JP3599966B2 - Image reading device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an image reading device provided in a copier, an image scanner, and the like, and particularly to a wiring structure of a flexible electric wire wired in the image reading device.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional image reading apparatus. In FIG. 1, the image reading apparatus has a housing (not shown), on which a contact glass 1 is provided, and a document 2 is placed thereon. A pressure plate (not shown) is mounted on the contact glass 1 so as to be openable and closable by hinge connection. The original 2 is placed on the contact glass 1 with the pressure plate opened, positioned, and then lowered to lower the original. 2 is pressed onto the contact glass 1 and fixed.
[0003]
On the lower side of the contact glass 1, a first carriage 5 having a lamp 3 and a first mirror 4, and a second carriage 8 having a second mirror 6 and a third mirror 7 fixed to a frame with reflecting surfaces orthogonal to each other. , An image forming optical system 9 and a light receiving element 10.
[0004]
When reading the original, the lamp 3 is turned on, the first carriage 5 moves in the direction of the arrow at the first speed, continuously irradiates the right end to the left end of the original, and the reflected light is bent by the first mirror 4. Ejects to the second carriage 8.
[0005]
The second carriage 8 moves in the same direction as the first carriage 5 at the second speed, but the second speed is の of the first speed. The light beam emitted from the first carriage 5 is reflected by the second mirror 6 and the third mirror 7, passes through the imaging optical system 9, and forms an image of the original on the light receiving element 10. The light receiving element 10 converts the original image into an optical signal again and forms an electrostatic latent image of the original on a photosensitive member (not shown). Thereafter, the normal electrophotographic process proceeds.
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In the image reading apparatus having the above configuration, since the first carriage 5 has the lamp 3, an electric wire for supplying power to the lamp 3 and performing control such as blinking is required. In this case, since the first carriage 5 moves, it is necessary to lengthen the electric wire so that the first carriage 5 can move freely.
[0007]
As an electric wire meeting such a purpose, a flexible electric wire has been conventionally used. This flexible electric wire is also referred to as a flat wire harness, and is obtained by arranging a large number of electric wires in parallel and connecting them in a strip shape with a synthetic resin.
[0008]
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the flexible electric wire 13 is connected to the first carriage 5 as described above. The flexible electric wire 13 has one end 13a fixed to the first carriage 5 and the other end 13b fixed at an appropriate position in the image reading apparatus, and is attached in a U-shaped curve. When the first carriage 5 moves in the direction of the arrow from the state shown in FIG. 9, the U-shaped curved portion 13c of the flexible electric wire 13 also moves following the movement of the first carriage, and the first carriage and the image reading device are fixed. Even if the position with the end 13b changes, electrical conduction can be ensured.
[0009]
When the flexible electric wire 13 is bent by applying a light force, the radius of curvature does not become smaller than a specific value, so that permanent distortion does not remain in the electric wire.
[0010]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in the conventional image reading apparatus, when the first carriage moves from the solid line to the position indicated by the dotted line as shown in FIG. It comes into contact with the lower surface of the glass 1. When this state is repeated, there is a problem that the contact portion of the electric wire with the contact glass 1 is worn and the electric wire is damaged.
[0011]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problem, and has as its object to provide an image reading apparatus in which a flexible electric wire does not contact a contact glass regardless of a position of a carriage.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The invention according to claim 1 , wherein a document reading carriage that reciprocates in a sub-scanning direction to read a document on the contact glass below the contact glass, and an upper end of a flexible electric wire curved in a U-shape in a horizontal direction. In an image reading apparatus provided with flexible electric wires each having a lower end coupled to a position lower than the coupling position with the carriage of the image reading apparatus main body, the lower end of the flexible electric wire is directed downward toward a curved portion of the flexible electric wire. It is characterized by being fixed so as to be inclined.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the first aspect, at least one coupling portion of the flexible electric wire is coupled so as to be able to change a longitudinal direction of the flexible electric wire. .
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image reading device according to the first or second aspect, the curvature of the curved portion of the flexible electric wire when the carriage is moved farthest from the lower end of the flexible electric wire is determined by the movement of the carriage. And a radius that does not affect the durability of the flexible electric wire.
[0013]
Further, the flexible electric wire has one end coupled to the carriage, and the other end fixed to a position lower than the coupling position with the carriage in the image reading device, and a fixed portion fixed in the image reading device is flexible. A configuration in which the electric wire is inclined downward and fixed, or a configuration in which at least one end of the flexible electric wire is fixed so that the longitudinal direction of the electric wire can be changed, or the flexible electric wire is lengthened and the carriage The curvature of the flexible electric wire at the fixed portion when the fixed portion in the image reading device is farthest from the fixed portion in the image reading device can be configured to be equal to or larger than a radius that does not affect the durability of the flexible electric wire.
[0014]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an attached state of a flexible electric wire in the image reading apparatus of the present invention. One end 13a of the flexible electric wire 13 is attached to the first carriage 5 substantially horizontally, and a block is attached to the other end 13b. The block 13b is attached to a fixing portion 15 provided at an appropriate position in the image reading apparatus. It is attached in a state inclined downward.
The fixed part 15 is provided below the fixed end 13 a on the first carriage 5 side and within the movement range of the first carriage 5.
[0015]
FIG. 2 is a side view showing details of the fixing portion 15. The surface 15 a of the fixing portion 15 for fixing the flexible electric wire 13 is inclined downward with respect to the longitudinal direction of the flexible electric wire 13. With such a configuration, the weight of the flexible electric wire 13 and the force F generated by the inclined fixed surface 15a are smaller than the rising force f (FIG. 1) generated on the first carriage side of the flexible electric wire 13. The flexible wire 13 is not lifted upward, so that contact with the contact glass can be avoided.
[0016]
FIG. 3 is a view for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention. When fixing both ends of the flexible electric wire 13 to the carriage 5 and the image reading device, there is a variation in mounting positions and mounting holes of the respective components, and therefore, as shown in FIG. . When attached in this manner, the flexible wire 13 is twisted by the movement of the carriage 5, so that the flexible wire 13 is easily brought into contact with the contact glass 1. In this case, the flexible electric wire in a twisted state is likely to be damaged because a part thereof comes into local contact, and the life of the electric wire is shortened.
[0017]
Therefore, the second embodiment of the present invention has a configuration as shown in FIGS. That is, the upper and lower plates 18a and 18b are provided on the fixing portion 18, and the block-like end 13b of the flexible electric wire 13 is inserted between them. The end 13b of the electric wire is locked to upper and lower plates 18a and 18b by two pins 18c and 18d. Then, the pin 18c on the distal end side is fixed, and the other pin 18d is movable in the arc-shaped hole 18e. Therefore, the flexible electric wire 13 is fixed so that the longitudinal direction of the flexible electric wire 13 can be changed around the fixing pin 18c as shown by the arrow, so that the flexible electric wire 13 is not twisted.
[0018]
FIGS. 6 and 7 are views for explaining a third embodiment of the present invention, and show a state where the carriage 5 and the fixing portion 15 are at the farthest position. If the length of the flexible electric wire is short, as shown in FIG. 7, the radius of curvature of the curved portion A in the fixing portion 15 becomes small, and a large stress is generated here, leaving permanent deformation in the flexible electric wire and hastening the damage of the electric wire. Will be.
[0019]
Therefore, in the third embodiment of the present invention, even if the length of the flexible electric wire 13 is increased so that the carriage 5 and the fixing portion 15 are farthest from each other, the radius of curvature of the curved portion A increases, and the electric wire has a permanent distortion. So that there is no danger of leaving.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, a configuration in which a flexible electric wire connected to a carriage of an image reading device is prevented from contacting the contact glass regardless of the position of the carriage, for example, the flexible electric wire Has one end connected to the carriage, and the other end fixed to a position lower than the position where the carriage is connected to the carriage in the image reading device, and the end fixed in the image reading device tilts the flexible electric wire downward. As a result, the flexible electric wire can be prevented from contacting the contact glass and being damaged.
[0021]
In addition, if at least one of the fixed ends of the flexible electric wire is configured so that the longitudinal direction of the electric wire can be freely changed, the flexible electric wire can be prevented from being twisted, and the flexible electric wire can be prevented from being twisted. Can be prevented from contacting the contact glass.
[0022]
Further, the flexible wire is lengthened so that the curvature of the flexible wire at the fixed end when the carriage is farthest from the fixed end in the image reading device is equal to or larger than a radius that does not affect the durability of the flexible wire. By doing so, it is possible to prevent permanent deformation from remaining in the electric wire and shorten the life of the electric wire.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view showing an arrangement state of flexible electric wires in an image reading apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view showing details of a fixed end of the flexible electric wire on the image forming apparatus side.
FIG. 3 is a top view showing a state where a flexible electric wire is obliquely attached.
FIG. 4 is a side view showing details of a fixed end in a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a top view of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a side view showing a configuration of a third embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a side view for explaining a problem solved by the third embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a side view of a main part showing a configuration of a conventional image reading apparatus.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state where a flexible electric wire is connected to a carriage in the image reading apparatus of FIG. 8;
FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a state in which a flexible electric wire contacts a contact glass in a conventional image reading apparatus.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Contact glass 2 Original 3 Light source 5 Carriage 13 Flexible electric wires 15 and 18 Fixed part

Claims (3)

Below the contact glass, an original reading carriage that reciprocates in the sub-scanning direction to read an original on the contact glass, an upper end of a flexible wire curved in a horizontal U-shape to the carriage, and a lower end to an image reading apparatus main body. An image reading apparatus having flexible electric wires respectively coupled to positions lower than the coupling position with the carriage,
An image reading apparatus , wherein a lower end of the flexible electric wire is fixed so as to be inclined downward toward a curved portion of the flexible electric wire . 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein at least one connecting portion of the flexible electric wire is connected so as to be able to change a longitudinal direction of the flexible electric wire . The curvature of the curved portion of the flexible electric wire when the carriage is moved farthest from the lower end of the flexible electric wire by moving the carriage is set to be equal to or larger than a radius that does not affect the durability of the flexible electric wire. 3. The image reading device according to 1 or 2 .

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