US 3,947,115 AGranted

Optical illumination device for use in copying machine

AssigneeMinolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha

InventorHiroshi Hamaguchi

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Abstract

An optical illumination device for use in a copying machine, which illuminates the original to be copied, with a ribbon of light. The optical illumination device comprises a pair of reflectors respectively having concave, reflective surfaces which comprise individual portions of hollow right elliptical cylinders of different ellipticity. Each of these first and second elliptical cylinders has a pair of line foci and the first and second reflectors are arranged such that one of the line foci of the first elliptical cylinder is substantially in alignment with one of the line foci of the second elliptical cylinder. A line light source is disposed in alignment with the other focus of the first elliptical cylinder while the other focus of the second elliptical cylinder is situated in the vicinity or at a position where the original to be copied is placed.

Claims8

Dependent claims

An optical illumination device for use in a copying apparatus of the type wherein an object is to be illuminated and an image thereof is to be projected through a particular image transmitter formed of a plurality of graded index fibers in bundled configuration to a light sensitive surface, said device comprising:

first and second reflectors respectively having first and second concave, reflective surfaces which comprise portions of first and second concave walls defining hollow right elliptical cylinders, each having first and second line foci,
said first and second reflective surfaces being oppositely disposed with one of the line foci of the elliptical cylinder of said first reflective surface coinciding with one of the line foci of the elliptical cylinder of said second reflective surface, the other foci of said cylinders of said first and second reflective surfaces being positioned on opposite sides of the commonly shared foci,
said first and second reflective surfaces each having an edge extending parallel to said commonly shared line foci at a position in an imaginary plane connecting said commonly shared foci and the other line focus of said cylinder of said second reflective surface,
means to position an object at said other line focus of said cylinder of said second reflective surface, and
an elongated source of light disposed along the other focus of said cylinder of said first reflective surface to illuminate an object,
whereby rays of light travelling towards said other focus of said cylinder of said second reflective surface from said light source after having first been reflected by said first reflective surface, then pass through the commonly shared foci and are finally reflected by said second reflective surface.

3 more elements

In a copying apparatus of the type including a light sensitive surface means for receiving a projected image of an object to be copied;

electrostatic charging means for charging a portion of said light sensitive surface means;
and optical illumination means for exposing and projecting an image of an object onto a charged portion of said light sensitive surface means;
the improvement wherein:
said optical illumination means comprises first and second reflectors respectively having first and second concave, reflective surfaces which comprise portions of first and second concave walls defining hollow right elliptical cylinders, each having first and second line foci,
said first and second reflective surfaces being oppositely disposed with one of the line foci of the elliptical cylinder of said first reflective surface coinciding with one of the line foci of the elliptical cylinder of said second reflective surface, the other foci of said cylinders of said first and second reflective surfaces being positioned on opposite sides of the commonly shared foci,
said first and second reflective surfaces each having an edge extending parallel to said commonly shared line foci at a position in an imaginary plane connecting said commonly shared foci and the other line focus of said cylinder of said second reflective surface,
means to position an object at said other line focus of said cylinder of said second reflective surface, and
an elongated source of light disposed along the other focus of said cylinder of said first reflective surface to illuminate said object,
and further comprising:
a support mounted for movement along said light sensitive surface means, said optical illumination means and said electrostatic charging means being positioned on said support;
and
means for moving said support, and thus said electrostatic charging means and said optical illumination means, along said light sensitive surface means, thereby first charging a portion of said light sensitive surface means and thereafter exposing the thus charged portion with an image of an object.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 05/490,710Filed 22 Jul 1974
Priority: JA 48-93905[U]9 Aug 1973
Granted: 30 Mar 1976
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification7 codes

H04N 1/0285
Using an elongated light source, e.g. tubular lamp, LED array: in combination with at least one reflector which is in fixed relation to the light…
G03B 27/527
In which the projection optics move: as a whole in a translatory movement
G03B 27/542
Lamp housings; Illuminating means: for copying cameras, reflex exposure lighting
H04N 1/02815
For picture information pick-up: means for illuminating the original, not specific to a particular type of pick-up head