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FEB 16 WO

NBS TECHNICAL NOTE 516

A Selective Roll-to-Roll Printer

for Producing Duplicate Microfilm Copies

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS

The National Bureau of Standards ' was established by an act of Congress March 3, 1901. Today,

in addition to serving as the Nation's central measurement laboratory, the Bureau is a principal

focal point in the Federal Government for assuring maximum application of the physical and

engineering sciences to the advancement of technology in industry and commerce. To this end

the Bureau conducts research and provides central national services in four broad program

areas. These are: (1) basic measurements and standards, (2) materials measurements and

standards, (3) technological measurements and standards, and (4) transfer of technology.

The Bureau comprises the Institute for Basic Standards, the Institute for Materials Research, the

Institute for Applied Technology, the Center for Radiation Research, the Center for Computer

Sciences and Technology, and the Office for Information Programs.

THE INSTITUTE FOR BASIC STANDARDS provides the central basis within the United

States of a complete and consistent system of physical measurement; coordinates that system with measurement systems of other nations; and furnishes essential services leading to accurate and

uniform physical measurements throughout the Nation's scientific community, industry, and commerce. The Institute consists of an Office of Measurement Services and the following technical

divisions:Applied Mathematics—Electricity—Metrology—Mechanics—Heat—Atomic and Molecular Physics—Radio Physics -—Radio Engineering -—Time and Frequency -—Astrophysics - —Cryogenics.2 THE INSTITUTE FOR MATERIALS RESEARCH conducts materials research leading to im- proved methods of measurement standards, and data on the properties of well-characterized

materials needed by industry, commerce, educational institutions, and Government; develops,

produces, and distributes standard reference materials; relates the physical and chemical properties of materials to their behavior and their interaction with their environments; and provides

advisory and research services to other Government agencies. The Institute consists of an Office of Standard Reference Materials and the following divisions: Analytical Chemistry—Polymers—Metallurgy—Inorganic Materials—Physical Chemistry.

THE INSTITUTE FOR APPLIED TECHNOLOGY provides technical services to promote

the use of available technology and to facilitate technological innovation in industry and Government; cooperates with public and private organizations in the development of technological

standards, and test methodologies; and provides advisory and research services for Federal, state, and local government agencies. The Institute consists of the following technical divisions and

offices: Engineering Standards—Weights and Measures — Invention and Innovation —Vehicle Systems Research—Product Evaluation—Building Research—Instrument Shops—Measurement Engineering—Electronic Technology—Technical Analysis.

THE CENTER FOR RADIATION RESEARCH engages in research, measurement, and application of radiation to the solution of Bureau mission problems and the problems of other agencies and institutions. The Center consists of the following divisions: Reactor Radiation—Linac Radiation—Nuclear Radiation—Applied Radiation. THE CENTER FOR COMPUTER SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY conducts research and

provides technical services designed to aid Government agencies in the selection, acquisition,

and effective use of automatic data processing equipment; and serves as the principal focus

for the development of Federal standards for automatic data processing equipment, techniques,

and computer languages. The Center consists of the following offices and divisions: Information Processing Standards—Computer Information — Computer Services — Sys- tems Development—Information Processing Technology.

THE OFFICE FOR INFORMATION PROGRAMS promotes optimum dissemination and

accessibility of scientific information generated within NBS and other agencies of the Federal government; promotes the development of the National Standard Reference Data System and a system of information analysis centers dealing with the broader aspects of the National Measure- ment System, and provides appropriate services to ensure that the NBS staff has optimum accessibility to the scientific information of the world. The Office consists of the following

organizational units: Office of Standard Reference Data—Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information ' —Office of Technical Information and Publications—Library—Office of Public Information—Office of International Relations.

1 Headquarters and Laboratories at Gaithersburg. Maryland, unless otherwise noted; mailing address Washington. D.C. 20234.

' Located at Boulder. Colorado 80302.

' Located at 5285 Port Royal Road. Springfield. Virginia 22151.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Maurice H. Stans, Secretary

NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS • Lewis M. Branscomb, Director

NBS TECHNICAL NOTE 516

ISSUED FEBRUARY 1970

Nat. Bur. Stand. (U.S.), Tech. Note 516, 9 pages (Feb. 1970)

CODEN: NBTNA

A Selective Roll-to-Roll Printer

for Producing Duplicate Microfilm Copies

James N. Strohlein and Thomas C. Bagg

Information Processing Technology Division

Center for Computer Sciences and Technology

National Bureau of Standards

Washington, D.C. 20234

NBS Technical Notes are designed to supplement the Bureau's regular publications program. They provide a means for making available scientific data that are of transient or limited interest. Technical Notes may be

listed or referred to in the open literature.

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C, 20402.

(Order by SD Catalog No. C 13.46:516). Price 25 cents.

A Selective Roll-to-Roll Printer for

Producing Duplicate Microfilm Copies*

" SELECTAFRAME" PRINTER

James N. Strohlein and Thomas C. Bagg

The "Selectaframe" printer, a convenient

device for copying onto roll film selected

frames from other rolls of film for subsequent

automatic enlargement printing is described

in detail.

Key words: Information retrieval device;

microcopier; microfilm duplicator;

reader-printer; selective copier

One widely used method to cope with the vast quantities

of printed information is to microfilm originals and retain

only the filmed copies. This has been commercially practiced

for more than 40 years and many organizations have extensive

film holdings in their libraries. Reference may be made to

the information contained on these stored reels of film by

viewing them on microfilm readers, and enlarged paper copies

may be made if one uses a microfilm reader-printer. The

latter is suitable to meet the needs of individuals who

normally copy a small number of pages. However, for organizations which have large volume requirements for the

selection and production of enlarged paper copies of references contained in their microfilm holdings, conventional

reader-printers are not satisfactory. (Each print requires

one cycle of operation usually requiring a fraction of a

minute and as single sheets are used, the cost per sheet is

high , depending on coating .

)

The National Library of Medicine is developing a large

file of microimages of deteriorating paper documents, in

roll form. As part of its interlibrary loan and reference

services enlargement prints are frequently required of

selected articles from this file. The commercial copying

devices available are designed to copy entire rolls to either

film or paper. The conventional reader-printers are slow to

operate, use costly paper and require great care to insure

no damage to the master films. To overcome these difficulties

* Work sponsored by the National Library of Medicine,

Washington, D.C. 20514

1
the National Bureau of Standards was asked to design and

build a prototype "Selectaframe" printer as shown in

figure 1. Basically it is a roll- to-roll printer specifically designed to generate duplicate frames on diazo film.

As with conventional 35 mm roll film readers, the optics

permit viewing the image on a large screen. The operator

locates the desired frame in the usual manner either

manually or by semi-automatic means such as using an odometer,

electric frame counter, or such. When the desired frame is

located, the operator presses the copy button which closes

the gate to hold the original image film tightly to the

copy film and activates the shutter for exposure. This

film gate was designed to minimize the possibilities of

scratching the film and yet obtain adequate contact pressure

between the films for maximum information transfer. The

film gate also contains a mask for adding a cut mark to each

frame in the lower left hand corner. This cut mark permits

automatic cutting of the enlargement prints. A single

mercury lamp is used for both viewing and printing. The

shutter is an ultraviolet filter which transmits only

visible light to the projection system for viewing. During

exposure the filter is flipped out of the optical path by a

time controlled solenoid. For a typical diazo emulsion, the

exposure time is about 3 seconds. After the exposure is

completed and the shutter is closed, the film gate opens so

the exposed diazo film can be automatically advanced for the

next frame.

Upon completion of a series of exposures the exposed

diazo film is removed from the printer and may then be

developed in a diazo processor. Enlargement prints are made

on an electrostatic roll-film printer and the pages cut and

stacked automatically.

Figure 2 shows the completed machine in operation, with

an image to be copied displayed on the screen. The operator's

right hand is on the traversing lever, his left is near the

"copy button". The cartridges shown were also fabricated

at NBS by modifying 16 mm cartridges so that they would

accept 35 mm film. On the panel to the left of the viewing

screen is an alarm which signals depletion of the copy film

supply, a counter which indicates the number of frames copied,

and the main power "on-off" switch.

Figure 3 shows NBS instrument maker Charles Summers

making an adjustment. This view, made with the upper housing

(which contains the mirrors and viewing screen) removed

shows the main components. The working master may be on

conventional 100 foot reels or in 35 mm cartridges. The

transparent copy film is shown feeding from the supply reel

(which will accept 500 foot cored rolls) through the film
gate to a conventional take-up reel driven by a modified

microfilm camera film advance mechanism. The film gate

consists of two optical flats which are held apart when

the master film is moving for the selection scanning. If

a frame is selected for copying, the flats are forced

together by the cams which are actuated by a solenoid

connected to the cable shown alongside the projection lens.

In addition, there are adjustable masks in the gate to

block out partial images of adjoining pages which appear

due to the close spacing of images of small pages on the

original film.

As the copy film is transparent, light for projection

of the masterfilm image passes through both films for

viewing on the screen. A single 400 watt high intensity

mercury source is used. Since the diazo film is exposed

with ultraviolet radiation, either movement of one of the

films or the use of separate light sources is avoided by

employing an ultraviolet filter which is interposed during

the scanning mode (thus permitting only visible light to

pass) and automatically retracted during the copy or

exposure cycle. In Figure 3 the filter is shown in its

retracted position between the film gate and the lamp

housing, which contains a parabolic reflector and a quartz

window supported by the lamp holders, all of which are

enclosed in a shroud (not shown) to shield the light from

the operator and to distribute the required cooling air.

A bi-metal switch is provided to insure that the blowers

remain on after the machine is turned off until the housing

has cooled, and also a thermal fuse to turn the lamp off

if the housing becomes excessively hot.

The master film is driven by a single motor with a

clutch-brake linkage to the two reel shafts. Slow and fast,

forward and reverse movement is controlled by a single

toggle switch conveniently located on the base plate. The

take-up reel drive is actuated as part of a cycle which is

initiated by the operator when it is desired to copy a

frame. The 'copy' push-button causes (1) the flats to

press the two film emulsion surfaces together, (2) the U.V.

filter to retract, (3) the initiation of a pre-set timer

for the exposure length, (4) the film to advance one

frame length upon completion of exposure.

Figure 4 shows the electrical circuits, covering the

items described and also an alarm to signal depletion of

the supply film, indicator lights to show cycle function

and an auxiliary momentary contact switch to advance

copy film without exposure when required for spacing runs

or loading.

TRANSPARENT COPY FILM (DIAZO)

WORKING MASTER FILM

Figure 1. Basic scheme as proposed to NLM
Figure 2. "SELECTAFRAME" in operation
Figure 3. Main plate showing light source, filter -shutter,

film gate, projection lens
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THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC GOAL

Sustained maximum growth in a free market economy, without inflation,

under conditions of full employment

and equal opportunity

THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

The historic mission of the Department

is "to foster, promote and develop the

foreign and domestic commerce" of the United States. This has evolved, as a result of legislative and administrative

additions, to encompass broadly the re- sponsibility to foster, serve and promote

the nation's economic development and

technological advancement. The Department seeks to fulfill this mission through

these activities:

rticipating with

ler government

sncies in the

ation of national

licy, through the

jsident's Cabinet

d its subdivisions.

sbinet Committee

in Economic Policy

Jrban Affairs

Council

nvironmental

luality Council

Promoting progressive business policies and

growth.

• Business and Defense Services

Administration

• Office of Field Services

Assisting states, communities and

individuals toward economic progress.

• Economic

Development

Administration

• Regional Planning

Commissions

• Office of Minority Business Enterprise

TE: This schematic is neither an organization chart nor a

(gram outline for budget purposes. It is a general statement

the Department's mission in relation to the national goal economic development.

LY 1969

MISSION AND

FUNCTIONS

OF THE

DEPARTMENT OF

COMMERCE

"to foster, serve and

promote the nation's

economic development

and technological

advancement"

Strengthening

the international economic position

of the United

States.

• Bureau of International Commerce

• Office of Foreign

Commercial

Services

• Office of Foreign

Direct Investments

• United States

Travel Service

• Maritime

Administration

Assuring effective use and growth of the

nation's scientific and technical resources.

• Environmental Science Services

Administration

Patent Office

National Bureau of Standards

Office of Telecommunications

Office of State

Technical Services

Acquiring, analyzing

and disseminating

information concerning the nation and

the economy to help achieve increased

social and economic

benefit.

• Bureau of the Census

• Office of Business Economics

NBS TECHNICAL PUBLICATIONS

PERIODICALS NONPERIODICALS

JOURNAL OF RESEARCH reports National

Bureau of Standards research and development in

physics, mathematics, chemistry, and engineering.

Comprehensive scientific papers give complete details of the work, including laboratory data, experimental

procedures, and theoretical and mathematical analyses. Illustrated with photographs, drawings, and

charts.

Published in three sections, available separately: • Physics and Chemistry

Papers of interest primarily to scientists working in these fields. This section covers a broad range of

physical and chemical research, with major emphasis on standards of physical measurement, fundamental

constants, and properties of matter. Issued six times

a year. Annual subscription: Domestic, $9.50; foreign, $11.75*. • Mathematical Sciences

Studies and compilations designed mainly for the mathematician and theoretical physicist. Topics in mathematical statistics, theory of experiment design,

numerical analysis, theoretical physics and chemistry, logical design and programming of computers

and computer systems. Short numerical tables. Issued quarterly. Annual subscription: Domestic,

$5.00; foreign, $6.25*. • Engineering and Instrumentation

Reporting results of interest chiefly to the engineer

and the applied scientist. This section includes many

of the new developments in instrumentation resulting

from the Bureau's work in physical measurement,

data processing, and development of test methods.

It will also cover some of the work in acoustics,

applied mechanics, building research, and cryogenic

engineering. Issued quarterly. Annual subscription:

Domestic, $5.00; foreign, $6.25*.

TECHNICAL NEWS BULLETIN

The best single source of information concerning the Bureau's research, developmental, cooperative and

publication activities, this monthly publication is designed for the industry-oriented individual whose

daily work involves intimate contact with science and

technology

for engineers, chemists, physicists, re- search managers, product-development managers, and

company executives. Annual subscription: Domestic,

$3.00; foreign, $4.00*.

* Difference in price is due to extra cost of foreign nailing.

Applied Mathematics Series. Mathematical tables, manuals, and studies. Building Science Series. Research results, test methods, and performance criteria of building materials, components, systems, and structures. Handbooks. Recommended codes of engineering

and industrial practice (including safety codes) de- veloped in cooperation with interested industries,

professional organizations, and regulatory bodies. Special Publications. Proceedings of NBS conferences, bibliographies, annual reports, wall charts,

pamphlets, etc. Monographs. Major contributions to the technical

literature on various subjects related to the Bureau's

scientific and technical activities. National Standard Reference Data Series.

NSRDS provides quantitive data on the physical

and chemical properties of materials, compiled from

the world's literature and critically evaluated. Product Standards. Provide requirements for sizes, types, quality and methods for testing various industrial products. These standards are developed cooperatively with interested Government and industry groups

and provide the basis for common understanding of product characteristics for both buyers and sellers. Their use is voluntary.

Technical Notes. This series consists of communications and reports (covering both other agency and

NBS-sponsored work) of limited or transitory interest. Federal Information Processing Standards Publications. This series is the official publication within

the Federal Government for information on standards

adopted and promulgated under the Public Law

89-306, and Bureau of the Budget Circular A-86

entitled, Standardization of Data Elements and Codes

in Data Systems.

CLEARINGHOUSE

The Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and

Technical Information, operated by NBS, supplies

unclassified information related to Government-generated science and technology in defense, space, atomic energy, and other national programs. For

further information on Clearinghouse services, write: Clearinghouse

U.S. Department of Commerce

Springfield, Virginia 22151

Order NBS publications from: Superintendent of Documents

Government Printing Office

Washington, D.C. 20402
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20230

OFFICIAL BUSINESS POSTAGE AND FEES PAID

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE