JPH0514259B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an optical scanning device for a copying machine, and more particularly, to a first mirror carriage and a second mirror carriage that scan and move while maintaining a predetermined positional relationship with each other within the main body of the copying machine. The present invention relates to an optical scanning device for a copying machine equipped with a mirror carriage.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, many copying machines have adopted a scanning exposure method, and as one of the copying machines using this scanning exposure method, an original is placed on a fixed platen glass, and the original is placed on a fixed platen glass. It is widely known that scanning is performed using a moving mirror. In this type of copying machine, in order to maintain a constant optical path length from the scanning mirror to the imaging lens, in addition to the first mirror carriage carrying the mirror, the light from the mirror is folded back. A second mirror carriage equipped with a mirror for adjusting the optical path length leading to the imaging lens is provided, and the first mirror carriage and the second mirror carriage are scanned and moved at a speed ratio of 2:1. In this way, the first mirror carriage and the second mirror carriage always maintain a predetermined positional relationship during scanning movement such that the optical path length from the mirror of the first mirror carriage to the imaging lens is constant.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, the wire connecting the first mirror carriage and the second mirror carriage may stretch, causing the above positional relationship to become out of order.
In the past, if such a misalignment occurred, the copier would either be sent to a factory or other facility and the mirror carriage position would be adjusted, or the copier would be left in the operating position and the copy machine would be made while making many copies. The above-mentioned positional relationship was adjusted through trial and error, but in any case, the adjustment required considerable effort and time and was very troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an optical scanning device for a copying machine in which the mutual positional relationship of first and second mirror carriages can be easily adjusted.

(Means for Solving the Problems) An optical scanning device for a copying machine according to the present invention is an optical scanning device including the first and second mirror carriages as described above. The first mirror carriage contacts each of these mirror carriages at a position outside the scanning area.
and first and second abutting members are fixed to the copying machine main body for regulating the first and second mirror carriages to the predetermined positional relationship when the second mirror carriage is out of alignment with the predetermined positional relationship. It is characterized by this.

(Function) In the optical scanning device having the above configuration, the first mirror carriage and the second mirror carriage are connected to the first mirror carriage and the second mirror carriage, respectively.
If the mirror carriages are brought into contact with the abutting member and the second abutting member, the predetermined positional relationship of these mirror carriages will be reproduced, so if both mirror carriages are reconnected to the scanning drive mechanism in this state, from then on, both mirror carriages will be A predetermined positional relationship is maintained.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on an example shown in the drawings.

1 and 2 show an embodiment of an optical scanning device for a copying machine according to the present invention. A first mirror carriage 3 and a second mirror carriage 4 are mounted on a pair of rails 2, 2 fixed inside the copying machine main body 1. The first mirror carriage 3 and the second mirror carriage 4 can be smoothly moved along the rails 2, 2 via a sliding piece 5, for example. Further, the first mirror carriage 3 is connected to a drive device (not shown) by wires 6, 6.
is fixed using fixtures 7, 7, while the second mirror carriage 4 is connected to the wires 6, 6 via pulleys 8, 8 on which the wires 6, 6 are hung, and the wires 6, 6 are driven. When this happens, the first mirror carriage 3 and the second mirror carriage 4 move at a speed ratio of 2:1. The first mirror carriage 3 is equipped with a mirror 9 for scanning the original and a lamp 10 for illuminating the original, while the second mirror carriage 4 is equipped with mirrors 11 and 12 for adjusting the optical path length.

When copying the original 14 placed on the platen glass 13 as shown in FIG. 2, first the first mirror carriage 3 and the second mirror carriage 4 are moved in the scanning directions indicated by arrows A3 and A4 in FIG. The first mirror carriage 3 is set at the starting position, and then the wires 6, 6 are driven to scan and move the first mirror carriage 3 to the left in the figure. As a result, the image of the original 14 is reflected on the mirrors 9 and 1.
1, 12, imaging lens 15 and fixed mirror 16
, an image is formed on the photosensitive drum 17, and the photosensitive drum 17 is exposed. At this time, as described above, the first mirror carriage 3 and the second mirror carriage 4 are moved at a speed ratio of 2:1, so the first mirror carriage 3 and the second mirror carriage 4 are
From the mirror 9 of the mirror carriage 3 to the imaging lens 15
A predetermined positional relationship is maintained in which the optical path length is constant. The image of the original 14 formed on the photosensitive drum 17 is developed, for example, by electrophotography, and then transferred to copy paper (not shown) to obtain a copy of the original 14.

The predetermined positional relationship between the first mirror carriage 3 and the second mirror carriage 4 is such that, for example, the wires 6, 6
If this happens, the image of the document 14 formed on the photosensitive drum 17 will be out of focus, leading to deterioration of the image quality of the copying machine. Hereinafter, a mechanism for adjusting the positional relationship between the first mirror carriage 3 and the second mirror carriage 4 will be explained. When scanning a maximum size original, the first mirror carriage 3 moves to a scanning end position indicated by an arrow B3 in FIG. That is, the scanning area for copying of the first mirror carriage 3 is a range between the position indicated by arrow A3 and the position indicated by arrow B3. When the first mirror carriage 3 moves further outward (to the left in FIG. 2) from the scanning end position B3 and leaves the copying scanning area, the rails 2, 2 are provided with a A first abutting member 20, 20 that abuts on the first abutting member 3 is fixedly provided. As shown in FIG. 3, the first contact members 20, 20 are, for example, an L-shaped base 20a and a contact pin 20b fixed to the rails 2, 2 using screws 20c. It is set up. Furthermore, when the second mirror carriage 4 moves with the first mirror carriage 3 while maintaining the above-described predetermined positional relationship with respect to the first mirror carriage 3, the first mirror carriage 3 is attached to the first mirror carriage 3.
At the position where it comes into contact with the second mirror carriage 4 immediately when it comes into contact with the contact members 20, 20 of
Second abutting members 21, 21 are fixedly provided. These second contact members 21, 21 are formed similarly to the first contact members 20, 20.

First mirror carriage 3 and second mirror carriage 4
If the predetermined positional relationship between the first mirror carriage 3 and the second mirror carriage 4 is disturbed, first loosen the fixing devices 7, 7 to disconnect the first mirror carriage 3 and the wires 6, 6, and release the interlocking relationship between the first mirror carriage 3 and the second mirror carriage 4. do. and a first mirror carriage 3 and a second mirror carriage 4
manually move the respective first abutting members 2.
0, 20 and the second contact members 21, 21 (the state shown in FIG. 1). If the first mirror carriage 3 is fixed to the wires 6, 6 by tightening the fixtures 7, 7 in this state, the predetermined positional relationship between the first mirror carriage 3 and the second mirror carriage 4 will be reproduced. Therefore, from then on, when scanning exposure is performed as described above, the first mirror carriage 3 and the second mirror carriage 4 maintain a predetermined positional relationship that keeps the optical path length from the mirror 9 to the imaging lens 15 constant. You will be able to maintain and move.

Note that the first abutting members 20, 20 and the second abutting members 21, 21 are not limited to the shapes as in the above embodiment, but may be formed in other suitable shapes. Also, normally, the first contact members 20, 20
It is preferable to cover the contact pin 20b with a cap made of rubber or the like. In this way, even if the first mirror carriage 3 is accidentally hit strongly against the first abutting members 20, 20 during maintenance work of the copying machine, the first mirror carriage 3 or the first abutting member 2
0 and 20 are not damaged. Second contact member 21,2
The same applies to 1.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained in detail above, according to the optical scanning device for a copying machine of the present invention, the positional relationship between the first mirror carriage and the second mirror carriage can be easily adjusted while the copying machine is installed in the operating position. This can be done extremely easily with simple steps.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are a plan view and a partially cutaway side view, respectively, showing an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an enlarged main part of the apparatus of the above embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Copying machine main body, 3... First mirror carriage, 4... Second mirror carriage, 20... First abutting member, 21... Second abutting member.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A first mirror carriage and a second mirror carriage that scan and move while maintaining a predetermined positional relationship with each other within the main body of the copying machine.
an optical scanning device for a copying machine comprising a mirror carriage, wherein the first and second mirror carriages are brought into contact with each other at a position outside the copying scanning area of the first and second mirror carriages; first and second mirror carriages that define the first and second mirror carriages in the predetermined positional relationship when the relationship is out of alignment;
An optical scanning device for a copying machine, characterized in that an abutting member can be fixed to the main body of the copying machine.