Abstract: A beam delivery system for delivering a laser beam from a stationary laser to a point in space under robot control has a universal or spherical shoulder joint which is free to rotate in any direction, a wrist joint which receives the beam from the shoulder joint and which allows the beam to be pointed in the required direction and a section of sliding tubes which couple the wrist joint directly to the shoulder joint in a straight line. The beam delivery system is constructed to be readily and effectively associated with a robot. The beam delivery system is mounted with the spherical or universal shoulder joint close to the vertical axis of the robot shoulder and with the spherical shoulder joint below the articulated arm mechanism of the robot so that the beam delivery system accesses a maximum volume beneath the articulated mechanism of the robot. The beam delivery system utilizes a minimum of internal mirrors to minimize power loss in the beam.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for reading machine readable coded labels on merchandise at a check-out station. A window is associated with the check-out station, together with means for supporting merchandise for movement past the window. A laser source having an output beam focused at a plane slightly beyond the window produces multiple vertical beams V.sub.1, V.sub.2, V.sub.3 having predetermined angular divergence and a horizontal beam H. Scanning optics, including a mirror wheel having a plurality of mirrors thereon, provides a raster location and a sub-raster location. Relay optics accept and inject the horizontal beam into the raster location movement of the wheel causing the horizontal movement of the H scan line at the window. The vertical beams impinge upon the sub-raster location from which the relay optics accept and inject the beams V.sub.1, V.sub.2, V.sub.3 over to the raster location.

Abstract: Window structure in which the aperture incorporated in package slide is left open, the scanning window being recessed below and to one side of the aperture, making a substantial angle with the plane of the slide and located to join at one edge of the aperture. A removable receptacle located with debris catching portions below the scanning window can be provided for ease of cleaning.