Linear guiding mechanism

• US 7,385,736 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2006
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Transpacific IP Group Limited
• Inventors: Hsu, Hsiu-O, Tseng, Jen-Shou
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee; Cheukfan
• Application Number:
  US11/331,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20060126131A1
• Time in Patent Office: 880 Days
• Field of Search: 358/497, 358/474, 358/494, 358/471, 358/482, 358/483, 358/487, 358/505, 358/506, 358512-514, 382/312, 382/318, 382/319, 250234-236, 250/239, 399/211, 359210-212
• US Class Current: 358/497
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/1008 with sub-scanning by translatory movement of the picture-bearing surface

Abstract

A linear guiding mechanism for a platform type optical scanner. A V-shaped track is installed inside a casing and positioned parallel to the travel path of a carrier chassis containing a system of optical devices. The upper section of the V-shaped track has a pair of support surfaces forming an included angle. The V-shaped track supports a positioning wheel or a positioning bump attached to the carrier chassis. The carrier chassis moves along the longitudinal direction of the V-shaped track when driven by a driving system. The V-shaped track may be constructed from a pair of monorails so that the driving belt may move inside the space between the monorails. An additional positioning structure may attach to the interior sidewall of the casing to serve as a retainer for the chassis in an initial position.

Claims

1. An optical scanner, comprising:

a casing comprising a hollow center;

a driving system within the casing, comprising a drive belt;

an optical system within the casing, comprising a carrier chassis and a clamping structure, the clamping structure coupled to the carrier chassis, and coupled to a portion of the driving belt; and

a linear guiding mechanism comprising;

p2 a generally V-shaped track positioned inside the casing, wherein an upper section of the generally V-shaped track comprises a pair of support surfaces, the support surfaces extending generally parallel to a longitudinal direction of the generally V-shaped track, and the support surfaces forming an included angle; and

a positioning wheel attached to the carrier chassis, wherein the positioning wheel is supported by the support surfaces on the generally V-shaped track, and the axis of the positioning wheel is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the generally V-shaped track.

2. The optical scanner of claim 1, wherein the generally V-shaped track and the casing are integrally formed.

3. The optical scanner of claim 1, wherein the generally V-shaped track comprises two monorails with each monorail comprising a support surface at its upper section.

4. The optical scanner of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the driving belt is enclosed within a space between the two monorails.

5. The optical scanner of claim 3, wherein the clamping structure is configured to protrude into a space between the monorails.

6. The optical scanner of claim 3, wherein the monorails are coupled to the interior of the casing to form an integrative unit.

7. The optical scanner of claim 1, further comprising a positioning structure coupled to the interior of the casing, the positioning structure capable of retaining the carrier chassis.

8. The optical scanner of claim 1, wherein the positioning structure is coupled to the interior of the casing to form an integrative unit.

9. An optical scanner, comprising:

a casing comprising a generally central hollow space therein;

a driving system capable of being positioned within the casing, wherein the driving system comprises a drive belt; and

an optical system capable of being positioned within the casing, wherein the optical system comprises a carrier chassis and a clamping structure, wherein the clamping structure is coupled to the carrier chassis and coupled to the drive belt; and

a linear guiding mechanism comprising;

a generally V-shaped track capable of being positioned inside the casing, extending generally in the same direction as the travel path of the carrier chassis, wherein the upper section of the generally V-shaped track comprises at least two support surfaces, the support surfaces extending generally in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the generally V-shaped track, and wherein the at least two support surfaces are configured to form an included angle; and

a positioning bump coupled to the carrier chassis, wherein a pair of protruding edges on the positioning bump are capable of being supported by the support surfaces of the generally V-shaped track.

10. The optical scanner of claim 9, wherein the positioning bump is integral with the carrier chassis.

11. The optical scanner of claim 9, wherein the generally V-shaped track is coupled to the interior of the casing.

12. The optical scanner of claim 9, wherein the generally V-shaped track comprises two monorails with each monorail comprising a support surface at an upper section.

13. The optical scanner of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the driving belt is capable of being enclosed within a space between the two monorails.

14. The optical scanner of claim 12, wherein the clamping structure is capable of protruding into a space between the monorails.

15. The optical scanner of claim 12, wherein the two monorails are capable of being attached to an interior of the casing.

16. The optical scanner of claim 9, wherein the optical scanner further comprises a positioning structure capable of being attached to an interior sidewall of the casing, the positioning structure capable of retaining the carrier chassis.

17. The optical scanner of claim 16, wherein the positioning structure is capable of being coupled to the interior sidewall of the casing.

18. A guiding mechanism for a scanner, comprising:

a generally V-shaped track comprising an upper section which comprises a pair of support surfaces, the support surfaces extending generally parallel to a longitudinal direction of the generally V-shaped track, and the support surfaces forming an included angle; and

a positioning wheel attached to a carrier chassis, wherein the positioning wheel is capable of being supported by the support surfaces of the generally V-shaped track, and the axis of the positioning wheel is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the generally V-shaped track.

19. The guiding mechanism of claim 18, wherein the generally V-shaped track comprises two monorails, with each monorail comprising a support surface at an upper section.

20. The guiding mechanism of claim 18, wherein the guiding mechanism is capable of being coupled within a scanner casing.

21. A scanner, comprising:

a carrier chassis of an optical system of the scanner; and

a linear guiding mechanism including;

a generally V-shaped track having a longitudinal direction parallel to a traveling path of the carrier chassis, the generally V-shaped track including an upper section having a pair of support surfaces extending along the longitudinal direction; and

a positioning wheel attached to the carrier chassis, the positioning wheel being supported by the support surfaces on the generally V-shaped track, and an axis of the positioning wheel being perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the generally V-shaped track.

22. The scanner according to claim 21, wherein the positioning wheel includes a surface corresponding to the generally V-shaped track.

23. The scanner according to claim 21, further comprising a casing integrally formed with the generally V-shaped track.

24. The scanner according to claim 23, wherein the generally V-shaped track includes two rails, each rail having a support surface.

25. The scanner according to claim 24, wherein the casing is integrally formed with the two rails.

26. A scanner, comprising:

a carrier chassis of an optical system of the scanner, the carrier chassis having a travel path; and

a linear guiding mechanism comprising;

a generally V-shaped track extending generally in a same direction as the travel path of the carrier chassis, the generally V-shaped track comprising at least two support surfaces extending generally in the same direction as the travel path of the carrier chassis; and

a positioning bump comprising a pair of protruding edges, the positioning bump being coupled to the carrier chassis and being supported by the support surfaces of the generally V-shaped track.

27. The scanner according to claim 26, wherein the positioning bump is integral with the carrier chassis.

28. The scanner according to claim 26, wherein the generally V-shaped track is coupled to an interior wall of the casing.

29. The scanner according to claim 28, wherein the generally V-shaped track comprises two rails, each rail comprising a support surface.

30. The scanner according to claim 26, further comprising:

a positioning structure coupled to an interior sidewall of the casing and capable of retaining the carrier chassis within the generally V-shaped track.

31. A guiding mechanism for a scanner, comprising:

a generally V-shaped track comprising a pair of support surfaces extending generally parallel to a longitudinal direction of the generally V-shaped track; and

positioning means attached to a carrier chassis, the positioning means being capable of being supported by the support surfaces of the generally V-shaped track, wherein the positioning means comprises a positioning wheel having an axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the generally V-shaped track.

32. A guiding mechanism for a scanner, comprising:

a generally V-shaped track comprising a pair of support surfaces extending generally parallel to a longitudinal direction of the generally V-shaped track; and

positioning means attached to a carrier chassis, the positioning means being capable of being supported by the support surfaces of the generally V-shaped track, wherein the positioning means comprises a positioning bump having protruding edges that are capable of being supported by the support surfaces of the generally V-shaped track.

33. A scanner, comprising:

a carrier chassis of an optical system of the scanner; and

a linear guiding mechanism including;

a generally V-shaped track including an upper section having a pair of support surfaces extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal direction of the generally V-shaped track end; and

positioning wheel means for guiding the carrier chassis along the generally V-shaped track, the positioning wheel means being attached to the chassis and supported by the support surfaces on the generally V-shaped track, wherein an axis of the positioning wheel means is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the generally V-shaped track.

34. The scanner according to claim 33, wherein the positioning wheel means includes a surface corresponding to the generally V-shaped track.

35. The scanner according to claim 34, wherein the scanner further comprises a casing integrally formed with the generally V-shaped track.

36. The scanner according to claim 33, wherein the generally V-shaped track includes two rails, each rail having a support surface.

37. The scanner according to claim 36, wherein the scanner further comprises a casing integrally formed with the rails.

38. The scanner according to claim 37, further comprising positioning structure means coupled to the interior of the casing for retaining the carrier chassis within the generally V-shaped track.

39. The scanner according to claim 38, wherein the positioning structure means is integrally formed with the interior of the casing.

40. A scanner, comprising:

a carrier chassis of an optical system of the scanner, the carrier chassis having a travel path; and

a linear guiding mechanism including;

a generally V-shaped track extending generally in a same direction as the travel path of the carrier chassis, the generally V-shaped track including at least two support surfaces extending generally in the same direction as the travel path of the carrier chassis; and

positioning bump means for guiding the carrier chassis along the generally V-shaped track and including a pair of protruding edges, wherein the positioning bump means is coupled to the carrier chassis and supported by the support surfaces of the generally V-shaped track.

41. The scanner according to claim 40, wherein the positioning bump means is integral with the carrier chassis.

42. The scanner according to claim 40, further comprising a casing, wherein the generally V-shaped track is coupled to the interior of the casing.

43. The scanner according to claim 40, wherein the generally V-shaped track comprises two rails, each rail comprising a support surface.

44. The scanner according to claim 43, further comprising a casing, wherein the two rails are integrally formed within the casing interior.

45. The scanner according to claim 40, further comprising:

a casing, and

positioning structure means for retaining the carrier chassis within the generally V-shaped track, the positioning structure means being coupled to an interior sidewall of the casing.