Facsimile fiber optics scanner assembly

Claim 2

In facsimile apparatus having an endless movable timing belt assembly, a plurality of optical scanner units for successively scanning copy material, and means individually mounting the optical scanner units on the timing belt assembly for movement therewith in a continuous closed path at least a portion of which traverses the copy material, the improvement which comprises a single photocell, flexible optical fiber units extending between each of said optical scanner units and said photocell for receiving the projected images of object areas on the copy material and transmitting the same therethrough to said photocell.

Claim 3

The improvement of claim 1 including light source means, additional flexible optical fiber units extending between said light source means and each of said optical scanner units for receiving light from said light source means and transmitting the same therethrough to illuminate object areas of copy material being scanned.

Claim 4

In facsimile apparatus including an optical scanner assembly having frame means, a drive pulley assembly rotatably mounted in the frame means, means for rotating the drive pulley assembly, an idler pulley assembly rotatably mounted in the frame means, a timing belt assembly trained about the drive and idler pulley assemblies, a plurality of optical scanner units each including an optical scanner for scanning copy material, each of the optical scanners having an elongated hollow lens holder with the forward end thereof facing outwardly of the timing belt assembly and the rearward end thereof facing inwardly of the timing beLt assembly and having a lens mounted in the forward end of the lens holder, and means individually mounting the optical scanner units on the timing belt assembly for movement therewith in a continuous closed path at least a portion of which traverses the copy material, the improvement which comprises a single photocell supported by said frame means, flexible optical fiber units with their one ends connected in said rearward ends of said lens holders and with their other ends extending to said photocell, and said optical fiber units serving to receive the projected images of object areas on the copy material and to transmit the same therethrough to said photocell.

Claim 5

In facsimile apparatus including an optical scanner assembly having frame means, a drive pulley assembly rotatably mounted in the frame means, means for rotating the drive pulley assembly, an idler pulley assembly rotatably mounted in the frame means, a timing belt assembly trained about the drive and idler pulley assemblies, a plurality of optical scanner units each including an optical scanner for scanning copy material, each of the optical scanners having an elongated hollow lens holder with the forward end thereof facing outwardly of the timing belt assembly and the rearward end thereof facing inwardly of the timing beLt assembly and having a lens mounted in the forward end of the lens holder, and means individually mounting the optical scanner units on the timing belt assembly for movement therewith in a continuous closed path at least a portion of which traverses the copy material, the improvement which comprises a single photocell supported by said frame means, flexible optical fiber units with their one ends connected in said rearward ends of said lens holders and with their other ends extending to said photocell, and said optical fiber units serving to receive the projected images of object areas on the copy material and to transmit the same therethrough to said photocell.

Claim 6

The improvement of claim 3 including light source means, additional flexible optical fiber units with their one ends carried by said optical scanner units adjacent the forward ends of said lens holders and with their other ends extending to said light source means, and said additional optical fiber units serving to receive light from said light source means and to transmit the same therethrough to illuminate object areas of copy material being scanned.

Claim 7

The improvement of claim 3 including a rotor assembly rotatably mounted in said frame means, and means establishing a driving connection between said drive pulley assembly and said rotor assembly whereby the latter is rotated in the same direction and at the same speed in r.p.m. as said timing belt assembly; and wherein said other ends of said optical fiber units are carried by said rotor assembly, and said photocell is stationary.

Claim 8

The improvement of claim 5 including light source means extending to said rotor assembly, additional flexible optical fiber units with their one ends carried by said optical scanner units adjacent the forward ends of said lens holders and with their other ends carried by said rotor assembly, and said additional flexible optical fiber units serving to receive light from said light source means and to transmit the same therethrough to illuminate object areas of copy material being scanned.

Claim 9

The improvement of claim 6 wherein said rotor assembly includes a hollow distributor head, said other ends of said optical fiber units through which projected images of object areas are transmitted face outwardly of one end of said distributor head, said photocell is stationarily mounted adjacent said one end of said distributor head, said other ends of said additional optical fiber units face outwardly of the other end of said distributor head, and said light source means is stationarily mounted to direct light toward said other end of said distributor head into said other ends of said additional optical fiber units.

Claim 10

The improvement of claim 6 wherein said optical fiber units through which projected images of object areas are transmitted comprise single optical fiber units one each associated with each of said optical scanner units, said additional optical fiber units comprise pairs of optical fiber units one pair each associated with each of said optical scanner units, and each group of three optical fiber units are incorporated in separate flexible ribbon cables which individually extend between each of said optical scanner units and said rotor assembly.

Claim 11

The improvement of claim 6 wherein said light source means is comprised of a light source, and an auxiliary flexible optical fiber unit at one end arranged for receiving light projected from said light source and at the other end terminating adjacent said rotor assembly for directing light transmitted therethrough into said other ends of said additional optical fiber units.

Claim 12

The improvement of claim 6 wherein said light source means is comprised of a lamp bulb, and a bundle of optical fibers for intensifying the brightness of light as the same is transmitted therethrough, said bundle of optical fibers having one end section of large diameter with a socket adjacent said lamp bulb for receiving light emitted by the latter, and a main body portion of reduced diameter terminating adjacent said rotor assembly for directing light transmitted therethrough into said other ends of said additional optical fiber units.