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 included 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, the lens element located adjacent the object being adapted to invert and revert light rays from the object to form an intermediate image and the lens element located adjacent the image surface being adapted to invert and revert light rays from the intermediate image and project them toward 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, each of said devices having means for producing an image pattern on the image surface that has overlapping portions relative to other image patterns produced by other devices, the optical imaging devices being positionable to receive light rays emanating from the object and to project them toward the image surface whereby an image of the portions is projected toward the image surface forming overlapping portions thereon in a continuous image configuration.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said plurality of optical imaging devices have further associated therewith means for producing relative motion between the imaging system and the object and the image surface.

Claim 4

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 spaced along a common optical path extending between the object and the image surface, whereby light rays may be imaged between said lens elements, each of said imaging devices being arranged to receive light rays from a portion of the object and to project the light rays toward the image surface in upright, wrong reading orientation with respect to the received orientation, each of said devices having means for producing an image pattern on the image surface that has overlapping portions relative to other image patterns produced by other devices, the optical imaging devices being positionable to receive light rays emanating from the object and to project them toward the image surface whereby an image of the portions is projected toward the image surface forming overlapping portions thereon in a continuous image configuration.

Claim 5

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 spaced along a common optical path extending between the object and the image surface, whereby light rays may be imaged between said lens elements, each of said imaging devices being arranged to receive light rays from a portion of the object and to project the light rays toward the image surface in upright, wrong reading orientation with respect to the received orientation, each of said devices having means for producing an image pattern on the image surface that has overlapping portions relative to other image patterns produced by other devices, the optical imaging devices being positionable to receive light rays emanating from the object and to project them toward the image surface whereby an image of the portions is projected toward the image surface forming overlapping portions thereon in a continuous image configuration.

Claim 6

An optical imaging system for projecting light images from an object toward an image surface, said object and image surface being in face-to-face relationship optically for at least portions thereof with the optical distance therebetween fixed, said imaging system including a plurality of optical imaging devices arranged optically between said object and said 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 an intermediate image may be formed between the lens element nearer the object plane and the lens element nearer the image surface, each of said imaging devices being arranged to scan a portion of the object and to project an image surface in an upright, wrong reading orientation, each of said devices having means for producing an image pattern on the image surface that has overlapping portions relative to other image patterns produced by other devices, and drive means for producing relative movement between the imaging system and the object and the image surface and arranged to maintain the distance between the imaging system and the object relatively constant during said movement whereby contiguous portions of the object are scanned and an image thereof is projected toward the image surface forming overlapping portions on the image surface in a continuous image configuration.

Claim 7

An optical imaging system for projecting light images from an object toward an image surface, said object and image surface being in face-to-face relationship optically for at least portions thereof with the optical distance therebetween fixed, said imaging system including a plurality of optical imaging devices arranged optically between said object and said 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 an intermediate image may be formed between the lens element nearer the object plane and the lens element nearer the image surface, each of said imaging devices being arranged to scan a portion of the object and to project an image surface in an upright, wrong reading orientation, each of said devices having means for producing an image pattern on the image surface that has overlapping portions relative to other image patterns produced by other devices, and drive means for producing relative movement between the imaging system and the object and the image surface and arranged to maintain the distance between the imaging system and the object relatively constant during said movement whereby contiguous portions of the object are scanned and an image thereof is projected toward the image surface forming overlapping portions on the image surface in a continuous image configuration.

Claim 8

An optical imaging system for projecting light images from an object plane to an image plane, said planes being in face-to-face relationship for at least portions thereof and fixed relative to each other, said imaging system including 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 with a lens element located on each side of the midpoint of the optical path so that an intermediate image may be formed at substantially the midpoint of the optical path, 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 a respective discrete portion of the image plane, each of said devices having means for producing an image pattern on the image plane that has overlapping portions relative to other image patterns produced by other devices, and 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.

Claim 9

An optical imaging system for projecting light images from an object plane to an image plane, said planes being in face-to-face relationship for at least portions thereof and fixed relative to each other, said imaging system including 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 with a lens element located on each side of the midpoint of the optical path so that an intermediate image may be formed at substantially the midpoint of the optical path, 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 a respective discrete portion of the image plane, each of said devices having means for producing an image pattern on the image plane that has overlapping portions relative to other image patterns produced by other devices, and 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.

Claim 10

The optical imaging system in claim 5 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.

Claim 11

The optical optical system in claim 5 wherein a first of said lens elements as 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 other lens element upon the image plane.

Claim 12

The optical imaging system in claim 5 wherein each of the lens elements has approximately the same optical lens characteristics.

Claim 13

The optical imaging system of claim 5 wherein each of said optical imaging devices comprises three refractive lens elements and the image plane is in the focal plane of the third of said lens elements.

Claim 14

A copying machine including means for supporting an original to be copied and a photosensitive surface in face-to-face relationship for at least portions thereof and to maintain one immovable 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, straight line 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, each of said devices having means for producing an image pattern on the image plane that has overlapping portions relative to other image patterns produced by other devices, and drive means for producing relative movement between said imaging devices and the original and photosensitive surface 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 15

A copying machine including means for supporting an original to be copied and a photosensitive surface in face-to-face relationship for at least portions thereof and to maintain one immovable 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, straight line 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, each of said devices having means for producing an image pattern on the image plane that has overlapping portions relative to other image patterns produced by other devices, and drive means for producing relative movement between said imaging devices and the original and photosensitive surface 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 16

An optical imaging system for projecting light images from an object in an object plane toward an image surface in an image plane, 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 optical means arranged along a common optical path extending between the object and the image surface, each of said optical imaging devices including at least one optical means capable of imaging light rays parallel to its axis to the same point in more than one meridian, the axis of the optical means of each of said imaging devices lying within a first imaginary plane which intersects the object and image surface such that corresponding points on said object and said image surface are equidistant from said first imaginary plane, the axis of the optical means of each of said imaging devices also being perpendicular with respect to a second imaginary plane which passes between said object plane and said image plane through said optical means and which is parallel to at least one of said two last mentioned planes, each of said devices having means for producing an image pattern on the image surface that has overlapping portions relative to other image patterns produced by other devices, 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 an image of the portions is projected toward the image surface forming overlapping portions thereon in a continuous image configuration.

Claim 17

An optical imaging system for projecting light images from an object in an object plane toward an image surface in an image plane, 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 optical means arranged along a common optical path extending between the object and the image surface, each of said optical imaging devices including at least one optical means capable of imaging light rays parallel to its axis to the same point in more than one meridian, the axis of the optical means of each of said imaging devices lying within a first imaginary plane which intersects the object and image surface such that corresponding points on said object and said image surface are equidistant from said first imaginary plane, the axis of the optical means of each of said imaging devices also being perpendicular with respect to a second imaginary plane which passes between said object plane and said image plane through said optical means and which is parallel to at least one of said two last mentioned planes, each of said devices having means for producing an image pattern on the image surface that has overlapping portions relative to other image patterns produced by other devices, 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 an image of the portions is projected toward the image surface forming overlapping portions thereon in a continuous image configuration.

Claim 18

A copying apparatus comprising, in combination, first supporting means having opposite spaced support members for supporting an original and a radiation sensitive copy sheet, respectively; second supporting means located between said support members, said supporting means being movable relative to each other; and a lenticular optical system mounted on said second supporting means for scanning during relative movement between said first and second supporting means successive strip portions of said original and for projecting images of scanned strip portions onto corresponding successive strip portions of said copy sheet so as to form thereon a complete image of said original; said lenticular optical system comprising first and second lenticular means spaced from each other and being respectively composed of first and second lens elements, pairs of said first and second lens elements optically cooperating with each other to project images of parts of said scanned strip portions onto said copy sheet so that on each strip portion of said copy sheet, a continuous complete image of the respective scanned strip portion is formed, said first and second lens elements being arranged and constructed to have a common intermediate image plane located between said first and second lenticular means.

Claim 19

A copying apparatus comprising, in combination, first supporting means having opposite spaced support members for supporting an original and a radiation sensitive copy sheet, respectively; second supporting means located between said support members, said supporting means being movable relative to each other; and a lenticular optical system mounted on said second supporting means for scanning during relative movement between said first and second supporting means successive strip portions of said original and for projecting images of scanned strip portions onto corresponding successive strip portions of said copy sheet so as to form thereon a complete image of said original; said lenticular optical system comprising first and second lenticular means spaced from each other and being respectively composed of first and second lens elements, pairs of said first and second lens elements optically cooperating with each other to project images of parts of said scanned strip portions onto said copy sheet so that on each strip portion of said copy sheet, a continuous complete image of the respective scanned strip portion is formed, said first and second lens elements being arranged and constructed to have a common intermediate image plane located between said first and second lenticular means.

Claim 20

A copying apparatus comprising, in combination, first supporting means having opposite spaced support members for supporting an original and a radiation sensitive copy sheet, respectively; second supporting means located between said support members, said supporting means being movable relative to each other; and a lenticular optical system mounted on said second supporting means for scanning during relative movement between said first and second supporting means successive strip portions of said original and for projecting images of scanned strip portions onto corresponding successive strip portions of said copy sheet so as to form thereon a complete image of said original; said lenticular optical system comprising first and second lenticular means spaced from each other and being respectively composed of first and second lens elements, pairs of said first and second lens elements optically cooperating with each other to project images of parts of said scanned strip portions onto said copy sheet so that on each strip portion of said copy sheet, a continuous complete image of the respective scanned strip portion is formed, said apparatus further including a third lenticular means located intermediate said first and second lenticular means in an intermediate image plane and composed of third lens elements respectively optically cooperating with said pairs of first and second lens elements.

Claim 21

A copying apparatus comprising, in combination, first supporting means having opposite spaced support members for supporting an original and a radiation sensitive copy sheet, respectively; second supporting means located between said support members, said supporting means being movable relative to each other; and a lenticular optical system mounted on said second supporting means for scanning during relative movement between said first and second supporting means successive strip portions of said original and for projecting images of scanned strip portions onto corresponding successive strip portions of said copy sheet so as to form thereon a complete image of said original; said lenticular optical system comprising first and second lenticular means spaced from each other and being respectively composed of first and second lens elements, pairs of said first and second lens elements optically cooperating with each other to project images of parts of said scanned strip portions onto said copy sheet so that on each strip portion of said copy sheet, a continuous complete image of the respective scanned strip portion is formed, said apparatus further including a third lenticular means located intermediate said first and second lenticular means in an intermediate image plane and composed of third lens elements respectively optically cooperating with said pairs of first and second lens elements.