JP2004118068A - Optical scanning device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To securely seal the inside of a casing accommodating an optical beam scanning part and to improve the durability of an elastic member for sealing the casing. <P>SOLUTION: Chamferred parts 108 of a circular arc shape are provided at both sides of an end plane 105 of a wall part 107 of a casing 70 accommodating an optical beam scanning part. In a state in which an elastic member 110 is arranged at the end plane 105 of the wall part 107 of the casing 70, an optical part cover 100 is attached to the casing 70. The elastic member 110 is formed so that its size of the width direction is larger than or almost equal to the size of the width direction of the wall part 107 of the casing 70. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an optical scanning apparatus that performs image recording or image reading by irradiating a scanning target with a light beam emitted from a light source unit via a light beam scanning unit.
[0002]
[Prior art]
For example, using a stimulable phosphor (stimulable phosphor), radiation image information of a subject such as a human body is temporarily recorded, and the radiation image information is reproduced on a photographic material such as a photographic film, or a CRT. For example, a system that outputs a visible image to the image is known.
[0003]
The stimulable phosphor accumulates a part of this radiation energy by irradiation of radiation (X-ray, α-ray, β-ray, γ-ray, electron beam, ultraviolet ray, etc.), and later by irradiation of excitation light such as visible light, A phosphor that exhibits stimulated emission according to the stored energy. This stimulable phosphor is usually used as a stimulable phosphor sheet. In the above system, for example, while conveying the stimulable phosphor sheet on which the radiation image information of the subject is once recorded in the sub-scanning direction, An optical scanning device that photoelectrically reads the radiation image information by irradiating the stimulable phosphor sheet with excitation light in the main scanning direction (direction substantially orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction) is employed.
[0004]
Further, in the above system, in order to reproduce the radiation image information read from the stimulable phosphor sheet on, for example, a photographic film, the photographic film is transported in the sub-scanning direction, and a light beam is mainly applied to the photographic film. An optical scanning device that irradiates in the scanning direction is employed.
[0005]
This type of optical scanning device, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, deflects the light beam emitted from the laser unit 1 that emits a light beam and irradiates an object to be scanned (not shown). And a light beam scanning unit 2 for performing the above. The light beam scanning unit 2 includes a polygon mirror 3 that is a rotating polygon mirror, a lens 4, and a reflection plate 5 for deflecting the light beam.
[0006]
The light beam scanning unit 2 is accommodated in a casing 6, and a cover 7 is attached to prevent dust and the like from entering the light beam scanning unit 2.
[0007]
Further, the elastic body 8 is provided on the lens 4 inside the casing 6, and when the cover 7 is attached to the casing 6, the elastic body 8 is pressed against the cover 7 and is compressed. .
[0008]
As a result, the polygon mirror 3 is isolated from the reflecting plate 5 side by the elastic body 8, and in particular, air containing dust or the like can be prevented from flowing and adhering to the polygon mirror 3 side (for example, Patent Document 1). reference.).
[0009]
[Patent Document 1]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-248342
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, when the cover 7 is attached to the casing 6, the portion of the cover 7 that contacts the side surface 8 a of the elastic body 8 is flat, and therefore when the cover 7 is pressed against the side surface 8 a of the elastic body 8, the elastic body 8 Is deformed from the state before deformation of the elastic body 8 shown in FIG. 8 to the lens 4 side as shown in FIG. Therefore, a considerably large pressing force must be applied to the cover 7. As a result, there is a problem that the assembling work when attaching the cover 7 is complicated and the working efficiency is lowered.
[0011]
On the other hand, if the amount of protrusion of the elastic body 8 toward the cover 7 is set so that the pressing force on the cover 7 is small, there is a problem that a gap is generated between the cover 7 and the lens 4. As a result, air may flow into the polygon mirror 3 from the vicinity of the lens 4 inside the casing 6.
[0012]
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-described problems, and can reliably seal at least the inside of the casing that houses the light beam scanning unit, and can improve the durability of the elastic member for sealing. An object of the present invention is to provide a simple optical scanning device.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention comprises a light source unit that emits a light beam;
A light beam scanning unit that deflects the light beam emitted from the light source unit and irradiates the scanned body;
A casing for accommodating at least the light beam scanning unit;
A lid member attached to the casing;
An elastic member interposed between a peripheral edge of the casing and the lid member;
With
The elastic member has a flat surface portion that abuts on the peripheral edge portion, and the peripheral edge portion is chamfered in a direction away from the flat surface portion on both sides of an end surface with which the flat surface portion of the elastic member abuts. It has the part.
[0014]
According to the present invention, the elastic member is interposed between the peripheral edge portion of the casing and the lid member, and the elastic member is pressed by the lid member when the lid member is attached to the casing. At this time, the flat surface portion of the elastic member is deformed along chamfered portions formed on both side portions of the end surface of the peripheral edge portion of the casing to be in contact. Therefore, stress concentration does not occur in the elastic member in contact with the peripheral edge of the casing, and the durability of the elastic member does not decrease even if the pressed state is extended for a long time.
[0015]
Further, since the elastic member is deformed only in the pressing direction and is not deformed in the lateral direction, the elastic member is brought into contact with the peripheral portion via the chamfered portion with a small pressing force, and the airtightness between the casing and the lid member is determined. Can be easily realized.
[0016]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
A preferred embodiment of the optical scanning device according to the present invention will be described below and described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
[0017]
In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 indicates an optical scanning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0018]
The optical scanning device 10 includes a sub-scanning conveying unit 14 that sub-scans and conveys an object to be scanned, for example, the stimulable phosphor sheet 12 in a vertically downward direction (arrow X direction), and a light source that emits a laser beam (light beam) L. The laser beam L emitted from the unit 16 and the light source unit 16 is deflected, and the laser beam L is directed in a substantially horizontal direction (arrow Y direction) with respect to the stimulable phosphor sheet 12 being sub-scanned and conveyed. The light beam scanning unit 18 that performs irradiation and main scanning, and the photostimulated luminescent light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet 12 by the irradiation of the laser light L are collected and carried on the stimulable phosphor sheet 12. A reading unit 20 that photoelectrically reads radiation image information is provided, and these are mounted on a unit base 22 (see FIG. 2).
[0019]
The sub-scanning conveying unit 14 includes first and second roller pairs 24 and 26 that are arranged in the vertical direction and spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. The first and second roller pairs 24 and 26 are rotationally driven synchronously via transmission means (not shown) connected to the motor 28.
[0020]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the light source unit 30 is mounted on the unit base 22 (see FIG. 2). The light source unit 16 includes a light source, for example, a semiconductor laser 32 disposed in the light source unit 30. A reflection mirror 34 for reflecting the laser beam L emitted downward from the semiconductor laser 32 in the horizontal direction is incorporated in the light source unit 30. An opening 36 for guiding the laser beam L reflected by the reflection mirror 34 to the light beam scanning unit 18 side is formed on the side of the light source unit 30.
[0021]
As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the light beam scanning unit 18 is incorporated in an optical unit 50, and the light beam scanning unit 18 includes a polygon assembly 52, first and second fθ lenses 54, 56, and the like. The cylindrical lens 58 and the cylindrical mirror 60 are provided. The polygon assembly 52 includes a polygon mirror 62 and a driver 64.
[0022]
The optical unit 50 includes a casing 70, and the casing 70 is configured to be detachable with respect to the unit base 22 via an attachment means 72. In addition, as a material of the casing 70, PORON (registered trademark) can be used.
[0023]
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the attaching means 72 is provided on positioning pins 74 a and 74 b fixed to the unit base 22 and one side of the casing 70 and engages with the positioning pins 74 a. 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.
[0024]
On both sides of the casing 70, elongated holes 80a to 80d that are elongated in the vertical direction are formed, while the unit base 22 is provided with screw holes 82a to 82d. The casing 70 is fixed to the unit base 22 by the tips of the fixing pins 84 inserted into the long holes 80a to 80d being screwed into the screw holes 82a to 82d.
[0025]
The casing 70 has an optical surface plate 85 (see FIG. 3), and the polygon assembly 52, the first and second fθ lenses 54 and 56, the cylindrical lens 58, and the cylindrical mirror 60 are positioned and fixed on the optical surface plate 85. As shown in FIG. 1, the casing 70 is formed with a light beam exit port 86 for emitting the laser light L reflected and collected by the cylindrical mirror 60 in the horizontal direction. A beam transmission glass 88 is mounted.
[0026]
As shown in FIG. 3, an opening 94 for guiding the laser light L emitted from the light source unit 16 to the polygon mirror 62 is formed on the side of the casing 70, and a cover is provided close to the opening 94. Glass 96 is arranged. As shown in FIG. 2, after the polygon cover 98 is disposed on the polygon assembly 52, the optical unit cover (lid member) 100 is attached to the casing 70.
[0027]
At this time, a plurality of engaging claws 102 provided so as to protrude from the side surface of the casing 70 and the optical part cover 100 are formed and correspond to the engaging claws 102 when the optical part cover 100 is attached. The optical part cover 100 is fixed to the casing 70 by engaging with a plurality of engaging holes 104 formed at positions.
[0028]
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the peripheral end surface 105 of the casing 70 to which the optical unit cover 100 is attached has a substantially central portion in the width direction of the end surface 105 of the casing 70 at a predetermined width. A chamfered portion 108 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) that is chamfered in an arc shape is formed on both sides thereof.
[0029]
As shown in FIG. 6, the optical part cover 100 is pressed against the elastic member 110 disposed on the end surface 105 of the wall part 107 of the casing 70, so that the inside of the casing 70 is reliably sealed. As shown in FIG. 5, the elastic member 110 is formed in a substantially rectangular cross section, and the dimension A in the width direction of the elastic member 110 is the end surface 105 of the wall portion 107 of the casing 70 to which the elastic member 110 is mounted. Is larger than or substantially equal to the dimension B in the width direction (A ≧ B). The elastic member 110 is made of, for example, EPDM (Ethylene-Propylene-Diene-Methylene Linkage) rubber, foam rubber, silicon rubber, neoprene rubber, or the like.
[0030]
The elastic member 110 is attached along the end surface 105 of the wall portion 107 of the casing 70 by, for example, an adhesive or a double-sided tape.
[0031]
As shown in FIG. 1, the reading unit 20 includes a condensing guide 112 that condenses the stimulated emission light emitted from the stimulable phosphor sheet 12 by irradiation with the laser light L. A photomultiplier 114 is connected to the end portion of the light collection guide 112, and a reflection mirror 116 that reflects the photostimulated emission light to the light collection guide 112 is disposed in the vicinity of the tip of the light collection guide 112. Is done.
[0032]
The optical scanning device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is basically configured as described above. Next, the operation and effects thereof will be described.
[0033]
The stimulable phosphor sheet 12 on which the radiation image information is recorded is sandwiched between first and second roller pairs 24 and 26 that are rotationally driven under the driving action of the motor 28 that constitutes the sub-scanning conveying means 14, and the arrow X Sub-scan transported in the direction (vertically downward).
[0034]
At that time, as shown in FIG. 3, a laser beam L is emitted from a semiconductor laser 32 constituting the light source unit 16, and this laser beam L once travels vertically downward, and then is reflected by a reflection mirror 34 to be a light source. The cover glass 96 passes through the opening 36 of the unit 30 through the opening 94 of the casing 70. Further, the laser beam L is applied to the polygon mirror 62 and deflected under the rotating action 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 to the cylindrical mirror 60, and is reflected by the cylindrical mirror 60 in the horizontal direction.
[0035]
Therefore, the laser beam L is transmitted through the light beam transmission glass 88 and led out from the light beam exit port 86 in the direction of the arrow Y, and as shown in FIG. The recording surface of the phosphor sheet 12 is irradiated with the laser light L directed in a substantially horizontal direction, and main scanning is performed. Irradiation of the laser light L generates stimulated emission light from the recording surface of the stimulable phosphor sheet 12, and the stimulated emission light is condensed through the light collection guide 112 and is read photoelectrically by the photomultiplier 114. It is done.
[0036]
By the way, in the embodiment of the present invention, an elastic member 110 is interposed between the casing 70 and the optical part cover 100 in order to seal the inside of the casing 70. As shown in FIG. 5, the elastic member 110 has a width-direction dimension A larger than or substantially equal to a width-direction dimension B of the end face 105 of the wall portion 107 of the casing 70 (A ≧ B). ).
[0037]
Further, the end surface 105 of the wall portion 107 of the casing 70 is formed with a chamfered portion 108 that is chamfered in an arc shape on both side portions thereof.
[0038]
For this reason, when the optical part cover 100 is attached to the casing 70 to which the elastic member 110 is attached, the elastic member 110 is pressed toward the casing 70 by the inner peripheral surface of the optical part cover 100 as shown in FIG. Is done. In this case, the elastic member 110 is held by the end surface 105 of the casing 70, while both side portions in the width direction of the elastic member 110 are deformed toward the casing 70 along the chamfered portion 108.
[0039]
As a result, the elastic member 110 hardly deforms in the direction orthogonal to the pressing direction, and only deforms in the direction in which the elastic member 110 is pressed by the casing 70. Therefore, the elastic member 110 is closely attached to the wall portion 107 of the casing 70 with a small pressing force. The inside of the casing 70 can be sealed. Thereby, the inside of the casing 70 can be reliably sealed via the elastic member 110, and it is possible to effectively prevent moisture, dust, and the like from entering the inside of the casing 70. Further, it is possible to effectively prevent external light from entering the casing 70.
[0040]
Further, since the arc-shaped chamfered portions 108 are provided on both sides of the end surface 105 of the casing 70, the surface of the chamfered portion 108 is deformed when the elastic member 110 is deformed under the pressing action by the optical unit cover 100. The elastic member 110 is deformed while closely adhering to each other. As a result, stress concentration does not occur in the elastic member 110 as compared with the case where corner portions that are substantially perpendicular to both side portions of the end surface 105 of the casing 70 are generated, thereby preventing a decrease in durability of the elastic member 110. Can do. In addition, since the maintenance cycle becomes longer, the number of man-hours required for maintenance can be reduced.
[0041]
Furthermore, since the elastic member 110 is deformed while being in close contact with the end surface 105, a gap is prevented from being generated between the casing 70 and the optical unit cover 100, and the inside of the casing 70 is more reliably sealed to prevent dust and light shielding. Can do.
[0042]
Furthermore, since the elastic member 110 has a simple shape with a rectangular cross section, it can be used as a general-purpose product, and the cost can be reduced.
[0043]
In the embodiment of the present invention, the elastic member 110 is arranged on the end surface 105 of the wall portion 107 of the casing 70. However, the elastic member 110 is arranged on the casing 70 side of the optical unit cover 100, The elastic member 110 may be brought into contact with the end surface 105 of the casing 70 to seal the inside of the casing 70.
[0044]
Further, the thickness of the wall portion 107 of the casing 70 is 3.6 mm, the dimension B in the height direction and the width direction of the elastic member 110 is 6 mm, respectively, and the chamfered portion 108 formed on the end surface 105 of the casing 70. May be arcuate with a radius of 0.3 mm.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.
[0046]
That is, when the lid member is attached to the casing, the elastic member is pressed by the lid member, and the elastic member is deformed along the chamfered portion, so that stress concentration occurs at the contact portion of the elastic member with the end surface of the casing. It does not occur and the durability of the elastic member does not decrease.
[0047]
In addition, by bringing the casing and the elastic member into contact with each other through the chamfered portion, the casing and the elastic member can be securely adhered with a small pressing force, and dust can be prevented from entering the casing. . Thereby, the optical scanning device can be used stably over a long period of time.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration explanatory diagram of an optical scanning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a light source unit and a light beam scanning unit constituting 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 partially exploded perspective view of a casing, an elastic member, and an optical unit cover constituting the optical scanning device.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view of a longitudinal section in a state before the casing and the lid member are mounted.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory view of a longitudinal section in a state where a lid member is attached to the casing.
FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a conventional optical scanning device.
FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state before a cover is attached to the casing of the optical scanning device according to the prior art.
FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a state in which a cover is mounted on a casing of an optical scanning device according to the prior art.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Optical scanning device 12 ... Stable phosphor sheet | seat 14 ... Sub-scanning conveyance means 16 ... Light source part 18 ... Light beam scanning part 20 ... Reading part 22 ... Unit base 30 ... Light source unit 32 ... Semiconductor laser 50 ... Optical unit 52 ... Polygon assembly 70 ... Cases 74a, 74b ... Positioning pin 76 ... Notch 78 ... Hole 86 ... Light beam exit port 100 ... Optical cover 108 ... Chamfer 110 ... Elastic member

Claims (2)

A light source that emits a light beam;
A light beam scanning unit that deflects the light beam emitted from the light source unit and irradiates the scanned body;
A casing for accommodating at least the light beam scanning unit;
A lid member attached to the casing;
An elastic member interposed between a peripheral portion of the casing and the lid member;
With
The elastic member has a flat surface portion that contacts the peripheral edge portion, and the peripheral edge portion is chamfered in a direction away from the flat surface portion on both sides of an end surface with which the flat surface portion of the elastic member contacts. An optical scanning device comprising a portion. The optical scanning device according to claim 1,
The width of the flat part of the elastic member is formed larger than or substantially equal to the width of the end face of the peripheral part.

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