Microfilm handling system

Claim 2

A microfilm handling apparatus capable of discriminating among batches of image frames recorded on a microfilm, comprising: transport means for selectively imparting a motion to said microfilm; an image receiving plane on which an image of the image frame positioned at a predetermined location is projected; designating means for designating a batch of image frames to be retrieved; detecting means, disposed apart from the predetermined location, for detecting positional relationship between the image frames included in the designated batch; memory means for storing the positional relationship detected by said detecting means; and control means for controlling said transport means based on the positional relationship stored in said memory means so that the image frames included in the designated batch are positioned at the predetermined location in a sequential order.

Claim 3

A microfilm handling apparatus according to claim 1, which further comprises copying means for copying the image frame positioned at the predetermined location on a recording paper.

Claim 4

A microfilm handling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said designating means designates the first and the last of the image frames.

Claim 5

A microfilm handling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means includes a sensor, disposed on the upstream side in the microfilm supplying direction relative to the predetermined location, for detecting blip marks affixed on the microfilm corresponding to the image frames.

Claim 6

A microfilm handling apparatus according to claim 4, which further comprises distance memory means for memorizing distance data which represent a distance between said sensor and predetermined location.

Claim 7

A microfilm handling apparatus according to claim 5, which further comprises means for revising the distance data memorized in said distance memory means.

Claim 8

A microfilm handling apparatus for handling a microfilm having a multiplicity of image frames recorded thereon, batch marks affixed thereon corresponding to the leading image frames of batches of image frames and frame marks affixed thereon corresponding to the image frames, the apparatus comprising; a film transport path for guiding the microfilm across a projected light path; copying means for copying the image frame positioned in the projected light path on a recording paper; detecting means, disposed apart from the projected light path, for detecting the batch marks and the frame marks; forward drive means for forwardly transporting the microfilm along the film transport path; backward drive means for backwardly transporting the microfilm along the film transport path; designating means for designating a batch of image frames to be retrieved; memory means for memorizing distances between the frame marks corresponding to the image frames which are included in the designated batch from detection of the batch mark corresponding to the designated batch until detection of the next batch mark during the course of the forward motion of the microfilm; and control means for controlling said copying means and said backward drive means so that the image frames included in the designated batch are sequentially copied from the last through the first of the image frames by repeating the copying operation performed by said copying means while the backward drive means are intermittently activated after the last image frame of the designated batch is positioned in the projected light path.

Claim 9

A microfilm handling apparatus for handling a microfilm having a multiplicity of image frames recorded thereon, batch marks affixed thereon corresponding to the leading image frames of batches of image frames and frame marks affixed thereon corresponding to the image frames, the apparatus comprising; a film transport path for guiding the microfilm across a projected light path; copying means for copying the image frame positioned in the projected light path on a recording paper; detecting means, disposed apart from the projected light path, for detecting the batch marks and the frame marks; forward drive means for forwardly transporting the microfilm along the film transport path; backward drive means for backwardly transporting the microfilm along the film transport path; designating means for designating a batch of image frames to be retrieved; memory means for memorizing distances between the frame marks corresponding to the image frames which are included in the designated batch from detection of the batch mark corresponding to the designated batch until detection of the next batch mark during the course of the forward motion of the microfilm; and control means for controlling said copying means and said backward drive means so that the image frames included in the designated batch are sequentially copied from the last through the first of the image frames by repeating the copying operation performed by said copying means while the backward drive means are intermittently activated after the last image frame of the designated batch is positioned in the projected light path.

Claim 10

A microfilm handling apparatus according to claim 7, which further comprises copy number setting means for setting a number of copies to be produced for each image frame and means for repeatedly activating said control means according to the number of copies set by said copy number setting means.

Claim 11

A microfilm handling apparatus according to claim 8, which further comprises means for renewing the distances memorized in said memory means during a copying operation producing a set of copies.

Claim 12

A microfilm handling apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said detecting means comprises a sensor disposed on the upstream side in the direction of the forward motion of the microfilm supplying direction relative to the projected light path.

Claim 13

A microfilm handling apparatus according to claim 10, which further comprises distance memory means for memorizing distance data which represent a distance between said sensor and projected light path.

Claim 14

A microfilm handling apparatus according to claim 11, which further comprises means for revising the distance data memorized in said distance memory means.

Claim 15

A microfilm handling apparatus for handling a microfilm having a multiplicity of image frames recorded thereon and blip marks affixed thereon corresponding to the image frames, the apparatus comprising; a film transport path for guiding the microfilm across a projected light path; copying means for copying the image frame positioned in the projected light path on a recording paper; detecting means, disposed apart from the projected light path, for detecting the batch marks and the frame marks; forward drive means for forwardly transporting the microfilm along the film transport path; backward drive means for backwardly transporting the microfilm along the film transport path; designating means for designating a batch of image frames to be retrieved; memory means for dividing the designated batch of image frames into units of image frames of a predetermined number and memorizing distances between the blip marks corresponding to the image frames which are included in the unit of image frames during the course of the forward motion of the microfilm; and control means for controlling said copying means and backward drive means so that the image frames included in the unit of image frames are sequentially copied from the last through the first of the image frames.

Claim 16

A microfilm handling apparatus for handling a microfilm having a multiplicity of image frames recorded thereon and blip marks affixed thereon corresponding to the image frames, the apparatus comprising; a film transport path for guiding the microfilm across a projected light path; copying means for copying the image frame positioned in the projected light path on a recording paper; detecting means, disposed apart from the projected light path, for detecting the batch marks and the frame marks; forward drive means for forwardly transporting the microfilm along the film transport path; backward drive means for backwardly transporting the microfilm along the film transport path; designating means for designating a batch of image frames to be retrieved; memory means for dividing the designated batch of image frames into units of image frames of a predetermined number and memorizing distances between the blip marks corresponding to the image frames which are included in the unit of image frames during the course of the forward motion of the microfilm; and control means for controlling said copying means and backward drive means so that the image frames included in the unit of image frames are sequentially copied from the last through the first of the image frames.

Claim 17

A microfilm handling apparatus according to claim 13, which further comprises copy number setting means for setting a number of copies to be produced for each image frame and means for repeatedly activating said control means according to the number of copies set by said copy number setting means.

Claim 18

A microfilm handling apparatus according to claim 14, which further comprises means for renewing the distances memorized in said memory means during a copying operation producing a set of copies.

Claim 19

A microfilm handling apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said detecting means comprises a sensor disposed on the upstream side in the direction of the forward motion of the microfilm supplying direction relative to the projected light path.

Claim 20

A microfilm handling apparatus according to claim 16, which further comprises distance memory means for memorizing distance data which represent a distance between said sensor and projected light path.

Claim 21

A microfilm handling apparatus according to claim 17, which further comprises means for revising the distance data memorized in said distance memory means.

Claim 24

A method according to claim 19, which further comprises a step of copying the image frame positioned in the image projecting light path.