JPH0145168Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an optical scanning mechanism, particularly to an optical scanning mechanism in a plane scanning type facsimile apparatus.

Generally, the optical scanning mechanism in a flat scanning type facsimile machine uses an integrated optical sensor such as a CCD, and uses a lens to form an image on the light-receiving surface of the optical sensor by reflecting light from a scanning area on the document surface. let me,
Scanning is performed by sequentially switching the individual elements of the optical sensor using clock pulses.

In the optical system of such an optical scanning mechanism, the optical path from the document surface to the optical sensor tends to be long in order to reduce peripheral distortion of the lens.

Therefore, the conventional optical scanning mechanism, as shown in the plan view of FIG. 1 and the side view of FIG. The width L of the optical system is prevented from increasing by bending the optical system so as to be substantially parallel to the surface of the original 1 and configuring the optical system three-dimensionally.

The mechanical parts of the facsimile machine, such as the document feeding system and its drive part, are mounted in space A shown by the dashed-dotted line in Figure 2, and the electric circuit part is divided into space B shown by the dashed-dotted line and space C shown by the dashed-dotted line. will be implemented.

However, Space B is separated from Space A and Space C by the optical path of the optical system, and there is a document feeding section (not shown) between it and the document 1, so a large space cannot be taken up, so space B is separated from Space A and Space C by the optical path of the optical system. It is difficult to use it for implementation of sections.

Therefore, the electric circuit section is mainly mounted in the space C, and the width M of the facsimile device becomes larger than the width L, which impedes miniaturization of the facsimile device.

That is, the conventional optical scanning mechanism has a disadvantage in that the optical system is arranged three-dimensionally, resulting in wasted mounting space.

An object of the present invention is to provide an optical scanning mechanism that can arrange an optical system in a planar manner and prevent waste from occurring in the mounting space.

The optical scanning mechanism of the present invention includes an optical sensor that receives and photoelectrically converts the reflected light from the scanning area obtained by uniformly irradiating the vicinity of the scanning area on the document surface with a rod-shaped light source; a lens for forming an image on the light-receiving surface of the optical sensor, and a reflecting mirror disposed in the optical path of the reflected light and positioned so that the optical axis plane of the lens includes the scanning area and is substantially perpendicular to the document surface. It consists of:

Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 3 is a plan view showing one embodiment of the present invention;
The figure is a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3.
The optical scanning mechanism shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 includes an optical sensor 3, a lens 4', and a reflecting mirror 5'.

The reflected light from the scanning area obtained by uniformly irradiating the vicinity of the scanning area of the original 1 with the rod-shaped light source 2 is as follows.
The light is reflected by the reflecting mirror 5', and an image of the scanned portion of the original 1 is formed on the light receiving surface of the optical sensor 3 via the lens 4'.

The reflecting mirror 5' is set so that the optical axis of the lens 4' is on a plane that includes the scanning area of the original 1 and is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the original 1.

Here, when the reflecting mirror 5' is removed, the reflected light from points a and d at both ends of the scanning area on the original 1 is as shown by the broken line in FIG. The images are focused on c' and f', and the optical path length satisfies equation (1).

ab+bc'=de+ef'...(1) Now, if the optical path on the imaging side shown by the broken line is turned back at the opposite slope of the reflecting mirror 5', the light path from points a and d to points c and f on the light-receiving surface of the optical sensor 3 is In order to simultaneously image the reflected lights of , it is sufficient to satisfy equation (2).

ab+bc=de+ef …(2) Therefore, from equation (1), if bc=bc′, ef=ef′, then the equation
(2) holds true.

Here, from FIG. 3, it is clear that for any given inclination of the reflecting mirror 5', there is one position of the lens 4' and optical sensor 3 that satisfies bc = bc', ef = ef'. It is.

With this configuration, as shown in Fig. 4, the optical system is housed in a flat space, and a space indicated by a two-dot chain line is provided above the optical system.
B' is obtained.

The space B' has a space in which the electric circuit section, which was mostly mounted in the space C and partially mounted in the space B in the conventional example described above, can be mounted all at once.

Mechanical sections such as the document feeding system and its drive section are housed in space A as in the conventional example.

Therefore, all the components of the facsimile device can be accommodated within the width L, and in the case of this embodiment, it is possible to reduce the size by about 75% compared to the conventional example.

As described above, in the optical scanning mechanism of the present invention, instead of bending the optical path of the optical system almost parallel to the document surface and arranging the optical system three-dimensionally, the optical path is on a plane that is almost perpendicular to the document surface. By bending the optical system in this manner and arranging the optical system in a flat manner, it is possible to prevent the mounting space from being wasted, thereby making it possible to downsize the facsimile apparatus.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a conventional example, Fig. 2 is a side view of the conventional example shown in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a plan view showing an embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. 3. It is a side view in the example shown. In the figure, 1...Original, 2...Bar-shaped light source, 3
...Photo sensor, 4,4'...Lens, 5,5'...
Reflector.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] an optical sensor that receives and photoelectrically converts reflected light from the scanning area obtained by uniformly irradiating the vicinity of the scanning area on the document surface with a rod-shaped light source; and a reflecting mirror disposed in the optical path of the reflected light and positioned so that the optical axis plane of the lens includes the scanning area and is substantially orthogonal to the document surface. Optical scanning mechanism.