Reciprocating laser scanning device

Abstract

The present invention is a sweeping or reciprocating laser scanning device. The reciprocation or sweeping motion is cam driven. As the cam rotates, a lever arm is reciprocated or oscillated between two positions, which causes the laser or beam of light to move linearly, thus creating a triangular plane of light resulting in a reciprocating linear reference across the hypotenuse of the triangular plane of light.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laser scanning device comprising:
 one or more motors;   one or more cams;   one or more lever arms;   one or more pivots;   one or more light sources; and   one or more reflective surfaces;   wherein said one or more motors rotate said one or more cams;   wherein said one or more lever arms are connected to said one or more pivots;   wherein said one or more reflective surfaces are mounted onto said one or more lever arms;   wherein said one or more light sources emit a beam of light and wherein said beam of light is directed at said one or more reflective surfaces;   wherein said one or more reflective surfaces reflect said beam of light, such that a reflected beam of light is created;   wherein as said one or more cams rotate, said one or more cams alternatingly pushes then releases said one or more lever arms, such that said one or more lever arms pivot on said one or more pivots, such that said one or more lever arms and said one or more reflective surfaces reciprocate between a pushed position of said one or more lever arms and a released position of said one or more lever arms; and   wherein said reflected beam of light being reflected from said one or more reciprocating reflective surfaces moves angularly to create a triangular plane of light.   
     
     
         2 . The laser scanning device of claim  12 , further comprising:
 a housing; and   one or more return springs;   wherein said one or more return springs are attached to said one or more lever arms and said housing; and   wherein said one or more return springs provide a tension against said one or more cams as said one or more cams pushes said one or more lever arms, such that said one or more lever arms return to said released position when said one or more cams releases said one or more lever arms.   
     
     
         3 . The laser scanning device of claim  13 , wherein said one or more lever arms are further comprised of one or more impact members;
 wherein said one or more impact members comprising one or more padded surfaces;   wherein said one or more cams are in contact with said one or more padded surfaces of said impact members;   wherein said one or more padded surfaces protect said one or more impact members from said one or more cams; and   wherein as said one or more cams rotate said at least one protrusion of said one or more cams alternatingly pushes then releases said one or more padded surfaces of said impact members of said one or more lever arms.   
     
     
         4 . The laser scanning device of claim  14 , further comprising:
 one or more controllers;   wherein said one or more controllers communicate electrical signals to said one or more motors to adjust a rotation speed of said one or more motors.   
     
     
         5 . The laser scanning device of claim  15 , wherein said one or more motors are comprised of one or more shafts;
 wherein said one or more shafts are connected to said one or more cams, such that when said one or more shafts rotate said one or more cams are concurrently rotated.   
     
     
         6 . The laser scanning device of claim  16 , wherein said one or more cams are adjustable; and
 wherein adjusting said one or more cams changes at least said pushed position.   
     
     
         7 . The laser scanning device of claim  17 , wherein said one or more pivots are adjustable; and
 wherein adjusting said one or more pivots changes said at least said pushed position.   
     
     
         8 . The laser scanning device of claim  18 , wherein said one or more cams have at least one protrusion;
 wherein as said one or more cams rotate, said at least one protrusion of said one or more cams alternatingly pushes then releases said one or more padded surfaces of said one or more impact members, such that said one or more lever arms pivot on said one or more pivots, such that said one or more lever arms and said one or more reflective surfaces reciprocate between said pushed position of said one or more lever arms and said released position of said one or more lever arms.