JP2002135533A - Carriage for image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image reader such as an image scanner and a digital copying machine that reduces the weight of its carriage so as to relive the load imposed on a motor. SOLUTION: A recess 22 to which both ends of a light source 6 is inserted is provided to opposed faces of holders 20, 21, and the ends of the light source 6 are inserted thereto and fixed by an adhesive or the like. A hole 23 to which both ends of a first mirror 7 are inserted in formed to a lower side of the recess 22 of the holders 20, 21, both the ends of the first mirror 7 are inserted to the hole 12, and a support member 13 is also inserted to the hole 23 to fix the first mirror 7. The first mirror 7 together with the light source 6 is supported at its both ends only. A couple of slide members 25, 25 are fitted to a lower face of steps 24, 24 of the holders 20, 21.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a carriage for an image reading apparatus such as an image scanner and a digital copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG.
1 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a conventional image reading device such as an image scanner. A document placing contact glass 2 is provided on a device housing 1, and a first carriage 3 and a second carriage 4 for reading a document are provided in the device housing 1.
Is provided. First carriage 3 and second carriage 4
Is mounted on both ends of the carriages 3 and 4 (not shown) to drive the carriages at speeds V and 1 / 2V, respectively. Then, the original 5 on the contact glass 2 is irradiated by the light source 6 of the first carriage 3, and the reflected light is applied to the first carriage 3.
An image is formed on the CCD 11 by the lens 10 via the mirror 7, the second mirror 8 and the third mirror 9 of the second carriage 4, and the image of the original 5 is read. The carriages 3 and 4 are configured to be guided by guide members provided in parallel with the contact glass 2.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the structure of a carriage used in an image reading apparatus such as an image scanner, in particular, a first carriage 3. This type of first carriage 3 is often configured such that a base member 12 is provided with a holding portion for a light source 6 and a first mirror 7. 13 is the first
A holding member for fixing the mirror 7.

However, as the processing speed of a personal computer or the like has been improved, it has been desired to increase the reading speed of this type of image reading apparatus. For this reason, the motor for driving the carriage is adapted for high-speed operation. However, in such a case, a high-torque motor is required, and the driving current of the motor is also required more than before.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to reduce the load on the motor by reducing the weight of the carriage.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a carriage for an image reading apparatus, wherein a light source and a reflected light of light emitted by the light source are folded back to achieve the above object. In a carriage for an image reading apparatus provided with at least one mirror, the light source and both ends of the mirror are held between a pair of holders without holding an intermediate portion between both ends of the light source and the mirror. It is characterized by the following.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, in the carriage for an image reading apparatus according to the first aspect, the holder includes a sliding member for operating on a rail. And

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, in the carriage for an image reading apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the carriage is driven at both ends.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following, portions common to the related art are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of a carriage for an image reading apparatus according to the present invention. In the figure, reference numerals 20 and 21 denote holders, each having a concave portion 22 for inserting both ends of the light source 6 on the opposing surface side.

On the side facing the holders 20 and 21, the recess 2 is formed.
A hole 23 for inserting both ends of the first mirror 7 is provided below 2, and an end of the first mirror 7 is inserted into the hole 23, and the holding member 13 is inserted and fixed. It has become. That is, the first mirror 7 is held only at both ends together with the light source 6.

Further, the holders 20 and 21 have mounting portions for guides (not shown) formed as step portions 24 and 24, respectively.
The step portion 24 is provided with a pair of sliding members 2 from the lower surface side.
Holes 26, 26 for mounting 5, 25 are provided. In the drawing, reference numeral 27 denotes a positioning hole for mounting on an image reading apparatus main body (not shown).

[0012]

As described above, the carriage fixing device for an image reading apparatus according to the present invention does not have a base member and holds the light source and the mirror with a common holder, so that the weight is reduced. This has the effect of reducing the load on the drive motor. Furthermore, since it can be unitized without a base member, there is an effect that it can be manufactured at very low cost.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the carriage fixing device for the image reading apparatus is provided with the sliding member for operating on the rail, as described above, in addition to the above-mentioned common effects, wear of the slide shoe is reduced. There is an effect that it can be reduced.

As described above, the carriage fixing device for an image reading apparatus according to the present invention is driven and driven at both ends. Therefore, in addition to the above-mentioned common effects, there is no vibration during operation due to insufficient rigidity, and a good There is an effect that a read image can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically showing a configuration of a conventional image reading device such as an image scanner.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing a configuration of a carriage used in the image reading apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of a carriage for an image reading apparatus according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Device housing 2 Contact glass 3 1st carriage 4 2nd carriage 5 Original 6 Light source 7 1st mirror 8 2nd mirror 9 3rd mirror 10 Lens 11 CCD 12 Base member 13 Holding members 20, 21 Holder 22 Depression 23 Hole 24 Step 25 Sliding member 26 Hole 27 Positioning hole

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A carriage for an image reading apparatus comprising a light source and at least one mirror for turning back the reflected light of the light emitted by the light source, the intermediate portion between both ends of the light source and the mirror being held. A carriage for an image reading apparatus, wherein both ends of the light source and the mirror are held between a pair of holders without being provided. 2. A carriage for an image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said holder includes a slide member for operating on a rail. 3. The carriage for an image reading device according to claim 1, wherein the carriage is driven to run at both ends.