Optical imaging system of short focal lens

Claim 2

In an optical system for a copying machine or the like wherein an object to be copied at an illuminating station and copy paper at an image station are disposed in spaced parallel planes parallel to and on opposite sides of an optical axis therebetween, the improvement comprising: a unitary lensreflector assembly including a plurality of optical imaging devices and a plurality of cooperating reflecting devices all of which are formed on a transparent unitary framework, said framework comprising a solid transparent body on which said imaging devices and reflecting devices are mounted, said framework being in proper position for receiving light rays from said object and projecting the rays against an external reflector extending generally perpendicular to and intersecting said optical axis, and said framework being in proper position for receiving the reflected rays from said external reflector and projecting them to the copy paper, said reflecting devices comprise means defining a dihedral reflective surface formed on said body between said illuminating and image stations with at least a projected dihedral edge thereof intersecting said optical axis, wherein light rays from said object pass through one of said imaging devices prior to being reflected by said dihedral refleCtive surface wherein at least one of said imaging devices is disposed on said body between said dihedral edge of said planar reflecting device.

Claim 3

The optical system of claim 1 wherein said framework is fabricated of molded plastic material.

Claim 4

The optical system of claim 2 wherein said imaging devices and reflecting devices are formed by external surfaces of the solid molded transparent body.

Claim 5

The optical system of claim 1 including a lens strip extending transversely of said optical axis generally between said illuminating station and said image station, with a plurality of lens reflector assemblies extending seriatim along the lens strip.

Claim 6

The optical system of claim 4 wherein said imaging devices and reflecting devices are formed by external surfaces of the solid molded transparent body.

Claim 7

In an optical system for a copy machine or the like wherein an object to be copied at an illuminating station and copy paper at an image station are disposed in spaced parallel planes parallel to and on opposite sides of an optical axis therebetween, the improvement comprising: a unitary lens-reflector assembly including a plurality of optical imaging devices and a plurality of cooperating reflecting devices all of which are formed on a transparent unitary framework, said framework comprising a solid transparent body on which said imaging devices and reflecting devices are mounted, said framework being in proper position for receiving light rays from said object and projecting the rays against an external reflector extending generally perpendicular to and intersecting said optical axis, and said framework being in proper position for receiving the reflected rays from said external reflector and projecting them to the copy paper, said plurality of optical imaging devices and reflecting devices include a first lens surface on said body through which the light rays pass from said illuminating station generally perpendicular to said axis, a first reflecting surface on said body extending angularly of said axis for reflecting the rays from said first lens surface in a parallel direction to said axis toward said external reflector, a second reflecting surface on said body extending angularly of said axis and perpendicular to said first reflecting surface for reflecting the rays toward said image station, and a second lens surface between said second reflecting surface and said image station.

Claim 8

In an optical system for a copy machine or the like wherein an object to be copied at an illuminating station and copy paper at an image station are disposed in spaced parallel planes parallel to and on opposite sides of an optical axis therebetween, the improvement comprising: a unitary lens-reflector assembly including a plurality of optical imaging devices and a plurality of cooperating reflecting devices all of which are formed on a transparent unitary framework, said framework comprising a solid transparent body on which said imaging devices and reflecting devices are mounted, said framework being in proper position for receiving light rays from said object and projecting the rays against an external reflector extending generally perpendicular to and intersecting said optical axis, and said framework being in proper position for receiving the reflected rays from said external reflector and projecting them to the copy paper, said plurality of optical imaging devices and reflecting devices include a first lens surface on said body through which the light rays pass from said illuminating station generally perpendicular to said axis, a first reflecting surface on said body extending angularly of said axis for reflecting the rays from said first lens surface in a parallel direction to said axis toward said external reflector, a second reflecting surface on said body extending angularly of said axis and perpendicular to said first reflecting surface for reflecting the rays toward said image station, and a second lens surface between said second reflecting surface and said image station.

Claim 9

The optical system of claim 6 including lens surface means between said first reflecting surface and said external reflector and between said second reflecting surface and said external reflector.

Claim 10

In an optical system for a copying machine or the like wherein an object to be copied at an illuminating station and copy paper at an image station are disposed in spaced parallel planes parallel to and on opposite sides of an optical axis therebetween, the improvement comprising: a unitary lens-reflector assembly including a plurality of optical imaging devices and a plurality of cooperating reflecting devices all of which are formed on a transparent unitary framework, said framework comprising a solid transparent body on which said imaging devices and reflecting devices are mounted, said framework being in proper position for receiving light rays from said object and projecting the rays against an external reflector extending generally perpendicular to and intersecting said optical axis, and said framework being in proper position for receiving the reflected rays from said external reflector and projecting them to the copy paper, said plurality of optical imaging devices and reflecting devices include a first lens surface on said body through which the light rays pass from said illuminating station generally perpendicular to said axis, a first reflecting surface on said body extending angularly of said axis for reflecting the rays from said first lens surface in a parallel direction to said axis toward said planar reflecting device, a second reflecting surface on sAid body in the path of the rays from said reflecting surface and at an angle to said axis for directing the rays at an angle against said external reflector, a third reflecting surface on said body at an equal but opposite angle to said axis as said second reflecting surface for directing the rays from said planar reflecting device toward a fourth reflecting surface angularly of said axis and perpendicular to said first reflecting surface for directing the rays toward said image station, and a lens surface on said body in line between said fourth reflecting surface and said image station.

Claim 11

In an optical system for a copying machine or the like wherein an object to be copied at an illuminating station and copy paper at an image station are disposed in spaced parallel planes parallel to and on opposite sides of an optical axis therebetween, the improvement comprising: a unitary lens-reflector assembly including a plurality of optical imaging devices and a plurality of cooperating reflecting devices all of which are formed on a transparent unitary framework, said framework comprising a solid transparent body on which said imaging devices and reflecting devices are mounted, said framework being in proper position for receiving light rays from said object and projecting the rays against an external reflector extending generally perpendicular to and intersecting said optical axis, and said framework being in proper position for receiving the reflected rays from said external reflector and projecting them to the copy paper, said plurality of optical imaging devices and reflecting devices include a first lens surface on said body through which the light rays pass from said illuminating station generally perpendicular to said axis, a first reflecting surface on said body extending angularly of said axis for reflecting the rays from said first lens surface in a parallel direction to said axis toward said planar reflecting device, a second reflecting surface on sAid body in the path of the rays from said reflecting surface and at an angle to said axis for directing the rays at an angle against said external reflector, a third reflecting surface on said body at an equal but opposite angle to said axis as said second reflecting surface for directing the rays from said planar reflecting device toward a fourth reflecting surface angularly of said axis and perpendicular to said first reflecting surface for directing the rays toward said image station, and a lens surface on said body in line between said fourth reflecting surface and said image station.

Claim 12

The optical system of claim 8 including a lens surface on said body in line between said second reflecting surface and said external reflector and a lens surface on said body in line between said external reflector and said third reflecting surface.