Structure for cone and periscope of spiral path scanning mechanism

Claim 2

In a spiral scanner comprising concentricAlly arranged inner and outer members, the outer member being confined to rotation on an axis and carrying a mirror which extends obliquely to said axis and across the same so as to move in a cone-defining orbit in consequence of rotation of the outer member, and the inner member comprising a periscope which extends lengthwise parallel to said axis at one side thereof and which is moved in opposite directions parallel to said axis for scanning the mirror, means constraining the inner member to rotate with the outer member, so that light receiving means of the periscope always faces the mirror, and to move accurately parallel to said axis, said last named means comprising: A. means on one of said members defining a pair of elongated track surfaces that extend accurately straight and parallel to said axis, said track surfaces being located eccentrically to said axis and lying in substantially transverse planes which respectively extend to opposite sides of said axis so that one of said track surfaces faces obliquely in one rotational direction and the other faces obliquely in the opposite rotational direction; B. two pairs of surface engaging elements carried by the other member, one pair for each of said track surfaces, the surface engaging elements of each pair being at locations fixed on said other member that are spaced apart a substantial distance in the direction of said axis and the several surface engaging elements being engageable with their respective track surfaces to constrain the inner member to rotation with the outer member and to motion relative to the outer member in directions accurately parallel to said axis; and C. cooperating means on said members for maintaining a biasing force on the inner member in a direction transverse to the axis and generally transverse to said track surfaces to maintain said track engaging elements engaged with said track surfaces, the last mentioned means comprising other surface engaging elements carried by one of said members and engaging surface portions of the other member that are circumferentially spaced from said track surfaces, said other surface engaging elements being yieldingly biased to react between the member by which they are carried and said surface portions of the other member.

Claim 3

a slot opening radially from said hublike portion and registering with the light shaft to admit light thereto.

Claim 4

a slot opening radially from said hublike portion and registering with the light shaft to admit light thereto.

Claim 5

The spiral scanner of claim 1, further characterized by each of the surface engaging elements of said two pairs thereof comprising: A. a roller; and B. means journaling the roller on said other member with the axis of the roller transverse to the first named axis and parallel to the track surface engaged by the roller.

Claim 6

means mounting the two of said last mentioned four rollers that engage the master guide surfaces on the mirror-carrying member for rotation on axes that are fixable at different positions of adjustment generally toward and from the axis of rotation,

Claim 7

means mounting the two of said last mentioned four rollers that engage the master guide surfaces on the mirror-carrying member for rotation on axes that are fixable at different positions of adjustment generally toward and from the axis of rotation,

Claim 8

means mounting the two of said rollers that engage the master guide surfaces on said hub like portion, for rotation on axes that are fixable at different positions of adjustment generally toward and from the axis of rotation,

Claim 9

means mounting the two of said rollers that engage the master guide surfaces on said hub like portion, for rotation on axes that are fixable at different positions of adjustment generally toward and from the axis of rotation,

Claim 10

a slot opening radially from said hublike portion and registering with the light shaft in the periscope body member. G. means on the periscope body member defining circumferentially spaced apart guide surfaces which extend axially therealong and which face obliquely to planes lying on the axis of rotation; H. surfaces engaging elements on said hublike portion engaging said guide surfaces; and I. other surface engaging elements on the lower end of the tubular portion of the mirror-carrying member, also engaging said guide surfaces and cooperating with the first mentioned surface engaging elements to constrain the periscope member to rotate with the mirror-carrying member and to move lengthwise relative thereto in directions parallel to the axis of rotation.

Claim 11

a slot opening radially from said hublike portion and registering with the light shaft in the periscope body member. G. means on the periscope body member defining circumferentially spaced apart guide surfaces which extend axially therealong and which face obliquely to planes lying on the axis of rotation; H. surfaces engaging elements on said hublike portion engaging said guide surfaces; and I. other surface engaging elements on the lower end of the tubular portion of the mirror-carrying member, also engaging said guide surfaces and cooperating with the first mentioned surface engaging elements to constrain the periscope member to rotate with the mirror-carrying member and to move lengthwise relative thereto in directions parallel to the axis of rotation.

Claim 12

a tubular lower portion; B. means mounting the mirror-carrying member for rotation about its axis; C. an elongated plane mirror secured to the inner surface of the conical upper portion of the mirror-carrying member and extending lengthwise therealong at an upward inclination to the axis but with its lower portion extending across the axis, said mirror being thus arranged to move in a cone-defining orbit in consequence or rotation of the mirror-carrying member; D. an elongated periscope body member received in the mirror-carrying member for rotation therewith and for lengthwise motion in opposite axial directions relative thereto, said periscope body member having a substantially U-shaped cross section with its legs straddling the mirror and defining between them a slotlike light shaft that extends downwardly to the mirror; E. means fixed to the periscope body member for transmitting light lengthwise therealong, said means providing a light receiving surface optically aligned with the mirror; F. a rigid coverlike member secured to the top of the conical upper portion of the mirror-carrying member to prevent distortion of the mirror under the effects of centrifugal force, said coverlike member having;

Claim 13

a tubular lower portion; B. means mounting the mirror-carrying member for rotation about its axis; C. an elongated plane mirror secured to the inner surface of the conical upper portion of the mirror-carrying member and extending lengthwise therealong at an upward inclination to the axis but with its lower portion extending across the axis, said mirror being thus arranged to move in a cone-defining orbit in consequence or rotation of the mirror-carrying member; D. an elongated periscope body member received in the mirror-carrying member for rotation therewith and for lengthwise motion in opposite axial directions relative thereto, said periscope body member having a substantially U-shaped cross section with its legs straddling the mirror and defining between them a slotlike light shaft that extends downwardly to the mirror; E. means fixed to the periscope body member for transmitting light lengthwise therealong, said means providing a light receiving surface optically aligned with the mirror; F. a rigid coverlike member secured to the top of the conical upper portion of the mirror-carrying member to prevent distortion of the mirror under the effects of centrifugal force, said coverlike member having;

Claim 14

means rotatably mounting the other two of the last mentioned four rollers on the mirror-carrying member for bodily motion generally toward and from the master surfaces, and

Claim 15

means rotatably mounting the other two of the last mentioned four rollers on the mirror-carrying member for bodily motion generally toward and from the master surfaces, and

Claim 16

The spiral scanner of claim 2, further characterized by said journaling means being adjustable in directions generally toward and from the first mentioned axis.

Claim 17

means rotatably mounting the other two of said rollers on saId hublike portion for bodily motion generally toward and from the master surfaces, and

Claim 18

means rotatably mounting the other two of said rollers on saId hublike portion for bodily motion generally toward and from the master surfaces, and

Claim 19

The spiral scanner of claim 1, further characterized by said surface portions circumferentially spaced from the track surfaces being on the same member with the track surfaces and comprising a pair or elongated steadying surfaces, one for each track surface, each of said steadying surfaces being spaced a substantial distance circumferentially from its track surface and lying in a plane substantially parallel to that of its track surface but facing in a direction generally opposite to that in which its track surface faces.

Claim 20

means reacting between the mirror-carrying member and the last mentioned other two rollers to bias the latter in the direction toward the periscope body member, to thereby maintain the master surfaces engaged with their respective rollers.

Claim 21

means reacting between the mirror-carrying member and the last mentioned other two rollers to bias the latter in the direction toward the periscope body member, to thereby maintain the master surfaces engaged with their respective rollers.

Claim 22

means reacting between said hublike portion and said other two rollers to bias the latter in the direction toward the periscope body member to thereby maintain the master surfaces engaged with their respective rollers; and D. said other surface engaging elements comprising;

Claim 23

means reacting between said hublike portion and said other two rollers to bias the latter in the direction toward the periscope body member to thereby maintain the master surfaces engaged with their respective rollers; and D. said other surface engaging elements comprising;

Claim 24

The spiral scanner of claim 4, wherein said steadying surfaces are on the inner member, further characterized by said other surface engaging elements comprising: A. a pair of steadying rollers for each of said steadying surfaces; B. a holder for each steadying roller upon which the steadying roller is journaled for rotation; C. means securing each holder to the outer member for swinging motion of the holder about a pivotal axis which is substantially parallel to the steadying roller axis and to its steadying surface, transverse to the first named axis, and spaced from the steadying roller axis in one direction lengthwise of the first named axis, so that the Steadying roller is carried bodily in directions generally transverse to the first mentioned axis in consequence of swinging motion of the holder; D. a resilient tongue for each holder having one end anchored to the holder and having its other end spaced a substantial distance from said pivotal axis; and E. cooperating means on the outer member and on said other end portion of each tongue for adjustably maintaining said other end portion of the tongue in a position such that the tongue is flexed to apply a desired biasing force to the holder by which the holder is urged to swing about the pivot axis in the direction generally toward the first mentioned axis.

Claim 25

Means for scanning a projected image in a spiral path, comprising: A. a substantially funnel-shaped mirror-carrying member having;

Claim 26

Means for scanning a projected image in a spiral path, comprising: A. a substantially funnel-shaped mirror-carrying member having;

Claim 27

The scanning means of claim 6, further characterized by: A. two of said guide surfaces being master surfaces on the bight portion of the periscope body member, at the side thereof remote from the light shaft, which face in opposite obliquely circumferential directions and are accurately straight and parallel to the axis of rotation; B. there being a guide surface also on the outer surface of each of the leg portions of the periscope body member, one for each master surface but facing in substantially the opposite direction; C. the first mentioned surface engaging elements comprising:

Claim 28

In a spiral scanner comprising concentrically arranged inner and outer members, the outer member being confined to rotation on an axis and carrying an elongated mirror which extends obliquely to said axis and across the same and faces obliquely toward and along said axis so as to define a reflective cone in consequence of rotation of the outer member, and the inner member comprising a periscope which extends lengthwise parallel to said axis at one side thereof, means constraining the inner member to rotate with the outer member, so that the light-receiving means of the periscope always faces the mirror, and constraining the inner member to move lengthwise accurately parallel to said axis for scanning of the mirror by the periscope, the last mentioned means comprising: A. means on the inner member defining a pair of elongated track surfaces that extend accurately straight and parallel to said axis, said track surfaces being located eccentrically to said axis and lying in substantially transverse planes which respectively extend to opposite sides of said axis so that one of said track surfaces faces obliquely in the direction of rotation and the other faces obliquely in the opposite direction; B. means on the inner member defining a pair of elongated steadying surfaces, one for each track surface, each of said steadying surfaces being spaced a substantial distance circumferentially from its track surface and being substantially parallel to its track surface but facing in a direction generally opposite to that in which its track surface faces; C. a first two pairs of rollers on the outer member, one pair for each of said track surfaces, the rollers of each pair having journals fixed on the outer member at locations that are spaced apart a substantial distance in the direction of said axis, said rollers being rollingly engageable with their track surfaces to constrain the inner member to rotation with the outer member and to motion relative to the outer member in directions accurately parallel to said axis; D. a second two pairs of rollers, a pair for each of said steadying surfaces; and E. means freely rotatably mounting each of said second two pairs of rollers on the outer member with the rollers of each pair spaced apart in the direction of said axis, said last named means comprising biasing means by which the rollers of said second two pairs are maintained engaged with their respective steadying surfaces under yielding bias by which the rollers of the first two pairs are maintained in firm rolling engagement with their respective track surfaces.

Claim 29

In a spiral scanner comprising concentrically arranged inner and outer members, the outer member being confined to rotation on an axis and carrying an elongated mirror which extends obliquely to said axis and across the same and faces obliquely toward and along said axis so as to define a reflective cone in consequence of rotation of the outer member, and the inner member comprising a periscope which extends lengthwise parallel to said axis at one side thereof, means constraining the inner member to rotate with the outer member, so that the light-receiving means of the periscope always faces the mirror, and constraining the inner member to move lengthwise accurately parallel to said axis for scanning of the mirror by the periscope, the last mentioned means comprising: A. means on the inner member defining a pair of elongated track surfaces that extend accurately straight and parallel to said axis, said track surfaces being located eccentrically to said axis and lying in substantially transverse planes which respectively extend to opposite sides of said axis so that one of said track surfaces faces obliquely in the direction of rotation and the other faces obliquely in the opposite direction; B. means on the inner member defining a pair of elongated steadying surfaces, one for each track surface, each of said steadying surfaces being spaced a substantial distance circumferentially from its track surface and being substantially parallel to its track surface but facing in a direction generally opposite to that in which its track surface faces; C. a first two pairs of rollers on the outer member, one pair for each of said track surfaces, the rollers of each pair having journals fixed on the outer member at locations that are spaced apart a substantial distance in the direction of said axis, said rollers being rollingly engageable with their track surfaces to constrain the inner member to rotation with the outer member and to motion relative to the outer member in directions accurately parallel to said axis; D. a second two pairs of rollers, a pair for each of said steadying surfaces; and E. means freely rotatably mounting each of said second two pairs of rollers on the outer member with the rollers of each pair spaced apart in the direction of said axis, said last named means comprising biasing means by which the rollers of said second two pairs are maintained engaged with their respective steadying surfaces under yielding bias by which the rollers of the first two pairs are maintained in firm rolling engagement with their respective track surfaces.

Claim 30

The spiral scanner of claim 8 wherein the outer member comprises a substantially funnel-shaped body with a conical upper portion and a tubular lower portion, and wherein the inner member comprises a periscope body member having a U-shaped cross seCtion, the legs of which straddle the mirror and define a slotlike light shaft that extends downwardly to the mirror, further characterized by a cover like member on the top of said funnel-shaped body to reinforce the same and prevent distortion of the mirror, said coverlike member having