JPH01105270A - Scanning optical device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To adjust the position in the vertical direction of an optical element without adjusting the position relation of a part to be supported and a supporting means by installing the part to be supported of an optical element assembly body in a supporting frame body so that the position can be adjusted freely and substantially in the vertical direction. CONSTITUTION:Optical element assembly bodies 54, 60 contain supporting frame bodies 90, 104 where optical elements 50, 56 and 58 are installed, and the parts to be supported 92, 94, 106 and 108 provided on both end parts of the supporting frame bodies 90, 104, and also, supported by each of a pair of supporting 82, 84, and to at least one of parts to be supported 92, 94, 104 and 108, power transmission means 114a, 114b for moving the optical element assembly bodies 54, 60 are connected, and at least one of the parts to be supported 92, 94, 106 and 108 is installed in the supporting frame bodies 90, 104 so that the position can be adjusted freely and substantially in the vertical direction. In such a way, the position in the vertical direction of the optical element can be adjusted without varying substantially the positional relation between the parts to be supported 92, 94, 106 and 108 of the optical element assembly bodies 54, 60 and the supporting means 82, 84 for supporting said parts.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Field The present invention relates to a scanning optical device used in an image generation device such as an electrostatic copying machine or an image reading device such as a transmission original reading device in a facsimile machine.

<Prior art> As an example of a scanning optical device used in an image generation device or an image reading device, there is, for example, a scanning optical device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 58-138932.
Examples include those disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. Such a scanning optical device comprises two optical element assemblies, a first optical element assembly and a second optical element assembly, reciprocally mounted on supporting means such as pairs of guide members. We are prepared. The first optical element assembly includes a document illumination lamp that illuminates the document and a first reflector, and the second optical element assembly includes a second reflector that reflects the reflected light from the first reflector as desired. It has a reflecting mirror. During scanning exposure, the first optical element assembly is moved at a predetermined speed, the second optical element assembly is moved at half the predetermined speed, and the reflected light from the original is reflected from the first reflecting mirror and the second optical element assembly. The image is projected onto an image receiving means, which may be an electrostatic photographic photoreceptor or an imaging means consisting of a plurality of solid-state image sensing devices (for example, C0D), through a reflecting mirror or the like.

However, in such a conventional scanning optical device, the supported portion provided in the optical element assembly (for example, the first optical element assembly, the second optical element assembly) is slidable. It is configured to adjust the vertical position of an optical element such as a reflector by changing the positional relationship with a supporting means supported on the mirror. There are problems to be solved. −
In general, an optical element assembly includes a support frame on which the optical element is attached, and supported parts are provided at both ends of the support frame (for example, the optical element assembly is attached integrally or with screws). ing). And...

A transmission means such as a transmission wire for moving the optical element assembly is connected to the supported portion provided in the
For example, it is wrapped around a boob or directly fixed to it). Therefore, as is easily understood, when the positional relationship between the supported part and the supporting means is changed in order to adjust the vertical position of the optical element, the example The vertical position of the pulley also changes.

Particularly, in a scanning optical device in which one end of a transmission wire wound around such a pulley is directly connected to another optical element assembly, the boot can be moved upward by adjusting the positional relationship between the supported part and the supporting means. , the other optical element assembly tends to deflect upwardly due to the upward positional change of the boob, as will be explained in more detail below. If this tendency increases, the other optical element assemblies cannot be moved smoothly, vibrations occur during movement, and scanning exposure of the document cannot be achieved as desired.

<Object of the Invention> The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and its main purpose is to provide an optical element assembly without substantially changing the positional relationship between the supported part and the supporting means that supports it. An object of the present invention is to provide an excellent scanning optical device that can adjust the vertical position of an optical element.

<Summary of the Invention> According to the present invention, there is provided a scanning optical system comprising a pair of supporting means disposed at a distance in the width direction, and an optical element assembly mounted on the pair of supporting means so as to be able to reciprocate. In the apparatus; the optical element assembly includes a support frame on which the optical element is mounted, supported parts provided at both ends of the support frame and supported by each of the pair of support means, and at least A transmission means for moving the optical element assembly is connected to one of the supported parts, and at least one of the supported parts is attached to the support frame so that its position can be adjusted substantially in the vertical direction. A scanning optical device is provided.

<Preferred specific examples of the invention> Further details will be given below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Shizutama copier ■ Supervision! FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an electrostatic copying machine including one embodiment of a scanning optical system constructed in accordance with the present invention. 1st
In the figures, the illustrated electrostatographic reproduction machine includes a housing designated generally by the numeral 2.

This housing 2 has a substantially rectangular lower part 4 and an elongated substantially rectangular upper part 6 that protrudes beyond the lower part 4 on both left and right sides. In the lower part 4 of the housing 2, a rotary drum 8 having an electrostatic photoreceptor on its surface is rotatably disposed. Surrounding the rotating drum 8, as viewed in the direction of rotation indicated by the arrow 10, there are installed a charging corona discharger 12, a selective static elimination lamp assembly 14, a developing device 16, a transfer corona discharger 18, and a stripping corona. A discharger 20, a cleaning blade assembly 22, and a static elimination lamp assembly 24 are provided. Furthermore, within the lower part 4 of the housing 2 there is provided a roller, generally designated 28, for conveying a sheet of copy paper, which may be plain paper, through a transfer area 26, where the surface of the rotating drum 8 faces the transfer corona discharger 18. Copy paper transport means shown by is also provided. The copy paper conveyance means 28 includes a cassette-type copy paper supply means 3o disposed at the right end, a manual copy paper supply means 32 disposed above the cassette-type copy paper supply means 30, and a copy paper supply means 32 disposed above the cassette-type copy paper supply means 30; A pair of registration rollers 34 disposed on the upstream side, a conveyance belt mechanism 36 disposed on the downstream side of the transfer area 26, a pair of fixing rollers 38 and a pair of discharge rollers 40 disposed on the downstream side of the conveyance belt mechanism 36. , and a saucer 41 disposed at the left end.

On the other hand, on the upper surface of the upper part 6 of the housing 2, a transparent plate 42 on which a document to be copied is placed, and a document cover 44 that can be opened and closed to cover the document on the transparent plate 42 are disposed. There is. Inside the upper part 6 of the housing 2, there is provided an overall number 48 for scanning an original placed on a transparent plate 42 and projecting it onto the rotating drum 8 in an exposure area indicated by a number 46. A scanning optical device as shown is provided. This scanning optical device 48 includes a first optical element assembly 54 including an original illumination lamp 50 as a light source and a first reflecting mirror 52, and a second optical element assembly including a second reflecting mirror 56 and a third reflecting mirror 58. , an optical element assembly 60 , a lens assembly 62 , and a stationary reflector 64 . As will be described in more detail later, the first optical element assembly 54 is reciprocated between the position shown by the solid line and the position shown by the two-dot chain line, and the second optical element assembly 60 is moved between the position shown by the solid line and the position shown by the two-dot chain line. The first optical element assembly 54 is reciprocated between the positions shown by the two-dot chain line at half the speed of movement of the first optical element assembly 54.

In the electrostatic copying machine as described above, while the rotating drum 8 is continuously rotated in the direction shown by the arrow 10, the surface of the rotating drum 80 is uniformly charged to a specific polarity by the charging corona discharger 12. It will be done. Next, a plurality of lamps arranged in the width direction (direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 1) in the selective static elimination lamp assembly 14
The electric charge is selectively energized in accordance with the width of the rotating drum 8 (or copy paper), and the electric charges in unused areas on one side or both sides of the surface of the rotating drum 8 are dissipated. Thereafter, in the exposure area 46, the image of the original placed on the transparent plate 42 is exposed onto the surface of the rotating drum 8 by the scanning optical device 48, and thus an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the original is formed on the surface of the rotating drum 8. An image is formed.

During the exposure, in the scanning optical device 4B, the first optical element assembly 54 is scanned rightward from the scanning movement start position shown by the solid line at a predetermined speed, and the second
The optical element assembly 60 is scanned rightward from the scanning movement start position shown by the solid line at half the above-described predetermined speed. In this way, the original placed on the transparent plate 42 is scanned, and the reflected light from the original irradiated by the original irradiation lamp 50 is reflected by the first reflecting mirror 52, the second reflecting mirror 56, and the third reflecting mirror 56.
The light is projected onto the surface of the rotating drum 8 via a reflecting mirror 58, a lens assembly 62, and a stationary reflecting mirror 64.

As shown in FIG.
A partition plate 66 is disposed to partially partition the upper part 6 of the partition plate 66, and an opening 68 is formed in the inclined part of the partition plate 66, and the reflected light from the stationary reflecting mirror 64 passes through this opening. 68 and reaches the surface of the rotating drum 8.

Next, the electrostatic latent image on the rotating drum 8 is developed into a toner image by the developing device 16. Thereafter, the copy paper supplied from the cassette type copy paper supply means 30 or the manual copy paper supply means 32 is transferred to the rotating drum 8 in the transfer area 26.
The toner image on the rotating drum 8 is transferred onto the copy paper by the action of the transfer corona discharger 18.

The copy paper is peeled off from the rotating drum 8 by the action of the peeling corona discharger 20 and conveyed, the toner image is fixed thereon as it passes through the pair of fixing rollers 38, and then discharged onto the tray 41. On the other hand, the rotating drum 8 continues to rotate,
Rotating drum 8 by cleaning blade assembly 22
The residual toner on the rotary drum 8 is removed, and the residual charge on the rotating drum 8 is dissipated and packed by the static elimination lamp assembly 24.

The above-described configuration and operation of the illustrated electrostatic copying machine may be the same as those well known to those skilled in the art, and therefore, detailed explanation thereof will be omitted in this specification. .

To further explain with reference to FIG. 2 together with FIG. 1, the upper part 6 of the housing 2
Inside, there are a front upright board 70 and a rear upright board 7 at a predetermined interval in the width direction (direction perpendicular to the plane of the paper in FIG. 1).
2 are arranged. Front and rear upright boards 70 and 7
Support temporary supports 74 and 76 each having an L-shaped cross section are fixed to both ends between the two by an appropriate method.

Further, support plates 78 and 8o are fixed to the upper surfaces of both ends of the front and rear upright substrates 70 and 72, respectively, by an appropriate method. As understood by referring to FIG. 1, the transparent plate 42 is fixed between the support plates 78 and 80 by an appropriate method. Although not shown in FIG. 2, the partition plate 66 (FIG. 1) is also secured between the front and rear upright substrates 70 and 72. Then, on this partition plate 66, the above-mentioned stationary reflecting mirror 6
4 and a cover plate 8 that covers a part of the lens assembly 62.
1 is fixed (Fig. 1).

The inner surfaces of each of the front and rear upright substrates 70 and 72 are provided with support means 82 and 84 for supporting the first optical element assembly 54 and the second optical element assembly 60. The illustrated support means 82 and 84 are comprised of support guide members 86 and 88 having an L-shaped cross-section, and the support guide members 86 and 88 have substantially horizontally extending rail portions 86a and 88a. (Second
(Please refer to FIG. 3 along with the figures).

Referring to FIG. 3, the first optical element assembly 54 and the second optical element assembly 60 of the scanning optical device 48 are mounted on the rail portions 86a and 88a of the support guide members 86 and 88. It is attached so that it can slide freely. More specifically, the first optical element assembly 54 is attached to a support frame 90.
, the document irradiation lamp 50 and the first reflecting mirror 52
(FIG. 1) is attached to this support frame 90. A substantially T-shaped protruding piece 92 (constituting a supported part) that protrudes forward in the front-rear direction is provided at one end of the support frame body 90 (the lower left end in FIG. 3), and the other end of the support frame body 90 (the lower left end in FIG. A supported member 94 (constituting a supported portion) is attached to the upper right end in FIG. 3 (the manner in which the supported member 94 is attached will be described later).

The protruding piece 92 has a direction in which the first optical element assembly 54 moves (
That is, two sliding pieces 100 are fixed at intervals in the directions shown by arrows 96 and 98), and one sliding piece 100 is fixed to the supported member 94. As understood by referring to FIG. 4, the sliding piece 100 has a hemispherical projection 102 projecting downward. Such sliding piece 1
00 is preferably formed from a synthetic resin having high wear resistance and a low coefficient of friction, such as the synthetic resin commercially available under the trade name "Rulon". The first optical element assembly 54 includes two sliding pieces 1 fixed to a protruding piece 92.
The protrusion 102 of 00 is supported by the rail portion 86a of the guide member 86.
The protrusion 102 of one sliding piece 100 fixed to the supported member 94 is brought into contact with the upper surface of the supporting guide member 8.
By making contact with the upper surface of the rail portion 88a of No. 8, it is supported by the rail portions 86a and 88a so as to be slidable along these. Similarly, the second optical element assembly 60 also has a support frame 104 to which the second reflector 56 and third reflector 58 are mounted. A supported member 106 (configuring the supported member) is attached to one end of the support frame 104 (lower left end in FIG. 3), and the other end (upper right end in FIG. 3) projects rearward in the front-rear direction. A substantially T-shaped protruding piece 108 is provided (the manner in which the supported member 106 is attached will be described later).

One sliding piece 100 is fixed to the supported member 106, and two sliding pieces 100 are attached to the protruding piece 108 at intervals in the direction of movement of the second optical element assembly 60 (i.e., the direction shown by arrows 96 and 98). sliding pieces 100 (only one shown in FIG. 3) are fixed.

The sliding piece 100 may be substantially the same as the sliding piece 100 described above in the first optical element assembly 54, and has a hemispherical projection projecting downward. Second optical element assembly 60
is one sliding piece 100 fixed to the supported member 106
The protrusions of the two sliding pieces 100 fixed to the protruding pieces 108 are brought into contact with the upper surface of the rail part 86a of the support guide member 86, and the protrusions of the two sliding pieces 100 fixed to the protruding pieces 108 are brought into contact with the upper surface of the rail part 86a of the support guide member 88.
By contacting the upper surfaces of the rails 86a and 88a, it is supported so as to be slidable along these rails.

Continuing the description with reference to FIG. 3, the scanning optical device 48 includes:
It is provided with drive means, generally indicated by the numeral 110. This drive means 110 includes one common drive source 112, which may be an electric motor, a front transmission mechanism 1143, and a rear transmission mechanism 114.
Contains b. The front transmission altAz4a includes an input wire drum 116a, pulleys 118a and 120a.

122a and 124a, and a wire 126a drivingly connects the front sides of the first optical element assembly 54 and the second optical element assembly 60 to the common drive source 112. The rear transmission mechanism 114b is connected to the input drum i.
i6b, pulleys 118b, 120b, 122b and l24b, and wire 126b,
The rear sides of the first optical element assembly 54 and the second optical element assembly 60 are drivingly coupled to the common drive source 112.

More specifically, the support plate 76 (FIG. 2) has a horizontal portion 128 that extends substantially horizontally.
The common drive source 112 is mounted at the center of the drive unit 28 in the width direction. The common drive source 11-2 is composed of an electric motor having a casing 130, and the cylindrical lower end portion 132 of the casing 130 is connected to the horizontal portion 128 of the support plate 76.
is fixed by an appropriate method. Mounting bracket pieces 136 a and 136 b symmetrically located on the front and rear sides of the common drive source 112 are also fixed to the horizontal portion 128 of the support plate 76 . Fragmented bracket pieces 136a and 13
6b has mounting portions 138a and 138b extending substantially horizontally above the horizontal portion 128 of the support plate 76. Then, the mounting portion 138a of the bracket piece 136a and the support plate 76
A rotating shaft 140a extending substantially vertically through these is rotatably attached to the horizontal portion 128 of the bracket piece 136b and the horizontal portion 128 of the support plate 76.
8 includes a rotating shaft 1 extending substantially vertically through them.
40b is rotatably mounted. These rotating shafts 14
0a and 140b, although not shown, a common drive R
112 rotary output shafts are drivingly connected via a gear train. Further, the input wire drums 116a and 116b are fixed to the upper ends of the rotating shafts 140a and 140b, respectively, which protrude upward beyond the mounting portions 138a and 138b of the bracket pieces 136a and 136b. Thus, the input wire drum 116a of the front transmission mechanism 114a and the input wire drum 116b of the rear transmission mechanism 114b are drivingly coupled to the common drive source 112 as desired.

In the horizontal portion 128 of the support plate 76, cutouts 148a and 148b for temporary wire locking are formed in association with the input wire drums 116a and 116b, respectively. One of the wire temporary locking notches 148a is arranged adjacent to the input wire drum 116a on the upper left side thereof, and the other wire temporary locking notch 148b is arranged adjacent to the input wire drum 116b on the upper right side thereof. It is placed on the side. The purpose and function of such wire temporary locking notches 148a and 148b will be explained later.

As shown in FIG. 3, the horizontal portion 128 of the support plate 76
Mounting bracket pieces 158a and 158b are also fixed to the front end and the rear end (lower left end and upper right end in FIG. 3). Such bracket pieces 158a and 158
b has mounting portions 160a and 160b extending substantially horizontally above the horizontal portion 128 of the support plate 76. and,
The mounting portions 160a and 160b of the bracket pieces 158a and 158b have short shafts 16 that project substantially vertically upward.
2a and 162b are fixed, and the short axis 162
A and 162b are rotatably attached to the aforementioned boo'J 118a of the front transmission mechanism 114a and the pulley 118b of the rear transmission mechanism 114b. The support plate 7
6 also has an upright portion 164 that projects substantially vertically upward from one edge of the horizontal portion 128 (Fig. 2), one end and the other end of the upright portion 164 (the left end and the other end in Fig. 2). A protruding piece (not shown) that protrudes inward is formed at the right end (right end). The protruding piece has a short shaft 168.
a and 168b are fixed, and such short axes 168a and 1
68b includes the aforementioned boo IJ l of the front transmission mechanism 114a.
20a and the pulley 12 of the rear transmission mechanism 114b
0b is rotatably mounted. As can be understood by referring to FIG. 3, the minor axis 168a (and thus
The rotation center axis of the pulley 120a) extends forward and downwardly, and the short axis 168b (therefore, the rotation center axis of the pulley 120a
The rotation center axis (b) extends rearward and downwardly. As shown in FIG. 3, the supported member 106L of the second optical element assembly 60 is connected to the front transmission mechanism 1 through a short axis 172a extending substantially forward, as will be described later.
14a is rotatably mounted, and the pulley 122b of the rear transmission mechanism 114b is rotatably mounted on the upright rear wall 170 of the support frame 104 via a short shaft 172b extending substantially rearward. ing. Furthermore, short shafts 174a and 174b are fixed to the front upright base plate 70 and the rear upright base board 72 (FIG. 2), respectively, and the short shafts 174a and 174b project substantially horizontally rearward and forward, respectively. 174b, the front transmission mechanism 114, respectively.
The pulley 124a of a and the pulley 124b of the rear transmission mechanism 114b are rotatably mounted. The short shafts 174a and 174b and the pulleys 124a and 124b attached thereto are connected to a support guide member 86 fixed to the inner surfaces of the front upright board 70 and the rear upright board 72.
and 88 below.

Continuing the explanation with reference to FIG. 3, the front transmission mechanism 114
The wire 126a in a connects the input wire drum 116a as well as the output wires 18a, 120a, 12
2a and 124a, and similarly the rear transmission mechanism 1
The wire 126b in 14b is attached to the manual wire drum 116b and the boo IJ 118b, 120b.
, 122b and 124b. The winding of the wire 126a in the front transmission mechanism 114a will be explained as follows. The front upright board 70 (
A locking piece 176a is fixed to one end of the inner surface (left end in FIG. 1) of FIG. 2), and one end of an elastic means 178a, which may be a tension coil spring, is locked to this locking piece 176a. The work of winding the wire 126a is to
It can be started by fixing one end of the elastic means 178a to the other end of the elastic means 178a. Then, the wire 126a
is a guide +7 whose lower end is fixed to the support plate 74.
It is wound along a guide portion formed at the upper end of the i 180 a and having an arcuate cross-sectional shape.

Thereafter, the wire 126a is wound around the pulley 122a over an angle range of approximately 180 degrees clockwise when viewed from the front side, and then around the pulley 122a over an angle range of approximately 180 degrees clockwise when viewed from the front side. Wrapped over a wide area,
And even more, boo! It is wrapped around J118a over an angular range of about 90 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from above. Next, the wire 126a is applied to the input wire drum 116a counterclockwise when viewed from above, several times and half times, which may be about 10 times (i.e., over an angular range of nX360+approximately 180 degrees, where n is a positive integer). It can be wrapped around. After that, the wire 12
The subsequent winding of wire 6a is performed by
6a is temporarily locked in the wire temporary locking notch 148a. Therefore, when the wire 126a is continuously wound (winding is performed), the wire 126a that has been wound around the input wire drum 116a is
This is reliably prevented from accidentally loosening and separating upward from the manual wire drum 116a. After the above-mentioned temporary locking, the wire 126a is further wound around the pulley 118a over an angle range of approximately 90 degrees counterclockwise when viewed from above, and then around the pulley 120a approximately counterclockwise when viewed from the front. It is wrapped over a 180 degree angle range, and then, BOOM! 7122a in a clockwise direction when viewed from the front over an angular range of approximately 180 degrees. After that, the wire 126 in the wire temporary locking notch 148a is
At the same time as releasing the temporary locking of the wire 126a, the wire 126a is sufficiently tensioned, and the connector 182a fixed to the other end of the wire 126a is attached to the other end ( It is connected to a locking bracket (not shown) fixed to the right end (in FIG. 1) by an appropriate method. Thereafter, the wire fixing piece 186a is fixed to the protruding piece 92 provided on the front side of the support frame 90 of the first optical element assembly 54 with a set screw 184a, and is extended along the upper surface of the protruding piece 92. wire 126a
is firmly gripped by the protruding piece 92 and the fixing piece 186a, thus fixing the wire 126a to the support frame 90 of the first optical element assembly 54 (see also FIG. 5). By the above operations, the wire 1 in the front transmission mechanism 114a
The winding of 26a is completed.

Such winding of the wire 126a is carried out when the support plates 78 and 80 disposed on the upper surfaces of the front upright substrate 70 and the rear upright substrate 72 and the transparent plate 42 fixed thereto are not attached. This can be accomplished by inserting a hand between the front upright substrate 70 and the rear upright substrate 72 from above.

The winding of the wire 126b in the rear transmission mechanism 114b is substantially the same as the winding in the front transmission mechanism 114a described above, except for the above points.

When winding the wire 126b in the rear transmission mechanism 114b, the wire 126b is wound around the pulley 118b over an angle range of approximately 90 degrees clockwise when viewed from above, and then wound around the input wire drum 116b from above. Counterclockwise when looking at the screen, perform multiple times and half times (i.e. n
(x360+approximately 180 degrees, n is a positive integer). Thereafter, the wire 126b is
The wire is temporarily locked in the wire temporary locking notch 148b, and then wrapped around the pulley 118b over an angular range of approximately 90 degrees clockwise when viewed from above. Therefore, when the temporary locking of the wire 126b is released and the winding of the wire 126b is completed, the input wire drum 116b and the pulley 118
The winding of the wire 126b between the wire 126b and the wire 126b is not a so-called sashing (open winding) but a so-called sashing winding (closed winding). The wire 126b is fixed to the support frame 90 of the first optical element assembly 54 by the support frame 90.
The wire fixing piece 186b is fixed to the supported member 94 attached to the rear side of the 0 with a set screw 184b, and the wire 126b extending along the upper surface of the supported member 94 is fixed between the supported member 94 and the fixing piece 186b. This is achieved by a firm grip (see also Figure 5).

In the scanning optical device 48 as described above, when the common drive source 112 is energized to rotate its rotary output shaft in a predetermined direction, the input wire drums 116a and 116b move in the direction shown by the arrow 96 (i.e., the input wire drum 116a and input wire drum 116b are both rotated (clockwise when viewed from above), and pulleys 118a and 118b are also rotated in the direction indicated by arrow 96 (i.e., boot IJ 118a is rotated clockwise when viewed from above and pulley IJ 118b is rotated clockwise when viewed from above). is rotated (counterclockwise when viewed from above). (Then, according to the so-called pulley principle, the first optical element assembly 54 moves in the direction of the arrow 96.
The second optical element assembly 60 is scanned and moved in the direction shown by arrow 96 at a predetermined speed, and the second optical element assembly 60 is scanned and moved in the direction shown by arrow 96 at a speed that is half the predetermined speed.

On the other hand, when the common drive source 112 is energized to rotate its rotary output shaft in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction, the input wire drums 116a and 116b move in the direction shown by arrow 98 (i.e., the input wire drum 116a and the input wire drum 1
16b (both counterclockwise when viewed from above), pulleys 118a and 118b are also rotated in the direction indicated by arrow 98 (i.e., pulley 118a is rotated counterclockwise when viewed from above and pulley 118b is rotated counterclockwise when viewed from above). clockwise). Thus, according to the so-called pulley principle, the first optical element assembly 54 is moved back in the direction shown by arrow 98 at a predetermined speed, and the second optical element assembly 60 is moved back in the direction shown by arrow 98 at half that speed. is moved back at a speed of

For details of the structure of the scanning optical device 48, please refer to the specification and drawings of Japanese Patent Application No. 161284/1984 filed by the present applicant.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, a manner of attaching the supported member 94 to the support frame 90 in the first optical element assembly 54 will be described. In the specific example, an abbreviated mounting plate 190 is fixed to the rear end of the support frame 90 extending in the front-rear direction by mounting screws 192. One end 190a of this mounting plate 190 hangs downward, and the one end 190a has a female screw hole 1.
94 and a pair of protrusions 196 are provided at intervals in the vertical direction. On the other hand, supported member 9
4 also has an abbreviated shape and has a hanging portion 198a extending downward and a supported member 198b extending rearward. A relatively wide elongated hole 200 and a pair of relatively small elongated holes 202 are formed in the hanging portion 198a. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the active piece 100 and the wire fixing piece 186b are attached to the supported sliding portion 198b of the supported member 94. In relation to the supported member 94, a position adjusting means for adjusting the relative positional relationship between the support frame 90 and the supported member 94 is provided. The illustrated position adjustment means includes a disc cam 204. Disc cam 2
04 is provided with an eccentric circular protrusion 206, and a recess 208 is provided at the peripheral edge of the surface.

The disc cam 204 and the supported member 94 are attached to the mounting plate 190 as follows. First, disc cam 20
4 protrusion 206 is formed in the long hole 20 formed in the supported member 94.
The position can be freely adjusted in the vertical direction within 0. Then,
A pair of projections 196 provided on the mounting plate 190 are positioned movably in the vertical direction within a pair of elongated holes 202 formed in the supported member 94, respectively, and then a screw member 210 constituting the locking means is inserted into the disc. The cam 204 is passed through the through hole 212 and screwed into the female screw hole 194 of the mounting plate 190. Thus, by the action of the screw member 210, the supported member 94 and the disc cam 204 are fixed to the support frame 90 via the mounting plate 190 as required. When the screw member 210 is loosened in this attached state, the disc cam 204 becomes rotatable and the supported member 94 is moved to a position where the protrusion 196 abuts one end of the elongated hole 202 (for example, the position shown in FIG. 7-B). Tangled protrusion 19
6 becomes freely movable in the vertical direction until it comes into contact with the other end of the elongated hole 202.

With reference to FIG. 5, FIG. 7-A, and FIG. 7-B, the position of the rear end of the first reflecting mirror 52 is changed upward (or downward) from the position shown in FIG. 7-A, for example. In other words, in order to correct the fact that the support frame 90 is tilted downward (or upward) toward the rear end and supported by the support means 82 and 84, first, the screw member 210 is loosened. Next, the disc cam 204 is rotated so that its large diameter working part 204a (or small diameter working part 204b') is connected to the working part provided at the lower end of the hanging part 198a of the supported member 94, as shown in FIG. 7-B. Protrusion 19
8c (the case where the small diameter acting portion 204b is made to act is not shown). In this way, since the supported part 198b of the supported member 94 is supported by the rail part 88a of the support guide member 88, the supported member 94
The support frame 90 is moved upward (or downward) relative to the disk, and the rear end of the first reflecting mirror 52 is moved upward (or downward) as required. Rotation of the cam 204 can be easily accomplished by engaging the tip of a tool such as a screwdriver with a recess 208 formed on the surface of the cam 204. It also functions as a mark indicating the angular position.In addition, during the above-mentioned movement, the protrusion 196 of the mounting plate 190 moves relative to the inside of the elongated hole 202, as can be understood from FIGS. 7-A and 7-B. The protrusion 206 of the disc cam 204 also moves relatively upward (or downward) within the elongated hole 200. After that, the loosened screw member 210 is tightened to attach the mounting plate 190. , disk cam 204
and fixing the supported member 94 in a predetermined positional relationship.

Regarding the first optical element assembly 54 described above, the following points are noteworthy. That is, by rotating the disc cam 204, the mounting plate 190 and
That is, the vertical position of the support frame 90 is adjusted. Therefore, even if the position of the rear end of the first reflecting mirror 52 is changed, the positional relationship between the supported member 94 and the support means 84 (support guide member 88) does not change, and the mounting plate 190 relative to the supported member 94 does not change. In other words, only the positional relationship of the support frame 90 changes. Therefore, there is no effect on the wire 126b connected to the supported member 94, and there is virtually no adverse effect caused by adjusting the vertical position of the first reflecting mirror 52.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9, the manner in which the support frame 104 and supported member 106 of the second optical element assembly 60 are attached will be described. In the specific example, the support frame 104
has a support plate 220 extending in the front-rear direction, and the upper and lower ends of this support plate 220 are bent toward the upper right in FIG. 8, that is, toward the first optical element assembly 54 (FIG. 3). It is being A pair of long holes 222a and 222b are formed at the front end of the support plate 220 at intervals in the vertical direction, and the long holes 222a and 222b extend in the vertical direction. In addition, the long hole 2 of the support plate 220
A long hole 22 extending in the front-rear direction, that is, in the longitudinal direction of the support plate 220, is provided inside the part where the support plate 22a is formed.
4 is formed. On the other hand, the supported member 106 has an upright wall 226 that extends substantially vertically and a substantially triangular protrusion 228 that extends forward from the lower end of the upright wall 226. At one end of the upright wall portion 226, a mounting wall portion 2 is further provided.
30, a female screw hole 232 is formed in the upper part of this mounting wall part 230, and a short cylindrical projection 234 is provided in the lower part thereof. As can be easily understood from FIGS. 3 and 8, the pulley 122a is connected to the upright wall 22.
The pulley 122a is rotatably attached to a short shaft 172a implanted in the pulley 122a, and a locking member 236 is locked to the tip of the short shaft 172a to prevent the pulley 122a from coming off. Furthermore, the sliding member 100 is fixed to the tip of the protrusion 228. In relation to this supported member 106, further:
A position adjustment means is provided for adjusting the relative positional relationship between the support frame 104 and the supported member 106. This position adjustment means includes a manually operated adjustment lever 238.

A support protrusion 240 is integrally provided approximately at the center of the adjustment lever 238, a circular hole 242 is formed at one end thereof, and an operating protrusion 244 is provided at the other end.

The supported member 106 and the adjustment lever 238 are attached to the support plate 220 as follows.

That is, first, the short protrusion 234 provided on the mounting wall portion 230 of the supported member 106 is positioned within the elongated hole 222b formed in the support plate 220. Next, the adjustment lever 23
8 is positioned in the elongated hole 224 formed in the support plate 220 (this operation can also be performed before mounting the supported member 106). After that, the hole 242 formed in the adjustment lever 238, the elongated hole 222a formed in the support plate 220, and the supported member 1
After aligning the female threaded hole 232 formed in 06 as required, a fixing screw 246 acting as a locking means is screwed into the female threaded hole 232 through the hole 242 and the elongated hole 222a. Thus, by the action of the fixing screw 246,
Adjustment lever 238, support plate 220, and supported member 106 are fixed as required. When the fixing screw 246 is loosened in this attached state, the short protrusion 234 of the supported member 106 comes into contact with one end of the elongated hole 222b (the fixing screw 246 comes into contact with the elongated hole 222a), as can be seen from FIGS. This short protrusion 234
It is possible to move vertically relative to the support plate 220 up to a position where the fixing screw 246 abuts the other end of the elongated hole 222b (the fixing screw 246 abuts the other end of the elongated hole 222a). Further, the adjustment lever 238 has a fixing screw 246 attached to the elongated hole 2.
This fixing screw 24 starts from the angular position where it touches one end of 22a.
6 can freely rotate up to the angular position where it abuts the other end of the elongated hole 222a.

Mainly referring to FIGS. 8 and 10, the positions of the front end portions of the second reflecting mirror 56 and the third reflecting mirror 58 are changed upward (or downward) in the vertical direction, in other words, the position of the front end of the second reflecting mirror 56 and the third reflecting mirror 58 is changed upward (or downward) in the vertical direction. In order to correct the fact that the right edge of the copy (right edge in the width direction) is tilted toward the front edge (or rear edge) of the copy paper compared to the left edge (left edge in the width direction), the support plate 74 is used. (
Loosen the fixing screw 246 through the opening 248 formed in the opening (see also FIG. 2). Next, the adjustment lever 238 is inserted through the notch 250 formed in the support plate 74 and moved upward as indicated by the arrow 252 (or in the direction indicated by the arrow 25
(downward as indicated by 4). In this way, the fixing screw 246, which is the turning center of the adjustment lever 238, is aligned with the elongated hole 2.
22a and into the female screw hole 232 of the supported member 106, the support plate 220 is screwed into the female threaded hole 232 of the supported member 106 through the adjustment lever 238, so that the support plate 220 is
is moved upward (downward although not shown in FIG. 7) as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. The front end is also moved upwards (or downwards) as required. During such movement, as can be understood from FIGS. 8 and 10, the short protrusion 234 of the supported member 106 and the fixing screw 24
6 moves relatively downward (or upward) within the elongated holes 222a and 222b, and also supports the support protrusion 2 of the adjustment lever 238.
40 moves relatively to the left (or right) in FIG. 10 within the elongated hole 224. Thereafter, the fixing screw 246 is fixed through the opening 248 of the support plate 74. Thus,
The adjustment lever 238, the support plate 220, and the supported member 106 are fixed as required, and the support plate 220 and the supported member 106 are held in the adjusted positional relationship.

Regarding the second optical element assembly 60, the following points are noteworthy. That is, by operating the adjustment lever 238, the vertical position of the support plate 220, that is, the support frame 104, with respect to the supported member 106 is adjusted. Therefore, even if the positions of the front ends of the second reflecting mirror 56 and the third reflecting mirror 58 are changed, the positional relationship between the supporting means 82 (supporting guide member 86) and the supported member 106 does not substantially change. Support plate 190 for supported member 106, that is, support frame 1
Only the positional relationship of 04 changes. Therefore, the vertical position of the pulley 122a attached to the supported member 106 does not substantially change, and due to the position adjustment of the support plate 220, it acts on the first optical element assembly 54 via the wire 126a. Adverse effects such as a tendency to shift in the vertical direction do not substantially occur.

Parts 2 and 1 A modification of the second optical element assembly will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12. In order to facilitate understanding, the same members as those in the specific example shown in FIGS. 1 to 10 will be described with the same numbers.

Mainly referring to FIG. 11, in this modification,
The position adjustment means is an adjustment screw 258 instead of the adjustment lever.
It is equipped with In connection with this, in the modified example, a protrusion piece 260 that protrudes inward is integrally provided at the upper end of the upright wall portion 226 of the supported member 106, and a hole 262 is formed in this protrusion piece 260. has been done. Further, a protrusion piece 264 is integrally provided at the upper end of one end of the support plate 220 and protrudes upwardly to the right in FIG. . Then, the adjustment screw 258 is attached to the supported member 1.
It is screwed into the female screw hole 266 of the support plate 220 through the hole 262 of No. 06.

Other configurations in this modification are shown in FIGS.
This is substantially the same as the specific example shown in FIG.

As described above, as can be easily understood from FIG. The short protrusion 234 contacts the other end of the elongated hole 222b (the fixing screw 246 abuts the other end of the elongated hole 222a). It becomes relatively movable in the vertical direction. Then, when the adjustment screw 258 is rotated in a predetermined direction (or in the opposite direction to the predetermined direction) in the loosened state, the support plate 220, and therefore the support frame The body 104 is moved upwardly (or downwardly), thus causing the second reflector 56 and the third The vertical position of the reflecting mirror 58 can be adjusted as required.

Although specific examples of the scanning optical device configured according to the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to such specific examples, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. be.

For example, in the illustrated example, a position adjusting means is provided at the rear end of the first optical element assembly 54 (in other words, the supported member is configured to be vertically adjustable with respect to the support frame). ), but without limitation,
The above-mentioned position adjustment means may be provided at the front end of the first optical element assembly 54 or at both ends of the first optical element assembly 54. Moreover, as the position adjustment means, those shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, or those shown in FIGS. 11 and 12 can also be applied.

Further, for example, in the illustrated example, a position adjustment means is provided at the front end of the second optical element assembly 60;
Without limitation, the second optical element assembly 60
The above-described position adjustment means may be provided at the rear end or at both ends of the second optical element assembly 60. As the position adjustment means, those shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 can also be applied.

Further, in the specific example, the explanation has been made with application to a scanning optical device of an electrostatic copying machine, but the application can be similarly applied to a scanning optical device of an image reading device such as another image generation device or a transmission document reader. .

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a simplified sectional view showing an electrostatic copying machine equipped with an integrated scanning optical device constructed in accordance with the present invention. FIG. 2 is a simplified exploded perspective view showing the support frame structure of the scanning optical device in the electrostatic copying machine shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the main parts of the scanning optical device in the electrostatic copying machine shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view showing a sliding piece in the scanning optical device shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 shows the first scanning optical system in the scanning optical device shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the optical element assembly and its vicinity. FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the rear end of the first optical element assembly shown in FIG. 5; 7-A and 7-B are diagrams for explaining position adjustment of the support frame in the first optical element assembly shown in FIG. 5, respectively. FIG. 8 shows the second scanning optical system in the scanning optical device shown in FIG.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of one end of the optical element assembly of FIG. FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing one end of the second optical element assembly shown in FIG. 8 and its vicinity. FIG. 10 is a left side view showing one end of the second optical element assembly and its vicinity. FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of one end of a modification of the second optical element assembly. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of one end of the second optical element assembly shown in FIG. 11; 48...Scanning optical device 54...First optical element assembly 60...Second optical element assembly 82 and 84...Support means 86 and 88...Support guide members 90 and 104... ... Support frames 94 and 106 ... Supported member 204 ... Disc cam 238 ... Adjustment lever 258 ... Adjustment screw Fig. 9, item 10

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A scanning optical device comprising a pair of support means disposed at intervals in the width direction, and an optical element assembly reciprocatably mounted on the pair of support means; The optical element assembly includes a support frame body to which an optical element is attached, and supported parts provided at both ends of the support frame body and supported by each of the pair of support means, and at least one of the support means. A transmission means for moving the optical element assembly is connected to the supported part, and at least one of the supported parts is attached to the support frame so that its position can be adjusted substantially in the vertical direction. Characteristic scanning optical device. 2. The scanning optical device according to claim 1, further comprising a position adjustment means for moving the supported part whose position is freely adjustable relative to the support frame. 3. The position adjustment means has an adjustment lever rotatably attached to the support frame, and by rotating the adjustment lever, the supported part can be substantially moved up and down with respect to the support frame. 3. A scanning optical device according to claim 2, wherein the scanning optical device is adjusted in position in a direction. 4. The position adjustment means has an adjustment screw screwed into the support frame through a hole formed in the supported part, and by rotating the adjustment screw, the supported part is adjusted to the position. 3. The scanning optical device according to claim 2, wherein the scanning optical device is adjusted in position substantially in the vertical direction with respect to the support frame. 5. The position adjustment means has a disc cam rotatably attached to the support frame, and by rotating the disc cam, the supported part is adjusted relative to the support frame. 3. The scanning optical device according to claim 2, wherein the scanning optical device is adjusted in position substantially in the vertical direction. 6. The scanning optical device according to any one of claims 2 to 5, further comprising a locking means for releasably locking the supported part whose position is adjustable in a predetermined position. 7. The optical element assembly is a first assembly including a light source for irradiating the original and a reflecting mirror that reflects light reflected from the original in a predetermined direction; 7. A scanning optical device according to claim 1, wherein the scanning optical device is moved at twice the speed of movement of the second assembly that receives the reflected light. 8. The optical element assembly is configured to move in a predetermined direction when the first assembly including a light source for irradiating the original and a first reflecting mirror that reflects the mirror from the original in a predetermined direction is moved. a second assembly that is moved at half the speed of said movement, said second assembly comprising a second reflecting mirror that receives reflected light from said first reflected light. The scanning optical device according to any one of the ranges 1 to 6.