Shock-resistant support structure for use in portable laser scanning heads
First Claim
1. In a laser scanning system for reading bar code symbols, a shock-resistant optical support structure for use in a laser scanning head of the type having a laser component for generating a laser light beam, an optical component for optically modifying and directing the laser light beam along a light path toward a reference plane located exteriorly of the head, and a scanning component for scanning the laser light beam over a field of view across a bar code symbol located in the vicinity of the reference plane, said support structure comprising:
- (a) support means including a pair of support elements for readily removably mounting the laser component, the optical component and the scanning component at optically-precise locations relative to one another thereon in an operative optically-aligned assembly, said support elements having means for positioning and supportably maintaining the components at said optically-precise locations to facilitate rapid assembly, and for re-positioning the components at said optically-precise locations to facilitate field maintenance; and
(b) connecting means for readily detachably connecting the support elements to each other, whereby the readily removable mounting of the components and the readily detachable connection of the support elements facilitate the assembly and field maintenance.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A shock-resistant support structure for use in a laser scanning head in a laser scanning system for reading bar code symbols readily removably supportably mounts and readily positions a laser tube component for generating a laser light beam, an optical component for optically modifying and directing the laser light beam along a light path, and a scanning component for scanning the laser light beam over a field of view across a bar code symbol, on the support structure, preferably including a pair of support elements which are readily detachably connected, preferably by snap-type action, to each other to facilitate the assembly and the disassembly of the components.
38 Citations
25 Claims
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1. In a laser scanning system for reading bar code symbols, a shock-resistant optical support structure for use in a laser scanning head of the type having a laser component for generating a laser light beam, an optical component for optically modifying and directing the laser light beam along a light path toward a reference plane located exteriorly of the head, and a scanning component for scanning the laser light beam over a field of view across a bar code symbol located in the vicinity of the reference plane, said support structure comprising:
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(a) support means including a pair of support elements for readily removably mounting the laser component, the optical component and the scanning component at optically-precise locations relative to one another thereon in an operative optically-aligned assembly, said support elements having means for positioning and supportably maintaining the components at said optically-precise locations to facilitate rapid assembly, and for re-positioning the components at said optically-precise locations to facilitate field maintenance; and (b) connecting means for readily detachably connecting the support elements to each other, whereby the readily removable mounting of the components and the readily detachable connection of the support elements facilitate the assembly and field maintenance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. In a laser scanning system for reading bar code symbols, a shock-resistant support structure for use in a laser scanning head of the type having a laser component for generating a laser light beam, an optical component for optically modifying and directing the laser light beam along a light path toward a reference plane located exteriorly of the head, and a scanning component for scanning the laser light beam over a field of view across a bar code symbol located in the vicinity of the reference plane, said support structure comprising:
support means for readily removably mounting the laser component, the optical component and the scanning component at optically-precise locations relative to one another thereon in an optically-aligned assembly, said support means including wall portions bounding a plurality of recesses in which the components are insertably received, and means for positioning the components during their insertion in, and for re-positioning the components after their removal from, their respective recesses to properly quickly position the components in an automatically optically-aligned relationship relative to one another. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
Specification