JPH08146528A - Document scanning device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Abstract] [Purpose] A device for scanning an original by moving the first traveling body and the second traveling body in conjunction with each other, and a cable for supplying electric power to an original illumination light source of the first traveling body. In an original scanning device in which one end side of the cable is fixed to an immovable member and the other end side of this cable is connected to the original illumination light source by rotating the other side of the second traveling body behind the second traveling body, the second traveling body It is possible to prevent the cable portion located behind the vehicle from interfering with other members of the traveling body and causing a deflection that adversely affects image formation. A guide member that regulates the cable portion to a predetermined curvature so that the portion of the cable 6 located behind the second traveling body 4 does not interfere with other components M2 of the second traveling body or the optical path of the scanning light. 7 is provided, and this guide member 7 is mounted in the same direction as the moving and scanning direction of the first traveling body so as to be movable and adjustable by screws 7-1a and 7-1b through elongated holes 7-1 and 7-2. .

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a document scanning device used in copying machines, image scanners, facsimiles and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A document table on which a document is placed, a document illumination light source for illuminating the document, and a first reflecting means for reflecting the reflected light of the document received from the document illumination light source are mounted. A first traveling body that is moved along the platen;
A second reflecting unit that reflects the light from the first reflecting unit toward the image forming unit is mounted, and the moving amount of the first traveling unit is equal to the moving direction of the first traveling unit. A second traveling body that moves in the direction, and a cable for supplying electric power to the document illumination light source of the first traveling body, one end side of the cable is fixed to a stationary member, and the other end side of the cable is provided. There is a document scanning device which is connected to the document illuminating light source by rotating around the back of the second traveling body (see Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-34744).

In this prior art, if the cable bends upward during scanning, the bent portion may come into contact with the back side of the platen to stain it, and stains may appear on the read image. In addition to this, if it bends downward, it will obstruct the optical path from the first reflecting means to the second reflecting means, and will hinder the image. Therefore, the distance between the first and second traveling bodies will be long. If the cable jumps up or hangs down, it is dealt with by attaching piano wires on both sides of the cable or by bonding a reinforcing plate that increases the waist of the cable.

[0004]

However, in the measures taken by the prior art, the bending flexibility of the cable is impaired and it becomes difficult to bend. Therefore, the cable cover provided on the second traveling body does not conform to the curved surface and is stretched. There is a risk of rattling or lifting the second traveling body,
The stronger the cable becomes, the larger the natural curvature of the cable becomes, so that the cable between the first reflecting means and the second reflecting means tends to move upward and come into contact with the back side of the document table. If the scanning means such as the second traveling body remains stationary for a long period of time during the stock period of the product, the user's long vacation, etc., the inflexible cable can be eccentric and scan. There is a problem such as causing the rattling.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve these problems and to provide a document scanning device capable of eliminating an image reading failure caused by a bending portion generated in a cable during scanning which interferes with a member. To do.

[0006]

To achieve the above object, the present invention has the following constitution. (1). A guide member is provided for restricting the cable portion to a predetermined curvature so that the portion of the cable located behind the second traveling body does not interfere with other components of the second traveling body and the optical path of light passing through the second reflecting means. The guide member is attached so as to be movable and adjustable in the same direction as the moving and scanning direction of the first traveling body (claim 1).

(2). A guide member for restricting the cable portion to a predetermined curvature is provided so that the cable portion located behind the second traveling body does not interfere with other components of the second traveling body and the optical path of light passing through the second reflecting means. The guide member is biased and held by the elastic body in the direction of applying tension to the cable with respect to the second traveling body (claim 2).

(3). A guide member for restricting the cable portion to a predetermined curvature is provided so that the cable portion located behind the second traveling body does not interfere with other components of the second traveling body and the optical path of light passing through the second reflecting means. A document scanning device characterized in that a semi-circular curved surface portion constituting the guide member is elastically swingable. (Claim 3).

(4). (1) or (2) or (3)
In the document scanning apparatus described above, at least the cable contact surface of the guide member is made of a material having a low friction coefficient (claim 4).

[0010]

[Function] The cable portion located behind the second traveling body is
It prevents the occurrence of bending that adheres to the guide member and interferes with other members during scanning to adversely affect image formation.

[0011]

【Example】

(one). Description of Entire Document Traveling Device In FIG. 6, reference numeral 1 denotes a document table on which a document is placed,
It consists of a transparent glass plate. Below the document table 1, there are a first traveling body 3 and a second traveling body 4.

At the time of scanning, the first traveling body 3 and the second traveling body 4 are forwardly scanned from the home position shown by the solid line in the direction shown by the arrow 20, and are returned at the return position shown by the chain double-dashed line. It moves and reaches the home position again. The first traveling body 3 has a document illumination light source 2 for illuminating a document placed on the document table 1, and this document illumination light source 2
A first mirror M1 serving as a first reflecting unit that receives and reflects the reflected light from the original that receives the light from the document is mounted.

The second traveling body 4 has a second mirror M2, a third mirror M3, etc. as a second reflecting means for guiding the light from the first mirror M1 through the lens 21 to the light receiving portion 22 of the CCD. Are arranged.

The first traveling body 3 and the second traveling body 4 are
Each is guided in a guide (not shown) and scanned in the scanning direction. During this scanning, in order to keep the optical path length from the document to the imaging lens 21 constant, the movement amount of the second traveling body 4 is 1/2 of the movement amount of the first traveling body 3.
The distance from the document to the optical lens 21 via the first mirror M1, the second mirror M2, and the third mirror M3 is constant.

Such a difference in the amount of movement can be obtained by winding the wire around a plurality of pulleys, fixing the first traveling body 3 to a part of the wire, and connecting the second traveling body 4 to the movable pulley. it can. Alternatively, it can be achieved by an independently driven linear motor. These scanning means are configured in the housing 5.

A cable 6 for supplying electric power to the original illuminating light source 2 is in the form of a flexible resin flat belt, and a conductor is passed through the cable. Specific examples include flat electric wires and flexible printed wiring boards. One end of the cable 6 is fixed to the housing 5 as a stationary member.

The other end of the cable 6 is bent over the back of the second traveling body 4, that is, the side opposite to the side on which the first traveling body 3 is provided, along a guide member 7 having a curvature. After being rotated, it is fixed to the document illumination light source 2 of the first traveling body 3,
It is connected. The guide member 7 is provided integrally with the second traveling body 4.

(2). 2. Description corresponding to claim 1 FIG. 2 shows an example in which the cable 6 is wound around the back of the second traveling body 4. One end of the cable 6 is fixed to the housing 5 as described above. The other end side is fixed to the first traveling body (not shown in FIG. 1). The intermediate portion is wound around the curved surface of the guide member 8.

A surface having a predetermined curvature is formed on the contact surface of the guide member 8 with the cable 6. The magnitude of this curvature is such that the cable 6 guided by the guide member 8 is
It is set as an appropriate value that can smoothly guide the cable 6 without interfering with the second mirror M2, the third mirror M3, the optical path of light passing through these mirrors, and the like. Therefore, when the cable 6 contacts the curved surface portion of the guide and is guided, the portion of the cable is guided by being restricted by the curvature of the curved surface portion.

Since the casing 5 side is immovable, and the curved portions of the guide member 7 and the cable 6 both maintain a half movement amount of the first traveling body 3, a fixed positional relationship in the guide portion is maintained. Here, there is no problem when the first traveling body 3 and the second traveling body 4 are in the vicinity of the home position indicated by the symbol A in FIG. 6, but according to the range indicated by the symbol B, that is, from the middle of scanning to the return position. The distance between the first traveling body 3 and the second traveling body 4 is larger than that at the home position.

For this reason, the supporting span of the cable 6 between these traveling bodies becomes large, and the cable 6 bends upward or downward,
This causes the problems described in the above-mentioned prior art. In this respect, in this example, the elongated holes 7-1, 7- are provided in a part of the guide member 7.
2 are formed, and screws 7-1 are provided in these slots 7-1 and 7-2.
It penetrates through a and 7-1b and is screwed into the second traveling body 4.

Here, the longitudinal direction of the elongated holes 7-1 and 7-2 is a direction in which tension is applied to the cable 6. Therefore, the screws 7-1a and 7-1b are adjusted to move the guide member 7 to apply an appropriate tension to the cable 6 to allow the second traveling body 4 to move.
If fixed to, the cable portion between the first traveling body 3 and the second traveling body 4 does not cause slack even when the traveling body exists in the region of the symbol B shown in FIG. This allows the cable 6
Remains flexible without the use of special reinforcements,
Can be used.

Here, when an independent bent electric wire is used as the cable 6, a guide groove is formed at a corresponding position of the guide member 7, and the bent electric wire is fitted into this guide groove.

(3). 2. Correspondence to Claim 2 In FIG. 2, the guide member 8 is formed with the same curved surface portion as that formed in the guide member 7 shown in FIG. The guide member 8 is integrally formed with a portion where the curved surface portion is provided, and a portion thereof is extended, and the extended portion overlaps the upper surface of the second traveling body 4.

In this extending portion, elongated holes 8-1 and 8-2 are formed which are long in the direction of applying tension to the cable 6. Stepped screws 8-1a and 8-1b having threads formed therein are inserted only into the distal end portions of the elongated holes 8-1 and 8-2, and the screw portions are screwed into the second traveling body 4. Has been done. The non-threaded portions of the stepped screws 8-1a and 8-1b are elongated holes 8-1 and 8-
2 is slidably fitted. As a result, the guide member 8 is provided with the elongated holes 8-1,
There is freedom of movement within the range of 8-2.

On the extending portion of the guide member 8, elastic springs 9a and 9b are hooked between the guide member 8 and the second traveling body 4. Due to the elasticity of these springs 9a and 9b, the guide member 8 is oriented in a direction in which tension is applied to the cable 6, and in the example of the drawing,
It is biased in the direction indicated by arrow 21.

The movement of the guide member 8 due to the elasticity of the springs 9a and 9b is prevented by balancing the tension of the cable 6. Therefore, even if the thickness of the cable 6 changes and the strength of the waist is uneven, the bending of the cable 6 that may occur when the traveling body moves is always absorbed, and the cable follows the guide member to form a curved surface. The contact state of is maintained. In this example, the elasticity of the springs 9a and 9b always acts on the guide member 8, so that the step of adjusting the position of the guide member can be omitted as in the example of the first aspect.

(4). Description Corresponding to Claim 3 As shown in FIG. 3, the portion of the cable 6 located behind the second traveling body 4 is another component of the second traveling body 4, and the second mirror M.
2. A guide member 9 having a curved surface portion that restricts the cable portion to a predetermined curvature is provided so as not to interfere with the second and third mirrors M3 and the like or the optical path of light passing through these mirrors.

The guide member 9 is swung about a fulcrum 9a provided at the tip of a support portion 11 having a semicircular arc length of the curved surface of the guide member 9 extending from the second traveling body 4. Support freely. Further, the free end side of the guide member 9 is urged by the plate-shaped spring 12 in the direction of applying tension to the cable.

In such a structure, with respect to the guide member 9,
When the first traveling body 3 moves in a direction away from the guide member 9, the friction force between the guide member 9 and the cable 6 is elastically swingable around one end side of a portion corresponding to the diameter of the curvature as a fulcrum. Thus, the upper side of the cable 6 is the tension side and the lower side is the slack side. Therefore, the guide member 9 is to improve the following defect of the cable with respect to the guide member due to the thickness change of the cable 6 and the unevenness of the strength of the waist, etc. within a range where the tension is always applied to the upper side of the cable 6. You can

When the first traveling body 3 moves in the direction approaching the guide member 9 contrary to the above, the upper side of the cable 6 is the slack side, but the pressed side of the guide member 9 is the upper side.
Easily absorbs slack and provides tension. Therefore, even if the cable 6 is flexed or stretched dynamically during scanning, tension can be continuously applied to the cable 6.

Another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In this example, the curvature of the guide member shown by reference numeral 10 is formed according to the example shown in FIG. 3, and the thickness of the curved surface portion that guides the cable 6 is a thin plate shape, Of the part corresponding to the chord of the circular arc that constitutes the above, the radial part is also formed in a thin plate shape so that the part becomes vertical as shown in FIG. 4, and the upper end of this vertical part is screwed. Was fixed to the second traveling body 4.

With this structure, the guide member 10 can be elastically swung about a portion fixed by a screw or a bent portion 9b as a fulcrum. The larger the arcuate portion is than the vertical portion, the easier it becomes to swing.

Also in this example, since the guide member 10 is elastically swingable, the first traveling body 3 and the second traveling body 4 are also movable.
Even if a phenomenon such as slack or tension of the cable 6 occurs during the movement during scanning, the generation is prevented by the absorbing action by the elasticity, and the tension can be continuously applied to the cable.

(5). Description corresponding to claim 4 An example in which the present invention is applied to the guide member 10 described in FIG. 4 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, as shown by hatching at least the cable contact surface of the guide member, a sliding member 13 having a low friction coefficient made of ultra-high molecular weight PE, Teflon-based material or the like is attached. In this way, by attaching the sliding member 13, it is possible to apply tension smoothly regardless of the material of the cable 6.

As described above, instead of attaching the sliding member, the entire guide member can be made of a low friction material. Although the guide member of FIG. 4 has been described, the present invention is not limited to this, and the same can be performed for each of the guide members shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the function of the guide member eliminates the flexure of the cable during scanning, so that the flexure generated in the cable during scanning, which has been a problem in the past, interferes with other members. The image reading failure caused by this is eliminated.

[0038]

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION It is possible to eliminate the image reading failure caused by the bending portion of the cable that interferes with the member during scanning.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a second traveling body illustrating an embodiment corresponding to claim 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second traveling body illustrating an embodiment corresponding to claim 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a second traveling body illustrating an embodiment corresponding to claim 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a second traveling body explaining another embodiment corresponding to claim 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a second traveling body illustrating an embodiment corresponding to claim 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of a document scanning device suitable for implementing the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 1st traveling body 4 2nd traveling body 7 guide member 8 guide member 9 guide member 10 guide member M2 2nd mirror (as 2nd reflection means) 3rd mirror (as 2nd reflection means)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A document table on which a document is placed, a document illumination light source for illuminating the document, and a first reflecting means for reflecting the reflected light of the document received from the document illumination light source are mounted, and One half of the first traveling body is equipped with a first traveling body that moves along the platen and a second reflecting means that reflects the light from the first reflecting means toward the image forming unit. A second traveling body that moves in the same direction as the traveling direction of the first traveling body with a movement amount of 10 mm, and a cable for supplying electric power to a document illumination light source of the first traveling body. One end of the cable Side is fixed to a stationary member, and the other end side of this cable is connected to the second
In the document scanning device which is connected to the document illumination light source by rotating the back of the traveling body, a portion of the cable located behind the second traveling body includes other parts of the second traveling body and the second reflection member. A guide member for restricting the cable portion to a predetermined curvature is provided so as not to interfere with the optical path of light passing through the means, and the guide member is attached so as to be movable and adjustable in the same direction as the moving and scanning direction of the first traveling body. A document scanning device characterized by the above. 2. A document table on which a document is placed, a document illumination light source for illuminating the document, and a first reflecting means for reflecting the reflected light of the document received from the document illumination light source are mounted, and One half of the first traveling body is equipped with a first traveling body that moves along the platen and a second reflecting means that reflects the light from the first reflecting means toward the image forming unit. A second traveling body that moves in the same direction as the traveling direction of the first traveling body with a movement amount of 10 mm, and a cable for supplying electric power to a document illumination light source of the first traveling body. One end of the cable Side is fixed to a stationary member, and the other end side of this cable is connected to the second
In the document scanning device which is connected to the document illumination light source by rotating the back of the traveling body, the cable portion located behind the second traveling body is connected to other parts of the second traveling body and the second reflecting means. A guide member for restricting the cable portion to a predetermined curvature is provided so as not to interfere with the optical path of the light passing therethrough, and the guide member is urged by the elastic body in the direction of applying tension to the cable with respect to the second traveling body. An original scanning device characterized by being held. 3. A document table on which a document is placed, a document illumination light source for illuminating the document, and a first reflection means for reflecting the reflected light of the document received from the document illumination light source are mounted. One half of the first traveling body is equipped with a first traveling body that moves along the platen and a second reflecting means that reflects the light from the first reflecting means toward the image forming unit. A second traveling body that moves in the same direction as the traveling direction of the first traveling body with a movement amount of 10 mm, and a cable for supplying electric power to a document illumination light source of the first traveling body. One end of the cable Side is fixed to a stationary member, and the other end side of this cable is connected to the second
In the document scanning device which is connected to the document illumination light source by rotating the back of the traveling body, the cable portion located behind the second traveling body is connected to other parts of the second traveling body and the second reflecting means. A guide member for restricting the cable portion to a predetermined curvature is provided so as not to interfere with the optical path of the light passing therethrough, and the semicircular curved surface portion constituting the guide member is elastically swingable. Document scanning device. 4. The document scanning device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein at least the cable contact surface of the guide member is made of a material having a low friction coefficient.