Scanning optical system for photocopying apparatus

Claim 2

A scanning system for exposing light images of an original onto a photosensitive surface moving through an exposure station in a curved path without tracking error due to the curved path of the surface comprising: means to form light images of successive increments of the original and focus the light images onto corresponding increments of the moving photosensitive surface at the exposure station, an aperture plate located in the exposure station adjacent the path of movement of the photosensitive surface having an aperture of predetermined width running perpendicular to the direction of movement of the photosensitive surface, the aperture plate enabling only that portion of the light images passing through the aperture to reach the photosensitive surface, and means to correct tracking error which occurs in the direction perpendicular to the movement of the photosensitive surface between any given point in the light images and its corresponding point on the photosensitive surface due to the curved path of the photosensitive surface in the exposure station.

Claim 3

The apparatus in claim 1 wherein the means to correct tracking error is a lens means between the aperture plate and means to form and focus light images.

Claim 4

The apparatus in claim 2 wherein the lens means is a Fresnel lens.

Claim 5

The apparatus in claim 1 wherein the original is opaque and means to form light images includes transparent means to support the original adjacent the exposure station, illuminating means between the support means and means to correct tracking error adapted to move across the support means in the same direction as the photosensitive surface moves in synchronism with the movement of the photosensitive surface and illuminate successive increments of the original to form reflected light images of the original, and scanning lens means between the illuminating means and means to correct tracking error to focus the reflected light images onto the photosensitive surface.

Claim 6

The apparatus in claim 1 wherein the original is a transparent strip and means to form light images includes a transparent support means to support the original, means to illuminate the original including a condensing lens located on the side of the original opposite the photosensitive surface, a focusing lens between the support means and photosensitive surface and means to move the original relative to the support means at a speed adapted to place light images of the original on the photosensitive surface in synchronism with the movement thereof.

Claim 7

A scanning system for exposing light images of an original onto the external photosensitive surface of a rotating cylinder at an exposure station without tracking error due to the curved nature of the photosensitive surface comprising: means to form light images of successive increments of the original and focus the light images onto corresponding increments of the moving cylinder at the exposure station, an aperture plate located in the exposure station adjacent the path of movement of the cylinder having an aperture of predetermined width running perpendicular to the direCtion of rotation of the cylinder, the aperture plate enabling only that portion of the light images passing through the aperture to reach the cylinder, and lens means for correcting any tracking error which occurs in the direction perpendicular to the movement of the cylinder between any given point in the light images and its corresponding point on the cylinder due to the curved path of the surface of the cylinder as it passes through the exposure station.

Claim 8

A scanning system for exposing light images of an original onto the external photosensitive surface of a rotating cylinder at an exposure station without tracking error due to the curved nature of the photosensitive surface comprising: means to form light images of successive increments of the original and focus the light images onto corresponding increments of the moving cylinder at the exposure station, an aperture plate located in the exposure station adjacent the path of movement of the cylinder having an aperture of predetermined width running perpendicular to the direCtion of rotation of the cylinder, the aperture plate enabling only that portion of the light images passing through the aperture to reach the cylinder, and lens means for correcting any tracking error which occurs in the direction perpendicular to the movement of the cylinder between any given point in the light images and its corresponding point on the cylinder due to the curved path of the surface of the cylinder as it passes through the exposure station.

Claim 9

A scanning system for exposing light images of an original onto the internal photosensitive surface of a moving hollow cylinder at an exposure station without tracking error due to the curved nature of the photosensitive surface comprising: means to form light images of successive increments of the original and focus the light images onto corresponding increments of the moving photosensitive surface at the exposure station, an aperture plate located in the exposure station adjacent the path of movement of the photosensitive surface of the cylinder having an aperture of predetermined width running perpendicular to the direction of movement of the cylinder, the aperture plate enabling only that portion of the light image passing through the aperture to reach the photosensitive surface, and lens means for correcting any tracking error which occurs in the direction perpendicular to the movement of the cylinder between any given point in the light image and its corresponding point on the cylinder due to the curved path of the cylinder as it passes through the exposure station.

Claim 10

A scanning system for exposing light images of an original onto the internal photosensitive surface of a moving hollow cylinder at an exposure station without tracking error due to the curved nature of the photosensitive surface comprising: means to form light images of successive increments of the original and focus the light images onto corresponding increments of the moving photosensitive surface at the exposure station, an aperture plate located in the exposure station adjacent the path of movement of the photosensitive surface of the cylinder having an aperture of predetermined width running perpendicular to the direction of movement of the cylinder, the aperture plate enabling only that portion of the light image passing through the aperture to reach the photosensitive surface, and lens means for correcting any tracking error which occurs in the direction perpendicular to the movement of the cylinder between any given point in the light image and its corresponding point on the cylinder due to the curved path of the cylinder as it passes through the exposure station.

Claim 11

A scanning system for exposing light images of a curved original onto a photosensitive surface moving through an exposure station without tracking error due to the curvature of the original comprising: original support means adjacent the exposure station adapted to support the original in a curved manner during scanning, means to form light images of successive increments of the curved original and focus the light images onto corresponding increments of the moving photosensitive surface at the exposure station, an aperture plate located in the exposure station between the original support means and the path of movement of the photosensitive surface having an aperture of predetermined width running perpendicular to the direction of movement of the photosensitive surface, the aperture plate enabling only that portion of the light image passing through the aperture to reach the photosensitive surface, and lens means to correct tracking error which occurs in the direction perpendicular to the movement of the photosensitive surface between any given point in the light images and its corresponding point on the photosensitive surface due to the curvature of the original.

Claim 12

A scanning system for exposing light images of a curved original onto a photosensitive surface moving through an exposure station without tracking error due to the curvature of the original comprising: original support means adjacent the exposure station adapted to support the original in a curved manner during scanning, means to form light images of successive increments of the curved original and focus the light images onto corresponding increments of the moving photosensitive surface at the exposure station, an aperture plate located in the exposure station between the original support means and the path of movement of the photosensitive surface having an aperture of predetermined width running perpendicular to the direction of movement of the photosensitive surface, the aperture plate enabling only that portion of the light image passing through the aperture to reach the photosensitive surface, and lens means to correct tracking error which occurs in the direction perpendicular to the movement of the photosensitive surface between any given point in the light images and its corresponding point on the photosensitive surface due to the curvature of the original.

Claim 13

The apparatus in claim 8 further including means to move the original relative to the original support means at a speed synchronous with that of the photosensitive surface.

Claim 14

The apparatus in claim 8 wherein the photosensitive surface is substantially flat in the exposure station.

Claim 15

The apparatus in claim 8 further including means to move the original relative to the original support means at a speed synchronous with and the same direction as that of the photosensitive surface.

Claim 16

A scanning system for exposing light images of a curved original onto a photosensitive surface at an exposure station without tracking error due to the curvature of the original comprising: original support means adjacent the photosensitive surface adapted to support the original in a curved manner during scanning, an aperture plate located in the exposure station adjacent the photosensitive surface having an aperture of predetermined width running across the surface, the aperture plate enabling only that portion of the light image passing through the aperture to reach the photosensitive surface, means to form light images of successive increments of the curved original and focus the light images through the aperture onto coRresponding increments of the photosensitive surface at the exposure station, means to move the support means to bring successive increments of the original adjacent the means to form and focus light images, means to move the aperture plate in a path parallel to the photosensitive surface at a speed synchronous with that of the support means so that light images of the original pass through the aperture to the photosensitive surface, and lens means to correct tracking error which occurs in the direction perpendicular to the movement of the photosensitive surface between any given point in the light images and its corresponding point on the photosensitive surface due to the curvature of the original.

Claim 17

A scanning system for exposing light images of a curved original onto a photosensitive surface at an exposure station without tracking error due to the curvature of the original comprising: original support means adjacent the photosensitive surface adapted to support the original in a curved manner during scanning, an aperture plate located in the exposure station adjacent the photosensitive surface having an aperture of predetermined width running across the surface, the aperture plate enabling only that portion of the light image passing through the aperture to reach the photosensitive surface, means to form light images of successive increments of the curved original and focus the light images through the aperture onto coRresponding increments of the photosensitive surface at the exposure station, means to move the support means to bring successive increments of the original adjacent the means to form and focus light images, means to move the aperture plate in a path parallel to the photosensitive surface at a speed synchronous with that of the support means so that light images of the original pass through the aperture to the photosensitive surface, and lens means to correct tracking error which occurs in the direction perpendicular to the movement of the photosensitive surface between any given point in the light images and its corresponding point on the photosensitive surface due to the curvature of the original.

Claim 18

A scanning system for exposing light images of an original onto a photosensitive surface moving through an exposure station in a curved path without tracking error comprising: original support means adjacent the exposure station adapted to support the original in a curved manner for scanning, means to form light images of successive increments of the curved original and focus the light images onto corresponding increments of the moving photosensitive surface at the exposure station, an aperture plate located in the exposure station between the original support means and the path of movement of the photosensitive surface having an aperture of predetermined width running perpendicular to the direction of movement of the photosensitive surface, the aperture plate enabling only that portion of the light image passing through the aperture to reach the photosensitive surface, and lens means to correct tracking error which occurs in the direction perpendicular to the movement of the photosensitive surface between any given point in the light images and its corresponding point on the photosensitive surface due to the curvature of the original and the curved path of the photosensitive surface in the exposure station.

Claim 19

A scanning system for exposing light images of an original onto a photosensitive surface moving through an exposure station in a curved path without tracking error comprising: original support means adjacent the exposure station adapted to support the original in a curved manner for scanning, means to form light images of successive increments of the curved original and focus the light images onto corresponding increments of the moving photosensitive surface at the exposure station, an aperture plate located in the exposure station between the original support means and the path of movement of the photosensitive surface having an aperture of predetermined width running perpendicular to the direction of movement of the photosensitive surface, the aperture plate enabling only that portion of the light image passing through the aperture to reach the photosensitive surface, and lens means to correct tracking error which occurs in the direction perpendicular to the movement of the photosensitive surface between any given point in the light images and its corresponding point on the photosensitive surface due to the curvature of the original and the curved path of the photosensitive surface in the exposure station.

Claim 20

A scanning system for exposing light images of an original onto a photosensitive surface moving through an exposure station in a curved path without tracking error due to the curved path of the surface comprising: means to form light images of successive increments of the original and focus the light images onto corresponding increments of the moving photosensitive surface at the exposure station, an aperture plate located in the exposure station adjacent the path of movement of the photosensitive surface having an aperture of predetermined width running perpendicular to the direction of movement of the photosensitive surface, the aperture plate enabling only that portion of the light images passing through the aperture to reach the photosensitive surface, and between the aperture plate and means to form light images, a plano-convex lens means having its plano surface facing the aperture plate for correcting tracking error which occurs in the direction perpendicular to the movement of the photosensitive surface between any given point in the light images and its corresponding point on the photosensitive surface due to the curved path of the photosensitive surface in the exposure station.

Claim 21

A scanning system for exposing light images of an original onto a photosensitive surface moving through an exposure station in a curved path without tracking error due to the curved path of the surface comprising: means to form light images of successive increments of the original and focus the light images onto corresponding increments of the moving photosensitive surface at the exposure station, an aperture plate located in the exposure station adjacent the path of movement of the photosensitive surface having an aperture of predetermined width running perpendicular to the direction of movement of the photosensitive surface, the aperture plate enabling only that portion of the light images passing through the aperture to reach the photosensitive surface, and between the aperture plate and means to form light images, a plano-convex lens means having its plano surface facing the aperture plate for correcting tracking error which occurs in the direction perpendicular to the movement of the photosensitive surface between any given point in the light images and its corresponding point on the photosensitive surface due to the curved path of the photosensitive surface in the exposure station.

Claim 22

A scanning system for exposing light images of an original onto a photosensitive surface moving through an exposure station in a curved path without tracking error due to the curved path of the surface comprising: means to form light images of successive increments of the original and focus the light images onto corresponding increments of the moving photosensitive surface at the exposure station, the light images resulting from light rays which are non-perpendicular to photosensitive surface, an aperture plate located in the exposure station adjacent the path of movement of the photosensitive surface having an aperture of predetermined width running perpendicular to the direction of movement of the photosensitive surface, the aperture plate enabling only that portion of the light images passing through the apertUre to reach the photosensitive surface, and lens means between the aperture plate and means to form light images to make the light rays perpendicular to the photosensitive surface and to avoid tracking error which occurs in the direction perpendicular to the movement of the photosensitive surface between any given point in the light images and its corresponding point on the photosensitive surface due to the curved path of the photosensitive surface in the exposure station.

Claim 23

A scanning system for exposing light images of an original onto a photosensitive surface moving through an exposure station in a curved path without tracking error due to the curved path of the surface comprising: means to form light images of successive increments of the original and focus the light images onto corresponding increments of the moving photosensitive surface at the exposure station, the light images resulting from light rays which are non-perpendicular to photosensitive surface, an aperture plate located in the exposure station adjacent the path of movement of the photosensitive surface having an aperture of predetermined width running perpendicular to the direction of movement of the photosensitive surface, the aperture plate enabling only that portion of the light images passing through the apertUre to reach the photosensitive surface, and lens means between the aperture plate and means to form light images to make the light rays perpendicular to the photosensitive surface and to avoid tracking error which occurs in the direction perpendicular to the movement of the photosensitive surface between any given point in the light images and its corresponding point on the photosensitive surface due to the curved path of the photosensitive surface in the exposure station.