Kodak Microfiche-Positioning Mechanism

One problem with conventional microfiche viewers in 1979 was the difficulty of positioning the image on the screen, without “stiction” that caused jerky motion and the fiche to stop early or overshoot. Developed by Steve Hines in 1977 at the Kodak Research Laboratories.

Shown conceptually, the microfiche rests on a pair of longitudinal rubber rollers, which rest on a pair of lateral rollers on the top of the viewer. The high friction of the rubber prevents slippage but allows the microfiche to be freely positioned under the light.

The user lifts the cover glass to insert the microfiche.

The entire mechanism is very compact and self contained because the rollers move only half as far as the microfiche, always staying within the dimensions of the microfiche.

The frame 74 hovers around the guides and rollers to keep the assembly together.

Due to the almost-zero rolling friction, the fiche holder can be moved with the resistance of pushing a cork floating on water.

The lamphouse hovers slightly above the moving fiche frame so that there is no friction drag.

This is the subject of U.S. patent 4,374,611, issued to Steve Hines and assigned to Eastman Kodak. Ref.; Hines’ lab notebook, p. 70.

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