JP2008203456A - Image reader and scanner unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To secure arranging space of an energizing member to be larger than when the energizing member such as a helical spring is arranged between a reading part and a holding part so as to generate energizing force in a direction perpendicular to the plane of an original placing plate. <P>SOLUTION: The image reader is equipped with: the original placing plate having a transparent plane on which an original is placed; the reading part extending longer than the length in a predetermined direction on the plane of the original placing plate and optically reading the original placed on the original placing plate from the original placing plate side; the holding part holding the reading part and moving together with the reading part in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction along the plane of the original placing plate; the energizing member arranged in the holding part and generating the energizing force in a direction parallel with the plane of the original placing plate; and an energizing force changing member changing the energizing force generated by the energizing member to the one in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the original placing plate so as to press the reading part on the original placing plate. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus and a scanner unit used in the image reading apparatus. More specifically, the present invention relates to an image reading device that optically reads a document placed on a document placing plate having a transparent plane, and a scanner unit used in the image reading device.

  There is an image reading apparatus that optically reads an image of a document and converts the image into electronic information. This image reading apparatus is formed of a flat glass or the like, and a document placing plate on which a document is placed, and a reading optically reading a document placed on the document placing plate from the document placing plate side. And a holding unit that moves with the reading unit while holding the reading unit (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In the image reading apparatus described in Patent Document 1, an urging member such as a string spring is disposed between the reading unit and the holding unit, and the reading unit is configured to load a document by an urging force generated by the urging member. It is biased to the mounting plate side. As a result, the distance between the document reading portion such as the line sensor in the reading unit and the document placing plate is kept constant.
JP-A-8-163291

  However, in the image reading apparatus described in Patent Document 1, the urging member is arranged so as to generate a urging force in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the document placing plate, that is, a direction to urge the reading unit. Therefore, when the space between the reading unit and the holding unit is small, the space for arranging the springs is narrow, so it is difficult to take a long expansion / contraction stroke, and thus it is difficult to arrange a biasing member that generates a sufficient biasing force. It was.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, as a first embodiment of the present invention, a scanner unit having a plurality of light receiving elements arranged in at least one direction and optically reading a document, A holding unit that holds the reading unit, a biasing member that is arranged in the holding unit and generates a biasing force in a direction perpendicular to the light receiving direction of the plurality of light receiving elements, and a direction of the biasing force generated by the biasing member in the light receiving direction An urging force conversion member that converts and urges the reading unit toward the document side. Thereby, compared with the case where it arrange | positions between a reading part and a holding | maintenance part so that an urging | biasing member may produce urging | biasing force in the direction parallel to a light reception direction, the arrangement space of an urging | biasing member can be taken large. Therefore, for example, a string spring having a long expansion / contraction stroke can be used as the urging member, so that the reading unit can be reliably urged toward the original by using the urging member having a strong urging force.

  In the scanner unit, the biasing member may generate a biasing force in a direction in which the plurality of light receiving elements are arranged. Since the urging member is arranged so that the urging direction of the urging member is in the longitudinal direction of the reading unit, the arrangement space of the urging member can be increased.

  In the scanner unit, the holding unit is in contact with the reading unit in a direction orthogonal to both the light receiving direction and the arrangement direction of the plurality of light receiving elements, and the biasing member is arranged in the light receiving direction and the arrangement direction of the plurality of light receiving elements. An urging force may be generated in a direction orthogonal to both. In this case, the reading unit is urged toward the original by the urging force generated by the urging member, and the holding unit urges the reading unit in the contact direction. You can reduce the date.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image reading apparatus that includes a document placing plate having a transparent plane on which a document is placed, and a document placed on the document placing plate is optically viewed from the document placing plate side. Reading unit, a holding unit that holds the reading unit, and moves in a predetermined direction along the plane of the document placing plate together with the reading unit, and is arranged on the holding unit and is parallel to the plane of the document placing plate An urging member that generates an urging force in any direction, and an urging force conversion member that converts the urging force generated by the urging member into a direction perpendicular to the plane of the document placement plate and presses the reading unit against the document placement plate. Prepare. This increases the arrangement space of the urging member as compared to the case where the urging member is arranged between the reading unit and the holding unit so as to generate the urging force in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the document placing plate. Can do. Therefore, for example, a string spring having a long expansion / contraction stroke can be used as the urging member, so that the reading unit can be reliably pressed against the document placing plate using the urging member having a strong urging force.

  In the image reading apparatus, the reading unit may extend in a direction orthogonal to a predetermined direction on the plane of the document placing plate, and the urging member may generate an urging force in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction. . Since the urging member is arranged so that the urging direction of the urging member is in the longitudinal direction of the reading unit, the arrangement space of the urging member can be increased.

  In the image reading apparatus, the holding unit may be in contact with the reading unit in the predetermined direction, and the biasing member may generate a biasing force in the predetermined direction. In this case, the reading unit is urged toward the document placing plate by the urging force generated by the urging member, and the holding unit urges the reading unit in the contact direction, so the holding unit of the reading unit in this direction The shakiness with respect to can be suppressed.

  It should be noted that the above summary of the invention does not enumerate all the necessary features of the present invention. In addition, a sub-combination of these feature groups can also be an invention.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described through embodiments of the invention, but the following embodiments do not limit the invention according to the claims. In addition, not all combinations of features described in the embodiments are essential for the solution of the invention.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an image reading apparatus 10 according to an embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the image reading apparatus 10 includes a case 11 of a housing that houses an internal mechanism to be described later, and a document presser 13 that is rotatably attached to the case 11 via a hinge portion 14. A document placing plate 12 having a transparent flat surface 16 is attached to the upper surface of the case 11. For example, a transparent glass plate, a plastic plate, or the like is used as the document placing plate 12. Further, a pressing surface 15 is formed on one surface of the document pressing member 13 by attaching, for example, a resin sheet material colored substantially white. The image reading apparatus 10 can bring a document into close contact with the document placing plate 12 by placing the document on the document placing plate 12 and pressing the document from above with the document retainer 13.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal mechanism of the image reading apparatus 10, and shows a state in which a part of the document presser 13, the document placing plate 12 and the case 11 are removed from the image reading apparatus 10 shown in FIG. 1. . As shown in FIG. 2, the image reading apparatus 10 includes a reading unit 100 that optically reads a document placed on the document placing plate 12 from the document placing plate 12 side, and a holding unit that holds the reading unit 100. Unit 200.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the reading unit 100 extends in the short-side direction on the plane 16 of the document placing plate 12 that is substantially rectangular. In addition, the reading unit 100 has an abutting member 110 protruding upward attached to both ends of the upper surface in the longitudinal direction. The contact member 110 is in contact with the back side of the document placing plate 12 in a state where the reading unit 100 is held by the holding unit 200 and attached to the image reading apparatus 10. Therefore, the distance between the upper surface of the reading unit 100 and the document placing plate 12 is always kept constant. Further, the reading unit 100 has an opening 120 formed between the contact members 110 on the upper surface thereof, and irradiates the document placed on the document placing plate 12 from the document placing plate 12 side. The light source for detecting the light reflected from the original and a plurality of light receiving elements for optically reading the image of the original are disposed inside the opening 120. The plurality of light receiving elements are arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction of the reading unit 100. The light receiving direction of these light receiving elements is the direction from the document placing plate 12 toward the light receiving elements.

  Further, the image reading apparatus 10 has a guide rail 20 in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the reading unit 100, that is, in the long side direction of the flat surface 16 of the document placing plate 12. As will be described later, the guide rail 20 is inserted into a guide rail insertion portion 212 attached to the lower side of the holding portion 200, and both ends thereof are fixed to the case 11. Accordingly, the holding unit 200 and the reading unit 100 held by the holding unit 200 are guided by the guide rail 20 and are orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the reading unit 100 along the plane 16 as indicated by arrows in FIG. Move in the direction you want. In the following description, the longitudinal direction of the reading unit 100 is referred to as “main scanning direction”. Further, the moving direction of the reading unit 100 and the holding unit 200 is referred to as “sub-scanning direction”.

  Further, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the image reading apparatus 10 includes a timing belt 30 stretched between a pair of pulleys 32 in the vicinity of the guide rail 20. The timing belt 30 is stretched between the pulleys 32 in parallel with the guide rail 20. Further, the timing belt 30 is gripped by a timing belt gripping portion 213 attached to the lower side of the holding portion 200 as will be described later. One of the pulleys 32 is rotationally driven by a stepping motor (not shown) via a gear (not shown). Therefore, the reading unit 100 and the holding unit 200 can be moved along the guide rail 20 by controlling the rotation amount of the stepping motor.

  The reading unit 100 is electrically connected to a circuit board (not shown) disposed on the bottom surface of the case 11 via a flexible flat cable (not shown). The circuit board includes a control unit that controls operations of the stepping motor, the reading unit 100, and the like. The electric power for driving the circuit board, the stepping motor and the like is supplied from a power supply unit (not shown) disposed on the bottom surface of the case 11.

  3 and 4 are perspective views of the reading unit 100 and the holding unit 200 that holds the reading unit 100 in the image reading apparatus 10 as seen from obliquely above and obliquely below. In FIG. 3, the internal configuration of the holding unit 200 in the vicinity of one end in the longitudinal direction of the reading unit 100 (left side in FIG. 3) is exposed. As shown in FIG. 3, the reading unit 100 is formed with two sets (four in total) of protruding portions 130 that protrude downward and are formed with a rotation hole 140 at the center, facing the sub-scanning direction. The rotation portions 430 of the urging force conversion member 400 are rotatably inserted into the rotation holes 140 of the projecting portions 130 forming the respective sets.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the urging force conversion member 400 is disposed between the reading unit 100 and the holding unit 200, one by one in the vicinity of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the reading unit 100. Each biasing force conversion member 400 has a conversion member main body 440 extending from the rotation portion 430 toward the inside in the longitudinal direction of the reading unit 100, and the rotation portion 430 in the conversion member main body 440 is formed. A sliding portion 420 projecting in the sub-scanning direction and a planar urging member side abutting portion 410 projecting substantially vertically upward are formed at the end opposite to the existing side.

  The holding unit 200 extends in the longitudinal direction of the reading unit 100, and rises vertically upward along the longitudinal direction of the reading unit 100 from the bottom 210 having substantially the same size as the bottom surface of the reading unit 100 and both sides of the bottom 210. And side portions 220 formed on the side. Further, in the side portions 220 on both sides of the holding portion 200 with the bottom portion 210 interposed therebetween, elongated holes 222 extending in the longitudinal direction are located at positions inside the rotation holes 140 of the protruding portions 130 in the longitudinal direction of the reading unit 100. Two sets (four in total) are formed facing each other in the sub-scanning direction, and the sliding portions 420 of the urging force conversion member 400 slide relative to the long holes 222 in the long holes 222 forming the respective sets. Inserted as possible.

  Further, the bottom portion 210 of the holding portion 200 has two protruding portions 215 formed so as to rise vertically upward at a position further inward in the longitudinal direction of the reading portion 100 from the long hole 222 formed in the side portion 220. The urging member 300 is disposed between each projecting portion 215 and the urging member side contact portion 410 of the urging force converting member 400. In this embodiment, the urging member 300 is a string spring that generates a biasing force by expanding and contracting in the longitudinal direction of the reading unit 100 in the horizontal direction, but a plate spring that generates a biasing force in the horizontal direction is used. Also good.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a guide rail insertion portion 212 through which the guide rail 20 is inserted and a timing belt gripping portion 213 that grips the timing belt 30 are attached to substantially the center of the bottom portion 210 of the holding portion 200. Yes. Therefore, as the holding unit 200 is moved in the sub-scanning direction by the power of the stepping motor, the reading unit 100 held by the holding unit 200 is also moved in the sub-scanning direction.

  FIG. 5 illustrates an internal configuration of the holding unit 200 near one end in the longitudinal direction of the reading unit 100 (left side in FIGS. 3 and 4) in a state where the reading unit 100 and the holding unit 200 are not attached to the image reading apparatus 10. Shown exposed. 6 shows the inside of the holding unit 200 near one end in the longitudinal direction of the reading unit 100 (left side in FIGS. 3 and 4) in a state where the reading unit 100 and the holding unit 200 are attached to the image reading apparatus 10. The structure is shown exposed. 7 and 8 are schematic diagrams when the states shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 are viewed from a direction (sub-scanning direction) orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the reading unit 100, respectively.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, when the reading unit 100 and the holding unit 200 are not attached to the image reading apparatus 10, the biasing force generated in the horizontal direction (left direction in FIG. 7) by the biasing member 300 The biasing force conversion member 400 is pushed to the left and moves. At this time, the urging force conversion member 400 converts the urging force generated in the horizontal direction by the urging member 300 into a vertically upward urging force and transmits the urging force to the reading unit 100 via the rotation unit 430. Therefore, the reading unit 100 is lifted vertically upward, or a position where the magnitude of the resultant force of the urging force generated in the horizontal direction by the two urging members 300 and the magnitude of gravity due to the weight of the reading unit 100 are balanced, or a spring is attached. When the force is large, the slide unit 420 stops at a position where the sliding portion 420 contacts the side surface of the long hole 222.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, when the reading unit 100 and the holding unit 200 are attached to the image reading apparatus 10, the biasing member 300 causes the horizontal direction (left direction in FIG. 8). The urging force converting member 400 is pushed to the left by the urging force (the urging force acts leftward in FIG. 8), and the urging force converting member 400 converts the horizontal urging force into a vertically upward urging force in the same manner as described above. The data is converted and transmitted to the reading unit 100. However, at this time, since the contact member 110 of the reading unit 100 is in contact with the back side of the document placing plate 12, the urging force converted vertically upward causes the reading unit 100 to move to the document placing plate 12. Acts as a force to press against.

  In this manner, the biasing member 300 such as a string spring that generates an urging force by expanding and contracting in the horizontal direction and the urging force in the horizontal direction between the reading unit 100 and the holding unit 200 that holds the reading unit 100 are vertically applied. By providing an urging force conversion member 400 that converts an upward urging force, an urging member 300 such as a string spring that expands and contracts in the vertical direction, for example, is arranged between the reading unit 100 and the holding unit 200 so as to be vertically upward. Compared with the case where the urging force is generated, the arrangement space of the urging member 300 can be increased. Therefore, for example, a string spring having a long expansion / contraction stroke can be used as the urging member 300, so that the urging force of the urging member 300 can be easily adjusted. In addition, since a spring having a larger spring constant can be used as the urging member 300, the durability of the urging member 300 can be improved. As described above, since the reading unit 100 can be surely pressed against the document placing plate 12, the distance between the light receiving element of the reading unit 100 and the document on the document placing plate 12 is kept short and constant, and reading accuracy is improved. Can be improved. The reading unit 100, the holding unit 200, the urging member 300, and the urging force conversion member 400 are an example of a scanner unit.

  FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 are perspective views of another embodiment of the image reading apparatus 10 in which the reading unit 101 and the holding unit 201 that holds the reading unit 101 are extracted and viewed obliquely from above and obliquely below, respectively. In the image reading apparatus 10 including the reading unit 101 and the holding unit 201 described below, the same components as those of the image reading apparatus 10 including the reading unit 100 and the holding unit 200 are described with the same reference numerals. Omitted. In FIG. 9, the internal structure of the holding unit 201 in the vicinity of one end (left side in FIG. 9) in the longitudinal direction of the reading unit 101 is exposed.

  As shown in FIG. 9, between the reading unit 101 and the holding unit 201, one urging force conversion member 401 is disposed in the vicinity of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the reading unit 101. In addition, two sets (four in total) of rotation holes 224 are formed in the side portion 220 of the holding unit 201 in the vicinity of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the reading unit 100 in the sub-scanning direction. The rotation portions 431 of the urging force conversion member 401 are inserted into the rotation holes 224 formed in a rotatable manner.

  A conversion member main body 441 extends from the rotating portion 431 toward the inside and the outside in the longitudinal direction of the reading unit 101, and an end portion of the conversion member main body 441 extending from the rotating portion 431 toward the inside A planar urging member side contact portion 411 that protrudes substantially vertically upward is formed. Further, the end portion of the conversion member main body 441 extending outward from the rotating portion 431 is in contact with the lower surface of the reading portion 101.

  Similarly to the bottom portion 210 of the holding portion 200, two protrusion portions 215 are formed on the bottom portion 210 of the holding portion 201, and each of the protruding portions 215 and the urging force conversion member 401 are pressed against each other. A biasing member 300 is disposed between the contact portion 411.

  FIG. 11 shows the internal configuration of the holding unit 201 near one end in the longitudinal direction of the reading unit 101 (left side in FIGS. 9 and 10) when the reading unit 101 and the holding unit 201 are not attached to the image reading apparatus 10. Shown exposed. 12 illustrates the inside of the holding unit 201 near one end in the longitudinal direction of the reading unit 101 (left side in FIGS. 9 and 10) in a state where the reading unit 101 and the holding unit 201 are attached to the image reading apparatus 10. The structure is shown exposed. 13 and 14 are schematic diagrams when the states shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 are viewed from a direction (sub-scanning direction) orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the reading unit 101, respectively.

  As shown in FIGS. 11 and 13, when the reading unit 101 and the holding unit 201 are not attached to the image reading apparatus 10, the biasing force generated in the horizontal direction (left direction in FIG. 13) by the biasing member 300 The urging force converting member 401 is pushed to the left and rotates around the rotating portion 431, and the urging force generated in the horizontal direction by the urging member 300 is converted into a vertically upward urging force via the conversion member main body 441. To the reading unit 101. Therefore, the reading unit 101 is lifted vertically upward and stops at a position where the magnitude of the resultant force of the urging force generated by the two urging members 300 in the horizontal direction and the magnitude of gravity due to the weight of the reading unit 101 are balanced.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 14, when the reading unit 101 and the holding unit 201 are attached to the image reading apparatus 10, the biasing member 300 causes the horizontal direction (left direction in FIG. 14). The biasing force conversion member 401 is pushed to the left by the biasing force (the biasing force acts in the left direction in FIG. 14), and the biasing force conversion member 401 converts this horizontal biasing force into a vertically upward biasing force in the same manner as described above. The data is converted and transmitted to the reading unit 101. However, at this time, the abutting member 110 of the reading unit 101 is in contact with the back side of the document placing plate 12, so that the urging force converted to the vertically upward force causes the reading unit 101 to move to the document placing plate 12. Acts as a force to press against.

  As described above, the urging member 300 that expands and contracts in the horizontal direction to generate the urging force between the reading unit 101 and the holding unit 201 that holds the reading unit 101 in the same manner as in the case of the reading unit 100 and the holding unit 200. Further, unlike the biasing force conversion member 400, the reading unit is provided with a biasing force conversion member 401 that converts a horizontal biasing force into a vertical upward biasing force by rotating around a rotating portion 431. The same effects as those obtained by arranging the urging member 300 and the urging force converting member 400 between the portion 100 and the holding portion 200 can be obtained.

  FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a reading unit 102 and a holding unit 202 that holds the reading unit 102, which are still another embodiment of the image reading apparatus 10, extracted from obliquely above. In the image reading apparatus 10 including the reading unit 102 and the holding unit 202 described below, the same components as those of the image reading apparatus 10 including the reading unit 100 and the holding unit 200 are denoted by the same reference numerals and described. Omitted. In FIG. 15, the internal configuration of the holding unit 202 is exposed near one end (left side in FIG. 15) of the reading unit 102 in the longitudinal direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 15, one set (four in total) of columnar reading unit side sliding members 472 protruding downward from the lower surface of the reading unit 102 is formed facing each other in the sub-scanning direction. Rotating portions 430 of the urging force converting members 402 are rotatably inserted into the rotating holes 140 of the projecting portions 130 forming a set.

  As shown in FIG. 15, between the reading unit 102 and the holding unit 202, a columnar reading unit side sliding member 472 that protrudes downward from the lower surface of the reading unit 102 and has a sliding inclined surface 475 on the lower side, Further, the urging force conversion member 402 including the urging member side sliding member 462 that is arranged on the guide groove 217 formed on the bottom portion 210 of the holding portion 202 and has a sliding inclined surface 465 on the upper side is provided on the reading portion 102. One set is arranged in the vicinity of both ends in the longitudinal direction. The sliding inclined surface 475 of the reading unit side sliding member 472 and the sliding inclined surface 465 of the biasing member side sliding member 462 are inclined surfaces in the same direction facing each other as shown in FIG. Therefore, the sliding inclined surface 475 and the sliding inclined surface 465 are in contact with each other so as to be slidable at the sliding inclined surface 475 and the sliding inclined surface 465.

  Further, the bottom portion 210 of the holding portion 202 is formed with two protruding portions 215 similar to the bottom portion 210 of the holding portions 200 and 201, and the urging members of the respective protruding portions 215 and the urging force converting member 402 are formed. A biasing member 300 is disposed between the side sliding member 462.

  16 shows the internal structure of the holding unit 202 in the vicinity of one end (left side in FIG. 15) in the longitudinal direction of the reading unit 102 in a state where the reading unit 102 and the holding unit 202 are not attached to the image reading apparatus 10. Show. 17 shows the internal configuration of the holding unit 202 in the vicinity of one end (left side in FIG. 15) in the longitudinal direction of the reading unit 102 in a state where the reading unit 102 and the holding unit 202 are attached to the image reading apparatus 10. And show. 18 and 19 are schematic diagrams when the states shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 are viewed from a direction (sub-scanning direction) orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the reading unit 102, respectively.

  As shown in FIGS. 16 and 18, when the reading unit 102 and the holding unit 202 are not attached to the image reading apparatus 10, the biasing force generated in the horizontal direction (left direction in FIG. 18) by the biasing member 300 The biasing member side sliding member 462 is pushed to the left along the guide groove 217. At this time, the reading unit side sliding member 472 that is slidably in contact with the sliding inclined surface 465 and the sliding inclined surface 475 of the biasing member side sliding member 462 is pushed upward. Therefore, the urging force conversion member 402 including the urging member side sliding member 462 and the reading unit side sliding member 472 converts the urging force generated in the horizontal direction by the urging member 300 into a vertically upward urging force for reading. Tell part 102. Therefore, the reading unit 102 is lifted vertically upward and stops at a position where the magnitude of the resultant force of the urging force generated in the horizontal direction by the two urging members 300 and the magnitude of gravity due to the weight of the reading unit 102 are balanced.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 17 and 19, when the reading unit 102 and the holding unit 202 are attached to the image reading apparatus 10, the biasing member 300 causes the horizontal direction (left direction in FIG. 19). The urging member side sliding member 462 is pushed to the left along the guide groove 217 by the urging force (the urging force acts leftward in FIG. 19), and the urging force converting member 402 is moved in the horizontal direction in the same manner as described above. The urging force is converted into a vertically upward urging force and transmitted to the reading unit 102. However, at this time, the abutting member 110 of the reading unit 102 is in contact with the back side of the document placing plate 12, so that the urging force converted vertically upward causes the reading unit 102 to move to the document placing plate 12. Acts as a force to press against.

  As described above, the urging member 300 that generates an urging force by expanding and contracting in the horizontal direction is arranged between the reading unit 102 and the holding unit 202 that holds the reading unit 102, and further, the urging force conversion members 400 and 401 described above. In contrast, the reading units 100 and 101 and the holding units 200 and 201 are provided by disposing an urging force conversion member 402 that converts a horizontal urging force into a vertically upward urging force by moving an inclined sliding member. The same effect as the case can be obtained.

  Instead of the above-described embodiment, the urging member 300 may generate the urging force in the direction in which the holding unit 202 moves relative to the document placing plate 12, that is, the sub-scanning direction. In this case, the side surface of the reading unit 102 is brought into contact with the side portion 220 of the document placing plate 12, and the urging member 300 causes the side surface of the reading unit 102 to contact the side portion 220 of the document placing plate 12. An urging force may be generated in the urging direction. In this case, the reading unit 102 is urged toward the document placing plate 12 by the urging force generated by the urging member 300, and the holding unit 202 is urged in the moving direction with respect to the document placing plate 12. Therefore, for example, when the reading unit 102 is brought into contact with the holding unit 202 in the above-described direction, rattling of the reading unit 102 with respect to the holding unit 202 in this direction can be suppressed.

  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 19, the document is placed on the document placing plate 12, and the reading units 100, 101, 102 and the holding units 200, 201, 202 are placed on the document placing plate 12. The original is read by moving with respect to it. However, the form of reading a document is not limited to this. In another form, the reading units 100, 101, 102 and the holding units 200, 201, 202 do not move with respect to the document placing plate 12, and the document is transferred to the reading units 100, 101, 102 by the document transport mechanism. The reading units 100, 101, and 102 may read the original by moving the image. Also in this case, a scanner unit having the reading units 100, 101, 102, the holding units 200, 201, 202, the urging member 300, and the urging force conversion members 400, 401, 402 can be used.

  Although the invention has been described using the embodiment, the technical scope of the invention is not limited to the scope described in the embodiment. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment. Further, it is apparent from the description of the scope of claims that the embodiment added with such changes or improvements can be included in the technical scope of the present invention.

1 is a perspective view illustrating an appearance of an image reading apparatus 10 according to an embodiment. 2 is a perspective view showing an internal mechanism of the image reading apparatus 10. FIG. It is the perspective view which looked at the reading part 100, the holding | maintenance part 200, etc. from diagonally upward. It is the perspective view which extracted the holding | maintenance part 200 etc. which hold | maintained the reading part 100 and the reading part 100, and was seen from diagonally downward. The internal structure of the holding unit 200 in the vicinity of one end in the longitudinal direction of the reading unit 100 in a state where the reading unit 100 and the holding unit 200 are not attached to the image reading apparatus 10 is shown. The internal structure of the holding unit 200 in the vicinity of one end in the longitudinal direction of the reading unit 100 in a state where the reading unit 100 and the holding unit 200 are attached to the image reading apparatus 10 is shown. FIG. 6 is a schematic view when the state shown in FIG. 5 is viewed from the sub-scanning direction. FIG. 7 is a schematic view when the state shown in FIG. 6 is viewed from the sub-scanning direction. It is the perspective view which extracted the holding | maintenance part 201 etc. which hold | maintained the reading part 101 and the reading part 101 which are other embodiments, and was seen from diagonally upward. It is the perspective view which extracted the holding | maintenance part 201 etc. which hold | maintained the reading part 101 and the reading part 101 which are other embodiments, and was seen from diagonally downward. The internal structure of the holding unit 201 in the vicinity of one end in the longitudinal direction of the reading unit 101 when not attached to the image reading apparatus 10 is shown. The internal structure of the holding unit 201 in the vicinity of one end in the longitudinal direction of the reading unit 101 in a state where it is attached to the image reading device 10 is shown exposed. It is the schematic when the state shown in FIG. 11 is seen from the sub-scanning direction. FIG. 13 is a schematic view when the state shown in FIG. 12 is viewed from the sub-scanning direction. It is the perspective view which extracted the reading part 102 which is further another embodiment, the holding part 202 holding the reading part 102, and the like, and is seen obliquely from above. The internal structure of the holding unit 202 in the vicinity of one end in the longitudinal direction of the reading unit 102 when not attached to the image reading apparatus 10 is shown. The internal structure of the holding unit 202 in the vicinity of one end in the longitudinal direction of the reading unit 102 in a state where it is attached to the image reading device 10 is shown exposed. It is the schematic when the state shown in FIG. 16 is seen from the sub scanning direction. FIG. 18 is a schematic view when the state shown in FIG. 17 is viewed from the sub-scanning direction.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Image reading device, 11 Case, 12 Document placement board, 13 Document holding plate, 14 Hinge part, 15 Holding surface, 16 Plane, 20 Guide rail, 30 Timing belt, 32 Pulley, 100, 101, 102 Reading unit, 110 Contact member, 120 opening, 130 protruding portion, 140 rotation hole, 200, 201, 202 holding portion, 210 bottom portion, 212 guide rail insertion portion, 213 timing belt gripping portion, 215 protruding portion, 217 guide groove, 220 side portion, 222 long hole, 224 rotation hole, 300 urging member, 400, 401, 402 urging force conversion member, 410, 411 urging member side contact portion, 420 sliding portion, 430, 431 rotation portion, 440, 441 Conversion member main body, 451 reading portion side contact portion, 462 biasing member side sliding member, 465 sliding inclined surface, 4 2 reader side sliding member 475 sliding inclined surfaces

Claims (6)

A plurality of light receiving elements arranged side by side in at least one direction and optically reading a document;
A holding unit for holding the reading unit;
An urging member that is arranged in the holding portion and generates an urging force in a direction perpendicular to a light receiving direction of the plurality of light receiving elements;
A scanner unit comprising: an urging force converting member that urges the reading unit toward the document side by converting the direction of the urging force generated by the urging member into a direction parallel to the light receiving direction.   The scanner unit according to claim 1, wherein the urging member generates an urging force in an arrangement direction of the plurality of light receiving elements. The holding unit is in contact with the reading unit in a direction orthogonal to both the light receiving direction and the arrangement direction of the plurality of light receiving elements,
The scanner unit according to claim 1, wherein the biasing member generates a biasing force in a direction orthogonal to both the light receiving direction and the arrangement direction of the plurality of light receiving elements. A document placing plate having a transparent plane on which the document is placed;
A reading unit that optically reads a document placed on the document placement plate from the document placement plate side;
A holding unit that holds the reading unit and moves in a predetermined direction along the plane of the document placing plate together with the reading unit;
An urging member that is arranged in the holding portion and generates an urging force in a direction parallel to the plane of the document placing plate;
An image reading apparatus comprising: an urging force converting member that converts an urging force generated by the urging member in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the document placing plate and presses the reading unit against the document placing plate. The reading unit extends in a direction perpendicular to the predetermined direction on the plane of the document placing plate;
The image reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the urging member generates an urging force in a direction orthogonal to the predetermined direction. The holding unit is in contact with the reading unit in the predetermined direction,
The image reading apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the biasing member generates a biasing force in the predetermined direction.

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