MICROFILM READER PRINTER

• US 3,619,052 A
• Filed: 03/24/1969
• Issued: 11/09/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Thomas A. Turgeon, Wolodymyr Diachuk
• Original Assignee: Thomas A. Turgeon, Wolodymyr Diachuk
• Inventors: Diachuk, Wolodymyr, Turgeon, Thomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Matthews, Samuel S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wintercorn, Richard A.
• Application Number:
  US04/809,535
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 355/27,44,45,51,57,65,66
• US Class Current: 355/45
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/118 Reader-printers
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 27/586 Supply stacks; Peeling off

Abstract

This invention is a low-cost microfilm reader printer which uses sheet form print material. The invention utilizes a sheet-feeding mechanism having a compressible dispensing roll in contact with one end of a stack of sheet print material, and a guide-disposed adjacent the periphery of the roller. When rotated, the dispensing roller separates sheet in the stack and feeds successive sheets between the roller and the guide approximately 180* around the roller and directs the dispensed sheet to an exposure station above and parallel to the storage area. Subsequent to exposure, the exposed sheet is advanced to a developer.

Claims

1. A copy-sheet-dispensing mechanism comprising support means for supporting a stack of sheet material, a rotatable resilient compressible foam-covered dispensing roll disposed adjacent one end of said support means to be positioned in contact with one end of a single sheet of a stack of sheet material, and a guide member disposed around and contacting said dispensing roll in circumferentially spaced locations for directing each sheet as it is drawn off said stack around said dispensing roll to a position generally parallel with said support means.

2. A copy-sheet-dispensing mechanism according to claim 1 wherein said dispensing roll is compressible to accommodate a stack of sheet material and wherein the axis of said dispensing roll is fixed relative to said support means during operation of said mechanism to successively feed sheets from a said stack singly to said guide member.

3. A copy-sheet-dispensing mechanism according to claim -1 wherein said support means is pivotally mounted for movement relative to said dispensing roll and said mechanism comprises means for drawing said support means toward said dispensing roll and for moving said support means away from Said dispensing roll after rotation thereof through a predetermined arcuate extent.

4. A dispensing mechanism of claim 1 wherein said guide member has an arcuate path substantially identical that of said dispensing roll and is in contact with said roll.

5. A copy-sheet-dispensing mechanism comprising support means supporting a stack of sheet material, a rotatable foam-covered dispensing roll disposed adjacent one end of said support means to be positioned for engagement with a single sheet of material in said stack adjacent one end thereof, said dispensing roll having a high coefficient of friction with said sheet material to afford movement of a said sheet upon rotation thereof, a separating element positioned adjacent said one end of said support means to be adjacent said one end of a said stack, said separating element having a convex surface in adjacent position to the periphery of said dispensing roll with the axis of said convex surface being generally parallel to the axis of said dispensing roll, said separating element having a coefficient of friction with said sheet material less than that of said dispensing roll with said sheet material and which exceeds the coefficient of friction between individual sheets of said sheet material to be fed, whereby said dispensing roll may drive one or more sheets of material off a said stack toward said separating element and upon contact of said sheets other than said single sheet with said element, the sheets will be separated permitting only the single sheet to pass between said dispensing roll and said separating element.

6. A sheet-dispensing mechanism according to claim 5 wherein guide means is disposed in contact with said dispensing roll for guiding a said sheet separated from said stack around said dispensing roll, and said guide means defines a sheet support positioned generally parallel to said support means such that a said sheet driven from said stack is moved to a position generally parallel to said stack.

7. A sheet-dispensing mechanism according to claim 5 wherein said support means is pivotally mounted for movement on an axis parallel to the axis of said dispensing roll and said separating element, and means are provided for moving said support means toward said dispensing roll when a sheet from a said stack is to be separated therefrom.

8. A sheet-dispensing mechanism according to claim 7 wherein drive means is provided for driving said dispensing roll in one direction, said drive means including means for moving said support means in a direction away from said dispensing roll upon rotation thereof to a predetermined extent in said one direction.

9. A sheet-dispensing mechanism according to claim 6 wherein said guide member comprises spaced plates to position a sheet therebetween and a feeding roll spaced from said dispensing roll for movement through an opening in one of said plates to contact a said sheet and feed the same from between said plates.

10. A microfilm reader comprising a light source, a support for a microfilm, means for directing said light through said microfilm and for projecting a light image therefrom, a rear projection screen for viewing a said image means defining an exposure plane for positioning sensitized material to be exposed by a said light image, means for supporting a supply of sensitized sheet material, means for separating and feeding individual sheets of said material from said supply to said exposure plane to be exposed to said light image, and processor means for developing said sensitized sheet material, wherein said means for supporting said sensitized sheet material is a receptacle for a stack of said sheet material positioned generally parallel with said exposure plane, and wherein said means for separating and feeding said sheet material comprises:

a dispensing roll positioned for contact with a single sheet adjacent one end of said stack of sheet material; and

a guide member disposed around and contacting said dispensing roll in cirCumferentially spaced locations for directing each sheet as it is drawn off said stack around approximately one-half the periphery of said dispensing roll to said exposure plane.

11. A reader printer according to claim 10 wherein said means defining said exposure plane comprises guide plates positioned in substantially parallel position to and superimposed relative to said receptacle, and wherein said dispensing roll is positioned adjacent one end of said receptacle and a said stack and adjacent one end of said exposure plane, and said guide member is arcuate and cooperates with said dispensing roll for driving a sheet from a said stack and onto said exposure plane, whereby the sheet from the stack is inverted to place the sensitized coating of the sheet material in an exposed position and using an uncoated side to be contacted by said dispensing roll.

12. A reader printer as defined in claim 10 wherein said rear projection screen is at least 8 inches by 8 inches and said sheet material is at least 8 inches by 8 inches, and wherein said dispensing roll is formed of a closed cellular polymeric-foam material with an open-pore irregular surface.

13. A reader printer as defined in claim 11 further comprising a movable reflector having a first position for directing said light image to said rear projection screen and a second position permitting said light image to be directed to said exposure plane, manually operated means connected to said reflector for moving the same from said first position to said second position and back to said first position, drive means for said dispensing roll, said drive means being operated by said manually operated means when moving said reflector to said second position to drive a sheet.