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US4346984A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Document scanner

Assignee: Xerox Corp
•
Filing: 1980-10-20
•
Granted: 1982-08-31
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Expires: 2000-10-20
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Abstract

Abstract A lead screw is provided to move two or more document scanning elements at separate and differing rates of speed. In a preferred embodiment the lead screw consists of two threaded segments, each segment having a length and pitch which provides a 2:1 ratio of travel to a scan element threadingly engaged therein.

Inventors

  • 👤 William Kingsley

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 04:24
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/32; G03B27/52; G03B27/522; G03B27/525; G03B27/526

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 111 words
An optical scanning system having at least two mirror assemblies mounted for independent movement beneath a document lying in an object plane, the scanning system further comprising means for driving said assemblies at different rates of speed, said driving means including a lead screw having along its length at least two threaded segments having a pitch differing one from the other, said mirror assemblies being each threadingly engaged with a separate threaded segment, and means for rotating said lead screw whereby each mirror assembly is advanced along said threaded segment at a rate of speed proportional to the velocity of said rotating means and the pitch of the respective threaded segment.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 111 words
An optical scanning system having at least two mirror assemblies mounted for independent movement beneath a document lying in an object plane, the scanning system further comprising means for driving said assemblies at different rates of speed, said driving means including a lead screw having along its length at least two threaded segments having a pitch differing one from the other, said mirror assemblies being each threadingly engaged with a separate threaded segment, and means for rotating said lead screw whereby each mirror assembly is advanced along said threaded segment at a rate of speed proportional to the velocity of said rotating means and the pitch of the respective threaded segment.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 55 words
The optical scanning system of claim 1 wherein a first mirror assembly scans the document and reflects the scanned image to a second mirror assembly, said second assembly being threadingly engaged to a lead screw segment having a pitch V2 of the pitch of the segment upon which the first mirror assembly is threadingly engaged.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 123 words
A scanning system for incrementally scanning a document in an object plane, the system comprising a full rate scan mirror and a half rate mirror mounted respectively for independent movement on a first and second movable carriage disposed beneath said object plane, a lead screw having along its length a first threaded segment with a pitch P cm/rev and a second threaded segment with a pitch P/2/cm/rev, means for threadingly engaging said first carriage with said first threaded segment and said second carriage with said second threaded segment, and means for rotating said lead screw whereby each carriage is advanced along the respective shaft segment at a rate of speed proportional to the velocity of said rotating means and the respective segment pitch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 123 words
A scanning system for incrementally scanning a document in an object plane, the system comprising a full rate scan mirror and a half rate mirror mounted respectively for independent movement on a first and second movable carriage disposed beneath said object plane, a lead screw having along its length a first threaded segment with a pitch P cm/rev and a second threaded segment with a pitch P/2/cm/rev, means for threadingly engaging said first carriage with said first threaded segment and said second carriage with said second threaded segment, and means for rotating said lead screw whereby each carriage is advanced along the respective shaft segment at a rate of speed proportional to the velocity of said rotating means and the respective segment pitch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 15 words
The scanning system of claim 3 wherein said threadingly engaging means is a flexure nut.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 16 words
The scanning system of claim 3 wherein said first and second threaded segments have different diameters.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 32 words
The scanning system of claim 3 wherein scanned line images are transmitted along an optical path wherein a lens and beamsplitter mirror cooperate to project said line images onto photosensitive imaging arrays.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1985-08-30 1986-03-01 1986-08-31 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1989-08-30 1990-03-01 1990-08-31 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1993-08-30 1994-03-01 1994-08-31 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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