Abstract: A low power electrical circuitry component is made from several laminae stacked one on top of the next; at least two of the laminae are provided with circuitry, suitably printed circuitry with electrical connections between circuit elements of the circuitry on one lamina interconnected with those elements of the next or subsequent such laminae by means of connections substantially perpendicular to the planes of the laminae; apertures or recesses may be formed in some of the laminae to provide holders for wafers and other circuitry items so that the laminae provide a strong frame and encapsulation for wafers and so on; ducts may be provided in or between laminae for cooling.

Abstract: A lamina retrieval device for storing microfiche, holograms and other flat, sheet-like materials. A stack of laminae are retained in a cage formed by a plurality of guides, with the guides being so mounted as to retain the laminae in an angularly displaced disposition, with each lamina in a group of laminae being angled with respect to an adjacent lamina. To allow for the removal of a lamina, the guides may be formed as split pins so that part of each pin is movable to form an opening in the cage. The device can include fingers for holding a stack of laminae apart to allow removal of the desired lamina. Removal is accomplished in one embodiment through an airflow.

Abstract: A data recording device in which an emitter, normally an electron gun, is mounted within an evacuatable tube into which a sensitive recordable film may be introduced so that no part of the tube interposes between the emitter and the area of the film to be recorded. The film may be held on a grid in the tube or on a separate platen. The invention avoids the interposition of glass and coating material between the emitter and film and so can record with finer detail on the film. Also the device is very suitable for fast film handling by conveying the film on a gas stream into the tube and away.

Abstract: A film lamina handling and storage device particularly suitable for handling microfiche has a central transfer area formed between upper and lower plates in which a cushion of gas is maintained to support film laminae on the cushion: the laminae may be moved around the area by gas flowing to outlets venting outwardly of the periphery of the plates; stores for individual or stacks of laminae are conveniently situated around the transfer area, the individual laminae stores being at the same level as the transfer area: the transfer area may have copying or other treatment positions.

Abstract: A camera with gas cushion film feed in which an imaging fluid is injected into the cushion so that imaging can take place after exposure of the film which may be either an electrostatic film or silver halide film.

Abstract: Substrates such as printed circuit boards are transported between and precisely indexed at work stations by means of a gas cushion formed on a plate. The substrate is transported and shifted from position to position by means of ducted gas jets or sweeps while indexing of the substrate is achieved by means of movable stops controlled by electromagnets or pneumatic means. The system finds particular use in the drilling of printed circuit boards and for component insertion, especially of integrated circuit chips, thereon.

Abstract: A developer unit for sheet film in which individual sheets are moved through processing tanks by holders moved by an elevator from tank to tank and thence the sheets are disposed from the developer, the holders are recovered in the developer after disposal of the sheet film and are conveyed via a holder store to a film reception station where sheets are loaded individually with the holders for processing.

Abstract: A photographic developer for sheet film arranged to feed the film through two or more interconnected chambers sealed by seals at the inlet of the first chamber and the outlet of the final chamber and also sealed at the interconnection of the chambers by means of seals which are preferably rotatable and controlled by a single motor, the seals preferably having rotatable valves at one end which control the inlet and outlet of developing and fixing agents as well as a drying gas.

Abstract: Apparatus for moving sheet material, primarily microfiche, into a plurality of X and Y axis positions by means of a gas cushion formed on a plate in which the sheet material is shifted by means of ducted gas jets or sweeps; location of the sheet material is achieved by means of movable stops, sweeps or sensors; the stops are controlled by electromagnets or pneumatic means; a feed device is provided in one example to feed the sheet material onto the gas cushion and to enable removal of the sheet material from the apparatus.

Abstract: A microfiche camera with copy-back facility in which a film shift means, preferably a vacuum platen is arranged for movement between a pick-up station, a filming and copying station and a dump station; at the filming and copying station a film retaining means, preferably adapted to hold film by vacuum, is mounted for relative movement towards or away from the path of movement of the film shift means so that film held on the film retaining means for copy-back can be held in the same plane as film held by the film shift means for filming, copy-back being performed by projecting light through film held on the film retaining means through the camera lens onto photosensitive material on a copying table in the front focal plane of the lens.

Abstract: A microform document and information recording camera such as a microfiche or microfilm camera having a color indicating means, preferably a rotatable drum or drums indicating predominant colors which can be manually or automatically set to coincide with predominant colors being recorded and which is arranged to set the timing of a shutter to a correct exposure for the predominant color and/or to insert a filter into a path between the camera lens and the front focal plane of the lens with the possibility of controlling lighting and lighting filters arranged to illuminate a record on a record copying platen; in one embodiment a cathode ray tube can provide an alternative image source and in which case the color indicating means is automatically set when the cathode ray tube is in operation.

Abstract: Film handling apparatus preferably for handling microfiche film in which a holder or cassette is provided and is locatable at a film pick-up station; the holder or cassette has engaging means preferably provided as a lip to engage at least one marginal portion of the top microfiche lamina of a stack of laminae held within the holder or cassette; a suction means being provided in the apparatus which by means of preferably two or more suction areas is enabled to progressively suck the top lamina from the holder or cassette; in one embodiment two similar suction means are provided as suction platens which move in close relationship on guides within the apparatus to position the lamina at a filming and titling station.

Abstract: Copying apparatus for copying both sides of a record which is placed for copying between two transparent sheets mounted in the front focal plane of a lens system of the apparatus, the sheets are pivotal about a hinge axis adjacent one side of the sheets, the sheets being rotatable through at least 90.degree. about the hinge axis which is in or to one side of an optical axis of the lens system. To copy the reverse of the record the sheets are turned through 90.degree. and in one embodiment where the hinge axis is in the optical axis a masking means having two apertures one on one side and the other on the other side of the optical axis shifts to record the reverse; in another embodiment where the hinge axis is to one side of the optical axis the hinge axis is shifted from the one side to the other of the optical axis. The sheets can be rotated about an axis in or parallel to the optical axis so that the sheets may be turned about a top or side of the record for "normal" or "tumble" turnings.

Abstract: A microfiche editing device for mechanically aligning a portion of one microfilm with respect to a second microfiche along an optical path. The first microfilm may be a microfiche held and aligned by a rectangular toothed rack or a microfilm held and aligned by a double spool mechanism.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing a composite microfiche including a first emulsion bearing lamina on which one or more permanent data image frames are located and a second emulsion bearing lamina on which one or more updating data image frames are located, wherein the image or images on the first lamina are inverted and in different planar positions with respect to the image or images on the second lamina such that when the emulsion on the first lamina is superimposed on the emulsion on the second lamina, the laminae can be read together as one microfiche, the images appearing in the different planar positions in a substantially common focal plane.A three-reflective surface microfiche image inverter is also provided.