Variable scale scanning system for image reproduction

Claim 1

A variable scanning system wherein a recorded information is converted to an electrical signal by scanning a first record, and light rays emanating from a light source intensity-modulated with said electrical signal are focused and made to scan a recording medium so that a second record is reproduced, said system comprising means for changing the magnifying-reducing factor with respect to said first and second records, said means including an optical system consisting of the light source, lenses each adapted to focus more than one of lateral and longitudinal light rays and a slit having a variable opening portion to thereby focus the light rays emanating from said light source, a vibrating mirror adapted to effect the main scanning with respect to the recording medium, a main scanning sawtooth wave generating circuit adapted to control said vibrating mirror, a subscanning mechanism for effecting the subscanning, a subscanning control circuit for controlling said subscanning mechanism, and a scale factor controlling circuit for controlling the magnifying and reducing factor, wherein said main scanning sawtooth wave generating circuit, subscanning control circuit and the size in the subscanning direction of said slit are controlled in accordance with a signal available from said scale factor controlling circuit, thereby varying the main scanning and subscanning widths.