JP2003241328A - Image reading device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] The present invention can easily perform a work of attaching a grounding member to a contact glass, and can easily perform a separation process and a recycling of the contact glass and the grounding member. Provided is an image reading device that can easily visually recognize a contact glass subjected to a conductive treatment. SOLUTION: A grounding member 31 made of a flexible metal member having a substantially U-shaped cross section attached to an end of a contact glass 2 is provided, and the grounding member 31 is projected from both ends of a bottom plate 31a and the bottom plate 31a, The contact glass 2 comprises a pair of side plates 31b and 31c which are in contact with the surface and the lower surface of the conductive film 2a on which the conductive film 2a is formed and in which the gap b at the tip in the protruding direction is smaller than the thickness of the contact glass 2 in a free state. Then, the contact glass 2 is attached to the support portion 32b of the metal frame 32 via the ground member 31.

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 copying machine, a facsimile apparatus and a scanner apparatus, and more particularly to an image reading apparatus having a function of removing static electricity generated on a document contact surface of a contact glass.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image reading apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine or a scanner apparatus is provided with a scanning optical system for reading an original, and an original is placed on a transparent contact glass provided above the scanning optical system. Is placed, and the scanning optical system is moved below the contact glass to scan the surface of the original, thereby reading the original, or in the case where a sheet through type original conveying device is provided, the original is contact glass. The original is read while the original is moved while the scanning optical system is stopped below the contact glass while being conveyed above.

In any of the reading methods, since the original comes into contact with the contact glass, and static electricity is generated due to friction between the original and the contact glass. Therefore, the metal frame of the image reading apparatus is grounded to prevent static electricity from charging the contact glass. In particular, in an image reading apparatus equipped with a sheet-through type document feeder, a document is transported on the contact glass, and the document and the contact glass rub violently, so that static electricity is reliably prevented from accumulating. There is a need.

As a conventional image reading apparatus of this type, for example, there is one described in JP-A-10-307345. This is a contact glass whose contact surface is touched with an original, an original scale that is provided at the edge of the contact glass and that abuts the edge of the original to align the reading position of the original. Attached to the bottom surface with double-sided tape, etc., and equipped with a ground plate that contacts one end to the conductive surface of the contact glass and the other end to the metal frame to drop the static electricity charged on the contact glass to the metal frame side. ing.

[0005]

However, in such a conventional image reading apparatus, since the earth plate is attached to the original scale by the double-sided tape, the attachment of the earth plate is troublesome, and the original scale is attached. If it is made of a resin member, it may be damaged after the ground plate is removed and the original scale may not be recycled.

Further, since the ground plate is attached to the original scale side, it is difficult to distinguish between the contact glass that has been subjected to the conductive treatment and the contact glass that has not been subjected to the conductive treatment.

On the other hand, if a metallic manuscript scale is used, a grounding plate is not necessary. In this case, the manuscript scale is expensive to process, and the manuscript scale becomes hot due to the heat of the light source of the scanning optical system. Will end up.

Further, it is conceivable to fix the contact glass to the metal frame with a screw or the like with an earth plate such as a leaf spring, but in such a case, the detachability of the contact glass deteriorates, Extra work will occur during maintenance.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the grounding member can be easily attached to and detached from the contact glass so that the mounting work can be easily performed, and the contact glass and the grounding member can be easily separated and recycled. Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide an image reading device that can easily see the contact glass that has been subjected to the conductive treatment.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is an image reading apparatus provided with a contact glass which is provided so as to face a scanning optical system and whose one surface with which a document comes into contact is subjected to a conductive treatment. In the apparatus, a grounding member made of a flexible metal member having a substantially U-shaped cross section attached to an end portion of the contact glass is provided, and the grounding member protrudes from a bottom plate and both ends of the bottom plate, and the contact glass. While sandwiching one surface and the other surface, in the free state, the gap in the protruding direction tip portion is composed of a pair of side plates formed to be smaller than the plate thickness of the contact glass, the contact glass, via the grounding member It is characterized in that it is attached to a support portion of a metal frame.

In this case, the grounding member is made of a flexible metal member, and in the free state, the gap at the tip end in the projecting direction is smaller than the plate thickness of the contact glass. Can be easily installed on. Further, the ground member can be brought into close contact with the contact glass after mounting, and the contact glass can be reliably grounded to the metal frame via the ground member.

In addition to this, since the grounding member is flexible, it can be easily removed from the contact glass, and the work of separating and discarding the contact glass and the grounding member can be simplified, and at the time of recycling. Can be easily handled.

Further, since the contact glass is attached to the supporting portion of the metal frame via the grounding member, the grounding member can function as a cushioning material, and the contact glass is directly attached to the supporting portion of the metal frame. In comparison, it is possible to prevent the contact glass from being damaged by an impact or the like.

Further, before the contact glass is incorporated into the image reading apparatus, if the ground member is attached to the contact glass subjected to the conductive treatment, the contact glass subjected to the conductive treatment and the conductive treatment are applied. Not contact glass can be easily distinguished.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides that the grounding member has a side plate that abuts on one surface of the contact glass that has been subjected to the conductive treatment and a side plate that abuts on the other surface of the contact glass. Is characterized by a long protruding direction.

In this case, when the grounding member is attached to the end of the contact glass, the grounding member can be easily attached to the contact glass by rotating the grounding member by sliding the long side plate to the end of the contact glass. Can be installed on.

Further, since the long side plate is in close contact with the other surface of the contact glass over a wide area, the grounding member does not float from the contact glass, and when the contact glass is attached to the supporting member of the metal frame, It is possible to prevent the accuracy of the contact glass in the thickness direction from decreasing.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is characterized in that a taper is formed on at least one of the side plates in contact with one surface of the contact glass in the width direction.

In this case, when the side plate having no taper is brought into contact with the corner of the contact glass and the ground member is rotated in this state, the side plate having the taper is contacted with the contact glass along the taper. Since it is attached, the ground member can be attached to the contact glass more easily.

[0020]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 4 are views showing a first embodiment of an image reading apparatus according to the present invention, and can be applied to a copying machine, a facsimile apparatus, a scanner apparatus or the like as an image reading apparatus.

First, the structure will be described. In FIG. 1, 1
Is an image reading device, and a first contact glass 2 and a second contact glass 3 are provided on the upper surface of the image reading device 1.

Below the first contact glass 2 and the second contact glass 3, an exposure lamp 4a as a scanning optical system, mirrors 4b, 4c and 4d, a lens 4e and a CC are provided.
D4f is provided.

The exposure lamp 4a and the mirror 4b are
When reading a document placed on the second contact glass 3, the document moves below the second contact glass 3 in the left-right direction in FIG. 1, and when reading a document on the first contact glass 2. The image information read by the exposure lamp 4a is stopped below the first contact glass 2 and is reflected by the mirrors 4b, 4c, 4d, and then condensed by the lens 4e to form an image on the CCD 4. To be done. The image information read by the CCD 4 is photoelectrically converted, subjected to image processing by an image processing unit (not shown), and then output to a printer unit (not shown).

An automatic document feeder (hereinafter, simply referred to as ADF) 6 is mounted on the upper portion of the image reading apparatus 1, and the original placed on the second contact glass 3 is placed on the lower surface of the ADF 6. 2 A reflection plate 7 is provided which is pressed against the contact glass 3 and serves as a white reference when reading a document. The ADF 6 is connected to the image reading device 1 via a hinge (not shown).
It can be opened and closed freely.

A document placing table 8 is provided on the upper part of the ADF 6, and a document bundle P made up of a plurality of documents is placed on the document placing table 8. The original bundle P placed on the original placing table 8 contacts the original bundle P.
After being fed by the separating calling roller 9, the uppermost original is separated by the separating belt 10 and the separation preventing roller 11.

A stopper member 12 is provided downstream of the calling roller 9 in the original conveying direction, and the original bundle P placed on the original placing table 8 is stopped by the stopper member 12 to the separating belt 10 side. It is forbidden to enter.

A pressure plate 13 is provided below the calling roller 9, and the pressure plate 13 is brought into contact with and separated from the calling roller 9 by a solenoid (not shown). That is, when the copy start switch is pressed, the pressing plate 13 is moved by the solenoid from the position separated from the calling roller 9 shown by the solid line to the position where it comes into contact with the calling roller 9 shown by the virtual line to read the original. The roller 9 is pressurized and the original is fed by the calling roller 9.

Further, the separation belt 10 and the separation prevention roller 11
The document separated by is the drive side
It is adapted to be reversed along the reversing path 15 by a and the conveyance driven roller 14b and conveyed toward the first contact glass 2. In addition, on the upper part of the first contact glass 2, a reflection guide plate 16 which constitutes a white reference at the time of reading.
Is provided, and the original is read by a scanning optical system equipped with an exposure lamp 4a and the like while passing between the first contact glass 2 and the reflection guide plate 16.

The original that has been read is turned over to the paper ejection guide.
It is configured to be picked up by a paper discharge path 18 by a paper sheet 17, and the document picked up by the paper discharge path 18 is nipped and conveyed by a conveyance driving roller 19a and a conveyance driven roller 19b, and then discharged. It is sandwiched between the driving roller 21a and the paper ejection driven roller 21b and ejected to the outside from the paper ejection path 18.
After the charge is removed by the charge removal brush 22, the paper is discharged onto the exterior cover 23.

The reflection plate 7 covering the second contact glass 3 is provided on the lower surface of the pressure plate 24.
Reference numeral 24 is adapted to press a document placed on the second contact glass 3 onto the second contact glass 3.

The pressure plate 24 is rotatably attached to a main frame 26 via a rotation fulcrum 25. The main frame 26 has an end attached to the shaft of the paper discharge driven roller 21b and is attached to the ADF 6 main body. It is fixed.

The main frame 26 has an area for covering the second contact glass 3, and the outer cover 23 is provided on the upper surface.
Is installed. Further, the pressure plate 24 is connected to the auxiliary frame 28 via a link 27 which is a link mechanism,
The auxiliary frame 28 is formed in a substantially U-shaped cross section so as to sandwich the outer peripheral portion of the main frame 26, and is rotatably connected to the main frame 26 via a fulcrum 29.

The main frame 26 also has a magnet 30.
The magnet 30 is attached to the auxiliary frame 28.
Is sucking.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, conductive coatings 2a are provided on the upper surfaces (one surface) of the first contact glass 2 and the third contact glass 2 which are in contact with the original (only the first contact glass 2 is covered). Although not shown, the second contact glass 3 has a similar structure, but the first contact glass 2 is attached to the supporting portion 32a of the metal frame 32 of the image reading apparatus 1 via the grounding member 31. ing. The second contact glass 3 is also attached to the supporting portion 32a of the metal frame 32 of the image reading apparatus 1 via the grounding member 31, but this configuration is also the same as that of the first contact glass 2 and therefore not shown. To do.

The grounding member 31 is made of a flexible metal member having a thin spring property such as stainless steel and phosphor bronze, and has a substantially U-shaped cross section. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, the ground member 31 projects from the bottom plate 31a and both ends of the bottom plate 31a, abuts on the upper surface and the lower surface (other surface) of the first contact glass 2, and projects in a free state. The gap b at the front end in the direction is composed of a pair of side plates 31b, 31c formed to be smaller than the plate thickness of the first contact glass 2. In addition, the clearance a between the protruding base end portions of the side plates 31b and 31c
Is formed larger than the above-mentioned gap.

In the present embodiment, the grounding member 31 is made of a flexible metal member, and in the free state, the gap b at the tip end in the protruding direction is formed smaller than the plate thickness of the first contact glass 2. It can be easily attached to the end of the first contact glass 2. In addition, the grounding member 31
Can be brought into close contact with the first contact glass 2, and the first contact glass 2 can be reliably grounded to the metal frame 32 via the grounding member 31. Therefore, the first
It is possible to prevent the contact glass 2 from being charged with static electricity.

In addition to this, since the grounding member 31 is flexible, it can be easily removed from the first contact glass 2 and the work of separating the first contact glass 2 and the grounding member 31 and discarding them can be simplified. In addition, it can be easily handled during recycling.

Further, the first contact glass 2 is connected to the ground member.
Since it is attached to the support portion 32a of the metal frame 32 via 31, the ground member 31 can function as a cushioning material,
Compared to the case where the first contact glass 2 is directly attached to the support portion 32a, it is possible to prevent the first contact glass 2 from being damaged by an impact or the like.

More specifically, the flatness of the metal frame is poorer than that of the contact glass, and if the supporting portion of the metal frame has a protrusion or the like, when the contact glass is impacted (when an original is placed, AD on the top surface of the image reading device 1
When F6 is closed, etc.), the protrusion may come into contact with the contact glass and damage the contact glass.

Therefore, by making the ground member 31 function as a cushioning material, it is possible to prevent the first contact glass 2 from being damaged.

Incidentally, as a cushioning material for the first contact glass 2, a spacer such as rubber or resin may be interposed between the first contact glass 2 and the metal frame 32, but in this case, the cost becomes high. In the present embodiment, since the grounding member can also serve as the cushioning material, it is advantageous in terms of cost and removal of static electricity as compared with the case where a simple spacer such as rubber or resin is provided.

Further, before the first contact glass 2 is incorporated into the image reading apparatus 1, if the grounding member 31 is attached to the first contact glass 2 which has been subjected to the conductive processing, the conductive processing is performed. It is possible to easily distinguish the contact glass from the contact glass which has not been subjected to the conductive treatment.

Although the metal frame 31 is flat in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG.
Although not shown in detail, the support portion 41a of 41 may be provided with a step, and the support portion 41 may be provided on the metal frame 41 portion corresponding to the four corners of the first contact glass 2.

By doing so, even if the flatness of the entire metal frame 41 is poor, the first contact glass 2 can be supported only at the four corners of the metal frame 41. It can be mounted on the 41 with high precision.

5 and 6 are views showing a second embodiment of the image reading apparatus according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the structure of the ground member is different from that of the first embodiment only.
Only parts different from the embodiment will be described.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the ground member 51 projects from the bottom plate 51a and both end portions of the bottom plate 51a,
A pair of side plates 51b that are in contact with the upper surface and the lower surface of the first contact glass 2 and have a tip portion in the protruding direction smaller than the plate thickness of the first contact glass 2 in a free state,
And a side plate 51b which is in contact with the other surface of the first contact glass 2 and a side plate 51b which is in contact with the upper surface of the first contact glass 2 provided with the conductive coating film 2a.
The extension length of is longer.

Therefore, when the grounding member 51 is attached to the end of the first contact glass 2, the long side plate 51c is slid to the end of the first contact glass 2 as shown in FIG. By rotating the member 31,
The ground member 31 can be easily attached to the first contact glass 2.

Further, since the long side plate 51c is in close contact with the lower surface of the first contact glass 2 over a wide area, the grounding member 51 does not float up from the contact glass, and the first contact glass 2 is attached to the metal frame 32. When attached to the support member 32a, it is possible to prevent the accuracy of the first contact glass 2 in the thickness direction from being lowered.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are views showing a third embodiment of the image reading apparatus according to the present invention, and only parts different from the first embodiment will be explained.

In FIG. 7, the ground member 61 includes a bottom plate 62,
A pair of side plates 63, 64 protruding from both ends of the bottom plate 62, contacting the upper surface and the lower surface of the first contact glass 2 and formed in a free state to have a thickness smaller than the plate thickness of the first contact glass 2 at the front end in the protruding direction. The taper 63a and 63b are formed at both ends in the width direction of the side plate 63 that is in contact with the upper surface of the first contact glass 2 provided with the conductive coating 2a. In addition, the taper may be formed only on one end portion in the width direction of the side plate 63.

In this way, the side plate as shown in FIG.
When the contact member 64 is brought into contact with the corner of the first contact glass 2 and the ground member 61 is rotated in this state, the side plate 63 having the tapers 63a, 63a is attached to the first contact glass 2 along the taper 63a. Since it is attached, the ground member 61 can be attached to the first contact glass 2 more easily.

The grounding members 51, 61 of the second and third embodiments.
Needless to say, is also applied to the second contact glass 3.

[0054]

According to the present invention, the grounding member is made of a flexible metal member, and in the free state, the gap at the tip end in the projecting direction is formed smaller than the plate thickness of the contact glass. Can be easily attached to the end of. Further, the ground member can be brought into close contact with the contact glass after mounting, and the contact glass can be reliably grounded to the metal frame via the ground member.

In addition, since the grounding member is flexible, it can be easily removed from the contact glass, and the work of separating and discarding the contact glass and the grounding member can be facilitated, and at the time of recycling. Can be easily handled.

Further, since the contact glass is attached to the supporting portion of the metal frame through the grounding member, the grounding member can function as a cushioning material, and the contact glass is directly attached to the supporting portion of the metal frame. In comparison, it is possible to prevent the contact glass from being damaged by an impact or the like.

Further, before incorporating the contact glass into the image reading apparatus, if the ground member is attached to the contact glass subjected to the conductive treatment, the contact glass subjected to the conductive treatment and the conductive treatment are applied. Not contact glass can be easily distinguished.

Further, according to the present invention, the length in the extending direction of the side plate that abuts against the other surface of the contact glass is made longer than that of the side plate that abuts against the one surface of the contact glass subjected to the conductive treatment. When the is attached to the end portion of the contact glass, the ground member can be easily attached to the contact glass by sliding the long side plate on the contact glass toward the end portion and rotating the ground member.

Further, since the long side plate is in close contact with the other surface of the contact glass over a wide area, the ground member does not float from the contact glass, and when the contact glass is attached to the supporting member of the metal frame, It is possible to prevent the accuracy of the contact glass in the thickness direction from decreasing.

Further, according to the present invention, since the taper is formed on at least one of the side plates in contact with one surface of the contact glass in the width direction, the side plate without taper is brought into contact with the corner portion of the contact glass. When the ground member is rotated in this state, the side plate having the taper can be attached to the contact glass along the taper, and the ground member can be attached more easily to the contact glass.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of an image reading device according to the present invention, and is a diagram showing a main part of the image reading device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a state in which the first contact glass of the first embodiment is attached to a metal frame via a grounding member.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a ground member of the first embodiment,
(B) is a side view of a grounding member.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a state in which the first contact glass of the first embodiment is attached to a metal frame of another shape via a grounding member.

5A and 5B are diagrams showing a second embodiment of the image reading apparatus according to the invention, FIG. 5A is a perspective view of a ground member, and FIG. 5B is a diagram showing a state in which the ground member is attached to the first contact glass. Is.

FIG. 6 is a view showing how the ground member of the second embodiment is attached to the contact glass.

7A and 7B are diagrams showing a third embodiment of the image reading apparatus according to the invention, FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a ground member, and FIG. 7B is a side view of the ground member.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing how the ground member of the third embodiment is attached to the contact glass.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Image reading device 2 1st contact glass (contact glass) 2a conductive coating 3 Second contact glass (contact glass) 4a Exposure lamp (scanning optical system) 4b, 4c, 4d mirrors 4e lens (scanning optical system) 4f CCD (scanning optical system) 31, 51, 61 Grounding member 31a 51a, 62 Bottom plate 31b, 31c, 51b, 51c, 63, 64 Side plate 32, 41 metal frame 32a, 41a support 63a, 63b taper

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2H012 CA15 CA27 CD09                 2H171 FA21 FA26 GA19 GA27 JA13                       MA05 PA19 RA01 UA02 UA04                       UA06 UA22 VA06                 5C062 AA02 AA05 AB02 AB17 AB32                       AB33 AD06 BA00                 5C072 AA01 BA02 CA02 DA02 DA04                       DA21 DA30 EA05 XA01

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An image reading apparatus comprising a contact glass which is mountable so as to be opposed to a scanning optical system and whose one surface with which a document comes into contact is subjected to a conductive treatment. A grounding member made of a U-shaped flexible metal member is provided, and the grounding member projects from the bottom plate and both ends of the bottom plate, sandwiches one surface and the other surface of the contact glass, and projects in a free state. An image characterized in that the gap between the front end portions in the direction is composed of a pair of side plates formed to be smaller than the plate thickness of the contact glass, and the contact glass is attached to a supporting portion of the metal frame via the ground member. Reader. 2. The grounding member is characterized in that a side plate abutting against one surface of the contact glass subjected to the conductive treatment has a length in a protruding direction of a side plate abutting against the other surface of the contact glass. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1. 3. The image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the side plates in contact with one surface of the contact glass is tapered in the width direction.