JP2001007959A - Support mechanism for reader and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress degradation in the image quality by providing a 1st support means that couples a support frame of a reader with a support base at one end and a 2nd support means that couples the support frame with a support base so as to vary an interval of the support frame and the support base to the title image forming device. SOLUTION: Support sections 28A, 28B fixed to one end of a support frame 22 and integrated with the support frame 22 respectively interpose an elastic member 400 made of rubber or the like between a frame 311 as a support base and the support sections 28A, 28B and are coupled with the frame 311 by screws 29A, 29B as 1st support means. Support sections 28C, 28D fixed to the other end of the support frame 22 are coupled with the frame 311 by using stepped machine screws 29C, 29D as 2nd support means. Even when the frame 311 is partially moved downward, the support section 28D is skidded at a slide part of the stepped machine screw 29D coupling the support section 28D with the frame 311 at its slide part and the support section 28D is parted from the frame 311 so as to avoid the support frame 22 from being deformed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a support mechanism for a reading device for reading an image on a document and an image forming apparatus having a reading device supported by the supporting mechanism.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present invention. The prior art will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 showing a support mechanism of a conventional reader.

The image forming apparatus includes an automatic document feeder 1, a reading device 2, and an image forming apparatus main body 100. The image forming apparatus main body 100 has a frame 311 having a skeleton thereof. The reading device 2 is fixed on the image forming apparatus main body 100. The reading device 2 has optical systems such as mirrors 232, 241, 242, and a lens 25. These optical systems are fixed to a support frame 22, and the support frame 22 is fixed to a frame 311.

The image forming apparatus main body 100 has an image forming means 3, a recording material storing means 4, a conveying means 5 and a sheet discharging / re-feeding means 6, and a frame 311 forms a skeleton.
Supports the support frame 22 of the reading device 2. The image forming apparatus main body 100 includes four casters 321A, 321B,
It is supported at four corners by 321C and 321D and installed on the floor G.

When the image forming apparatus is installed on the floor G as shown in FIG. 1, if the floor G is formed in a horizontal state, all the four casters 321A, 321B, 321C and 321D are accurately placed on the floor G. And the image forming apparatus can be held in a horizontal state. However, the floor G on which the image forming apparatus is installed may not be horizontal as indicated by G1, and the four casters 321A, 321B, 321C,
All of 321D may not be in contact with the floor surface, and one may be installed in a floating state. Then, the frame 311 may be deformed.

As described above, when the frame 311 of the image forming apparatus main body 100 is deformed, as shown in FIG. 2, the support frame 22 of the reading apparatus 2 is screwed at its four corners by screws 29 at the four corners. Since it is fixed to 311, the support frame 22 of the reading device 2 also deforms according to the deformation of the frame 311.
For example, the result is that the portion of the screw 29Z is displaced from the surface formed by the fixing portions at the other three corners as indicated by L1.

The deformation of the support frame 22 of the reading device 2 causes the optical axis X of the reading optical system to fluctuate. Due to the fluctuation of the optical axis X, reading cannot be performed properly, and as shown in FIG. As a result, the line Y1 of the document parallel to the main scanning direction of the element 26 is formed as an image inclined as Y2. As means for solving such inconvenience caused by the deformation of the frame 311, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-342357, a support frame of a reading device is supported at one end by an urging means and at the other end. A holding mechanism supported by a sliding member has been proposed.

[0008]

According to the proposal of the above-mentioned publication, the problem of inconvenience due to the deformation of the frame of the image forming apparatus main body is solved, but one end of the support frame of the reading apparatus is simply biased. There is a problem that it is difficult to obtain the strength of the holding mechanism because the reading device is held solely by the sliding means. When a strong external force acts on the reading device 2, the sliding support portion may be deformed or broken.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problem in the technique described in the above-mentioned publication, which is a proposal for solving a reading problem caused by deformation of the image forming apparatus main body.

[0010]

The object of the present invention is as follows.
This is achieved by any of the following inventions.

(1) The supporting frame of the reading device having an image sensor, an optical system for forming an image of a document on the image sensor, and a support frame for supporting the image sensor and the optical system, First holding means for connecting to the support base at one end of the support frame, and connecting the support frame to the support base such that the distance between the support frame and the support base is variable at the other end of the support frame. A supporting mechanism for the reading device, comprising:

(2) The support mechanism of the reading device according to the above (1), wherein the first holding means connects the support base and the support frame via an elastic member.

(3) The support mechanism of the reading device according to (1) or (2), wherein the second position holding means is constituted by a stepped screw.

(4) The first holding means couples the support frame to the support base at two points at the one end of the support frame, and the second holding means connects the other end of the support frame to the other end of the support frame. The support mechanism of the reading device according to (1) or (2), wherein the support frame is coupled to the support base at one point at an end.

(5) A reading device having an image sensor, an optical system for forming an image of a document on the image sensor, and a support frame for supporting the image sensor and the optical system, and supporting the support frame. An image forming apparatus main body having a support base, first holding means for holding the support frame on the support base at one end thereof, and between the support frame and the support base at the other end of the support frame; An image forming apparatus comprising: a second holding unit that holds the support frame to the support base so that the interval is variable.

(6) The image forming apparatus according to (5), wherein the first holding unit connects the support base and the support frame via an elastic member.

(7) The image forming apparatus according to (5) or (6), wherein the second holding means is formed of a stepped screw.

(8) The first holding means holds the support frame on the support base at two points at the one end of the support frame, and the second holding means operates the other end of the support frame. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the support frame is held on the support base at one end.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, an automatic document feeder 1 is provided at an upper portion of a copying machine main body, feeds out documents one by one, transports them to an image reading position of the document, and discharges the document after the image reading. . The automatic document feeder 1 feeds a document feeder 11 on which a document is placed, document separating means 12 for separating a document placed on the document feeder 11, and a document separated by the document separating means 12. A document conveying means 13, a document discharging means 14 for discharging the document conveyed by the document conveying means 13, a document discharge table 15 for receiving and placing the document discharged by the document discharging means 14, and a document Document reversing means 1 for reversing the front and back of a document when reading images on both sides of the document
6.

A plurality of originals placed on the original feeding table 11 are separated by the original separating means 12 and conveyed one by one. The document separated and conveyed by the document separating means 12 is conveyed by the document conveying means 13 and is passed through the slit 21 by the reading device 2 provided below.
The image of the document is read. The document from which the image has been read is discharged onto the document discharge table 15 by the document discharge means 14. By the way, when reading images on both sides of the original, the original from which the image has been read is inverted by the original inverting means 16 and the original transport means 1 is again turned on.
3, and the image on the back side of the document is read by the image reading means through the slit 21. Then, the original from which the image on the back side has been read is sent to the original discharging means 1.
4, the document is discharged onto the document discharge table 15. Such a process is repeated as many times as the number of originals placed on the original feeding table 11, and an image of the original is read.

Further, the automatic document feeder 1 is integrally foldable, and when the automatic document feeder 1 is raised to open the platen glass 221, a document is directly placed on the platen glass 221. It is configured so that it can be placed. In this embodiment, a mode for reading an image of a document while the document is conveyed by the document conveying means 13 and a mode for reading an image after the document is stopped on the platen glass 221 are provided.

The reading device 2 is a means for reading an image on a document and obtaining image data, and is provided at an upper portion in the main body of the image forming apparatus. The reading device 2 has a slit 2 formed of transparent glass for reading an image of a document being conveyed by the document conveying means 13 of the automatic document conveying device 1.
1. Platen glass 221 as a document table for placing (statically) placing a document, lamp 231 as a light source for irradiating the document with light, and first mirror 2 for reflecting light reflected from the document
32 and the first mirror unit 23,
V mirror unit 24 integrating second mirror 241 and third mirror 242 that reflect light from mirror 232
And an imaging lens 25 serving as an imaging means for imaging reflected light from a document on the slit 21 or the platen glass 221 on a CCD 26 described later, and a light image formed by the imaging lens 25 is photoelectrically converted. And a line-shaped CCD 26 serving as image reading means for obtaining image information.

When the original document fed by the automatic document feeder 1 is read by the reading device 2, the first mirror unit 23 and the V mirror unit 24 move to the left in FIG. Are located below the slit 21. Then, the document conveyed on the slit 21 by the document conveying means 13 is turned on by a lamp 231.
And the light reflected from the original is reflected by the first mirror 23.
2. The light enters the CCD 26 via the second mirror 241, the third mirror 242, and the imaging lens 25. The CCD 26 photoelectrically converts the incident light to read an image of the document in the main scanning direction (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1). On the other hand, since the document is moved in the sub-scanning direction by the document conveying means 13, The entire image can be read. C
The image information read by the CD 26 is appropriately subjected to image processing and supplied to a laser writing system 33 described later.

When a document is directly placed on the platen glass 221, the first mirror unit 23 and the V mirror unit 24 are moved along the platen glass 221.
In FIG. 1, the image on the document can be read while being moved rightward. In this reading, the first mirror unit 23 moves over almost the entire length of the platen glass 221, and the V mirror unit 24 moves at a half speed of the first mirror unit 23 and a half distance.

The image forming means 3 is a means for forming an image on a recording material conveyed at a predetermined speed based on the image data obtained by the reading device 2. The image forming unit 3 according to the present embodiment forms an image using an electrophotographic process. The image forming unit 3 includes a photosensitive drum 31 which is an image carrier having a photoconductive photosensitive layer and carrying a toner image;
Based on image information read by a charger 32, which is a charging unit for uniformly charging the photosensitive drum 31, and the CCD 26,
A laser writing system 33 serving as image writing means for forming a latent image by exposing and scanning the photosensitive drum 31;
A developing unit 34 that is a developing unit that develops the upper latent image to form a toner image; and a transfer unit that is a transfer unit that transfers the toner image carried on the photosensitive drum 31 onto a separately transported recording material. A separating device 36 as separating means for separating the recording material on which the toner image has been transferred from the photosensitive drum 31;
The cleaning device 37 includes a cleaning unit 37 that removes the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 31 after the transfer, and a fixing unit 38 that fixes the toner image on the recording material. Around the photosensitive drum 31, a charger 32, a laser writing system 33,
A developing unit 34, a transfer unit 35, a separator 36, and a cleaning unit 37 are arranged.

The photosensitive drum 31 is rotated in a direction indicated by an arrow by a driving means (not shown), and is uniformly charged by a charger 32, a latent image is formed by a laser writing system 33, and developed by a developing unit 34. A toner image is formed based on the image information read by the CCD 26.

The recording material storage means 4 is a storage means for storing a plurality of recording materials in a stacked state. In the present embodiment, a plurality of recording material storage means 4A to 4C as the recording material storage means 4 are arranged below the re-feeding means 66 in multiple stages. The recording materials stored in these recording material storage means 4A to 4C include not only recording paper such as plain paper and recycled paper, but also OHT.
Various media are used.

The transport means 5 is a transport means for transporting the recording material from the recording material storage means 4 to the image forming means 3, and transfers the recording material stored in each of the recording material storage means 4A to 4C to an intermediate position. It is configured such that it can be transported to the transport section 5B through the transport rollers 541 to 543.

The latent image formed by the laser writing system 33 is developed by the developing device 34, and the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 31 is conveyed to a transfer position formed by the transfer device 35. Is transferred onto the material. The recording material to which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the surface of the photosensitive drum 31 by the separator 36, and is conveyed to the fixing means 38, where the toner image is fixed to the recording material by the action of heating and pressing. On the other hand, the photosensitive drum 31 on which the toner image has been transferred to the recording material continues to rotate further, and
As a result, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 31 is removed, and is used for the next image formation.

In this embodiment, the photosensitive drum 3
In the vicinity of the photosensitive drum 31 between the photoconductor drum 1 and the registration rollers 56A and 56B, a pre-drum conveyance roller 39 that conveys the recording material sent from the registration rollers 56A and 56B is provided to increase the conveyance force of the recording material. Is making a contribution. Further, between the separator 36 and the fixing means 38, the lower surface side (the side opposite to the image-formed side) of the recording material is supported for conveying the recording material separated by the separator 36, A transport roller (no symbol) and a belt (no symbol) are provided for transport.

The paper discharging / re-feeding means 6 is means for discharging or re-feeding the recording material on which an image has been formed by the image forming means 3 onto the recording material conveyed by the conveying means 5. . The paper discharging / re-feeding means 6 is a fixing discharge roller 6 for discharging the recording material on which the toner image is fixed from the fixing means 38.
1. Switching means 62 for switching the conveyance path between the case where the recording material discharged by the fixing discharge roller 61 is directly discharged to the outside of the apparatus and the case where the recording material is reversed and then discharged or re-fed for forming an image on the rear surface. A paper discharge roller 63 for discharging the recording material out of the machine; a paper discharge tray 64 provided on the side of the copying machine for loading the recording material discharged by the paper discharge roller 63; And a re-feeding means 66 for re-feeding the recording material inverted by the reversing means 65 to the image forming means 3.

When the recording material on which an image is formed is discharged as it is, that is, with the image-formed surface facing upward,
The switching unit 62 is located at a position indicated by a dashed line in FIG.
The sheet is discharged to a sheet discharge tray 64 outside the apparatus. When the recording material on which the image is formed is turned upside down and discharged, that is, when the recording material is discharged with the surface on which the image is formed facing downward, the switching unit 62 is used.
Is positioned at a position shown by a solid line in FIG. 1, and the recording material conveyed by the fixing discharge roller 61 is temporarily turned over by the reversing means 6.
After the recording material has passed through the switching means 62, the conveyance direction is reversed, and the recording material is discharged to a discharge tray 64 outside the apparatus by the discharge rollers 63.

On the other hand, when an image is to be formed on the back surface of the recording material, the switching means 62 is positioned at the position shown by the solid line in FIG.
The sheet is conveyed in the direction of the reversing means 65, and is turned over by performing switchback by the reversing means 65, and is conveyed to the re-feeding means 66. The recording material conveyed to the re-feeding unit 66 is joined to the conveying unit having the loop forming roller 55, and is conveyed to the image forming unit 3 in the same manner as the feeding from the recording material storage unit 4.

In the above, the paper discharge / re-feed means 6 includes:
Conveyance guide plates PL1 to PL4, which are paired conveyance guide members for guiding recording material conveyance, are provided along the conveyance path.

The reading device 2 is provided on the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus, and the support frame 22 of the reading device 2 is fixed to a frame 311 forming the skeleton of the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus.

The image forming apparatus has an automatic document feeder 1, a reading device 2, and a main body 100 of the image forming apparatus. The reading device 2 is fixed on the image forming apparatus main body 100. The reading device 2 has an optical system such as mirrors 232, 241, 242, and a lens 25. The optical system forms an image of a document on a CCD 26 as an image pickup device, and the mirror constituting the optical system includes: The lens is fixed to the support frame 22,
The support frame 22 is fixed to a frame 311 as a support base.

The image forming apparatus main body 100 includes an image forming unit 3, a recording material storage unit 4, a conveying unit 5, a sheet discharging and re-feeding unit 6, and a frame 311 forms a skeleton.
Supports the support frame 22 of the reading device 2. The image forming apparatus main body 100 includes four casters 321A, 321B,
It is supported at four corners by 321C and 321D and installed on the floor G.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the support frame 22, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 4 and 5 show a support mechanism of the reading device 2 according to the embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a support portion 28 fixed to one end of the support frame 22 and integrated with the support frame 22 is provided.
A and 28B are a frame 311 as a support base and a support portion 2
An elastic member 400 such as rubber is interposed between the frame 8A and the frame body 311 and the frame 311 is connected to the frame 311 by screws 29A and 29B as first holding means. On the other hand, the support frame 22
Are fixed to the frame body 311 by stepped screws 29C and 29D as second holding means. That is, it is supported at four points.

FIG. 5 shows four casters 321A, 32
1B, 321C, and 321D do not touch the floor G, for example, one 321D does not touch the floor surface G.
11 shows a case where the deformation has occurred.

As shown in FIG. 5, the support 28D is
When the frame 311 is partially displaced downward by L1 due to the sliding portion 291, the support portion 28D slides on the sliding portion 291 of the stepped screw 29D. The support frame 22 is prevented from moving and moving away from the frame body 311 to be deformed. The elastic member 400 functions as a buffer and absorbs vibrations and the like of the image forming apparatus main body 100, thereby preventing noise during reading.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show another example of the support mechanism of the support frame 22. FIG. In FIG. 6, the support mechanism in the support portions 28A and 28B is the same as the example shown in FIG. In the examples of FIGS. 6 and 7, as the second holding means at the other end of the support frame 22, a support portion 28E is fixed to a substantially central portion of the side of the other end with respect to the end provided with the support portions 28A and 28B. Then, the supporting portion 28E is connected to the frame 311 by screws 29E and supported at three points. An interval L2 is formed between the support frame 22 and the frame body 311. Therefore, as shown in FIG.
2 does not follow the deformation of the frame 311 and the deformation of the support frame 22 is prevented.

[0043]

According to the first or fifth aspect of the present invention, the influence of the deformation of the main body of the image forming apparatus on the reading apparatus is eliminated. In addition, since the coupling strength between the image forming apparatus main body and the reading device is sufficient, deformation and destruction of the coupling portion can be prevented even when an external force is applied.

According to the second or sixth aspect of the present invention, transmission of vibration or the like of the image forming apparatus main body to the reading device is prevented.

According to the third, fourth, seventh, or eighth aspect of the present invention, the deformation of the reading apparatus due to the deformation of the image forming apparatus main body can be prevented by a relatively simple supporting mechanism.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a joint between a support frame of a conventional reading apparatus and a frame of an image forming apparatus main body.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a support frame of the reading device.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a support frame of the reading device in another example of the connection between the reading device and the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line CC in FIG. 6;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 automatic document feeder 2 reading device 3 image forming means 4 recording material storage means 22 support frame 100 image forming apparatus main body 311 frame 400 elastic member X optical axis

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Atsushi Omura 2970 Ishikawa-cho, Hachioji-shi, Tokyo Konica Corporation F-term (reference) 5C062 AA05 AB17 AD06 BA00

Claims (8)

[Claims] An image pickup device, an optical system that forms an image of a document on the image pickup device, and a support frame that supports the image pickup device and the optical system, the support frame of the reading device being one of the First holding means coupled to the support substrate at an end;
And a second holding means for connecting the support frame to the support base so that a distance between the support frame and the support base is variable at the other end of the support frame. Support mechanism. 2. The support mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the first holding unit connects the support base and the support frame via an elastic member. 3. The reading device support mechanism according to claim 1, wherein said second holding means comprises a stepped screw. 4. The first holding means couples the support frame to the support base at two points at the one end of the support frame, and the second holding means connects the other end of the support frame to the other end of the support frame. The support mechanism of the reading device according to claim 1, wherein the support frame is coupled to the support base at one point of the unit. 5. A reading device having an image sensor, an optical system for forming an image of a document on the image sensor, and a support frame for supporting the image sensor and the optical system, and a support for supporting the support frame. An image forming apparatus main body having a base, first holding means for holding the support frame on the support base at one end thereof, and a gap between the support frame and the support base at the other end of the support frame An image forming apparatus comprising: a second holding unit that holds the support frame to the support base so as to make the variable. 6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first holding unit connects the support base and the support frame via an elastic member. 7. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second holding unit is formed of a stepped screw. 8. The first holding means holds the support frame on the support base at two points at the one end of the support frame, and the second holding means operates the other end of the support frame. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the support frame is held on the support base at one point of the unit.