JPH05227379A - Support structure for image sensor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide the support structure of an image sensor whose structure is simple in which no high precision is required for alignment of each component itself and between components. CONSTITUTION:A read roller 11 is supported by mounting a bearing 14 mounted to both ends to a bearing housing 13 placed to the depth of a slit 12 formed to a chassis 10. An image sensor 20 is positioned and integrated with the read roller 11 by connecting an alignment plate 21 provided to both ends to the bearing. Then a free end 22a of a plate spring 22 fixed to a rear side of the image sensor 20 is inserted into a stopper 24 formed to a prescribed position of the chassis 10 and engaged. Thus, components are arranged almost in a line, the structure is simplified, and the image sensor 20 is energized toward the read direction with an elastic force of a plate spring 22 and the movement of the image sensor 20 is inhibited through the coupling.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image sensor in an optical image reading apparatus such as a facsimile machine or a reading scanner, and more specifically, to support a contact type image sensor in which a detection unit is brought into close contact with a surface to be read. Regarding the structure.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An optical image reading apparatus having an image sensor is used, for example, in a facsimile machine or various scanners. An example of the configuration is shown in FIG. That is, an elongated rectangular image sensor 1 having a reading width for one line (original width) has one end of a support plate 2 attached to both ends thereof, and is formed on the other end of the support plate 2. Bearing 2a
It is pivotally attached to a support shaft 3 fixed to the main body of the facsimile apparatus via. Further, the bifurcated portion 2b provided at the end portion of the support plate 2 on the image sensor side is in contact with both ends of the rotary shaft 5 of the reading roller 4 arranged to face the image sensor 1. Further, the image sensor 1 is constantly urged toward the reading roller 4 side by the spring 6 arranged above the image sensor 1.

Then, the original 7 passes between the image sensor 1 and the reading roller 4.
Then, at the time of this passage, the original 7 is read by the image sensor 1 while receiving an appropriate holding pressure between the image sensor 1 and the reading roller 4 by the biasing force of the spring 6. Since the image sensor 1 can swing as described above, it is possible to appropriately deal with the originals 7 having different thicknesses.

Then, the forked portion 2b and the rotary shaft 5 described above.
The positioning of the image sensor 1 and the reading roller 4 is performed by the connection with the, and the original 7 is moved (rotation of the reading roller 4) by mounting the bearings 2a and the forked portions 2b on the shafts 3 and 5, respectively. Accordingly, the force applied to the image sensor 1 in the direction of arrow B is suppressed.

[0005]

However, in the above-described conventional support structure, the bearing portions 2a and the bifurcated portions provided at both ends of the support plate 2 for suppressing the rotation of the image sensor 1 (direction of arrow B). 2b are fixed to the support shaft 3 and the rotary shaft 5 attached to the facsimile main body, respectively, so that the shape and size of the support plate 2 can be precisely determined and the positional relationship of each component can be maintained at a predetermined position. Assembling work must be performed while accurately positioning the support shaft 3 and the reading roller 4, and the work is complicated and has a complicated structure, which not only hinders miniaturization. Incurs high costs.
Further, the spring 6 is structurally equivalent to the image sensor 1.
Since the reading roller 4 and the reading roller 4 have to be separately mounted at predetermined positions and mounted in a subsequent process, there are various problems such that the work is complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of the above background, and its object is to have a simple structure, which does not require high precision in positioning each component itself and each other, and an assembling work. It is to provide a support structure for an image sensor that is easy and inexpensive.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, a supporting structure for an image sensor according to the present invention comprises:
A reading roller directly or indirectly supported by the main body of the apparatus and an image sensor arranged to face the reading roller are connected by connecting positioning members formed at both ends of the image sensor to the reading roller. .. Then, one end of a leaf spring having a predetermined width is fixed to the back side of the image sensor, and the other end of the leaf spring is engaged with a stopper means provided in the apparatus body. Further, the stopper means has a portion that comes into contact with the side surface in the moving direction of the leaf spring that follows the movement of the image sensor caused by the rotation of the reading roller.

[0008]

The reading roller and the image sensor are connected to each other through the positioning member, so that the positioning between them can be performed. Further, the elastic force of the leaf spring causes the image sensor to contact the reading roller with an appropriate pressure. Then, when a read document or the like passes between the image sensor and the reading roller, the content of the document is read by the image sensor that is pressed into contact when the document is read. At this time, the reading roller rotates and the recording paper moves, and along with this, the image sensor also tries to move and rotate by being biased in the moving direction of the recording paper. Then, the leaf spring integrated with the image sensor also follows the leaf spring and tries to move in a predetermined direction. However, since the stopper means is located in the moving direction, movement of the leaf spring and thus the image sensor is restricted.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of a support structure for an image sensor according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a reading roller 11 having an elongated cylindrical shape and an outer peripheral surface made of a rubber material is rotatably and pivotally attached to a chassis 10 which constitutes a part of a frame of a facsimile apparatus main body. Specifically, first, the slits 12, 12 are formed at predetermined positions on both side surfaces of the chassis 10, and a circular bearing holding portion 13 wider than the slit 12 is formed on the inner side of the slit 12. The rotary shaft 11a at both ends of the reading roller 11 has a small cylindrical bearing 1
4 is rotatably inserted and arranged in a loosely fitted state.

The diameter of the tip end side portion of the bearing tool 14 is substantially equal to the diameter of the bearing holding portion 13, and the tip end side portion of the bearing holder 14 is formed by cutting both sides in the radial direction in parallel. Cut portion 14a and second cut portion 14b
Is provided. Then, the width t1 of the first cut portion 14a and the width t2 of the second cut portion 14b have a relationship of t1 <t2, and further, the width t1 of the first cut portion 14a.
Is slightly narrower than the width t3 of the slit 12.
As a result, when the first cut portion 14a and the slit 12 are positioned orthogonally to each other as shown in FIG. 1, the slit 1 is larger than the diameter of the bearing 14 (the diameter of the bearing holding portion 13) R1.
Since the width t3 of 2 is small, the bearing 14 is locked by the bearing holder 13 and the detachment of the reading roller 11 is suppressed.

On the other hand, an elongated substantially rectangular image sensor 20 capable of reading one line is arranged so as to face the reading roller 11, but in the present invention, it extends downward on both side surfaces of the image sensor 20. The bifurcated positioning plates 21 and 21 are mounted, and the leaf springs 22 and 22 having a predetermined width are provided on the back side of the image sensor 20.
I am wearing. In this example, the positioning plate 21 and the leaf spring 22 are integrally formed by pressing a single metal plate, and the metal plate is fixed to the image sensor 20 with the screw 23. The bifurcated inner width of the positioning plate 21 is substantially equal to the width of the second cut portion 14b of the bearing 14, and the image sensor 20 can be read by the image sensor 20 by aligning the two with each other. 11 will be positioned.

Further, at a predetermined position of the chassis 10 facing the free end 22a side of the leaf spring 22, a shallow shallow concave shape is formed.
The stopper portion 2 having a width substantially equal to the width of the leaf spring 22.
4 is formed, and the free end 22a of the leaf spring 22 is inserted and arranged in the stopper portion 24. And both of these 22
Due to the engagement of a and 24, the torsional rigidity of the leaf spring 22, and the rigidity in the surface direction, the image sensor 20 generated with the rotation of the reading roller 11 is restrained from rotating in the direction of arrow C in the figure. ..

The image sensor 20 having the above structure
In the above supporting structure, since the image sensor 20 is held in a semi-floating manner by the leaf spring 22 and the rubber on the surface of the reading roller 11, the factor that disturbs the close contact balance between the image sensor 20 and the reading roller 11 is extremely small. Further, the image sensor 20 is the reading roller 1
1 is connected via a positioning plate 21, but is only brought into contact with the facsimile apparatus main body (chassis 10) via the spring elastic force of a plate spring 22, and the reading roller 11, The image sensor 20, the leaf spring 22, and the stopper portion 24 are arranged in a substantially straight line,
Moreover, since the arrangement direction and the expansion / contraction direction of the leaf spring 22 coincide with each other, even if an error occurs in the manufacturing dimension of each component, it is absorbed by the expansion / contraction of the leaf spring 22. Less demanded. Further, since the respective parts can be arranged in a straight line as described above, the size can be reduced.

Next, the procedure for assembling the apparatus of the above-described embodiment will be described. First, as shown in FIG. 3, bearings 14 are loaded on the rotary shafts 11a at both ends of the reading roller 11, and the bearings 14 are attached. With the first cut portion 14a of the above and the slit 12 provided in the chassis 10 parallel to each other, the bearing 14 (the first cut portion 14a) is inserted into the slit 12 as indicated by an arrow in the drawing, As shown by the chain double-dashed line (only the tip of the bearing 14 is shown for convenience), the bearing 12 is moved to the bearing holding portion 13 on the inner side of the slit 12.

Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the reading roller 11 is arranged at a predetermined position (at this time, the first cut portion 14a of the bearing 14 is kept in the same direction (parallel) as the slit 12). Then, as shown in the figure, the image sensor 20, the positioning plate 21 and the leaf spring 22 which are integrated are made to face the reading roller 11 with the positioning plate 21 facing forward and moved in the direction of the arrow in the figure.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5, the positioning plate 21
The bifurcated tip of the second cut portion 14b of the bearing 14 is
Image sensor 20 and reading roller 1
1 and 1 are integrated in a contact state. Next, when the image sensor 20 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in the figure, the bearing 14 (reading roller 11) integrated with the image sensor 20 also rotates. Then, when it is rotated by approximately 90 degrees, the leaf spring 22 is inserted and fixed in the stopper portion 24 as shown in FIG. 1, and the bearing 14 is also rotated as described above, so that the first cut portion 14a is also rotated by 90 degrees. Then, as shown in FIG. 1, the slit 12 is positioned orthogonally. As a result, the reading roller 11 and the image sensor 20 are inseparably integrated. When the leaf spring 22 is inserted into the stopper portion 24, the tip portion 22a is biased toward the image sensor 20 side and crushed in order to facilitate the insertion work.

In this way, the mounting can be easily carried out by almost one-touch type, and after mounting, the disengagement is suppressed by the engagement between the bearing 14 and the slit 12 and the engagement between the leaf spring 22 and the stopper portion 24. It

The position and number of leaf springs to be attached are not limited to those in the above-described embodiment. For example, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the leaf springs are fixed at both ends of the image sensor.
Although the free end is located on the center side, various modifications can be made, such as the opposite arrangement (the free ends are located on both end sides).

Further, the positioning plate and the leaf spring may not be integrally formed as in the above-mentioned embodiment but may be constituted by separate parts. Further, a pair of positioning plates provided at both ends of the image sensor are integrally formed, that is, for example, both ends of a plate having a U-shaped cross section are used as the positioning plates, and the image sensor is fixed to the intermediate portion. Good.

Furthermore, the leaf spring and the stopper portion are engaged with each other by abutting on the outer peripheral surface of the leaf spring in the above-mentioned embodiment. For example, a through hole is formed at a predetermined position on the free end side of the leaf spring. Alternatively, a projection (which serves as stopper means) inserted into the through hole may be provided at a predetermined position of the facsimile main body.

Further, the field of use of the present invention is not limited to a facsimile machine, but can be applied to various scanners and other devices. Further, the positional relationship of each component in the vertical direction may be opposite to that of the above-described embodiment, and may be arranged so as to extend in the horizontal direction, that is, it is only necessary that they are arranged in a straight line.

The apparatus main body supporting the reading roller in the present invention is specifically limited to the portion forming the outer box of the mounting apparatus such as a facsimile machine. Instead, various chassis and mounting fittings located inside may be used, and in short, it may be mounted directly or indirectly to a fixed system portion with respect to the apparatus main body. Similarly, the apparatus main body provided with the stopper portion (means) is not limited to the outer box and may be a fixed system portion, and the portion for supporting the reading roller and the stopper portion are provided as in the above embodiment. The part and the part do not necessarily have to be formed of the same member.

[0023]

As described above, in the image sensor supporting structure according to the present invention, the leaf spring and the image sensor are engaged with each other while the predetermined contact pressure between the reading roller and the image sensor is obtained. The rigidity of the leaf spring can restrict the movement of the image sensor. Therefore, since the image sensor is only fixed on the reading roller side and is held in a semi-floating manner by the leaf spring, the structure is simple, and high precision is not required for positioning each component itself and each component. As a result, the assembling work is easy and the cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of essential parts showing a preferred embodiment of a support structure for an image sensor according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a preferred embodiment of a support structure for an image sensor according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a process drawing for explaining an assembly operation.

FIG. 4 is a process chart for explaining an assembly operation.

FIG. 5 is a process chart for explaining an assembly operation.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example of a conventional image sensor support structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Chassis (Device Main Body) 11 Reading Roller 20 Image Sensor 21 Positioning Plate 22 Leaf Spring 24 Stopper

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A reading roller which is directly or indirectly supported by the main body of the apparatus and an image sensor which is arranged to face the reading roller, and positioning members formed at both ends of the image sensor are attached to the reading roller. The leaf spring having a predetermined width is fixed to the back side of the image sensor, and the other end of the leaf spring is engaged with the stopper means provided in the apparatus main body. The image sensor support structure has a portion that comes into contact with a predetermined portion of the leaf spring so as to prevent movement of the leaf spring that follows movement of the image sensor caused by rotation of the reading roller.