JP6652295B2 - Colorimetric device and image forming device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a colorimeter or a colorimeter provided in an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus that forms a color image by an electrophotographic method, a color tone may be shifted due to instability in color mixing of toner or a problem of reproducibility. The color tone shift occurs not only in an image forming apparatus that forms a color image by an electrophotographic method but also in an image forming apparatus that forms a color image by an ink jet method or the like.

  In the electrophotographic system, the sensitivity of the photosensitive drum, the charge capacity of the toner, and the transfer efficiency to the recording material are different for each color depending on the use environment and the use frequency. As a result, the color mixture ratio is likely to deviate from the predetermined value and affect the color tone. Furthermore, in the printing industry, there is a need to achieve higher color reproduction. In order to solve such a problem, a small color measuring device suitable for an image forming apparatus has been proposed. For example, Patent Literature 1 proposes a small color measuring device suitable for a color image forming apparatus.

  The colorimetric device includes a light source, an illumination optical member that transmits a light beam illuminating the test object disposed on the test surface and guides the light beam to the test object, and guides the light beam reflected by the test object to the optical member. A light guide optical member that emits light is provided. Then, the illumination optical member guides the light flux from the light source by utilizing the refraction at the entrance surface and the exit surface and the reflection at the reflection surface, so that even if the reading position of the specimen changes, Variations in the amount of illumination light illuminating the surface are reduced, and an illumination optical member with high illumination efficiency is realized.

JP 2010-277070 A

  In the colorimetric device described in Patent Literature 1, an illumination optical element and a light source are fixed on an electric board. However, no mention is made of the positioning of the illumination optical element and the light source. The mounting accuracy of general electric components is lower than the mounting accuracy of optical components. For this reason, simply fixing the illumination optical element and the light source to the electric board may not provide sufficient accuracy with respect to the relative position between the light source and the illumination optical element, and may degrade the performance of the colorimeter. .

  When the accuracy of the relative position between the light source and the illumination optical element decreases, the efficiency of capturing a light beam on the incident surface of the illumination optical element decreases. As a result, the amount of illumination light illuminating the test surface decreases.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and has as its object to suppress a decrease in accuracy regarding a relative position between a light source and an illumination optical member.

  A typical configuration of the colorimetric device according to the present invention for achieving the above object includes a light source, an electric board on which the light source is mounted, and illumination optics for guiding a light beam from the light source onto a surface to be measured. A member, a light guide optical member that guides light reflected from the surface to be measured, a spectral optical member that splits a light beam incident from the light guide optical member, and a light beam that is split by the spectral optical member. A light receiving element, the illumination optical member, the light guide optical member, and a housing that accommodates the spectral optical member, wherein the illumination light member is moved in a direction in which a light beam is emitted. The light source is urged by the urging means so that the light source collides with the illumination optical member and a position in the emission direction is determined.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to suppress a decrease in accuracy regarding the relative position between the light source and the illumination optical member.

FIG. 1 is an explanatory cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus equipped with a colorimetric device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is an explanatory sectional view illustrating a configuration of the colorimetric device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2A is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of the colorimetric device according to the first embodiment without a cover. FIG. 2B is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of the colorimetric device according to the first embodiment in a state where a cover is provided. FIG. 2A is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an illumination optical member according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3B is an exploded cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the light source and the illumination optical member according to the first embodiment are assembled. FIG. 3C is a bottom view illustrating a configuration of a restricting portion including a wall surface of a positioning hole provided on a bottom surface of the illumination optical member according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2A is an explanatory cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a light source inserted into a positioning hole of an illumination optical member in the colorimetric device according to the first embodiment is displaced from the illumination optical member in the direction of arrow Z. FIG. 2B is an explanatory cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the light source inserted into the positioning hole of the illumination optical member in the colorimetric device of the first embodiment is inclined. FIG. 2A is an exploded perspective view illustrating a state in which an illumination optical member, a light source, and a biasing unit of the colorimetric device according to the first embodiment are assembled to a housing. FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the colorimetric device according to the first embodiment, which is provided with an urging unit that urges the light source in the light flux emission direction with respect to the illumination optical member, as viewed from the bottom side. It is the perspective view which looked at the color measurement device which installed the urging means which urges the light source to the illumination optical member in the direction of luminous flux in the color measurement device of the second embodiment as viewed from the bottom side. (A) is a colorimetric device of the third embodiment in which an urging means for urging a light source toward an illumination optical member in a light beam output direction with respect to an illumination optical member is provided with an elastic portion integrally provided in a housing. It is the perspective view seen from the bottom face side. (B) is an explanatory sectional view showing the configuration of the colorimetric device according to the third embodiment. It is an exploded perspective view showing signs that an illumination optical member, a light source, and an urging means of a color measuring device of a fourth embodiment are assembled to a housing. (A) is a perspective view showing a configuration of an illumination optical member of a fourth embodiment. (B) is a bottom view showing a configuration of a restricting portion including a wall surface of a positioning hole provided on a bottom surface of the illumination optical member according to the fourth embodiment. (C) is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a state in which the light source and the illumination optical member of the fourth embodiment are positioned and the electric substrate is held by the illumination optical member. (A) is a perspective view showing a configuration of an illumination optical member of a fifth embodiment. FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a state in which the light source and the illumination optical member according to the fifth embodiment are positioned and the electric substrate is held by the illumination optical member. (A) is a perspective view showing a configuration of a colorimetric device according to a sixth embodiment. (B) is a perspective view showing a configuration of an electric board provided with a light source and a light receiving element in a sixth embodiment. (A) is a perspective view which shows the structure of the light guide in which the illumination optical member and the light guide optical member were integrally formed in 6th Embodiment. (B) is a bottom view showing a configuration of a light guide in which an illumination optical member and a light guide optical member are integrally formed in a sixth embodiment. In the colorimetric apparatus according to the sixth embodiment, the light beam incident from the light source into the light guide is reflected by the reflection surface and is incident on the test surface, and the detected light beam reflected by the test surface is further transmitted into the light guide. FIG. 4 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a state of incidence. It is an exploded sectional view showing signs that an electric board provided with a light guide, a light source, and a light sensing element of a 6th embodiment is attached to a case. FIG. 16 is an explanatory plan view illustrating a state in which a light source is urged toward a light guide in a light-emitting direction by a restoring force due to elastic deformation of an electric board in the colorimetric device according to the sixth embodiment. FIG. 11 is an explanatory cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of another image forming apparatus equipped with the colorimetric device according to the present invention.

  An embodiment of an image forming apparatus provided with a colorimetric device according to the present invention will be specifically described with reference to the drawings.

  First, a configuration of an image forming apparatus including a colorimetric device according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

<Image forming apparatus>
First, the configuration of a color image forming apparatus (hereinafter, simply referred to as “image forming apparatus”) 3 including a colorimetric device 150 according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a configuration of the image forming apparatus 3 of the present embodiment. In FIG. 1, a colorimetric device 150 is provided between a fixing device 12 serving as a fixing unit and a discharge roller 13. Reference numerals 1C, 1M, 1Y, and 1BK denote photosensitive drums serving as image carriers arranged at equal intervals. In the following, for convenience of description, the photosensitive drums 1C, 1M, 1Y, and 1BK may be simply described using the photosensitive drum 1 as a representative. The same applies to other image forming process means.

<Image forming unit>
Next, the configuration of an image forming unit that forms a toner image (image) on a sheet P serving as a recording material will be described. The surface of each photosensitive drum 1 is uniformly charged by the charging rollers 2C, 2M, 2Y, and 2BK serving as charging means serving as charging means. Laser light LC, LM, LY, and LBK corresponding to each color, each of which is light-modulated based on image information emitted from a scanning optical device 300 serving as an image exposure unit, on the uniformly charged surface of the photosensitive drum 1. Irradiated. Thereby, a latent image is formed on the surface of each corresponding photosensitive drum 1.

  With respect to the latent image formed on the surface of each photosensitive drum 1, the developing devices 4C, 4M, 4Y, and 4BK, which are developing means, cause developers (toners) of respective colors of cyan C, magenta M, yellow Y, and black BK to be developed. Supplied. As a result, a visible image is formed as a toner image (image) of each color of cyan C, magenta M, yellow Y, and black BK.

  On the other hand, sheets P serving as recording materials are stacked on a vertically movable middle plate (not shown) of the feed tray 7, and are sequentially fed one by one by a feed roller 8 and a separating means (not shown). Thereafter, the toner image is fed onto the outer peripheral surface of the transport belt 10 by the registration roller 9 in synchronization with the timing of writing the toner image on the surface of each photosensitive drum 1.

  The transport belt 10 is stretched by a driving roller 11 and a tension roller 15. The driving roller 11 receives the rotation driving force from a driving motor (not shown) having small rotation unevenness, and performs the conveyance rotation of the conveyance belt 10 with high accuracy.

  The toner images of the respective colors of cyan C, magenta M, yellow Y, and black BK formed on the surface of each photosensitive drum 1 are transferred onto the surface of the sheet P as described below. The sheet P is sucked onto the outer peripheral surface of the transport belt 10 by an unillustrated suction means, and is conveyed with high accuracy. The toner images formed on the surface of each photosensitive drum 1 are electrostatically transferred onto the surface of the sheet P in order by the operation of the transfer rollers 5C, 5M, 5Y, and 5BK serving as transfer means. Thus, a color image is formed on the surface of the sheet P.

  After transferring the toner images of each color on the surface of the sheet P, the residual toner remaining on the surface of each photosensitive drum 1 is scraped and removed by cleaning blades 6C, 6M, 6Y, and 6BK serving as cleaning means. Is done. Then, it is collected in the cleaner containers 21C, 21M, 21Y, and 21BK. Thereafter, in order to form the next color image, the surface of each photosensitive drum 1 is uniformly charged again by the charging roller 2 serving as each charging unit.

  The color image formed on the surface of the sheet P is fixed on the surface of the sheet P (on the recording material) by the colorimeter 150 after being fixed by heating and pressing by the fixing device 12 serving as a fixing unit. The color image is measured using the color image as the surface to be measured. Thereafter, the sheet is discharged by a discharge roller 13 onto a discharge tray 16 provided outside the main body of the image forming apparatus 3.

<Color measurement device>
As shown in FIG. 1, the colorimetric device 150 is provided on a transport path immediately after the fixing device 12. Then, illumination light is emitted from the colorimetric device 150 to the image surface on which the color patch image 210 serving as the surface to be formed formed on the surface of the sheet P is fixed.

  The colorimetric device 150 detects the chromaticity of each color patch image 210 fixed on the surface of the sheet P discharged from the fixing device 12. The color measurement of the color patch image 210 on the surface of the sheet P after the fixing of the toner image by the fixing device 12 is performed in consideration of a change in chromaticity due to a difference in the type of the sheet P and fixing conditions. This is for performing color matching.

  The detection result measured by the colorimeter 150 is transferred to a printer controller serving as control means (not shown). The printer controller determines whether the color reproducibility of the color patch image 210 fixed on the surface of the sheet P discharged from the fixing device 12 is appropriately achieved.

  The color patch image 210 of a single color or a mixed color fixed on the surface of the sheet P discharged from the fixing device 12 may have a color difference within a predetermined range at the chromaticity specified by the print controller. In that case, the print controller ends the color calibration (color adjustment).

  On the other hand, the color difference between the color patch image 210 fixed on the surface of the sheet P discharged from the fixing device 12 and the chromaticity specified by the print controller may be outside the predetermined range. In that case, the printer controller performs color calibration based on the color difference information measured by the color measurement device 150 until the color difference falls within a predetermined color difference.

  A chromaticity difference may occur in a color image formed on the surface of the sheet P depending on individual differences between the image forming apparatuses 3, types of the sheet P, use environment, use frequency, and the like. Even in such a case, by mounting the colorimetric device 150 in the image forming apparatus 3, it is possible to correct the absolute chromaticity in response to any difference in conditions. For this reason, a more advanced color calibration can be realized by surely reproducing stable chromaticity.

<Other image forming apparatus>
In the image forming apparatus 3 illustrated in FIG. 1, an example in which the transport belt 10 is disposed as a transport unit that transports the sheet P facing each of the photosensitive drums 1 has been described, but is not limited thereto. For example, as shown in FIG. 17, it is also possible to mount the colorimeter 150 in a tandem type image forming apparatus 3 in which an intermediate transfer belt 500 serving as an intermediate transfer member is arranged opposite to each photosensitive drum 1. FIG. 17 is an explanatory cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a tandem-type image forming apparatus 3 on which the colorimetric device 150 is mounted. The configuration of the image forming unit of the tandem-type image forming apparatus 3 will be described with reference to FIG.

  Here, the configuration and operation of each image forming unit (image forming unit) are substantially the same except that the colors (yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black BK) of the toner used are different. Accordingly, in the following description, unless it is particularly necessary to distinguish them, the suffixes Y, M, C, and BK given to the reference numerals in FIG. 17 are omitted to indicate that the elements are provided for any color. I will give a general explanation.

  The image forming unit of the image forming apparatus 3 shown in FIG. 17 is configured by the following members. It has a feed tray 7, a photosensitive drum 1 as an image carrier for each color station, a charging roller 2 as a charging unit, a scanning optical device 300 as an image exposure unit, and a developing device 4 as a developing unit. Further, the image forming apparatus includes an intermediate transfer belt 500, a driving roller 501 for driving the intermediate transfer belt 500 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction in FIG. 17, a stretching roller 503, and an auxiliary roller 502.

  Further, a primary transfer roller 504 serving as a primary transfer means provided on the inner peripheral surface side of the intermediate transfer belt 500 facing each photosensitive drum 1, and provided facing the drive roller 501 with the intermediate transfer belt 500 interposed therebetween. A secondary transfer roller 505 serving as a secondary transfer unit is provided. The image forming apparatus further includes a fixing device 12 serving as a fixing unit, a control unit 55 serving as a control unit for controlling an image forming operation of the image forming unit, and a controller unit 56.

  The photosensitive drum 1 is formed by applying an organic photoconductive layer to an outer periphery of an aluminum cylinder, and is rotated by transmitting a driving force of a driving motor (not shown). A drive motor (not shown) rotates the photosensitive drum 1 in the clockwise direction in FIG. 17 according to the image forming operation. When the control unit 55 shown in FIG. 17 receives an image signal (input signal), the sheet P is sent from the feeding tray 7 into the image forming apparatus 3 by the feeding roller 8. Thereafter, the sheet is separated and fed one by one by a separation roller 18 serving as a separation unit, and then is conveyed to a registration roller 9 which is temporarily stopped by a conveyance roller 19.

  When the leading end of the sheet P comes into contact with the nip portion of the registration roller 9 that has stopped once, the skew is corrected by the stiffness of the sheet P. Thereafter, the sheet P is temporarily held by the registration rollers 9 and stopped and waits for synchronizing an image forming operation described later and conveyance of the sheet P.

  On the other hand, in accordance with the received image signal, the controller 56 exposes the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 charged to a constant potential by the operation of the charging roller 2 by the scanning optical device 300 to form an electrostatic latent image. The developing device 4 is a developing unit that supplies a developer to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 and visualizes the electrostatic latent image as a toner image. For each station, yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, and black BK are provided. Of each color toner image is developed. As described above, the electrostatic latent images formed on the surfaces of the respective photosensitive drums 1 are developed as monochromatic toner images by the operation of the respective developing devices 4.

  A cleaning device 23 having each photosensitive drum 1, a charging roller 2, a developing device 4, and a cleaning blade 6 serving as a cleaning unit for removing residual toner remaining on the surface of each photosensitive drum 1 after the primary transfer is integrally formed with a cartridge. 39. The cartridge 39 is detachably attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus 3.

  The outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 500 is in contact with the surface of each photosensitive drum 1 and rotates in a counterclockwise direction indicated by an arrow e in FIG. 17 in synchronization with the rotation of each photosensitive drum 1 during color image formation. . The monochromatic toner image developed on the surface of each photosensitive drum 1 is sequentially transferred (primary transfer) onto the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 500 by the action of the primary transfer bias applied to the primary transfer roller 504, and the intermediate transfer belt A multicolor toner image is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the toner image 500. Thereafter, the multicolor toner image primarily transferred onto the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 500 is formed at a secondary transfer portion formed at a nip portion between the driving roller 501 and the secondary transfer roller 505 via the intermediate transfer belt 500. Transported to

  At the same time, the sheet P which has been waiting while being held by the registration roller 9 is nipped and conveyed by the registration roller 9 to perform secondary transfer while synchronizing with the multicolor toner image on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 500. Reach the department. Then, the multicolor toner image on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 500 is secondarily transferred to the sheet P collectively by the action of the secondary transfer bias applied to the secondary transfer roller 505.

  The fixing device 12 melts and fixes the transferred multicolor toner image while conveying the sheet P. The fixing device 12 includes a fixing roller 12a for heating the sheet P on which the multicolor toner image has been secondarily transferred, and a pressing roller 12b for pressing the sheet P against the fixing roller 12a. The fixing roller 12a and the pressure roller 12b are formed in a hollow shape, and have heaters 12ah and 12bh built therein, respectively.

  The sheet P carrying the multicolor toner image is heated and pressed in the process of being nipped and conveyed by the fixing roller 12a and the pressure roller 12b, so that the multicolor toner image is melted by heat and adhered to the surface of the sheet P. Heat-fixed. The sheet P on which the toner image has been thermally fixed is discharged onto the discharge tray 16 by the discharge roller 13, and the image forming operation is completed. Alternatively, when an image is formed on the second surface of the sheet P, the discharge roller 13 rotates in the reverse direction while the sheet P is held between the discharge rollers 13. As a result, the rear end of the sheet P is replaced with the front end and is guided to the double-sided conveying path 20, and is switched back (turned back and conveyed) at the discharge section.

  When an image is formed on the second side of the sheet P, the sheet P holding the multicolor toner image on the first side (one side) is switched to the first side via the double-sided conveyance path 20 by a switchback operation in the discharge unit. The color of the fixed toner image is measured by the colorimeter 150. Thereafter, the front and back surfaces are inverted, and once again sandwiched between the registration rollers 9 to stop and wait.

  Thereafter, the above-described series of image forming operations is performed, and an image is formed on the second side of the sheet P. The cleaning blade 48 serving as a cleaning unit is for cleaning the transfer residual toner remaining on the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 500. The transfer residual toner scraped and collected from the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate transfer belt 500 by the cleaning blade 48 is stored in the cleaner container 49 as waste toner.

  As shown in FIG. 17, the colorimetric device 150 of the present embodiment measures the toner patch (colorimetric patch) image formed on the sheet P as the colorimetric material in the duplex conveying path 20. At the center in the longitudinal direction (the direction of the rotation axis of the photosensitive drum 1). Here, the longitudinal direction in the two-sided conveyance path 20 refers to a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction on the image forming surface of the sheet P conveyed in the two-sided conveyance path 20 (the rotation axis direction of the photosensitive drum 1).

  In the image forming apparatus 3 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 17, the control unit 55 provided in the main body of the image forming apparatus 3 controls the image forming conditions of each image forming unit based on the colorimetric result by the colorimetric device 150. Has been adjusted. The adjustment of the image forming conditions includes the correction of image data, the amount of exposure light of the scanning optical device 300, the developing bias applied to the developing roller 22 provided in the developing device 4, and the application to the primary transfer roller 504 and the secondary transfer roller 505. Adjustment of the transfer bias and the like.

  Next, the configuration of the colorimetric device 150 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a configuration around an illumination optical element 203 serving as an illumination optical member provided in the colorimetric device 150. FIG. 3A is a perspective explanatory view showing the configuration of the colorimetric device 150 from which the cover 209 made of the light shielding member shown in FIG. 3B is removed. FIG. 3B is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of the colorimetric device 150.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the colorimetric device 150 includes a light source 202 in a housing 201 formed of a light blocking member. Further, there is provided an illumination optical element 203 for guiding the light beam 202a from the light source 202 onto the color patch image 210 (on the surface to be measured) fixed on the surface of the sheet P to be the surface to be measured.

  Further, a light guide optical element 204 serving as a light guide optical member that guides the detection light beam 14 serving as reflected light from the color patch image 210 serving as a test surface, and a slit 205a illustrated in FIG. 3A are formed. And a slit member 205. Further, a spectroscopic optical member 206 for dispersing the detected light beam 14 which is a light beam incident from the light guide optical element 204 is housed.

  The illumination optical element 203, the light guide optical element 204, and the spectral optical member 206 of the present embodiment are positioned with respect to the housing 201 in a state where they abut a positioning portion provided on the housing 201, and are fixed in that state. ing. As shown in FIG. 3A, the light receiving element 207 that receives and detects the detected light beam 14 that becomes the light beam split by the spectral optical member 206 is positioned and fixed by abutting the outside of the side surface 201 b of the housing 201. Have been.

  An opening window 201a composed of a through hole shown in FIG. 6A is formed on a side surface 201b of the housing 201, and a light receiving surface 207a of the light receiving element 207 is accommodated in the opening window 201a. The light receiving element 207 is configured to be position-adjustable along the side surface 201b of the housing 201.

  As shown in FIG. 3B, a cover 209 including a light blocking member that covers the opening side of the housing 201 is attached to the colorimetric device 150. The cover 209 is provided with an opening 209a formed of a through hole at a position facing the emission surface 203g of the illumination optical element 203 and the anamorphic surface 204a of the light guide optical element 204, and the opening 209a is transparent. The cover glass 208 is attached.

  The light source 202 is configured by an LED (Light Emitting Diode), which is generally called a surface mount type (Top View type), and is mounted on an electric board 211 configured by a light shielding member. The light distribution angle characteristic of the LED of the light source 202 is such that the amount of light in the direction of the surface normal Q of the emission surface 202b of the light source 202 becomes maximum, and the amount of light gradually decreases as the inclination angle from the surface normal Q increases. Go. Therefore, the light beam 202a having the highest intensity is incident on the incident surface 203a of the illumination optical element 203 located immediately above the surface normal Q of the emission surface 202b of the light source 202.

  The illumination optical element 203 of the present embodiment is formed of an acrylic resin. The illumination optical element 203 has an incident surface 203a on which a light beam 202a from the light source 202 is refracted. Further, it has a total reflection surface 203i that totally reflects the light beam 202a incident from the incident surface 203a. Further, of the light beam 202a incident from the incident surface 203a, there is provided an emission surface 203g that refracts and emits a transmitted light 202a1 directly transmitted through the illumination optical element 203 and a reflected light 202a2 totally reflected by the total reflection surface 203i. are doing.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a light beam 202 a with a radiation angle θ1 emitted from a light source 202 is taken in an incident surface 203 a of an illumination optical element 203. Then, a light beam 202a composed of a transmitted light 202a1 refracted from the incident surface 203a and directly transmitted through the illumination optical element 203 and a reflected light 202a2 totally reflected by the total reflection surface 203i is refracted and emitted from the emission surface 203g. . Then, the light beam 202a is applied as illumination light to the color patch image 210 on the sheet P serving as a surface to be inspected.

  In order to ensure the illumination light for the color patch image 210 with high accuracy, the positioning accuracy of the illumination optical element 203 with respect to the housing 201 and the positioning accuracy of the light source 202 with respect to the illumination optical element 203 are required. The light beam 14 to be detected, which is reflected light from the color patch image 210 shown in FIG. 2, is guided to the slit 205a of the slit member 205 shown in FIG.

  The light guide optical element 204 is also formed of acrylic resin. The light guiding optical element 204 has an anamorphic surface 204a having a light condensing action in a direction parallel to the spectral direction. Further, it has a function of bending the detected light beam 14 in a direction parallel to the color patch image 210 serving as a surface to be detected. As a result, the detected light beam 14 forms a substantially linear image on the slit 205a of the slit member 205.

  The light beam 14 to be detected that has passed through the slit 205a of the slit member 205 is separated by the spectral optical member 206, which is a concave reflection type diffraction grating, and then a slit image is formed on the light receiving element 207 for each wavelength. The spectral optical member 206 is formed by depositing a reflective film of aluminum or the like and a reflective film of SiO2 or the like on a resin optical element manufactured by injection molding.

  The light receiving element 207 that receives the detected light beam 14 split by the spectral optical member 206 is configured by arranging a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements such as a plurality of Si (silicon) photodiodes in the spectral direction in an array (alignment). Hereinafter, the individual elements arranged in an array on the light receiving element 207 are referred to as pixels.

  Slit images split on each pixel of the light receiving element 207 arranged in an array are condensed, and the signal detected by each pixel includes the spectral characteristic of the light source 202 and the spectral sensitivity characteristic of the light receiving element 207. The color tone of the detected light beam 14 is calculated by performing the correction and the signal processing.

  The disturbance light D incident on the light receiving element 207 from outside becomes noise and deteriorates the original colorimetric accuracy of the detected light flux 14. Therefore, the light receiving element 207 comes into contact with the side surface 201b of the housing 201 in a state where the light receiving surface 207a is accommodated in the opening window 201a provided through the side surface 201b of the housing 201 shown in FIG. Fixed. As a result, as shown in FIG. 6B, it is difficult to receive the disturbance light D entering the light receiving element 207 from outside.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3B, an opening window 209 a formed of a through hole is provided in a part of the cover 209. A transparent cover glass 208 is attached to the opening window 209a. The optical path of the light beam 202a emitted from the emission surface 203g of the illumination optical element 203 to the color patch image 210 is secured by the opening window 209a. Further, an optical path for guiding the detected light beam 14 reflected by the light beam 202a to the color patch image 210 to the anamorphic surface 204a of the light guide optical element 204 is secured. The cover glass 208 protects dust and paper dust from entering the housing 201 from the opening window 209a.

<Positioning of light source and illumination optical element>
Next, a description will be given of a configuration for positioning the light source 202 and the illumination optical element 203, which is a technical feature of the present embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C, the holder 203j of the illumination optical element 203 is provided with a rectangular positioning hole 203h into which the rectangular light source 202 is inserted and fitted. The light source 202 is formed by injection molding (injection molding), and has a rectangular outer shape.

  In assembling the light source 202 and the illumination optical element 203, as shown in FIG. 4B, the positioning hole 203h is inserted into a rectangular positioning hole 203h provided in the holder 203j of the illumination optical element 203. A light source 202 having an outer shape of substantially the same shape is inserted and fitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 4B and 4C, the wall surfaces of the rectangular positioning holes 203h corresponding to the rectangular outer shape of the light source 202 are configured as restricting portions 203b to 203f, respectively. Then, the light source 202 is inserted and fitted into the positioning hole 203h until the outer peripheral surface of the light source 202 having a rectangular outer shape comes into contact with each of the regulating portions 203b to 203f formed of the wall surface of the positioning hole 203h.

  Thus, the position of the light source 202 with respect to the illumination optical element 203 is regulated in the emission direction (the direction of the arrow Z) of the light beam 202a emitted from the emission surface 202b of the light source 202. Further, the position of the light source 202 with respect to the illumination optical element 203 is restricted in four directions (arrows X and Y directions and directions opposite thereto) orthogonal to the emission direction (arrow Z direction).

  The relative positions of the light source 202 and the illumination optical element 203 can be positioned with high precision by the restriction portions 203b to 203f formed of the wall surfaces of the positioning holes 203h provided in the holder 203j of the illumination optical element 203. As a result, the light beam 202a emitted from the emission surface 202b of the light source 202 is taken in from the incidence surface 203a of the illumination optical element 203, and the light beam 202a emitted from the emission surface 203g irradiates a desired position of the color patch image 210 with high accuracy. Is done.

<Regulatory Department>
Next, the configuration of the restriction portions 203b to 203f formed by the wall surfaces of the positioning holes 203h provided in the illumination optical element 203 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4C is a bottom view of the illumination optical element 203 viewed from the lower surface side. As shown in FIG. 4C, the positioning hole 203h has regulating portions 203b and 203c formed of wall surfaces that regulate the movement of the light source 202 in the direction indicated by the arrow X in FIG. 4C and in the opposite direction.

  Furthermore, there are regulating portions 203d and 203e composed of wall surfaces for regulating the movement of the light source 202 in the direction of arrow Y shown in FIG. Further, it has a restricting portion 203f formed of a wall surface for restricting the movement of the light source 202 in the direction of arrow Z shown in FIG. 4B.

  The light source 202 having a rectangular outer shape that is inserted and fitted into a rectangular positioning hole 203h provided in the holder 203j of the illumination optical element 203 is as follows. Positioning is performed with respect to the illumination optical element 203 by regulating portions 203b to 203f formed of the wall surfaces of the positioning holes 203h shown in FIGS.

  In the present embodiment, the dimensions of the positioning holes 203h in the directions of the arrows X and Y shown in FIG. 4C are provided corresponding to the outer dimensions of the light source 202. Thereby, the outer peripheral surfaces of the light source 202 in four directions abut against and fit to the respective walls of the positioning holes 203h in the directions of arrows X and Y shown in FIG.

  When the outer shape tolerance of the light source 202 fluctuates and becomes larger than the size of the positioning hole 203h, the light source 202 is stressed due to interference fit. In order to prevent this, a minute gap may be provided between the dimension of the positioning hole 203h and the outer dimension of the light source 202.

  In the present embodiment, in the direction of arrow Z shown in FIG. 4B, the light source 202 is restricted only on one side (the upper surface in FIG. 4B) by the restricting portion 203f formed by the wall surface of the positioning hole 203h. As a result, the position of the light source 202 is regulated by the illumination optical element 203 in the emission direction of the light beam 202a. However, the light source 202 can restrict only one side (upward in FIG. 4B) in the direction of the arrow Z shown in FIG. 4B only by the restricting portion 203f including the wall surface of the positioning hole 203h of the illumination optical element 203. .

<Poor light source positioning>
Next, the positioning failure of the light source 202 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5A shows that the light source 202 is fitted into the positioning hole 203h in a state where the upper surface 202c of the light source 202 is not in contact with the restricting portion 203f formed by the wall surface of the positioning hole 203h. FIG. 3 is an explanatory cross-sectional view showing a configuration near a light source 202 at that time.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, in the light amount distribution of the light source 202, the light amount decreases as the radiation angle θ1 increases with respect to the direction of the surface normal Q of the emission surface 202b of the light source 202. As shown in FIG. 5A, the upper surface 202c of the light source 202 does not abut on the restricting portion 203f formed by the wall surface of the positioning hole 203h. In this state, the light source 202 is fitted into the positioning hole 203h, and the light source 202 is moved from the incident surface 203a of the illumination optical element 203 in a direction opposite to the arrow Z direction in FIG. 5A (downward in FIG. 5A). Consider if you are far away.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the upper surface 202c of the light source 202 is fitted in a state of being in contact with the restricting portion 203f formed of the wall surface of the positioning hole 203h, and takes in the light beam 202a from the light source 202 at the radiation angle θ1 shown in FIG. On the other hand, in FIG. 5A, the light beam 202a from the light source 202 can be captured only at a radiation angle θ2 (<θ1) smaller than the radiation angle θ1 shown in FIG. As a result, the efficiency of capturing the light flux 202a emitted from the emission surface 202b of the light source 202 is deteriorated.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5B, the upper surface 202c of the light source 202 does not abut on the restricting portion 203f formed by the wall surface of the positioning hole 203h. Further, the surface normal Q of the emission surface 202b of the light source 202 is inclined by an inclination angle θ3 with respect to the surface normal Qs based on the surface normal Q direction of the emission surface 202b of the light source 202 shown in FIG. In this state, the light source 202 is fitted into the positioning hole 203h.

  Then, light with a small radiation angle (light with a large amount of light) emitted from the emission surface 202b of the light source 202 deviates from the incidence surface 203a of the illumination optical element 203. As a result, the efficiency of capturing the light flux 202a emitted from the emission surface 202b of the light source 202 is deteriorated.

  As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the position and direction of the exit surface 202b of the light source 202 with respect to the entrance surface 203a of the illumination optical element 203 in the direction of the arrow Z shown in FIGS. It is shifted from the normal position shown in FIG. Then, the efficiency of taking in the light emitted from the emission surface 202b of the light source 202 deteriorates.

<Positioning of light source>
Next, referring to FIGS. 6 (a) and 6 (b), the positioning structure of the emission surface 202b of the light source 202 with respect to the incidence surface 203a of the illumination optical element 203, and the light source 202 is moved toward the illumination optical element 203 in the emission direction of the light beam 202a. The configuration of the biasing means for biasing will be described.

  FIG. 6A is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of the colorimetric device 150 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 6B is a perspective explanatory view of the colorimetric device 150 of the present embodiment viewed from the bottom side. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, a plate-shaped urging member 212 serving as urging means for urging the light source 202 inserted into the positioning hole 203h of the illumination optical element 203. Is fixed to the bottom of the housing 201.

  The urging member 212 serving as the urging means of the present embodiment includes an urging portion 212a formed of an elastic member. The urging portion 212a made of an elastic member is held by the housing 201 via the urging member 212.

  As shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, locking holes 201d made of through holes are provided on the side surfaces 201b and 201c of the housing 201 of the present embodiment. Then, a locking claw 212b provided on a plate-shaped urging member 212 formed of a light shielding member is inserted into the locking hole 201d and locked. Thus, the urging member 212 is fixed to the bottom of the housing 201. The light source 202 of the present embodiment is mounted on an electric board 211 constituted by a light shielding member as shown in FIG. An electric cable 17 for supplying power and signals to the light source 202 is connected to the electric board 211.

  As shown in FIG. 6B, in a state where the urging member 212 is fixed to the bottom of the housing 201, as shown in FIG. An urging force F for urging the light source 202 in the direction of arrow Z shown in FIG.

  As a result, the upper surface 202c of the light source 202 abuts on the restricting portion 203f formed by the wall surface of the positioning hole 203h of the illumination optical element 203. The light source 202 hits the illumination optical element 203 (illumination optical member) biased by the biasing member 212 serving as the biasing means, and the position in the emission direction of the light beam 202a is determined. Thereby, the position and direction of the light source 202 in the direction of arrow Z shown in FIG. Positioning of the emission surface 202b of the light source 202 with respect to the incidence surface 203a of the illumination optical element 203 in the direction of the arrow Z shown in FIG. 2 is performed. At the same time, the deflection of the emission surface 202b in the surface normal Q direction is suppressed.

  In the colorimetric device 150 according to the present embodiment, the light source 202 inserted into the positioning hole 203h and the light source 202 inserted into the positioning hole 203h, An urging member 212 that urges through the intervening member is provided. Thereby, the relative positional accuracy between the light source 202 and the illumination optical element 203 serving as the illumination optical member can be improved.

  If the relative positional accuracy between the light source 202 and the illumination optical element 203 is reduced and the illumination light is reduced, the required amount of light on the light receiving element 207 may not be able to be secured in a predetermined accumulation time. In order to secure the required light quantity, the accumulation time must be extended to secure the required light quantity. As a result, the colorimetric tact (time) is extended. However, with the configuration as in the present embodiment, it is possible to provide the colorimetric device 150 capable of performing accurate colorimetry with a short colorimetric tact (time).

  Further, even if the accuracy of the relative position between the light source 202 and the illumination optical element 203 is reduced, the entrance surface 203a may be enlarged so as not to lower the efficiency of capturing the light beam 202a on the entrance surface 203a of the illumination optical element 203. . As the incident surface 203a increases, the size of the illumination optical element 203 also increases, and the size of the colorimetric device 150 also increases. When the size of the colorimetric device 150 is increased, when the colorimetric device 150 is provided in the image forming apparatus 3 and used, if the installation space is restricted, it may be a great obstacle.

  However, by adopting the configuration as in the present embodiment, the illumination optical element 203 serving as the illumination optical member having the minimum required size can capture the light beam 202a from the light source 202 with high efficiency. Accordingly, it is possible to secure the amount of illumination light on the color patch image 210 formed on the surface of the sheet P serving as the surface to be inspected.

  Next, a configuration of an image forming apparatus including a colorimetric device according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The same components as those in the first embodiment have the same reference numerals or the same reference numerals, even if the reference numerals are different. FIG. 7 is an explanatory perspective view of the colorimetric device 150 of the present embodiment viewed from the bottom side.

  In the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, an opening window 201 a having a through hole is provided on a side surface 201 b of the casing 201 formed by the light shielding member of the color measuring device 150, on which the light receiving element 207 is provided. Is provided. The outer upper portion of the side surface 201b of the housing 201 on which the light receiving element 207 is provided is covered with a cover 209 made of a light blocking member, but the lower portion is exposed. Accordingly, there is a possibility that disturbance light D from the outside, which is a factor of colorimetric noise, enters the light receiving surface 207a of the light receiving element 207 from the opening window 201a.

  In order to prevent this, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, a plate-shaped urging member 213 formed of a light-shielding member is used to cover substantially the entire housing 201 and cover 209. Was configured to cover the bottom surface. The urging member 213 is configured as urging means for urging the light source 202 toward the illumination optical element 203 serving as an illumination optical member in the emission direction of the light beam 202a. Accordingly, the light receiving element 207 fixed to the outside of the side surface 201b of the housing 201 is also covered by the cover 209 and the urging member 213 formed of the light shielding member. The light receiving element 207 detects and detects the detected light beam 14 which is a light beam split by the spectral optical member 206.

  In the housing 201, a light source 202 and an electric board 211 constituted by a light shielding member on which the light source 202 is mounted are housed. Further, an illumination optical element 203 serving as an illumination optical member for guiding a light beam 202a from the light source 202 onto a color patch image 210 (on the surface to be inspected) formed on the surface of the sheet P as the surface to be inspected. To accommodate. Further, a light-guiding optical element 204 serving as a light-guiding optical member that guides the detected light flux 14 that becomes reflected light from the color patch image 210, and a detected light flux that becomes a light flux incident from the light-guiding optical element 204 And a spectroscopic optical member 206 for dispersing the light.

  A locking hole 201d made of a through hole is provided in the side surface 201e and the leg portion 201f of the housing 201, and a locking claw 213b provided on the plate-shaped urging member 213 is inserted into the locking hole 201d. And locked. Thereby, the urging member 213 is held by the housing 201. The urging member 213 of the present embodiment is fixed over the housing 201 and the bottom of the cover 209. The plate-shaped urging member 213 is formed of a light-blocking member, and covers the exposed portion of the light receiving element 207.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the urging member 213 is fixed over the bottom of each of the housing 201 and the cover 209. Then, similarly to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the light source 202 is urged in the direction of the arrow Z shown in FIG. 2 by the urging portion 213a formed of the elastic member of the urging member 213 via the electric board 211. Is given.

  As a result, the upper surface 202c of the light source 202 abuts on the restricting portion 203f formed by the wall surface of the positioning hole 203h of the illumination optical element 203. Thereby, the position and direction of the light source 202 in the direction of arrow Z shown in FIG. Thus, the position of the emission surface 202b of the light source 202 with respect to the incidence surface 203a of the illumination optical element 203 in the direction of the arrow Z shown in FIG. 2 is performed. Further, it is possible to suppress the deflection of the emission surface 202b in the direction of the surface normal Q.

  In the present embodiment, the plate-shaped urging member 213 formed of a light shielding member is inserted and fitted into the positioning hole 203h of the illumination optical element 203 via the electric board 211 by the urging portion 213a formed of an elastic member. The illuminated light source 202 is urged in the direction of arrow Z shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 6B, it is possible to suppress the intrusion of disturbance light D entering the light receiving element 207 from the outside. This makes it possible to configure the colorimetric device 150 with less colorimetric noise caused by disturbance light D entering the light receiving element 207 from outside. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the same effects can be obtained.

  Next, a configuration of an image forming apparatus including a colorimetric device according to a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the same components as those in the above-described embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals or the same reference numerals even if the reference numerals are different, and the description is omitted. FIG. 8A is an explanatory perspective view of the colorimetric device 150 of the present embodiment viewed from the bottom side. FIG. 8B is an explanatory cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of the colorimetric device 150 according to the present embodiment.

  In each of the above embodiments, the plate-like urging members 212 and 213 having the urging portions 212 a and 213 a formed of elastic members for urging the light source 202 in the arrow Z direction shown in FIG. It was fixed to the bottom side. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, an elastic portion 251a that protrudes with a cantilever toward the inside of the leg portion 251b of the housing 251 formed of a light shielding member is provided. The biasing means for biasing the light source 202 toward the illumination optical element 203 serving as an illumination optical member in the emission direction of the light beam 202a is configured by an elastic portion 251a provided integrally with the housing 251.

  The light source 202 inserted and fitted into the positioning hole 203h of the illumination optical element 203 by the elastic force of the elastic part 251a with the electric board 211 formed of a light shielding member interposed therebetween in the direction of the arrow Z shown in FIG. ) In the upward direction). Other configurations are configured in the same manner as the above embodiments, and the same effects can be obtained.

  Next, a configuration of an image forming apparatus including a colorimetric device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. In addition, the same components as those in the above-described embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals or the same reference numerals even if the reference numerals are different, and the description is omitted. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of the colorimetric device 160 of the present embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the light flux 202a from the light source 202 in the colorimeter 160 shown in FIG. 9 is guided onto a color patch image 210 (on the surface to be measured) formed on the surface of the sheet P to be the surface to be measured. An illumination optical element 303 serving as an illumination optical member is provided. Further, it has an electric board 311 constituted by a light shielding member on which the light source 202 is mounted. Further, a housing 301 including a light source 202, an illumination optical element 303, a light guide optical element 204 serving as a light guide optical member, and a light shielding member that accommodates the spectral optical member 206 is provided. The other parts have the same shape and function as those of the above-described embodiments, and therefore, are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will be omitted.

  Next, the configuration of the illumination optical element 303, which is a technical feature of the present embodiment, will be described. FIG. 10A is a perspective explanatory view showing the configuration of the illumination optical element 303. FIG. 10B is an explanatory bottom view showing the configuration of a rectangular positioning hole 303h provided in the illumination optical element 303 and into which the light source 202 is inserted. FIG. 10C is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing a configuration in which the light source 202 is inserted and fitted into a positioning hole 303h provided in the illumination optical element 303.

  In each of the above embodiments, as shown in FIG. 4B, only the light source 202 is fixed to the electric board 211, and the illumination optical element 203 and the electric board 211 are separated. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10C, both the light source 202 and the illumination optical element 303 are fixed to an electric board 311 composed of a light shielding member. The electric board 311 of the present embodiment is held by an illumination optical element 303 serving as an illumination optical member.

  As shown in FIG. 10B, the positioning hole 303h provided in the illumination optical element 303 is formed of a wall surface that regulates the movement of the light source 202 in the direction of the arrow X shown in FIG. 10B and in the opposite direction. It has regulating parts 303b and 303c. Further, there are regulating portions 303d and 303e composed of wall surfaces for regulating the movement of the light source 202 in the direction of the arrow Y shown in FIG. 10B and the opposite direction. Further, it has a regulating portion 303f composed of a wall surface that regulates the movement of the light source 202 in the direction of arrow Z shown in FIG. 10C.

  Accordingly, in addition to the emission direction (arrow Z direction) of the light beam 202a of the light source 202, four directions (arrow X and Y directions and directions opposite thereto) orthogonal to the emission direction (arrow Z direction) of the light beam 202a of the light source 202. Have regulating portions 303b to 303f for regulating the position of the light source 202. When the upper surface 202c of the light source 202 abuts on the restricting portion 303f formed of the wall surface of the positioning hole 303h provided in the illumination optical element 303, the light source 202 is turned on by the illumination optical element 303 that becomes an illumination optical member in the emission direction of the light beam 202a. Position is regulated.

  As shown in FIGS. 10B and 10C, also in the present embodiment, four side surfaces of the light source 202 are applied by regulating portions 303 b to 303 e formed by the wall surfaces of positioning holes 303 h provided in the illumination optical element 303. Regulate position. The four side surfaces of the light source 202 are in directions indicated by arrows X and Y shown in FIG. In the direction of arrow Z shown in FIG. 10C, the upper surface 202c of the light source 202 is brought into contact with the regulating portion 303f to regulate the position of the emission surface 202b only in the upward direction of FIG.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10C, not only the light source 202 but also the illumination optical element 303 are fixed to the electric board 311. A fixing portion 303k protruding downward is provided on the lower surface of the holder portion 303j in which the positioning hole 303h of the illumination optical element 303 is formed.

  As shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B, the fixing portion 303k has a straight column shape when the illumination optical element 303 is a single component. As shown in FIG. 10C, the light source 202 fixed in advance to the electric board 311 is inserted and fitted into a positioning hole 303h provided in the illumination optical element 303. Further, the columnar fixing portion 303k provided on the holder portion 303j of the illumination optical element 303 is inserted into a through hole 311a penetrating the electric board 311. Thereafter, as shown in a fixing portion 303k shown on the left side of FIG. 10C, the tip portion 303k1 is thermally caulked to fix the illumination optical element 303 to the electric board 311.

  In the illumination optical element 303, even if the dimensional accuracy of the light source 202 and the illumination optical element 303 fluctuates, the upper surface 202c of the light source 202 and the regulating portion 303f formed by the wall surface of the positioning hole 303h surely come into contact with each other. Therefore, a predetermined gap G is provided between the bottom surface 303j1 of the holder portion 303j and the upper surface 311b of the electric board 311 and fixed.

  Further, as shown on the left side of FIG. 10C, the distal end portion 303k1 of the fixing portion 303k of the holder portion 303j of the illumination optical element 303 is heat caulked to fix the illumination optical element 303 to the electric board 311. Then, there is a possibility that rattling may occur in the arrow Z direction shown in FIG. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 9, the light source 202 is moved through the electric board 311 by an urging portion 212a formed of an elastic member provided on a plate-shaped urging member 212 as an urging means, as shown in FIG. ) In the direction of arrow Z.

  The urging member 212 serving as the urging means of the present embodiment includes an urging portion 212a formed of an elastic member. The urging portion 212a made of an elastic member is held by the housing 301 via the urging member 212.

As shown in FIG. 9, the side surface 3 01c of the housing 301 of the present embodiment, locking holes 301d are provided a through hole. Then, a locking claw 212b provided on a plate-shaped urging member 212 constituted by a light blocking member is inserted into the locking hole 301d and locked. Thus, the urging member 212 is fixed to the bottom of the housing 301. As shown in FIG. 9, an opening window 301 a formed of a through hole for accommodating the light receiving surface 207 a of the light receiving element 207 is formed on a side surface 301 b of the housing 301.

  The light source 202 of this embodiment is mounted on an electric board 311 as shown in FIG. The electric board 311 is held by a fixing portion 303k provided on an illumination optical element 303 serving as an illumination optical member. As shown in FIG. 9, the urging member 212 is fixed to the bottom of the housing 301. In this state, similarly to the first embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the light source 202 is moved by the arrow Z shown in FIG. An urging force F for urging in the direction is given.

  As a result, the upper surface 202c of the light source 202 abuts on the regulating portion 303f formed by the wall surface of the positioning hole 303h of the illumination optical element 303. Thus, the position and direction of the light source 202 in the direction of arrow Z shown in FIG. Thus, the position of the emission surface 202b of the light source 202 with respect to the incidence surface 303a of the illumination optical element 303 in the direction of the arrow Z shown in FIG. Furthermore, the deflection of the emission surface 202b in the direction of the surface normal Q is suppressed. Note that 303i shown in FIGS. 9 and 10A is a total reflection surface, and 303g is an emission surface.

  In the present embodiment, it is easy to confirm the relative position between the illumination optical element 303 and the light source 202. In the first embodiment shown in FIG. 6A, when confirming the relative position between the illumination optical element 203 and the light source 202, the illumination optical element 203 and the light source 202 are mounted on a housing 201 formed of a light shielding member. It will be visually checked in the attached state. For this reason, various components hinder visual confirmation, and it is difficult to visually confirm the relative position between the illumination optical element 203 and the light source 202.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10 (c), the electrical substrate 311, a light source 202, mount the illumination optical element 303 to the housing 3 01. Before that, the position of the illumination optical element 303 and the light source 202 can be regulated with only the electric board 311, the light source 202 and the illumination optical element 303. This makes it easy to visually check the relative position between the light source 202 and the illumination optical element 303, and is unlikely to cause a defect such as an assembly error. Other configurations are configured in the same manner as the above embodiments, and the same effects can be obtained.

  Next, a configuration of an image forming apparatus including a colorimetric device according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In the meantime, the same components as those in the above-described embodiments are given the same reference numerals or the same reference numerals even if the reference numerals are different, and the description is omitted. FIG. 11A is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of the illumination optical element 315 of the present embodiment. FIG. 11B is an explanatory sectional view showing a configuration in which the light source 202 is inserted and fitted into a positioning hole 315 h provided in the illumination optical element 315.

  In the present embodiment, the light beam 202a from the light source 202 shown in FIG. 11B is applied to the color patch image 210 formed on the surface of the sheet P serving as the test surface by the illumination optical element 315 serving as the illumination optical member. Light is guided on the inspection surface). The holder 315j of the illumination optical element 315 is provided with an elastic part 315m made of a cantilever.

  As shown in FIG. 11A, an elastic portion 315m provided integrally with the illumination optical element 315 biases the light source 202 against the illumination optical element 315 in the emission direction of the light beam 202a (the direction of the arrow Z). It is configured as an urging means. The electric board 316 constituted by the light shielding member on which the light source 202 is mounted is urged by the elastic force of the elastic portion 315m with the urging force F2 in the arrow Z direction shown in FIG. 11B.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11B, the illumination optical element 315 is fixed to the electric board 316 by the urging force F2 of the elastic portion 315m. Further, the light source 202 provided in the illumination optical element 315 and inserted and fitted into a rectangular positioning hole 315h into which the light source 202 having a rectangular outer shape is inserted is moved in the direction of the arrow Z shown in FIG. Energize to.

  In addition to the emission direction (arrow Z direction) of the light beam 202a of the light source 202 and four orthogonal to the emission direction of the light beam 202a (arrow Z direction) of the light source 202 by the regulating portions 315b to 315f formed by the wall surface of the positioning hole 315h. The position of the light source 202 can be regulated in the direction. The position of the light source 202 is regulated by the illumination optical element 315 in the emission direction of the light beam 202a (the direction of the arrow Z).

  In the present embodiment, since a plate-shaped urging member 212 as shown in FIG. 9 is not required, a simple configuration can be achieved. Note that 315a shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B is an incident surface, 315i is a total reflection surface, and 315g is an emission surface. Other configurations are configured in the same manner as the above embodiments, and the same effects can be obtained.

  Next, a configuration of an image forming apparatus including a colorimetric device according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In the meantime, the same components as those in the above-described embodiments are given the same reference numerals or the same reference numerals even if the reference numerals are different, and the description is omitted. FIG. 12A is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of the colorimetric device 400 according to the present embodiment in a state where a cover 209 formed of a light blocking member is removed. FIG. 12B is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of an electric board 411 including a light shielding member on which the light source 202 and the light receiving element 207 of the present embodiment are mounted.

  FIG. 13A is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of the light guide 403 of the present embodiment. The light guide 403 is provided with an illumination optical member that guides the light beam 202a from the light source 202 onto the color patch image 210 (on the surface to be inspected) formed on the surface of the sheet P to be the surface to be inspected. Further, a light guiding optical member that guides the detected light beam 14 that is reflected light from the color patch image 210 is integrally formed. FIG. 13B is a bottom view illustrating the configuration of the light guide 403 of the present embodiment. FIG. 14 is an explanatory sectional view showing the configuration of the colorimetric device 400 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 15 is an exploded perspective view showing how the colorimetric device 400 according to the present embodiment is assembled. FIG. 16 is a partial plan view showing the configuration near the light guide 403 of the present embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, an opening window 401a formed of a through hole is formed on a side surface 401b of a housing 401 formed of a light shielding member. Further, as shown in FIGS. 12B and 15, the light source 202 and the light receiving element 207 are mounted on the electric board 411. Further, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 13A, 13B and 14, a light guide 403 in which an illumination optical member and a light guide optical member are integrated is provided.

  The light receiving element 207 receives and detects the detected light beam 14 that is a light beam split by the spectral optical member 206 that splits the detected light beam 14 that is a light beam incident from the light guide optical member of the light guide 403. As a result, the number of components of the entire colorimetric device 400 can be reduced to reduce costs and simplify the assembling process.

<Light path>
Next, an optical path of the colorimetric device 400 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 14, an electric board 411 is mounted on a side surface 401 b of a housing 401 that houses the light source 202, the light guide 403, and the spectral optical member 206. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14, the light beam 202a emitted from the emission surface 202b of the light source 202 provided on the electric board 411 has a direction opposite to the direction of the arrow Y shown in FIG. The light is emitted in the right direction in FIG.

  Thereafter, the light enters the light guide 403 from the incident surface 403a shown in FIGS. 13A, 13B and 14 and passes through the light guide 403. Thereafter, the light beam 202a is reflected upward by the reflecting surface 403b shown in FIGS. 13B and 14 and is irradiated onto the color patch image 210 formed on the surface of the sheet P serving as the detection surface.

  Further, the detected light flux 14 that has reflected the color patch image 210 is again incident on the anamorphic surface 403e having a light condensing action in a direction parallel to the spectral direction of the light guide 403, and is guided inside the light guide 403. . Thereafter, the light is received by the light receiving surface 207a of the light receiving element 207 mounted on the electric substrate 411 from the opening window 401a provided on the side surface 401b of the housing 401 through the slit 205a of the slit member 205 and the spectral optical member 206 shown in FIG. Is done.

<Assembly procedure>
Next, a procedure for assembling the light guide 403 and the electric board 411 to the housing 401 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 15, first, the light guide 403 is positioned and fixed on the support portion 401c provided on the housing 401. Pin-shaped convex portions 403c and 403d are provided on the lower surface of the fixed portion 403n of the light guide 403. The convex portions 403c and 403d provided on the lower surfaces of the fixing portions 403n and 403m of the light guide 403 are inserted and fitted into holes 401c1 and 401c2 provided in the support portion 401c of the housing 401, and are fitted. The position with respect to the housing 401 is determined and fixed.

  In the light guide 403 of the present embodiment, the illumination optical member and the light guide optical member are integrally formed. The displacement of the light guide 403 leads to the displacement with respect to the color patch image 210 formed on the surface of the sheet P to be the test surface shown in FIG. Therefore, it is important to suppress the displacement of the light guide 403.

  Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 15, the electric board 411 on which the light source 202 and the light receiving element 207 are mounted in advance is attached to the outside of the side surface 401b of the housing 401. Screws (not shown) provided on fixing portions 401d1 and 401d2 provided on the housing 401 by inserting screws 415 and 416 serving as fixing members into through holes 411a and 411b provided near the light receiving element 207 of the electric board 411. Screw into the hole. Thus, the electric board 411 is fixed to the outside of the side surface 401b of the housing 401.

  At that time, as shown in FIG. 16, the electric board 411 is elastically deformed and bent in the direction of arrow A shown by the broken line in FIG. As a result, the light source 202 provided so as to protrude from the back surface 411c of the electric board 411 is urged toward the incident surface 403a side of the light guide 403 by the restoring force (elastic force) of the electric board 411 to come into contact therewith.

  The light source 202 is urged against the illumination optical member portion of the light guide 403 in the emission direction of the light beam 202a (to the right in FIG. 16) by the restoring force due to the elastic deformation of the electric board 411 serving as an elastic member. I do. The electric board 411 serving as the urging means is configured as an elastic member held by the housing 401.

  Thus, the position of the light source 202 is regulated by the illumination optical member of the light guide 403 in the emission direction of the light beam 202a (to the right in FIG. 16). Thus, the position of the light beam 202a on the light-emitting surface 202b of the light source 202 in the light-emitting direction (the direction opposite to the arrow Y direction in FIG. 14) can be determined with high accuracy.

  In addition, it is necessary to suppress the relative displacement between the light source 202 and the light guide 403 and also suppress the relative displacement between the light receiving element 207 and the spectral optical member 206. Therefore, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 15, the positions of the screws 415 and 416 for fixing the electric board 411 outside the side surface 401b of the housing 401 are arranged near the light receiving element 207.

  Thereby, the bending of the electric board 411 shown in FIG. 16 in the direction of arrow A shown by the broken line in FIG. 16 is suppressed by the fixing of the screw 415, so that the bending in the direction of arrow A near the light receiving element 207 does not occur. Thus, the relative position between the spectral optical member 206 and the light receiving element 207 is maintained.

  The light receiving element 207 which is a light shielding member and protrudes toward the back surface 411c of the electric board 411 serving as an elastic member is accommodated in a concave portion 401b1 provided on the surface of the side surface 401b of the housing 401. The light receiving surface 207a of the light receiving element 207 is accommodated in an opening window 401a provided through the side surface 401b of the housing 401. The exposed part of the light receiving element 207 is closed by the electric board 411.

  In the above embodiments, the light source 202 is constantly pressed toward the illumination optical elements 203, 303, and 315 via the electric boards 211, 311 and 316 by the urging portions 212a and 213a and the elastic portions 251a and 315m. . Therefore, a load is constantly applied to each of the electric boards 211, 311 and 316, the light source 202, and the illumination optical elements 203, 303 and 315.

In the present embodiment, the light source 202 protruding and fixed to the back surface 411c of the electric board 411 is pressed (biased) toward the light guide 403 by the restoring force of the state in which the electric board 411 is bent and elastically deformed, and is constantly pressed. Load is applied. Thus, the position of the light source 202 with respect to the emission direction of the light beam 202a is determined. As shown in FIG. 15, the convex portions 403c and 403d provided on the lower surfaces of the fixed portions 403n and 403m of the light guide 403 are inserted into holes 401c1 and 401c2 provided on the support portion 401c of the housing 401. Fitted and fixed. Therefore, the light guide 403 can receive a load due to the restoring force of the elastically deformed electric board 411 transmitted via the light source 202.

  In the present embodiment, only the positioning of the light beam 202a on the emission surface 202b of the light source 202 in the emission direction (the direction opposite to the arrow Y direction in FIG. 14) is performed by the restoring force of the bent electric board 411. In addition, a rectangular positioning hole is provided at a position where the light source 202 of the light guide 403 faces the light guide 403 as in the above-described embodiments. Then, the rectangular light source 202 is inserted and fitted into the positioning hole. Then, the position of the light source 202 may be regulated in four directions orthogonal to the emission direction of the light beam 202a of the light source 202 (the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow Y in FIG. 14) by the regulating portion formed by the wall surface of the positioning hole. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the same effects can be obtained.

  In each of the above embodiments, an example in which the present invention is applied to an image forming apparatus that forms a color image by an electrophotographic method has been described. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to an image forming apparatus that forms a color image by an inkjet method or the like.

P: Sheet (recording material; surface to be inspected)
202 light source 202a luminous flux 203 illumination optical element (illumination optical member)
212 ... urging member (urging means)

Claims (17)

Light source,
An electric board on which the light source is mounted,
An illumination optical member for guiding the light beam from the light source onto the surface to be inspected,
A light-guiding optical member that guides the reflected light from the test surface,
A spectral optical member for dispersing a light beam incident from the light guiding optical member,
A light-receiving element that receives a light beam split by the spectral optical member,
A housing for housing the illumination optical member, the light guide optical member, and the spectral optical member,
In a colorimetric device having
The light source has an urging means for urging the light source toward the illumination optical member in a light beam emission direction, and the light source is urged by the urging means so that the light source abuts on the illumination optical member and relates to the emission direction. A colorimetric device characterized in that the position is determined.   The colorimeter according to claim 1, further comprising a regulation unit that regulates the position of the light source in four directions orthogonal to the emission direction of the light flux of the light source, in addition to the emission direction of the light flux of the light source. The outer shape of the light source is configured in a square shape,
The colorimetric device according to claim 2, wherein the restricting portion is provided on the illumination optical member, and is configured by a wall surface of a rectangular positioning hole into which the light source is inserted.   The colorimetric device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the illumination optical member and the light guide optical member are integrally formed.   The colorimetric device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the urging unit is configured by an elastic member held by the housing.   The colorimetric device according to claim 5, wherein the elastic member is configured by a light blocking member that blocks an exposed portion of the light receiving element.   The colorimetric device according to claim 1, wherein the electric substrate is held by the illumination optical member.   The colorimeter according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the urging unit is configured by an elastic portion provided integrally with the illumination optical member.   The colorimetric device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the urging unit is configured by an elastic portion provided integrally with the housing.   The device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the urging unit urges the light source toward the illumination optical member in a light-emitting direction by a restoring force due to elastic deformation of the electric board. The colorimetric device as described. Light source,
An electric board on which the light source is mounted,
An illumination optical member for guiding the light beam from the light source onto the surface to be inspected,
A light receiving element for receiving a light beam reflected from the surface to be inspected,
In a colorimetric device having
The colorimetric device according to claim 1, wherein the light source is urged against the electric board to abut on the illumination optical member and determine a position in an emission direction of the light flux. A light-guiding optical member that guides the reflected light from the test surface,
A spectral optical member for dispersing a light beam incident from the light guiding optical member,
A housing for housing the illumination optical member, the light guide optical member, and the spectral optical member,
The colorimetric apparatus according to claim 11, comprising:   13. The light emitting device according to claim 11, further comprising a restricting portion that regulates the position of the light source in four directions orthogonal to the light emitting direction of the light source in addition to the light emitting direction of the light source. Colorimeter. The outer shape of the light source is configured in a square shape,
14. The colorimetric device according to claim 13, wherein the restricting portion is provided on the illumination optical member, and is configured by a wall surface of a rectangular positioning hole into which the light source is inserted. The illumination optical member and a light guiding optical member colorimetry apparatus according to claim 1 2, characterized in that it is formed integrally.   The colorimetric device according to claim 11, wherein the electric board is held by the illumination optical member. A colorimetric device according to any one of claims 1 to 16,
Image forming means for forming an image on a recording material,
Has,
An image forming apparatus, wherein an image on a recording material formed by the image forming means is used as a surface to be measured, and the colorimetry is performed by the colorimeter.

Images