Lens strip optical scanning system

Claim 2

An optical imaging system for projecting light images from an object toward an image surface, said object and said image surface being in optically opposed relationship for at least parts thereof with the optical distance between the parts substantially fixed, said imaging system including a plurality of optical imaging devices arranged to receive light rays from the object and to project them toward the image surface, each of said optical imaging devices comprising a plurality of refractive lens elements arranged along a common optical path extending between the object and the image surface so that imaging may occur between the lens element nearer the object and the lens element nearer the image surface, each of said optical imaging devices including at least one element having a surface capable of imaging in more than one meridian,

Claim 3

An optical imaging system for projecting light images from an object plane to an image plane, said planes being tin face to face relationship optically for at least portions thereof and fixed optically relative to each other, said imaging system including a plurality of optical imaging devices arranged between said planes, each of said optical imaging devices comprising a plurality of refractive lens elements arranged along a common optical axis extending between the object plane and the image plane, and wherein the object plane is in the focal plane of a first of said lens elements and the image plane is in the focal plane of the lens element adjacent thereto. each of said imaging devices being arranged to scan a discrete portion of the object plane and to project an upright, wrong reading image thereof upon the respective discrete portion of the image plane, drive means for producing relative movement between the imaging system and the object and image planes and arranged to maintain the distance between the imaging system and one of said planes relatively constant during said movement whereby the entire object plane is projected onto the image plane in upright, wrong reading relation, and means to support the object plane and image plane immovably relative to each other during the relative movement.

Claim 4

An optical imaging system for projecting light images from an object plane to an image plane, said planes being tin face to face relationship optically for at least portions thereof and fixed optically relative to each other, said imaging system including a plurality of optical imaging devices arranged between said planes, each of said optical imaging devices comprising a plurality of refractive lens elements arranged along a common optical axis extending between the object plane and the image plane, and wherein the object plane is in the focal plane of a first of said lens elements and the image plane is in the focal plane of the lens element adjacent thereto. each of said imaging devices being arranged to scan a discrete portion of the object plane and to project an upright, wrong reading image thereof upon the respective discrete portion of the image plane, drive means for producing relative movement between the imaging system and the object and image planes and arranged to maintain the distance between the imaging system and one of said planes relatively constant during said movement whereby the entire object plane is projected onto the image plane in upright, wrong reading relation, and means to support the object plane and image plane immovably relative to each other during the relative movement.

Claim 5

The optical imaging system in claim 2 wherein a first of said lens elements is adapted to image said discrete portion located at the object plane upon another of said lens elements and a third of said lens elements is adapted to image the effect on said another lens element upon the image plane.

Claim 6

The optical imaging system in claim 2 wherein each of the lens elements have approximately the same optical lens characteristics.

Claim 7

The optical imaging system of claim 2 wherein each of said optical imaging devices comprises three refractive lens elements and the object plane is in the focal plane of the first of said lens elements and the image plane is in the focal plane of the third of said lens elements.

Claim 8

A copying machine including means for supporting an original to be coPied and a photosensitive surface in face-to-face relationship optically for at least portions thereof and to maintain one immovable optically relative to the other, a plurality of optical imaging devices arranged between the original and said surface, each optical imaging device comprising a plurality of refractive lens elements arranged along a common optical axis extending between the object plane and the image plane, each of said imaging devices being arranged to scan a discrete portion of the original and to project an upright, wrong reading image thereof upon the corresponding discrete portion of the photosensitive surface, and drive means for producing relative movement between said imaging devices and the original and photosensitive surface while the original and photosensitive surface are maintained immovable optically relative to each other and arranged to maintain the distance between the devices and the original relatively constant during said movement whereby the entire original is projected onto the photosensitive surface in upright, wrong reading relation.

Claim 9

A copying machine including means for supporting an original to be coPied and a photosensitive surface in face-to-face relationship optically for at least portions thereof and to maintain one immovable optically relative to the other, a plurality of optical imaging devices arranged between the original and said surface, each optical imaging device comprising a plurality of refractive lens elements arranged along a common optical axis extending between the object plane and the image plane, each of said imaging devices being arranged to scan a discrete portion of the original and to project an upright, wrong reading image thereof upon the corresponding discrete portion of the photosensitive surface, and drive means for producing relative movement between said imaging devices and the original and photosensitive surface while the original and photosensitive surface are maintained immovable optically relative to each other and arranged to maintain the distance between the devices and the original relatively constant during said movement whereby the entire original is projected onto the photosensitive surface in upright, wrong reading relation.

Claim 10

An optical imaging system for projecting light images from an object toward an image surface, said object and said image surface being in optically opposed relationship for at least parts thereof with the optical distance between the parts substantially fixed, said imaging system including a plurality of optical imaging devices arranged along corresponding optical paths extending between said object and said image surface, each of said optical imaging devices comprising a plurality of refractive lens means arranged along a common optical path extending between the object and the image surface with a lens means being located on each side of the midpoint of the optical path so that an intermediate image may be formed substantially at the midpoint of the optical path, each of said optical imaging devices including at least one lens means capable of imaging light rays parallel to its axis to the same point in more than one meridian, the optical imaging devices being disposed in laterally adjacent relation so as to receive light rays from contiguous portions of the object and to project them along their corresponding optical paths whereby a continuous image of the portions is projected toward the image surface.

Claim 11

An optical imaging system for projecting light images from an object toward an image surface, said object and said image surface being in optically opposed relationship for at least parts thereof with the optical distance between the parts substantially fixed, said imaging system including a plurality of optical imaging devices arranged along corresponding optical paths extending between said object and said image surface, each of said optical imaging devices comprising a plurality of refractive lens means arranged along a common optical path extending between the object and the image surface with a lens means being located on each side of the midpoint of the optical path so that an intermediate image may be formed substantially at the midpoint of the optical path, each of said optical imaging devices including at least one lens means capable of imaging light rays parallel to its axis to the same point in more than one meridian, the optical imaging devices being disposed in laterally adjacent relation so as to receive light rays from contiguous portions of the object and to project them along their corresponding optical paths whereby a continuous image of the portions is projected toward the image surface.

Claim 12

An optical imaging system for projecting light images from an object toward an image surface, the object and image surface being in optically opposed relationship for at least parts thereof with the optical distance between the parts substantially fixed, said imaging system including a plurality of optical imaging devices arranged to receive light rays from the object and to project them toward the image surface in upright, wrong reading orientation with respect to the received orientation, each of said optical imaging devices comprising a plurality of refractive lens elements arranged along a common optical path extending between the object and the image surface, the optical imaging devices being positioned to receive light rays emanating from contiguous portions of the object and to project them toward the image surface whereby a continuous image of the portions is projected toward the image surface, means to cause relative movement between the imaging system and the object and image surface, and means to support the object and image surface optically immovable with respect to each other during the relative movement.

Claim 13

An optical imaging system for projecting light images from an object toward an image surface, the object and image surface being in optically opposed relationship for at least parts thereof with the optical distance between the parts substantially fixed, said imaging system including a plurality of optical imaging devices arranged to receive light rays from the object and to project them toward the image surface in upright, wrong reading orientation with respect to the received orientation, each of said optical imaging devices comprising a plurality of refractive lens elements arranged along a common optical path extending between the object and the image surface, the optical imaging devices being positioned to receive light rays emanating from contiguous portions of the object and to project them toward the image surface whereby a continuous image of the portions is projected toward the image surface, means to cause relative movement between the imaging system and the object and image surface, and means to support the object and image surface optically immovable with respect to each other during the relative movement.

Claim 14

An optical imaging system for projecting light images from an object toward an image surface, the object and the image surface being in optically opposed relationship for at least parts thereof with the optical distance between the parts substantially fixed, said imaging system including a plurality of optical imaging devices arranged along corresponding optical paths extending between the object and image surface, each of said optical imaging devices including at least two refractive optical means spaced from each other And arranged along a common optical path extending between the object and the image surface, the refractive optical means positioned closer to the object being adapted to invert and revert light rays and form an image in the space between the optical means, the refractive optical means positioned closer to the image surface being adapted to invert and revert light rays and project the image formed in the space between the optical means along the optical path toward the image surface, the optical imaging devices being disposed in laterally adjacent relation so as to receive light rays from contiguous portions of the object and to project them along their corresponding optical paths whereby a continuous image of the portions is projected toward the image surface.

Claim 15

An optical imaging system for projecting light images from an object toward an image surface, the object and the image surface being in optically opposed relationship for at least parts thereof with the optical distance between the parts substantially fixed, said imaging system including a plurality of optical imaging devices arranged along corresponding optical paths extending between the object and image surface, each of said optical imaging devices including at least two refractive optical means spaced from each other And arranged along a common optical path extending between the object and the image surface, the refractive optical means positioned closer to the object being adapted to invert and revert light rays and form an image in the space between the optical means, the refractive optical means positioned closer to the image surface being adapted to invert and revert light rays and project the image formed in the space between the optical means along the optical path toward the image surface, the optical imaging devices being disposed in laterally adjacent relation so as to receive light rays from contiguous portions of the object and to project them along their corresponding optical paths whereby a continuous image of the portions is projected toward the image surface.

Claim 16

The imaging system as set forth in claim 9 wherein the refractive optical means are lenses having spherical surfaces.