JPH1164993A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reader so that a flexible electric wire isn't in contact with a contact glass even when a carriage exists on any position. SOLUTION: In the image reader so that the carriage 5 arranged downward the contact glass and having a light source and a mirror is moved in the sub- scan direction for reading an original image placed on the contact glass, one end of the flexible electric wire 13 is connected to the carriage 5, and the other end is fixed to a position lower than the connected position with the carriage 5 in the image reader, and a fixed part 15 fixed into the image reader tilts the flexible electric wire 13 with the bottom up to fix it.

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 provided in a copying machine, an image scanner, or the like, and more particularly, to a wiring structure of a flexible electric wire wired in the image reading device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional image reading apparatus. In FIG. 1, the image reading apparatus has a casing (not shown), on which a contact glass 1 is provided, on which a document 2 is placed. A pressure plate (not shown) is mounted on the contact glass 1 so as to be openable and closable by hinge connection. After the document 2 is placed on the contact glass 1 with the pressure plate opened and positioned,
The original plate 2 is pressed down on the contact glass 1 by lowering the pressure plate and fixed.

[0003] A lamp 3 is provided below the contact glass 1.
A first carriage 5 having a first mirror 4, a second carriage 8 in which a second mirror 6 and a third mirror 7 are fixed to a frame with reflecting surfaces orthogonal to each other, an imaging optical system 9, and a light receiving element 10 are provided.

When reading an original, the lamp 3 is turned on, the first carriage 5 moves in the direction of the arrow at the first speed, continuously irradiates the right end to the left end of the original, and reflects the reflected light of the first mirror 4. To be ejected to the second carriage 8.

[0005] The second carriage 8 moves in the same direction as the first carriage 5 at the second speed, but the second speed is 1/2 of the first speed. The light beam emitted from the first carriage 5 is reflected by the second mirror 6 and the third mirror 7, passes through the imaging optical system 9, and forms an image of the original on the light receiving element 10. The light receiving element 10 converts the original image into an optical signal again and forms an electrostatic latent image of the original on a photosensitive member (not shown). After that, the normal electrophotographic process proceeds.

[0006]

In the image reading apparatus constructed as described above, since the first carriage 5 has the lamp 3, an electric wire for supplying power to the lamp 3 and controlling the blinking is required. Become. In this case, the first carriage 5
As they move, the wires must be long enough to allow them to move freely.

As an electric wire meeting such a purpose, a flexible electric wire has been conventionally used. This flexible electric wire is also called a flat wire harness,
A large number of electric wires are arranged in parallel and connected in a strip shape with a synthetic resin.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the flexible electric wire 13 is connected to the first carriage 5 as described above. The flexible electric wire 13 has one end 13a fixed to the first carriage 5 and the other end 13b fixed to an appropriate position in the image reading device, and is attached in a U-shaped curve. When the first carriage 5 moves in the direction of the arrow from the state shown in FIG. 9, the U-shaped curved portion 13c of the flexible electric wire 13 also moves following the movement of the first carriage, thereby fixing the first carriage and the image reading device side. Even if the position with the end 13b changes, electrical conduction can be ensured.

When the flexible electric wire 13 is bent by applying a light force, the radius of curvature does not become smaller than a specific value, so that permanent distortion does not remain in the electric wire.

[0010]

However, in the conventional image reading apparatus, when the first carriage moves from the solid line to the position indicated by the dotted line as shown in FIG. The curvature of the electric wire 13 increases, and the electric wire 13 comes into contact with the lower surface of the contact glass 1.
When this state is repeated, there is a problem that the contact portion of the electric wire with the contact glass 1 is worn and the electric wire is damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problem, and has as its object to provide an image reading apparatus in which a flexible electric wire does not come into contact with a contact glass at any position of a carriage.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a carriage disposed below a contact glass and having a light source and a mirror reads an original image placed on the contact glass. Therefore, in the image reading apparatus that moves in the sub-scanning direction, the flexible electric wire connected to the carriage is prevented from contacting the contact glass regardless of the position of the carriage.

The flexible electric wire has one end connected to the carriage and the other end fixed to a position lower than the position where the flexible electric wire is connected to the carriage in the image reading device. However, a configuration in which the flexible electric wire is inclined downward and fixed, or a configuration in which at least one end of the flexible electric wire is fixed so that the longitudinal direction of the electric wire can be changed, or the flexible electric wire is elongated. The curvature of the flexible wire at the fixed portion when the carriage and the fixed portion in the image reading apparatus are farthest apart from each other can be configured to be equal to or larger than the radius that does not affect the durability of the flexible wire. .

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state of attachment of a flexible electric wire in the image reading apparatus of the present invention. One end 13a of the flexible electric wire 13 is attached to the first carriage 5 substantially horizontally, and a block is attached to the other end 13b. The block 13b is attached to a fixing portion 15 provided at an appropriate position in the image reading apparatus. It is attached in a state inclined downward. The fixed portion 15 is located below the fixed end 13 a on the first carriage 5 side,
Are provided within the movement range of

FIG. 2 is a side view showing details of the fixing portion 15. As shown in FIG. Surface 1 of fixing portion 15 for fixing flexible electric wire 13
5 a is inclined downward with respect to the longitudinal direction of the flexible electric wire 13. With such a configuration, the flexible electric wire 1 can be moved more easily than the lifting force f (FIG. 1) generated on the first carriage side of the flexible electric wire 13.
3 and the force F generated by the inclination of the fixing surface 15a becomes larger, so that the flexible electric wire 13
Can be prevented from being lifted upward, so that contact with the contact glass can be avoided.

FIG. 3 is a view for explaining a second embodiment of the present invention. When fixing both ends of the flexible electric wire 13 to the carriage 5 and the image reading device, there is a variation in the mounting position of each component, the mounting hole, and the like, so that the flexible electric wire 13 may be attached diagonally as shown in FIG. . When attached in this manner, the movement of the carriage 5 causes a twist to be applied to the flexible electric wire 13 and makes it easier to come into contact with the contact glass 1. In this case, a part of the twisted flexible electric wire comes into contact locally, so that the flexible electric wire is easily damaged and the life of the electric wire is shortened.

Therefore, the second embodiment of the present invention has a configuration as shown in FIGS. That is, the fixed part 1
8 are provided with upper and lower plates 18a and 18b, between which the block-shaped end 13b of the flexible electric wire 13 is inserted. The end 13b of the electric wire is locked to the upper and lower plates 18a, 18b by two pins 18c, 18d. Then, the pin 18c on the distal end side is fixed, and the other pin 18d is movable in the arc-shaped hole 18e. Therefore, the flexible electric wire 13 is fixed so that the longitudinal direction of the flexible electric wire 13 can be changed around the fixing pin 18c as shown by the arrow, so that the flexible electric wire 13 is not twisted.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views for explaining a third embodiment of the present invention, and show a state in which the carriage 5 and the fixing portion 15 are at the farthest positions. If the length of the flexible electric wire is short, as shown in FIG. 7, the radius of curvature of the curved portion A in the fixing portion 15 becomes small, and a large stress is generated here, leaving permanent deformation in the flexible electric wire and hastening the damage of the electric wire. Would be.

Therefore, in the third embodiment of the present invention, the length of the flexible electric wire 13 is increased so that the carriage 5 and the fixed portion 15 are fixed.
Even at the most distant state, the radius of curvature of the curved portion A becomes large, so that there is no danger of permanent deformation of the electric wire.

[0020]

As described above, according to the present invention, according to the present invention, the flexible electric wire connected to the carriage of the image reading apparatus does not contact the contact glass regardless of the position of the carriage. For example, the flexible electric wire has one end coupled to the carriage, and the other end fixed to a position lower than the coupling position with the carriage in the image reading device, and the end fixed in the image reading device is flexible. Since the electric wires are fixed to be inclined downward, it is possible to prevent the flexible electric wires from being damaged by contact with the contact glass.

If at least one of the fixed ends of the flexible electric wire is fixed so that the longitudinal direction of the electric wire can be changed, the flexible electric wire can be prevented from being twisted. As a result, it is possible to prevent the flexible electric wire from contacting the contact glass.

Further, by making the flexible electric wire longer, the curvature of the flexible electric wire at the fixed end when the carriage and the fixed end in the image reading apparatus are farthest apart from each other,
When the radius is set to be equal to or larger than the radius that does not affect the durability of the flexible electric wire, it is possible to prevent permanent deformation from remaining in the electric wire and shorten the life of the electric wire.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing an arrangement state of flexible electric wires in an image reading apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged side view showing details of a fixed end of the flexible electric wire on the image forming apparatus side.

FIG. 3 is a top view showing a state where a flexible electric wire is obliquely attached.

FIG. 4 is a side view showing details of a fixed end in a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view showing a configuration of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view for explaining a problem solved by the third embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a main part showing a configuration of a conventional image reading apparatus.

9 is a perspective view showing a state in which a flexible electric wire is connected to a carriage in the image reading apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a state in which a flexible electric wire contacts a contact glass in a conventional image reading apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Contact glass 2 Original 3 Light source 5 Carriage 13 Flexible electric wire 15, 18 Fixed part

Claims (4)

[Claims] In an image reading apparatus, a carriage disposed below a contact glass and having a light source and a mirror moves in a sub-scanning direction to read an original image placed on the contact glass. An image reading apparatus, wherein a connected flexible electric wire does not contact the contact glass regardless of a position of a carriage. 2. A fixing portion, wherein one end of the flexible electric wire is connected to the carriage, and the other end is fixed at a position lower than a position where the flexible electric wire is connected to the carriage in the image reading device. 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flexible electric wire is fixed by being inclined downward. 3. The image reading device according to claim 2, wherein at least one fixing portion of the flexible electric wire is fixed so that the longitudinal direction of the electric wire can be changed. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the length of the flexible electric wire is long, and the curvature of the flexible electric wire in the fixed portion when the carriage and the fixed portion in the image reading apparatus are most separated from each other is:
The image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the radius is not less than a radius that does not affect the durability of the flexible electric wire.