Apparatus for aiming a scanner
The application discloses embodiments of an apparatus comprising a base having a top, a bottom, a proximal side and a distal side, the bottom being attachable to a scanner, an adjustable proximal sight on or near the proximal side, the proximal sight including a sighting notch therein, and a distal sight on or near the distal side, the distal sight being substantially aligned with the proximal sight and including a mount attached to the base and a tubular sighting element attached to the mount. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a base having a top, a bottom, a proximal side and a distal side, the bottom being attachable to a scanner;
an adjustable proximal sight on or near the proximal side, the proximal sight including a sighting notch therein and comprising a pair of upright members defining the sighting notch, the bottom of the sighting notch being defined by the top of a set screw positioned between the upright members; and
a distal sight on or near the distal side, the distal sight being substantially aligned with the proximal sight and including:
a mount attached to the base, and
a tubular sighting element attached to the mount.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the base is made of metal or plastic.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bottom of the base is contoured to substantially match the shape of a surface of the scanner to which the base is attachable.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the set screw can be tightened or loosened such that a location of the bottom of the sighting notch can be changed.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tubular sighting element comprises a substantially cylindrical tube.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tubular sighting element comprises a substantially cylindrical tube whose end closest to the proximal sight is flared.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the tubular sighting element is made of an injection molded optical-quality resin.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the tubular sighting element is colored.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the color is incandescent green or orange.
10. An apparatus comprising:
a base having a top, a bottom, a proximal side and a distal side, the bottom being contoured to substantially match the shape of a surface of the scanner to which the base is attachable;
an adjustable proximal sight on or near the proximal side of the base, the proximal sight including a sighting notch therein and comprising a pair of upright members defining the sighting notch, the bottom of the sighting notch being defined by the top of a set screw positioned between the upright members; and
a distal sight on or near the distal side of the base, the distal sight being substantially aligned with the proximal sight and including:
a mount attached to the base, and
a tubular sighting element attached to the mount, wherein the tubular sighting element comprises a substantially cylindrical tube.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the adjustable proximal sight comprises a tab slidably attached to the base, the tab including therein a substantially V-shaped sighting notch.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the set screw can be tightened or loosened such that a location of the bottom of the sighting notch can be changed.
13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the tubular sighting element comprises a substantially cylindrical tube whose end closest to the proximal sight is flared.
14. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the tubular sighting element is colored.
15. A system comprising:
a scanner;
a base having a top, a bottom, a proximal side and a distal side, the bottom being attached to the scanner;
an adjustable proximal sight on or near the proximal side of the base, the proximal sight including a sighting notch therein and comprising a pair of upright members defining the sighting notch, the bottom of the sighting notch being defined by the top of a set screw positioned between the upright members; and
a distal sight on or near the distal side of the base, the distal sight being substantially aligned with the proximal sight and including a mount attached to the base and a tubular sighting element attached to the mount.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the bottom of the base is contoured to substantially match the shape of a surface of the scanner to which the base is attached.
17. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the set screw can be tightened or loosened such that a location of the bottom of the sighting notch can be changed.
18. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the tubular sighting element comprises a substantially cylindrical tube.
19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the tubular sighting element comprises a substantially cylindrical tube whose end closest to the proximal sight is flared.
20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the tubular sighting element is colored.
21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the color is incandescent green or orange.
22. A process comprising:
attaching an aiming apparatus to a scanner, the aiming apparatus comprising:
a base having a top, a bottom, a proximal side and a distal side, the bottom being attachable to the scanner,
an adjustable proximal sight on or near the proximal side of the base, the proximal sight including a sighting notch therein and comprising a pair of upright members defining the sighting notch, the bottom of the sighting notch being defined by the top of a set screw positioned between the upright members, and
a distal sight on or near the distal side of the base, the distal sight the distal sight being substantially aligned with the proximal sight and including a mount attached to the base and a tubular sighting element attached to the mount;
aiming the scanner at an optical symbol such that a trajectory of the scanner's laser crosses from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the symbol and such that the tubular sighting element appears to substantially coincide with the symbol; and
adjusting the location of the bottom of the sighting notch until the tubular element appears to substantially coincide with the symbol and appears to a user to coincide with the bottom of the sighting notch.
23. The process of claim 22 wherein adjusting the location of the bottom of the sighting notch comprises tightening or loosening the set screw.
24. The process of claim 22 wherein the tubular sighting element comprises a substantially cylindrical tube.
25. The process of claim 22 wherein the tubular sighting element comprises a substantially cylindrical tube whose end closest to the proximal sight is flared.
26. A process comprising:
providing a scanner including an aiming apparatus attached thereto, the aiming apparatus comprising:
a base having a top, a bottom, a proximal side and a distal side, the bottom being attachable to the scanner,
an adjustable proximal sight on or near the proximal side of the base, the proximal sight including a sighting notch therein and comprising a pair of upright members defining the sighting notch, the bottom of the sighting notch being defined by the top of a set screw positioned between the upright members, and
a distal sight on or near the distal side of the base, the distal sight the distal sight being substantially aligned with the proximal sight and including a mount attached to the base and a tubular sighting element attached to the mount;
aiming the scanner at an optical symbol such that the tubular sighting element appears to a user to substantially coincide with the symbol; and
adjusting the elevation angle of the scanner until the tubular sighting element appears to substantially coincide with the symbol and also appears to coincide with the bottom of the sighting notch.
27. The process of claim 26 wherein the bottom of the base is contoured to substantially match the shape of a surface of the scanner to which the base is attached.
28. The process of claim 26 wherein the tubular sighting element comprises a substantially cylindrical tube.
29. The process of claim 26 wherein the tubular sighting element comprises a substantially cylindrical tube whose end closest to the proximal sight is flared.
30. The process of claim 26 wherein the tubular sighting element is colored.
31. The process of claim 26 wherein the color is incandescent green or orange.