Image reader

Claim 2

An image reader in which, upon application of an illuminating light beam to an original by an illuminating optical system, a light beam reflected from said original is applied through a contracting optical system to a line sensor for converting an optical image of said original into an image signal, comprising: a first mirror provided for said original to reflect said light beam reflected from said original; a repetitive reflection optical system including mirrors for causing said light beam reflected by said first mirror to go and return at least once in a reflection mode; and a second mirror provided for a contracting optical system to reflect said light beam passed through said repetitive reflection optical system; in which said first mirror provided for said original and said repetitive reflection optical system are arranged in a repetitive reflection chamber, and said contracting optical system, said second mirror and said line sensor are provided in a lens system accommodating chamber segregated from said repetitive chamber by a partition wall.

Claim 3

An image reader as claimed in claim 1, in which said first mirror provided for said original, said repetitive reflection optical system and said second mirror provided for said contracting optical system are supported by a unit supporting frame, and said illuminating optical system is mounted on said unit supporting frame.

Claim 4

An image reader as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for adjusting the direction of the reflecting surface of one of said mirrors of said repetitive reflection optical system to change the direction of said reflected light beam incident to said line sensor.

Claim 5

An image reader as claimed in claim 3, in which said first mirror provided for said original, one of said mirrors of said repetitive reflection optical system, and a transfer mirror for sending said reflected light beam from said repetitive reflection system to said second mirror provided for said contracting optical system form three reflecting surfaces of a single trapezoidal mirror, and the direction of the reflecting surface of the other of mirrors of said repetitive reflection optical system is adjustable.

Claim 6

An image reader in which, upon application of an illuminating light beam to an original by an illuminating optical system, a light beam reflected from said original is applied through a contracting optical system to a line sensor for converting an optical image of said original into an image signal, comprising: a first mirror provided for said original to reflect said light beam reflected from said original; a repetitive reflection optical system including mirrors for causing said light beam reflected by said first mirror to go and return at least once in a reflection mode; a second mirror provided for a contracting optical system to reflect said light beam passed through said repetitive reflection optical system; and means for adjusting the direction of the reflecting surface of one of said mirrors of said repetitive reflection optical system to change the direction of said reflected light beam incident to said line sensor; in which said first mirror provided for said original and one of said mirrors of said repetitive reflection optical system are mirror facets of a multifaceted mirror, while a transfer mirror for sending said reflected light beam from said repetitive reflection system to said second mirror provided for said contracting optical system and the other of the mirrors of said repetitive reflection optical system are mirror facets of a second multifaceted mirror, said first and second multifaceted mirrors being disposed in such a manner as to confront with each other, and the direction of the reflecting surface of one of said first and second multifaceted mirrors is adjustable.

Claim 7

An image reader in which, upon application of an illuminating light beam to an original by an illuminating optical system, a light beam reflected from said original is applied through a contracting optical system to a line sensor for converting an optical image of said original into an image signal, comprising: a first mirror provided for said original to reflect said light beam reflected from said original; a repetitive reflection optical system including mirrors for causing said light beam reflected by said first mirror to go and return at least once in a reflection mode; a second mirror provided for a contracting optical system to reflect said light beam passed through said repetitive reflection optical system; and means for adjusting the direction of the reflecting surface of one of said mirrors of said repetitive reflection optical system to change the direction of said reflected light beam incident to said line sensor; in which said first mirror provided for said original and one of said mirrors of said repetitive reflection optical system are mirror facets of a multifaceted mirror, while a transfer mirror for sending said reflected light beam from said repetitive reflection system to said second mirror provided for said contracting optical system and the other of the mirrors of said repetitive reflection optical system are mirror facets of a second multifaceted mirror, said first and second multifaceted mirrors being disposed in such a manner as to confront with each other, and the direction of the reflecting surface of one of said first and second multifaceted mirrors is adjustable.

Claim 8

An image reader as claimed in claim 4, in which said first mirror provided for said original, said repetitive reflection optical system and said second mirror provided for said contracting optical system are supported by a unit supporting frame, and said illuminating optical system is mounted on said unit supporting frame.

Claim 9

An image reader as claimed in claim 4, in which said first mirror provided for said original and said repetitive reflection optical system are arranged in a repetitive reflection chamber, and said contracting optical system and said line sensor are provided in a lens system accommodating chamber segregated from said repetitive reflection chamber by a partition wall.

Claim 10

An image reader in which, upon application of an illuminating light beam to an original by an illuminating optical system, a light beam reflected from said original is applied through a contracting optical system to a line sensor for converting an optical image of said original into an image signal, comprising: a first mirror provided for said original to reflect said light beam reflected from said original; a repetitive reflection optical system including mirrors for causing said light beam reflected by said first mirror to go and return at least once in a reflection mode; and a second mirror provided for a contracting optical system to reflect said light beam passed through said repetitive reflection optical system; in which said first mirror provided for said original, one of said mirrors of said repetitive reflection optical system, and a transfer mirror for sending said reflected light beam from said repetitive reflection system to said second mirror provided for said contracting optical system form three reflecting surfaces of a single trapezoidal mirror.

Claim 11

An image reader in which, upon application of an illuminating light beam to an original by an illuminating optical system, a light beam reflected from said original is applied through a contracting optical system to a line sensor for converting an optical image of said original into an image signal, comprising: a first mirror provided for said original to reflect said light beam reflected from said original; a repetitive reflection optical system including mirrors for causing said light beam reflected by said first mirror to go and return at least once in a reflection mode; and a second mirror provided for a contracting optical system to reflect said light beam passed through said repetitive reflection optical system; in which said first mirror provided for said original, one of said mirrors of said repetitive reflection optical system, and a transfer mirror for sending said reflected light beam from said repetitive reflection system to said second mirror provided for said contracting optical system form three reflecting surfaces of a single trapezoidal mirror.

Claim 12

An image reader in which, upon application of an illuminating light beam to an original by an illuminating optical system, a light beam reflected from said original is applied through a contracting optical system to a line sensor for converting an optical image of said original into an image signal, comprising: a first mirror provided for said original to reflect said light beam reflected from said original; a repetitive reflection optical system including mirrors for causing said light beam reflected by said first mirror to go and return at least once in a reflection mode; and a second mirror provided for a contracting optical system to reflect said light beam passed through said repetitive reflection optical system; in which said said first mirror provided for said original and one of said mirrors of said repetitive reflection optical system are facets of a first multifaceted mirror, while a transfer mirror for sending said reflected light beam from said repetitive reflection system to said second mirror provided for said contracting optical system and the other of the mirrors of said repetitive reflection optical system are facets of second multifaceted mirror, said first and second multifaceted mirrors being disposed in such a manner as to confront with each other.

Claim 13

An image reader in which, upon application of an illuminating light beam to an original by an illuminating optical system, a light beam reflected from said original is applied through a contracting optical system to a line sensor for converting an optical image of said original into an image signal, comprising: a first mirror provided for said original to reflect said light beam reflected from said original; a repetitive reflection optical system including mirrors for causing said light beam reflected by said first mirror to go and return at least once in a reflection mode; and a second mirror provided for a contracting optical system to reflect said light beam passed through said repetitive reflection optical system; in which said said first mirror provided for said original and one of said mirrors of said repetitive reflection optical system are facets of a first multifaceted mirror, while a transfer mirror for sending said reflected light beam from said repetitive reflection system to said second mirror provided for said contracting optical system and the other of the mirrors of said repetitive reflection optical system are facets of second multifaceted mirror, said first and second multifaceted mirrors being disposed in such a manner as to confront with each other.

Claim 14

An image reader as claimed in claim 5, in which said first mirror provided for said original, said repetitive reflection optical system and said second mirror provided for said contracting optical system are supported by a unit supporting frame, and said illuminating optical system is mounted on said unit supporting frame.

Claim 15

An image reader as claimed in claim 5, in which said first mirror provided for said original and said repetitive reflection optical system are arranged in a repetitive reflection chamber, and said contracting optical system and said line sensor are provided in a lens system accommodating chamber segregated from said repetitive reflection chamber by a partition wall.

Claim 16

An image reader in which, upon application of an illuminating light beam to an original by an illuminating optical system, a light beam reflected from said original is applied through a contracting optical system to a line sensor for converting an optical image of said original into an image signal, comprising: a first mirror provided for said original to reflect said light beam reflected from said original; a repetitive reflection optical system including mirrors for causing said light beam reflected by said first mirror to go and return at least once in a reflection mode; a second mirror provided for a contracting optical system to reflect said light beam passed through said repetitive reflection optical system; and means for adjusting the direction of the reflecting surface of one of said mirrors of said repetitive reflection optical system to change the direction of said reflected light beam incident to said line sensor; in which said said first mirror provided for said original, one of said mirrors of said repetitive reflection optical system, and a transfer mirror for sending said reflected light beam from said repetitive reflection system to said second mirror provided for said contracting optical system form three reflecting surfaces of a single trapezoidal mirror.

Claim 17

An image reader in which, upon application of an illuminating light beam to an original by an illuminating optical system, a light beam reflected from said original is applied through a contracting optical system to a line sensor for converting an optical image of said original into an image signal, comprising: a first mirror provided for said original to reflect said light beam reflected from said original; a repetitive reflection optical system including mirrors for causing said light beam reflected by said first mirror to go and return at least once in a reflection mode; a second mirror provided for a contracting optical system to reflect said light beam passed through said repetitive reflection optical system; and means for adjusting the direction of the reflecting surface of one of said mirrors of said repetitive reflection optical system to change the direction of said reflected light beam incident to said line sensor; in which said said first mirror provided for said original, one of said mirrors of said repetitive reflection optical system, and a transfer mirror for sending said reflected light beam from said repetitive reflection system to said second mirror provided for said contracting optical system form three reflecting surfaces of a single trapezoidal mirror.

Claim 18

An image reader as claimed in claim 12, wherein the direction of the reflecting surface of another of said mirrors of said repetitive reflection optical system is adjustable.

Claim 19

An image reader in which, upon application of an illuminating light beam to an original by an illuminating optical system, a light beam reflected from said original is applied through a contracting optical system to a line sensor for converting an optical image of said original into an image signal, comprising: a first mirror provided for said original to reflect said light beam reflected from said original; a repetitive reflection optical system including mirrors for causing said light beam reflected by said first mirror to go and return at least once in a reflection mode; a second mirror provided for a contracting optical system to reflect said light beam passed through said repetitive reflection optical system; and means for adjusting the direction of the reflecting surface of one of said mirrors of said repetitive reflection optical system to change the direction of said reflected light beam incident to said line sensor; in which said first mirror provided for said original and one of said mirrors of said repetitive reflection optical system are mirror facets of a first multifaceted mirror, while a transfer mirror for sending said reflected light beam from said repetitive reflection optical system to said second mirror provided for said contracting optical system and the other of the mirrors of said repetitive reflection optical system are mirror facets of a second multifaceted mirror, said first and second multifaceted mirrors being disposed in such a manner as to confront with each other.

Claim 20

An image reader in which, upon application of an illuminating light beam to an original by an illuminating optical system, a light beam reflected from said original is applied through a contracting optical system to a line sensor for converting an optical image of said original into an image signal, comprising: a first mirror provided for said original to reflect said light beam reflected from said original; a repetitive reflection optical system including mirrors for causing said light beam reflected by said first mirror to go and return at least once in a reflection mode; a second mirror provided for a contracting optical system to reflect said light beam passed through said repetitive reflection optical system; and means for adjusting the direction of the reflecting surface of one of said mirrors of said repetitive reflection optical system to change the direction of said reflected light beam incident to said line sensor; in which said first mirror provided for said original and one of said mirrors of said repetitive reflection optical system are mirror facets of a first multifaceted mirror, while a transfer mirror for sending said reflected light beam from said repetitive reflection optical system to said second mirror provided for said contracting optical system and the other of the mirrors of said repetitive reflection optical system are mirror facets of a second multifaceted mirror, said first and second multifaceted mirrors being disposed in such a manner as to confront with each other.

Claim 21

An image reader as claimed in claim 14, wherein the direction of the reflecting surface of one of said first and second multifaceted mirrors is adjustable.

Claim 22

An image reader as claimed in claim 12, in which said first mirror provided for said original, said repetitive reflection optical system and said second mirror provided for said contracting optical system are supported by a unit supporting frame, and said illuminating optical system is mounted on said unit supporting frame.

Claim 23

An image reader as claimed in claim 14, in which said first mirror provided for said original, said repetitive reflection optical system and said second mirror provided for said contracting optical system are supported by a unit supporting frame, and said illuminating optical system is mounted on said unit supporting frame.

Claim 24

An image reader as claimed in claim 12, in which said first mirror provided for said original and said repetitive reflection optical system are arranged in a repetitive reflection chamber, and said contracting optical system and said line sensor are provided in a lens system accommodating chamber segregated from said repetitive reflection chamber by a partition wall.

Claim 25

An image reader as claimed in claim 14, in which said first mirror provided for said original and said repetitive reflection optical system are arranged in a repetitive reflection chamber, and said contracting optical system and said line sensor are provided in a lens system accommodating chamber segregated from said repetitive reflection chamber by a partition wall.

Claim 26

An image reader comprising an illuminating optical system for directing light toward an original to be read, a line sensor for converting an optical image of said original into an image signal, and a contracting optical system for applying light reflected from said original to said line sensor, the improvement comprising a repetitive reflection optical system disposed in the optical path between said original and said contracting optical system, said repetitive reflection optical system comprising: a first mirro (120) for receiving light reflected from said original and for reflecting said received light; first (122) and second (123) repetitive reflection mirrors for receiving light from said first mirror and for subjecting said light to repetitive reflection wherein at least one of said first and second repetitive reflection mirrors reflects said light plural times during passage of said light from said first mirror to said contracting optical system, said first and second repetitive reflection mirrors being fixed relative to said first mirror during reading of said original; and a transfer mirror (124) for receiving light after plural reflections of said light by said one of said first and second mirrors and for reflecting said light toward said contracting optical system.

Claim 27

An image reader comprising an illuminating optical system for directing light toward an original to be read, a line sensor for converting an optical image of said original into an image signal, and a contracting optical system for applying light reflected from said original to said line sensor, the improvement comprising a repetitive reflection optical system disposed in the optical path between said original and said contracting optical system, said repetitive reflection optical system comprising: a first mirro (120) for receiving light reflected from said original and for reflecting said received light; first (122) and second (123) repetitive reflection mirrors for receiving light from said first mirror and for subjecting said light to repetitive reflection wherein at least one of said first and second repetitive reflection mirrors reflects said light plural times during passage of said light from said first mirror to said contracting optical system, said first and second repetitive reflection mirrors being fixed relative to said first mirror during reading of said original; and a transfer mirror (124) for receiving light after plural reflections of said light by said one of said first and second mirrors and for reflecting said light toward said contracting optical system.

Claim 28

An image reader according to claim 20, wherein said contracting optical system includes a contracting optical system mirror (19) for receiving and reflecting light reflected by said transfer mirror, and a contracting lens for focusing light reflected from said contracting optical system mirror onto said line sensor, said contracting lens having an optical axis substantially parallel to a surface of said original.