Optical system for facsimile scanners and the like

Claim 1

An optical system for scanning information, comprising: a mounting bezel, a lens column, mounted on said bezel and disposed concentric with the axis thereof, and having an aperture provided in one end; at least two pre-focused illumination lamps, each having a lens integrally formed on its end, for focusing converging illumination on a scanning spot on the information; a pair of convex lenses, having their axes directed at the information being scanned, and disposed co-axially adjacent one another within said lens column, so that the focal point of said lenses is disposed adjacent said aperture in said lens column, for focusing light reflected from the scanning spot on the information in said aperture; and a photoconductive cell, disposed behind said aperture in said lens column, responsive to light focused in said aperture by said convex lenses for producing an electrical signal in response to changes in the reflected light corresponding to changes in the scanned information, and wherein said illumination lamps are slidably disposed within said bezel on opposite sides of said lens column, and are directed toward the information being scanned; and wherein said lens column is slidably disposed within said bezel so that the distance between said lens column and the information being scanned is adjustable by sliding said lens column in said bezel.