US4764815A — Array scanning system with movable platen

Claim 1

Independent Claim 122 words

In an apparatus for scanning the surface of a scanning area containing information to be read or in which information is to be recorded and having a scanner controllably movable in a series of transverse scanning movements across the scanning area in proximity thereto: a primary platen movable relative to the scanner in a longitudinal direction, said primary platen being adapted to carry therewith a medium to be transversely scanned; a reference element incrementally movable longitudinally in the same direction as said primary platen and independently thereof to successive positions corresponding to successive transverse scans traced by the scanner; and means for advancing said primary platen into contact with said reference element during one segment of a transverse scan of said scanner.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 122 words

In an apparatus for scanning the surface of a scanning area containing information to be read or in which information is to be recorded and having a scanner controllably movable in a series of transverse scanning movements across the scanning area in proximity thereto: a primary platen movable relative to the scanner in a longitudinal direction, said primary platen being adapted to carry therewith a medium to be transversely scanned; a reference element incrementally movable longitudinally in the same direction as said primary platen and independently thereof to successive positions corresponding to successive transverse scans traced by the scanner; and means for advancing said primary platen into contact with said reference element during one segment of a transverse scan of said scanner.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 43 words

The scanning apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said reference element is moved during an active segment of the transverse scan of the scanner while said primary platen is stationary, and said primary platen is moved during an inactive segment of the transverse scan.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 34 words

The scanning apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: means for positionally unlocking, advancing and positionally locking said reference element and said primary platen during the active and inactive segments of the transverse scan, respectively.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 47 words

The scanning apparatus of claim 3, wherein: said advancing means is carried by one of said primary platen and said reference element, whereby when either said primary platen or said reference element is locked in position, the other may be incrementally advanced by activating said advancing means.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 74 words

The scanning apparatus of claims 1, 2, 3, or 4 further comprising: support means including at least one guide for said primary platen and said reference element extending in the direction of longitudinal movement thereof; and air bearing means associated with each of said primary platen and said reference element for providing a low friction fluid interface with said support means as said primary platen and said reference element move along said support means.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 57 words

The scanning apparatus of claim 5, further comprising: means for controlling the air bearing means associated with at least one of said primary platen and said reference element for selectively causing such air bearing means to frictionally engage said support means to lock said at least one of said primary platen and said reference element in position.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 103 words

Apparatus for scanning a scanning area of a medium on which information is to be recorded or containing information which is to be read, comprising: a shuttle guide; a transverse scanning shuttle slidably supported on said shuttle guide for reciprocating transverse scanning movement thereon; a platen adapted to carry a medium to be scanned and being supported for longitudinal movement, said platen being operative to longitudinally advance the medium relative to the transverse scanning shuttle; and a reference element incrementally movable longitudinally in the same direction as said platen to establish a positionable stop defining the limit of longitudinal movement of said platen.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 103 words

Apparatus for scanning a scanning area of a medium on which information is to be recorded or containing information which is to be read, comprising: a shuttle guide; a transverse scanning shuttle slidably supported on said shuttle guide for reciprocating transverse scanning movement thereon; a platen adapted to carry a medium to be scanned and being supported for longitudinal movement, said platen being operative to longitudinally advance the medium relative to the transverse scanning shuttle; and a reference element incrementally movable longitudinally in the same direction as said platen to establish a positionable stop defining the limit of longitudinal movement of said platen.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 79 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 7, further comprising: means for controllably advancing the reference element incrementally in the longitudinal direction during one segment of the transverse scan of the scanning shuttle; and means for controllably advancing the platen incrementally in the longitudinal direction during another segment of the transverse scan of the scanning shuttle, whereby the reference element is incrementally advanced while the platen is stationary, and the platen is incrementally advanced while the reference element is stationary.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 32 words

Apparatus as in claim 7, further comprising: means for moving the shuttle back and forth along the shuttle guide at a substantially constant velocity while scanning a scanning area of the medium.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 17 words

Apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said means for moving the shuttle comprises a linear induction motor.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 62 words

Apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said means for moving the shuttle comprises: spring means located to absorb kinetic energy of said shuttle at each end of travel of said shuttle when it approaches the corresponding limit of its transverse movement and being operative to decelerate and impart a force to said shuttle so as to assist in the reciprocating movement thereof.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 53 words

Apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said spring means includes: spring reaction means located at each end of travel of said shuttle and supported independently of said shuttle guide and said platen so as to substantially isolate the movable scanning components of said apparatus from shock and vibrations attributable to shuttle reversal forces.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 54 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 9, further comprising: velocity measuring means for developing an electrical signal representative of the instantaneous velocity of said shuttle, and means responsive to such signal for controlling a lineal force applied to said shuttle by said moving means so as to maintain the velocity of said shuttle constant.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 16 words

Apparatus as in claim 13, wherein said velocity measuring means comprises a linear laser doppler velocimeter.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 90 words

Apparatus as in claim 8, wherein: said platen adn said reference element are supported for movement by respective air bearings, and the apparatus further comprises: control means synchronized with the movement of said shuttle for controlling the means for controllably advancing said platen and said reference element; and means responsive to said synchronized control means for selectively connecting the corresponding ones of said respective air bearings to a source of negative air pressure during periods when either one of said platen and said reference element is to be maintained stationary.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 51 words

Apparatus as in claim 8, wherein: said means for controllably advancing said platen and said reference element comprise at least one actuator associated with said reference element for reaction against said platen; whereby said platen and said reference element are moved relative to one another by selective activation of said actuator.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 13 words

Apparatus as in claim 16, wherein said actuator is a fluid cylinder acutuator.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 84 words

Apparatus as in claim 16, wherein said means for controllably advancing said platen and said reference element further comprise: a position sensor mounted on either said reference element or said platen, said sensor being operative to produce an electrical indication upon the occurrence of a predetermined incremental movement of said reference element relative to said platen while said platen is stationary, said actuator being responsive to said electrical indication to halt movement of said reference platen upon to occurrence of said predetermined incremental movement.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 28 words

Apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said shuttle includes an air bearing engaging said shuttle guide to establish a low friction interface between said shuttle and said guide.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 92 words

Apparatus as in claim 7, further comprising: a support, wherein at least one of said platen and said reference element is mounted on said support for longitudinal movement from a starting position toward a finishing position; and support tilting means for adjusting the horizontal orientation of said support, said support tilting means being operative to selectively tilt said support so as to enable a gravitional return movement of said at least one of said platen and said reference element toward the starting position upon the completion of the scanning of the medium.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 82 words

Apparatus as in claim 7, further comprising: at least one longitudinally extending platen guide, wherein at least one of said platen and said reference element is mounted for movement along said at least one platen guide; and means for selectively causing said at least one of said platen and said reference element to either frictionally engage or disengage said at least one platen guide, thereby enabling locking or movement, respectively, of said at least one of said platen and said reference element.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 62 words

Apparatus as in claim 18, wherein: said means for selectively causing said at least one of said platen and said reference element to either frictionally engage or disengage said at least one platen guide comprises an air bearing associated with each of said at least one of said platen and said reference element and cooperating with said at least one platen guide.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 47 words

Apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said shuttle is operative to scan a band of predetermined width on the medium to be scanned, and wherein said reference element is operative to be advanced an incremental distance corresponding to the width of the band scanned by the shuttle.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 34 words

Apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising: array scanning means cooperative with said shuttle for simultaneously optically scanning a plurality of information lines contained within said band during each transverse scan of said shuttle.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 31 words

Apparatus according to claim 24, wherein said array scanning means includes sub-scan means for executing a periodic sub-scanning with a scanning beam in the direction of the width of said band.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 176 words

Apparatus for scanning the surface of a record medium, comprising: an elongated shuttle guide; a scanning shuttle slidably mounted on the shuttle guide for reciprocating transverse movement thereon; motor means for imparting linear motion to the shuttle along the shuttle guide; spring reaction means supported independently of the shuttle guide and located adjacent each of the ends of the shuttle guide; spring means disposed between said shuttle and each of said spring reaction means such that each of said spring means is resiliently deformed between said shuttle and the corresponding one of said spring reaction means as said shuttle nears the corresponding end of its travel so as to decelerate said shuttle and to absorb shock resulting from a reversal in the direction of travel of said shuttle at the corresponding end of its travel; a platen adapted to carry a record medium to be scanned and movably mounted for longitudinal movement relative to said shuttle; and means for periodically advancing said platen in synchronism with the reversal in the direction of travel of said shuttle.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 176 words

Apparatus for scanning the surface of a record medium, comprising: an elongated shuttle guide; a scanning shuttle slidably mounted on the shuttle guide for reciprocating transverse movement thereon; motor means for imparting linear motion to the shuttle along the shuttle guide; spring reaction means supported independently of the shuttle guide and located adjacent each of the ends of the shuttle guide; spring means disposed between said shuttle and each of said spring reaction means such that each of said spring means is resiliently deformed between said shuttle and the corresponding one of said spring reaction means as said shuttle nears the corresponding end of its travel so as to decelerate said shuttle and to absorb shock resulting from a reversal in the direction of travel of said shuttle at the corresponding end of its travel; a platen adapted to carry a record medium to be scanned and movably mounted for longitudinal movement relative to said shuttle; and means for periodically advancing said platen in synchronism with the reversal in the direction of travel of said shuttle.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 30 words

Apparatus in accordance with claim 26, wherein at least one of the spring means comprises at least one coil spring mounted near the corresponding end of travel of said shuttle.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 27 words

Apparatus as in claim 26, wherein at least one of the spring means comprises a cantilever spring mounted near the corresponding end of travel of said shuttle.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 29 words

Apparatus as set forth in claim 26, wherein at least one of the spring means comprises an air spring mounted near the corresponding end of travel of said shuttle.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 63 words

Apparatus as in claim 26, further comprising: a reference element mounted for incremental movement by a predetermined distance relative to said platen in the direction of longitudinal movement of said platen, said reference element acting as a positional stop for said platen after said reference element has been moved said predetermined distance; and means for advancing said platen longitudinally against said reference element.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 24 words

Apparatus as in claim 30, further comprising: means for selectively locking said reference element in a fixed longitudinal position during advancement of said platen.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 43 words

Apparatus as in claim 31, further comprising: means for selectively locking said platen in position during a transverse scan by said shuttle; and means for advancing said reference element relative to said platen when said platen is locked in a fixed longitudinal position.

Claim 36

Independent Claim 142 words

A method for scanning the surface of a record medium to either read or record information thereon, said method comprising the steps of: providing a scanner, a platen and a reference element; mounting a record medium on the platen; moving the scanner at a substantially constant velocity along a straight line to scan a band of predetermined width across the record medium; advancing the reference element a distance equal to the width of the band scanned by the scanner, the advance of said reference element taking place during a portion of the transverse scan of the record medium; reversing the direction of movement of the scanner after the completion of the transverse scan of the record medium; and advancing said platen into contact with said reference element prior to commencement of a transverse scan of the record medium in the opposite direction.

Claim 37

Independent Claim 142 words

A method for scanning the surface of a record medium to either read or record information thereon, said method comprising the steps of: providing a scanner, a platen and a reference element; mounting a record medium on the platen; moving the scanner at a substantially constant velocity along a straight line to scan a band of predetermined width across the record medium; advancing the reference element a distance equal to the width of the band scanned by the scanner, the advance of said reference element taking place during a portion of the transverse scan of the record medium; reversing the direction of movement of the scanner after the completion of the transverse scan of the record medium; and advancing said platen into contact with said reference element prior to commencement of a transverse scan of the record medium in the opposite direction.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of locking said platen in a fixed position while the scanner is scanning the record medium.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of: locking the reference element in a fixed position at the completion of its advancement.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 46 words

The method of claim 33 wherein: said scanner scans a multiplicity of information lines on the record medium during the transverse scan so as to simultaneously generate a plurality of video signals each representing video information in a respective one of the multiplicity of information lines.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 33 words

The method of claim 36, further comprising the steps of: converting said plurality of video signals into a corresponding plurality of digital signals; and storing said plurality of digital signals for subsequent readout.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1991-08-16	1992-02-15	1992-08-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1995-08-16	1996-02-15	1996-08-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1999-08-16	2000-02-15	2000-08-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Array scanning system with movable platen

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag