Abstract: A transparent film projector includes a projector frame provided inside with all the components. A plurality of chain wheels are provided inside the projector frame for an annular chain strap to extend around. The annular chain strap is provided at the inner side with plural extension plates respectively having an extension strip fixed at the outer side and an orienting member secured at the inner side, and the extension strip has its outer end clasped by a spring. The orienting member is positioned at the inner side of an orienting rail, which guides the orienting member to move in a fixed direction so as to make the transparent films move smoothly. Besides, each transparent film has its opposite ends respectively hooked by the spring, so it can be flattened to move smoothly and replaced conveniently.

Abstract: A slide feeder, a slide system and a slide feeding method are disclosed. Conventional slide feeders are incapable of feeding the same slide mounts repeatedly to an external appliance with no help by a human hand, accordingly are unsuited to a scanning work at a high speed and incapable of separating slides stably at a feeding time. To overcome these problems, the present invention comprises feeding slide mounts stocked in a first slide stock section to an external appliance and stocking slide mounts discharged from the external appliance into a second slide stock section in a first operation mode, and feeding and stocking the slide mounts reversely in a second operation mode. Furthermore, the slide mounts are carried in a feeding direction with a rotating force of a roller. Moreover, the slide mounts are separated with a separating pad at a feeding time.

Abstract: A slide mount has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes an interior region, an edge, and a slot extending from the interior region to the edge. A cavity is formed between the first portion and the second portion, and extends to the first edge. A film segment is disposed in the cavity. The slide mount disengageably locks in the film segment. The film segment can be released from the slide mount using an extractor arm. The slide mount can have a locking aperture for receiving a locking piston to disengage a protruding element from the film segment so as to permit extraction of the film segment from the cavity of the slide mount.

Abstract: A slide magazine for slide frames having a peripheral edge with a peripherally extending groove on the two faces thereof and a notch at at least one edge portion of the peripheral edge, comprises a base portion with longitudinally spaced pairs of transverse rib portions. The rib portions of each pair are disposed in alignment transversely to the base portion and each pair is spaced from an adjacent pair to provide a slide frame-receiving compartment. The rib portions carry retaining ribs to hold the respective slide frame in a spill-resistant manner in the slide magazine, and each rib portion further has a projection for engaging into the groove to hold the respective slide frame in its compartment. A resilient finger in the base of each compartment has a retaining nose to engage into the notch of the slide frame to hold it in position. Slide frames can thus be inserted into and removed from the slide magazine at both sides thereof.

Abstract: A slide projector which is adapted for the use of circular trays (10, 12) having different numbers of slide compartments and which includes a pulse-controlled electronic switch unit for controlling a transport motor selectively moving one of the trays (10, 12) forwardly or backwardly comprises a slider (30) for fixing the trays (10, 12) in position, which slider can be actuated by the electronic switch unit following each indexing of the tray and which can be brought into engagement with both transport pins (15) associated with the compartments of the first circular tray (10) and serving as transport and fixing means and with a toothing (17) associated with the compartments of the second circular tray (12) and serving as transport and fixing means, following each indexing of the tray such engagement being achieved by fixing means (34, 35) associated with the transport and fixing means (15, 17) of the trays and adapted to the shape and size thereof.

Abstract: A slide projector having a projector frame and a light source and lens assembly mounted on the frame which includes a cassette having a plurality of slide frame receptacles for receiving slide frames therein. The cassette is movable so as to bring selected slide frames into a dispensing position. A frame grabber mounted on the projector frame is movable in a direction perpendicular to the lens axis from a projection position in which an image of an engaged slide can be projected to a dispensing position in which slide frames can be sequentially brought into alignment with the grabber. Once engaged by the grabber, a selected aligned slide frame can be extracted from the cassette and moved to the projection position.

Abstract: In a mixing projector, a guide element for the slide magazine extends transversely with respect to the optical axes of the objective lens systems of the optical assembly. Disposed between the two projector units for projecting the respective slides is a main slider member which is displaceable parallel to the optical axes of the optical assembly, for transportation of slides between the magazine and a slide turning mechanism which turns the respective slides through 90.degree.. Transverse slider members then provide for transportation of the turned slides into and out of the positions thereof for projection through the objective lenses of the optical assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for storing and handling slides for their selective projection. The device comprises at least one storage rack (6) for slides, and means for displacing (18, 27) the racks under the control of a data processing machine (3), so that any selected slide (31) may appear in front of an extraction window (7). According to the invention, a plurality of circular storing racks (6) are stacked according to a common vertical axis, and the means for displacing the unit of racks comprise a reversible motor (27) permitting a vertical displacement of the unit of racks, and a motor (18) permitting a rotation of the unit of racks about the axis of said shaft. The data processing machine controls the extraction and the reinsertion of a slide in accordance with a memorized sequence selected previously by the user and with the instantaneous position of the unit of racks.

Abstract: A storage and retrieval system for use with microfiche cards having a carousel for storing the cards, a slot for loading and unloading the storage system, a card transport device utilizing a pair of fingers to grasp an edge of the card and straighten the edge of the card and retract the card from the storage trays, a card separating device for separating cards adjacent the selected card in the storage tray to permit the picker finger access to said edge, and card guidance means for guiding the card back to the storage tray and for detecting any bowing or buckling movement of the card during the return of the card to its storage position. The buckling detecting device comprising a light-receiving detecting device for signalling the control mechanism of the storage and retrieval system.

Abstract: A microfiche card storage and retrieval system comprising a carousel for storing a plurality of microfiche cards, means for moving preselected cards from said storage means and to position said cards at a reading station, and spreader means adjacent said carousel for separating microfiche cards adjacent a preselected card such that a preselected card may be grasped by said transport means and moved from said storage trays and reinserted in said storage trays. The spreading means comprising fingers that move from an aiming plate toward the center of the tray in a diverging path to separate neighboring microfiche cards from a preselected card.

Abstract: A microfiche card storage and retrieval system utilizes a card transport to remove or insert a card from a support tray. The card transport has two pairs of fingers spaced to grasp the edge of a card and are opened to grasp an edge of the card in the tray and as the card is withdrawn the pairs of fingers separate to tension the edge of the card between the pairs of fingers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a slide projector with automatic slide changer and stationary slide magazines (10,11) on each side of the optical pathway of the projector, the respective slide magazine (10,11) provided in the shortside with a feed and discharge opening for slide frames (8) which is located in the focal plane of the slide projector. Between the slide magazines (10,11) a slide frame transport device is located, which consists of two toothed belts (2,3) provided with external dog members (7) for transporting the slide frames (8) from one slide magazine (10) to the other (11), and vice versa. In the projection position of the slide projector support members (12,13 and, respectively, 16,17) facing to the toothed belts (2,3) are provided for the slide frames (8). Levers (20,21) are provided behind the toothed belts (2,3) directly in front of the respective slide magazine (10,11) for inserting the slide frames (8).

Abstract: There is disclosed a novel identification card, sensor, and system using fingerprint or thumbprint pattern identification to confirm the user's identity. The preferred embodiment of identification card contains a sliding transparent window which is concealed when the card is not in use. When the card is used, it is inserted into a sensor and the window is slide to a visible position where the user can impress his or her thumbprint or fingerprint thereon. The sensor scans the thumbprint or fingerprint and transmits the pattern to a central file for comparison with a record thumbprint or fingerprint of the individual who is authorized to use the identification card. An account number can be located on the card enabling the sensor to scan and transmit to the central file, information to identify the record thumbprint or fingerprint against which the user's physical thumbprint or fingerprint is being compared.

Abstract: A microfiche reader and/or enlarger has a housing provided with an opening. The microfiches are stored in hard-cover files having a pair of covers between which a series of pockets is located, with the individual pockets being connected to one another and the two end pockets each being connected to one of the covers. When the covers are moved from parallel to coplanar position the pockets assume a fan-shaped outline; when the file is attached to the opening in this position with the pockets projecting into the housing, inner open ends of the pockets are accessible to a gripper on a pivot arm which can be moved opposite any selected one of the open ends. The gripper can then extract the microfiche from the selected pocket and subsequently reinsert it thereinto.

Abstract: A picture plate changer for changing pictures projected with a large scale picture projector, e.g., overhead type projectors projecting a single picture from an entire picture plate. A magazine stores the picture plates as a stack of flat plates or plexiglass each placed in horizontal slots or tracks in the changer. The stack of plates are vertically shiftable to selected disposition so that a desired entire picture is accurately indexed to a location just above the level of the projector plate and interconnectors on each frame selectively cooperate with a mechanism which can engage and shift a selected picture and frame from the magazine to the projector and back. Power mechanisms and control means are shown to enable selection and operation of the changer in a pre-determined manner. Devices on the changer and the picture plates assure accurate positioning for projectors.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system for storing a projection mask of the type used for printing integrated circuit patterns on silicon wafers. A special cassette package permits the mask to be stored in a clean sealed environment. A delivery system transports the sealed cassette into an optical projection instrument wherein the cassette is opened and the mask advanced to the projection stage. After projection, the mask is returned and automatically sealed into the cassette. The cassette may be evacuated or, alternatively, filled with a clean gas. The mask sealed in the cassette can then be stored until its use is again required.

Abstract: A number of format films carrying fixed information to be recorded together with computer output information given by a magnetic tape are vertically stacked in a cassette. The cassette is supported on a vertically movable cassette support. At a predetermined level which is of the same level as a projection station where the format film is brought and the image of the film is projected there is provided a format film gripping device. The format film gripping device has a fixed arm and a swingable arm which are opened at the cassette and closed to grip one of the format films in the cassette when the gripping device is driven to take out one of the format films from the cassette and brings the taken out format film to the projection station. The vertically movable cassette support is moved up and down stepwisely to selectively bring one of the format films to be projected to the predetermined level where the format film is taken out of the cassette and brought to the projection station.

Abstract: A slide projector is juxtaposed with a slide magazine in a housing. One of the projector and magazine is movably mounted so that each slide may be aligned with where it may be loaded into the projector and unloaded back into the magazine. At the loading station a pair of pivotable, opposed toggles operated by an eccentric device frictionally rollingly grip and release two opposite edges of the slide with reversibly driven rollers. In a disclosed elaboration, a plurality of slide magazines are disposed on a spider, which may be rotated to bring any selected magazine into juxtaposition with the projector. In the elaborated version shown, the slide projector is laterally movably mounted for temporary retraction during indexing of the spider.

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 circular tray for photographic slide projectors wherein the tray is provided with slide holders that are capable of being repositioned, together with the slide thereof, in any position circumferentially of the tray.

Abstract: A plastic microfiche carrier is made from two clear plastic sheets, which fit together in a face-to-face relationship to form an envelope that is open on one end and sealed on the other end and along two sides. One of the plastic sheets is embossed to provide a central clearance between the sheets for enabling insertion of a replaceable microfiche film. The clearance formed by the embossment on the other side enables the carrier to be slipped into a cartridge without binding in the thickness dimension. The corners of the carrier are tapered to facilitate an alignment of the microfiche library file within the cartridge. The edges of the carrier are notched to releasably hold the microfiche library film while it is inside the cartridge.

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.