Image scanning system for copy machines

Claim 2

In a copy machine, an apparatus for scanning a stationary supporting means on which an original may be placed to impart an image therefrom onto a moving image-receiving member including a frame, a first carriage supported by said frame to move along a path of travel parallel to said stationary supporting means, a second carriage supported for movement over a path of travel parallel to the path of said first carriage, means interconnecting the second carriage to the first carriage and to said frame to afford movement of said second carriage in the same direction but at a rate twice that of said first carriage upon movement of said first carriage in a predetermined direction, spring means connected to said first carriage for urging it in a first direction, linkage means connected to said first carriage for transferring forces to said first carriage to move it along its said path, and driven cam means for moving said linkage means to drive said first carriage along said path, said driven cam means having a profile affording continuously controlled acceleration, velocity and displacement of said first carriage and for affording a scan mode wherein said second carriage scans said supporting means at a constant velocity.

Claim 3

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said linkage means comprises a lever pivoted to said frame and a connecting link connected to said lever and to said first carriage, said lever supporting cam follower means intermediate its length for engagement with said cam means.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said first carriage is moved in said first direction during said scan mode.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first carriage is moved in said first direction during said scan mode.

Claim 6

In a document scanning apparatus for a copy machine including a support upon which an object may be placed and held in a fixed position, said scanning apparatus comprising a first carriage, said carriage supporting a pair of mirrors positioned angularly with respect to each other to reflect an image from one to the other and movable along a path parallel to said support, a second carriage arranged to move over a path of travel parallel to the path of travel of said first carriage and supporting a mirror for reflecting an image 90° from said support toward one of said mirrors on said first carriage, means interconnecting said first carriage to the second carriage and to an anchor fixed with respect to said support member affording relative movement between said carriages upon movement of said first carriage to move said second carriage in the same direction at substantially twice the speed of that of the first carriage, spring means urging said first carriage in a first direction, linkage means connected to said first carriage for moving said first and second carriage upon movement of said linkage means along said path, said linkage means comprising a pair of rigid links pivotally connected, one of said links pivotally connected to said carriage and one of said links being pivotally connected relative to said support, and cam means for pivoting said link connected to said support for driving said link and said first carriage, said cam having a surface affording a continuous controlled acceleration, velocity and displacement of said first carriage to restrict any shock loading to said support member upon said carriages accelerating or decelerating.

Claim 7

In a document scanning apparatus for a copy machine including a support upon which an object may be placed and held in a fixed position, said scanning apparatus comprising a first carriage, said carriage supporting a pair of mirrors positioned angularly with respect to each other to reflect an image from one to the other and movable along a path parallel to said support, a second carriage arranged to move over a path of travel parallel to the path of travel of said first carriage and supporting a mirror for reflecting an image 90° from said support toward one of said mirrors on said first carriage, means interconnecting said first carriage to the second carriage and to an anchor fixed with respect to said support member affording relative movement between said carriages upon movement of said first carriage to move said second carriage in the same direction at substantially twice the speed of that of the first carriage, spring means urging said first carriage in a first direction, linkage means connected to said first carriage for moving said first and second carriage upon movement of said linkage means along said path, said linkage means comprising a pair of rigid links pivotally connected, one of said links pivotally connected to said carriage and one of said links being pivotally connected relative to said support, and cam means for pivoting said link connected to said support for driving said link and said first carriage, said cam having a surface affording a continuous controlled acceleration, velocity and displacement of said first carriage to restrict any shock loading to said support member upon said carriages accelerating or decelerating.

Claim 8

In a document scanning apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said cam means comprises a rotatable cam engageable with said link pivoted relative to said support to move said first carriage against said spring means to begin a scan mode and then at a constant velocity in said first direction during the scan mode and then stops the carriage.

Claim 9

In a document scanning apparatus according to claim 6 including a fixed lens to receive an image reflected from a mirror on said first carriage, and a fourth mirror positioned to receive an image from said lens and positioned oblique to said direction of movement of said carriages.

Claim 10

In a document scanning apparatus according to claim 7 wherein a drum is driven about an axis parallel to said first direction and having a surface to accept an image reflected from said fourth mirror.

Claim 11

In a document scanning apparatus according to claim 5 including a fixed lens to receive an image reflected from a mirror on said first carriage, and a fourth mirror positioned to receive an image from said lens and positioned oblique to said direction of movement of said carriages.

Claim 12

In a document scanning apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said cam comprises the following segments: (1) constant velocity scan; (2) peak deceleration; (3) peak deceleration to peak acceleration; and (4) peak to 0 acceleration.

Claim 13

In a copy machine, an apparatus for scanning a stationary supporting means on which an original may be placed to impart an image therefrom onto a moving image-receiving member rotatable about an axis including a frame, a first carriage supported by said frame to move along a path of travel parallel to said stationary supporting means and said axis of rotation of said image-receiving member, a second carriage supported for movement over a path of travel parallel to the path of said first carriage, means interconnecting the second carriage to the first carriage and to said frame to afford movement of said second carriage in the same direction but at a rate twice that of said first carriage upon movement of said first carriage in a predetermined direction, spring means connected to said first carriage for urging it in a first direction, a lever pivoted to said frame and supporting a cam follower intermediate its length, a connecting link connected to said lever and to said first carriage, driven cam means engageable with said cam follower for moving said lever and link to drive said first carriage along said path, said driven cam means having a profile affording continuously controlled acceleration, velocity and displacement of said first carriage and for affording a scan mode wherein said second carriage scans said supporting means at a constant velocity, said first carriage supporting a pair of mirrors positioned angularly with respect to each other to reflect an image from one to the other, said pair of mirrors being mounted oblique to said path and at an acute angle to said supporting member, said second carriage supporting a mirror at an acute angle to said supporting member for reflecting an image 90° from said supporting member toward said one of said pair of mirrors on said first carriage, a fixed lens positioned to receive an image reflected from said other of said pair of mirrors on said first carriage, and a fourth mirror positioned to receive an image from said lens and positioned oblique to said direction of movement of said carriages and perpendicular to said supporting means for directing an image received thereon to said image-receiving member.

Claim 14

In a copy machine, an apparatus for scanning a stationary supporting means on which an original may be placed to impart an image therefrom onto a moving image-receiving member rotatable about an axis including a frame, a first carriage supported by said frame to move along a path of travel parallel to said stationary supporting means and said axis of rotation of said image-receiving member, a second carriage supported for movement over a path of travel parallel to the path of said first carriage, means interconnecting the second carriage to the first carriage and to said frame to afford movement of said second carriage in the same direction but at a rate twice that of said first carriage upon movement of said first carriage in a predetermined direction, spring means connected to said first carriage for urging it in a first direction, a lever pivoted to said frame and supporting a cam follower intermediate its length, a connecting link connected to said lever and to said first carriage, driven cam means engageable with said cam follower for moving said lever and link to drive said first carriage along said path, said driven cam means having a profile affording continuously controlled acceleration, velocity and displacement of said first carriage and for affording a scan mode wherein said second carriage scans said supporting means at a constant velocity, said first carriage supporting a pair of mirrors positioned angularly with respect to each other to reflect an image from one to the other, said pair of mirrors being mounted oblique to said path and at an acute angle to said supporting member, said second carriage supporting a mirror at an acute angle to said supporting member for reflecting an image 90° from said supporting member toward said one of said pair of mirrors on said first carriage, a fixed lens positioned to receive an image reflected from said other of said pair of mirrors on said first carriage, and a fourth mirror positioned to receive an image from said lens and positioned oblique to said direction of movement of said carriages and perpendicular to said supporting means for directing an image received thereon to said image-receiving member.