US3689133A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical system having lens and two movable mirrors
Assignee: AB Dick Co
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Filing: 1970-05-18
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Granted: 1972-09-05
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Expires: 1990-05-18
Abstract
Abstract An optical system for photocopiers to project an image from an object plane to an image plane is provided. The optical system includes a lens system and a two-mirror reflecting system embodying two mirrors preset to a given angle. This mirror system is so mounted as to head the light path into a direction perpendicular to the image plane. The lens system is mounted with its optical axis perpendicular with the object plane. The mounting of the two mirrors is such to permit the mirror system to move as a unit on a path bisecting the angle formed by the intersection of the perpendiculars to the object plane and image plane. This allows a presetting of the mirrors outside the machine and a focusing of the system in the machine by changing the length of the optical path without changing the angle and location of the optical axis with respect to the image plane. Also, the lens system is movable along the optical axis to adjust size ratio of the projected image to the subject matter on the object plane. With this arrangement it is discovered that image size determination and refined focusing can be achieved by simple translatory adjustments of the lens and of the two-mirror system, without shifting the image location in the process.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard W Germuska
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 01:18
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B15/00; G02; G02B; G02B17/00; G02B17/02; G02B27/00; G02B27/40; G03B27/00; G03B27/32; G03B27/52; G03B27/522; G03B27/525; G03B27/528
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
304 words
An optical system for projecting an image from an area in an object plane to an image area in an image plane with the two planes being non-parallel and in which each area has a central axis perpendicular thereto, the axes being coplanar and intersecting to define an acute angle therebetween, comprising: a lens system having an optical axis; said lens system having mounting means disposed to adjust the optical axis thereof to a position coincident with the central axis of one of said areas anD to shift the lens system along its optical axis to provide for focusing; a mirror system having two reflecting mirror means; means to mount said mirror system on a carriage with said two mirror means being angularly related to form a preselected angle therebetween; means for so mounting said carriage to that side of said lens system which is opposite to the side in direct optical communication with said one area, that a first one of said reflecting mirror means intercepts the optical axis of said lens system and directs light between the lens system and the second one of said reflecting mirror means while said second mirror means directs light between said first mirror means and the other of said areas, generally symmetrically with relation to its central axis; said mounting means mounting said carriage such that a plane bisecting the angle formed by the perpendiculars of the image plane and the object plane passes through the apex of the preselected angle formed by said two reflecting mirror means; said mounting means including means to move said carriage with translatory motion along the plane of the bisector of the angle formed by the perpendiculars of the image plane and the object plane thereby to bring the image into focus without shifting the image on the image plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
304 words
An optical system for projecting an image from an area in an object plane to an image area in an image plane with the two planes being non-parallel and in which each area has a central axis perpendicular thereto, the axes being coplanar and intersecting to define an acute angle therebetween, comprising: a lens system having an optical axis; said lens system having mounting means disposed to adjust the optical axis thereof to a position coincident with the central axis of one of said areas anD to shift the lens system along its optical axis to provide for focusing; a mirror system having two reflecting mirror means; means to mount said mirror system on a carriage with said two mirror means being angularly related to form a preselected angle therebetween; means for so mounting said carriage to that side of said lens system which is opposite to the side in direct optical communication with said one area, that a first one of said reflecting mirror means intercepts the optical axis of said lens system and directs light between the lens system and the second one of said reflecting mirror means while said second mirror means directs light between said first mirror means and the other of said areas, generally symmetrically with relation to its central axis; said mounting means mounting said carriage such that a plane bisecting the angle formed by the perpendiculars of the image plane and the object plane passes through the apex of the preselected angle formed by said two reflecting mirror means; said mounting means including means to move said carriage with translatory motion along the plane of the bisector of the angle formed by the perpendiculars of the image plane and the object plane thereby to bring the image into focus without shifting the image on the image plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The optical system of claim 1 wherein said two reflecting mirror means comprises two plane mirrors.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
The optical system of claim 2 wherein planes normal to each of said mirrors at their respective points of incidence intersect in the bisector plane, said normal planes and the planes of said mirrors defining a quadrilateral with said bisector plane passing through opposite corners thereof, the movement of said carriage causing the position of the quadrilateral to shift while maintaining said bisector plane passing through said opposite corners.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The optical system of claim 1 wherein said mirror system includes means for adjusting the preselected angle formed by said two reflecting mirror means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The optical system of claim 1 wherein said means for mounting said carriage includes support means for said lens system with said carriage being supported on said support means and movable relative to said lens system.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
258 words
A method of installing and focusing a lens and mirror system in a copier for projecting an image from an area in an object plane to an image area in an image plane with the two planes being non-parallel and in which each area has a central axis perpendicular thereto, the axes being coplanar and intersecting to define an acute angle therebetween, said method comprising the steps of: providing a lens system; positioning said lens system in the copier with the optical axis thereof normal to the object plane; providing a mirror system having two reflecting mirror means; mounting the two reflecting mirror means on a common carriage and, prior to installing the carriage in the copier, adjusting the angular relationship between said two reflecting mirror means to form a preselected angle; installing the carriage mounting the two reflecting mirror means in the copier in a position such that a first one of said reflecting mirror means intercepts the optical axis of the lens system and cooperates with said second reflecting mirror means to bend said optical axis to a plane normal to the image plane and with the position of said mirror system in the copier being such that a plane dividing the angle formed by the perpendiculars to the image and object planes passes through the apex of said preselected angle formed by said two reflecting mirror means; and shifting said carriage with translatory motion along said divider plane to the position of optimum resolution of the image without displacing the image along the image plane.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
258 words
A method of installing and focusing a lens and mirror system in a copier for projecting an image from an area in an object plane to an image area in an image plane with the two planes being non-parallel and in which each area has a central axis perpendicular thereto, the axes being coplanar and intersecting to define an acute angle therebetween, said method comprising the steps of: providing a lens system; positioning said lens system in the copier with the optical axis thereof normal to the object plane; providing a mirror system having two reflecting mirror means; mounting the two reflecting mirror means on a common carriage and, prior to installing the carriage in the copier, adjusting the angular relationship between said two reflecting mirror means to form a preselected angle; installing the carriage mounting the two reflecting mirror means in the copier in a position such that a first one of said reflecting mirror means intercepts the optical axis of the lens system and cooperates with said second reflecting mirror means to bend said optical axis to a plane normal to the image plane and with the position of said mirror system in the copier being such that a plane dividing the angle formed by the perpendiculars to the image and object planes passes through the apex of said preselected angle formed by said two reflecting mirror means; and shifting said carriage with translatory motion along said divider plane to the position of optimum resolution of the image without displacing the image along the image plane.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-05 | 1976-03-06 | 1976-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-05 | 1980-03-06 | 1980-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-05 | 1984-03-06 | 1984-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |