JP2001100138A - Optical scanner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To surely stop the reflected light of a light beam from irradiating a scanned body when an optical surface plate is irradiated with the light beam. SOLUTION: This scanner is equipped with an optical surface plate 85 where a polygon mirror 62, 1st and 2nd fθ lenses 54 and 56, a cylindrical lens 58, and a cylindrical mirror 60 constituting a light beam scanning part 18 are positioned and arranged, and this optical surface plate 85 is provided with a tilt surface 85a, which tilts to a direction orthogonal to the deflection plane of laser light L, at least a wall part irradiated with the laser light L.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an optical scanning device for recording or reading an image by irradiating a light beam emitted from a light source section to a scanned object via a light beam scanning section.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, stimulable phosphors (stimulable phosphors)
There is known a system that once records radiation image information of a subject such as a human body, reproduces the radiation image information on a photographic photosensitive material such as a photographic film, or outputs a visible image on a CRT or the like. I have.

The stimulable phosphor is composed of radiation (X-ray, α-ray, γ
(Rays, electron beams, ultraviolet rays, etc.), a part of this radiation energy is accumulated, and after irradiation with excitation light such as visible light, a phosphor that emits stimulated emission according to the accumulated energy is referred to. This stimulable phosphor is usually used as a stimulable phosphor sheet. In the above system, for example,
While transporting the stimulable phosphor sheet on which the radiation image information of the subject has been once recorded in the sub-scanning direction, the stimulable phosphor sheet is irradiated with excitation light in the main scanning direction (a direction substantially orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction). An optical scanning device that photoelectrically reads the radiation image information is employed.

Further, in the above-described system, in order to reproduce the radiation image information read from the stimulable phosphor sheet into, for example, a photographic film, the photographic film is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction while light is applied to the photographic film. An optical scanning device that irradiates a beam in the main scanning direction is employed.

[0005] This type of optical scanning device includes, for example, a light source 1 for emitting a light beam L and a light source 1 as shown in FIG.
And a light beam scanning unit 2 for deflecting the light beam L emitted from the light source and irradiating the light beam L to a scanning object (not shown). The light beam scanning unit 2 includes a polygon mirror 3, which is a rotating polygon mirror, an fθ lens 4, and a mirror 5 for deflecting the light beam L by approximately 90 °. The light beam scanning unit 2 is positioned and arranged on an optical surface plate 7 provided in a casing 6.

[0006]

However, in the above-described optical scanning device, the light beam L is directly radiated to the optical platen 7 by the polygon mirror 3 or the like, or the light beam L is applied to the fθ lens 4 or the like. And may be reflected on the optical surface plate 7 in some cases. At this time, there is a possibility that the light beam L applied to the optical surface plate 7 is reflected by the vertical wall surface of the optical surface plate 7 and is applied to the mirror 5 as reflected light L1. As a result, a problem has been pointed out that the reflected light L1 is radiated to the object to be scanned, and high-quality image information reading processing and image recording processing are not performed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves this kind of problem, and when a light beam is applied to an optical surface plate, the reflected light is reliably prevented from being applied to the object to be scanned by a simple structure. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical scanning device capable of performing high-quality scanning processing.

[0008]

In the optical scanning device according to the present invention, the optical components constituting the light beam scanning unit are positioned and arranged on the optical surface plate, and the optical surface plate is irradiated at least from the light source unit. A predetermined angle behind the irradiation direction of the light beam with respect to a vertical plane orthogonal to a deflection surface formed by the deflected light beam, on a wall portion on which the light beam is reflected directly or reflected by the optical component. There is an inclined surface that only inclines. For this reason, the light beam applied to the wall of the optical surface plate is reflected by the inclined surface of the wall in a direction crossing the deflection surface, and the reflected light travels on the optical path of the light beam reaching the object to be scanned. There is no. As a result, the object to be scanned
Only a desired light beam is reliably irradiated, and a highly accurate image recording process or image reading process is performed with a simple configuration.

[0009]

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural explanatory view of an optical scanning device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The optical scanning device 10 includes a sub-scanning and conveying means 14 for sub-scanning and conveying a scanning object, for example, a stimulable phosphor sheet 12 in a vertically downward direction (direction of arrow X), and a laser beam (light beam) L. The laser light L emitted from the light source unit 16 and the laser light L emitted from the light source unit 16 are deflected to make the laser light L
Is irradiated in the substantially horizontal direction (arrow Y direction), and a light beam scanning unit 18 that performs main scanning, and stimulable luminescent light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet 12 by irradiating the laser light L is collected. A reading unit 20 that photoelectrically reads the radiation image information carried on the stimulable phosphor sheet 12 is mounted on a unit base 22.

The sub-scanning and conveying means 14 includes first and second roller pairs 2 which are vertically spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance.
4 and 26 are provided. First and second roller pairs 24, 26
Are synchronously driven to rotate via transmission means (not shown) connected to the motor 28.

As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG.
Includes a light source, for example, a semiconductor laser 32 disposed in a light source unit 30 mounted on the unit base 22. In the light source unit 30, a reflection mirror 34 for reflecting a laser beam L emitted downward from the semiconductor laser 32 in a manner inclined upward in the horizontal direction is incorporated, and a side portion of the light source unit 30 includes: The laser beam L reflected by the reflection mirror 34 is applied to the light beam scanning unit 18.
An opening 36 for guiding to the side is formed.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a light beam scanning unit 18 is incorporated in an optical unit 50. The light beam scanning unit 18 includes a polygon assembly 52 and a first
Lenses 54 and 56, a cylindrical lens 58, and a cylindrical mirror 60. The polygon assembly 52 has a polygon mirror 62 and a driver 64, and these are connected by a cable (not shown).

The optical unit 50 has a casing 70 which is an integrally molded resin product. The casing 70 is detachably attached to the unit base 22 via mounting means 72. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the mounting means 72 has positioning pins 74a and 74b fixed to the unit base 22, and is provided on one side of the casing 70 and engages with the positioning pins 74a. It has a notch 76 and a hole 78 formed on the other side of the casing 70 and into which the positioning pin 74b is inserted. On both sides of the casing 70, elongated holes 80a to 80d which are elongated in the vertical direction are formed.
2 are provided with screw holes 82a to 82d,
The casing 70 is fixed to the unit base 22 by screwing the distal ends of the fixing pins 84 inserted into Oa to 80d into the screw holes 82a to 82d.

An optical surface plate 85 is integrally formed with the casing 70. The optical surface plate 85 is provided with a polygon mirror 6 which is an optical component of the light beam scanning unit 18.
2. The first and second fθ lenses 54 and 56, the cylindrical lens 58, and the cylindrical mirror 60 are positioned and arranged (fixed). As shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the optical surface plate 85 is an optical component where at least the laser light L directly or forms the light beam scanning unit 18, for example,
The laser light is reflected on a wall surface irradiated and reflected by the second fθ lenses 54 and 56 and the cylindrical lens 58 with respect to a vertical plane orthogonal to a deflection surface formed by the laser light L reflected and deflected by the polygon mirror 62. An inclined surface 85a that is inclined at a predetermined angle α 後方 behind the irradiation direction of L is provided.

The angle α ゜ is set at an angle of several degrees with respect to the vertical line O. The angle α ゜ of the inclined surface 85a close to the cylindrical mirror 60 is equal to the angle of the inclined surface 85a separated from the cylindrical mirror 60. It is set to a value larger than the angle α ゜. Light L1 reflected from the inclined surface 85a
Is to prevent the cylindrical mirror 60 from being irradiated.

As shown in FIG. 1, a casing 70 includes
A light beam emission port 86 for emitting the laser light L reflected by the cylindrical mirror 60 in the horizontal direction is formed, and a glass window 88 as a light beam transmission window member is attached to the light beam emission port 86. The glass window 88 is formed in a wedge shape having different thicknesses from one end 90a to the other end 90b.

As shown in FIG. 3, an opening 94 for guiding the laser beam L emitted from the light source section 16 to the polygon mirror 62 is formed in a side portion of the casing 70. A cover glass 96 is provided. As shown in FIG. 2, after the polygon cover 98 is disposed on the polygon assembly 52, the casing 70
The optical unit cover 100 is fixed. A groove 102 is formed around the outer periphery of the casing 70, and the optical section cover 100 is pressed against a seal member 104 disposed in the groove 102 to keep the inside of the casing 70 lighttight.

As shown in FIG. 1, the reading section 20 includes a light-collecting guide 110 for collecting stimulated emission light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet 12 by irradiation of the laser light L. Is connected to a photomultiplier 112. A reflection mirror 114 that reflects stimulated emission light to the light-collecting guide 110 is disposed near the tip of the light-collecting guide 110.

The operation of the optical scanning device 10 thus configured will be described below.

The stimulable phosphor sheet 12 on which the radiation image information of the scanning object (not shown) is recorded,
And a pair of first and second rollers 2 which are vertically arranged and driven to rotate under the driving action of a motor 28 constituting
4 and 26, and are conveyed in the sub-scanning direction in the direction of arrow X (vertically downward).

At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, a laser beam L is emitted from a semiconductor laser 32 constituting the light source unit 16,
After the laser beam L once travels vertically downward, it is reflected by the reflection mirror 34 and from the opening 36 of the light source unit 30 to the cover glass 96 through the opening 94 of the casing 70.
Through. Further, the laser light L is transmitted to the polygon mirror 6.
2 and is deflected by the rotation of the polygon mirror 62. The laser light L passes through the first and second fθ lenses 54 and 56 and the cylindrical lens 58 and is irradiated on the cylindrical mirror 60, and is reflected by the cylindrical mirror 60 in the horizontal direction.

For this reason, the laser beam L is transmitted through the glass window 88, is led out of the light beam exit 86 in the direction of arrow Y, and as shown in FIG. The laser light L is applied to the photographing surface of the phosphor sheet 12.
Are irradiated in a substantially horizontal direction, and main scanning is performed.
By the irradiation of the laser beam L, photostimulated light is generated from the photographing surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet 12, and the photostimulated light is condensed via the condensing guide 110, and the photomultiplier 1
12 to read photoelectrically.

In this case, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the polygon mirror 62, the first and second fθ lenses 54 and 56, and the cylindrical mirror 60, which are optical components constituting the light beam scanning unit 18, are provided. Is provided with an inclined surface 85a inclined at a predetermined angle α 角度 with respect to the vertical line O. Therefore, for example, as shown in FIG. 5, the laser light L reflected by the cylindrical lens 58 is applied to the inclined surface 8 of the optical base 85.
When the light 5a is irradiated, the reflected light L1 reflected on the inclined surface 85a travels outside the deflection surface due to the inclination of the inclined surface 85a.

As a result, the reflected light L1 does not leave the optical path of the laser light L and is not irradiated to the cylindrical mirror 60, and the storage phosphor sheet 12 is irradiated with only the desired laser light L. As a result, the effect of reading the radiation image information recorded on the stimulable phosphor sheet 12 with high accuracy and reliability can be obtained.

Similarly, when the laser beam L deflected by the polygon mirror 62 is directly applied to the inclined surface 85a of the optical surface plate 85, the reflected light L1 is accumulated by the inclined fluorescent surface 85a. The reflected light L1 does not irradiate the cylindrical mirror 60 outside the deflection surface due to the laser light L reaching the body sheet 12. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the stimulable phosphor sheet 12 from being irradiated with the reflected light L1.

Although the present embodiment has been described using the stimulable phosphor sheet 12 as an object to be scanned, the same effects as those of the present embodiment can be obtained when an image is recorded on a photographic film or the like.

[0028]

In the optical scanning device according to the present invention, the wall of the optical surface plate is provided at least in a vertical direction orthogonal to a deflection surface formed by the deflected light beam, at least corresponding to a portion irradiated with the light beam. An inclined surface that is inclined by a predetermined angle behind the irradiation direction of the light beam with respect to the surface is provided, and reflected light reflected on the inclined surface is not irradiated to the scanned object, and On the other hand, it is possible to reliably irradiate only a desired light beam. Accordingly, with a simple configuration, the image reading processing and the image recording processing can be performed on the scanned object with high accuracy and efficiency.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration explanatory view of an optical scanning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a light source unit and a light beam scanning unit that constitute the optical scanning device.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory plan view of the light source unit and the light beam scanning unit.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective explanatory view of an optical surface plate.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram when a light beam is applied to the optical surface plate.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective explanatory view of an optical scanning device according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference Signs List 10 optical scanning device 12 stimulable phosphor sheet 14 sub-scanning conveyance means 16 light source unit 18 light beam scanning unit 20 reading unit 22 unit base 30 light source unit 32 semiconductor laser 34, 114 reflection Mirror 50 optical unit 52 polygon assembly 54, 56 fθ lens 58 cylindrical lens 60 cylindrical mirror 62 polygon mirror 70 casing 72 mounting means 74a, 74b positioning pin 76 cutout 78 hole 85 ... Optical surface plate 85a ... Slope surface 86 ... Light beam emission port 88 ... Glass window 110 ... Condensing guide

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A light source unit for emitting a light beam, a light beam scanning unit for deflecting the light beam emitted from the light source unit and irradiating the scanned object with a light beam, and an optical component constituting the light beam scanning unit An optical surface plate, which is positioned and arranged, wherein the optical surface plate is deflected by the deflected light beam at least on a wall portion on which the light beam is directly or reflected by the optical component and irradiated. An optical scanning device comprising: an inclined surface that is inclined by a predetermined angle behind an irradiation direction of the light beam with respect to a vertical plane perpendicular to a plane.