Pneumatically actuated image scanning reader/writer

In a scanning system:

• a. means for supporting an element to be scanned,
• b. rotary optical scanning means for scanning said element,
• c. supporting means, comprising air bearings, for pneumatically supporting said rotary scanning means,
• d. translating means responsive to differential air pressure for axially translating said rotary scanning means,
• e. means for applying a differential air pressure to the last-named means for translating said rotary scanning means,
• f. jet reaction type air-driven motor means for rotating said scanning means, said jet reaction type air-driven motor means having an air input, and
• g. means for feeding air applied to said translating means to said input to thereby supply air to said motor means for driving the same.

In a reading and writing facsimile scanning system:

• a. means for supporting an optical encoding pattern to be read by optical scanning,
• b. means adjacent said optical encoding pattern for supporting an image to be read by scanning,
• c. rotary means for helically scanning said optical encoding pattern and said image with a beam of reading radiation,
• d. photoelectric means for deriving from said beam of reading radiation a first composite video signal representative of the scanning of said pattern and said image,
• e. electronic means for separating from said first video signal a second video signal representative only of said pattern, to produce a synchronizing signal,
• f. means for supporting radiation sensitive material to be written upon by scanning,
• g. rotary means for scanning said radiation sensitive material with a beam of writing radiation,
• h. means for controlling said beam of writing radiation with said first and second signals to effect writing of said image, only, on said radiation sensitive material, and
• i. said last-named means including (a) air-driven means for both rotating and translating said writing beam, and (b) control means to at least partially control said air-driven means by said synchronizing signal.

Apparatus for optically scanning an original pattern and an optical encoding area, and for reproducing portions thereof on a radiation sensitive receiving surface, comprising:

• a. laser means for producing a beam of reading radiation,
• b. laser means for producing a beam of writing radiation,
• c. optical means for selectively illuminating the original pattern with said beam of reading radiation,
• d. optical means for selectively activating the radiation sensitive receiving surface with said beam of writing radiation,
• e. pneumatically-actuated scanning means for simultaneously scanning said original pattern and said radiation sensitive receiving surface with said reading and writing radiation beams respectively,
• f. means for deriving from said reading radiation beam a first signal representative of said original pattern and said encoding area,
• g. means for separating from said first signal a second signal representative of the location of said beam of reading radiation relative to said encoding area,
• h. means for subtracting said second signal from said first signal to obtain a third signal representative of desired portions of said original pattern,
• i. means for quantizing said third signal, and
• j. means for controlling the intensity of said beam of writing radiation in accordance with said quantized signal to reproduce said original pattern on said radiation sensitive receiving surface.

An optical scanning apparatus for a facsimile reading and writing system comprising:

• a. arcuately-shaped members for supporting thereon materials to be read and to be written upon, respectively, by scanning beams of radiation,
• b. a cylindrical pneumatic chamber having an air-input orifice adjacent to each of its ends, each said orifice being coupled to a separate modulated source of pneumatic pressure,
• c. annular air bearings axially aligned with and secured to opposite ends of said cylindrical pneumatic chamber for pneumatically and coaxially supporting an elongated, hollow, cylindrical shaft adapted for rotation therewithin,
• d. piston means secured to said shaft in sliding, pressure-sealing relationship with the interior of said pneumatic chamber, for imparting translational motion to said shaft,
• e. means for pressurizing said air bearings to provide substantially friction-free support for said shaft and for impeding the escape of air from said pneumatic chamber,
• f. an air motor for imparting rotation to said shaft, including air outlets communicating with the interior of said shaft,
• g. said shaft defining an orifice in its side wall for connecting said interior to said pneumatic chamber to supply pressurized air to said air motor,
• h. electro-mechanical means for controlling the motion of said shaft by modulating the pressure gradient between the two compartments formed within said pneumatic chamber,
• i. means for passing a collimated beam of reading radiation axially into a first end of said shaft and for focusing said beam on said material to be read,
• j. means for deriving electronic signals representative of indicia read from said material,
• k. means for modulating a source of writing radiation with said electronic signals,
• l. means for passing a collimated beam of modulated writing radiation axially into a second end of said shaft, and
• m. means for focusing said beam of modulated writing radiation on said material to be written upon for the purpose of recording thereon information transferred from said material to be read.