Daylight loading system for microfiche cassettes

A daylight loading device (40) for loading a microfiche cassette (10) with unexposed microfiches makes use of an inclined platform (50) having guides (51) and (52) upon which the microfiche cassette (10) may be positioned. Microfiches are fed from an adjacently positioned dispensing station (43) via a slot (46) and a transport roller pair. In order to provide for an optimum registering of the microfiche in the bottom of the microfiche cassette (10) a spadelike element (55) is temporarily positioned near the latter. A mechanism is provided for re-locking the microfiche cassette (10) after loading.

The present invention is concerned with microfiche systems. More 
particularly, it is concerned with a system by means of which a microfiche 
cassette can be loaded with unexposed microfiches in an illuminated room. 
In contradistinction to microfilms which are provided on a so-called 
daylight reel, microfiches are in the form of separate sheets having the 
dimensions approximating those of a postcard. A plurality of these sheets 
are packed together and in order to load one of them into a microfiche 
camera, installed in a well-lit room, it has to be put in an appropriate 
cassette which screens off the ambient light during the transfer from the 
loading station (normally a darkroom) to the place where exposures are 
carried out and vice versa. 
In order to dispense with the use of a darkroom, which in the microfiche 
field is only part-time used, systems have been devised for unloading and 
loading a microfiche cassette in well-lit conditions. 
Such a loading/unloading device is disclosed in the German Pat. No. 
2,544,818 filed Oct. 3, 1975 by A. Jacknau. This disclosure deals with a 
table top model loading/unloading device in which three compartments are 
provided, namely one compartment for storing unexposed microfiche sheets, 
one for the storage of exposed microfiche sheets and one in which the 
microfiche cassette may be located. The interior of the device can be 
reached by hand via a light impervious, loosely hanging sleeve which is 
tapered and through which an operator may carry out manipulations such as 
unloading a cassette, taking an unexposed microfiche sheet from a stack of 
such sheets and putting it into the emptied cassette. The latter is taken 
out of the device whereupon it is ready for a subsequent exposure cycle. 
It will be clear that this way of handling microfiche sheets requires a 
considerable amount of skill and attention from the part of the operator 
and that the chance of making mistakes is not excluded. 
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device for 
separately loading microfiche cassettes so that the risk for intermixing 
unexposed and exposed microfiches is avoided. Moreover, the invention 
provides for a device for automatically loading microfiche cassettes in 
daylight conditions. 
A separate unloading device is disclosed in our copending application No. 
30,530 filed on even data herewith for "Daylight Unloading System for 
Microfiche Cassettes" claiming the priority of British Patent Application 
No. 15242/78, filed Apr. 18, 1978 by Agfa-Gevaert N.V. 
A microfiche cassette unit, the description of which follows hereinafter, 
will be called "a microfiche cassette of the type referred to". 
According to the invention, there is provided: 
A device for loading a microfiche cassette of the type referred to in 
daylight conditions, comprising a housing, a door capable of light-tightly 
screening off light from the interior of the housing, a space in which a 
stack of unexposed microfiches may be housed in darkroom conditions, a 
platform for positioning the microfiche cassette in the housing in 
unlocked and opened condition, means to take hold of the uppermost one of 
the stack of unexposed microfiches and to forward the latter towards the 
opened cassette, means to form a temporary guide for the microfiche in the 
course of being forwarded so that the latter goes to a predetermined 
position in the microfiche cassette, preferably in the bottom thereof, and 
means for the closing and the relocking of the microfiche cassette after 
withdrawal of said temporary guide. 
Preferably, the cassette is introduced in the device in inclined position 
whereafter it is opened by hand and the door closed. 
The means forming the temporary guide may comprise a pivotable spade-like 
element having the approximate dimensions of the bottom of the microfiche 
cassette and which is positioned parallel with the bottom at a distance of 
for example 1 to 3 and preferably about two millimeters. Moreover, another 
resiliently biased element may be located at the other side of the bottom 
and also in parallel relation therewith so that a small gap is formed 
through which the microfiche being dispensed is guided into a groove 
peripherally extending around the bottom. 
The guides may be actuated by hand or by means of an electric motor. 
After loading the cassette may be closed and locked by a mechanism 
imparting a mechanical impulse to the cover, the latter performing a 
pivoting motion on the cassette hinges. By adequately choosing the 
magnitude of the mechanical impulse, the latter may be sufficiently high 
to impart a momentum to the cassette cover which suffices for forcing the 
locks of the locking mechanism to snap into their corresponding holes, in 
this way re-locking the microfiche cassette. 
The microfiches are stored in a light-tight compartment in the housing 
which is provided with an exit opening via which the microfiches are 
dispensed. The exit opening, in periods of non-use, is provided with a 
displaceable light trap, so that in periods of non-use, or when the door 
of the housing is open, accidental exposure is completely prevented. 
The mechanism for taking the uppermost microfiche of the stack is of rather 
conventional design in that it incorporates a suction member which is 
cam-operated and which performs a cycle of movements enabling a microfiche 
to be taken hold of and dispensed without risk of scratches, static 
electrification, etc. in this way avoiding phenomena and manipulations 
which would impair the quality of the light-sensitive surface coated on 
the microfiche. Supplementary expedients may be provided which avoid the 
risk of dispensing more than one microfiche at the same time. 
The microfiche dispensing station may additionally be equipped with means 
which assure a correct aligning of the stack in order to avoid that any 
misalignment, which e.g. occurs when a microfiche would fall off the 
sucker cup, is automatically corrected.

FIG. 1 illustrates a microfiche cassette unit 10 of the type referred to 
used in combination with the microfiche cassette loading device according 
to the invention. The microfiche cassette unit itself forms no part of the 
invention but is illustrated in order to facilitate a description of the 
working principle of the loading device and to facilitate the 
understanding of the particular problems arising from the nonconventional 
structure of the microfiche cassette in. 
As the latter is composed of more elements than merely a cover and a 
bottom, it will be called "a microfiche cassette unit of the type referred 
to". 
The microfiche cassette unit 10 is composed of a cover 11, a bottom 12 and 
a screen 13. The cover and the bottom are hingedly connected to each other 
by means of a pair of hinges 14 and 15. 
In the bottom 12 an opening 16 is provided having the approximate 
dimensions of a microfiche 17 (only a part of the latter being shown by an 
hatched area). Microfiche 17 rests with its edges in groove 18 provided in 
bottom 12 along the whole periphery of opening 16. When in closed 
condition, the cover 11 is substantially coincident with the surface 
defined by the upper surface of groove 18 in opening 16. 
The cover 11 and the bottom 12 are locked together by means of 
spring-biased locks 19 and 20 whose protruding portions 21 and 22 
respectively mate with corresponding openings 23 and 24 in the bottom 12, 
which openings are provided in members 25 and 26 respectively, fixedly 
secured to the bottom 12. 
In order to protect the microfiche 17 from exposure to ambient light 
(through opening 16 in the cassette) a supplementary screen 13 is provided 
during transport from the loading station, to the exposure station such as 
a microfiche camera (not shown), and again from the exposure station to 
the unloading station. 
The screen is provided on its side edges with guides 27 and 28 in which the 
side edges 29,30 of the bottom 12 may freely move. An abutment member 39 
is provided at the trailing edge of the screen 13 so that the set, formed 
by the cover 11 and the bottom 12 is allowed to perform a sliding movement 
into and out of the screen 13. Once in the camera, the screen 13 is 
removed from the rest of the microfiche cassette unit 10 so that the 
microfiche 17 contained therein may be exposed through opening 16. 
For the purpose of facilitating a reproducible positioning of the 
microfiche cassette unit 10 in the camera, the screen 13 is also provided 
with profiles 31 and 32 at its leading edge which mate with and are 
arrested by corresponding profiles (not shown) at the camera when the 
bottom 12 and the cover 11 are slid into the camera in locked condition. 
The camera then becomes ready for exposure. 
After exposure, the reverse action takes place, in that, after positioning 
the screen 13 to close opening 16 again, the set formed by the cover 11 
and the bottom 12, locked together, and containing an exposed microfiche 
17, is withdrawn from the camera, in telescoping relation in the screen 13 
and subsequently transported to an unloading station in a light-tight 
condition. With the unloading station may be associated intermediate 
storage facilities or a microfiche processing apparatus. 
FIG. 2 shows a microfiche cassette loader 40 according to the invention. It 
comprises a housing 41 capable of being light-tightly closed and enclosing 
a number of compartments are provided. Among these are the loading station 
42, the dispensing station 43 and a station 44 in which the electric 
circuitry, wiring and power supplies are provided. Another compartment 45 
is provided via which a pack of microfiche sheets may be introduced into 
the dispensing station 43. The loading station 42 and the dispensing 
station 43 communicate with each other via a slot 46 which during periods 
that no loading has to be performed is masked by means of a light screen 
47 which may be brought either in operative or inoperative condition by 
means of an arm 48 upon partial rotation of the latter by master shaft 49. 
In the loading station 42 is provided an inclined platform 50 having guides 
51 and 52 showing the same profile as those provided in the screen 13 (see 
FIG. 1) so that the bottom 12 is capable to perform a lateral sliding into 
and out of the guides 51 and 52 and, consequently, into and out of the 
microfiche cassette loader 40. 
The microfiche cassette is introduced into the microfiche loader 40 in 
opened condition. The cover 11 rests against a resiliently biased abutment 
member 53 which is capable to pivot around shaft 54. Around shaft 54 are 
provided spring means (not shown) which bias member 53 so as to return to 
the position as illustrated. 
The opening angle and the inclined position of the cover 11 and the bottom 
12 of the microfiche cassette are such that ample space is provided for 
permitting spadelike element or foot 55 to be located in close spaced 
proximity of the bottom 12 during the periods that a loading of the 
microfiche cassette has to take place. 
The spade-like element 55 is suspended by means of a connecting member 56 
from master shaft 49. The small clearance between the bottom 12 and the 
spade-like element acts as a guide channel 57 through which a sheet (not 
shown) is effectively guided in the grooves provided in the cassette 
bottom 12 (see again FIG. 1). 
Part of the platform 50 is also resiliently displaceable (see further) in 
that an area of it may become substantially flush with the grooves in the 
bottom 12 in order to exclude the slightest misalignment of the loaded 
microfiche. The concerned part of the platform 50 is brought in operative 
position with the help of an eccentric 58 which displaces the part in 
question over a few millimeters. 
When the loading cycle has come to an end, the spade-like element 55 is 
rotated (see arrow 59) in upward direction in order to assume a withdrawn 
position 55b as indicated in dotted lines. The rotation of master shaft 49 
also racks the extremity of arm 48 to a lower position, thereby bringing 
light screen 47 over slot 46 and light-tightly closing the latter. At that 
moment, a mechanical impulse is given to the cover 11 of such a magnitude 
that the center of gravity of the cover 11 is shifted over the hinges 14, 
15 so that closure of the cover 11 is accelerated. The momentum of the 
cover at the instant the bottom 12 is met, is sufficiently high to 
overcome the resistance of the spring-biased locking elements 19, 20 so 
that the latter may snap into their associated holes in the bottom, 
thereby locking the microfiche cassette. 
The screen 13 (see FIG. 1 and further) is then positioned relative to the 
platform 50 so that the guides provided on the latter and in the screen 
are substantially in direct line of each other so that the cover 11 and 
the bottom 12, now locked together may be slid from the platform 50 to the 
screen 13, so that no risk exists for the microfiche to become fogged. 
The working of the dispensing station 43 is illustrated and detailed in the 
further course of the description. 
The dispensing station 43 and compartment 45 are separated from each other 
by a wall 60 in which an opening is provided which is light-tightly 
screened by means of a cover 61. When a pack of microfiches has to be 
placed in the dispensing station 43, the operator slips his hands via 
opening 62 in the side walls in which is provided a loosely hanging 
tapered sleeve 63 of light opaque material. Opening 64 of the tube 63 is 
provided with a rubber band which tightly fits around the wrists of the 
operator so that the protecting sleeve around the pack of microfiches may 
be safely removed and the open pack placed in the dispensing station 43 
via the opening in wall 60, whereinafter the opening is closed by cover 
61. In so doing, no danger exists that the contents of the dispensing 
station 43 would be inadvertently struck by ambient light. 
In FIG. 3 is illustrated in more detail how the temporary guide, necessary 
for a reproducible feeding of a microfiche into the microfiche cassette, 
is formed. 
The main constituents of the mechanism are formed by the platform 50 and 
the spade-like element 55 which is linked to master shaft 49 by means of 
connecting member 56. Master shaft 49 is pivoted by means of a slide bar 
65 which upon longitudinal displacement imparts a rotating motion to arm 
66 fixedly secured to master shaft 49. The arm 66 is resiliently biased by 
means of a spring 67 or analogous device, which biasing is such that 
master shaft 49 will tend to take such a position that the spade-like 
element 55 is kept in its uppermost direction. Upon displacing slide bar 
65 in the direction of arrow 68 the spade-like element 55 assumes the 
working position as illustrated. 
As may be seen, platform 50 is provided with a U-shaped groove 69 which 
defines a rectangular tongue-like part 70 which, due to the fact that one 
edge of it is integral with the platform 50, is capable to undergo small 
elastic deformations, i.e. flexing slightly, under the influence of 
eccentric 58 contacting its bottom side. The width of the rectangular 
tongue 70 is somewhat smaller than that of the opening 16 in bottom 12 of 
the cassette (see FIG. 1) so that when rectangular tongue 70 is urged 
upwardly by means of the eccentric 58, its forefront edge can assume a 
position which is substantially coincident with the groove 18 in the 
bottom 12 of the microfiche cassette. In so doing, a microfiche (not 
shown) being dispensed will always be directed such as to be positioned 
upon the peripheral groove 18 (see again FIG. 1) as any misalignment would 
be compensated by the upward deviation exerted by the part 70 in flexed 
position. The tongue 70 of the platform 50 is brought in upwardly flexed 
position with the help of eccentric 58 which exerts its driving force as a 
consequence of the partial rotation of shaft 71. This partial rotation is 
caused by the push exerted by rod 72 mounted on slide 65 upon the upwardly 
bent portion 73 of shaft 71 during the dispensing and loading cycles of 
the microfiche cassette loader. 
As may also be derived from FIG. 3, the cover 11 (which is only partially 
show for the sake of clarity) rests against a support wheel 74 carried by 
a twice bent shaft 75. The latter bears at its other extremity a cam 76 
which may be pivoted over a predetermined angle by the projection 77 on 
slide 65 during the longitudinal displacement of the latter. The mounting 
of cam 76 on shaft 75 occurs through the intermediary of a spring-element 
78 which prevent that the rotation of cam 76 would involve a corresponding 
rotation of the shaft 75 when slide 65 advances in the direction indicated 
by arrow 68. During the returning movement of slide 65 after loading, 
however, when spade-like element 55 is moving upwardly, the rotation of 
cam 76 is transmitted to shaft 75 so that the support wheel 74 pushes the 
cover 11 of the microfiche cassette in the sense indicated by arrow 79. 
This pushing causes the center of gravity of the cover 11 to pass past the 
hinges of the microfiche cassette (see FIG. 2) so that the cover 11 
acquires a momentum of growing magnitude when falling towards bottom 12. 
The magnitude of the momentum may become so high that it suffices for 
overcoming the biasing forces exerted upon the locks of the cover 11 (see 
FIG. 2) so that the locks 19, 20 snap in their corresponding holes 23, 24 
and the microfiche cassette becomes locked. It will be clear from the 
foregoing that the loading and closing of the microfiche cassette may be 
carried out in a reliable position. It must be kept in mind that the 
mechanism as illustrated and described may be subjected to variations and 
that there may be devised a variety of equivalents for the parts and 
mechanisms involved. 
In FIG. 4 are illustrated the dispensing station 43 and compartment 45 via 
which a stack of microfiches is placed into the former. As the loading 
through opening 62 has already been described with reference to FIG. 2, 
the description of this cycle will not be repeated. The door 61 (in FIG. 
2) has been replaced by one which is capable to be brought in 
light-screening position by a sliding movement. Within the dispensing 
station 43 is located a stack of microfiches 79 which abut against 
abutting member 80 for the purpose of proper alignment. The correct 
placing of the stack of microfiches 79 against abutting member 80 is 
greatly facilitated by the provision of downwardly directed guide 81 which 
guides the stack towards abutting member 80 in a reproducible way. 
In order to keep the stack of microfiches 79 aligned in the course of the 
use of the loading device, a supplementary abutting member 82 is provided 
which is resiliently and displaceable mounted in a housing 83 under the 
influence of a spring 84. Due to the inclination of housing 83 and the 
consequent movement of abutting member 82, the protruding portion 85 of 
the latter remains in contact with the trailing edge of the stack 79 so 
that any misalignment is automatically compensated. The uppermost 
microfiche of the stack 79 is taken by means of a sucker-cup 86. The 
description of the complete dispensing cycle will follow hereinafter. 
FIG. 5 shows the general set up of the microfiche cassette loading device 
40 according to the invention during the insertion of an empty cassette 10 
prior to the loading or the withdrawal of the latter after the loading 
step. The screen 13 forming part of the microfiche cassette unit 10 is 
placed in mating relationship with platform 50 through the intermediary of 
profiles 31 and 32 which engage corresponding profiles 87, 88 on the 
platform 50. This permits the microfiche cassette cover and bottom to 
slide out of the screen 13 and to rest on the platform 50 between the 
guides 51 and 52 (see FIG. 2) which lie in the direct line of the 
corresponding guides 27, 28 in the screen (FIG. 1). Due to the fact that 
the mating of the screen 13 and the platform 50 occurs in intimate 
relationship parasitic light can be excluded from falling upon a 
microfiche (not shown) kept in the groove 18 in the bottom 12 of the 
microfiche cassette (see FIG. 1). 
The interior of the housing 41 can be kept light-tight by means of a 
slidable door 89. 
In FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9, finally, are represented the steps to be performed 
by the microfiche dispensing mechanism during one dispensing cycle. 
The dispensing mechanism 90 essentially comprises an array of one or more 
sucker-cups 86 located above the stack of microfiches 79 in the vicinity 
of the leading edge of the latter. In case more than one sucker-cup 86 is 
provided, they are mounted on a common support which is positioned in 
parallel relationship with the leading edge of the microfiches 
constituting the stack. 
The sucker-cup array is suspended from a suction tube 91 via which air can 
be aspirated when connected to a source of vacuum (not shown) which vacuum 
is transmitted via the suction tube 91 to the interior of each sucker cup 
86. The suction tube 91 is freely suspended in a pair of arms 92 (one 
located at each side edge or longitudinal edge of the stack 79) which are 
fixedly secured to an associated lever 93. The set formed by the arm 92 
and the lever 93 is pivotable around a spindle 94. The free extremity of 
lever 93 carries a small roller bearing 95 which rests against a rotating 
cam 96, the latter by the movement conferred to the lever 93 and arm 94, 
controlling the microfiche dispensing cycle. Apart from being suspended 
from the suction tube 91, the sucker-cup 86 is provided with a small 
roller 97 which rests against a cam 98. By the fact that the centers of 
the suction tube 91 and of the roller 97 do not coincide, the sucker-cup 
86 is capable to perform small canting movements around the suction tube 
91. The stack of microfiches 79 rests against an abutting member 80 as 
already explained. On top of the abutting member is fitted a knife 99, the 
purpose of which will be explained further. 
In order to provide for a driving force for a dispensed microfiche towards 
the loading station (not shown) a plurality of transport rollers 100, 101, 
and 102 are provided. 
In FIG. 6 is illustrated the starting of the dispensing cycle. At that 
moment, the sucker-cup 86 takes hold of the uppermost sheet 103 of the 
stack of microfiches 79. Vacuum is applied to the interior of the 
sucker-cup 86. Even with the help of a slight underpressure, the surface 
of the uppermost sheet 103 firmly adheres to the suction mouth of the 
sucker-cup 86. The small roller 97 rests at the bottommost point of the 
inclined surface of cam 98. 
In FIG. 7 is shown the situation after cam 96 has performed a quarter of 
one revolution. Due to the increased distance between the center of 
rotation of the cam 96 and the roller 95, the whole set formed by the arm 
92 and the lever 93 has canted over an angle .alpha. so that as a 
consequence, the sucker-cup 86 is lifted and due to the inclined plane on 
cam 98 assumes a position which facilitates the separation from the 
uppermost sheet 103 from the rest of the stack 79. The uppermost sheet 103 
assumes a concavely shaped configuration while being displaced in upward 
direction. 
FIG. 8 shows the situation when the cam 96 has performed a 180 degrees 
rotation. At that moment, the leading edge of the uppermost sheet 103 
reaches the knife 99 and is arrested by the latter during a small time 
lapse, which is however sufficiently long to permit any other microfiche 
sheet which by accident should stick to the uppermost one to become 
separated from the latter and to fall back on the stack again. Sticking of 
film sheets together may be caused by static electrification, the creation 
of a partial vacuum between adjacent sheets, etc. These phenomena are 
sufficiently known in the art and need therefore no further explanation. 
The presence of knife 99 serves the purpose of forcing a microfiche 
adhering to the uppermost one 103 to undergo a small displacement. This 
relative sliding of both sheets destroys any partial vacuum or slightly 
separates the sheets from each other so that the adhesion forces are 
lowered and are not sufficient anymore to carry the weight of the sheet 
which was taken from the stack by accident. 
In FIG. 9 is illustrated the situation at the moment the uppermost sheet 
103 is delivered to the transport roller unit 100, 101, and 102. At that 
moment, the unit formed by arm 92 and lever 93 has acquired the maximum 
swinging angle and the vacuum in the interior of the sucker cup 86 is 
released. The leading edge of the uppermost sheet 103 is consequently 
released and is taken in the nip of rollers 100 and 102 which direct it to 
the proper loading station. The loading cycle was described with reference 
to FIGS. 2 and 3.