CONTACT DUPLICATING AND RESEAU PRINTER AND HIGH RESOLUTION STEP AND REPEAT PRINTER EIGHTH MONTHLY LETTER REPORT

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78B04770A001600040018-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 16
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 27, 2005
• Sequence Number: 18
• Publication Date: March 10, 1965
• Content Type: REPORT

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CONTACT DUPLICATING AND RESEAU PRINTER
AND
HIGH RESOLUTION STEP AND REPEAT PRINTER
EIGHTH MONTHLY LETTER REPORT
MARCH 10, 1965
Period: February 1, 1965, to March 1, 1965.
NGA Review Complete
STAT-
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TABLE OF CONTENTS'
Section No.
Page No.
1.0 CONTACT DUPLICATING AND RESEAU PRINTER 1
1.1 Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
1.2 Activity of this Report Period 1
1.3 Plans for Next Report Period . . . 3
1.4 Problems . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.5 Documentation. . ... . . .
1.6 Questions Outstanding. . . . . . .
2.0 HIGH RESOLUTION STEP AND REPEAT PRINTER 6
2.1 Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.2 Activity of'this Report Period . .
2.2.1 Exposure Control and
Light Source. . . . . . . .
2.2.2 Film Drive and Transport. . 7
2.2.3 Film Gate . . . . . . . . 8
2.2.4 Code Reader . . . . . . 8
2.2.5 Electronic Packaging. . . 9
2.2.6 Human Factors . ... . . . . 10
2.3 Plans for Next Report Period . . . 11
2.4 Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
2,.4.1.-Edge Sensing. . . . . . . . 11
2.4.2 Film Coding . . . . . 11
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TABLE OF CONTENTS (cont'd)
Section No.
Page No.
2.0
2.5
Documentation . . . . . . . . . .
12
2.6
Questions Outstanding . . . . . .
12
3.0
STATUS OF FUNDS 13
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1.0 CONTACT DUPLICATING AND RESEAU PRINTER
1.1 Purpose
The overall objective of the current contract is the design,
fabrication, test, and delivery in fifteen months of a photo-
graphic Step and Repeat Contact Duplicating and Reseau Printer.
Prime design goals are high speed automatic operation, vari-
able format capability, and high resolution with minimum film
distortion or damage. The deliverable equipment will be suit-
able for operational use. The Printer will accommodate films
of 70 mm to 9-1/2" width with frame lengths up to 30 inches
and will offer operation in the Reseau mode and Selective
mode as options.
1.2 Activity of this Report Period
Based upon the Design Plan submitted in December 1964, the
program schedule has been progressing in the areas of final
testing and evaluation of the breadboard Printer, and pre-,
liminary steps have been taken toward purchase of components
and fabrication of the deliverable unit. Final lay-out and
detail drawings'of the Printer are now well under way.
The major accomplishment of the past report period has been
the large-scale demonstration of an exposure source and optical
system capable of delivering the required resolution, auto-
matic exposure control of incremental areas, and Reseau line
printing. The selected configuration consists of an array of
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translucent diffusor, a blackened honeycomb collimator, and a
multiple-lens, system. Exposures have been conducted on an
area approximately half that of the final system, and bread-
board tests are now being expanded to a full 9 x 30 inch area.
G.E. 1385 lamps run at 15 V rather than the rated 28 V,
Other major achievements pertain to systems for providing film
clearance during transport. A mechanism has been developed for
raising one idler-roll in the negative transport system to
provide film-to-platen clearance during advance. To provide
film-to-film clearance, a pneumatic cylinder arrangement now
elevates the pressure pad and duplicating film idlers during
transport. Such devices will provide maximum insurance against
film or platen damage.
Interface problems and final details of construction and mater-
ials are being resolved with The full-size
mock-up of the final Printer configuration is proving to be of
great value in coordinating human factors and appearance con-
cepts with functional requirements.
Procurement of the Reseau grid and clear printing platens is
about to be initiated. Specifications have virtually been
resolved and details of the support frame and locator-pin
devices are being finalized in drawing form.
Breadboard models of the photoelectric circuitry for automatic
exposure control have been completed and are being evaluated
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prior to inclusion in the Printer breadboard. Two compatible
concepts are being compared before making a final selection.
An improvement in film drives has been developed such that
transient film tensions will be reduced during braking. The
stop-count will now be presensed, and the lower speed of a two-
speed drive motor system will be engaged prior to brake
application.
Lay-out drawings for the Pre-View and Punch Station have been
generated and are based upon the requirements and clarifications
obtained from the program technical monitors. Human factors
and Industrial Design concepts will now be factored into the
final configuration.
On February 16th and 17th meetings were held with the technical
monitors to review the Industrial Design mock-up and to review
the preliminary photographic experiments conducted on the
breadboard Printer.
1.3 Plans for Next Report Period
The breadboard Printer will be reworked to include a full-
scale exposure esystem and to include latest developments in
drives, frame sensing devices, control panel circuitry, and
automatic exposure control modules.
Construction of the deliverable Printer frame will be initiated,
and continued progress will be made in generating final assembly
and detail drawings for fabrication.
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A preliminary outline for the Test Plan has been generated and
will be amplified and reviewed during the next reporting period.
Some of the major questions to be resolved are methods for
demonstrating capabilities in automatic exposure control,
incremental area exposure control, and test target formats.
A new sample Reseau grid is being obtained to demonstrate
actual quality of etched-and-filled lines, as well as typical
characteristics of intersections. Photographic duplicates
will be made on the breadboard Printer for evaluation.
Inquiries are being made of highly specialized manufacturers
in an effort to procure, for the printing platens, substrate.
material of the highest possible quality glass with the
.least number of imperfections.
Further progress is anticipated in preparing test target formats
for demonstration of Printer resolution, contact pressure,
automatic exposure control, and incremental area control Reso-
lution targets and calibrated step wedges are being procured.
1.4 Problems
No major problems are anticipated that will delay scheduled
program progress. The automatic exposure control circuitry
and components have yet to be proven in a large-scale demon-
stration. Anticipated problems are photocell balancing and
cross-talk, and response under imposed conditions.
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1.5 Documentation
Tentative agreement was reached with the technical monitors
fora masking system using separate thin-sheet masks for each
particular frame size. These will be retained by the platen
frame and will be located beneath the negative film.
It has been resolved by the technical monitors that compliance
with the RFI design requirements will be in the reduction of
conducted RFI by means of power line filters to be installed
in the Printer. RFI gasketting and shielded switches will not
be required.
1.6 Questions Outstanding
0
submitted its Design Plan for the Contact Duplicating and
Reseau Printer on December 11, 1964. Therefore, due to this
excessive review period,
requires immediate approval of
the Design Plan in order to avoid possible delivery delays,
and the possibility of additional costs.
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2.0 HIGH RESOLUTION STEP AND REPEAT PRINTER
2.1 Purpose
The purpose of this effort is to design, fabricate, test and
deliver in twenty months a high-precision Step and Repeat
Photographic Contact Printer. This Printer will be capable
of producing photographic contact prints of the highest
possible quality, resolution and acutance from roll films of
width varying from 70 mm to 9-1/2" and in preselected frame
lengths from 2-1/4" up to a maximum of 30".
.2.2 Activity of this Report Period
Lay-out drawings were started on all breadboard phases, and
procurement and fabrication have been initiated. The follow-
ing is a description of the progress made in each breadboard
area to date.
Exposure Control and Light-Source
Optical design for the scanning lamp house was completed, and
the final mechanical design was started. The lamps and beam-
splitting mirror have been received, and a cylindrical lens
is now on order. The G.E.-lamps are undergoing energy distribu-
tion tests. Delivery.of the Westinghouse lamps was delayed
and is now expected in mid-March.
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Lamp starting circuits are under test and should be completed
.in two weeks. Electronic components for lamp reversal circuits
have been received and construction and test have been started.
The modulator design is in progress and parts have been ordered.
The circuit design for the sensors and log amplifier is com-
pleted, and testing is under way. The completed circuit and
sensors will be available early in March.
2.2.2 Film Drive and Transport
Fabrication has started on the idler roller, spool drive, spool
support, and edge guide-assemblies. Drawings for the storage
loop pick-up, drive, and capstan transmission assemblies have
been completed and released for fabrication. Assembly of the
major sub-assemblies onto the structural frame will be started
in mid-March, and testing will commence shortly thereafter.
The response of the D.C. capstan motor-has been measured and
found to be satisfactory, and tests of "stepper motor response
are being conducted. The spool drive printed circuit motors
have also been checked for response and found to be satisfac-
tory. A preliminary test indicated that a Westamp amplifier
would not be adequate, and other amplifiers are being investigated.
A back-up servo control design for a D.C. motor drive and brake
system has been initiated and will be completed by the end of
.March. The servo analysis has been completed.
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All phases of this breadboard are proceeding satisfactorily
and appear to be on schedule.
2.2.3 Film Gate
0
The lay-out for this design including an air-actuated parallel-
ogram frame to raise and lower the air bag and a linear bearing
arrangement to guide it is 75% complete. This will be completed
by mid-March.
All purchased parts and components have been ordered except
for the glass platen. Delivery on all ordered parts has been
scheduled for-late March for completion of procurement. The
glass platen will be ordered in March; the plan is to use
standard uncoated plate glass for the breadboard tests. To
prove the wear characteristics and Newton fringe prevention
properties of coated glass, it is planned to inlay a 10" x 10"
x 1/8" sample in a metal plate and substitute this for the
approximate 31" x 11" x 3/8" glass platen.
2.2.4 Code Reader
A film test target for measuring film code yaw tolerance and
for testing the edge sensor was designed and procured. The
balance of the photosensitive detectors was received, complet-
ing procurement of these items. A code on the test target film
was successfully read using the T.I. phototransistor; however,
the output current was found to be inadequate for driving the
low impedance gates which will be used in the printer. It is
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anticipated that amplifying stages will be required, and these
will be designed and breadboarded during March.
The overall effort has been expanded to include the develop-
ment of an edge sensor which will provide an output proportional
to the film edge position for driving edge-positioning mechanisms.
Components have been procured and fabrication of an edge-sensing
station has started.
During the next reporting period it is anticipated that the
best suited photodiode will be selected, and the film code yaw
tolerance will be measured. Design and testing of the edge-
sensing station will be started, and the amplifying stage will
be designed and breadboarded.
2.2.5 Electronic Packaging
0
Sylvania microcircuits were selected on the basis of perform-
ance and delivery. Breadboard quantities have been procured,
and breadboard fabrication has been started on various. logical
functions. Preliminary lay-outs for the microcircuit boards
have been made, and the matrix etched universal card looks
promising.
Procurement of the illuminated pushbutton switches and indica-
tors for the control panel mock-up has been held up pending the
final decision on the RFI requirements. Switches meeting RFI,
requirements have been found to require up to 4 lbs. of operating
pressure, which is incompatible with the human factors concept.
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.It is expected that, during the next reporting period, design
and fabrication, for the etched cards and,selection and procure-
ment of connectors will be completed. The final selection
decision on the control panel switches will be made and procure-
ment will be initiated.
2.2.6 Human Factors
STAT
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A preliminary concept and several alternate proposals were
presented by] I The concept is a design as
identical in structure to the Reseau Printer as possible. It
is evident that problems might occur with respect to-the film
loading and threading operations if strict adherence to the
frame design of the Reseau Printer, is to be maintained. It
appears desirable to modify the design somewhat in order to
relieve the structure of the areas of the spools and to allow
better access to the film path. The alternate designs seem
to fulfill this requirement better, and further work is now
underway to provide a frame which meets the human factors
requirements and still use the Reseau Printer structure from
the driving modules back.
Since the RFI specification for the Reseau Printer has been
relieved, it is hoped that similar action will be taken here,
thus permitting far greater freedom in the selection of con-
trol panel components, finishes and assembly techniques.
Microswitch has demonstrated a new KB line of switches which
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appear to offer exciting possibilities. As yet these compon-
ents are not RFI suppressed, but information on this is expected
shortly. In any case, if the RFI specification is relieved,
serious consideration of the switches is possible.
2.3 Plans for Next Report Period
0
Breadboard fabrication should be nearing completion and test-
ing started for most phases. Final assembly of the film trans-
port will be started and the Code Reader tests should be
finished.
2.4 Problems
2.4.1 Edge Sensing
Film edge sensing capabilities are unknown at this time and
may require the use of a modified pneumatic device which ti?
would complicate the film transport mechanism.
0
2.4.2 Film Coding
ILLEGIB
Circuit logic design and component selection are proceeding
rapidly and'could.be seriously affected by major changes in L
concept. It is therefore imperative that customer approval
of the coding format and techniques described in the feasibil-
ity study be forwarded'as soon as possible.
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2.5 Documentation
A meeting was held with the technical monitor on 2/15/65 and'
a number of conflicts were discussed regarding previously
agreed-to specification changes. These will be reviewed by
the new technical monitor and will be discussed again in March.
2.6 Questions Outstanding
ILLEGIB
2.6.1 List of spool sizes and format dimensions to be
furnished by the technical monitor. These are urgently needed
to complete industrial design studies and in design considera-
tions in film transport and masking.
2.6.2 Document procurement to be furnished by the techni
cal monitor: AD-439 600L Test and Evaluate the Kalvar 70 mm
and 5 inch Roll to Roll Contact Printer/Processor (EN-85).
This is of particular interest because of similar collimation
problems encountered with a tubular light source.
2.6.3
submitted the Feasibility Study for the High
Resolution Step and Repeat Printer on January 19, 1965. There'
fore, due to this reasonable review period,
STAT
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possible delivery delays, and the possibility of additional costs.
requires the
immediate approval of the Feasibility Study in order to avoid
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