OPTICAL SCANNING APPARATUS

摘要

In a vending machine, optical scanning apparatus for providing digitised picture data for telemetry purposes includes first and second mirrors (12, 13) mounted parallel with each other and arranged to traverse the product drop area (4) of the machine. A light sensitive element (17) collects one dimensional digitised data defining a single raster scan of the viewed area and accumulates the data line by line to provide digitised signals defining a picture of the instantaneous view of the contents of the machine. A third mirror (14) may be provided to further fold the optical path from the product compartments (2) to the camera (16) such that the entire unit can be fitted into a small space while providing a longer viewing distance.