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US 5,691,535 AGranted
Ganged laser scanning system which corrects beam alignment along a bow-tie path
AssigneeEastman Kodak Company
InventorJohn C. Boutet
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for combining several laser systems, forming a ganged laser assembly and measuring and correcting vertical and horizontal displacements, and reducing spot size variations. The combined laser beams are scanned in a bow-tie path on a continuously moving medium.
Claims25
An apparatus for aiming a laser system comprising one or more moveable components including a laser source and a lens, while scanning a media with a beam, wherein said laser emits said beam, comprising:
- means for moving said media continuously along a media path in one direction while said beam travels along a bow-tie path defined by a route that returns said beam to its initial position;
- means for effectuating movement of said beam by altering the position of at least one of said movable laser components;
- means for initiating movement of said beam from a line start location on a first edge of said media and moving said beam across said media to a second, opposite edge in a direction transverse to said media path;
- means for moving said beam at a second edge of said media in a direction of travel opposite that of said media path, a distance approximate to a desired line spacing of said media;
- means for moving said beam transverse to said media path to return said beam to said first edge;
- means for moving said beam along said first edge of said media in said direction of travel opposite that of said media path to return said beam to said line start location at said first edge, whereupon the aforementioned cycle is repeated a plurality of times until said media is scanned;
- and
- means for combining at least two said lasers, wherein said combination forms a ganged laser assembly.
5 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a ganged laser system having at least two laser systems, each laser system having an assembly housing, each assembly housing containing:
- a laser diode;
- a lens;
- a support, wherein said laser diode emits a beam for generating a spot of light on a media, said beam passing through said lens and continuing through an opening in a first end of said assembly housing;
- and
- means for moving at least one of said laser diode and lens, said ganged laser assembly further comprising:
- means for directing beams in a vertical direction;
- means for correcting beam motion in a vertical direction;
- means for directing at least one beam in a horizontal direction;
- means for correcting beam motion line-scan direction;
- means for measuring time delay between the crossing of a first and second spot across a linear array;
- means for calculating a correction factor;
- and
- means for adding or subtracting said correction factor to said line scan positioner, wherein beams from at least two ganged laser assemblies are combined, said apparatus further comprising:
- means for directing beams resulting from each ganged laser assembly;
- and
- means for focusing said beams to a common point.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.