JPH1146263A - Image reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a fixing device in a carriage fixing structure of an image reading device, which does not have to be lost. SOLUTION: A housing 1 provided with a document mounting table, and a first carriage 5 and a second carriage 9 which move along the document to read the document placed on the document mounting table are provided in the housing. In the image reading device, a through hole 1a is formed in the housing 1, a fixing tool 20 is fitted into the through hole 1a, and the fixing tool 20 is provided with a locking portion including a projection 20a and a locking groove 20d. Was. When the carriage is fixed, the locking portion is engaged with a locking hole 8b formed in the frame 8 of the carriage 9. At the time of normal document reading, the fixing device 20 is fitted upside down so that the locking portion passes through the hole 8c of the frame 8 so as not to be engaged.

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 provided in a copying machine, an image scanner or the like, and more particularly, to a fixing structure of a carriage in the image reading apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a conventional image reading apparatus. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a housing, on which a contact glass 2 is provided, on which a document is placed. On the contact glass 2, a pressure plate (not shown)
A document is placed on the contact glass 2 with the pressure plate opened,
After the positioning, the original is pressed down onto the contact glass 2 by lowering the pressure plate and fixed.

[0003] Inside a housing 1, a first carriage 5 having a lamp 3 and a first mirror 4, a second mirror 6 and a third
A second carriage 9 having a mirror 7 fixed to a frame 8 with a reflecting surface orthogonal to the frame 8, an imaging optical system 10, and a light receiving element 11
Are provided.

When reading a document, the lamp 3 is turned on, the first carriage 5 moves in the direction of the arrow at the first speed, continuously irradiates the left end to the right end of the document, and reflects the reflected light of the first mirror 4. To be ejected to the second carriage 9.

The second carriage 9 moves in the same direction as the first carriage 5 at the second speed, but the second speed is half 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 10, and forms an image of the document on the light receiving element 11. The light receiving element 11 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 having the above-described configuration, when the maker is sold to a user or the like, the entire copying machine is transported by a truck or the like, so that the first and second carriages are fixed. Otherwise, the carriages 5 and 9 may move and collide during transportation, and may be damaged.

Therefore, a structure for fixing the carriage as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 has been proposed. FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing a state where the carriage is fixed, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of parts for fixing.

As shown in these figures, a substantially rectangular through hole 1a is formed in the housing 1 so that a cap 13 can be fitted therein. The cap 13 has several locking claws 13a, which are engaged with the periphery of the through hole 1a and fixed to the housing 1.

The fixture 14 is formed by bending one end of a plate material into L
The V-shaped locking groove 14 is provided on the right end of the long side in the horizontal direction.
a, a small hole 14b is formed in the middle, and a hole 14c is formed substantially in the center of the short side in the vertical direction. Second
An elongated hole 8a is formed in the carriage frame 8 so that the tip of the fixture 14 can enter.

In order to fix the second carriage 9, the cap 13 is removed, and the second carriage 9 is moved to the leftmost position as shown in FIG. Then, the distal end of the fixture 14 is inserted into the hole 8a, and the frame 8 around the hole 8a enters the locking groove 14a. Then, the screw 15 is inserted through the hole 14c, and the fixture 14 is screwed into the screw hole of another frame 12 and fixed. After that, the cap 13 is attached. When the copying machine is set at the use position, the cap 13 is removed, the screw 15 is loosened, the fixing device 14 is removed, and the cap 13 is attached again.

By the way, if the above configuration is adopted, the fixture 1
4 are completely invisible from the outside of the copying machine,
There is a risk that the image reading apparatus may be operated and damaged by forgetting to remove it. Therefore, a tag 17 is attached to the hole 14b,
A tag is put out of the apparatus through the gap between the cap 13 and the through hole 1a. By doing so, the person who installs the copier can see from the tag that the fixing device has not been removed, so that forgetting to remove it can be prevented.

[0012]

However, in the above-mentioned fixing device, the fixing device 14 removed after the copier has been installed becomes unnecessary and is discarded. Therefore, when moving the installation location again due to moving,
The carriage cannot be fixed. To prevent this, a precautionary note is written on the fixing device 14, the tag, or the like, and care is taken to store it in an easy-to-understand place, but it often disappears.

Further, there is a risk that it takes time to attach the tag 17 or forgets to attach the tag itself. The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and has as its object to provide a fixing device that does not require a tag in a carriage fixing structure of an image reading device. It is another object of the present invention to provide a fastener that does not have to be lost.

[0014]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a housing provided with a document table, and moving along the document to read the document placed on the document table. In the image reading apparatus provided with a carriage in the housing, a through hole is formed in the housing, a fixing tool is fitted into the through hole, and a projection-like locking portion is provided on the fixing tool, and the locking is performed. The part can be engaged with a locked part formed on the carriage.

Further, the fixing tool can be fitted into the through hole even if the fixing tool is turned 180 °, and the locking part is on one side of the fixing tool. However, it is desirable to adopt a configuration that does not engage with the carriage.

The locking portion of the fixing device comprises a projection protruding from the fixing device and a locking groove formed at the tip thereof, and the locked portion of the carriage is a locking hole formed in a frame of the carriage. Alternatively, the protrusion may enter the locking hole, and the frame around the locking hole may enter and engage with the locking groove.

A hole is formed in the carriage at a position separated from the locking hole, and when the fixing tool is inverted, the protrusion passes through the hole and the groove engages with a frame around the hole. It is desirable to adopt a configuration that does not perform this. Further, it is preferable that a sign indicating a direction in which the fixture is fitted into the through hole of the housing is attached to the fixing tool so that the symbol can be seen from the outside of the housing.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a carriage fixing structure of the image reading apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a fixing tool is attached. As shown in these figures, the casing 1 is provided with a substantially rectangular through hole 1a as described in the conventional example. The fixture 20 has a shape that just closes the through-hole 1a, and has a projection 20a standing upright at one end, and claws 20b, 20b for locking to the housing 1 on both sides thereof. Is formed. Protrusion 2
0a is flexible and has a guide slope 20c at its tip for snap-fitting, and a V-shaped locking groove 2 in front of the guide slope 20c.
0d. The projection 20a and the locking groove 20d form a locking portion. At the other end of the fixture 20, only one claw 20b for locking with the housing 1 is provided.
Each of the claws 20b is also flexible, and the tip is a guide slope for snap fitting. On the other hand, two rectangular holes 8b and 8c are formed in the frame 8 of the second carriage 9 at a distance. One hole 8b is a locking hole as a locked portion.

When fixing the second carriage 9, FIG.
(A). That is, the frame 8 is moved to the left end of the housing 1 and the fixture 20 is inserted in the illustrated direction.
Then, the projection 20a enters the locking hole 20b, and the guide slope 20c slides along the periphery of the locking hole 20b, and the frame 8 enters the locking groove 20d. At this time, the guide slope at the tip of each locking claw 20b slides on the periphery of the hole 1a, the claw fits into the periphery, and the fixture 20 is fitted and fixed in the hole 1a.

On the surface of the fixture 20, a mark 20e such as an arrow is drawn. The installer can see from this mark that the carriage is fixed.

When the copying machine has been installed, the installer removes the fixture 20. Then, the second carriage 9 becomes movable and becomes operable. After the fixture 20 is removed, the hole 1a is opened, so that the fixture is rotated by 180 °, and the projection 20a is turned to the opposite side to be fitted into the hole 1a as shown in FIG. 2 (b). At this time, the projections 20a enter the holes 8c of the frame 8, but only pass through the holes 8c.
d does not engage with the frame 8 at all.

Therefore, even if the document reading device is activated, the fixing device 20 is not discarded and does not disappear. Thereafter, when it becomes necessary to fix the second carriage 9 again due to moving or the like, the fixing device 20 is moved to the position shown in FIG.
FIG. 2 (a) is removed from the state of FIG.
The second carriage can be fixed if it is fitted in the state shown in FIG.

The mark 20 is provided on the surface of the fixture 20.
Since there is e, whether the second carriage is fixed or not can be immediately recognized by looking at the mark from the outside, and there is no mistake.

[0024]

According to the present invention as described above,
In an image reading apparatus including a housing having a document mounting table and a carriage moving along the document to read the document placed on the document mounting table, a through hole is formed in the housing. Then, a fixing tool is fitted into the through hole, and a projection-like locking portion is provided on the fixing tool, and the locking portion can be engaged with a locked portion formed on the carriage. There is no need to attach tags to the components.

Further, even if the fixing tool is inverted by 180 °, the fixing tool can be fitted into the through hole, and the locking portion is on one side of the fixing tool. If the fixing device is not engaged with the carriage, even if the fixing device is disengaged from the carriage, the fixing device can be fitted in the through hole of the housing, and the fixing device can be prevented from being lost.

A symbol indicating the direction in which the fixture is fitted into the through hole of the housing is attached to the fixing device so that the symbol can be seen from the outside of the housing, so that it can be seen at a glance whether or not the carriage is fixed. Incorrect operation can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a main configuration of an image reading apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a diagram illustrating a state in which a fixing tool is engaged with a frame of a carriage, and FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating a state in which the fixing tool is inverted and is not engaged with the frame of the carriage.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an overall configuration of a conventional image reading apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a main part showing a conventional fixing structure.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a main part of a conventional fixing structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Housing 1a Through hole 3 Light source 4 1st mirror 5 Carriage 6 2nd mirror 7 3rd mirror 8 Frame 8b Locking hole (locked part) 8c Hole 9 Carriage 20 Fixing tool 20a Projection 20d Locking groove

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. An image reading apparatus comprising: a housing having a document mounting table; and a carriage which moves along the document to read the document placed on the document mounting table. A through-hole is drilled, a fixture is fitted into the through-hole, a projection-like locking portion is provided on the fixing tool, and the locking portion can be engaged with a locked portion formed on the carriage. An image reading apparatus, comprising: 2. The fixing tool can be fitted into the through hole even if the fixing tool is turned by 180 °, and the locking part is on one side of the fixing tool. 2. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first member does not engage with the carriage. 3. The locking portion of the fixing device comprises a projection protruding from the fixing device and a locking groove formed at the tip thereof, and the locked portion of the carriage is formed on a frame of the carriage. 3. The image reading device according to claim 2, wherein the projection is inserted into the locking hole, and the frame around the locking hole is engaged with the locking groove. 4. A hole is formed in the carriage at a position separated from the locking hole, and when the fixing tool is inverted, the projection passes through the hole and the groove engages with a frame around the hole. 4. The image reading apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the image reading apparatus does not perform the operation. 5. The fixing device according to claim 2, wherein a mark indicating a direction in which the fixing tool is fitted into the through hole of the housing is attached to the fixing tool so that the symbol can be seen from the outside of the housing. The image reading device according to claim 1.