JP4334282B2 - Method for assembling carriage frame of scanner device, scanner device, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a scanner device and an image forming apparatus.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In a scanner apparatus that exposes and scans a document surface by moving the first carriage and the second carriage in the sub-scanning direction at a speed ratio of 2: 1, the frame of the second carriage is configured by coupling an arm and a stay. ing.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
In general, when two plate members are coupled, a structure is known in which a hole of the same size is formed in two members and a reference pin is inserted into the hole. However, in this configuration, a slight deformation occurs between the two members during special caulking, and the reference pin is difficult to be removed after the coupling operation. If this is forcibly pulled out, the member is further deformed. In particular, in the second carriage, the deformation has a great influence on the scanner characteristics, leading to mechanical defects, and the production cost has been increased due to the increase in repair time and labor and the poor yield.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a highly accurate scanner device and an image forming apparatus equipped with the scanner device.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object, an invention according to claim 1, and a first carriage and a second carriage 2: Carriage scanner apparatus for exposing scanning the document surface by moving in the sub-scanning direction at a first speed ratio A method of assembling the frame, wherein one of the arm and stay constituting the carriage frame is provided with a large diameter reference hole, and the other is provided with a small diameter reference hole concentric with the large diameter reference hole. The large diameter portion of the reference pin having a two-stage structure is inserted and fitted into the large diameter reference hole, and the small diameter portion of the reference pin is inserted and fitted into the small diameter reference hole to position the arm and the stay. And a method of assembling a carriage frame of the scanner device, wherein the arm and the stay are caulked and the reference pin is removed .
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a scanner device including the carriage frame body assembled by the assembling method according to the first aspect.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, an image forming apparatus equipped with the scanner device according to the second aspect is the main feature.
[0005]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a scanner device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The present embodiment shows a flat bed type (original fixed type) scanner device.
First, the overall configuration of the scanner device will be schematically described. The scanner device 1 includes a housing-shaped scanner housing 3 having a contact glass 2 for placing a document on the upper surface. In the scanner housing 3, a xenon lamp (hereinafter referred to as an Xe lamp) 4 as a lamp and a first carriage 6 on which a first mirror 5 inclined at 45 ° is mounted, the angles formed by the reflecting surfaces at an inclination of 45 ° are orthogonal to each other. Then, a second carriage 9 is provided on which the second and third mirrors 7 and 8 for reversing the reading optical axis by 180 ° are mounted.
The first and second carriages 6 and 9 are arranged with the main scanning direction (perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1) as the longitudinal direction and a speed ratio of 2: 1 along the sub-scanning direction (left and right direction in FIG. 1). It can be reciprocated freely. The first and second carriages 6 and 9 when waiting for the reading of the document image are positioned at the home position at the left end portion in FIG. The Xe lamp 4, the first mirror 5, the second mirror 7, and the third mirror 8 are optical systems that scan along the original surface.
The Xe lamp 4 is provided with a reflector 18 that covers the side away from the contact glass 2 with the light reflecting surface in the axial direction so that a slit (aperture) is formed at a position facing the contact glass 2. . This makes it possible to effectively use the light emitted from the Xe lamp 4 and improve the utilization efficiency of the light irradiated toward the contact glass 2.
Further, in the scanner housing 3, a sensor board on which a drive motor 10 by a stepping motor for reciprocating the first and second carriages 6 and 9 in the sub-scanning direction and a linear CCD 11 as a reading element are mounted. A lens block stay 14 and the like on which the unit 12 and the lens block 13 are mounted are provided. In addition, a width sensor 15 and a length sensor 16 that detect the size of the document placed on the contact glass 2 are provided on the bottom plate 3 a of the scanner housing 3.
[0006]
Next, each part with which the scanner apparatus 1 is provided is demonstrated. 2 is a horizontal sectional view showing the internal structure of the scanner device 1, FIG. 3 is a longitudinal front view thereof, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing each part provided in the scanner housing 3, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a part thereof. FIG. 6 is an explanatory view schematically showing the direction of the force applied by locking and fixing the belt, and FIG. 7 is an explanatory view schematically showing the principle of the moving pulley regarding the moving operation of the first and second carriages 6 and 9. FIG.
Rail members 17 are attached to a pair of left and right side walls 3b (see FIG. 2) raised along the sub-scanning direction of the scanner housing 3. These rail members 17 have a U-shaped cross section, and as a result, rails 17a and 17b that face each other in the vertical direction are formed as a two-stage rail structure as shown in FIG. Hereinafter, the upper pair of rails will be referred to as a first rail 17a for the first carriage 6, and the lower pair of rails will be referred to as a second rail 17b for the second carriage 9.
In this way, by dividing the traveling sliding surfaces of the first and second carriages 6 and 9 as rails 17a and 17b, the positions of the first and second carriages 6 and 9 (in the home position state) can be brought closer, This is useful for reducing the overall size of the scanner device 1 to a necessary minimum.
[0007]
As shown in FIG. 2, the wall 3c on the home position side raised in the main scanning direction of the scanner housing 3 is for restricting the movement of the second carriage 9 positioned at the home position in the vertical direction. The stopper 17c is integrally formed by a part of the wall 3c. These stoppers 17c are formed at positions corresponding to L-shaped arm portions 9c (see FIG. 5) formed on a mirror stay 9a (described later) of the second carriage 9.
Sliders (not shown) are provided at the four corners of the lower surface of the first carriage 6, and these four sliders are brought into contact with the upper surface of the first rail 17a so that they can reciprocate along the sub-scanning direction. ing. At both ends of the lower surface of the first carriage 6, endless type timing belts 21 extending along the sub-scanning direction are disposed over almost the entire length of the scanner housing 3.
A part of the timing belt 21 is locked to the lower surface on the end side of the first carriage 6 by a belt clamp 6a (see FIGS. 3, 5 to 7) together with a part of a flat belt 30 described later. At this time, the shape of the belt clamp 6a is determined so that the heights of the locking portions of the timing belt 21 and the flat belt 30 with respect to the first carriage 6 are the same (horizontal state) (see FIG. 5). ).
When the timing belt 21 and the flat belt 30 are simultaneously locked in the same plane with respect to one belt clamp 6a, the first timing belt 21 and the flat belt 30 can be pressed against the rail 17a. Is slightly lifted and fastened to the first carriage 6 (see FIG. 6 schematically).
By doing so, the sliders attached to the lower four corners of the first carriage 6 can reliably contact and scan on the rail 17a, which is effective in preventing jitter in the read image. The first carriage 6 pulls the second carriage 9 in the scanning direction via the flat belt 30. Since the timing belt 21 and the flat belt 30 are fixed on the same plane, the first carriage 6 is attached to the first carriage 6. There is no rotational moment.
[0008]
One end side of each timing belt 21 is spanned between drive timing pulleys 23 fixed to both ends of the drive shaft 22 extending along the main scanning direction. The other end side of each timing belt 21 is stretched over a driven timing pulley 24 attached to the scanner housing 3.
The driven timing pulley 24 is urged in a direction away from the driving timing pulley 23 by a tension spring (not shown) spanned between the driven timing pulley 24 and the scanner housing 3. As a result, tension is applied to each timing belt 21 in the sub-scanning direction.
A drive transmission timing pulley 25 a is attached to one end of the drive shaft 22. The drive motor 10 described above is disposed on the side of the drive transmission timing pulley 25a. As shown in FIG. 3, a helical gear 10b is fixed on the drive shaft 10a of the drive motor 10, and meshes with the reduction gear 25b to rotate. The reduction gear 25b is provided coaxially with a transmission timing pulley 25c, and an endless type drive timing belt 26 is bridged between the transmission timing pulley 25c and the drive transmission timing pulley 25a. .
As a result, the driving force of the driving motor 10 is transmitted to the driving timing pulley 23 via the driving shaft 22. An iron disk is fixed to the drive shaft 10a on the rear side of the drive motor 10 in order to stabilize the rotation. A rubber damper for vibration isolation is arranged between the disturbance motor 10 and the motor bracket on the helical gear 10b side. The motor bracket is slidable to adjust the tension of the drive timing belt 26 described above, and is screwed after a predetermined tension is applied by a spring.
[0009]
The second carriage 9 has a pair of mirror stays 9a that support both ends of the second and third mirrors 7 and 8, and an arm 9b that extends from both outer sides of the mirror stay 9a toward the first carriage 6 side. is doing. The extension length of the arm 9b is a length corresponding to the amount of movement of the second carriage 9 in the sub-scanning direction. Therefore, the second carriage 9 of the present embodiment is substantially U-shaped when viewed in plan.
In such a second carriage 9, a flat pulley 27 that is rotatable along the surface direction of the mirror stay 9 a is provided outside the mirror stay 9 a, and a pair of the flat pulley 27 is paired at the tip of the arm 9 b. A bracket 28 for rotatably holding the flat pulley 29 is attached, and a flat belt 30 is bridged between the flat pulleys 27 and 29.
At this time, the flat pulleys 27, 29 and the like are arranged so that the flat belt 30 is slightly separated from the timing belt 21 in parallel when viewed in plan. The bracket 28 that supports the flat pulley 29 is slidable with respect to the arm 9b, and is attached with a predetermined tension from a spring (not shown).
That is, the flat belt 30 does not need to transmit a driving force unlike the timing belt 21, so basically, if there is no slack between the flat pulleys 27 and 29, no tension is required. In order to prevent this from occurring, a weak tension of about several hundred gr is applied. Since the tension is weak as described above, the rotational load between the flat pulleys 27 and 29 and the shaft (the drive shaft 22 or the like) that rotatably supports the flat pulleys 27 and 29 is very small even without using the main bearing.
In addition, sliders (not shown) are provided on the lower surface of the second carriage 9 at four corners that are diagonal positions of the entire second carriage 9, and these four sliders abut against the upper surface of the second rail 17b. By doing so, it can be reciprocated along the sub-scanning direction.
[0010]
The second carriage 9 is arranged so that each arm 9 b is positioned on the inner peripheral side of the timing belt 21. At this time, the pair of flat belts 30 is positioned inside the pair of timing belts 21 in the main scanning direction. A part of each flat belt 30 is fixed in position by being locked to a fixing member 31 fixed to the bottom plate 3 a of the scanner housing 3. The fixing position of the flat belt 30 by the fixing member 31 is set so as to be different from the position where the belt clamp 6a is engaged with the flat belt 30 of the first carriage 6 by substantially a half circumference.
Since a portion of the flat belt 30 is fixed by the fixing member 31 as described above, the white of the flat belt 30 rotates even if the flat belt 30 is moved by following the timing belt 21 at the locking position by the belt clamp 6a. Without moving, it moves in the sub-scanning direction together with the flat pulleys 27 and 29 according to the principle of the moving pulley. Accordingly, the second carriage 9 that supports the flat pulleys 27 and 29 and the flat belt 30 also moves in the sub-scanning direction.
As described above, since the upper side of the flat belt 30 is locked to the first carriage 6 in a slightly lifted state, a force that can be lifted to the first carriage 6 acts on the second carriage 9. Yes. However, the height at which the lower side of the flat belt 30 is fixed by the fixing member 31 attached to the bottom plate 3a is fixed at a slightly lower position, and the fixing member 31 is a force that pulls the second carriage 9 downward. Is acting (see FIG. 6 schematically).
[0011]
In the present embodiment, since the forces acting up and down are substantially equal, the second carriage 9 can scan while reliably contacting the rail 17b. As a result, it is possible to apply a downward urging force to the second carriage 9, and during reciprocation, the lower surface of the second carriage 9 is stably brought into contact with the second carriage 17 without being lifted from the second rail 17b. Can be moved.
The scanning means 32 that scans the Xe lamp 4, the first mirror 5, the second mirror 7, and the third mirror 8 as an optical system along the document surface is a first unit on which the Xe lamp 4 and the first mirror 5 are mounted. A carriage 6, a second carriage 9 on which a second mirror 7 and a third mirror 8 are mounted, a rail 17 that slidably supports these carriages 6 and 9, a timing belt 21 driven by a drive motor 10, and a flat surface. The belt 30 and the fixing member 31 are used.
In such a scanner device 1, when reading a document image, the drive motor 10 is driven to reciprocate the first and second carriages 6 and 9 at a speed ratio of 2: 1, and the Xe lamp 4 is turned on. Then, the original image is exposed and scanned. As a result, the light emitted from the Xe lamp 4 is reflected by the original surface via the contact glass 2 and reaches the first mirror 5, and then is sequentially reflected by the second and third mirrors 7 and 8, and the lens. The original image is read by being condensed on the CCD 11 via the block 13. As a result, it is possible to provide a scanner device that can obtain a stable image with no change in illuminance of the original surface over time, and to provide an inexpensive scanner device that is small and has high assembly work efficiency.
[0012]
Next, an embodiment of a copying machine according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a longitudinal front view showing a schematic configuration of an embodiment of a copying machine. The copying machine 40 includes a scanner device 1 configured as described in the above-described embodiment, and a printer device 41 that forms an image of a document read by the scanner device 1 on a sheet.
In the printer device 41, paper is conveyed from a paper feed tray 42 that stacks and holds sheet-like papers or a manual feed tray 43 that accepts manual paper to a paper discharge stacker unit 46 through a printer engine 44 and a fixing unit 45. A path 47 is formed.
In the present embodiment, an electron having a photoconductor (organic photoconductor in the present embodiment) 48 and a charger (not shown), an exposure device 50, a developing device 51, and a transfer device 52 provided around the photoconductor 48. A photographic printer engine 44 is used. In the printer device 41, a paper reversing mechanism 53 for reversing the paper on which an image is formed on one side is provided.
In such a configuration, the original image read by the scanner device 1 is imaged and developed on the photoconductor 48 by the printer device 41, transferred to the paper fed from the paper feed tray 42 or the manual feed tray 43, and The toner image transferred to the paper is fixed by the fixing unit 45.
[0013]
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an assembly configuration of the second carriage, which is a main part of the scanner device according to the embodiment of the present invention. The assembly structure of the second carriage 9 will be described with reference to FIG.
The second carriage 9 has a pair of front and rear arms (X direction in FIG. 4 as front and rear) 9b and left and right stays (in the Y direction in FIG. 4 as left and right) 9d, which are substantially U-shaped. Yes. FIG. 9 shows the connecting portion. A small-diameter reference hole 51-1 is provided at the left end of the rear arm 9b, and a concentric and large-diameter reference hole 51-2 is provided in the left stay 9d. . At the time of assembly, a reference pin 50 having a two-stage diameter is inserted, each member is positioned, a tool is inserted into the crimping hole 52, and the two members are crimped together.
At this time, the caulking causes distortion between the two members (the arm 9b and the stay 9d), and the two reference holes 51 are slightly displaced from each other so that a side pressure is applied to the side surface of the reference pin 50 (a hole having the same diameter as in the prior art Then, when a member is pulled out against a reference pin having a long stroke, a side pressure acts as a drag force, and a considerable force is required, and sometimes an unnecessary stress is applied to the member to cause deformation.
[0014]
In short, in the present invention, when the two members are caulked and joined, the reference holes 51-1 and 51-2 provided in the two members are concentric with different diameters, and the reference holes 51-1 are smaller in diameter than the reference holes 51-1. This is characterized in that a reference pin 50 provided with a small diameter portion 50b to be fitted and a large diameter portion 50a to be fitted into the large diameter reference hole 51-2 is used.
As in the present embodiment, when the reference pin 50 having a two-stage structure including the large diameter portion 50a and the small diameter portion 50b is used, the large diameter portion 50a of the reference pin 50 and the reference hole 51-2 are fitted. When the member is removed from the first stage with a long stroke (the small diameter portion 50b of the reference pin 50) by moving the distance of the plate thickness of the left stay 9d and then removing it immediately, the lateral pressure is removed. Is released, the member can be removed without requiring extra force, and deformation can be prevented and the second carriage 9 with high accuracy can be assembled.
In this embodiment, a digital scanner including a CCD 11 is shown as the scanner device 1. However, for example, document image light reflected by the third mirror 8 is applied to a photoconductor via an imaging lens, a reflecting mirror, and the like. The present invention can also be applied to an analog scanner for direct exposure.
Further, if this scanner device 1 is used, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of defects due to deformation of the second carriage 9, and to produce a copying machine with a short repair time and a high yield, and to provide an inexpensive copying machine with high assembly work efficiency. can do.
The caulking coupling structure according to the present invention can be applied not only to the coupling of metal members in a scanner apparatus but also to the coupling between various members.
[0015]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention , when assembling the carriage frame of the scanner apparatus that exposes and scans the document surface by moving the first carriage and the second carriage in the sub-scanning direction at a speed ratio of 2: 1. One of the arm and stay constituting the carriage frame has a large diameter reference hole, the other has a large diameter reference hole and a concentric small diameter reference hole, and the large diameter reference hole has a two-stage structure. The large diameter part of the reference pin is inserted and fitted, and the small diameter part of the reference pin is inserted and fitted into the small diameter reference hole to position the arm and stay, and the arm and stay are caulked and joined together. Since it is removed, it is possible to provide a carriage frame body of the scanner device with good assembly work efficiency and high accuracy.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the carriage frame assembled by the assembling method according to the first aspect is provided in the scanner device, a highly accurate scanner device can be provided.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, by mounting the scanner device according to the second aspect , it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus with high assembly work efficiency and high image reading reliability.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a scanner device according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a horizontal sectional view showing the internal structure of the scanner device.
FIG. 3 is a longitudinal front view showing the internal structure of the scanner device.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing each part provided in the scanner housing.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a part of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the direction of the force applied by locking and fixing the belt.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram schematically showing the principle of a moving pulley regarding the moving operation of the first and second carriages.
FIG. 8 is a longitudinal front view schematically showing an embodiment of a copying machine.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing an assembly configuration of a second carriage, which is a main part of the scanner device according to the embodiment of the invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Scanner apparatus 2 Contact glass 3 Scanner housing 6 1st carriage 9 2nd carriage 9b Arm 9d Stay 50 Reference pin 51 Reference hole 52 Caulking hole

Claims (3)

A method for assembling a carriage frame of a scanner device that exposes and scans a document surface by moving a first carriage and a second carriage in a sub-scanning direction at a speed ratio of 2: 1 .
Of the arms and stays constituting the carriage frame body, one is provided with a large diameter reference hole, and the other is provided with a small diameter reference hole concentric with the large diameter reference hole,
A large-diameter portion of a two-stage reference pin is inserted and fitted into the large-diameter reference hole, and a small-diameter portion of the reference pin is inserted and fitted into the small-diameter reference hole to position the arm and stay. ,
Caulking and joining the arm and stay,
A method for assembling a carriage frame of a scanner device, wherein the reference pin is removed. A scanner device comprising a carriage frame assembled by the assembling method according to claim 1. An image forming apparatus comprising the scanner device according to claim 2 .

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