Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
An apparatus for digitally reading an image on an original document by using a plurality of reading devices which are arranged in line with each other, comprising: a first reading device located in a reference position; a base plate supporting said first reading device fixedly in said reference position; a support plate having one end which is rigidly connected to said base plate at a point of connection on said base plate and the other end which is a free end, said support plate having a coefficient of thermal expansion (α 2 ) which is different from that (α 1 ) of said base plate; and a second reading device fixed in place on said support plate adjacent to said free end; a ratio of a distance (L 1 ) between said point of connection on said base plate and said first reading device to a distance (L 2 ) between said point of connection and said second reading device (L 1 /L 2 ) being inversely proportional to a ratio of said coefficient of thermal expansion (α 1 ) of said base plate to that (α 2 ) of said support plate (α 1 /α 2 ), i.e. L 1 /L 2 =α 2 /α 1 .
Claim 2
Independent Claim
208 words
An apparatus for digitally reading an image on an original document by using a plurality of reading devices which are arranged in line with each other, comprising: a first reading device located in a reference position; a base plate supporting said first reading device fixedly in said reference position; a support plate having one end which is rigidly connected to said base plate at a point of connection on said base plate and the other end which is a free end, said support plate having a coefficient of thermal expansion (α 2 ) which is different from that (α 1 ) of said base plate; and a second reading device fixed in place on said support plate adjacent to said free end; a ratio of a distance (L 1 ) between said point of connection on said base plate and said first reading device to a distance (L 2 ) between said point of connection and said second reading device (L 1 /L 2 ) being inversely proportional to a ratio of said coefficient of thermal expansion (α 1 ) of said base plate to that (α 2 ) of said support plate (α 1 /α 2 ), i.e. L 1 /L 2 =α 2 /α 1 .
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second reading devices comprise charge coupled devices (CCDs).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising guide members for guiding said free end of said support plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
50 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base plate comprises a plain structural steel sheet having a coefficient of thermal expansion α 1 of 11×10 -6 , and said support plate comprises an aluminum alloy sheet having a coefficient of thermal expansion α 2 of 23×10 -6 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
174 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a second support plate having a one end which is rigidly connected to said base plate at a second point of connection on said base plate and the other end which is a free end, said second support plate having a coefficient of thermal expansion (α 3 ) which is different from that (α 1 ) of said base plate; and a third reading device arranged in line with said first and second reading devices and mounted in the vicinity of said second support plate; a ratio of a distance (L 3 ) between said second point of connection and said second reading device to a distance (L 4 ) between said second point of connection and said third reading device (L 3 /L 4 ) being inversely proportional to a ratio of said coefficient of thermal expansion (α 1 ) of said base plate to that (α 3 ) of said second support plate, i.e. L 3 /L 4 =α 3 /α 1 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein said third reading device comprises a CCD.