JPH0327886B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an optical scanning device for a copying machine, and more particularly, to a first mirror carriage and a second mirror carriage that scan and move while maintaining a predetermined positional relationship with each other within the main body of the copying machine. The present invention relates to an optical scanning device for a copying machine equipped with a mirror carriage.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, many copying machines have adopted a scanning exposure method, and as one of the copying machines using this scanning exposure method, an original is placed on a fixed platen glass, and the original is placed on a fixed platen glass. It is widely known that scanning is performed using a moving mirror. In this type of copying machine, in order to maintain a constant optical path length from the scanning mirror to the imaging lens, in addition to the first mirror carriage carrying the mirror, the light from the mirror is folded back. A second mirror carriage equipped with a mirror for adjusting the optical path length leading to the imaging lens is provided, and the first mirror carriage and the second mirror carriage are scanned and moved at a speed ratio of 2:1. In this way, the first mirror carriage and the second mirror carriage always maintain a predetermined positional relationship during scanning movement such that the optical path length from the mirror of the first mirror carriage to the imaging lens is constant.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, the wire connecting the first mirror carriage and the second mirror carriage may stretch, causing the above positional relationship to become out of order.
Conventionally, if such a misalignment occurred, the copier would either be sent to a factory or other facility and the mirror carriage position would be adjusted, or the copier would be left in the operating position and the machine would be made multiple copies. The above-mentioned positional relationship was adjusted through trial and error, but in any case, the adjustment required considerable effort and time and was very troublesome.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an optical scanning device for a copying machine in which the mutual positional relationship of first and second mirror carriages can be easily adjusted.

(Means for Solving the Problems) An optical scanning device for a copying machine according to the present invention is an optical scanning device comprising the first and second mirror carriages as described above. A first abutting member that abuts the first mirror carriage at the position shown in FIG.
The second mirror carriage and the first mirror carriage are brought into contact with the first mirror carriage in contact with the first contact member.
The present invention is characterized in that a second contact member is attached that defines the predetermined positional relationship between the mirror carriage and the mirror carriage.

(Function) In the optical scanning device having the above configuration, the first mirror carriage is brought into contact with the first abutting member, and in this state, the second mirror carriage is moved so that the second abutting member comes into contact with the first mirror carriage. Once the positions are set, the predetermined positional relationship of these mirror carriages will be reproduced, so if both mirror carriages are reconnected to the scanning drive mechanism in this state, the predetermined positional relationship of both mirror carriages will be maintained from then on. .

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on an example shown in the drawings.

1 and 2 show an embodiment of an optical scanning device for a copying machine according to the present invention. A first mirror carriage 3 and a second mirror carriage 4 are mounted on a pair of rails 2, 2 fixed inside the copying machine main body 1. The first mirror carriage 3 and the second mirror carriage 4 can be smoothly moved along the rails 2, 2 via a sliding piece 5, for example. Further, the first mirror carriage 3 is connected to a drive device (not shown) by wires 6, 6.
is fixed using fixtures 7, 7, while the second mirror carriage 4 is connected to the wires 6, 6 via pulleys 8, 8 on which the wires 6, 6 are hung, and the wires 6, 6 are driven. When this happens, the first mirror carriage 3 and the second mirror carriage 4 move at a speed ratio of 2:1. The first mirror carriage 3 is equipped with a mirror 9 for scanning the original and a lamp 10 for illuminating the original, while the second mirror carriage 4 is equipped with mirrors 11 and 12 for adjusting the optical path length.

When copying the original 14 placed on the platen glass 13 as shown in FIG. 2, first the first mirror carriage 3 and the second mirror carriage 4 are moved in the scanning directions indicated by arrows A3 and A4 in FIG. The first mirror carriage 3 is set at the starting position, and then the wires 6, 6 are driven to scan and move the first mirror carriage 3 to the left in the figure. As a result, the image of the original 14 is reflected on the mirrors 9 and 1.
1, 12, imaging lens 15 and fixed mirror 16
An image is formed on the photosensitive drum 17 via the photosensitive drum 17, and the photosensitive drum 17 is exposed to light. At this time, as described above, the first mirror carriage 3 and the second mirror carriage 4 are moved at a speed ratio of 2:1, so the first mirror carriage 3 and the second mirror carriage 4 are connected from the mirror 9 of the first mirror carriage 3. A predetermined positional relationship is maintained in which the optical path length to the image lens 15 is constant. The image of the original 14 formed on the photosensitive drum 17 is developed, for example, by electrophotography, and then transferred to copy paper (not shown) to obtain a copy of the original 14.

The predetermined positional relationship between the first mirror carriage 3 and the second mirror carriage 4 is such that, for example, the wires 6, 6
If this happens, the image of the original 14 formed on the photosensitive drum 17 will be out of focus, leading to deterioration in the quality of the copied image. Hereinafter, a mechanism for adjusting the positional relationship between the first mirror carriage 3 and the second mirror carriage 4 will be explained. When scanning a maximum size original, the first mirror carriage 3 moves to a scanning end position indicated by an arrow B3 in FIG. That is, the scanning area for copying of the first mirror carriage 3 is a range between the position indicated by arrow A3 and the position indicated by arrow B3. When the first mirror carriage 3 moves further outward (to the left in FIG. 2) from the scanning end position B3 and leaves the copying scanning area, the rails 2, 2 are provided with a First abutting members 20, 20 that abut on the third abutting plates 3a, 3a are fixedly provided. As shown in FIG. 3, the first abutting members 20, 20, for example, have an abutting pin 20b fixed to an L-shaped base 20a.
It is fixed at 2. When the second mirror carriage 4 moves together with the first mirror carriage 3 while maintaining the above-mentioned predetermined positional relationship with respect to the first mirror carriage 3,
The abutment plates 3a, 3a of the mirror carriage 3 are
The second contact members 21, 21 are attached so that when the second contact members 21, 21 contact the corresponding contact plates 3a, 3a, the second contact members 21, 21 immediately contact the corresponding contact plates 3a, 3a. As shown in FIG. 3, these second abutting members 21, 21 are connected to the second
It is attached to the mirror carriage 4, and its attachment position can be easily adjusted.

First mirror carriage 3 and second mirror carriage 4
If the predetermined positional relationship between the first mirror carriage 3 and the second mirror carriage 4 becomes out of order, first loosen the fixtures 7, 7 to disconnect the first mirror carriage 3 and the wires 6, 6, and release the interlocking relationship between the first mirror carriage 3 and the second mirror carriage 4. . and a first mirror carriage 3 and a second mirror carriage 4
by manually moving the first contact members 20, 20.
Then, both the second contact members 21, 21 are brought into contact with the contact plates 3a, 3a of the first mirror carriage 3 (the state shown in FIG. 1). Fixture 7 in this state,
7 to fix the first mirror carriage 3 to the wires 6, 6, the predetermined positional relationship between the first mirror carriage 3 and the second mirror carriage 4 is reproduced. Therefore, from then on, when scanning exposure is performed as described above, the first mirror carriage 3
The second mirror carriage 4 moves while maintaining a predetermined positional relationship that keeps the optical path length from the mirror 9 to the imaging lens 15 constant.

Note that the first abutting members 20, 20 and the second abutting members 21, 21 are not limited to the shapes as in the above embodiment, but may be formed in other suitable shapes. Also, normally, the first contact members 20, 20
It is preferable to cover the contact pin 20b with a cap made of rubber or the like. In this way, even if the first mirror carriage 3 is accidentally hit strongly against the first abutting members 20, 20 during maintenance work of the copying machine, the first mirror carriage 3 or the first abutting member 2
0 and 20 are not damaged. Second contact member 21,2
The same applies to 1.

(Effects of the Invention) As explained in detail above, according to the optical scanning device for a copying machine of the present invention, the positional relationship between the first mirror carriage and the second mirror carriage can be easily adjusted while the copying machine is installed in the operating position. This can be done extremely easily with simple steps.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are a plan view and a partially cutaway side view, respectively, showing an embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an enlarged main part of the apparatus of the above embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Copying machine main body, 3... First mirror carriage, 4... Second mirror carriage, 20... First abutting member, 21... Second abutting member.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1 A first mirror carriage and a second mirror carriage that scan and move while maintaining a predetermined positional relationship with each other within the main body of the copying machine.
In the optical scanning device for a copying machine comprising a mirror carriage, a first abutting member that contacts the first mirror carriage at a position outside the copying scanning area of the first mirror carriage is fixed to the copying machine main body. and a second mirror carriage that contacts the first mirror carriage in contact with the first contact member and defines the second mirror carriage and the first mirror carriage in the predetermined positional relationship. An optical scanning device for a copying machine, characterized in that an abutting member is attached.