JPH0614156A - Image reader - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent an upper unit from coming in contact with the reading plane of a contact type image sensor or from being impaired, etc., due to a careless mistake when it is opened by providing a protective member to cover the reading plane. CONSTITUTION:The contact type image sensor 4 is tightened with screws 20 on the right and left side plates 11, 12 of a main body unit facing its reading plane 4a upward. Furthermore, a protective plate 10 as the protective member arranged so as to cover the reading plane 4a is mounted on the upper side of the contact tape image sensor 4 on the right and left side plates 11, 12 by a screw 10. In such a case, the protective plate 10 is formed larger than the area of the reading plane 4a. In such a way, it is possible to prevent the upper unit from coming in contact with the reading plane 4a or being impaired, etc., due to the careless mistake, etc., when it is opened for the main body unit by covering the reading plane 4a of the contact type image sensor 4 with the protective plate 10 provided at the main body unit.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image reading apparatus such as a facsimile, a scanner, a digital copying machine, etc., which uses a contact type image sensor.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a relatively small reading device such as a facsimile, since it is unitized and can be downsized, and maintenance and handling are easy, a lens and a CCD are used. Contact type image sensors are often used instead of having a built-in optical system.

However, a short-focus image forming lens usually used as a contact image sensor, for example, a SELFOG lens (trade name) has a shallow copy body depth of about ± 0.3 mm, and reading outside this range is difficult. is there. Therefore, in a reading device that uses a contact image sensor such as a SELFOC lens, it is necessary to bring the document surface into close contact with the contact image sensor. For example, the one shown in FIG. 7 is known.

FIG. 7 shows a facsimile machine as a reading device.
1, a document table 102 having a document guide portion that guides both end portions in the width direction, a separation roller 103a, and the separation roller 1
Document holder 1 having a pressing piece 103b pressed by 03a.
02, and a pair of inlet rollers 105a, 1 for conveying the original 101 separated by the separating unit to the contact image sensor 104.
The contact-type image sensor 1 shown in FIG. 8 is an entrance conveyance section consisting of 05b and an original 101 conveyed by the entrance conveyance section.
Document pressing roller 106 as a document pressing member that is closely attached so as not to float from the reading position 104a of 04,
A pair of outlet conveyance rollers 107a and 107b arranged on the downstream side of the contact image sensor 104 in the original conveyance direction is provided.

In the original reading section 100, the original table 102 is provided.
When the document 101 is set on the upper side and the reading operation is started, the separating roller 103a, the pair of inlet conveying rollers 105a and 105b, the original pressing roller 106 and the pair of outlet conveying rollers 107a and 107b are rotated by a motor (not shown), and first, in the separating section Documents are separated one by one and paired with entrance conveyance rollers 10
The original 101 separated by 5a and 105b is conveyed to the contact-type image sensor 104, and the original 101 is conveyed while pressing the original 101 against the reading position 104a by the original pressing roller 106 to bring the original 101 into close contact. The original 101 read by the contact image sensor 104 is conveyed by the pair of outlet conveying rollers 107a and 107b, and the original discharge port 10
It is designed to be discharged from the device 8 through the outside.

Here, the original document pressing roller 106 reads the original document 101 from the reading position 104 of the contact image sensor 104.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the original 10 is not affected by the unevenness of the surface of the contact image sensor 104 as shown in FIG.
A cylindrical roller mainly made of a rubber material is used in order to be able to bring the 1 into close contact with each other.

In this reading apparatus, as shown in FIG. 9, an upper unit 109 including an original pressing roller 106 on the upper side of the original conveying path, entrance and exit conveying rollers 105b and 107b, etc., is provided with a contact image sensor 104. The main body unit 110 can be opened and closed. Then, when the original cannot be fed correctly or for maintenance such as cleaning the inside of the apparatus, the upper unit 109 is opened to take out or clean the original.

[0008]

However, when the upper unit 109 is opened with respect to the main body unit 110, the contact type image sensor 104 faces its reading surface 104b to the outside. Usually, glass is used for the reading surface 104b, but there is a possibility that the reading surface 104b, which is the glass surface, may be damaged or fingerprints may be attached due to unexpected carelessness during maintenance.

In view of the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image reading apparatus which can prevent the reading surface of the contact image sensor from being damaged when the upper unit is opened.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a contact type image sensor which is arranged in a main body unit so as to face the original document conveyance path, and the main body unit so that the original document conveyance path appears. An image reading apparatus having an upper unit that is opened and closed with respect to the main unit is provided with a protective member that covers the reading surface of the contact image sensor.

Further, the protective member is movable with respect to the main body unit between a protective position for covering the reading surface of the contact image sensor and an exposing position for exposing the reading surface, and the protecting member. Is detachable from the main body unit.

Furthermore, the document holding member for bringing the document into close contact with the reading surface of the contact image sensor is attached to the protective member.

[0013]

According to the above configuration (1), since the reading surface of the contact image sensor is covered with the protective member, it is possible to prevent the reading surface from being scratched or fingerprinted even when the upper unit is opened. be able to.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, reference numerals 11 and 12 denote left and right side plates of the main body unit, and the contact type image sensor 4 is fixed to the left and right side plates 11 and 12 by a screw 20 with a reading surface 4b facing upward. ing. Further, on the left and right side plates 11 and 12, above the contact image sensor 4,
A protective plate 10 as a protective member arranged so as to cover the reading surface 4b is attached by a screw 21. In this case, the protective plate 10 is formed in an area larger than the reading surface 4b. Although the image reading apparatus of the present embodiment is not shown, the contact type image sensor 4 arranged in the main body unit facing the original document conveying path similar to the apparatus of FIG. 7 and the original document conveying path are exposed. And an upper unit that is opened and closed with respect to the main body unit. Further, in FIG. 1, reference numeral 5a is an entrance conveyance roller, and 7a is an exit conveyance roller.

In the thus constructed image reading apparatus, the reading surface 4b of the contact type image sensor 4 is covered with the protective plate 10 provided in the main unit, so that the upper unit is opened to the main unit as shown in FIG. Even if it touches the reading surface 4b due to carelessness. Damage and the like can be prevented.

By the way, in the image reading apparatus using the contact type image sensor 4, it is necessary to clean the reading surface 4b when the paper dust or the dust of the original adheres to the reading surface 4b. At this time, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the protective plate 10 covering the reading surface 4b is screwed to the side plates 11 and 12, so that cleaning is difficult. Moreover, it is difficult to replace the protective plate 10.

Therefore, in another embodiment shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, such a problem is solved, and a description thereof will be given.

In FIG. 2, a support shaft 13 is provided on the side plates 11 and 12 (the side plate 12 side is not shown) of the portion supporting the protection plate 10, and a chamfered portion parallel to the peripheral surface of the support shaft 13. 1
3a is formed. Chamfer 13a of this support shaft 13
The width is L ₁ . On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the protective plate 10 is formed with a hole 10a having the same diameter as the diameter of the support shaft 13 and a cutout portion 10b having a width smaller than the diameter of the hole 10a.
The width of this cut-off portion 10b is L ₂ , and the chamfered portion 13a
The width is set to be the same as or slightly wider than L ₁ .

According to this structure, as shown in FIG. 4A, the cut-off portion 10b of the protective plate 10 is fitted to the chamfered portion 13a of the support shaft 13, and the protective plate 10 is rotated. Thus, the protective plate 10 is attached to the side plates 11 and 12 so as to be rotatable and detachable ((b) of FIG. 4). At this time, a stopper (not shown) for holding the reading surface 4b of the contact image sensor 4 at a regular position is provided, and the protective plate 10 is brought into contact with the stopper by means of a leaf spring or the like. 10 can be held in the regular position. Then, during the cleaning work, the protective plate 10 may be lifted and rotated against the action of the leaf spring as shown by the chain line in FIG. Note that a stopper for temporarily holding the protective plate 10 at the rotated position may be provided, or the stopper may be fixed to the link mechanism. In addition, the protective plate 10
May be held in its normal position by its own weight. In this case,
The protection plate 10 may be rotated to a position where its center of gravity is located behind the center of rotation and stopped by a stopper.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 6, the protective plate 10 has a flexible original pressing member 6 made of polyester film or the like.
Is attached. In this case, the document pressing member 6 is attached by the protective plate 10 so as to be inclined toward the reading surface 4b.

According to this structure, even if the document pressing roller cannot be mounted by providing the protective plate 10, the document pressing member 6 can bring the document into close contact with the reading position. Moreover, since the protective plate 10 is attached so as to be inclined toward the reading surface 4b, good adhesion of the original can be obtained. Further, when a film is used as the document pressing member 6, unlike the case where a roller is used, there is no need for driving, and the configuration is simple. Furthermore, even when the upper unit is opened and closed, the document pressing member 6 remains on the main body unit side, and even if the protective plate 10 is given any shock, the document pressing member 6 buffers and the contact image sensor is shocked. It does not have to exert force. Note that the original document holding member 6 may use a resin rubber sheet or the like instead of the film.

[0024]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the protective member for covering the reading surface of the contact type image sensor is provided, contact with the reading surface due to carelessness when the upper unit is opened. Can prevent damage.

According to the second aspect of the invention, since the protective member is rotatably attached to the main body unit, the protective member can be easily moved from the regular position when cleaning the reading surface, for example. Further, since the protection member is configured to be attachable to and detachable from the main body unit, the work becomes easy, for example, when the protection member is replaced.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since the document pressing member is attached to the protective member, the document pressing member remains on the main body unit side even when the upper unit is opened and closed, and the contact type image sensor receives a force such as a shock. Does not reach. Also,
If a film is used as the document pressing member, the structure is simplified without the need for driving means such as rollers.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a side plate showing another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a protection plate of the embodiment of FIG.

4 (a) and 4 (b) are explanatory views for explaining a procedure of attaching the protective plate to the side plate in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG.

5 is an explanatory view showing the movement of the protective plate of the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing still another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a conventional image reading apparatus.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a reading unit of a conventional image reading apparatus.

9 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which an upper unit of the image reading apparatus in FIG. 7 is opened.

[Explanation of symbols]

 4 Contact image sensor 6 Original pressing member 10 Protective plate 13 Spindle

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image reading apparatus having a contact type image sensor arranged in a main body unit facing a document transport path, and an upper unit opened and closed with respect to the main body unit so that the document transport path appears. An image reading apparatus, wherein a protective member that covers a reading surface of the contact image sensor is provided on the main body unit side. 2. The protective member is movable with respect to the main body unit between a protective position for covering the reading surface of the contact image sensor and an exposing position for exposing the reading surface, and the protecting member. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image reading device is detachable from the main body unit. 3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protective member is provided with a document pressing member for bringing the document into close contact with the reading surface of the contact image sensor.