JPH05281625A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To easily clean a mirror without scratching the mirror and also without pulling the mirror outside a device by installing a cleaning means and elongating one end of a moving means for moving the cleaning means out of the device main body. CONSTITUTION:As to the image reader provided with an optical system using the mirror 31, the cleaning means 33 for cleaning the reflective surface of the mirror 31 is installed, and one end of the moving means 34 for moving the cleaning means 33 along the reflective surface of the mirror is elongated outside the device main body. And an opening/closing means for covering one end of the moving means 34 elongating outside the main body is installed, and the moving means 34 can be operated in a state where the opening/closing means is open, and the opening/closing means can be closed when the cleaning means 33 linking to the moving means 34 is moved to the position where the optical path on the reflection destination is not shielded. Thus, the mirror is easily cleaned without pulling the mirror 31 housed in the device main body outside, and also, the mirror 31 is prevented from being scratched when it is cleaned.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus for an image forming apparatus such as a laser printer, a copying machine and a facsimile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image reading apparatus which irradiates a document placed on a contact glass with light, receives reflected light from the document, and converts the information into an electric signal,
Usually, some mirrors are used to turn the reflected light path so that the arrangement of the lens and the photoelectric conversion element contributes to downsizing of the entire image forming apparatus.

When such a mirror is used for a long period of time, it is fogged and soiled, so that the amount of light sent to the lens and the photoelectric conversion element is reduced, which hinders image reading.

In particular, in an image forming apparatus equipped with an automatic document feeder (hereinafter referred to as ADF), the processing speed is high, but a large amount of paper dust is generated because the paper is rubbed when separating the stacked documents. It is easily generated, and dust is also generated due to abrasion of the rubber roller.

Such paper dust and dirt also adhere to the mirror and interfere with image reading.

The mirror in the image reading apparatus is built in the apparatus main body, and it is not easy to clean it. To that end, several techniques have been provided to prevent paper dust from sticking to the mirror.

For example, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 61-140667, a light source for irradiating a reading line of an original conveyed from the upstream side to the downstream side of the original conveying surface, a reflected light from the original, and an electric signal are received. An image reading apparatus having a photoelectric conversion element for converting into a sheet, a transparent plate in a reading line of the original conveying surface, and superposing the conveying surface on an upper surface of an upstream end of the transparent plate. A transparent plate holding mechanism is disclosed.

Further, in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 2-123170, in a paper dust adhesion preventing structure of a document reading mirror that polarizes reflected light from a document toward a reading element, the optical path of the reflected light is not blocked. Preventing paper dust from adhering to the mirror, characterized by having a paper dust suction member arranged between the original and the mirror and charged by a high-voltage power supply, and a paper dust receiving tray arranged below the paper dust suction member. A structure is disclosed.

Further, in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-75443, a document called between an upper document guide plate and a lower document guide plate and separated by a feed roller and a separation roller is fed onto a document reading glass by a pair of conveying rollers to be read. In a reading device, a paper dust drop groove having a slip surface formed at a rear end of the lower document guide plate in a front stage in a direction perpendicular to a sheet passing direction, and having a rear surface inclined downward, and a material having elasticity. The paper dust removing blade, which is formed at the side edge of the document to be passed and is pressed against the upper surface of the slip surface of the paper dust dropping groove, and the lower portion of the paper dust dropping groove. A document reading device is disclosed which is provided with a paper dust collector.

[0010]

However, in all of them, the gap is reduced to prevent the paper powder or the like from adhering to the mirror, or the paper powder or the like is forcibly collected to make the mirror dirty. Is to prevent
It does not clean a mirror once it has become dirty.

In Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-147068, a contact glass fixed on the upper surface of the apparatus is placed, a contact glass for illuminating the original surface from below the contact glass, and a light source for moving the original as it scans the original. An image input device is disclosed, which has a mirror for directing light reflected from a document surface to a light receiving portion, and is configured such that the light source and the mirror can be inserted and removed from a side surface of a housing of the device. This facilitates maintenance by making the light source and the mirror integrally extractable, but it is presumed that the integrated light source and mirror are cleaned after being pulled out.

The present invention, as compared with the prior art such as these, without damaging the mirror housed in the apparatus body,
An object is to provide an image reading device that can be easily cleaned without being pulled out.

[0013]

The present invention solves this problem by
In an image reading apparatus including an optical system using a mirror, cleaning means for cleaning a reflecting surface of the mirror is provided, and one end of a moving means for moving the cleaning means along the mirror reflecting surface is extended outside the apparatus main body. To solve.

An opening / closing means for covering one end of the moving means extending outside the apparatus main body is provided, and with the opening / closing means opened,
It is preferable if the moving means can be operated and the opening / closing means can be closed when the cleaning means connected to the moving means is moved to a position where the optical path of the reflected light is not blocked. Is.

Further, in the image reading apparatus having the light source for illuminating the original surface and the optical system using the mirror, the cleaning means for cleaning the reflecting surface of the mirror is provided, and the cleaning means is moved along the mirror reflecting surface. The problem can be solved even if the moving means is attached to the detachable light source and the cleaning means moves along the mirror reflection surface when the light source is attached and detached.

In an image reading apparatus having a light source for illuminating the original surface and an optical system using a mirror, a cleaning means for cleaning the reflecting surface of the mirror is attached to the removable light source,
Even when the cleaning means is moved along the mirror reflecting surface when the light source is attached or detached, the same problem can be solved.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the embodiments based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an outline of the entire image reading apparatus.

A document separated from the stacked document group by the feed roller and the separation roller and moving from the upstream side to the downstream side of the document transport surface passes between the upper guide portion and the lower guide portion and passes over the contact glass 1. Then, the document is discharged to the document discharge section. When the document passes over the contact glass 1, the light source 50 illuminates the document, and the reflected light reaches the light receiving section 2 with its optical path bent by the mirror 31.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention.

The mirror 31 located directly below the contact glass 1 is held at a predetermined inclination by a mirror holder 32. The cleaning means 33, which slides on the reflecting surface of the mirror 31 in the longitudinal direction thereof, is provided with claw portions at both edge portions thereof so as to grasp the mirror 31, as can be understood from FIG. 2B. A sponge or the like made of a material suitable for cleaning is provided at a portion of the mirror 31 that contacts the reflection surface.

The cleaning means 33 is a mirror 31
A handle 34 for moving in the longitudinal direction is attached and extends parallel to the longitudinal direction of the mirror 31 and does not block the optical path of the reflected light from the document. Handle 34
The tip end on the side opposite to the end attached to the cleaning means 33 is always located outside the apparatus main body, and the cleaning means 33 can reach a position where the optical path of the reflected light is not blocked when the image reading apparatus is in operation. Must be pushed into the device.

By pulling out and pushing in the grip 34, the cleaning means 33 cleans the reflecting surface of the mirror 3.

FIG. 3 shows a handle 34 located outside the main body of the apparatus.
2 shows a state in which an opening / closing cover 40 that covers the tip of the device is attached to the apparatus body. With the opening / closing cover 40 open, the grip 34 of the cleaning means can be operated. When the opening / closing cover 40 is closed, the handle 34 is attached to the cleaning unit 3.
The opening / closing cover 40 cannot be completely closed unless the device 3 is pushed into the device to a position that does not block the optical path of the reflected light. Open / close cover 40
Can be configured so that the device does not operate in the open state in conjunction with the interlock switch.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention.

The light source 50 has a protrusion 50a on its support.
Is equipped with. As can be seen in FIG. 4B, the cleaning means 33 that slides on the reflecting surface of the mirror 31 in the longitudinal direction thereof has a claw for gripping the mirror 31, as in the embodiment of FIG. The portions are provided at both edge portions thereof, and a sponge made of a material suitable for cleaning is arranged at a portion in contact with the reflection surface of the mirror 31. The difference from the embodiment of FIG. 2 is that two protrusions 33a and 33b are present on the surface opposite to the surface on which the sponge or the like is provided.

As can be seen from FIG. 4C, the light source 50 is arranged at a position where it does not block the optical path of the reflected light, and slides along the light source guide rail 51. It can be removed from the side and replaced.

When the light source 50 is inserted from the side surface of the main body of the apparatus, the projection 50a of the light source contacts the projection 33a of the cleaning means, and the cleaning means 3 is cleaned while cleaning the reflecting surface of the mirror 31.
Push 3 into the device. When the cleaning means 33 slides to the back, it contacts the mirror holder and stops. Further light source 50
Is pushed in, the projection 50a becomes a projection 3 of the cleaning means.
3a is bent, and finally the projection 33a is overcome. The projection 33a returns to its original state by its elastic restoring force when the projection 33a gets over the projection 50a of the light source.

When the light source 50 is pulled out, the same phenomenon as described above occurs, and the protrusion 50a comes into contact with the protrusion 33a and pushes it, so that the cleaning means 33 causes the mirror 31 to move.
Move inside the device body while cleaning the reflective surface of. Then, when the cleaning means 33 stops by hitting the mirror holder again, the protrusion 50a bends the protrusion 33a and gets over the protrusion 33a, and as a result, the light source 50 is pulled out from the side surface of the apparatus main body.

The other projection 33b of the cleaning means 33 is provided in order to prevent the cleaning means 33, which has been pushed in until it hits the mirror holder, from moving during the driving of the apparatus and blocking the optical path of the reflected light. Is. However, instead of this projection 33b, a handle 34 extending parallel to the longitudinal direction of the mirror 31 in the embodiment of FIG. 2 is provided, which is shown, for example, in FIG. 3 so that the cleaning means 33 does not move during the driving of the device. Of course, the opening / closing cover 40 may be attached.

FIG. 5 shows still another embodiment of the present invention.

The cleaning means 33, in which a sponge or the like made of a material suitable for cleaning is disposed on a portion that slides on the reflecting surface of the mirror 31 in the longitudinal direction and is in contact with the reflecting surface of the mirror 31, supports the light source 50. The light source 50 is attached directly to the member, while the light source 50 is arranged at a position that does not block the optical path of the reflected light.

Each time the light source 50 slides along the light source guide rail 51 and is replaced from the side of the main body of the apparatus, the mirror 3
The reflecting surface 1 is cleaned by the cleaning means 33.

[0034]

According to the image reading apparatus of the present invention, cleaning means for cleaning the reflecting surface of the mirror is provided, and one end of the moving means for moving the cleaning means along the mirror reflecting surface is extended outside the apparatus main body. Therefore, the mirror housed in the apparatus main body can be easily cleaned without being pulled out, and the mirror is not damaged during cleaning.

According to the image reading apparatus of claim 2,
An opening / closing means for covering one end of the moving means extending to the outside of the apparatus main body is provided, and the moving means can be operated with the opening / closing means opened, and the cleaning means connected to the moving means blocks the optical path of the reflected light. Since it is possible to close the opening / closing means when the cleaning means is moved to a certain position, the effect of claim 1 is obtained, and at the time of cleaning the mirror, the cleaning means is left at a position that interrupts the optical path of the reflected light. It is possible to prevent the trouble of reading the image.

According to the image reading apparatus of claim 3,
The moving means for cleaning the reflecting surface of the mirror is attached to the removable light source so that the cleaning means moves along the reflecting surface of the mirror when the light source is attached or detached. Therefore, the mirror is automatically cleaned when the light source is replaced. Since the life of the light source depends on the usage time, the mirror can be cleaned at regular intervals.

In the image reading means of claim 4,
Since the cleaning means for cleaning the reflecting surface of the mirror is attached to the removable light source, the mirror reflecting surface is cleaned every time the light source is replaced, and the cleaning means is also replaced at the time of replacing the light source, so that the mirror due to dirt on the cleaning means. It is possible to prevent a decrease in cleaning effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall schematic diagram of an image reading apparatus.

2A and 2B show an embodiment of an image reading apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 2A is a schematic perspective view, and FIG. 2B is a partially enlarged view of a cleaning unit.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view showing a state in which an opening / closing cover is attached.

4A and 4B show another embodiment of the image reading apparatus of the present invention, FIG. 4A is a partial schematic view including a mirror and a light source, FIG. 4B is a partially enlarged view of a cleaning means, and FIG. () Is an end view in which the cleaning means is omitted, and (d) is a corresponding plan view in which the cleaning means is not omitted.

FIG. 5 shows still another embodiment of the image reading apparatus of the present invention, (a) is a schematic perspective view, and (b) is a corresponding end view.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Contact Glass 31 Mirror 32 Mirror Holder 33 Cleaning Means 34 Handle

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁵ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location H04N 1/04 Z 7251-5C

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image reading apparatus having an optical system using a mirror, wherein a cleaning means for cleaning a reflecting surface of the mirror is provided, and one end of a moving means for moving the cleaning means along the mirror reflecting surface is an apparatus. An image reading device characterized in that it extends outside the main body. 2. An opening / closing means for covering one end of the moving means extending to the outside of the apparatus body is provided, and the moving means can be operated in a state where the opening / closing means is opened, and a cleaning connected to the moving means. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing means can be closed when the means is moved to a position where it does not block the optical path of the reflected light. 3. An image reading apparatus comprising a light source for illuminating a document surface and an optical system using a mirror, cleaning means for cleaning the reflecting surface of the mirror is provided, and the cleaning means is provided along the mirror reflecting surface. An image reading apparatus, wherein moving means for moving is attached to a removable light source, and the cleaning means moves along the mirror reflecting surface when the light source is attached or detached. 4. An image reading apparatus including a light source for illuminating a document surface and an optical system using a mirror, wherein a cleaning means for cleaning a reflecting surface of the mirror is attached to a removable light source, and when the light source is attached or detached. An image reading device, wherein the cleaning means moves along a mirror reflecting surface.