JP4143309B2 - Scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus having a function of forming an image on a transfer material (recording medium) such as a sheet, such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile machine, and particularly to these apparatuses. The present invention relates to a scanning device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, this type of image forming apparatus is provided with moving optical scanning means as shown in FIG. 6, and main image forming means and parts of the apparatus main body, such as a drum cartridge, a cartridge support unit, a fixing device, a feeding device, and the like. A main body frame for fixing and arranging paper guides and various covers at predetermined positions has been used.
[0003]
The main body frame is formed by bending a surface-treated steel plate (such as a gin-coated steel plate or a bonde steel plate), and at the corners, the main frame 130 that retains strength by means of fastening by welding or screws is used as a base, and is assembled when assembling internal components not shown. For the sake of simplicity, the side plate 131 having a separate structure is attached by fastening screws after assembling the internal parts.
[0004]
Further, the moving optical scanning means incorporates a moving scanning body (mirror stand) (not shown) which is an optical mechanism component, an optical rail 133 and a stopper 134 for preventing the moving rail from moving smoothly.
[0005]
In addition, the lens unit 140, the lens unit moving rail 141, and other optical components (not shown) are adjusted and fixed in advance, and the lens base 132 colored in black to prevent flare that causes image trouble is the main unit. After the side surface of the lens base 132 is disposed at a predetermined position on the main frame 130 from below the frame 130, it is fixed with screws or the like.
[0006]
Then, the optical mechanism components and the main components and units other than the lens unit 140 that perform image formation, after the above-described lens stage 132 assembling process are completed, the both side surfaces 130a and 130b of the main frame 130 are used as fixed surfaces. Fixed downward.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, when a short focus lens array, an optical system with a shallow subject depth in which a lens, a light receiving element (photoelectric conversion element) is housed in 1 BOX, and a document table glass are used for the reading optical system, Adjustment of the distance to the reading optical system is severe.
[0008]
Further, in recent years, a thin plate-like special member has been attached to the rail in order to reduce the frictional resistance.
[0009]
For this reason, the number of parts of the rail 103 increases before the distance between the platen glass 102 and the reading optical system 104 is restricted, so that the tolerance increases and it is difficult to make it constant.
[0010]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a scanning device with high image quality that improves productivity and workability in maintenance, and image formation. To provide an apparatus.
[0011]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides:
A light source for illuminating a document placed on a platen glass installed in the housing of the apparatus body;
Reading means for reading light from a document irradiated by the light source;
An imaging means for imaging said reading means light from the document,
In the scanning device and a rail member which have a sliding surface which allows sliding at least one of the light source and the imaging means,
The sliding surface of the rail member is configured by providing a resistance suppressing member that suppresses sliding resistance,
A positioning part for positioning the rail member in contact with the resistance suppressing member on the sliding surface is provided on the housing of the apparatus main body .
[0012]
It is also preferable that the resistance suppressing member is provided on the platen glass side of the rail member.
[0013]
It is also preferable that the positioning portion is provided with a position adjusting mechanism for adjusting the position of the rail member.
[0014]
In the image forming apparatus comprises a scanning device described above, a light beam based on image information obtained by the scanning device, and guided to the image carried on body surface scanning the image bearing member, said image A toner image obtained by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a carrier is transferred to a transfer material.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions, materials, shapes, and relative arrangements of the components described in this embodiment should be appropriately changed according to the configuration of the apparatus to which the invention is applied and various conditions. It is not intended to limit the scope to the following embodiments.
[0016]
(Embodiment 1)
The scanning apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a scanning device according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming apparatus A emits a laser based on image information obtained by the scanner unit B as a scanning device by a laser scanner 39, and serves as an image carrier incorporated in a process cartridge. A laser is irradiated on the photosensitive drum.
[0018]
Hereinafter, an image forming operation by the image forming unit 10 will be described.
[0019]
A latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum, and the latent image is developed with toner by the process cartridge.
[0020]
On the other hand, the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking plate are fed while being separated one by one by a feeding roller and a separation pad, and are further conveyed downstream by each conveying roller. In addition, the development with the toner formed on the photosensitive drum is transferred by the transfer means.
[0021]
Then, the sheet on which the unfixed toner image is formed is conveyed further downstream, the toner image is fixed by the fixing means, and then discharged outside the apparatus by the discharge roller.
[0022]
As shown in the figure, the scanner unit B includes a scanning light source 31, a platen glass 32 as a platen glass, a document pressure plate 33 that can be opened and closed with respect to the main body of the image forming apparatus A, a first mirror 34 as an imaging means, A second mirror 35, a third mirror 36, a lens 37, a light receiving element (photoelectric conversion element) 38, an image processing unit, and the like are configured.
[0023]
The reading unit 30 includes a first mirror 34, a second mirror 35, a third mirror 36, a lens 37, and a light receiving element (photoelectric conversion element) 38.
[0024]
Then, the user places the document surface such as a book document such as a book, thick paper, or curled paper, or a sheet-like document on the platen glass 32 with the lower side (the platen glass 32 side).
[0025]
When the document pressure plate 33 is pressed against the back of the document and set in a stationary state, and the reading start key is pressed, the scanning system light source 31 scans the lower part of the platen glass 32 in the direction of arrow a to read the image information on the document surface. .
[0026]
The image information of the document scanned by the first mirror 34 is projected onto the light receiving element 38 by the lens 37 through the second mirror 35 and the third mirror 36, and the image information is read, processed by the image processing unit, and the electric information. It is converted into a signal and transmitted to the laser scanner 39.
[0027]
Here, the first mirror base unit 41 that houses the first mirror 34 and the second mirror base unit 42 that houses the second and third mirrors 35 and 36 have the sliding surface of the guide unit 53 as a rail member as a sub-surface. It is slid in the scanning direction.
[0028]
The guide unit 53 is coupled with a guide 51 and a special sliding plate 52 provided on the sliding surface and serving as a resistance suppressing member for lowering the sliding resistance by a bonding material such as a double-sided tape or an adhesive. ing.
[0029]
The housing that houses the scanner B section is composed of an upper frame 46 and a lower frame 47.
[0030]
The lower frame 47 has a hole as shown in FIG.
[0031]
2A and 2B are schematic views showing a C portion of FIG. 1, (a) is a view of the C portion as viewed from the front, and (b) is a side view of (a).
[0032]
As shown in FIG. 2, the lower frame 47 is provided with a hole 48, and the protrusion 48 is provided by providing the hole 48. The convex portion 49 constitutes a positioning portion for positioning the sliding plate 52 of the guide unit 53 inserted into the hole 48. In the lower frame 47 of the housing, the glass setting portion of the platen glass 32 of the upper frame 46. Is formed with high accuracy.
[0033]
Hereinafter, a procedure for attaching the guide unit 53 to the scanner unit B will be described.
[0034]
First, the end of the guide unit 53 is inserted into the hole 48 provided in the lower frame 47.
[0035]
Then, after the end portion of the guide unit 53 is inserted into the hole 48, the sliding plate 52 of the guide unit 53 is applied to the convex portion 49 serving as a reference, and the sliding plate 52 is applied to FIG. As shown, screw tightening is performed so that the rail is drawn from the screw hole (the guide unit 53 is attached to the inner surface of the lower frame 47).
[0036]
Thereafter, the built-in unit is accommodated, and finally, the upper frame 46 is covered from above, and the screws are tightened between the upper frame 46 and the lower frame 47.
[0037]
Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the number of parts configured to limit the height from the original surface position of the platen glass 32 to the guide unit 53, and to improve the positional accuracy from the platen glass 32 to the guide unit 53. Is possible.
[0038]
Furthermore, by improving the positional accuracy of the rail surface of the guide unit 53 with respect to the glass surface of the platen glass 32, the image becomes good and a high-quality device can be provided.
[0039]
Even if the rail is once disassembled, the sliding plate 52 of the guide unit 53 may be applied to the convex portion 49 and screwed, so that reproducibility can be ensured and maintenance is easy. It becomes.
[0040]
Further, it is not necessary to regulate the procedure at the time of assembly as in the prior art.
[0041]
(Embodiment 2)
A second embodiment is shown in FIGS. In the present embodiment, a position adjusting mechanism capable of adjusting the position in the height direction is provided with respect to the first embodiment. The built-in items in the scanner section B are as described in the first embodiment, and in the present embodiment, the description will be given by specifying the position where the height direction of the rail end is regulated. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the component similar to Embodiment 1, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.
[0042]
4 is a schematic perspective view showing the main part of the scanning device according to the present embodiment, FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the main part of FIG. 4, (a) is a view seen from the front, and (b). FIG. 2 is a side view of (a).
[0043]
First, the height positioning plate 61 is fixed to the lower frame 47 at a predetermined center position.
[0044]
The height positioning plate 61 is provided with two elongated holes. One elongated hole is a elongated hole 62 that engages with the convex portion 50 provided in the lower frame 47, and the other elongated hole is the lower frame. It engages with a screw 63 for fixing the height positioning plate 61 to 47. Here, the position adjustment mechanism is configured by the height positioning plate 61, the convex portion 50, and the screw 63.
[0045]
Thereafter, the guide unit 53 is abutted against the height positioning plate 61.
[0046]
Next, the first mirror 34, the second mirror 35, and the third mirror 36 are moved, and the tilt and synchronization are adjusted at the home position, and then the main scanning center shift is corrected. This occurs when the distance from the (reading) glass surface of the platen glass 32 to the light receiving element 38 shifts, and this is performed by adjusting the height positioning plate 61.
[0047]
Thereafter, the upper surface (sliding surface) of the sliding plate 52 is pressed against the lower frame 47 in a state where it abuts against the height positioning plate 61 provided on the lower frame 47 to fix the screws. As a result, the main scanning center shift can be corrected.
[0048]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, the positional accuracy between the document table glass and the rail member can be increased. Therefore, the image quality can be improved.
[0049]
In addition, reproducibility can be ensured even when the rail member is disassembled once, and maintenance is facilitated.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a scanning device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
2A and 2B are schematic views showing a C portion of FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 2A is a view of the C portion as viewed from the front, and FIG. 2B is a side view of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a main part of a scanning device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
5A and 5B are schematic views showing the main part of FIG. 4, wherein FIG. 5A is a front view, and FIG. 5B is a side view of FIG.
FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram for explaining the prior art.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image forming means 30 Reading means 31 Scanning system light source 32 Platen glass 33 Original pressure plate 34 1st mirror 35 2nd mirror 36 3rd mirror 37 Lens 38 Light receiving element (photoelectric conversion element)
39 Laser scanner 41 First mirror base unit 42 Second mirror base unit 46 Upper frame 47 Lower frame 48 Hole 49 Convex part 50 Convex part 51 Guide 52 Slide plate 53 Guide unit 61 Height positioning plate 62 Long hole 63 Screw A Image Forming device B Scanner unit

Claims (5)

A light source for illuminating a document placed on a platen glass installed in the housing of the apparatus body;
Reading means for reading light from a document irradiated by the light source;
An imaging means for imaging said reading means light from the document,
In the scanning device and a rail member which have a sliding surface which allows sliding at least one of the light source and the imaging means,
The sliding surface of the rail member is configured by providing a resistance suppressing member that suppresses sliding resistance,
The scanning device according to claim 1, wherein a positioning portion that positions the rail member in contact with the resistance suppressing member on the sliding surface is provided in a housing of the apparatus main body .   The scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the resistance suppressing member is provided on the side of the platen glass of the rail member.   The scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the positioning unit is provided with a position adjusting mechanism that adjusts a position of the rail member. The rail member has a rail coupled to the resistance suppressing member,
  The rail member is attached to the casing by fixing the rail to the casing in a state in which the resistance suppressing member is in contact with the positioning portion. The scanning device according to Item. A scanning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 , comprising:
Give the a light beam based on image information obtained by the scanning device scans the image bearing member and guided to the image carried on body surface, by developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image bearing member An image forming apparatus, wherein the toner image transferred is transferred to a transfer material.

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