Dynamic mounting for holographic spinners

Claim 2

A holographic scanning mechanism including: a rotatable shaft; a holographic spinner having on its surface at least one holographic facet; a hub assembly having a first member which is fixedly connected to said spinner and a second member which is located between said first member and said shaft, and said second member movable relative to said first member in a direction which is transverse to the plane of the shaft rotation; drive means for coupling the angular velocity of the shaft to the spinner; and means for rotating said shaft whereby during rotation the transverse movement of said second hub member permits the spinner to move in the same direction and achieve its optimum perpendicular alignment.

Claim 3

The holographic scanning mechanism of claim 1 wherein such second hub member is a spherical bearing assembly.

Claim 4

The holographic scanning mechanism of claim 1 wherein such second hub member is a plurality of ball bearings.

Claim 5

The scanning mechanism of claim 1 wherein said drive means is a locking compound applied to the surface of said second hub member prior to rotation, said compound selected to provide sufficient friction on application, to transmit the angular velocity of the shaft via said second hub member to the first hub member and, during rotation, to solidify so as to lock the spinner into its optimum perpendicular alignment.

Claim 6

The scanning mechanism of claim 1 wherein said drive means is a drive pin connected between the shaft and the first hub member.

Claim 7

A holographic scanning mechanism including: a rotatable shaft; a holographic spinner having on its surface at least one holographic facet, said spinner fixedly mounted onto a hub member; a drive element connected between said shaft and said hub member for transferring the angular velocity of the shaft to the hub member and hence to the spinner; a bearing means located in a generally spherical cavity between said hub member and said shaft, said bearing means adapted for movement within said cavity in a direction transverse to the plane of shaft rotation; and means for rotating said shaft whereby said hub member and spinner are rotated at the angular velocity of the shaft and are also rotated in a direction transverse to the plane of shaft rotation by action of said bearing means to achieve a condition of perpendicularity relative to the axis of rotation.

Claim 8

A holographic scanning mechanism including: a rotatable shaft; a holographic spinner having on its surface at least one holographic facet, said spinner fixedly mounted onto a hub member; a drive element connected between said shaft and said hub member for transferring the angular velocity of the shaft to the hub member and hence to the spinner; a bearing means located in a generally spherical cavity between said hub member and said shaft, said bearing means adapted for movement within said cavity in a direction transverse to the plane of shaft rotation; and means for rotating said shaft whereby said hub member and spinner are rotated at the angular velocity of the shaft and are also rotated in a direction transverse to the plane of shaft rotation by action of said bearing means to achieve a condition of perpendicularity relative to the axis of rotation.

Claim 9

The scanning mechanism of claim 6 wherein said bearing means includes a plurality of ball bearings.

Claim 10

The scanning mechanism of claim 6 wherein said bearing means is a spherical bearing.

Claim 11

The scanning mechanism of claim 6 wherein said drive element is a locking compond inserted into the cavity area prior to rotation, said compound selected to provide sufficient friction, at application, to transmit the angular velocity of the shaft, through the bearing means to the hub assembly and during rotation, to solidify so as to lock the spinner into its optimum perpendicular alignment.

Claim 12

The scanning mechanism of claim 6 wherein said drive element is a drive pin connected between the shaft and the hub assembly.

Claim 13

The scanning mechanism of claim 10 further including a locking compound introduced during rotation, into the cavity area, said compound solidifying to lock the spinner into its optimum perpendicular alignment.

Claim 14

A holographic scanning mechanism including a rotatable shaft having a tapered end surface; a holographic spinner assembly having at least one holographic facet; drive means for connecting the angular velocity of the shaft to the spinner; and a spherical, stiffly compressible assembly mounted in sliding contact with said spinner assembly whereby said spinner, under the influence of centrifugal force slidably pivots about a point on said tapered surface, saidcompressible assembly transfers the force of said pivoting motion and aligns the spinner into a condition of uniform perpendicularity relative to its axis of rotation.

Claim 15

A holographic scanning mechanism including a rotatable shaft having a tapered end surface; a holographic spinner assembly having at least one holographic facet; drive means for connecting the angular velocity of the shaft to the spinner; and a spherical, stiffly compressible assembly mounted in sliding contact with said spinner assembly whereby said spinner, under the influence of centrifugal force slidably pivots about a point on said tapered surface, saidcompressible assembly transfers the force of said pivoting motion and aligns the spinner into a condition of uniform perpendicularity relative to its axis of rotation.

Claim 16

The scanning mechanism of claim 12 wherein said compressible assembly further includes a spherical washer mounted in sliding contact with said spinner assembly, said washer providing the limited amount of movement required to accommodate the pivoting transverse movement of the spinner assembly.

Claim 17

The scanning mechanism of claim 12 wherein said drive means is a drive pin located on the tapered end surface of said shaft.

Claim 18

A light spot scanning mechanism including a rotatable shaft; a mirrored light scan element having on its surface at least one facet; a hub assembly having a first member which is fixedly connected to said scan element and a second member which is movably positioned between said first member and said shaft, said second member movable in a direction which is transverse to the plane of shaft rotation; drive means for connecting the angular velocity of the shaft to the scan element; and means for rotating the shaft whereby during rotation, the transverse movement of said second hub member permits the scan element to move in the same direction and achieve its optimum perpendicular alignment.

Claim 19

A light spot scanning mechanism including a rotatable shaft; a mirrored light scan element having on its surface at least one facet; a hub assembly having a first member which is fixedly connected to said scan element and a second member which is movably positioned between said first member and said shaft, said second member movable in a direction which is transverse to the plane of shaft rotation; drive means for connecting the angular velocity of the shaft to the scan element; and means for rotating the shaft whereby during rotation, the transverse movement of said second hub member permits the scan element to move in the same direction and achieve its optimum perpendicular alignment.

Claim 20

A light spot scanning mechanism according to claim 15 where said second member is a spherical bearing assembly.

Claim 21

A light spot scanning mechanism according to claim 15 wherein said drive means is a locking compound applied to the surface of said second hub member prior to rotation, said compound selected to provide sufficient friction on application, to transmit the angular velocity of the shaft via said second hub member to the first hub member and, during rotation, to solidify so as to lock the scan element into its optimum perpendicular alignment.

Claim 22

In a light spot scanning assembly which includes a rotatable light spot scan element mounted to a rotatable shaft, a scan element alignment assembly connecting said scan element to said shaft, said alignment assembly comprising: drive means for coupling the angular velocity of the rotating shaft to said scan element; and a bearing assembly having a first element fixedly connected to said shaft and rotating therewith and a second, bearing, element adapted to provide a motion, during rotation, to said scan element in a direction transverse to said shaft rotation whereby said scan element aligns itself in a direction perpendicular to said rotating shaft.

Claim 23

In a light spot scanning assembly which includes a rotatable light spot scan element mounted to a rotatable shaft, a scan element alignment assembly connecting said scan element to said shaft, said alignment assembly comprising: drive means for coupling the angular velocity of the rotating shaft to said scan element; and a bearing assembly having a first element fixedly connected to said shaft and rotating therewith and a second, bearing, element adapted to provide a motion, during rotation, to said scan element in a direction transverse to said shaft rotation whereby said scan element aligns itself in a direction perpendicular to said rotating shaft.

Claim 24

The scanning assembly of claim 18 wherein such second bearing element is a spherical bearing.

Claim 25

The scanning assembly of claim 18 wherein such second bearing element is a plurality of ball bearings.

Claim 26

The scanning assembly of claim 18 wherein said drive means is a locking compound applied to the surface of said second bearing element prior to rotation.

Claim 27

The scanning assembly of claim 18 wherein said drive means is a drive pin connected between the shaft and the scan element.

Claim 28

The scanning assembly of claim 18 wherein said scan element is a multi-faceted polygon scanner.

Claim 29

The scanning assembly of claim 18 wherein said scan element is a holographic spinner having at least one holographic facet disposed for rotation with said shaft.