segments so that portions of the radially outermost edges of the film strips are exposed and the outer edge of a selected film strip can be engaged by an edge drive wheel to permit the selected film strip to be moved partially out of and to be returned to the cassette.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for handling and reading any one of a number of film strips, each having a number of segments with each segment containing a plurality of information-containing, high-reduction image frames. The film strips are housed in a cassette which is movable with respect to a fixed reference to align a desired film strip with a reading station disposed across the optical path of an optical system. A film strip is moved out of the cassette by a force applied to one of its side edges. Control information carried by each film strip is sensed as the film strip moves out of the cassette and the sensed information is used to control the distance through which the film strip moves so that a particular segment thereof will stop at the reading station. The optical system is moved relative to the reading system so that the optical path of the optical system is selectively alignable with a particular image frame of the film strip removed from the cassette.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for handling and reading any one of a number of film strips, each having a number of segments with each segment containing a plurality of information-containing, high-reduction image frames. The film strips are housed in a cassette which is movable with respect to a fixed reference to align a desired film strip with a reading station disposed across the optical path of an optical system. A film strip is moved out of the cassette by a force applied to one of its side edges. Control information carried by each film strip is sensed as the film strip moves out of the cassette and the sensed information is used to control the distance through which the film strip moves so that a particular segment thereof will stop at the reading station. The optical system is moved relative to the reading system so that the optical path of the optical system is selectively alignable with a particular image frame of the film strip removed from the cassette.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for handling and reading any one of a number of film strips, each having a number of segments with each segment containing a plurality of information-containing, high-reduction image frames. The film strips are housed in a cassette which is movable with respect to a fixed reference to align a desired film strip with a reading station disposed across the optical path of an optical system. A film strip is moved out of the cassette by a force applied to one of its side edges. Control information carried by each film strip is sensed as the film strip moves out of the cassette and the sensed information is used to control the distance through which the film strip moves so that a particular segment thereof will stop at the reading station. The optical system is moved relative to the reading system so that the optical path of the optical system is selectively alignable with a particular image frame of the film strip removed from the cassette.

Abstract: A reader in which mircofiche film is manually moved in a rectilinear fashion by moving the film with respect to a holder in the first direction and moving the holder in a perpendicular second direction. The holder includes a light passage slot. A light source is mounted beneath the holder and an image projecting and enlarging optic is mounted in alignment with the source above the holder. A low friction annular spacer such as a Teflon O-ring rests directly on the film, is concentric with the optic and accurately spaces the optic from the film while maintaining film beneath the optics taut to assure proper image focusing. Film indexing is performed by moving the film while the optic supporting Teflon O-ring remains in contact with the film.