IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO MICROFICHE READERS

Abstract: A microfiche reader (1) in which the position of the microfiche holding means (14) is governed by the electric drive motors (5, 17) with feedback information being supplied so that the position of the microfiche for viewing purposes can be controlled by external electric control means (4).

Description: IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO MICROFICHE READERS' This invention relates to microfiche readers of a type in which a microfiche film is adapted to be held relatively to a beam of light by which selected portions of the microfiche can be viewed as a magnified lighted image. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The problem to which this invention is directed relates firstly to the now developing value of devices of the above type normally referred to as "microfiche readers" and a problem of making these more easily usable in some situations and able to be used by other people who normally would not be able to operate microfiche readers of present design. It is well known, 4 that the cost of a microfiche can be somewhat cheaper than a comparable book which nonetheless has equivalent information. For persons such as those who are disabled in some specific way, there could be great value in having access to information contained on microfiche for instance being able to read a book which has been retained on a microfiche but the difficulty is to provide means by which such people can operate the controls of a conventional microfiche reader such that they can achieve location of the material . and sequential referencing. OBJECT OF THIS INVENTION The object of this invention is therefore to propose an arrangement with respect to a microfiche OMPI s-'v Vv'IPO reader which can assist in generally alleviating the above problems so that persons such as but not limited to handicapped persons can more easily operate such readers to their advantage. CONCEPT OF THE INVENTION By providing drive means associated with the movement of the microfiche holding means so that such drive means, can control the position of the microfiche holding means with respect to both a first axis and a second axis at right angles to the first axis these all being at right angles to the viewing direction through the microfiche holding means, enables the positioning of a microfiche with respect to the viewing position to be automatically controlled and by providing for- intelligent control, fQr instance, by' using computer signal control, the position of the microfiche when held in the microfiche holding means can be determined either absolutely or relatively or can be shifted with respect to sequential positions so that persons can provide the simplest of signals to effect location and therefore availability of specific information on a microfiche. To this extent then, the invention could be said in one form to reside in a microfiche reader of a type incorporating a base, light generating and transmission elements arranged to effect a passage of light through a microfiche holding location such that a microfiche image may be viewable from a front viewing screen above a movable carriage, the movable carriage for holding the microfiche including a first carriage member adapted to hold the microfiche and adapted to move relatively in a forward to aft direction with respect to a first support element, and the first support element being adapted to move in a transverse direction relative to the base, the apparatus being characterised according to this invention in that there are microfiche holding means supported by the said movable carriage, a first drive means coupled to effect control of the position of the microfiche holding means with respect to a first axis, and a second drive means drivably coupled so as to affect the position of the microfiche holding means to effect control of the position of the microfiche holding means with respect to a second axis which is at right angles to the first said axis and where both the first said axis and the second said axis are transversely orientated to the direction of passage of light therepast, and position reference generating means providing for electrical reference signals to be "generated to enable electrical control apparatus to be reference with at least a relative position of the microfiche holding means in relation to each of the said axes. Preferably there are further provided position reference means arranged and adapted so that upon the position of the microfiche holding means reaching at least one detection position relative to the base, an identifiable electrical signal will be able to be generated indicating coincidence of the microfiche holding means with the said detection position. OMPI Preferably the first drive means is a drive motor and this is located at or toward a rear of the microfiche holding means. Preferably the first drive means comprising of a drive motor is supported by the first support element. Preferably the second drive means comprise a drive motor and this is supported by being affixed to the base. Preferably the position reference generating means comprise a tachometer drivably connected to a drive shaft from each said drive motor where the drive means are a drive motor. Preferably the tachometer provides an electrical output signal upon rotation of the drive shaft such that at least every full rotation -of the drive shaft will provide an identifiable signal. Preferably each of the drive motors where these comprise the respective drive means are coupled through a worm gear whereby the respective movable carriage or support element is determined in position with respect to its axis. Preferably the position reference means arranged and adapted so that upon the position of the microfiche holding means reaching at least one detection position relative to the base comprises a transmission element for effecting transmission of a visible light beam, a detector of such light beam located at an opposite side to a position across which the movable carriage -- ) . may move, the movable carriage either being arranged or having means such that when the movable carriage reaches at least the said detection position the status of transmission between the transmitting device and the detection device is changed so as to provide an identifiable signal output from the detector. With respect to the above features and preferred features, by using such features, the position of a microfiche when held in the microfiche holding means can be firstly established and then controlled by very simple activation of means such as a micro¬ processor controller. The microprocessor controller can be so programmed as to act in a number ways so as to now relatively position the microfiche holding means either with respect to a microfiche held within the holder or provide relative positioning so that, for instance, * a page of material on the microfiche can be firstly located absolutely with respect to the viewing screen area and can be changed for a next full page of infor¬ mation by very simple contact control typically, with the microprocessor. In relation to the specific mechanism, ic is preferred that the first said drive motor is coupled to the first carriage member by having a locazional member to one side of the said carriage which preferably is in the form of a spiral or worm member which engages through a coupling element secured to the said carriage member. The spiral member is orientated in a forward to aft direction and is rotatable about its own longitudi¬ nal axis by being coupled to a common transversely orientated shaft. y OMPI v,τ?o The drive connection between the drive motor which is orientated so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis includes a slidable gear member slidably engaging along the said transverse shaft. Where the second said drive means comprise a drive motor, this is preferably coupled in an operative manner to a rotatable worm drive specifically in the form of a rod having a spiral groove cut therealong and this is generally located centrally with respect to the support elements for the microfiche holding means and having engaging members on both sides, that is to a left hand side with respect to a front view and a right hand side-with respect to a front view of the microfiche holding means engaging the said spirally cut transversely orientated rod so that the position of the carriage with respec to its transverse position is governed by the rotational position of the said spirally cut rod. The location of the said second drive motor is such that its axis is horizontal and aligned in a forward to aft direction and it is located to one side of the base so that its shaft having secured thereon a worm drive is coupled to a matching gear coupling member secured directly to the said spirally cut rod. For a fuller understanding of this invention it will now be described with the assistance of drawings in which Figure 1 illustrates in the main a conventional microfiche reader at least in outline in which there is a base which is modified in accordance with this invention in accord with the preferred embodiment, Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the same preferred embodiment as shown in Figure 1 with however there being parts cut away so as to expose relevent working interrelationships. Now referring to the drawings in detail it is first to be noted that the preferred embodiment relates to an article which is presently mass produced and available for public use throughout the world and the preferred embodiment applies to improvements related to this basic microfiche reader. Accordingly, the microfiche reader has the conven¬ tional features that are available in respect of such well known machines including a source of light, means to hold a microfiche above the source of light, and various light transmission elements and members providing an enlarged and viewable reproduction of portion of the microfiche that might be held from time to time with respect to a front viewing screen. According to this preferred embodiment then, the microfiche viewer 1 includes an upper viewing screen 2 and a base 3 with control means 4 which includes such control devices as a microprocessor and software control means to effect input and output signal intelligence as may be necessary. The drive means include a first drive motor 5 which is directly affixed and thereby supported by a base frame 3 and there is internally incorporated and therefore not externally visible means providing as in the manner of a tachogenerator an electrical signal provided upon each rotation of a drive shaft of the drive motor 5. The relative orientation of any axes or members shall be referred to as if they relate to a person viewing a microfiche through the screen and with the article located on a horizontal plane. Accordingly the first drive motor 5 is orientated so as to have its drive shaft and rotor secured thereto rotatable about a vertical axis and at the lower end of this there is located a gear element 6 which includes a worm shaped gear toothing arrangement which is arranged to engage gear element 7 which is slidably engaging the rotatable shaft 8. .The Relationship between the gear element 7 and the shaft 8 Is such that the shaft 8 is multifaceted and there is a corresponding multifacet aperture within the gear element 7 so that the two are not relatively rotatable one with respect to the other so that there is continued a drive coupling between the two regardless of the position along the length of the drive shaft 8 of gear element 7. The multifaceted side is in this particular instance of hexagonal shape. At the ends of shaft 8 are support bushings 9 and at the left hand end there is a gearing intercon¬ nection so as to provide a rotatable interconnection between the shaft 8 and the spiral rod 10. Accordingly the spiral rod 10 engages co-operatively with two bushes 12 and 13 which are secured to the carriage member 14. This carriage member 14 is movable in a forward to aft direction which is determined thereby by the relative rotational position of the motor 5. The arrangement therefore is that the drive motor 5 is fixed with relation to the base 3 providing however a drivable coupling to the carriage 14 which can also however be moved in a transverse direction. The drive means with respect to effecting this control of the position with respect to the transverse direction includes the second drive motor 17.which controls the position of the guides 15 and 16, the motor 17 being positioned so # as to rotate with its rotational axis aligned horizontally and in forward to aft direction and with its shaft coupled at 18 to a gear element 19 which is in turn secured to the end of a spirally cut rod 20. The spirally cut rod 20 is fixed in terms of positional location with respect to the base 3 but is of course free to rotate about its own longitudinal axis and is in complementary engagement with bush 21 which is secured to cross member 22 which is secured to the guides 15 and 16. There is also a tachogenerator within the second drive motor 17 whereby the relative position of the guides 15 and 16 and therefore the transverse position of the carriage member 14 is governed by the relative position of the motor 17. Not shown but nonetheless incorporated within the apparatus shown is a light transmission element, a light detecting element and a mask secured to the carriage member 14 so that in an extreme position that is, typically, the furthest available position 5 for the carriage in an aft direction and the furthest available position with respect to the guides 15 and 16 in a left as compared to a right position there will be a transmission permitted so that a detection of the light beam transmitted from the ° light element will be detected and the signal thus effected available to the control processor. Accordingly, with the arrangement described, upon start-up, a microprocessor can provide control of the several drive motors 5 and 17 so that these can be driven in a first selected direction so as to provide a reference location for the microprocessor for subsequent location in an absolute sense of any microfiche held in the carriage member. Subsequent control of the position of the microfiche when held in the carriage member is thus controllable by appropriate signals and electric drive currents being supplied from a microprocessor or control mechanism with feedback as to the results of such signals being achievable by reference to the tachogenerator output signals. Accordingly it will be seen that the first said drive motor determines the position of microfiche holding means with respect to a first said axis which is in the forward to aft direction and of course at right angles to any direction of light passing O ΛTl through the holding means and the second said drive motor controls the position of microfiche holding means with respect to an axis in a transverse direction at right angles to the first said axis and also at right angles to the direction of light intended to pass through the microfiche holding means .

Claims: The claims defining this invention are as follows:- 1. A microfiche reader of a type Incorporating a base, light generating and transmission elements arranged to effect a passage of light through a micro¬ fiche holding location such that a microfiche image may be viewable from a front viewing screen above a movable carriage, the movable carriage for holding the microfiche including a first carriage member adapted to hold a microfiche and adapted to move relatively in a forward to aft direction with respect to a first support element and the first support element being adapted to move in a transverse direction relative to the base, the apparatus being characterised according to this invention in that there is included microfiche holding means, a first drive means drivably coupled to effect control ' of the microfiche holding means with respect to a first axis, and a ' second drive means drivably coupled to the microfiche holding means to effect control of the position of the micro¬ fiche holding means with respect to a second axis which is at right angles to the first said axis and at right angles to any expected direction of light passing through the microfiche when held in the micro¬ fiche holding means, and position reference generating means providing for electrical reference signals to be generated to enable electrical control apparatus to be referenced with at least a relative position of the microfiche holding means in relation to each of the said axes. 2. A microfiche reader as in Claim 1 further character¬ ised in that there is provided position reference means arranged and adapted so that upon the position of the microfiche holding means reaching at least a selected detection position relative to the base, an identifiable electrical signal will be able to be generated indicating coincidence of the microfiche holding means with the said selected detection position. 3. A microfiche reader as in either of Claims 1 or 2 further characterised in that the said first drive means comprise a drive motor located at or toward a rear of the microfiche holding means. 4. A microfiche reader as in any one of Clains 1, -2 or 3 further characterised in that the second- said drive means comprise a drive motor. * 5. A microfiche reader as in any one of the preceding claims further characterised in that the first said drive motor is operatively coupled to control the position of the first carriage member with respect to an axis which is aligned in a forward to aft direction. 6. A microfiche reader as in Claim 5 further character¬ ised in that the first said drive motor is affixed to the base and is operatively coupled to the carriage member by means of a gear member slidably engaging a shaft secured to the carriage member. 7. A microfiche reader as in either Claims 3 or 4 in which the position reference generating means comprise a tachogenerator coupled to the rotatably driven by the shaft of the respective drive motors. O...FI y>. v/ipo 8. A microfiche reader as in Claim 2 in which the said position reference means comprise a light trans¬ mission element, a light detection element and means with the microfiche holding means adapted to move therewith and to provide a detectable transmission of the light and hence electrical output signal upon the selected detection position of the microfiche holding means being reached. 9. A microfiche reader substantially as described in the specification with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. '

Inventors: MEGYESI IMRE E
Applicants: BOWMAN MFG PTY R W, MEGYESI IMRE E
Application year: 1981
Main classification: G03B21
IPC codes: G03B21, G06K17