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US4522497A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Web scanning apparatus

Assignee: HA WHITTEN & Co PO BOX 1368 NEW YORK NY 10008 A PARTNERSHIP
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Filing: 1982-06-07
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Granted: 1985-06-11
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Expires: 2002-06-07
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Abstract

Abstract A method and apparatus of photoelectrically scanning a moving web material is described which comprises scanning the web with a narrow light beam sweeping across and beyond the edges of the web, directing light reflected or transmitted by the web to a light receiver of a light measuring unit so generating a corresponding electrical signal, and optically or electronically simulating the optical reflexion or transmission property of the web for two auxiliary scanning zones adjacent the lateral edges of the web in such manner that the average strength of said electrical signal remains constant over substantially the whole scanning sweep. By use of this method abrupt changes in electronic signals received by the receiver when the scanning beam traverses the edges of the web are minimized. The effect of flare is also reduced.

Inventors

  • 👤 John B. Ikin

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 10:05
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; G01N21/89; G01N21/8901

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim 94 words
A method of photoelectrically scanning a moving web material which comprises scanning the web with a narrow light beam sweeping across and beyond the edges of the web, directing light reflected or transmitted by the web to a light receiver of a light measuring unit so generating a corresponding electrical signal, and optically simulating the optical reflexion or transmission property of the web for two auxiliary scanning zones adjacent the lateral edges of the web in such manner that the average strength of said electrical signal remains constant over substantially the whole scanning sweep.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 94 words
A method of photoelectrically scanning a moving web material which comprises scanning the web with a narrow light beam sweeping across and beyond the edges of the web, directing light reflected or transmitted by the web to a light receiver of a light measuring unit so generating a corresponding electrical signal, and optically simulating the optical reflexion or transmission property of the web for two auxiliary scanning zones adjacent the lateral edges of the web in such manner that the average strength of said electrical signal remains constant over substantially the whole scanning sweep.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 63 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the light reflected or transmitted by the web and the light passing the web within the auxiliary scanning zones is directed to a common light receiver, and a light attenuating element is present in the optical path of said light passing the web; said light attenuating element simulating the reflexion or transmission property of the web.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 17 words
A method according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein a laser scanning beam is used.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the beam is scanned across the web by use of an oscillating reflector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 80 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the web is of light transparent diffusing material which comprises scanning the web with a narrow light beam which is polarised, there being present between the web being scanned and the light receiver system a light transparent sheet of polarising material which protrudes beyond the edges of the web being scanned, the sheet of polarising material being oriented so as to partially extinguish the polarised scanning beam beyond the edges of the web.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 171 words
A method according to any one of claim 1 wherein the web is of light reflecting material which comprises scanning the web with a narrow light beam and directing a proportion of the light reflected from the web surface to the light receiver, there being present on the side of the web remote from the light source light redirecting means which is so positioned that a proportion of the light which traverses the edges of the web is redirected to the same light receiver which receives light reflected from the web, there being present either in the path of the light reflected from the web or in the path of the light redirected to the receiver from the light redirecting means a light attenuating filter of such strength that the average strength of the electrical signal produced by the receiver due to the light reflected from the web is equal to the average strength of the electrical signal due to the light redirected to the receiver from the light redirecting means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 15 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein the light redirecting means is a reflection means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 37 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein the light reflection means is a mirror placed so as to protrude beyond either edge of the web on the side of the web remote from the light scanning source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 38 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein the scanning beam is polarised light and the light reflecting means is a polarised sheet placed beyond the edges of the web and so oriented to attenuate the light reflected therefrom.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 24 words
A method according to claim 7 wherein the light reflecting means is a polished roller which supports the web at the point of scanning.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 16 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein the light redirecting means is a light conducting means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 20 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein the light attenuating filter is placed in the path of the redirected light.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 21 words
A method according to either claim 6 or claim 12 wherein the light attenuating filter is of the graded density type.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 28 words
A method according to either claim 6 or claim 12 wherein the light attenuating filter comprises two superimposed light polarising sheets, one oriented with respect to the other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 66 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein light reflected or transmitted by the web is directed to a first light receiver and the light passing the web within the auxiliary scanning zones is directed to a second light receiver, and wherein the output signals of the light receivers are so matched and added that the resulting sum signal remains constant over substantially the whole scanning sweep.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 21 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein a signal is received when a scanning beam crosses an edge of the web.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 105 words
A scanning apparatus for a moving web comprising means for generating a narrow scanning light beam and sweeping the beam across and beyond the edges of the web, a measuring unit including a light receiver generating an electrical output signal corresponding to the light received, means for directing the light reflected or transmitted by the web to said light receiver, optical means for simulating the optical reflection or transmission property of the web for two auxiliary scanning zones adjacent the lateral edges of the web in such manner that the average strength of said electrical output signal remains constant over substantially the whole scanning sweep.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 105 words
A scanning apparatus for a moving web comprising means for generating a narrow scanning light beam and sweeping the beam across and beyond the edges of the web, a measuring unit including a light receiver generating an electrical output signal corresponding to the light received, means for directing the light reflected or transmitted by the web to said light receiver, optical means for simulating the optical reflection or transmission property of the web for two auxiliary scanning zones adjacent the lateral edges of the web in such manner that the average strength of said electrical output signal remains constant over substantially the whole scanning sweep.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 59 words
An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the light directing means direct the light reflected or transmitted by the web as well as the light passing the web within said auxiliary scanning zones to said light receiver, and wherein the simulating means is an optical light attenuating element present in the optical path of the light passing the web.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 18 words
An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the light attenuating element comprises two light polarising sheets mutually oriented.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 36 words
An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein light is received by the receiver from light transmitted by the web wherein the light scanning source is polarised light and the light attenuating element is a polarising sheet.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 32 words
An apparatus according to claim 20 wherein the polarising sheet is arranged in the direction of the scanning light behind the web and extends across the web and the auxiliary scanning zones.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 29 words
An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein light is received by the receiver from light reflected by the web and the light attenuating element is an optical density wedge.
Claim 25
Independent Claim 43 words
An apparatus according to any one of claims 17, 18, or 22 wherein the light is received by the receiver from light reflected by the web and the light reflecting surface is a mirror extending across the web and protruding beyond the edges.
Claim 26
Independent Claim 43 words
An apparatus according to any one of claims 17, 18, or 22 wherein light is received by the receiver from light reflected by the web and the light reflecting surface is a polished roller which supports the web at the point of scan.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 81 words
An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the measuring unit comprises two light receivers with associated amplifiers and an adder for the output signals of the amplifiers, the light directing means directing light reflected or transmitted by the web to one light receiver and light passing the web within the auxiliary scanning zones to the other light receiver, and the amplifiers being mutually matched so that the sum signal generated by the adder remains constant over substantially the whole scanning sweep.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 33 words
An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein there is provided a web edge detector which comprises an additional light receiver arranged to receive light both from the web and one auxiliary scanning zone.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 19 words
An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the light source used to generate the light beam is a laser.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 21 words
An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein an oscillating reflector is used to cause the beam to scan across the web.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 21 words
An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein a multi faceted mirroris used to cause the beam to scan across the web.
Claim 32
Independent Claim 94 words
A method of photoelectrically scanning a moving web material which comprises scanning the web with a narrow light beam sweeping across and beyond the edges of the web, directing light reflected or transmitted by the web to a light receiver of a light measuring unit so generating a corresponding electrical signal, and electronically simulating the optical reflexion of transmission property of the web for two auxiliary scanning zones adjacent the lateral edges of the web in such manner that the average strength of said electrical signal remains constant over substantially the whole scanning sweep.
Claim 33
Independent Claim 94 words
A method of photoelectrically scanning a moving web material which comprises scanning the web with a narrow light beam sweeping across and beyond the edges of the web, directing light reflected or transmitted by the web to a light receiver of a light measuring unit so generating a corresponding electrical signal, and electronically simulating the optical reflexion of transmission property of the web for two auxiliary scanning zones adjacent the lateral edges of the web in such manner that the average strength of said electrical signal remains constant over substantially the whole scanning sweep.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 105 words
A scanning apparatus for a moving web comprising means for generating a narrow scanning light beam and sweeping the beam across and beyond the edges of the web, a measuring unit including a light receiver generating an electrical output signal corresponding to the light received, means for directing the light reflected or transmitted by the web to said light receiver, electronic means for simulating the optical reflection or transmission property of the web for two auxiliary scanning zones adjacent the lateral edges of the web in such manner that the average strength of said electrical output signal remains constant over substantially the whole scanning sweep.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim 105 words
A scanning apparatus for a moving web comprising means for generating a narrow scanning light beam and sweeping the beam across and beyond the edges of the web, a measuring unit including a light receiver generating an electrical output signal corresponding to the light received, means for directing the light reflected or transmitted by the web to said light receiver, electronic means for simulating the optical reflection or transmission property of the web for two auxiliary scanning zones adjacent the lateral edges of the web in such manner that the average strength of said electrical output signal remains constant over substantially the whole scanning sweep.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim 22 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the beam is scanned across the web by use of a multi faceted mirror drum.

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-06-10 1988-12-10 1989-06-11 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-06-10 1992-12-10 1993-06-11 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-06-10 1996-12-10 1997-06-11 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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