JP2012093294A - Spectrophotometric unit and image forming device including the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately adjust a position and posture of a slit.SOLUTION: A spectrophotometric unit comprises: a slit member that comprises an aperture where a light flux guided from a detected surface passes; a concave diffraction grating that receives the light flux passing through the aperture of the slit member, and disperses and collects the incident light flux; a light-receiving element that uses unidirectionally-arranged multiple photoelectric conversion elements to receive the light flux dispersed and collected by the concave diffraction grating and outputs an electric signal corresponding to each of the multiple photoelectric conversion elements; and a box-shaped housing that supports the slit member, the concave diffraction grating and the light-receiving element. The housing has a first guide surface and a second guide surface that are substantially parallel to an optical axis direction of the light flux which passes through the aperture and enters the concave diffraction grating. The first and second guide surfaces move the slit member in a state of contacting the slit member and serve as adjustment planes capable of adjusting a position of the slit member in the optical axis direction.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine and an LBP, and in particular, a plurality of photoelectric conversions in which detected light beams dispersed using a diffraction grating are arranged in an array for identifying the color of a subject and measuring colors. The present invention relates to a spectrocolorimetric device that detects an element.

  In an image forming apparatus that forms a color image, there may be a shift in the color of the color image. In particular, in electrophotography, transfer efficiency varies depending on the drum sensitivity, toner charge capacity, and paper type due to changes in the usage environment and aging, and the color mixture ratio of toner deviates from the specified value, affecting the color tone. It is easy to give. In addition, such a phenomenon may change the color depending on the machine difference of the image forming apparatus. For this reason, there is a possibility that the color tone of the formed color image cannot be consistent. In order to solve such a problem, the color of the detected surface is measured using a color measuring device, and the image forming conditions of the image forming apparatus are controlled, so that the consistency of the color of the formed color image is improved. I am trying.

  The applicant previously disclosed a color measuring device having the following configuration according to Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-110884. This color measuring device includes an illumination optical system that illuminates a surface to be examined, a light guide optical system that guides a reflected light beam from the test surface to a spectroscopic optical system, and a spectral intensity distribution that splits the guided light beam. This is a spectrocolorimetric apparatus having a spectroscopic optical system that acquires the above (see Patent Document 1).

  Further, according to Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-110878, the applicant uses a light guide optical system that guides a detected light beam from the surface to be measured to a slit in a spectrocolorimeter having an illumination optical system, a light guide optical system, and a spectroscopic optical system. The position adjustment of the slit within the condensing range is disclosed (see Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-11084 Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-110878

  In order to measure the color of the surface to be detected more accurately with such a spectrocolorimetric device, it is necessary to adjust the position and orientation of the slit and accurately position the light beam reflected on the surface to be detected. There is. The accuracy of adjusting the position and orientation of the slit is required to be higher as the spectrocolorimeter is smaller.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is that it provides a spectral colorimetric apparatus capable of accurately adjusting the position and orientation of a slit and an image forming apparatus having the spectral colorimetric apparatus.

  The present invention provides a slit member having an opening through which a light beam guided from a surface to be detected passes, and a concave surface on which the light beam that has passed through the opening of the slit member is incident, and the incident light beam is dispersed and collected. A light receiving element that receives light from a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in one direction, and outputs an electrical signal corresponding to each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements; In the spectral colorimetry apparatus having the slit member, the concave diffraction grating, and a box-shaped casing that supports the light receiving element, and the image forming apparatus having the spectral colorimetric apparatus, the casing passes through the opening and the concave surface A first guide surface and a second guide surface that are substantially parallel to an optical axis direction of a light beam incident on the diffraction grating are provided, and the first and second guide surfaces are in the state in which the slit member is in contact with the slit. Move the timber, wherein said an adjustable adjusting surface positions of the optical axis direction of the slit member.

  According to the present invention, the position and orientation of the slit can be adjusted with high accuracy.

(A) The figure which shows the spectral colorimetry apparatus of the state which removed the cover. (B) The figure which shows the spectral colorimetry apparatus 150 of the state which attached the cover. 1 is a diagram showing a color image forming apparatus equipped with a spectral colorimetry device. FIG. (A) The figure which looked at the spectral colorimetry apparatus of the state which removed the cover from the upper surface. FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the spectrocolorimetric apparatus taken along line AA ′ in FIG. The figure which shows the spectral colorimetry apparatus at the time of slit member 105 position adjustment. The figure which shows the output of the pixel of the light receiving element in which the slit image was formed. (A) The figure (top) which shows a mode when the slit image of the light beam of a single wavelength is imaged in the ideal image formation state on the light receiving element of a line sensor, and the figure which shows the output of the light receiving element at that time ( under).

(B) The figure (top) which shows a mode when the slit image of the light beam of a single wavelength is imaged in the non-ideal image formation state on the light receiving element of a line sensor, and the figure which shows the output of the light receiving element at that time ( under).
(A) The perspective view of the slit vicinity part of a spectrophotometric device. FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the portion near the slit of the spectrocolorimetric device as viewed from the direction of arrow B in FIG. (A) The figure which looked at the slit vicinity part of a spectral colorimetry apparatus from upper direction. (B) The figure which looked at the slit vicinity part of a spectral colorimetry apparatus from upper direction. Sectional drawing which looked at the slit vicinity part of a spectrocolorimeter from the arrow B direction of Fig.7 (a). The figure which shows the spectral colorimetry apparatus of the state which removed the cover. (A) Schematic of slit. FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view of a portion near the slit of the spectrocolorimeter as viewed from the direction of arrow C in FIG. (A) Schematic of slit. (B) The figure corresponding to the cross-sectional view which looked at the slit vicinity part of a spectral colorimetry apparatus from the arrow C direction of FIG.

<First Embodiment>
The first embodiment of the present invention will be described below. First, a color image forming apparatus equipped with the spectral colorimetric apparatus of this embodiment will be described, and then color calibration using the spectral colorimetric apparatus will be described.

(Color image forming device)
First, image formation by a color image forming apparatus equipped with the spectral colorimetric apparatus of this embodiment will be described. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the color image forming apparatus of the present embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 150 denotes a spectrocolorimetric apparatus having a configuration described later. Reference numerals 1 (1C, 1M, 1Y, 1BK) denote photosensitive drums as image carriers, which rotate counterclockwise in the drawing. First, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 (1C, 1M, 1Y, 1BK) is uniformly charged by the charger 2 (2C, 2M, 2Y, 2BK). Next, each light beam (laser beam) L (LC, LM, LY, LBK) light-modulated based on the image information is emitted from the scanning optical device 300, and each corresponding photosensitive drum 1 (1C, 1M, 1Y, 1BK) The surface is irradiated to form an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent images are visualized as cyan, magenta, yellow, and black toner images by the developing device 4 (4C, 4M, 4Y, 4BK), respectively. On the other hand, the sheet material P stacked on the sheet feeding tray 7 is sequentially fed out one by one by the sheet feeding roller 8 and is fed onto the transfer belt 10 by the registration roller 9 in synchronization with the image writing timing. Each of the toner images is transferred onto the sheet material P conveyed on the transfer belt 10 by the transfer roller 5 (5C, 5M, 5Y, 5BK), and a color image is formed. Finally, the sheet material P is pressed and heated by the fixing device 12 to obtain a color image fixed on the sheet material P. The sheet material P is conveyed by the discharge roller 13 and discharged outside the apparatus. . Residual toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 (1C, 1M, 1Y, 1BK) after the transfer is removed by the cleaner 6 (6C, 6M, 6Y, 6BK), and again to form the next color image. The charger 2 (2C, 2M, 2Y, 2BK) is uniformly charged. Here, the photosensitive drum 1, the charger 2, the scanning optical device 300, the developing device 4, the transfer roller 5, and the fixing device 12 are image forming means for forming an image on a sheet material.

(Color calibration using a spectrocolorimeter)
Next, color calibration using a spectrocolorimeter will be described. The spectrocolorimetric device (color sensor unit) 150 is installed on the paper conveyance path immediately after the fixing device 12 and is arranged so that illumination light is irradiated at an incident angle of about 45 ° with respect to the paper surface. The color sensor unit 150 detects the color of each color patch on the paper on which a single color or mixed color patch is formed and fixed. Then, color calibration is performed by controlling the image forming conditions of the image forming unit based on the output of the color sensor unit. Here, the color measurement on the color patch on the paper surface after image fixing is performed in order to perform color calibration in consideration of a change in color due to the paper type and fixing. The detection result read by the color sensor is transferred to a printer controller (not shown), and the printer controller determines whether the color reproducibility of the output color patch is appropriate. If the color difference between the color tone of the output color patch and the color instructed by the print controller according to the image data is within a predetermined range, the color calibration is terminated. If the color difference is outside the predetermined range, the printer controller performs color calibration based on the color difference information until it falls within the predetermined color difference.

  As described above, by mounting the color sensor unit in the color image forming apparatus, the color of the color image formed on the paper surface is corrected by detecting the color of the color image formed on the paper surface. Can do. That is, when there is a difference between the color specified by the print controller and the color of the color image formed on the paper depending on the image data due to machine differences in the image forming apparatus, paper type, usage environment, usage frequency, etc. But it can reproduce a stable color. Therefore, more advanced color calibration can be realized.

(Spectro colorimetry device (color sensor unit))
FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of the spectrocolorimetric device 150 with the lid removed. FIG. 1B is a schematic view of the spectrocolorimetric device 150 with a lid attached. FIG. 3A is a top view of the spectral colorimetric device with the lid removed, and FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of the spectral colorimetric device taken along the line AA ′ of FIG. It is.

  Hereinafter, each member constituting the color sensor unit 150 will be described. The LED 102 is a white LED (light emitting diode) as a light source. The LED 102 is a TOPVIEW type light emitting diode that is mounted on the sensor unit control circuit board 120 (FIG. 3B) and emits light in the vertical direction from the mounting surface. This LED 102 is a white LED because it corresponds to a colorimetric range of wavelengths from 350 nm to 750 nm. The sensor unit control circuit board 120 is a circuit board that performs light emission control of the LED 102 and signal processing control for converting an output detected by a line sensor 107 described later into an electrical signal. The illumination optical member 103 is a light guide optical member for irradiating the detected surface 110 (FIG. 3B) with the light beam L emitted from the LED 102. Specifically, it is a light guide formed of acrylic resin. The luminous flux L emitted from the LED 102 has a light distribution angle characteristic in which the amount of light is maximum in the surface normal direction of the light emitting surface and the amount of light decreases as the distance from the surface normal direction is increased (tilted). For this reason, the illumination optical member 103 has a shape capable of efficiently guiding this light onto the detection surface.

  The light guide optical member 104 is an optical member for guiding reflected light from the surface to be detected to a slit member 105 described later. The light guide optical member 104 has a function of bending the light beam from the detection surface 110 in a direction substantially parallel to the detection surface 110 and condensing the light beam in a direction parallel to the spectral direction X. The spectral direction X is a direction in which a light beam is separated for each wavelength by a concave diffraction grating 106 described later. The slit member 105 has an opening, and is arranged so as to regulate the incident light beam guided by the light guide optical member 104 and form a desired spot shape on the line sensor 107 described later. It is a slit.

  The concave diffraction grating 106 is an optical member that reflects and splits the light beam emitted from the opening of the slit member 105 by the spectral reflection surface 106a. The concave diffraction grating 106 is a resin member manufactured by injection molding. The spectral reflection surface 106a has a shape in which fine blazed gratings are formed at equal intervals on the base surface. A Roland circle R is defined in the Roland type spectroscopic optical system using such a concave diffraction grating. If the direction orthogonal to the spectral direction X and the optical axis direction of the spectral beam is defined as the Y direction, the Roland circle R has a diameter having the same length as the radius of curvature of the spectral reflecting surface 106a and is in contact with the central point of the spectral reflecting surface. It is a virtual circle. The light dispersed by the concave diffraction grating 106 is condensed (imaged) on the Roland circle R. Further, the light source on the Roland circle R (corresponding to the slit opening 105a (FIG. 7B)) and its image (corresponding to the spot on the light receiving element 107a) have a conjugate relationship. When the base surface of the spectral reflection surface 106a is spherical, the optical performance is deteriorated because the imaging state is different between the spectral direction X and the direction Y. Therefore, the base surface has a curved surface with different curvatures in the spectral direction X and the direction Y, and sufficient imaging performance is obtained.

  The line sensor 107 is an optical member having a light receiving element 107a as an array type light receiving member in which a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements (pixels) such as Si photodiodes are arrayed in one direction in the spectral direction X. The spectral beam split by the concave diffraction grating 106 is received by the light receiving element 107a, and an output corresponding to the amount of light received for each photoelectric conversion element is output. As will be described in detail later, the line sensor 107 is held on the housing 100 by an adhesive filled between the line sensor 107 and the convex portion 101 a provided on the side wall 101 of the housing 100. The light receiving element 107a is connected to a flexible circuit board 107b that is electrically connected to the sensor unit control circuit board 120, and the output is output to the sensor unit control circuit board 120 via the flexible circuit board 107b.

  The above-described optical member group and circuit board are accommodated or held in a housing 100 that is a box-shaped casing including a bottom surface and a side wall 101 surrounding the bottom surface. The line sensor 107 is supported on the outside of the housing 100 by the side wall 101. The sensor unit drive control circuit board 120 is fastened to the bottom surface of the housing 100 from below with a screw (not shown) and is held by the housing.

  The illumination optical member 103, the light guide optical member 104, and the concave diffraction grating 106 are each positioned at a positioning portion provided in the housing 100, and are bonded and fixed with an adhesive. The slit member 105 and the line sensor 107 are adjusted in position so as to be positioned substantially on the circumference of the Roland circle R, and are fixed to the housing 100 by adhesion.

  A housing cover 109 is attached to the housing 100 in order to cover the inside, and is integrated into a color sensor unit 150. A part of the housing cover 109 is used for passing irradiation light irradiated on the detection surface through the illumination optical member 103 and reflection light reflected on the detection surface and guided to the light guide optical member 140. An open window is provided. A cover glass 108 is attached to the opening window so that dust, paper dust and the like do not enter the housing. Further, the housing cover 190 is formed with a line sensor cover portion 109a that extends not only to cover the inside of the housing 100 but also to cover the back side of the line sensor 107 (the side that does not contact the side wall 101). Yes. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent and protect the line sensor 107 from being contacted during transport after assembly of the unit, incorporation into the image forming apparatus, or the like. The broken line in FIG. 1B indicates a part of the outline of the side wall 101 of the housing 100 hidden behind the housing cover 109.

(Color measurement method)
Next, a color patch colorimetry method using the color sensor unit 150 integrated in this way will be described. As shown in FIG. 3B, the luminous flux (optical axis L3) emitted from the LED 102 passes through the illumination optical member 130 and the cover glass 190b, and illuminates the color patch 110 as the detection surface formed on the paper surface. . The light beam (optical axis L4) reflected by the color patch 110 is guided to the slit member 105 by passing through the cover glass 108 and the light guide optical member 104, and formed as a substantially linear image on the slit member 105. To do. A light beam (optical axis L1) that passes through the slit member 105 and is regulated to a predetermined shape and is incident on the spectral reflection surface 106a of the concave diffraction grating 106 is reflected by the spectral reflection surface 106a, diffracted, and split. Of the dispersed light beams, the light beam (optical axis L2) dispersed as the first-order diffracted light is imaged as a slit image for each wavelength on the line sensor 107. In FIG. 3A, the optical axis of a light beam having a wavelength of 550 nm incident on the center in the spectral direction X of the line sensor 107 is representatively shown as the optical axis L2. The line sensor 107 receives light for each wavelength by the light receiving element 107a, and performs output according to the received light. This output is corrected by the sensor unit control circuit board 120 based on the spectral characteristic of the white LED 102 and the spectral sensitivity characteristic of the light receiving element, and the color tone of the light beam (optical axis L4) reflected by the color patch 110 is calculated. The calculated value is transmitted to a printer controller (not shown). In this way, color measurement of the color patch 110 is performed.

(Slit position adjustment method)
Next, a method for adjusting the position of the slit member 105 when assembling the spectral colorimetry apparatus 150 will be described. FIG. 4 is a view of the spectral colorimetry device 150 when the position of the slit member 105 is adjusted, as viewed obliquely from above. When assembling the spectrocolorimeter 150, a monochromator that outputs light of a predetermined single wavelength is used instead of the white LED light source 102 in which many wavelengths are mixed so that the spectral performance can be recognized remarkably. Use as The light from the reference light source 111 enters the light guide optical system 104, passes through the slit member 105 and the spectroscopic optical system 106, and forms an image as a slit image on the light receiving element 107 a of the line sensor 107. The L axis in FIG. 4 passes through the center 105b (FIG. 7B) of the opening 105a (FIG. 7B) of the slit member 105 and enters the center of the spectral reflection surface 106a of the concave diffraction grating 106. An axis that coincides with the optical axis L1. Here, the optical axis L1 is defined as the optical axis of the slit member 105. Assuming that a virtual surface formed by the edge of the opening of the slit opening 105a is an opening surface, in this embodiment, the perpendicular at the opening center 105b of this opening surface coincides with the L axis. In the present invention, the position adjustment of the slit member 105 in the L-axis direction and the rotation adjustment around the L-axis are performed while observing the slit image on the light receiving element 107a. By performing such slit adjustment, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the imaging state of the slit image on the light receiving element 107a due to component accuracy, assembly error, and the like, and realize high colorimetric accuracy.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the output of the pixel of the light receiving element 107a on which the slit image is formed. Since the width in the spectral direction X of each pixel of the light receiving element 107a is smaller than the width of the slit image, the slit image is formed so as to span a plurality of pixels in the spectral direction X. Therefore, the spot width in the spectral direction X of the slit image is defined as follows. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the envelope of the output of the pixel of the light receiving element 107a is plotted, and the distance between the intersections when the envelope is sliced at a certain slice level Psl with respect to the maximum output value Pmax is defined as the spot width. Define. In this embodiment, 50% of the maximum output value Pmax is the slice level Psl.

FIG. 6A is a diagram (top) showing a state when a slit image of a light beam having a single wavelength is formed in an ideal imaging state on the light receiving element 107a of the line sensor 107, and the light receiving element at that time. It is a figure (lower) which shows the output of 107a. If an output as shown in this figure can be obtained from the light receiving element 107a for light of a single wavelength, an accurate output can be obtained for each wavelength of the light dispersed by the concave diffraction grating 106, and therefore high colorimetric accuracy. Can be realized. If the positions of optical members such as the light guide optical system 104, the concave diffraction grating 106, and the line sensor 107 are determined on the housing 101 as designed, an ideal imaging state as shown in FIG. Is possible. However, since the positional relationship of the optical members is not as designed due to positioning errors and component accuracy, an ideal imaging state may not be obtained. As a result, the colorimetric accuracy is deteriorated. FIGS. 6B and 6C are diagrams (upper) illustrating a state when a slit image of a light beam having a single wavelength is formed in a non-ideal imaging state on the light receiving element 107a of the line sensor 107; It is a figure (lower) which shows the output of the light receiving element 107a at that time. For example, when the concave diffraction grating 106 is displaced in the L-axis direction, the image position of the slit image is shifted, so that the slit image becomes thick as shown in FIG. Then, the slit image extends over more pixels than the slit image in an ideal imaging state. For this reason, among the dispersed light, light of a certain wavelength is incident on a pixel where light of another wavelength is supposed to be incident, so that the colorimetric accuracy is deteriorated. Further, for example, if the concave diffraction grating 106 is rotated around the L axis and the light receiving element 107a is rotated around the optical axis L2, the slit image is rotated as shown in FIG. 6C. . Then, the slit image extends over more pixels than the slit image in an ideal imaging state. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 6B, the colorimetric measurement is performed because light having a certain wavelength out of the dispersed light is also incident on a pixel to which light having another wavelength is supposed to be incident. Accuracy deteriorates.
Adjustment is performed by moving the slit member 105 in the L-axis direction and rotating around the L-axis so that the slit image is formed in the ideal imaging state described above.

(Configuration for adjusting the slit position)
Next, a configuration for adjusting the slit will be described. FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a portion in the vicinity of the slit member 105 in the spectrocolorimeter 150. FIG. FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the portion near the slit of the spectrocolorimetric device as viewed from the direction of arrow B in FIG. The slit member 105 has an opening 105a through which a light beam incident on the slit member 105 passes. In this embodiment, the slit member 105 has a cylindrical shape centering on the center 105b in the longitudinal direction of the opening 105a, and a sliding surface (hereinafter referred to as a sliding surface) that is a surface parallel to the L axis on the outer peripheral surface. 105c and an adhesive surface 105d. The housing 100 is provided with guide surfaces 100b and 100c, which are surfaces parallel to the L axis, and a fixed surface 100a. When the guide surface 100b (first guide surface) and the guide surface 100c (second guide surface) are viewed from the L-axis direction, the guide surfaces 100b and 100c are arranged so as to be V-shaped. As will be described in detail later, the position and orientation of the slit member 105 are adjusted while the slide surface 105c is in contact with the guide surfaces 100b and 100c. That is, the guide surfaces 100b and 100c function as adjustment surfaces of the slit member 105, and the slide surface 105c functions as a contact surface that contacts the guide surfaces 100b and 100c. A minute gap for filling the adhesive is provided between the adhesive surface 105d and the fixed surface 100a, and when the adjustment is completed, the adhesive filled between the fixed surface 100a and the adhesive surface 105d. Cure. In this way, the slit member 105 is bonded and fixed to the housing 100. In this embodiment, the abutment with the guide surfaces 100b and 100c is performed by the slide surface 105c and the adhesion with the fixed surface 100a is performed by the adhesion surface 105d. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Bonding may be performed on a plane parallel to the L axis. For this reason, the slide surface 105c and the adhesive surface 105d may be the same surface.

  The slit member 105 is held by a tool (not shown), and adjustment is performed in a state where the slide surface 105c is in contact with the guide surfaces 100b and 100c while outputting a single wavelength light from the monochromator as the reference light source 111. First, move in the L-axis direction and determine the position. The slit member 105 is moved in the L-axis direction and moved to a position where the spot width becomes the narrowest. When the spot width becomes the narrowest, the slit opening 105a is positioned on the Roland circle R, and the light beam that is split and collected by the concave diffraction grating 106 is in the most concentrated state. In this state, the light amount received by the light receiving element 107 is the largest, and the output from the light receiving element 107 is the highest. In the present embodiment, light with wavelengths of 450 nm, 550 nm, and 650 nm is output from the monochromator, and the position of the slit member 105 in the L-axis direction is determined at the average position where the spot width is the narrowest for each wavelength. Here, if the coordinates in the slit L-axis direction at the three wavelengths are L1, L2, and L3, the coordinates of the average position can be expressed by (L1 + L2 + L3) / 3.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the light receiving element 107a of the line sensor 107 is positioned at the average position of the position where the spot width becomes the narrowest with respect to the light of three wavelengths condensed at the center and both sides in the spectral direction X. ing. For this reason, it is possible to accurately determine the spot width of each wavelength of light collected on the light receiving element 107a. Note that the wavelength of the light output from the monochrome motor is not limited to 450 nm, 550 nm, and 650 nm, but may be any wavelength as long as the light is collected at the center and both sides in the spectral direction X of the light receiving element 107a. Further, an average position of four or more wavelengths may be taken.

Next, the slit member 105 is rotated around the L axis. The slit member 105 is rotated with the center 105b as the center of rotation, so that the spot width becomes the narrowest. At this time, the monochromator outputs light having a wavelength of 550 nm. In the present embodiment, the spot width when the spot width is the narrowest is the width of about three pixels of the pixels of the light receiving element 107a. In this way, by adjusting the position in the L-axis direction and the attitude around the L-axis with respect to the slit member 105, the slit image can be formed in an ideal imaging state on the light receiving element 107a.
Note that the rotation adjustment around the L axis may take an average posture of the light beams of three or more wavelengths when the spot width is the narrowest, similarly to the position adjustment in the L axis direction.

  Here, in the present embodiment, both the slide surface 105c and the guide surfaces 100b and 100c are surfaces parallel to the L axis. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the slit member 105 from moving in the direction other than the L-axis direction by bringing both surfaces into contact with each other and moving in the L-axis direction, and the adjustment can be performed with high accuracy. Further, the slide surface 105c of the present embodiment is an arc surface formed by moving an arc around the center 105b in the longitudinal direction of the opening 105a in the L-axis direction. The guide surfaces 100b and 100c are in contact with the slide surface 105c so as to sandwich the slide surface 105c as a tangent to the slide surface 105c that is an arc as viewed from the L-axis direction. For this reason, even if the slit member 105 is rotated around the L axis, the center 105b of the slit member 105 can be arranged at a fixed position. For this reason, the movement of the slit member 105 other than the rotation direction around the L axis which is the adjustment direction can be suppressed, and the adjustment can be performed with high accuracy.

  8A and 8B are views of the vicinity of the slit member 105 of the spectrocolorimeter 150 as viewed from above. As shown in FIG. 8A, since the bonding surface 105d and the fixing surface 100a of this embodiment are both substantially parallel to the L axis, the distance between the slit member 105 and the housing 100 is L axis. It is uniform in the direction. In addition, the interval between the bonding surface 105d and the fixed surface 100a can be made constant regardless of the position of the slit member 105 in the L-axis direction. Here, as shown in FIG. 8B, if the distance between the slit member 105 and the housing 100 is non-uniform in the L-axis direction as in the adhesive surface 105d ′ and the fixed surface 100a ′, the following problem occurs. Will occur. The adhesive 112 is filled between the slit member 105 and the housing 100 and cured, but the adhesive layer 112 contracts during the curing. Further, depending on the installation environment of the apparatus, the adhesive layer 112 is thermally expanded. At this time, in the configuration shown in FIG. 8B, since the thickness of the adhesive layer 112 ′ is not uniform in the L-axis direction, the slit member 105 ′ becomes an arrow R due to the unbalance of the tensile forces Fa and Fb due to curing shrinkage. It fluctuates as follows. In the case of thermal expansion, it changes in the opposite direction. On the other hand, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8A, the adhesive layer 112 is uniform in the L-axis direction, and the slit member 105 is caused by curing shrinkage or thermal expansion of the adhesive. It is possible to prevent movement in the L-axis direction.

  FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a portion near the slit of the spectrocolorimetric device as viewed from the direction of arrow B in FIG. The bonding surface 105d is a cylindrical outer peripheral surface centering on the longitudinal center 105b of the opening 105a. For this reason, even if the slit member 105 is rotated around the L axis, the distance between the bonding surface 105d and the fixed surface 100a does not change. If the bonding surface 105d is not the outer peripheral surface of the cylinder centering on the center 105b in the longitudinal direction of the opening 105a, the interval changes. If this interval changes, the thickness of the adhesive layer 112 changes, and the amount of shrinkage at the time of curing differs. Therefore, the position after curing varies depending on the posture of the slit member 105 around the L axis and cannot be manufactured stably. . In the configuration of this embodiment, the adhesive surface 105d is a cylindrical outer peripheral surface centering on the longitudinal center 105b of the opening 105a. Therefore, even if the rotation is adjusted, the adhesive surface 105d is between the fixed surface 100a and the adhesive surface 105d. Since the interval does not change, the thickness of the adhesive layer 112 is difficult to change. For this reason, it can suppress that the thickness of the adhesive bond layer 112 changes by adjusting rotation, and the hardening shrinkage | contraction amount and thermal expansion amount of the adhesive bond layer 112 change.

  In the present embodiment, the number of bonding locations is one, but it is more preferable that the same bonding location is provided on the side facing the slit member 105 and the slit is sandwiched between the adhesive layers 112. By doing so, the force for changing the position of the slit member 105 due to the curing shrinkage of the adhesive cancels out, so that the position fluctuation of the slit member 105 due to the curing shrinkage of the adhesive can be suppressed.

  In the slit member 105 of this embodiment, the opening portion 105a and the cylindrical portion 105c are integrally formed. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the member having the opening portion and the member having the cylindrical portion are separated. May be.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the slit member 105 is brought into contact with the guide surfaces 100b and 100c as the adjustment surfaces, and the position of the slit member 105 in the optical axis direction can be adjusted, thereby accurately adjusting the position and posture of the slit. Can be adjusted. By this adjustment, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the slit image formation state due to component accuracy of the slit member 105, the spectroscopic optical system 106, and the light receiving element 107, and an assembly error.

<Second Embodiment>
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Since the spectral colorimetric device 160 has the same shape and function as those of the first embodiment except for the slit 125 and the housing 121, the same reference numerals are used and description thereof is omitted. In Example 1, adjustment of the position of the slit in the L-axis direction and rotation adjustment around the L-axis were performed. However, if the rotation of the slit image on the light receiving element 107a due to positioning error and component accuracy is acceptable, the rotation adjustment of the slit around the L axis is unnecessary, and only the position adjustment in the L axis direction is performed. Just do it. In the present embodiment, a description will be given of a configuration in which the slit position can be accurately adjusted when only the position adjustment in the L-axis direction is performed.

  FIG. 10 is a view of the spectrocolorimetric device 160 with the lid removed when viewed obliquely from above. FIG. 11A is a schematic view of the slit 125, and FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view of the portion near the slit of the spectrocolorimetric device as viewed from the direction of arrow C in FIG. The slit 125 has an opening 125 a through which incident light passes, and has slide surfaces 125 b and c that are parallel to the L axis on the outer periphery. The housing 121 is formed with guide surfaces 121b and c that are parallel to the L axis. Therefore, by moving the slit 125 in the L-axis direction while bringing the slide surface 125b into contact with the guide surface 121b and the slide surface 125c in contact with the guide surface 121c, the slit 125 can be accurately moved to the L direction as in the first embodiment. It can be adjusted in the axial direction. Further, in this embodiment, the slide surfaces 125b and c are configured as flat surfaces and brought into contact with the guide surfaces 121b and c, whereby the angle of the slit 125 with respect to the housing 121 around the L axis is uniquely determined. Yes. For this reason, it is easy to move the slit 125 stably.

  In the first embodiment, the slit is fixed with an adhesive in order to fix the slit to the housing by performing adjustment in two directions, that is, movement in the L-axis direction and rotation around the L-axis. However, in this embodiment, the slit 125 only needs to be adjusted and fixed in one direction only in the L-axis direction. Therefore, the slit 125 is fixed on the housing 121 by a biasing member 126 such as a leaf spring. Although the number of parts is increased by using the biasing member 126, an assembly process for filling and curing the adhesive can be eliminated, so that the assembly can be easily performed.

  Moreover, you may comprise in a shape as shown in FIG. 12 as another shape of a slit and a housing. 12A is a schematic diagram of the slit 125, and FIG. 12B is a diagram corresponding to a cross-sectional view of a portion near the slit of the spectrocolorimetric device viewed from the direction of arrow C in FIG. The slit 125 shown in FIG. 12 basically has the same configuration as the slit 125 shown in FIG. However, the slit 125 shown in FIG. 12 is provided with a concave engaging portion 125d that engages with the tool so as to be easily held by the tool. Further, as shown in FIG. 12B, the guide surface 121b contacting the slide surface 125b may be divided into two and configured like a rail. By forming the guide surface 121b in the rail shape in this way, the angle of the slit 125 relative to the housing 121 around the L axis can be determined with higher accuracy. In the configuration shown in FIG. 12, the housing 121 has a tapered portion 121 d, and an adhesive is filled in a location indicated by an arrow near the tapered portion 121 d to bond the slit 125 to the housing 121. By providing the taper portion 121d in this manner, the adhesive pools between the taper portion 121d and the slit 125 when the adhesive is filled. Therefore, the contact area between the adhesive and the housing 121 and the adhesive and the slit are reduced. The contact area increases. For this reason, the slit 125 can be more firmly fixed to the housing 121.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the position of the slit can be adjusted with high accuracy, as in the first embodiment. By this adjustment, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the slit image formation state due to component accuracy of the slit member 105, the spectroscopic optical system 106, and the light receiving element 107, and an assembly error.

100, 121 Housing (housing)
101b, 101c, 121b Guide surface 102 Light source 103 Illumination optical system 104 Light guide optical system 105, 125 Slit member 105c, 125b, 125c Slide surface (sliding surface)
106 Spectroscopic optical system 107 Line sensor 107a Light receiving element 150, 160 Spectral colorimetry apparatus

Claims (4)

A slit member having an opening through which a light beam guided from the surface to be detected passes;
A concave diffraction grating on which a light beam that has passed through the opening of the slit member is incident and that splits and collects the incident light beam;
A light receiving element that receives the light beams spectrally and condensed by the concave diffraction grating by a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in one direction, and outputs an electrical signal corresponding to each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements;
In the spectral colorimetry device having the slit member, the concave diffraction grating, and a box-shaped housing that supports the light receiving element,
The housing includes a first guide surface and a second guide surface that are substantially parallel to an optical axis direction of a light beam that passes through the opening and enters the concave diffraction grating,
The first and second guide surfaces are adjustment surfaces capable of adjusting the position of the slit member in the optical axis direction by moving the slit member in a state where the slit member is in contact with the first and second guide surfaces. Spectral color measuring device.   The housing includes a fixed surface substantially parallel to the optical axis direction, and the slit member includes an adhesive surface substantially parallel to the optical axis direction, and is filled between the fixed surface and the adhesive surface. The spectral colorimetric apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the slit member is bonded to the housing by an adhesive that is used. The sliding surface that contacts the first and second guide surfaces of the slit member is an arc surface formed by moving an arc centering on the center of the opening in the optical axis direction,
The first and second guide surfaces are in contact with the sliding surface so as to sandwich the sliding surface as a tangent to the sliding surface as viewed from the L-axis direction. 2. The spectral colorimetry apparatus according to 2. An image forming unit that forms an image on a recording material and a spectral colorimetric device that detects an image on the recording material, and controls image forming conditions of the image forming unit based on the output of the spectral colorimetric device In the image forming apparatus to
The spectrocolorimetric device includes a slit member having an opening through which a light beam guided from a surface to be detected passes, and a light beam that has passed through the opening of the slit member is incident, and the incident light beam is spectrally collected and collected. A light receiving concave diffraction grating, and a light receiving light that is received by a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements arranged in one direction of light beams that are split and condensed by the concave diffraction grating, and that outputs an electrical signal corresponding to each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements An element, and a box-shaped housing that supports the slit member, the concave diffraction grating, and the light receiving element;
The housing includes a first guide surface and a second guide surface that are substantially parallel to an optical axis direction of a light beam that passes through the opening and enters the concave diffraction grating,
The first and second guide surfaces are adjustment surfaces capable of adjusting the position of the slit member in the optical axis direction by moving the slit member in a state where the slit member is in contact with the first and second guide surfaces. Image forming apparatus.

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