Illumination system for copier machines arranged to minimize glare with respect to an operator

Abstract

The present case is directed to a number of illumination systems making use of lamps and reflectors having predetermined optical configurations and arranged to insure minimal glare in the eyes of an operator using the equipment in which the illumination systems are incorporated. A first version involves a stationary paraboloid reflector cooperating with a moving parabolic cylinder reflector to illuminate an original document during a copying operation. In a second version, the moving reflector is split into two reflectors each having distinct parabolic configurations and different focal lengths. In still another version, only a single reflector is arranged for movement during scanning of an original document to project a line of light and has a predetermined configuration which is paraboloid in one direction and substantially elliptical in a direction transverse to the first direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An illumination system for establishing a line of light substantially coextensive with a linear exposure station having a predetermined finite length within a light zone, comprising: a light source;   a paraboloid reflector formed to receive light from said source and to project in a first light path a beam of light of substantially rectangular cross-section having a relatively long first dimension and a relatively short second dimension, said relatively long dimension corresponding to said predetermined finite length;   a parabolic reflector formed to receive said substantially rectangular beam of light and to project a line of light therefrom corresponding to said predetermined finite length;   first means mounting said light source and said paraboloid reflector in order to project said substantially rectangular beam of light to said parabolic reflector in said first light path and within said light zone; and   second means mounting said parabolic reflector to re-form and re-direct along a second path said substantially rectangular beam of light as a line of light of said predetermined finite length and to project said line of light to said exposure station, whereby light is confined essentially within said light path and light scattering is minimized.   
     
     
       2. The system of claim 1 wherein exposure is required in an exposure plane and wherein said first means mounts said paraboloid reflector to direct said beam of light in a light path that is parallel to said exposure plane, and further comprising: moving means for reciprocating said mounted parabolic reflector in said first light path and in a substantially parallel plane with respect to said exposure plane, in order to move said line of light in said exposure plane during reciprocation of said parabolic reflector.   
     
     
       3. The system of claim 2 wherein said exposure plane accomodates an original document in a copier and wherein reciprocation of said parabolic reflector is performed in order to scan said original document and project information from said document for copying purposes. 
     
     
       4. The system of claim 1 wherein said parabolic reflector comprises a pair of parabolic reflectors and further comprising: means mounting said pair of parabolic reflectors for reduction of light to said exposure station at different angles to minimize shadow effects. .Iadd. 5. An illumination system for establishing a line of light substantially coextensive with a linear exposure station having a predetermined finite length within a light zone, comprising:   a light source;   a paraboloid reflector formed to receive light from said source and to project in a first light path a beam of light of substantially rectangular cross-section having a relatively long first dimension and a relatively short second dimension, said relatively long dimension corresponding to said predetermined finite length;   a second reflector formed to receive said substantially rectangular beam of light and to project a line of light therefrom corresponding to said predetermined finite length;   first means mounting said light source and said paraboloid reflector in order to project said substantially rectangular beam of light to said second reflector in said first light path and within said light zone; and   second means mounting said second reflector to re-form and re-direct along a second path said substantially rectangular beam of light as a line of light of said predetermined finite length and to project said line of light to said exposure station, whereby light is confined essentially within said light path and light scattering is minimized. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 6. The system of claim 5 wherein exposure is required in an exposure plane and wherein said first means mounts said paraboloid reflector to direct said beam of light in a light path that is parallel to said exposure plane, and further comprising:   moving means for reciprocating said mounted second reflector in said first light path and in a substantially parallel plane with respect to said exposure plane, in order to move said line of light in said exposure plane during reciprocation of said second reflector. .Iaddend..Iadd. 7. The system of claim 6 wherein said exposure plane accomodates an original document in a copier and wherein reciprocation of said second reflector is performed in order to scan said original document and project information from said document for copying purposes. .Iaddend.