Optical alignment system for an original document

Claim 2

An optical system, including: a support member arranged to hold an original document; means for projecting a grid light image onto said support member so that the original document may be aligned on said support member relative to the grid light image projected thereon; means for creating a light image from the aligned original document disposed on said support member after deenergizing said grid light image projecting means; and at least one substantially non-light absorbing strip adapted to be positioned on said support member in a selected region of the grid projected thereon to mask a predetermined portion of the original document, said opaque strip having additional indicia thereon adapted to be inserted into the original document.

Claim 3

A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said support member incudes: a substantially rigid frame member having an aperture therein; resilient means secured to said frame member on the periphery of the aperture therein; and a transparent member having a generally planar surface, said transpareNt member being mounted on said resilient means in the aperture of said frame member permitting light rays to be transmitted therethrough.

Claim 4

A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said light image creating means includes: a light source arranged to illuminate the original document; and lens means for receiving the light rays from the original document to form a light image thereof.

Claim 5

A system as recited in claim 3, wherein said grid projecting means includes: a grid projection lamp; and a transparent member having a grid thereon, said transparent member being interposed between said support member and said grid projecting lamp in the focal plane thereof.

Claim 6

A system as recited in claim 4, further including circuit means arranged to automatically de-energize said grid projection lamp when energizing said light source.

Claim 7

A system as recited in claim 1, further including means, disposed in the path of the light image, for filtering the light image to produce a single color light image from a colored original document.

Claim 8

An electrophotographic printing machine of the type having a charged photoconductive surface, including: a support member arranged to hold an original document; means for projecting a grid light image onto said support member so that the original document may be aligned on said support member relative to the grid light image projected thereon; means for creating a light image from the aligned original document disposed on said support member after deenergizing said grid light image projecting means, whereby the light image irradiates the charged photoconductive surface to selectively dissipate the charge thereon in accordance with the intensity of the light image transmitted thereto; and at least one substantially non-light absorbing strip adapted to be positioned on said support member in a selected region of the grid projected thereon to mask a pre-determined portion of the original document, said opaque strip contains additional indicia thereon adapted to be inserted into the original document.

Claim 9

An electrophotographic printing machine of the type having a charged photoconductive surface, including: a support member arranged to hold an original document; means for projecting a grid light image onto said support member so that the original document may be aligned on said support member relative to the grid light image projected thereon; means for creating a light image from the aligned original document disposed on said support member after deenergizing said grid light image projecting means, whereby the light image irradiates the charged photoconductive surface to selectively dissipate the charge thereon in accordance with the intensity of the light image transmitted thereto; and at least one substantially non-light absorbing strip adapted to be positioned on said support member in a selected region of the grid projected thereon to mask a pre-determined portion of the original document, said opaque strip contains additional indicia thereon adapted to be inserted into the original document.

Claim 10

A printing machine as recited in claim 7, wherein said support member includes: a substantially rigid frame member having an aperture therein; resilient means secured to said frame member on the periphery of the aperture therein; and a transparent member having a generally planar surface, said transparent member being mounted on said resilient means in the aperture of said frame member permitting light rays to be transmitted therethrough.

Claim 11

A printing machine as recited in claim 7, wherein said light image creating means includes: a light source arranged to illuminate the original document; and lens means for receiving the light rays from the original document to form a light image thereof.

Claim 12

A printing machine as recited in claim 9, wherein said grid projecting means includes: a grid projection lamp; and a transparent member having a grid thereon, said transparent member being interposed between said support member and said grid projecting lamp in the focal plane thereof.

Claim 13

A printing machine as recited in claim 10, further including circuit means arranged to automatically de-energize said grid projection lamp when energizing said light source.

Claim 14

A printing machine as recited in claim 7, further including means, disposed in the path of the light image, for filtering the light image to produce a single color light image from a colored original document.