JPH1141421A - Scanner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remove distortion as much as possible by supporting mirror plates at 1st and 2nd supporting parts, which are integrally and perpendicularly formed at both the terminal parts of a main frame section, to respectively rotate them and further enabling the 2nd supporting part to fix the mirror plate. SOLUTION: A main frame section 14a of a main frame 14 is provided with mirror plate supporting parts 14c and 14d of straight standing sections integrally formed at both the ends and provided with rotary shafts 14e and 14f for rotatably supporting the mirror plates 16 and 17 at the supporting parts 14c and 14d. Three mirrors are supported between the edge parts of the mirror plates 16 and 17. Then, the angle of the mirror is regulated by turning the mirror plate 17 with the rotary shaft 14f as a rotational center and after the regulation, the mirror plate 17 is fixed at the supporting part 14d by a fixing bolt 40. Thus, even when the distortion occurs to relatively twist the mirror plates 16 and 17, normal image reading is enabled.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a scanner, and more particularly, to a small portable scanner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a conventional portable scanner. The conventional scanner 12 is placed on a document 10 as shown in FIG. 14, and is moved by hand to read the document 10 as shown by an arrow A.

[0005] Conversely, there is a scanner in which the scanner 12 is fixed and the original 10 is moved to read the original (see FIG. 15).

FIG. 15 is a schematic sectional view of a conventional scanner, and FIG. 16 is a perspective view mainly showing a frame and a mirror plate by omitting other components of the conventional scanner. 15 and 16, the scanner 12 includes a main frame portion 14a and the main frame portion 14a.
Sub-frame part 1 projecting forward at right angles from the center of a
4b, and three mirrors 2 provided at both ends of the main frame portion 14a of the frame 14.
It has mirror plates 16, 17 for supporting 4, 26, 28 at their ends. In the case of this conventional example, the frame 14 and the mirror plates 16 and 17 at both ends thereof are integrally formed.

Between the edge 16a of the mirror plate 16 and the edge 17a of the mirror plate 17, 16b and 17b
, The first mirror 24, the second mirror 26, and the third mirror 28 are supported between 16c and 17c, respectively. Also, the sub-frame portion 14b of the frame 14
Is provided with a lens barrel 19 that supports the lens 18.
A CCD substrate support 23 is formed continuously from the lens barrel 19. The front end of the CCD substrate supporting portion 23 has a CCD
A CCD substrate 22 on which a CCD 20 is disposed is mounted.

A light source 30 and a cover glass 32 are attached to the scanner 12 (note that attachment means and the like are not shown for simplification of the drawing).

The reading of the image information of the document 10 is performed as follows. The light emitted from the light source 30 passes through the cover glass 32 and strikes the document 10, and a part of the light irregularly reflected from the document 10 is reflected by the first mirror 24, the second mirror 26, and the third mirror 28 (the second mirror). 26 and the third mirror 28 are reflected many times in order to secure an optical path length).
Focus on 0. As the document 10 moves relative to the scanner 12 in the direction of arrow A, image information on the document is sequentially read by the CCD 20.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view mainly showing a frame and a mirror plate of a scanner having another configuration of the conventional example. In this conventional example, the mirror plates 16 and 17
4 are formed separately from the mirror plates 16 and 1
The projections 16d and 17d are formed integrally with each other, and the mirror plates 16 and 17 are fixed using holes 34 formed in the projections 16d and 17d by, for example, fixing bolts (not shown). ing.

[0009]

The frame of the conventional scanner is usually formed of resin. In this case, the frame need not generate any distortion as shown in FIG. 18A. For example, as shown in FIG. 18B, the main frame portion 14a of the frame 14 18c), or as shown in FIG. 18c, the main frame portion 14a of the frame 14 may bend forward (to the same side as the sub-frame portion 14b). When such distortion occurs,
Since the optical system is out of order, a normal image cannot be read.

As for the upper and lower parts, as shown in FIG. 19A, the main frame portion 14a of the frame 14 may be normal, but as shown in FIG. 19B, both ends are bent upward to cause distortion. As shown in FIG. 19c, both ends may bend downward to cause distortion. In such a case as well, the optical system goes out of order, so that a normal image cannot be read.

Further, regarding the twist, FIG.
As shown in FIG.
20a may be normal, but as shown in FIG. 20b, one mirror plate 16 may be twisted backward and the other mirror plate 17 may be twisted forward to cause distortion. . Also in such a case, the optical system goes out of order, and a normal image cannot be read.

In practice, these distortions often occur not alone but overlap. Therefore, it is difficult to adjust the optical system even when slight distortion occurs. In addition, if a certain degree of distortion occurs, adjustment may not be possible and the product must be discarded. As described above, due to the occurrence of distortion, adjustment time and cost are required, and the yield is poor (many defective products).

As shown in FIG. 21, the main frame 14a of the frame 14 is fixed to the housing 70 by several fixing bolts arranged on both sides of the center of the main frame 14a. In addition, the influence of the external force is transmitted to the entire main frame 14a, causing the main frame 14a to be distorted. In addition, when the scanner is inadvertently dropped, the impact received on the housing is transmitted to the frame and the mirror, often causing damage.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a scanner capable of removing distortion as much as possible.

[0015]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a main frame portion for supporting a mirror plate for supporting a mirror, and a sub-frame portion for supporting a lens and a CCD. The main frame portion is formed integrally at a right angle at one end of the main frame portion, and the first support portion rotatably supports one mirror plate (rotating mirror plate). And a second support portion formed integrally at a right angle at the other end of the main frame portion, rotatably supporting the other mirror plate (fixed side mirror plate), and being fixable. Is adopted.

[0016]

Next, a scanner according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

(First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 and 2 are a sectional view and a perspective view, respectively, of a scanner according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Regarding the reference numerals used in the drawings, those having the same structure or function as the parts or parts used in the conventional example,
The same code is used. The scanner 12 includes a main frame portion 14a and the main frame portion 1
4a, the frame 14 comprising a sub-frame portion 14b projecting right forward from the center of the sub-frame 4a. Frame 14
A lens barrel 19 for supporting the lens 18 is provided in the sub-frame portion 14b, and a CCD substrate support 23 is formed continuously with the lens barrel 19.

Mirror plate supporting portions 14c and 14d (hereinafter, simply referred to as supporting portions) which are upright portions are integrally formed at both ends of the main frame portion 14a.
A rotating shaft 14e for rotatably supporting the one mirror plate 16 is formed integrally with one of the support portions 14c so as to protrude outward, and the other support portion 14d
The rotary shaft 14f for rotatably supporting the other mirror plate 17 is formed so as to protrude outward integrally. The mirror plates 16 and 17 are formed with holes for fitting to the rotating shafts 14e and 14f, respectively. In addition, one mirror plate, as described later,
After the adjustment, the light from the third mirror 28 is fixed so as to be appropriately incident on the lens 18. However, for convenience of the following description, the mirror plate 17 is set to the fixed side and the mirror plate 1 is fixed.
The description will be made on the assumption that rotation number 6 is the rotation side. Note that the above-described rotation shaft does not necessarily need to be formed integrally with the mirror plate (or a support portion in a modified example described later). For example, an opening is formed in the mirror plate and the support portion, and the opening is formed in the opening. The rotating shaft may be constituted by fitting means for fitting.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, FIG. 3 shows a state before the adjustment, that is, before fixing the fixed-side mirror plate, and FIG. The state after fixing is shown. An arc-shaped long hole 17 e for a fixing bolt is formed in the mirror plate 17, and the fixing bolt 40 passes through the long hole 17 e so that the supporting portion 14 d of the main frame portion (see FIGS. 1 and 2).
Mounted on In addition, the long hole 17e is the rotation shaft 14f.
Is an arc having a central axis that coincides with the axis of. The first mirror 24 and the second mirror 24 are attached to the edge portions 17a, 17b, and 17c of the mirror plate 17 by mirror attachment means described later.
A mirror 26 and a third mirror 28 are mounted.

As shown in FIG. 3, before the mirror plate 17 is not positioned with respect to the support portion 14d (see FIGS. 1 and 2), the light reflected from the third mirror 28 is applied to the lens 18 before adjustment. Does not enter properly.

As shown in FIG. 4, the mirror plate 17 is adjusted (positioned) by rotating the mirror plate 17 about the rotation shaft 14f so that the light from the third mirror 28 is appropriately incident on the lens 18. After the adjustment, the mirror plate 17 is fixed to the support portion 14d by the fixing bolt 40.

The frame 14 can be machined with high accuracy.
If adjustment is not particularly required, instead of attaching the fixed-side mirror plate 17 to the support portion 14d, the mirror plate 17 may be integrally formed as an upright portion of the frame instead of the support portion 14d.

Next, a modification of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining three modified examples of the first embodiment. In the first embodiment, the two mirror plates are supported by the supporting portions 14c and 14d of the frame 14.
Are mounted on the outside of the mirror plate, all of which are rotatably supported using a rotating shaft. In this modification, the mirror plate is supported on the inside instead of the outside, and other supporting means is used instead of the rotating shaft. Supported. In the variant of FIG. 5 a, the support parts 14 c, 14 d have a rotating shaft 14 projecting inward.
h, 14i are provided, and the mirror plates 16, 1
7 is rotatably supported inside.

In the variant of FIG. 5b, the mirror plate 1
The mirrors 6 and 17 are supported outside the support portion. The rotation side mirror plate 16 is supported by a rotation shaft provided on the mirror plate side and an opening formed in the support portion 14c. The plate 17 is supported by a hemispherical projection provided on the mirror plate and the support portion 14d.
This is performed by a hemispherical concave portion provided in the above.

In the variant of FIG. 5c, the method of support is the same as in FIG. 5, but the mirror plate is supported inside the support part.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 6 shows another embodiment (embodiment 2) for attaching a rotating mirror plate to a support portion.
FIG. In the first embodiment, the main frame 14a
The rotating shaft 14e is formed on the supporting portion 14c of
In the second embodiment, a substantially hemispherical shaft 14g is formed instead of the rotating shaft 14e. Further, a bolt hole is formed in the shaft 14g. On the other hand, an opening 16e is formed in the mirror plate 16, and this opening 16e is formed so that the mirror plate 16 has a substantially hemispherical bearing on the side opposed to the support portion 14c, that is, the substantially hemispherical shaft 14g. It is formed to have a complementary shape. As shown in FIG. 6, the mirror plate 16 includes a spring 46, a ring fitting 44,
By screwing the bolt 42 to the shaft 14g through
It is elastically supported by the support portion 14c of the frame.

In the second embodiment, since the mirror plate 16 is supported on the supporting portion by using a hemispherical shaft and a bearing having a complementary shape, the center of the mirror plate 16 and the center of the rotation axis of the frame are automatically adjusted. They match and no backlash occurs.

Further, in the second embodiment, since the rotating mirror plate 16 is elastically supported by the supporting portion 14c of the frame 14, the supporting portion 14c
The main frame portion 14a is deformed by applying some external force (an external force acting on the conventional mirror plate described in FIGS. 18 to 20 before and after, up and down, and twisting). However, the deformation of the support portion 14c is not transmitted to the mirror plate 16. For this reason, no distortion occurs. Describing from another point of view, the mirror plate 1
6 and the mirror plate 17 are connected by a first mirror 24, a second mirror 26, and a third mirror 28, which can be considered to form a rigid cube as a unit, and the support portion 14c Mirror plate 1 against
The mirror plate 16 and the mirror plate 17 are held parallel and without relative rotation since the mirror 6 is movable in any of the front, rear, up and down, and twist directions. Therefore, no distortion occurs.

Next, a modification of the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a modification of the second embodiment. In the second embodiment described above, a hemispherical shaft is formed in the support portion 14c, and the opening 16 is formed in the mirror plate 16.
However, in this modification, a hemispherical shaft 16h is formed on the mirror plate 16 side, and the supporting portion 14e is formed.
An opening is formed on the c side. The rotation side mirror plate 16 is provided with a ring fitting 44 and a bolt 4 on the support portion 14c.
2. It is also elastically supported by using a spring 46.

(Embodiment 3) Next, a means for attaching a mirror to a mirror plate will be described with reference to FIG. 2
Since the means for attaching the mirror to one mirror plate is the same, only one mirror plate will be described. The means for attaching the mirror to the mirror plate is not limited to these, and may be fixed as usual. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining means for attaching a mirror to a mirror plate.
8a is a perspective view, and FIG. 8b is a partial sectional view of FIG. 8a.

As shown in FIG. 8, mounting holes 16f for mounting the leaf springs 50, 52, 54 are formed in the mirror plate 16 in parallel with the respective edges 16a, 16b, 16c. The leaf springs 50, 52, 54 have a U-shaped cross section. For example, in the case of the leaf spring 52, opposing portions 52a, 54b (see FIG. 8B) are elastically biased inward. It is. Therefore, mirrors 24, 16a, 16b, 16c of the mirror plate
26, 28, and leaf springs 50, 52, 54 can be mounted by placing the mounting holes 16f and the outer portion of the mirror between their opposing portions.

Next, referring to FIG.
An example of attaching 6 to the support portion 14c will be described. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view for explaining an example of attaching a mirror plate to a support portion. As shown in FIG. 9, the mirror plate 16 is supported inside the support portion 14c of the main frame 14a. The supporting method is the same as that shown on the left side of FIG. 5A. After the mirror plate 16 is supported by the support portion 14c, the mirror is mounted on the mirror plate as described in connection with FIG.

Embodiment 4 Another means for attaching a mirror to a mirror plate will be described with reference to FIG. 10A and 10B are views for explaining means for attaching a mirror to a mirror plate. FIG. 10A is a perspective view, and FIG. 10B is a partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 10A.

In the third embodiment, three mirror plates are used.
Although three leaf springs are used to mount one mirror, the fourth embodiment uses one leaf spring in which three leaf springs are integrally formed. The leaf spring 60 includes a main body plate portion 60d attached to the mirror plate 16 by a fixing bolt 62, and three leaf spring portions 60a formed so as to project outward from the main body plate portion 60d.
60b and 60c. Leaf spring portions 60a, 60
The outer end portions of b and 60c are respectively the main body plate portion 60
It is bent at a right angle to d and is elastically biased inward. Therefore, the edge portions 16a, 16b, 16c of the mirror plate 16 and the leaf spring portions 60a, 6
Mirrors 24, 26, and 2 between the outer end portions of the mirrors 24b, 60c.
By sandwiching the mirror 8, these mirrors are elastically held by the mirror plate. The fixed mirror plate 17
Spring 60 used when a mirror is attached to
An arc-shaped long hole (not shown) is formed at a predetermined position so that the fixing bolt 40 can be accessed from the outside.

(Embodiment 5) Next, referring to FIG. 11, means for attaching the frame to the housing will be described. FIG.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a frame and other parts attached to the housing. The frame 14, more specifically, the main frame portion 14a of the frame 14
Is a portion other than between the fixed-side mirror plate 17 and the lens 18, which is fixed to the housing 70 by tightening with two fixing bolts 72. In the illustrated embodiment, the lens is fixed between the rotation-side mirror plate 16 and the lens 18 with fixing bolts. Therefore, the frame 14 is floating in the housing only by the support by the two fixing bolts 72.

In this way, for example, as shown in FIG. 12 for explaining the transmission of disturbance, for example, disturbances 1 to 4 are transmitted to the frame 14 via two fixing bolts 72. What is received is the main frame portion 14a between the two fixing bolts, and little transmission between the lens 18 and the supporting portion 14d supporting the mirror. Even if a slight disturbance is transmitted to the lens 18, the fixed-side mirror plate is displaced similarly to the lens 18, and as described in the first and second embodiments, the rotating-side mirror plate is connected to the fixed-side mirror plate. Since the structure is integrally displaced, the structure supporting the optical system is integrally displaced. In other words, the structure is not substantially deformed and is not affected by disturbance. In this case, if the frame vibrates, a damper 78 may be provided to absorb only the vibration.

(Embodiment 6) FIG. 13 is a sectional view for explaining reinforcing means for preventing deformation of a frame. As shown in FIG. 13, reinforcing members 76 are attached to the fixing bolts 7 at the edges of the supporting portions 14c and 14d of the main frame portion 14a.
4 fixed. As a result, the free ends of the support portions 14c and 14d, which are susceptible to deformation, are less likely to be deformed, and the frame 14 is greatly strengthened so as not to be deformed. Furthermore, the center of twist is the main frame 14
The torsion about the rotation axis 14f, which is shifted from the center of the axis a to the rotation axis 14f, is almost completely corrected by the rotatable mirror plate 16, and an optical system which does not receive the deformation of the frame is obtained.

[0038]

As described above, according to the present invention,
According to the configurations of the first to fifth embodiments, a scanner capable of removing distortion as much as possible can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a scanner according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of Embodiment 1 of the scanner according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a state before adjustment, that is, before fixing a fixed-side mirror plate.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining a state after adjustment, that is, after a fixed-side mirror plate is fixed.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining three modified examples of the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing another embodiment (Embodiment 2) of the means for attaching the rotation-side mirror plate to the support portion.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view for explaining a modification of the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a view for explaining means for attaching a mirror to a mirror plate, of which FIG.
Is a perspective view, and FIG. 8b is a partial sectional view of FIG. 8a.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view for explaining an example of attaching a mirror plate to a support portion.

10 is a view for explaining means for attaching a mirror to a mirror plate, of which FIG. 10a is a perspective view and FIG. 10b is a partial cross-sectional view of FIG. 10a.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view schematically showing a frame and other parts attached to the housing.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view for explaining transmission of disturbance.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view for describing a reinforcing means for preventing deformation of the frame.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a conventional portable scanner.

FIG. 15 is a schematic sectional view of a conventional scanner.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view mainly showing a frame and a mirror plate by omitting other components of the scanner of the conventional example.

FIG. 17 is a perspective view mainly showing a frame and a mirror plate of a scanner having another configuration of the conventional example.

FIG. 18 is a diagram for explaining distortion of a conventional scanner.

FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining distortion of a conventional scanner.

FIG. 20 is a diagram for explaining distortion of a conventional scanner.

FIG. 21 is a diagram for explaining attachment of a frame to a housing of a conventional scanner.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Document 12 Scanner 14 Frame 14a Main frame 14b Sub frame 16 Rotating mirror plate 17 Fixed mirror plate 18 Lens 19 Lens barrel 20 CCD 24 First mirror 26 Second mirror 28 Third mirror 50, 52, 54 Leaf spring 60 Plate Spring 70 Housing 76 Reinforcement

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A scanner having a frame composed of a main frame portion for supporting a mirror plate for supporting a mirror and a sub-frame portion for supporting a lens and a CCD, wherein the main frame portion is a main frame portion. A first support portion integrally formed at a right angle at one end, and rotatably supporting one mirror plate (rotating mirror plate); and a right angle integrally formed at another end of the main frame portion. And a second support portion that rotatably supports the other mirror plate (fixed-side mirror plate) and that can be fixed. 2. The scanner according to claim 1, wherein:
The support portion has a rotation axis projecting outward or inward from the first support portion to rotatably support the rotation side mirror plate, and the rotation side mirror plate is fitted to the rotation axis of the first support portion. The second supporting portion has a rotating shaft projecting outward or inward from the second supporting portion to rotatably support the fixed-side mirror plate and a fixed-side mirror plate on the second supporting portion. A scanner having fixing means for adjusting an angle with respect to the fixing means, wherein the fixed-side mirror plate has an opening that fits into a rotation axis of the second support portion. 3. The scanner according to claim 1, wherein:
The support portion has a rotation axis projecting outward or inward from the first support portion to rotatably support the rotation side mirror plate, and the rotation side mirror plate is fitted to the rotation axis of the first support portion. The second supporting portion has a concave or convex portion formed on an outer portion or an inner portion of the second supporting portion and a fixed mirror plate for rotatably supporting the fixed side mirror plate. A scanner having fixing means for adjusting the angle with respect to the support portion and fixing the mirror plate to the fixed side, wherein the fixed mirror plate has a convex portion or a concave portion fitted to the concave portion or the convex portion of the second support portion. . 4. The scanner according to claim 1, wherein:
The support portion has a hemispherical shaft projecting outward or inward from the first support portion to rotatably support the rotating mirror plate, and the rotating mirror plate has a complementary opening formed therein. The rotation side mirror plate is elastically supported by a first support portion by a spring in a state where the hemispherical shaft and the opening are fitted, and the second support portion rotatably supports the fixed side mirror plate. A rotating shaft protruding outward or inward from the second support portion, and fixing means for adjusting and fixing an angle with respect to the second support portion. 5. The scanner according to claim 1, wherein the rotation-side mirror plate has a hemispherical shaft protruding outward or inward to be rotatably supported by the first support portion. An opening having a complementary shape is formed in the supporting portion, and the rotating side mirror plate is elastically supported by the first supporting portion by a spring in a state where the hemispherical shaft and the opening are fitted, and the second supporting portion is fixed. A rotating shaft protruding outward or inward from the second support portion for rotatably supporting the side mirror plate, and a fixing means for adjusting an angle with respect to the second support portion for fixing; A scanner characterized by the following. 6. The scanner according to claim 1, wherein the first
The support portion and the rotation-side mirror plate each have an opening, and the rotation-side mirror plate is rotatably supported by the first support portion by first fitting means fitted into the openings together.
The second support portion and the solid-side mirror plate each have an opening, and the fixed-side mirror plate is rotatably supported by the second support portion by second fitting means fitted into the openings together, and the fixed-side mirror plate is fixed to the second support portion. A scanner characterized in that the angle is adjusted and fixed with respect to a support portion. 7. A frame comprising a main frame portion for supporting a mirror plate for supporting a mirror, and a sub-frame portion for supporting a lens and a CCD;
In a scanner having a housing for fixing a frame therein, the main frame portion is integrally formed at one end of the main frame portion at a right angle, and rotatably supports one mirror plate (rotating mirror plate). And a mirror plate (fixed-side mirror plate) formed integrally at a right angle at the other end of the main frame portion. 8. The scanner according to claim 1, wherein the mirror is attached to the mirror plate by a leaf spring. 9. The scanner according to claim 8, wherein the plate spring is a U-shaped cross-section, and a facing portion is elastically biased inward at an opposing portion, and the mirror plate has an edge portion thereof. The plate spring fixes the mirror to the mirror plate by sandwiching the hole and the outer portion of the mirror with the leaf spring in contact with the edge of the mirror plate. And scanner. 10. The scanner according to claim 8, wherein the leaf spring has a body portion attached to the mirror plate and a leaf spring portion having an outer end portion projecting outward from the body portion and bending at a right angle to the body portion. A scanner wherein the leaf spring portion fixes the mirror to the mirror plate by sandwiching the outer portion of the mirror with the outer end portion in a state where the mirror contacts the edge of the mirror plate. 11. The scanner according to claim 1, further comprising a housing for fixing the frame inside, wherein the frame is disposed between the fixed-side mirror plate and the lens with respect to the easing. A scanner fixed at a portion of a main frame portion other than the main frame portion. 12. The scanner according to claim 1, wherein a reinforcing member is attached between the first support portion and the second support portion of the main frame portion.