Optical: systems and elements – Lens – With viewed object support
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-05
2002-08-13
Epps, Georgia (Department: 2873)
Optical: systems and elements
Lens
With viewed object support
C399S377000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06433941
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an image reading apparatus for causing reflected light or transmitted light obtained by applying light to an original to be imaged on a line-shaped photoelectric conversion element (hereinafter referred to as the image sensor) to thereby read an image on the original, and is applied, for example, to an image forming apparatus or the like for effecting image formation with respect to the read image.
2. Related Background Art
Heretofore, reflected light or transmitted light obtained by applying light to an original on a copier or an image reading apparatus such as an image scanner has been imaged on an image sensor or a photosensitive body by the use of a lens or the like to thereby read an image.
A method whereby the image reading apparatus (hereinafter referred to as the image scanner) reads an original will hereinafter be described with reference to
FIGS. 3 and 4
of the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 3
is a schematic view of the image scanner, and
FIG. 4
is a cross-sectional view taken along the arrow A of FIG.
3
.
It is to be understood that the widthwise direction of an optical scanning unit U as image reading means is X direction, the lengthwise direction of the optical scanning unit U is Y direction, and a direction forming right angles with X and Y directions is Z direction. In
FIGS. 3 and 4
, arrows indicating the directions are shown.
In
FIGS. 3 and 4
, a sheet original P is placed on the original supporting surface of an original glass table
10
as the light transmitting member of the image scanner
50
with its original reading surface facing the original glass table
10
side. The sheet original P is irradiated by the light source
1
of the optical scanning unit U, and the reflected light thereof is imaged on an image sensor
3
through a Selfoc lens
2
(trademark, hereinafter referred to as SLA) to thereby read an image corresponding to one line of the sheet original P.
The optical scanning unit U is caused to scan in X direction along the original glass table
10
to thereby read the whole image of the sheet original P (U to U′).
The optical scanning unit U is comprised of an optical unit
7
comprising the light source
1
, SLA
2
and the image sensor
3
, and a scanning unit
6
. The scanning unit
6
biases the optical unit
7
toward the original glass table
10
(in Z direction) by biasing means
5
.
The scanning unit
6
is engaged with a driving rail
4
supported on the apparatus, and is driven along the original glass table (original mount glass)
10
. When the driving rail
4
is at one end portion of the widthwise direction of the scanning unit
6
, a sliding portion
8
is provided at the other end of the widthwise direction of the scanning unit
6
, and slides on a rail portion
31
on a bottom cover
30
(in the figures, the rail portion
31
and the bottom cover
30
are shown as the same member, but may be discrete members).
On the other hand, when as shown in
FIG. 5
of the accompanying drawings, the driving rail
4
is in the substantially central portion of the scanning unit
6
, the sliding portion
8
as shown in
FIG. 4
may not be provided. Also, in the constructions shown in
FIGS. 4 and 5
, a leaf spring is used as the biasing means
5
, but a coil spring or the like can also be used to obtain a similar effect.
The original glass table
10
of the image scanner
50
may be stuck on an upper cover
20
by the use of a both-surface tape (not shown) or the like (see FIGS.
4
and
5
), or may be held on the bottom cover
30
, as shown in
FIG. 6
of the accompanying drawings.
In the method shown in
FIG. 6
, the upper cover
20
is not provided, but an abutting member
21
against which the end portion of the sheet original P abuts is stuck on the original glass table
10
held on the bottom cover
30
by means of a both-surface tape or the like to thereby take a countermeasure for the getting-into (passing-through) of the sheet original P.
The optical unit
7
has a projected portion
9
abutting against the original glass table
10
outside the reading area of the image sensor
3
in order that the positioning of the original glass table
10
and the optical unit
7
may be done accurately and the two may not directly abut against each other.
The optical unit
7
is always biased toward the original glass table
10
by the biasing means
5
and therefore, by making the dimensions of the projected portion
9
accurate, the positioning of the original glass table
10
and the optical unit
7
can be done accurately.
Further, because of a construction in which the optical unit
7
is biased toward the original glass table
10
, it is not necessary to install the original glass table
10
substantially in parallel, i.e., horizontally, to the plane in which the image scanner
50
is installed. That is, even if the original glass table
10
is installed substantially vertically to the plane in which the image scanner
50
is installed, an image can be read without any problem.
FIGS. 7 and 8
of the accompanying drawings show schematic views in which the original glass table
10
is installed substantially vertically to the plane in which the image scanner
50
is installed.
FIG. 7
is a schematic view illustrating the vertically placed state of the image scanner
50
, and
FIG. 8
is a view taken along the arrow A′ in FIG.
7
.
When the image scanner
50
is vertically placed as described above, the fore of the apparatus is supported by a vertically placing member
51
and the protruding portion
22
of the exterior package is used for the supporting of the rear of the apparatus. It is possible to change the shape of the protruding portion
22
to thereby vertically place the image scanner
50
in a state inclined with respect to the horizontal within the range of angle of &thgr;≦90°.
However, in the case of the prior art as described above, the following problems have arisen.
When as shown in
FIG. 9A
of the accompanying drawings, the sheet original P is disposed on the vertically placed image scanner
50
, the lower end portion of the sheet original P is sometimes not supported in contact and the sheet original P cannot be disposed easily.
It is because the sheet original P is not well placed on an abutting surface
23
a
(or
21
a
) on which the lower end portion of the sheet original P abuts against an edge portion
23
as the abutting portion of the upper cover
20
holding the original glass table
10
thereon (or the stuck abutting member
21
), and as shown in
FIG. 9B
of the accompanying drawings, the sheet original P deviates and slips down from the abutting surface.
It has also happened that the lateral end portion of the sheet original P when the image scanner
50
is vertically placed does not abut against the abutting surface and the sheet original P is turned over.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in order to solve the above-noted problems peculiar to the prior art and the object thereof is to provide an image reading apparatus and an image forming apparatus in which the disposition of a sheet original when vertically placed is made easy.
To achieve the above object, an image reading apparatus according to the present invention comprises:
an original supporting surface on which a sheet original is placed;
reading means for reading an image of the sheet original placed on the original supporting surface; and
an abutting portion which is provided on the original supporting surface and against which an end portion of the sheet original abuts;
wherein the abutting portion has a positioning portion for positioning the end portion of the sheet original so that when the original supporting surface is brought into an inclined state with respect to a horizontal, the sheet original may not float up relative to the original supporting surface.
Also, an image reading apparatus according to the present invention comprises:
an original supporting surface on which a sheet original is placed;
reading means or rea
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