JPS60230619A - Reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To simplify the constitution while reducing an adjusting means by forming a readout element and a lighting element in one body by using a light- transmittable member. CONSTITUTION:Numbers of LED chips 7 are arranged on a substrate 8 and a condenser lens 6 which converges light from the LED chips 7 on the original surface 1 on an optical axis 5 is provided to constitute an LED array as the lighting element C. The readout element B, on the other hand, forms an image on a photosensor through a converging optical transmitter 4 with an image signal coincident with the optical axis on the original surface 1. The light element C and readout element B are formed in one body by using a light transmittable member 3.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] This invention relates to a reading device. Specifically, the present invention relates to an improved reading device that uses an LED array as an illumination element and a photosensor as a reading element. .

[Prior art]

There is an increasing demand for miniaturization in facsimile machines, copying machines, word glossing/image reading devices, and similar image reading devices. A large number of LED arrays are used. Furthermore, in order to reduce the size of image reading devices, a short-focus, equal-magnification optical system using a converging light transmitter or the like is used. An example of such a reading device is shown in FIG.

A large number of LED chips 7 are arranged on the board 8, and the LED
A condensing lens 6 for condensing the light from the D-chinno 7 onto the document surface 1 on the optical axis 5 constitutes an LED array as an amateur lighting manufacturer. On the other hand, as a reading element B, an image signal that coincides with the optical axis 2 on the document surface 1 is transmitted through a convergent light transmission body to form an image on the photosensor 9.

Although such a reading device has the advantage of being miniaturized, it has the following drawbacks. This will be explained using FIG. 1(b) as an example.

(1) Since an LED array is used as the illumination element A, focus adjustment, especially adjustment in the 10 directions shown in FIG. 1(b), is important. If the adjustment in the 10 directions shown in Figure 1(b) is off, the original surface 1
Since sufficient illuminance cannot be obtained above, an image signal with a good S/N ratio cannot be read.

(2) It is necessary to align the optical axis 5 of the illuminator with the optical axis 2 of the reading element B on the document surface 1. The LED array light source has a linear and extremely steep illuminance distribution on the document surface 1, so if the optical axes 2 and 5 are misaligned, insufficient illumination may occur (
This causes image quality deterioration similar to that described in 1). In order to align the two optical axes, adjustment in directions 11 and 12 in FIG. 1(b) is required.

(3) Illumination and reading optical axes 5 of each element A and B on the original surface 1,
Even if 2 is matched, one more adjustment item is required. The LED array of illumination element A, the convergent light transmitter, and the photosensor of reading element B both have a certain length in the direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG.
It is not sufficient to simply adjust the matching of the points performed in 2). In order to linearly match the illuminance distribution plane and the optical axis 2 of the reading element B between both elements A and B, adjustment in 13 directions shown in FIG. 1(b) is required.

Although FIG. 1(b) shows the direction to be adjusted with respect to the LED array 7 of the illumination element A, the same can be said for the focusing light transmitter 4 and the photosensor 9 of the reading element B. . In order to make the reading device more compact, LED
When the array 7 and the convergent optical transmission body 4 are used, various problems arise in terms of assembly accuracy.

Furthermore, in order to assemble these main components into the reader main body 3 as shown in FIG. Throw-in assembly) was almost impossible. In addition, these adjustments involve various adjustment directions, adjustment methods, etc.
This has the disadvantage of increasing the number of work steps and increasing costs.

[Purpose of the invention]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an improved reading device which has a simple structure and reduces the number of adjusting means in order to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks.

[Summary of the invention]

This object of the present invention is achieved by an improved reading device characterized in that a photosensor as a reading element and an LED array as an illumination element are integrally formed using a light-transmitting member.

〔Example〕

An embodiment of the reading device of the present invention will be specifically described based on the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows a reading device according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which a large number of LED chips 7 are arranged on a substrate 8, and the light from the LED chips 7 is focused on the document surface 1 on the optical axis 5. The condensing lens 6 constitutes an LED array as an amateur lighting manufacturer. On the other hand, as a reading element B, an image signal that coincides with the optical axis 2 on the document surface 1 is transmitted by the convergent optical transmission body 4.
An image is formed on the photo sensor 9. The reading element B is integrally formed using a light-transmitting member 3. An example of an integral formation method is a casting method that is currently commonly used as a packaging method for LED elements. According to the casting method, the basic components of this reading device, such as the LED array C (the substrate 8, the LED chip 7, and the lens 6 are generally configured with specified dimensions), and the focusing light transmitting body 4 are made of gold. Position it in the mold with high precision,
A light-transmissive resin (for example, Nitto Denko Corporation's Engineering I Resin (NT-8005), etc.) is cast into this, and after defoaming and heat curing, it is molded out! J, IJD array C,
A reading device integrally formed with the convergent light transmission body 4 can be easily obtained. The positioning of each member within the mold is achieved by the processing accuracy of the mold and the dimensional accuracy of each member. The casting sample undergoes dimensional changes during the heat curing process after being demolded, but the necessary precision was achieved by the mold design and selection of heat curing conditions.

Epoxy resin is commonly used as a light-transmitting resin for casting. Alternatively, thermoplastic resin may be used.
Acrylic resin or the like is used.

Next, as another embodiment, it is preferable to use a reading device in which the light-transmitting member has a convex portion in part, and the convex portion has a light condensing property. This is shown in FIG.

The basic structure of FIG. 3 is the same as that of FIG. 2, but instead of the lens 6, a part of the light-transmitting material is formed into a convex shape as a convex portion 14, which sufficiently focuses the light. The optical axis 5 is aligned with the original surface 1.

〔Effect of the invention〕

According to the present invention, by integrally forming the LED array, focusing light transmission body, etc. with a light-transmitting resin, the accuracy of the reading device is improved, quality is guaranteed, and delicate position adjustment work is no longer necessary. Furthermore, by providing a convex portion on a part of the light-transmitting resin, there is no need to install a lens, and the cost and number of work steps can be significantly reduced.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, most of the reading device is integrally molded, so that the part facing the document surface can be easily removed from dirt and dust. You can also expect reliability.

By attaching the reading device of the present invention to a facsimile machine, copying machine, word processing device, or similar image reading device, it is extremely useful for downsizing and reducing the cost of each type of device.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1(a) is a sectional view of a conventional reading device. FIG. 1(b) is an explanatory diagram illustrating the direction of adjustment in FIG. 1(&). FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the reading device of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a sectional view of another embodiment of the reading device of the present invention.
be. 1... Document surface, 2... Optical axis of focusing light transmission body, 3...
...Support, 4...Focusing light transmission body, 5...LED
Optical axis of array, 6... Lens, 7... LED chip, 8... Substrate, 9... Photo sensor, 10...
Focus adjustment direction of the optical axis, 12... Focus adjustment direction of the optical axis,
14...Protrusion. Ning 1 Tutan 2 Tutan 3 Room

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A reading device that uses a photosensor as a reading element and an LED array as an illumination element, characterized in that the two elements are integrally formed using a light-transmitting member. (2) The reading device according to claim 1, wherein the light-transmissive member has a convex portion in part to have light condensing properties.