Abstract: A compact document reading station for transporting a document and sensing indicia carried on the document. First and second substantially identical box-like housing halves, each with four sides, a generally closed bottom and an open top, contain an in-line arrangement of a motor and a drive roller powered by that motor as well as an off-set driven pinch roller. The rollers which partially extend through openings formed through the generally closed bottom and the housing halves are juxtaposed and connected together with the drive roller of one housing half cooperating with the driven pinch roller of the other housing half. Located between the roller openings in the bottom of each housing half is a row of spaced-apart apertures through which a portion of a plurality of photo-optic transducing head assemblies project.

Abstract: A photo-optic transducer assembly comprising a frame constructed to surround the peripheral edges of a ceramic hybrid circuit card such that a radiation source and a radiation responsive element coupled to said hybrid circuit card are appropriately aligned with a photo-optic light pipe assembly, also supported by said frame, the light pipe element leading to a location where sensing is to occur. The hybrid circuit card contains active and passive components (including one or more integrated circuit chips) on it for processing signals indicative of conditions being irradiated by a source of radiant energy.