Narrow-bodied, single- and twin-windowed portable laser scanning head for reading bar code symbols

In a scanning system for reading bar code symbols of the type including actuatable components for directing an incident light beam towards a bar code symbol for reflection therefrom, for detecting the light intensity of the reflected light, and for processing the detected light intensity into data descriptive of the symbol, a scanning head comprising:

• (a) trigger means including a depressable element fixedly mounted on the head and electrically connected to the actuatable components, and a user-operated movable trigger element mounted on the head for movement relative to the depressable element along a trigger path for depressing the depressable element to actuate the components and initiate symbol reading;
• and
• (b) safety overload means associated with the movable trigger element, and operative for preventing the latter from depressing the depressable element with a force exceeding a predetermined safety limit so as to prevent damage to the depressable element in the event that the user moves the trigger element with a force exceeding the safety limit.

In a scanning head for reading bar code symbols of the type including light source means for generating an incident light beam, optical means for directing the incident beam towards a bar code symbol for reflection therefrom to generate reflected light, and scanning means for scanning the bar code symbol, a support structure comprising:

• a light-weight, one-piece plastic support bench for supporting the light source means, the optic means and the scanning means within the head, said bench being fabricated by mass-production techniques.

A method of fabricating a support structure for supporting a light source means, an optic means and a scanning means within a scanning head for reading bar code symbols, said method comprising the steps of:

• forming a light-weight support bench of one-piece plastic construction by mass-production techniques.

A support structure for use in a scanning head of the type having a light source means for generating a light beam, optic means for directing the light beam toward an object to be scanned, and scanning means for scanning the object, said support structure comprising:

• a light-weight support for separately positionably supporting each one of the light source means, the optic means and the scanning means at predetermined optically-precise locations relative to one another in an operative optically-aligned assembly, said support being operative for separately re-positionably supporting each one of the light source means, the optic means and the scanning means at said optically-precise locations and in said optically-aligned assembly for field replacement.