Bi-directional scanner assembly

Claim 1

The method of optically scanning a coded symbol comprising the steps of; a. generating two beams of light; b. causing the different beams to be reflected off respective counter-rotating surfaces; c. directing the beam reflected from a clockwise rotating surface to a vibrating reflective surface; d. directing said vibrated beam against a V-shaped reflective surface; e. directing further the beam reflected from said V-shaped reflective surface to first and second reflective surfaces to trace an X-shaped scan against said coded symbol; f. directing upon the completion of said X scan the beam reflected from the counter-clockwise rotating surface successively to said vibrating, V-shaped and first and second reflective surfaces to form an X scan that impinges upon said coded symbol which is off-set from and oppositely traced from said first-mentioned X scan.

Claim 2

The method of optically scanning a coded symbol comprising the steps of; a. generating two beams of light; b. causing the different beams to be reflected off respective counter-rotating surfaces; c. directing the beam reflected from a clockwise rotating surface to a vibrating reflective surface; d. directing said vibrated beam against a V-shaped reflective surface; e. directing further the beam reflected from said V-shaped reflective surface to first and second reflective surfaces to trace an X-shaped scan against said coded symbol; f. directing upon the completion of said X scan the beam reflected from the counter-clockwise rotating surface successively to said vibrating, V-shaped and first and second reflective surfaces to form an X scan that impinges upon said coded symbol which is off-set from and oppositely traced from said first-mentioned X scan.

Claim 5

An apparatus for optically scanning a bar code formed on a label comprising; a. means for producing two light beams, b. means for directing one said light beam in a first optical path to generate a plurality of first optical X tracings, each said X tracing being displaced from the previous tracing, c. means for directing the second light beam in a second optical path to generate a plurality of X tracings reverse to the direction of said first tracings, each said reverse X tracing being parallelly displaced from the previous reverse tracing and, each one of said reverse tracing being generated immediately after each one of said frist mentioned tracing has been generated, d. said first and second optical paths being of substantially equal length, whereby said bar code is scanned by beams having the same resolution.

Claim 6

An apparatus for optically scanning a bar code formed on a label comprising; a. means for producing two light beams, b. means for directing one said light beam in a first optical path to generate a plurality of first optical X tracings, each said X tracing being displaced from the previous tracing, c. means for directing the second light beam in a second optical path to generate a plurality of X tracings reverse to the direction of said first tracings, each said reverse X tracing being parallelly displaced from the previous reverse tracing and, each one of said reverse tracing being generated immediately after each one of said frist mentioned tracing has been generated, d. said first and second optical paths being of substantially equal length, whereby said bar code is scanned by beams having the same resolution.

Claim 11

An apparatus for scanning optically a code formed on a label comprising; a. means for generating a source of light b. means for splitting said light source into two beams of light, c. first and second reflective surfaces, d. first and second rotating means each having reflective surfaces, e. a vibrating reflective surface means, f. third and fourth reflective surface means, said third and fourth reflective surface means being formed into an angular V-shaped configuration, g. an X-shaped slot, h. said respective light beams being reflected off of said first and second reflective surfaces and onto said first and second rotating means and thence to said vibrating reflective surface, i. the respective light beams being further consecutively reflected off said third and fourth, and said fourth and third reflective surfaces, j. said light beam reflected off said third and fourth reflective surface forming a series of X tracings in said X-shaped slot each of which is displaced from one another, k. said other light beam being reflected off said fourth and third reflective surfaces forming a series of X tracings in a reverse direction from said previous X tracings in said slot each of which is displaced from one another, l. each reverse tracing being interposed between each two of said first mentioned tracings and m. the optical paths followed by said two light beams being substantially equal.

Claim 12

An apparatus for scanning optically a code formed on a label comprising; a. means for generating a source of light b. means for splitting said light source into two beams of light, c. first and second reflective surfaces, d. first and second rotating means each having reflective surfaces, e. a vibrating reflective surface means, f. third and fourth reflective surface means, said third and fourth reflective surface means being formed into an angular V-shaped configuration, g. an X-shaped slot, h. said respective light beams being reflected off of said first and second reflective surfaces and onto said first and second rotating means and thence to said vibrating reflective surface, i. the respective light beams being further consecutively reflected off said third and fourth, and said fourth and third reflective surfaces, j. said light beam reflected off said third and fourth reflective surface forming a series of X tracings in said X-shaped slot each of which is displaced from one another, k. said other light beam being reflected off said fourth and third reflective surfaces forming a series of X tracings in a reverse direction from said previous X tracings in said slot each of which is displaced from one another, l. each reverse tracing being interposed between each two of said first mentioned tracings and m. the optical paths followed by said two light beams being substantially equal.