Mechanism for positioning the light-receiving end of an optical conductor cable at the focal position of a lens

Claim 1

A mechanism for positioning the light-receiving end of an optical conductor means at the focal point of a lens comprising a frame means, a lens mounted on said frame means, a holding member mounted on said frame means, said holding member having inner and outer longitudinal ends and an elongated passageway extending between said inner and outer longitudinal ends, said inner end extending into said frame means, an optical conductor means having a longitudinal end portion disposed in said passageway, said optical conductor means having a light-receiving end extending into said frame means and facing said lens such that said light-receiving end receives light rays from said lens, said longitudinal end portion of said optical conductor means having a constant outer diameter along its longitudinal length, positioning means on said optical conductor means having an outer diameter greater than said outer diameter of said longitudinal end portion of said optical conductor means, said outer longitudinal end of said holding member having threaded means thereon, a cap nut mounted on said threaded means, said cap nut having a slit for receiving said optical conductor means such that said cap nut can be slipped over said optical conductor means to a position to engage said threaded means, said cap nut having a transverse wall which is perpendicular to the axis of said elongated passageway and which engages said positioning means on said optical conductor means as said cap nut is threaded on to said threaded means such that said positioning means is disposed between said transverse wall and said outer longitudinal end of said holding member and said cap nut thereby secures said optical conductor means to said holder member with the axial thickness of said positioning means determining the spacing between the light-receiving end of said optical conductor means and said lens.