Multiple beam bar code scanner

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 in which said intersecting point is in said first path.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 in which said combining means comprises a beam splitter lens member.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 in which said means for splitting deflects said first light beam 90 degrees to said second light beam.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 1 in which said source of scanning light beams comprises a Helium Neon laser.

Claim 7

An optical scanning apparatus for reading bar code symbols on objects passing through different focal planes adjacent the scanning apparatus comprising: a support member; a cover number having an aperture therein through which scanning light beams are projected and over which a merchandise item bearing a coded label is moved across the aperture; a source of coherent light beams secured to said support member adjacent the top surface of said support member; first light reflecting means mounted on said support member for receiving said light beams and reflecting the light beams along a first light path; beam splitting means mounted on a said support member in said first light path for splitting the light beams into light beams transmitted along second and third light paths; focusing means mounted in said second and third light paths for focusing the light beams at different predetermined focal planes adjacent the aperture; and means secured to said support member for intercepting and combining the focused light beams in said second and third light paths for generating a light beam which is focused at a plurality of focal planes adjacent the aperture for reading bar code symbols positioned in said focal planes.

Claim 8

An optical scanning apparatus for reading bar code symbols on objects passing through different focal planes adjacent the scanning apparatus comprising: a support member; a cover number having an aperture therein through which scanning light beams are projected and over which a merchandise item bearing a coded label is moved across the aperture; a source of coherent light beams secured to said support member adjacent the top surface of said support member; first light reflecting means mounted on said support member for receiving said light beams and reflecting the light beams along a first light path; beam splitting means mounted on a said support member in said first light path for splitting the light beams into light beams transmitted along second and third light paths; focusing means mounted in said second and third light paths for focusing the light beams at different predetermined focal planes adjacent the aperture; and means secured to said support member for intercepting and combining the focused light beams in said second and third light paths for generating a light beam which is focused at a plurality of focal planes adjacent the aperture for reading bar code symbols positioned in said focal planes.

Claim 9

The optical scanning apparatus of claim 6 in which said intercepting and combining means includes second light reflecting means mounted on said support member and in said second light path for reflecting the light beam further along a fourth light path intercepting the third light path.

Claim 10

The optical scanning apparatus of claim 7 in which said intercepting and combining means further includes; a second beam splitting means mounted on said support member and in said third light path at a position for receiving the light beam transmitted along said fourth light path for combining the second and third light beams to generate a combined light beam comprising said second and third light beams, said second beam splitting means projecting the combined light beam along a fifth light path; scanning means mounted on said support member and positioned in said fifth light path for spectrally sweeping the combined light beam along a plurality of sixth light paths; and third reflecting means mounted on said support member and positioned in a said sixth light path for reflecting the light beam through said aperture in a cover member for scanning a bar code label positioned adjacent to the aperture.

Claim 11

The optical scanning apparatus of claim 8 in which said first and second beam splitting means and said light reflecting means deflect the light beams 90 degrees.

Claim 12

The optical scanning apparatus of claim 6 which further includes a detector means for converting received light beams into electrical signals and convex lens means mounted in said fifth light path for receiving and focusing the light beams reflected from the bar code symbols on said detector means.

Claim 13

The optical scanning apparatus of claim 6 in which said source of coherent light beams comprises a Helium Neon laser.