Importance

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Abstract

A pneumatic pressure pad within an exposure stage of a microfiche duplication equipment cyclically reliably evenly progressively pressures a microfiche master film into uniform pressured contact with an unexposed film in order that the unexposed film may be exposed from the master film without appreciable distortion. A housing of the pneumatic pressure pad defines a chamber divided into separate volumes by a flexible diaphragm. A pneumatic source cyclically applies a differential air pressure between the chamber's two volumes and across the flexible diaphragm. Outside of the housing, an elastomeric pressure pad presents a substantially planar precision crowned surface in a direction oriented towards the planes of each of the unexposed and exposed films. A shaft connects the diaphragm to the pressure pad. Pneumatic movement of the diaphragm cycles the pressure pad in a direction orthogonal to the planes of the films, thereby to cyclically pressure the films into contact without inducing bowing, warping, wrinkles, or other distortions in either film.

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First Claim