Scanning system with flexible drive assembly

Abstract

A system is provided for scanning an object, the system comprising: a drive shaft having a proximal portion and a longitudinal axis; a motor including a motor shaft having a rotational axis, the motor serving to rotate the motor shaft about the rotational axis; a flexible joint coupling the drive shaft to the motor shaft by the proximal portion of the drive shaft, the flexible joint having a range of motion which allows the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft to move relative to the rotational axis of the motor shaft; and an object attached to the drive shaft which is movable along the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft in response to the drive shaft being rotated by the motor. This system may be used in a drum scanner system and may be used to read storage layer radiation screens.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . A system for scanning an object comprising: 
 a drive shaft having a proximal portion and a longitudinal axis;    a motor including a motor shaft having a rotational axis, the motor serving to rotate the motor shaft about the rotational axis;    a flexible joint coupling the drive shaft to the motor shaft by the proximal portion of the drive shaft, the flexible joint having a range of motion which allows the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft to move relative to the rotational axis of the motor shaft; and    an object attached to the drive shaft which is movable along the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft in response to the drive shaft being rotated by the motor.    
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the flexible joint has a range of motion which allows the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft to move at least about 1 degree relative to the rotational axis of the motor shaft.  
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the flexible joint has a range of motion which allows the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft to move at least about 5 degrees relative to the rotational axis of the motor shaft.  
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the flexible joint has a range of motion which allows the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft to move at least about 10 degrees relative to the rotational axis of the motor shaft.  
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the drive shaft rotates at a substantially constant angular velocity during a revolution of the motor shaft despite drag of the drive shaft varying across a rotation of the drive shaft.  
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the flexible joint includes a first hub for attaching the motor shaft to the joint and a second hub for attaching the drive shaft to the flexible joint, the first and second hubs being movable relative to each other.  
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 6  wherein the first hub has a first range of angular motion within the flexible joint and the second hub has a second, different range of angular motion within the flexible joint.  
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 7  wherein first and second ranges of angular motion are in planes orthogonal to each other.  
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the flexible joint includes a first hub for attaching the motor shaft to the joint and a second hub for attaching the drive shaft to the flexible joint, the first and second hubs each including hub pins by which the hubs are attached to the flexible joint and about which the hubs have a range of angular motion.  
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 9  wherein the hub pins are held under compression within journals in the flexible joint.  
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the flexible joint is longitudinally stiff.  
     
     
         12 . A system for scanning an object adjacent a rotatable drum comprising: 
 a drive shaft having a proximal portion and a longitudinal axis;    a motor including a motor shaft having a rotational axis, the motor serving to rotate the motor shaft about the rotational axis;    a flexible joint coupling the drive shaft to the motor shaft by the proximal portion of the drive shaft, the flexible joint having a range of motion which allows the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft to move relative to the rotational axis of the motor shaft;    an object attached to the drive shaft which is movable along the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft in response to the drive shaft being rotated by the motor; and    a drum positioned adjacent the object, the drum being rotatable about a rotational axis that is approximately parallel to the rotational axis of the motor shaft.    
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 12  wherein the flexible joint has a range of motion which allows the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft to move at least about 1 degree relative to the rotational axis of the motor shaft.  
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 12  wherein the flexible joint has a range of motion which allows the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft to move at least about  5  degrees relative to the rotational axis of the motor shaft.  
     
     
         15 . A system according to  claim 12  wherein the flexible joint has a range of motion which allows the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft to move at least about 10 degrees relative to the rotational axis of the motor shaft.  
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 12  wherein the drive shaft rotates at a substantially constant angular velocity during a revolution of the motor shaft despite drag of the drive shaft varying across a rotation of the drive shaft.  
     
     
         17 . A system according to  claim 12  wherein the flexible joint includes a first hub for attaching the motor shaft to the joint and a second hub for attaching the drive shaft to the flexible joint, the first and second hubs being movable relative to each other.  
     
     
         18 . A system according to  claim 17  wherein the first hub has a first range of angular motion within the flexible joint and the second hub has a second, different range of angular motion within the flexible joint.  
     
     
         19 . A system according to  claim 18  wherein first and second ranges of angular motion are in planes orthogonal to each other.  
     
     
         20 . A system according to  claim 12  wherein the flexible joint includes a first hub for attaching the motor shaft to the joint and a second hub for attaching the drive shaft to the flexible joint, the first and second hubs each including hub pins by which the hubs are attached to the flexible joint and about which the hubs have a range of angular motion.  
     
     
         21 . A system according to  claim 20  wherein the hub pins are held under compression within journals in the flexible joint.  
     
     
         22 . A system according to  claim 12  wherein the flexible joint is longitudinally stiff.  
     
     
         23 . A system for scanning for reading storage layer radiation screens comprising: 
 a drive shaft having a proximal portion and a longitudinal axis;    a motor including a motor shaft having a rotational axis, the motor serving to rotate the motor shaft about the rotational axis;    a flexible joint coupling the drive shaft to the motor shaft by the proximal portion of the drive shaft, the flexible joint having a range of motion which allows the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft to move relative to the rotational axis of the motor shaft;    an image acquisition optical system attached to the drive shaft which is movable along the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft in response to the drive shaft being rotated by the motor; and    a drum positioned adjacent the image acquisition optical system, the drum being capable of holding one or more storage layer radiation screens and rotatable about a rotational axis that is approximately parallel to the rotational axis of the motor shaft.    
     
     
         24 . A system according to  claim 23  wherein the flexible joint has a range of motion which allows the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft to move at least about 1 degree relative to the rotational axis of the motor shaft.  
     
     
         25 . A system according to  claim 23  wherein the flexible joint has a range of motion which allows the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft to move at least about 5 degrees relative to the rotational axis of the motor shaft.  
     
     
         26 . A system according to  claim 23  wherein the flexible joint has a range of motion which allows the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft to move at least about 10 degrees relative to the rotational axis of the motor shaft.  
     
     
         27 . A system according to  claim 23  wherein the drive shaft rotates at a substantially constant angular velocity during a revolution of the motor shaft despite drag of the drive shaft varying across a rotation of the drive shaft.  
     
     
         28 . A system according to  claim 23  wherein the flexible joint includes a first hub for attaching the motor shaft to the joint and a second hub for attaching the drive shaft to the flexible joint, the first and second hubs being movable relative to each other.  
     
     
         29 . A system according to  claim 28  wherein the first hub has a first range of angular motion within the flexible joint and the second hub has a second, different range of angular motion within the flexible joint.  
     
     
         30 . A system according to  claim 29  wherein first and second ranges of angular motion are in planes orthogonal to each other.  
     
     
         31 . A system according to  claim 23  wherein the flexible joint includes a first hub for attaching the motor shaft to the joint and a second hub for attaching the drive shaft to the flexible joint, the first and second hubs each including hub pins by which the hubs are attached to the flexible joint and about which the hubs have a range of angular motion.  
     
     
         32 . A system according to  claim 31  wherein the hub pins are held under compression within journals in the flexible joint.  
     
     
         33 . A system according to  claim 23  wherein the flexible joint is longitudinally stiff.