Abstract: Optical scanning apparatus of the invention has a scanning range with a large depth of field through the use of a plurality of light sources, which are disposed in a cluster and directed at the bar code to be read thereby increasing the amount of light at the focal plane. This increases the depth of field in which the scanner is effective. A rectangular aperture stop with a length several times the width controls the F/# and allows an increased amount of light to reach the photodetector. A rectangular receiving slit provides an elliptical field of view of the photodetector with the long axis aligned with the bars of the code to be read, so that the scanner is able to "see" a major portion of the bar or space instead of a small area which may contain printing errors. Thus the intensity of illumination on the object being scanned is maximized, while the depth of the field, and the signal to noise ratio of the receiving system is also maximized so as to enable the resolution of fine, dense, bar codes.

Abstract: A laser scanner wherein an elliptical laser light beam is directed to the target (a bar code symbol) so as to increase the signal to noise ratio of the laser light received by the photodetector. The use of laser light in the shape of an ellipse, instead of the prior spherical shaped laser light, where the long axis of the elliptical laser light is aligned with the bars of the code being read reduces the distortion of the optical signals received by the photodetector. Thus the signal to noise ratio is maximized so as to enable the resolution of fine, dense bar codes.

Abstract: A material forming machine comprising a forming tool driven by a forming tool motor, a workpiece, a feed drive motor, a sensor, and a reference signal, wherein said sensor varies the speed of the feed drive motor by responding to variations of the speed of the forming tool's motion, and wherein the reference signal remains constant. Said machine performs sawing, shaping, milling, drilling, hammering, shearing, chiseling, and cutting on irregularly shaped workpieces, having variations in density.

Abstract: A window construction for pivot-out sash wherein a demountable sash guiding lock is mounted on the top rail of said sash. The lock includes a spring actuated plastic latch having either left or right hand openings for receiving a finger button which is demountable from said sash and a retaining clip for maintaining the spring for actuating the latch within the top rail of the sash.

Abstract: The fly fishing line of the invention is a flexible fly fishing line having a section of said line near the end tip with a greater buoyancy than the remainder of said line, such section having a surface of a highly visible material, and said section and said surface material being integral with the fly fishing line.