JPH10190902A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce space and manufacture cost by reducing number of components, to reduce assembling cost resulting from reduction in the assembling man-hours in addition, to simplify the adjustment and alignment and to improve image quality. SOLUTION: In this reader, a printed circuit board 10e on which a light source 10a and a photosensor 10b are directly mounted, a paper feed roller 1, a paper discharge roller 3, a 'SELFOC(R)' lens 10c, and a cover glass 10d are contained in a close contact image sensor container section D provided integrally with a frame 7, and an alignment section 10g applies alignment of the printed circuit board 10e to the frame 7, placed in the vicinity of the close contact image sensor container section D.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration of a conventional image reading apparatus.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 101 denotes a reading position A
Roller 102 for feeding paper to the paper feed roller 102;
03 is a discharge roller for discharging the read original, 104
Denotes a discharge pinch roller, 105 denotes an upper document guide that forms the upper part of the document conveyance path, 106 denotes a lower document guide that forms a lower part of the document conveyance path, 107 denotes a paper feed roller 101, a paper discharge roller 103, and the like. Reference numeral 108 denotes a document holder for preventing the document from floating at the reading position A, and reference numeral 109 denotes a contact image sensor unit 110 to be described later.
Reference numeral 110 denotes a mounting image sensor unit for reading image information of a document.

A contact image sensor unit 110
Is a light source 110a that illuminates the reading surface of the document, an optical sensor 110b that converts image information of the document into an electric signal, and a light source 11
Image information of the document illuminated by the light sensor 110a.
b, a cover glass 110d for defining a document position at the reading position A, a light source 110a and an optical sensor 110
sensor chassis 110e for positioning and fixing b and the selfoc lens 110c, and a guide mylar 110 for smoothly guiding the document from the lower document guide 106 to the reading position A.
f, a sensor frame 110g accommodating a light source 110a, an optical sensor 110b, a selfoc lens 110c, a cover glass 110d, and a sensor chassis 110e.

[0005]

However, in the above-mentioned prior art, the contact image sensor unit is mounted on the frame by the mounting bracket, and thus has the following problems.

First, the number of components and the number of assembling steps as a contact image sensor unit are large, which causes an increase in cost.

Further, a circuit board for driving and controlling the image reading apparatus is arranged at another place, and in order to take up a space corresponding to the circuit board, the apparatus has to be enlarged.

Further, it is necessary to electrically connect a circuit board for driving and controlling the image reading apparatus to the contact image sensor unit, and the cost of cables and connectors for the circuit board is increased. In many cases, parts are required due to safety measures against metal edges and movable parts, and in addition, the cost is greatly increased. In addition, when a cable is used for electrical connection, it often has an adverse effect on radiation noise and the like, and as a countermeasure, measures such as winding the cable around a ferrite core are taken, which also increases the cost significantly. Was. Further, in the case of electrical connection using these cables, the assembling workability is very poor and the assembling cost is involved.

Further, in the conventional configuration, the positional relationship between the feed roller and the discharge roller and the cover glass is determined by the frame,
The error is large because it is determined via the mounting bracket, the sensor frame, and the sensor chassis, causing a deviation between the position of the cover glass and the assumed document conveying surface, which causes blurring of the read image. To prevent this, the dimensional accuracy of each component must be strict,
It is necessary to perform positioning by providing an adjustment mechanism or the like, which has caused a significant cost increase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and has as its object to reduce the number of parts, to save space and to reduce manufacturing costs, In addition, it is an object of the present invention to reduce the assembly cost by reducing the number of assembling steps, and to improve the image quality by simplifying the adjustment and positioning work.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light source for illuminating an original, an optical sensor for converting image information of the original into an electric signal, the light source and the optical sensor. An image reading apparatus having a circuit board for driving and / or controlling the image reading apparatus main body, which is electrically connected to the image reading apparatus body, wherein at least one of the light source and the optical sensor is directly mounted on the circuit board It is characterized by having been done.

Here, the circuit board may be any one for driving the image reading apparatus main body, for controlling, or for driving and controlling.

According to this structure, since at least one of the light source and the optical sensor is directly mounted on the circuit board, the conventionally required cables and connectors are eliminated, and the number of components is reduced. Can be reduced. This makes it possible to reduce the manufacturing cost and the number of assembly steps. In addition, there is no need to take safety measures against metal edges and movable parts, which are problematic in cable routing, and further cost reduction can be realized. Further, space saving can be realized by arranging a circuit board for driving and / or controlling the image reading apparatus. In addition, it is possible to eliminate adverse effects on radiation noise, etc., which would be a problem when electrically connected using a cable, and there is no need to take measures such as a ferrite core. Cost is greatly reduced. Further, since there is no connection or wiring of these cables, it is possible to reduce the assembly cost without deteriorating the assembly workability.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the first aspect, a conveying means for conveying the original to an original reading position; a lens array for forming an image of the original on the optical sensor; A transparent member interposed between a document reading position and the lens array, defining a distance between the document reading position and the lens array, and a frame holding the conveyance unit, wherein the optical sensor and the lens array And a housing for housing the light source, the transparent member, and the circuit board is provided integrally with the frame.

According to this structure, the storage section for storing the optical sensor, the lens array, the light source, the transparent member, and the circuit board is provided integrally with the frame for holding the transporting means. The positional relationship between the transport surfaces can be directly determined, and the image quality can be improved by improving accuracy and preventing out-of-focus.

According to a third aspect, in the image reading device according to the first or second aspect, the circuit board is positioned and fixed near the optical sensor.

According to this configuration, the influence of the warpage or expansion and contraction of the circuit board on the variation in the positional accuracy between the light source mounted on the circuit board and the optical sensor can be suppressed as small as possible. As a result, the accuracy of the document and the document reading position can be improved, and the image reading area can be stabilized.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image recording apparatus comprising: a document reading unit for reading image information of a document; and an image recording unit for recording the image information read by the document reading unit on a recording material. An image recording apparatus, wherein the image reading section includes the image reading apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects.

In this way, it is possible to provide an image recording apparatus having good image quality at low cost.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below based on the illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a main part of an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image recording apparatus provided with the present image reading apparatus records image information of a document on a recording material such as paper by a known method, and thus the details are omitted.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a paper feed roller for conveying a document to a reading position A, 2 denotes a paper feed pinch roller, 3 denotes a paper discharge roller for discharging the read document, 4 denotes a paper discharge pinch roller, and 5 denotes a paper discharge pinch roller. An upper document guide that forms the upper part of the document transport path,
Reference numeral 6 denotes a lower document guide that forms a lower portion of the document transport path, 7 denotes a frame of the document reading device, 8 denotes a document holder for preventing the document from floating at the reading position A, 10a denotes a light source for illuminating the reading surface of the document, and 10b denotes a light source. An optical sensor 10c for converting the image information of the original into an electric signal is a selfoc lens (trade name: Nippon Sheet Glass) for imaging the image information of the original illuminated by the light source 10a on the optical sensor 10b. A cover glass as a transparent member for defining the document position in A, 10e is a circuit board for driving and controlling the image reading apparatus main body, 10f is a spacer for positioning the light source 10a on the circuit board, and 10g is a circuit board 10e. It is a positioning section for positioning on the frame 7. Here, the light source 10a is connected to the circuit board 10e via the spacer 10f.
Further, the optical sensors 10b are directly mounted on the circuit boards 10e, respectively, and are unitized. However, the light source 10
a and the optical sensor 10b are the circuit boards 1 only.
0e may be directly mounted.

The frame 7 supports the paper feed roller 1 and the paper discharge roller 3 as transport means, and at the same time, in the vicinity of the reading position A, a light source 10a and an optical sensor 10b mounted on a circuit board 10e and a cell, respectively. It has a contact image sensor storage D for storing the Fock lens 10c and the cover glass 10d.

To briefly explain the reading operation in the above configuration, the original is conveyed to the reading position A by being sandwiched between the feed roller 1 and the feed pinch roller 2. At the reading position A, the original is brought into close contact with the cover glass 10 d by the original holder 8. Then, while the image information of the document is read line by line, the document is conveyed to the discharge roller 3 and the discharge pinch roller 4. Finally, the read original is discharged by the discharge roller 3 and the discharge pinch roller 4.

Next, the contact image sensor storage D will be described.

The light source 1 mounted on the circuit board 10e
0a, optical sensor 10b, and selfoc lens 10
c, a function of constituting a contact image sensor unit by storing the cover glass 10d. That is, the contact image sensor unit can be easily assembled simply by sequentially fitting the circuit board 10e on which the light source 10a and the optical sensor 10b are mounted, the selfoc lens 10c, and the cover glass 10d into the contact image sensor storage D.

At this time, a cover glass 10d having a thickness corresponding to the focal length of the SELFOC lens 10c is fixed so as to abut the SELFOC lens 10c, and the contact image sensor housing D is placed in the SELFOC lens 10c.
The distance between the optical sensor 10b and the selfoc lens 10
By determining the dimensions in the positioning unit 10g so as to match the focal length of c, the focus can be adjusted without adjusting the focal length. Therefore, it is possible to improve the positional accuracy, prevent blurring, and improve the image quality.

The self-focal lens 10c and the cover glass 10d can be fixed by press-fitting and bonding to the contact image sensor housing D, (in the case of the cover glass 10d, outside the document passing range) by a leaf spring or snap fit. Pressing is possible, but press-fitting is desirable from the viewpoint of reducing the number of parts and the number of assembly steps. Also, cover glass 10d
May be made of a material other than glass, such as resin, as long as the material is hardly damaged by the passage of the original and sufficiently transmits light.

As described above, the number of components can be reduced because the cables and connectors are not used for the electrical connection between the contact image sensor unit and the circuit board 10e, thereby reducing the manufacturing cost and the number of assembly steps. be able to. In addition, there is no need to take safety measures against metal edges and movable parts, which are problematic in cable routing, and further cost reduction can be realized. Further, space saving can be realized by disposing a circuit board for driving and controlling the image reading apparatus. In addition, it is possible to eliminate adverse effects on radiation noise, etc., which would be a problem when electrically connected using a cable, and there is no need to take measures such as a ferrite core. Cost is greatly reduced. Further, since there is no connection or wiring of these cables, it is possible to reduce the assembly cost without deteriorating the assembly workability.

The positioning and fixing of the circuit board 10e on which the light source 10a and the optical sensor 10b are mounted with respect to the frame 7 is performed by the positioning section 1 near the close contact image sensor storage section D.
By performing the operation at 0 g, the influence of the warpage or expansion and contraction of the circuit board 10e on the variation in the positional accuracy between the light source 10a and the optical sensor 10b mounted on the circuit board 10e is minimized. This makes it possible to suppress variations in the reading position A, improve the accuracy of the document and the image reading position, and stabilize the image reading area.

As described above, the electric parts of the light source 10a and the optical sensor 10b of the contact image sensor unit are unitized on the circuit board 10e of the image reading apparatus main body, and the selfoc lens 10c, the cover glass 10
Since the contact image sensor unit including d is integrally formed with the frame 7, there are great merits in cost, assembly workability, and image quality as compared with the related art.

Further, the positioning of the circuit board 10e on which the light source 10a and the optical sensor 10b are mounted is determined by the positioning portion 10g in the vicinity of the contact image sensor storage portion D, so that variation in the reading position A can be suppressed.

[0033]

As described above, according to the first aspect, the light source for illuminating the original, the optical sensor for converting the image information of the original into an electric signal, and the light source and the optical sensor are electrically connected to each other. In the image reading apparatus having a connected circuit board for driving and / or controlling the image reading apparatus, at least one of the light source and the optical sensor is directly mounted on the circuit board. Conventionally required cables and connectors can be eliminated, and the number of components can be reduced. This makes it possible to reduce the manufacturing cost and the number of assembly steps. In addition, there is no need to take safety measures against metal edges and movable parts, which are problematic in cable routing, and further cost reduction can be realized. Further, space saving can be realized by arranging a circuit board for driving and / or controlling the image reading apparatus.
In addition, it is possible to eliminate adverse effects on radiation noise, etc., which would be a problem when electrically connected using a cable, and there is no need to take measures such as a ferrite core. Cost is greatly reduced. Also,
Since there is no connection or wiring of these cables, it is possible to lower the assembly cost without deteriorating the assembly workability.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image reading apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a conveying means for conveying the original to an original reading position, and a lens array for forming an image of the original on the optical sensor. A transparent member interposed between the document reading position and the lens array, defining a distance between the document reading position and the lens array, and a frame for holding the conveying unit; and Since a housing for housing the lens array, the light source, the transparent member, and the circuit board is provided integrally with the frame, it is possible to directly determine the positional relationship between the optical reading focal point position and the document conveying surface, and the accuracy is improved. Image quality can be improved by improving image quality and preventing out-of-focus.

According to the third aspect, by positioning and fixing the circuit board in the vicinity of the optical sensor, the positional accuracy of the light source mounted on the circuit board and the optical sensor due to the warpage or expansion and contraction of the circuit board. Since the influence on the variation is suppressed as small as possible, the variation of the reading position A can be suppressed, the accuracy of the document and the document reading position can be improved, and the image reading area can be stabilized.

According to the fourth aspect, it is possible to provide an image recording apparatus which is low in cost and has good image quality.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a main part of an image reading apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view of a main part of a conventional image reading apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1,101 Paper feed roller 2,102 Paper feed pinch roller 3,103 Paper discharge roller 4,104 Paper discharge pinch roller 5,105 Upper document guide 6,106 Lower document guide 7,107 Frame 8,108 Document holder 10a, 110a Light source 10b, 110b Optical sensor 10c, 110c Selfoc lens 10d, 110d Cover glass 10e Circuit board 10f Spacer 10g Positioning portion 109 Mounting bracket 110 Close contact image sensor unit 110e Sensor chassis 110f Guide mylar 110g Sensor frame A Reading position B Document transport path D Contact image sensor storage section

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A light source for illuminating a document, an optical sensor for converting image information of the document into an electric signal, and driving and / or controlling an image reading apparatus main body electrically connected to the light source and the optical sensor An image reading apparatus comprising: a light source and the optical sensor, wherein at least one of the light source and the optical sensor is directly mounted on the circuit board. 2. A conveying means for conveying the document to a document reading position; a lens array for forming an image of the document on the optical sensor; a lens array interposed between the document reading position and the lens array;
A transparent member that regulates a distance between a document reading position and the lens array; and a frame that holds the transport unit. The optical sensor, the lens array, the light source, the transparent member, and the circuit board are housed therein. 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a storage section for performing the operation is provided integrally with the frame. 3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the circuit board is positioned and fixed near the optical sensor. 4. An image recording apparatus comprising: a document reading unit for reading image information of a document; and an image recording unit for recording image information read by the document reading unit on a recording material, wherein the image reading unit An image recording apparatus comprising the image reading apparatus according to claim 1.