JP2596561B2 - Document detection sensor arm support mechanism - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention provides a document detection sensor for detecting the size of a document supplied on a document table, such as a document reading device, with the movement of an optical system. The present invention relates to an improvement in a support mechanism of the above-described original detection sensor arm in a copying machine provided on an original detection sensor that bends and moves.

(Prior art)

Conventionally, a copying machine in which an optical sensor for detecting the size of a document as described above is provided on an arm which is provided above a lens unit and bends with the movement of the optical system has been used, for example, in a real copier.
It is known from JP 62-71628.

The document detection sensor arm as described above is configured such that two arms approximately corresponding to the width of the document table are flexibly connected, one arm end is pivotally supported on a fixed frame, and the other arm is supported. Is supported by a part of the optical system, so that both arms are bent so as to be folded with the movement of the optical system. Such a document detection sensor arm does not obstruct the movement of the optical system, and a plurality of optical sensors for detecting the size in the exposure scanning direction set on the document table are arranged side by side in the middle of the arm.

As described above, a plurality of optical sensors are attached to the original detection sensor arm, and since the power supply cords for the respective sensors and the optical system are provided inside the plurality of optical sensors, the original sensor arm has a considerable weight. It requires some means to support its weight in the center of the bend.

In the document size detecting device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 62-71628, a rod-like supporting means inserted across the document table is slidably supported in an exposure scanning direction, and the supporting means is provided. The document detection sensors are supported by supporting the vertical shafts provided at the bent portions of the document detection sensor arms via bearing members which are guided in the long grooves and roll in the longitudinal direction. The weight of the arm is supported.

However, in the above-described apparatus, it is extremely difficult to smoothly move the long support means in the exposure scanning direction, and it becomes difficult to slide the support means only if it is slightly twisted. There is a problem that a large force is applied and the bearing comes off the long groove.

Such a problem is caused by an attempt to support the document detection sensor arm by a support means that slides in the exposure scanning direction.

Therefore, the present inventors have developed a document detection arm support mechanism as shown in FIG. This is a first arm b that can swing around a vertical pin a attached to the fixed frame as described above, and a second arm that can swing around a vertical pin d attached to the light source c. and e connected bendably by a pin f, which was provided with a document detection sensor of g ₁ to g ₆ in each arm, on this point the Japanese Utility Model 62-
This is the same as the document size detecting device described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 71628, except that both the first arm b and the second arm e bend and swing on a lens unit cover h that covers a lens unit (not shown). Then, the lower end of the slide pin i fixed to the lower surface of the first arm b and / or the second arm e is brought into contact with the upper surface of the lens unit cover h,
When the first arm b and the second arm e bend and swing, the slide pin i slides along the upper surface of the unit cover h.
And the load of the second arm e.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

Incidentally, at the time of maintenance and inspection for cleaning the lens and the like in the support mechanism of the document detection sensor arm shown in FIG. 4, it is necessary to frequently remove the lens unit itself or the lens unit cover h. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the lens unit cover h as described above is opened and is to be taken out from the mounting opening of the document table j.

However, if the slide pin i supporting the original detection sensor arm is fixed to the first arm b and / or the second arm e as in the above-described conventional apparatus, the slide pin i may interfere with the lens unit cover h when the lens unit cover h is taken out. As a result, it becomes difficult to remove the lens unit cover h.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a structure in which the lens unit cover h can be easily removed and taken out during maintenance and inspection.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the main means adopted by the present invention is a support mechanism for a document detection sensor arm provided on an upper part of a lens unit and bent with the movement of an optical system. The document detection sensor arm support mechanism has a point that a support member that slides on the upper surface of the lens unit and supports the document detection sensor arm is integrally attached to the document detection sensor arm so as to be retractable.

Here, as a mode of the sliding contact of the support member, there is a case where the sliding member directly contacts the lens unit. Sliding contact is also included.

[Action]

As a method of attaching the support member to the document detection sensor arm so as to be able to be retracted integrally, for example, the support member can be detachably attached or configured to be extendable and retractable, or can be swung and housed in the document detection sensor arm. Structure is conceivable. With these structures, the support member can be easily retracted without being disassembled. If the support member is retracted, the lens unit cover and the lens unit themselves can be easily taken out to perform maintenance and inspection such as cleaning of the lens unit.

 As a result, the complexity of the operation is eliminated.

〔Example〕

Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 so that the present invention can be understood.

Here, FIG. 1 is a view corresponding to FIG. 4 showing a state where a document detection sensor arm support mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided, and FIG. 2 is a view showing a support member and a document in the support mechanism shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a structure with a detection sensor arm, and FIG. 3 shows a structure according to an embodiment in which a support member is swingably attached to the original detection sensor arm so as to be folded.
2A is a cross-sectional view thereof, FIG. 2B is a partial perspective view of the original detection sensor arm in the embodiment, and FIG.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a support member that can be used in the embodiment.

In the following embodiments, the same reference numerals are used for the same elements as those in the conventional apparatus shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The following examples are merely specific examples of the present invention, and do not limit the technical scope of the present invention.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a slide pin i 'similar to the slide pin i is used as the support member. At the upper end of the slide pin i ', a holder k composed of a leaf spring or the like for holding the side surface of the first arm b and / or the second arm e is integrally attached.

Therefore, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG.
For example, by attaching the slide pin i 'to the first arm b and sliding the lower surface of the slide pin i' on the upper surface of the lens unit cover h to support the weight of the first arm b and the second arm e. When the lens unit cover h is removed to open the inside of the lens unit, the lens unit cover h can be easily removed by removing the lens unit cover h from the holder k.

In short, in the present invention, when the lens unit cover h is detached, the purpose is to allow the slide pin as an example of the support member to be retracted to a position where the slide pin does not interfere with the lens unit cover h. For example, the attachment means shown in FIG. 3 may be used.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, for example, elongated grooves l, l facing the inner surfaces on both sides of the first arm b are formed in the vertical direction, and shaft fitting holes m, m are formed near the upper end of the elongated groove l. .

On the other hand, the slide pin i 'has a horizontal axis n integrally at the upper end thereof, and at the upper end of the horizontal axis n, forms square axis portions p, p to be fitted into the long grooves l, and further has a tip portion thereof. Are formed with small shaft portions q, q to be fitted in the shaft fitting holes m, m.

Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 3 (a), when the small shaft portion q is fitted into the shaft fitting hole m and the slide pin i 'is turned in the vertical direction, the square shaft portions p, p are fitted into the long grooves l, l. Thus, the vertical posture of the slide pin i 'is maintained. In this state, the copier is operated normally, the lower end of the slide pin i 'is slid on the upper surface of the lens unit cover h, and the first arm b and / or the second arm e are supported by the slide pin i'. It can be bent and rocked.

Further, the slide pin i 'has a square shaft portion p with a long groove l.
, The vertical posture is merely maintained. Therefore, the angular pin p and the long groove 1 are disengaged by swinging the slide pin i 'around the horizontal axis n with a slightly large force, and the slide pin i' is disengaged from the first arm b or the first arm b. It can be stored in the two arms e. This prevents interference between the lens unit cover and the slide pin i when removing the lens unit cover h.

As means for retracting the slide pin i 'when removing the lens unit cover h as described above, the slide pin i' is formed in a stretchable multi-stage fishing rod shape,
Retract by expanding or contracting, or the first arm b
Alternatively, when it is slidably mounted in the second arm e in the vertical direction to prevent interference with the lens unit cover h, it may be slid in the axial direction, that is, in the vertical direction, and taken into the arm.

The above-described slide pin i 'may be further slidably attached to the first arm b or the second arm e in the axial direction together with the holder, for example, and may be slid and retracted together with the holder.

In addition, since the lens unit cover h is manufactured with relatively rough machining accuracy, when the slide pin i ′ slides on the upper surface thereof, the sance arm may slightly slide up and down. This problem can be solved by providing a specially processed rail or the like constituting the sliding locus of the slide pin i 'on the upper surface.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, the present invention provides a document detection sensor arm support mechanism that is provided above a lens unit and that is bent with the movement of an optical system. The document detection sensor arm support mechanism is characterized in that the support member for supporting the document detection sensor arm is integrally and removably attached to the document detection sensor arm, so that the support member is easily disassembled without disassembling or the like. Since the lens unit cover that is retracted and taken out at the time of maintenance and inspection can be prevented from interfering with the support member, the complexity of the operation is eliminated.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a main part of a copying machine showing a state in which a supporting mechanism for a document detection sensor arm according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the structure of a support member and a document detection sensor arm in the support mechanism shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is mounted swingably so that the support member can be folded into the document detection sensor arm. 1A is a cross-sectional view of the structure, FIG. 2B is a partial perspective view of a document detection sensor arm in the embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part of a copying machine including a conventional document detection sensor arm support mechanism, and FIG. 5 is a side view showing a state in which a lens unit cover is taken out. It is sectional drawing. [Explanation of Symbols] b: first arm (document detection sensor arm) e: second arm (document detection sensor arm) h: lens unit cover j: document table i ': slide pin k: holder , M: Shaft insertion hole n: Horizontal axis, p: Square axis part q: Small axis part.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A supporting mechanism provided on an upper part of the lens unit for bending the document detection sensor arm with movement of an optical system, wherein the document detection sensor arm slides on the upper surface of the lens unit to contact the document detection sensor arm. A supporting mechanism for a document detection sensor arm, wherein a supporting member for supporting the document detection sensor arm is integrally removably attached to the document detection sensor arm.