Apparatus for the photo-optical reading of marks and perforations on record media

Claim 2

Apparatus for the reading of marks and perforations on record media, including a lighting device adapted for illuminating a reading station and a reading device optically adapted for receiving light reflected or diffused into said station by a record medium advanced through said apparatus, wherein the improvement comprises; an image conductor block, a housing, said block being fixed in said housing, said housing forming with said block an airtight assemblage and providing for a face of said block to be disposed proximate to said record media, said block comprising rectilinear light conductive fibers elongated in a direction perpendicular to said face, and wherein the length of said fibers is such that the other face of said block is spaced from said lighting device and said reading device.

Claim 3

Apparatus for the reading of marks and perforations on record media, including a lighting device adapted for illuminating a reading station and a reading device optically adapted for receiving light reflected or diffused into said station by a record medium advanced through said apparatus, wherein the improvement comprises; an image conductor block, a housing, said block being fixed in said housing, said housing forming with said block an airtight assemblage and providing for a face of said block to be disposed proximate to said record media, said block comprising rectilinear light conductive fibers elongated in a direction perpendicular to said face, and wherein the length of said fibers is such that the other face of said block is spaced from said lighting device and said reading device.

Claim 4

Apparatus for the reading of marks and perforations on record media, including a lighting device adapted for illuminating a reading station and a reading device optically adapted for receiving light reflected or diffused into said station by a record medium advanced through said apparatus, wherein the improvement comprises; an image conductor block, a housing, said block being fixed in said housing, said housing forming with said block an airtight assemblage and providing for a face of said block to be disposed proximate to said record media, said block comprising rectilinear light conductive fibers elongated in a direction perpendicular to said face, and wherein the length of said fibers is such that the other face of said block is spaced from said lighting device and said reading device.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said image conductor block is provided on the face thereof facing said reading device with a diaphragm defining a slit for examining a record medium with said reading device.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein for the exclusive reading of perforations, a photoelectric element is disposed on the side of said block opposite to said lighting device for receiving light passing through a perforation in a record medium.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein for the exclusive reading of perforations, a photoelectric element is disposed on the side of said block opposite to said lighting device for receiving light passing through a perforation in a record medium.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein there is provided an additional image conductor block formed of rectilinear light conductive fibers and having a length of the same order as that of the first mentioned block, said additional block being disposed in an airtight base between said photoelectric element and said reading station.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 4, wherein there is provided an additional image conductor block having a length of the same order as that of the first mentioned block, said additional block being disposed in an airtight base between said photoelectric element and said reading station.

Claim 10

Apparatus for sensing indicia borne by a record medium, comprising in combination: a source of electromagnetic energy, said source emitting electromagnetic energy at an emitting surface thereof; a receiver of electromagnetic energy, said receiver collecting electromagnetic energy at a collecting surface thereof; a dust proof housing defining a closed space therein, said emitting and collecting surfaces being supported in said housing; an image conducting member passing through a wall of said housing and being provided with an interior surface inside said housing and an exterior surface outside said housing, said interior surface facing and being spaced apart from said emitting and collecting surface, said image conducting member being formed of a plurality of light conducting fibers extending between and oriented perpendicular to said interior surfaces; and support means for supporting a record medium proximate to said exterior surface.

Claim 11

Apparatus for sensing indicia borne by a record medium, comprising in combination: a source of electromagnetic energy, said source emitting electromagnetic energy at an emitting surface thereof; a receiver of electromagnetic energy, said receiver collecting electromagnetic energy at a collecting surface thereof; a dust proof housing defining a closed space therein, said emitting and collecting surfaces being supported in said housing; an image conducting member passing through a wall of said housing and being provided with an interior surface inside said housing and an exterior surface outside said housing, said interior surface facing and being spaced apart from said emitting and collecting surface, said image conducting member being formed of a plurality of light conducting fibers extending between and oriented perpendicular to said interior surfaces; and support means for supporting a record medium proximate to said exterior surface.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said image conducting member is juxtaposed relative to said housing for receiving at the interior surface thereof electromagnetic energy emitted by said emitting surface, transmitting said emitted energy therethrough to said exterior surface, and directing said emitted energy from said exterior surface to illuminate a portion of said record medium; and for receiving at the exterior surface thereof electromagnetic energy reflected by said record medium, transmitting said reflected energy therethrough to said interior surface, and directing said reflected energy from said interior surface to illuminate said collecting surface.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said housing is airtight.

Claim 14

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said electromagnetic energy comprises light.

Claim 15

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said support means is adapted to move said record medium substantially parallel to and against said exterior surface to provide motional friction between said medium and said exterior surface.

Claim 16

The apparatus of claim 7, further including photoelectric means coupled to said receiver and responsive to the electromagnetic energy collected thereby for generating corresponding electrical signals.