Light collector rod for use in xerographic systems

Claim 1

A light collector for use with a flying spot scanner adapted to raster scan images developed on the photoconductive surface of a xerographic type copying apparatus, said collector being disposable opposite said photoconductive surface to collect light reflected from said photoconductive surface when scanning images developed on said photoconductive surface, the improvement comprising: (a) a transparent central core; (b) a layer of cladding material covering the periphery of said core; (c) a layer of light diffusing material covering the outer periphery of said cladding material except for a slit-like aperture through which light reflected from said photoconductive surface enters said core through said cladding material, said aperture extending in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of said core; and (d) a photosensor at at least one end of said collector, said photosensor being operatively coupled to said collector to enable said photosensor to sense light transmitted axially along said core whereby to provide image signals representative of the image scanned, light reflected from said photoconductive surface passing through said aperture and through said cladding material and said core to said light diffusing material, said light diffusing material diffusing said light and reflecting light back through said cladding material and into said core, a portion of said diffused light being trapped in said cladding material between said core and said light diffusing material whereby to form a secondary diffusion, said light traveling by reflection axially along said core and said cladding material to said photosensor.