Exposure means for photocopying apparatus

Claim 2

In a photocopying apparatus including means for progressively optically scanning an object in a strip-like manner in synchronism with the travel of a light-sensitive medium and for projecting on said medium an image of the scanned portion of said object; the improvement which comprises exposure means for illuminating the scanned strip portion of said object, comprising a. at least one flexible bundle of light conducting rods the light outlet ends of which terminate adjacent the object in at least one narrow zone which extends normal to the direction of scanning of said scanned object, the length of said zone corresponding with the width of the object, the light inlet ends of said rods being combined in the form of a bundle having a circular cross-sectional configuration terminating in an inlet end surface; and b. means including a light source for illuminating the light input ends of said rods, said light source being adjacent said bundle inlet end surface and the illuminating surface of said light source corresponding with said bundle cross-section, whereby uniform illumination of said object is achieved.

Claim 3

Photocopying apparatus for reproducing the image of an object upon a continuously travelling light-sensitive medium, comprising a. means for progressively optically scanning the object in a strip-like manner in synchronism with the travel of the light-sensitive medium and for projecting on said medium an image of the scanned portion of said object; and b. means for illuminating only the scanned strip portion of said object, said illuminating means including a. at least one flexible bundle of light conducting rods the light outlet ends of which terminate adjacent the object in at least one narrow zone which extends normal to the direction of scanning of said scanned object, the length of said zone corresponding with the width of the object, the light inlet ends of said rods being combined in the form of a bundle having a circular cross-sectional configuration terminating in an inlet end surface, the outlet ends of said rods being connected with said scanning means for displacement relative to the object in a direction normal to said narrow zone in synchronism with the scanning of the object; and b. means including a light source for illuminating the light input ends of said rods, said light source being adjacent said bundle inlet end surface and the illuminating surface of said light source corresponding with said bundle cross-section, whereby uniform illumination of said object is achieved.

Claim 4

Photocopying apparatus for reproducing the image of an object upon a continuously travelling light-sensitive medium, comprising a. means for progressively optically scanning the object in a strip-like manner in synchronism with the travel of the light-sensitive medium and for projecting on said medium an image of the scanned portion of said object; and b. means for illuminating only the scanned strip portion of said object, said illuminating means including a. at least one flexible bundle of light conducting rods the light outlet ends of which terminate adjacent the object in at least one narrow zone which extends normal to the direction of scanning of said scanned object, the length of said zone corresponding with the width of the object, the light inlet ends of said rods being combined in the form of a bundle having a circular cross-sectional configuration terminating in an inlet end surface, the outlet ends of said rods being connected with said scanning means for displacement relative to the object in a direction normal to said narrow zone in synchronism with the scanning of the object; and b. means including a light source for illuminating the light input ends of said rods, said light source being adjacent said bundle inlet end surface and the illuminating surface of said light source corresponding with said bundle cross-section, whereby uniform illumination of said object is achieved.

Claim 5

Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said photocopying apparatus includes an image fixing station, said light source being located in such a manner adjacent said image fixing station that heat from said light source is applied to said image carrying medium.

Claim 6

Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said light source is arranged adjacent that side of the light-sensitive medium upon which the image is projected, and further including blower means arranged on the opposite side of said light source from said light-sensitive medium for directing air onto said medium.

Claim 7

In a photocopying apparatus including means including a pivotable mirror for progressively optically scanning an object in a strip-like manner in synchronism with the travel of a light-sensitive medium and for projecting on said medium an image of the scanned portion of said object; the improvement which comprises exposure means for illuminating the scanned strip portion of said object, comprising a. at least one bundle of light conducting rods the light outlet ends of which terminate adjacent the object in at least one narrow zone which extends normal to the direction of scanning of said scanning means, the axes of said optical scanning means and the light output ends of said rods being arranged at different angles relative to the object; b. means including a light source for illuminating the light input ends of said rods; and c. frame means supporting the light outlet ends of said rods for pivotal movement about the pivot axis of said pivotable mirror.

Claim 8

In a photocopying apparatus including means including a pivotable mirror for progressively optically scanning an object in a strip-like manner in synchronism with the travel of a light-sensitive medium and for projecting on said medium an image of the scanned portion of said object; the improvement which comprises exposure means for illuminating the scanned strip portion of said object, comprising a. at least one bundle of light conducting rods the light outlet ends of which terminate adjacent the object in at least one narrow zone which extends normal to the direction of scanning of said scanning means, the axes of said optical scanning means and the light output ends of said rods being arranged at different angles relative to the object; b. means including a light source for illuminating the light input ends of said rods; and c. frame means supporting the light outlet ends of said rods for pivotal movement about the pivot axis of said pivotable mirror.

Claim 9

Apparatus as defined in claim 5, and further wherein said illuminating means includes condensing lens means arranged between said light source and the light input ends of said rods, and an optically concave mirror facing and arranged on the opposite side of said light source from said condensing lens means.

Claim 10

Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the axes of said optical scanning means and the light output ends of said rods are arranged at different angles relative to the object.

Claim 11

Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the light inlet ends of said rods are combined in the form of a cable having a circular cross-section, the axis of said cable being colinear with the pivot axis of said pivotable mirror and said frame means, the light inlet end of said cable being rigidly connected with said frame means.

Claim 12

Apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said illuminating means is stationary and arranged opposite the light input end of said circular cable of light conducting rods.

Claim 13

Apparatus as defined in claim 9, and further including a second bundle of light conducting rods, the light outlet ends of said second bundle of rods being arranged parallel with and spaced on the opposite side of the scanning strip from the light outlet ends of said one bundle of rods, the light outlet ends of said second bundle of rods being combined in the form of a second cable having a circular cross-section, the axis of said second cable being colinear with the pivot axis of said mirror and said frame means, the light inlet end of said second bundle being rigidly connected with said frame means, the light inlet end of said second cable extending in the opposite direction from the light inlet end of said one bundle, and means for illuminating the light input end of said second cable.