IMAGE READING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

• US 20130222862A1
• Filed: 01/15/2013
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canon Finetech Incorporated (Canon Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Canon Finetech Incorporated (Canon Inc.)
• Inventors: Sasaki, Takeshi, Yokote, Saori
• Granted Patent: US 8,786,913 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/474
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/02481 Arrangements for positioning elements within a head H04N1/02409 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/0249 Arrangements for mounting or supporting elements within a scanning head H04N1/02481 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/02855 in combination with a light guide, e.g. optical fibre, glass plate light-guides per se G02B6/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/02458 Lens or optical system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0247 using adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/02483 Housing or part of the housing, e.g. bottom plate H04N2201/02481 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/02485 Dedicated element, e.g. bracket or arm

Abstract

An image reading apparatus configured to read an image of an original, including: a light source configured to irradiate the original with light; an optical system configured to condense and image a light beam from the light source reflected from the original; a substrate member having a photoelectric conversion unit; a fixing member fixed to the substrate member; a support member configured to support the optical system; and an adhesive bonding the fixing member and the support member together, wherein one of the support member and the fixing member has a protruding portion which protrudes toward the other of the support member and the fixing member, the other has a recessed portion opposed to the protruding portion, the protruding portion protrudes in the recessed portion in a non-contact state to maintain a gap between the protruding portion and the recessed portion, and the adhesive is applied to the gap.

Claims

1. An image reading apparatus configured to read an image of an original, the image reading apparatus comprising:

a light source configured to irradiate the original with light;

an optical system configured to condense and image a light beam emitted from the light source and reflected from a surface of the original;

a substrate member having a photoelectric conversion unit arranged in an imaging position of the optical system;

a fixing member fixed to the substrate member;

a support member configured to support the optical system; and

an adhesive bonding the fixing member and the support member together,

wherein one of the support member and the fixing member has a protruding portion which protrudes toward other of the support member and the fixing member,

wherein the other of the support member and the fixing member has a recessed portion which is opposed to the protruding portion,

wherein the protruding portion is arranged to protrude in the recessed portion in a non-contact state to maintain a gap between the protruding portion and the recessed portion, and

wherein the adhesive is applied to the gap between the protruding portion and the recessed portion.

2. An image reading apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the one of the support member and the fixing member is the fixing member,

wherein the fixing member comprises:

a first plate-shaped portion extending in an up-down direction with respect to an axis of the optical system; and

a bending and protruding portion serving as the protruding portion, the bending and protruding portion bending and protruding from the first plate-shaped portion in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the optical system,

wherein the other of the support member and the fixing member is the support member, and

wherein the support member comprises;

a second plate-shaped portion extending in the up-down direction with respect to the axis of the optical system; and

a peripheral edge portion serving as the recessed portion, the peripheral edge portion being formed in the second plate-shaped portion and opposed to the bending and protruding portion.

3. An image reading apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the one of the support member and the fixing member is the fixing member,

wherein the fixing member comprises:

a first plate-shaped portion extending in an up-down direction with respect to an axis of the optical system; and

an axial protruding portion serving as the protruding portion, the axial protruding portion protruding from a surface of the first plate-shaped portion in a direction parallel to the axis of the optical system,

wherein the other of the support member and the fixing member is the support member, and

wherein the support member comprises;

a second plate-shaped portion extending in the up-down direction with respect to the axis of the optical system; and

a cut-away portion serving as the recessed portion, the cut-away portion being formed in the second plate-shaped portion and opposed to the axial protruding portion.

4. An image reading apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the one of the support member and the fixing member is the fixing member,

wherein the fixing member comprises:

a first plate-shaped portion extending in an up-down direction with respect to an axis of the optical system;

a bending and protruding portion serving as the protruding portion, the bending and protruding portion bending and protruding from the first plate-shaped portion in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the optical system; and

an axial protruding portion serving as the protruding portion, the axial protruding portion protruding from a surface of the first plate-shaped portion in a direction parallel to the axis of the optical system,

wherein the other of the support member and the fixing member is the support member, and

wherein the support member comprises;

a second plate-shaped portion extending in the up-down direction with respect to the axis of the optical system;

a peripheral edge portion serving as the recessed portion, the peripheral edge portion being formed in the second plate-shaped portion and opposed to the bending and protruding portion; and

a cut-away portion serving as the recessed portion, the cut-away portion being formed in the second plate-shaped portion and opposed to the axial protruding portion.

5. An image reading apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the one of the support member and the fixing member is the support member,

wherein the support member comprises:

a first plate-shaped portion extending in an up-down direction with respect to an axis of the optical system; and

a bending and protruding portion serving as the protruding portion, the bending and protruding portion bending and protruding from the first plate-shaped portion in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the optical system,

wherein the other of the support member and the fixing member is the fixing member, and

wherein the fixing member comprises;

a second plate-shaped portion extending in the up-down direction with respect to the axis of the optical system; and

a peripheral edge portion serving as the recessed portion, the peripheral edge portion being formed in the second plate-shaped portion and opposed to the bending and protruding portion.

6. An image reading apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the one of the support member and the fixing member is the support member,

wherein the support member comprises:

a first plate-shaped portion extending in an up-down direction with respect to an axis of the optical system; and

an axial protruding portion serving as the protruding portion, the axial protruding portion protruding from a surface of the first plate-shaped portion in a direction parallel to the axis of the optical system,

wherein the other of the support member and the fixing member is the fixing member, and

wherein the fixing member comprises;

a second plate-shaped portion extending in the up-down direction with respect to the axis of the optical system; and

a cut-away portion serving as the recessed portion, the cut-away portion being formed in the second plate-shaped portion and opposed to the axial protruding portion.

7. An image reading apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the one of the support member and the fixing member is the support member,

wherein the support member comprises:

a first plate-shaped portion extending in an up-down direction with respect to an axis of the optical system;

a bending and protruding portion serving as the protruding portion, the bending and protruding portion bending and protruding from the first plate-shaped portion in a direction orthogonal to the axis of the optical system; and

an axial protruding portion serving as the protruding portion, the axial protruding portion protruding from a surface of the first plate-shaped portion in a direction parallel to the axis of the optical system,

wherein the other of the support member and the fixing member is the fixing member, and

wherein the fixing member comprises;

a second plate-shaped portion extending in the up-down direction with respect to the axis of the optical system;

a peripheral edge portion serving as the recessed portion, the peripheral edge portion being formed in the second plate-shaped portion and opposed to the bending and protruding portion; and

a cut-away portion serving as the recessed portion, the cut-away portion being formed in the second plate-shaped portion and opposed to the axial protruding portion.

8. An image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member serves also as a shielding unit configured to cover and shield the photoelectric conversion unit to prevent a light beam other than a proper light beam from reaching the photoelectric conversion unit, the proper light beam being reflected from the original and then passing through the optical system along a proper optical path so as to be imaged on the photoelectric conversion unit.

9. An image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the fixing member and the support member are bonded together at two portions which are line symmetric across an axis of the optical system, and each of the two portions comprises at least three positions ensured therein.

10. An image reading apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the fixing member comprises a hole through which a pin is insertable, and

wherein the pin is inserted through the hole so that the fixing member is fixed to the substrate member and the photoelectric conversion unit is positioned with respect to the optical system.

11. An image reading apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the adhesive comprises a photocurable adhesive.

12. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image forming portion configured to form an image; and

an image reading apparatus as recited in claim 1.