JPH09127616A - Optical device and image forming device provided with the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To read an image in an excellent way, to prevent the damage due to the abutting of a flexible cable and a carriage and to prevent the sagging flexible cable from blocking an optical path and giving an adverse effect in forming the image, by bending the midway part of a control member to be separated from the cable. SOLUTION: At one end part of a lens unit stay 52, a mounting piece 52a is lowered, and the flexible cable 51 and one end part of the plastic sheet 53 are attached to the mounting piece 52a. And the plastic sheet 53 is bent from the midway part at a bend angle of 90 deg. so that it may be easily manufactured, then, it is formed to a nearly chevron shape, and the flexible cable is elastically pressed by the other end part. Thus, when the carriage runs toward a paper feeding side, as to the flexible cable 51, the part attached to the lens unit stay 52 is always pulled toward the paper feeding side by the restoring force of the bent part of the plastic sheet 53, then, the occurrence of sagging is prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to, for example, an optical device that scans a document with light to read an image, and an image forming apparatus including the optical device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus, such as an electrophotographic apparatus, is provided with a carriage for scanning light on an original so that the carriage can travel. The carriage is provided with a light source (lamp) for irradiating the original with light, and is equipped with various electric parts such as a lamp heater and an original size detection sensor. One end of a flexible cable (hereinafter referred to as a flexible cable) is connected to each of the electric parts, and the other end of the cable is fixed to a lens unit stay that constitutes an optical system. The other end of this cable is connected to a control board on the frame side of the apparatus main body for power supply and control.

[0003]

However, the flexible cable has a thin plastic sheet material (thickness of 0.05).
mm), it has no rigidity and causes slack or tilt when scanning the carriage.

Therefore, there is a risk that the carriage may not be able to travel smoothly or that the collapsed flexible cable may block the optical path and adversely affect image reading. Therefore,
As a countermeasure against this, it was considered to use a thick plastic sheet (thickness 0.1 mm), which has little marketability, as the flexible material so that the flexible cable has rigidity.

However, the thick plastic sheet material, which has little marketability, is a very expensive part, and there is a disadvantage that the cost becomes high. Therefore, in the past, it was considered that a plastic sheet (thickness: 0.25 mm) was attached as a flat regulation member on the bottom surface of the carriage, and this plastic sheet was used to prevent the flexible cable from collapsing during carriage movement. Has been.

However, when the carriage moves the maximum distance (A3 size) from the home position, the flexible cable is stretched to the maximum extent, so that the plastic sheet inside the flexible cable is forcibly bent and the flexible cable is damaged or the carriage moves. There was a problem that the flexible cable pulled and tilted.

Therefore, it is considered that a plastic sheet is attached to the lens unit stay side and the slack of the flexible cable is regulated by the plastic sheet.

As a result of this measure, the slack of the flexible cable is regulated when the carriage travels in the image reading direction and the home position returning direction. However, in this conventional example, since the plastic sheet is flat, if it is left in a high temperature environment for a long time due to the characteristics of its material, for example, when the device is packed or in a standby state, the carriage position is set to the home position. Since it is fixed at the position, it becomes R-shaped and plastically deforms, and it cannot return to the flat shape again.

When the plastic sheet is deformed into an R shape, the height of the plastic sheet reaches a position in contact with the optical mirror on which the carriage is mounted, and a shadow is projected on the image to hinder the image reading, and the deformation of the flexible cable is restricted. There was a problem that I could not do it.

Therefore, according to the present invention, even if the apparatus is left in a high temperature environment for a long time, the regulating member is not plastically deformed, an image can be read well, and the deformation of the flexible cable can be regulated. An object is to provide an apparatus and an image forming apparatus including the optical apparatus.

[0011]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a flexible carriage having an optical component mounted thereon and a carriage which moves in a predetermined direction, and one end of which is connected to the carriage. A cable, a fixing part for fixing the other end of the cable to a stationary position, a control part electrically connected to the other end of the cable for controlling power supply to the optical component, and provided on the fixing part. A regulation member that is bent in a direction in which the midway portion is separated from the cable, elastically presses the cable when the carriage is traveling, and regulates the deformation of the cable toward the carriage. doing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a carriage on which an optical component is mounted and which moves in a predetermined direction, a flexible cable whose one end is connected to the carriage, and the other end of the cable are fixed to a stationary portion. A fixed part, a control part electrically connected to the other end of the cable to control power supply to the optical component, and one end fixed to the fixed part,
A regulation in which the midway portion is bent in a direction away from the cable and elastically presses the cable at the other end to regulate the deformation of the cable toward the carriage when the carriage is running. And a member.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, a carriage on which an optical component is mounted and which moves in a predetermined direction, a flexible cable whose one end is connected to the carriage, and the other end of the cable are fixed to a stationary portion. A fixing part, a control part electrically connected to the other end of the cable to control power supply to the optical component, and one end of a synthetic resin plate-shaped member fixed to the fixing part. Is bent in a substantially V shape from the middle part, and at the other end, elastically presses the cable,
A restricting member that restricts deformation of the cable toward the carriage when the carriage is running.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, at least an optical component for irradiating an original with light is mounted and the carriage moves in a predetermined direction along a traveling path, and the light reflected from the original by the movement of the carriage is provided. An image forming unit that forms an image by forming an image on a photoconductor, a flexible cable whose one end is connected to the carriage, a fixing unit that fixes the other end of the cable to a stationary position, and the other cables. A control unit that is electrically connected to the end and that controls power supply to the optical component, and that is provided in the fixed unit, and a midway portion is bent in a direction in which the cable is separated from each other, and when the carriage is traveling, the cable is A restricting member that elastically presses and restricts the deformation of the cable in the carriage direction is provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, at least an optical component for irradiating an original with light is mounted and the carriage is moved in a predetermined direction, and the light reflected from the original is imaged on the photoconductor by the movement of the carriage. An image forming unit for forming an image, a flexible cable whose one end is connected to the carriage, a fixing unit for fixing the other end of the cable to a stationary position, and an electrical connection to the other end of the cable. Connected to the optical component for controlling power supply to the optical component, a fixing part for fixing the other end of the cable, and one end fixed to the fixing part, and the middle part is bent in a direction away from the cable. The other end of the cable elastically presses the cable and restricts the cable from being deformed toward the carriage when the carriage is running.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, at least an optical component for irradiating an original with light is mounted and the carriage moves in a predetermined direction along a traveling path, and the light reflected from the original by the movement of the carriage is provided. An image forming unit that forms an image by forming an image on a photoconductor, a flexible cable whose one end is connected to the carriage, a fixing unit that fixes the other end of the cable to a stationary position, and the other cables. A control part electrically connected to the end part to control power supply to the optical component, and one end part of a plate-shaped body made of synthetic resin are fixed to the fixed part, and the plate-shaped body is formed into a shape substantially from the middle part. And a restriction member that elastically presses the cable at the other end and restricts the deformation of the cable toward the carriage when the carriage is running.

According to the present invention, a midway portion of a regulating member, which is provided on the fixed portion and elastically presses the cable during traveling of the carriage to regulate the deformation of the cable toward the carriage, is separated from the cable. By bending in the separating direction, a waist is formed in the restriction member, and even if the elastic deformation of the restriction member is continued for a long period of time, it is not plastically deformed.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the electronic copying apparatus. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes an apparatus main body, and a scanner section 5 is provided on the upper side of the apparatus main body 1. The scanner unit 5 is provided with movably first and second carriages 6 and 7, and an exposure lamp 8 and a first reflection mirror 9 as optical components are arranged on the first carriage 6. Second and third reflection mirrors 10 and 11 are arranged on the second carriage 7. An optical lens 13 and a light receiving element 14 are arranged in the optical path of the reflected light reflected by the third reflecting mirror 11.

A scanner section 5 is provided at a substantially central portion of the apparatus main body 1.
At the same time, a photosensitive drum 31 as an image carrier that constitutes the image forming unit 17 is rotatably provided. A charging charger 32 as a charging means, a laser unit 33 for outputting a laser beam which is turned on / off according to image information to be copied or output, and a developing device are sequentially provided around a peripheral portion of the photoconductor drum 31 along a rotation direction thereof. Developing device 34 as means, transfer and peeling chargers 35a, 35
b, and a cleaner 36 as a removing means is provided.

The laser unit 33 has a polygon mirror 39 for scanning information light. This polygon mirror 3
9 is rotated by the polygon motor 44, and the light scanned by the rotation of the polygon mirror 39 is reflected by the lens 40.
The photoconductor drum 31 is scanned through the optical system 40 including a, a reflection mirror 40b, and the like.

The developing device 34 comprises a toner and a carrier.
A developing roller 34a that accommodates the component developer t and supplies the developer t is rotatably provided. Further, a paper conveyance path 15 is provided in a substantially horizontal state on the lower side inside the apparatus main body 1. In the paper transport path 15, a paper feed roller 21, a registration roller 22,
Transfer and peeling chargers 35a, 35b, conveyor belt 2
7, a fixing unit 18, and a feed roller 28 are provided.

The fixing means 18 includes a heat roller 41,
The heat roller 41 and the press roller 42 are in pressure contact with each other. Further, a paper feed cassette 23 for storing the paper P is attached to the lower part of one side of the apparatus main body 1, and a paper discharge tray 24 for receiving the paper P to be discharged is provided to the lower part of the other side.

The paper P in the paper feed cassette 23 is taken out by the take-out roller 25. Then
At the time of image formation, a document is placed on the document table 2 and a copy button (not shown) is turned on. As a result, the exposure lamp 8 is turned on, the first and second carriages 6 and 7 travel, and the original is scanned with light. The reflected light reflected from the original by this scanning passes through the first to third reflecting mirrors 9 to 11 and the optical lens 13 to receive the light receiving element 1.
The light is received by the light source 4 and the image is read. The read image is sent to the polygon mirror 39 as information light via a transmission system (not shown). The information light sent to the polygon mirror 39 is scanned by the rotation of the polygon mirror 39 and is scanned on the photosensitive drum 31 via the optical system 40. The surface of the photosensitive drum 31 is uniformly charged by the charging charger 32, and an electrostatic latent image of the original is formed by scanning the information light. This electrostatic latent image is sent to the developing device 34 by the rotation of the photoconductor drum 31, and is opposed to the developing device 34.
By the rotation of a, the toner t is supplied to visualize the toner.

On the other hand, at this time, the paper P is taken out from the paper feed cassette 23 by the rotation of the take-out roller 25,
It is sent to the registration roller 22 via the paper feed roller 21,
Here, after being aligned, the image is transferred by being sent to the image transfer portion 17a between the photoconductor drum 31 and the transfer charger 35a. After the transfer, the toner t remaining on the photosensitive drum 31 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 36a of the cleaning device 36 and removed to be cleaned.

The sheet on which the image is transferred is peeled off from the photosensitive drum 31 by the action of the peeling charger 35b, and is fed between the heat roller 41 and the press roller 42 of the fixing means 18 by the traveling of the conveying belt 27 to heat it. And it is pressurized and fixed. The paper P on which the image is fixed is discharged to the paper discharge tray 24 via the feed roller 28 and the paper discharge roller 28.

FIG. 1 shows a flexible cable 51 for connecting the carriage 6 and a control board 50 as a control section. In addition to the exposure lamp 8 for scanning the original with light, the carriage 6 is equipped with various electric components such as a lamp heater 61 and an original size detection sensor 62.

One end of the flexible cable 51 is connected to the carriage 6, and the other end is fixed to a lens unit stay 52 as a fixed portion. The control board 50 is connected to the other end of the flexible cable 51 via a wire 57,
It is designed to supply and control various electrical components.

FIG. 3 shows a fixing structure of the flexible cable 51 and the plastic sheet 53 as a regulating member. A mounting piece 52a is cut and formed at one end of the lens unit stay 52, and the flexible cable 51 and the plastic sheet (having a thickness of 0.
125 mm) 53 is attached at one end.

A screw hole 52b is formed in the mounting piece 52a, and a screw hole 54a is formed at one end of the flexible cable 51 and the plastic sheet (thickness 0.125 mm) 53.
Through holes 51a and 53a communicating with the.

A fixing screw 55 is inserted into the through holes 51a and 53a, and the fixing screw 55 is attached to the screw hole 52 of the mounting piece 52a.
The flexible cable 51 and the plastic sheet 53 are fixed by being screwed to b. Reference numeral 56 is a double-sided tape adhered to the plastic sheet 53.

By the way, the plastic sheet 53 is bent at a bending angle of 90 ° and formed into a substantially "V" shape so that the plastic sheet 53 can be easily manufactured from its middle portion, and the flexible cable 51 is elastically formed by the other end. It is designed to be pressed.

However, when the carriage 6 travels to the paper feeding side, the flex cable 51 is always supplied to the lens unit stay 52 by the force G by which the bent portion 53b of the plastic sheet 53 returns. It is pulled to the paper side and loosening is prevented.

By this measure, when the carriage 6 scans in the image reading direction and the image returning direction, the ideal operation of the flexible cable 51 is realized as shown in FIG. 4 to 6 show the operations of the flexible cable 51 and the plastic sheet 53 when the carriage 6 travels.

In FIG. 4, the carriage 6 is at the home position and starts traveling in the arrow direction (image reading direction) a. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the carriage 6 has moved right above the lens unit stay 52.

FIG. 6 shows a state where the carriage 6 has moved to the end point, and the carriage 6 moves from this position in the direction of arrow b (return direction) and returns to the home position again. When the carriage 6 travels back and forth, the flexible cable 51 is urged by the plastic sheet 53 in the direction of arrow G, and the attachment portion of the flexible cable 51 to the lens unit stay 52 is always pulled in a predetermined direction to restrict the slack of the flexible cable 51.
It does not significantly deform in the direction of the carriage 6.

Therefore, the flexible cable 51 and the carriage 6 are damaged by the collision, and the flexible cable 5 is loose.
1 can solve the problem that the optical path is blocked and the image formation is adversely affected.

In addition, the plastic sheet 53 is previously
Since the plastic sheet 53 is bent downward from its middle portion, the length of the plastic sheet 53 can be shortened as compared with a flat shape, and moreover, the plastic sheet 53 can be given a strong waist.

Therefore, even when the plastic sheet 53 is left for a long time in a state where the plastic sheet 53 is elastically deformed at the time of packing the apparatus or waiting (the carriage 6 is at the home position), the carriage 51 is not plastically deformed.
When traveling, the plastic sheet 53 can be returned to the predetermined shape.

Therefore, unlike the conventional case, the plastic sheet 53 does not block the optical path, an image can be read and formed favorably, and the flexible cable 51 and the carriage 6 may be damaged or loosened. It is also possible to solve the problem that the cable 51 blocks the optical path and adversely affects image formation.

[0040]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Since the midway portion of the regulating member is bent in the direction away from the cable, the regulating member can be given a strong rigidity, and will not be plastically deformed even if the regulating member is left elastically deformed for a long period of time. .

Therefore, when the carriage is running, the regulating member can be returned to the predetermined shape and the image can be read well, and the flex cable and the carriage are damaged, and the loose flex cable blocks the optical path to form an image. The effect that it is possible to prevent adversely affecting

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an optical device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an internal configuration diagram showing an electrophotographic apparatus.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a flexible cable mounting structure.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a state in which a carriage is at a home position.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a state in which a carriage has moved to a central portion of a traveling path.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a state in which a carriage has moved to an end point.

[Explanation of Codes] 6 ... Carriage 8 ... Exposure Lamp (Optical Component) 50 ... Control Board (Control Unit) 51 ... Flexible Cable 52 ... Lens Unit Stay (Fixing Unit) 53 ... Plastic Sheet (Regulating Member) 61 ... Lamp Heater ( Optical component) 62 ... Original size detection sensor (optical component)

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A carriage for mounting an optical component and moving in a predetermined direction, a flexible cable having one end connected to the carriage, a fixing portion for fixing the other end of the cable to a stationary portion, and the cable. A control unit electrically connected to the other end of the optical component for controlling power supply to the optical component, and provided in the fixing unit, the intermediate portion is bent in a direction away from the cable, and when the carriage is traveling, An optical device comprising: a restricting member that elastically presses the cable and restricts the deformation of the cable in the carriage direction. 2. A carriage for mounting an optical component and moving in a predetermined direction, a flexible cable having one end connected to the carriage, a fixing portion for fixing the other end of the cable to a stationary portion, and the cable. A control unit electrically connected to the other end of the optical component to control power supply to the optical component, one end of which is fixed to the fixing unit, and the middle part is bent in a direction away from the cable and An optical device, which elastically presses the cable and restricts the cable from being deformed toward the carriage when the carriage is running. 3. A carriage which mounts an optical component and moves in a predetermined direction, a flexible cable whose one end is connected to the carriage, a fixing portion which fixes the other end of the cable to a stationary portion, and the cable. A control unit electrically connected to the other end of the optical component to control power supply to the optical component, and one end of a plate-shaped body made of synthetic resin is fixed to the fixing unit, and the plate-shaped body is cut from the middle portion to a substantially Bend in the shape of and at the other end,
An optical device comprising: a restriction member that elastically presses the cable and restricts the cable from being deformed toward the carriage when the carriage travels. 4. A carriage that mounts at least an optical component for irradiating light on a document and moves in a predetermined direction along a traveling path; and by the movement of this carriage, the light reflected from the document is imaged on a photoconductor. Image forming means for forming an image, a flexible cable whose one end is connected to this carriage, a fixing part for fixing the other end of this cable to a stationary position, and an electrical connection to the other end of the cable. A control unit connected to the optical component to control power supply, provided on the fixing unit, the middle portion is bent in a direction in which the cable is separated, and when the carriage is running, elastically presses the cable, An image forming apparatus, comprising: a restricting member that restricts the cable from being deformed in the carriage direction. 5. A carriage that mounts an optical component for irradiating light on a document and moves in a predetermined direction, and a light reflected from the document is imaged on a photoconductor by the movement of the carriage to form an image. An image forming unit, a flexible cable having one end connected to the carriage, a fixing unit that fixes the other end of the cable to a stationary position, and the optical component electrically connected to the other end of the cable. A control part for controlling power supply, a fixing part for fixing the other end of the cable, one end fixed to the fixing part, and the middle part is bent in a direction away from the cable and the other end is fixed. A restricting member that elastically presses the cable and restricts the deformation of the cable toward the carriage when the carriage is running. Image forming device. 6. A carriage that mounts at least an optical component for irradiating light on a document and moves in a predetermined direction along a traveling path; and by the movement of the carriage, light reflected from the document is imaged on a photoconductor. Image forming means for forming an image, a flexible cable whose one end is connected to this carriage, a fixing part for fixing the other end of this cable to a stationary position, and an electrical connection to the other end of the cable. A control unit that is connected and controls power supply to the optical component, and fixes one end of a plate-shaped body made of synthetic resin to the fixing unit, and bends the plate-shaped body from a middle portion to a substantially V shape. At the other end,
An image forming apparatus comprising: a restricting member that elastically presses the cable and restricts the cable from being deformed toward the carriage when the carriage is running.