Digital microform imaging apparatus

A digital microform imaging apparatus, comprising:

• a chassis;
• a light source supported by the chassis for generating light that travels along a light path, the light source directing light along a first optical axis segment of the light path;
• a mirror assembly including at least a first fold mirror supported by the chassis within the light path for redirecting light trajectories along the light path, the at least a first fold mirror including a reflecting surface located along the first optical axis segment and redirecting light from the light source along a second optical axis segment of the light path, the at least a first fold mirror having a top edge;
• a first elongated lead member supported by the chassis, the first elongated lead member forming at least a first substantially straight surface that extends substantially parallel to the second optical axis segment;
• a first drive mechanism supported by the chassis and extending alongside and spaced apart from the first lead member;
• a first carriage supported by the first lead member for movement along a trajectory substantially parallel to the second optical axis segment;
• a first motor having a first motor shaft, the first motor and the first drive mechanism linking the first carriage to the chassis and the first motor shaft engaging the first drive mechanism to move the first carriage along the substantially straight surface of the first lead member through a first range of motion as the first motor shaft rotates;
• an area sensor supported by the first carriage within the light path, the area sensor supported for movement with the first carriage to adjust a distance along the light path between the area sensor and the fold mirror;
• a second drive mechanism supported by the chassis and extending alongside and spaced apart from the first lead member;
• a second carriage linked to the second drive mechanism for movement along a trajectory substantially parallel to the first lead member;
• a second motor having a second motor shaft and supported by the chassis, the second drive mechanism coupling the second motor to the second carriage to move the second carriage along the trajectory substantially parallel to the second optical axis segment through a second range of motion;
• and
• a lens supported by the second carriage and positioned between the area sensor and the fold mirror along the light path;
• wherein, the first and second motor shafts extend in the same direction and are arranged along substantially horizontal first and second axis that are located within substantially the same vertical plane.

A digital microform imaging apparatus, comprising

• a chassis;
• a light source supported by the chassis for generating light that travels along a light path, the light source directing light along a first optical axis segment of the light path;
• a mirror assembly including at least a first fold mirror supported by the chassis within the light path for redirecting light trajectories along the optical path, the at least a first fold mirror including a reflecting surface located along the first optical axis segment and redirecting light from the light source along a second optical axis segment of the light path, the at least a first fold mirror having a top edge;
• a first elongated lead member supported by the chassis, the first elongated lead member forming at least a first substantially straight surface that extends substantially parallel to the second optical axis segment;
• a first drive mechanism supported by the chassis and extending alongside and spaced apart from the first lead member;
• a first carriage supported by the first lead member for movement along a trajectory substantially parallel to the first lead member;
• a first motor having a first motor shaft, the first motor and the first drive mechanism linking the first carriage to the chassis and the first motor shaft engaging the first drive mechanism to move the first carriage along the first lead member through a first range of motion as the first motor shaft rotates;
• an area sensor supported by the first carriage for movement therewith to adjust a distance between the area sensor and the fold mirror along the light path, the area sensor aligned with a segment of the light path;
• a second drive mechanism supported by the chassis and extending alongside and spaced apart from the first lead member;
• a second carriage supported by the second drive mechanism for movement along a trajectory substantially parallel to the second optical axis segment;
• a second motor having a second motor shaft and supported by the chassis, the second drive mechanism coupling the second motor to the second carriage to move the second carriage along the trajectory substantially parallel to the first lead member through a second range of motion;
• and
• a lens supported by the second carriage and positioned between the area sensor and the fold mirror along the second optical axis segment;
• wherein the first lead member is supported to one side of the lens and the area sensor and wherein the first drive mechanism is located at a height below the top edge of the fold mirror and to one side of the lens.

A digital microform imaging apparatus, comprising:

• a chassis that forms a first cavity and a substantially horizontal window;
• a housing cover that forms a second cavity, the cover supported by the chassis with a front portion of the cover positioned above the horizontal window and the second cavity extending rearward from the front portion to a rear portion, the front portion of the housing spaced from the horizontal window by a gap;
• a first illumination source supported within one of the cavities for generating light that travels along a light path, the first illumination source directing light along a first optical axis segment of the light path through the horizontal window and the gap and toward the other of the cavities;
• a mirror assembly including at least a first fold mirror supported within the other of the cavities within the light path for redirecting light trajectories along the light path, the at least a first fold mirror including a reflecting surface located along the first optical axis segment and redirecting light from the light source along a second optical axis segment of the light path within the other of the cavities, the second optical axis segment forming a substantially 90 degree angle with the first optical axis segment;
• a first carriage supported in the other of the cavities for motion along a trajectory that is substantially parallel to the second optical axis segment;
• a second carriage supported in the other of the cavities for motion along a trajectory that is substantially parallel to the second optical axis segment;
• an area sensor supported by the first carriage within the other of the cavities and aligned within the light path;
• a lens supported by the second carriage within the other of the cavities and aligned along the light path between the fold mirror and the area sensor;
• a first motor supported in the other of the cavities and coupled to the first carriage for driving the first carriage to positions where the distance along the light path between the area sensor and the at least a first fold mirror is controllable within a first range;
• a second motor supported in the other of the cavities and coupled to the second carriage for driving the second carriage to positions where the lens is at different locations along the light path;
• and
• a microform media support structure supported by the chassis and configured to support a microform media within a plane substantially orthogonal to the first optical axis segment and so that the first optical axis segment passes through the microform media, the media support structure located within the gap between the front portion of the housing and the horizontal window.