How can one convert old phonograph records to digital data without playing, but using digital image processing?

You’d have to be able to create a 3d mapped image, which would be costly. If you want to convert them without a needle running through the grove there are players out there which use a laser rather than a nedle, meaning the record can’t get damaged – the laser reads the data like a 3d image in the grove and converts it to audio. Apparently they are fantastic quality. Consider that perhaps?