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US 10,602,013 B2Granted
Reading module and image forming apparatus provided with the same
AssigneeKYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
InventorsTakaaki Murase, Kei Ouchi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A reading module of the present disclosure is provided with a light source, an optical system, and a sensor. The optical system images, as reading light, reflected light of light radiated from the light source to an illumination object. The sensor converts the reading light imaged by the optical system into an electric signal. The optical system is provided with a mirror array in which a plurality of reflection mirrors are disposed in an array in a prescribed direction and a plurality of aperture stop portions that adjust an amount of the reading light. Each of the reflection mirrors is disposed at a prescribed distance from an adjacent one of the reflection mirrors in a prescribed direction.
Claims17
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- an intermediate transfer belt that carries a toner image;
- and
- a reading module,
- wherein
- the reading module includes:
- a light source that radiates light to the intermediate transfer belt;
- an optical system that images, as reading light, reflected light of light radiated from said light source to the intermediate transfer belt;
- and
- a sensor that includes a plurality of imaging regions for converting the reading light imaged by said optical system into an electric signal, which are arranged in a prescribed direction,
- the optical system includes:
- a mirror array in which a plurality of reflection mirrors each having an aspherical concave surface as a reflection surface are disposed in an array in the prescribed direction;
- and
- a plurality of aperture stop portions each of which is provided between each of the plurality of reflection mirrors and a corresponding one of the plurality of imaging regions of the sensor and adjusts an amount of the reading light reflected on the each of the plurality of reflection mirrors,
- wherein each of the plurality of reflection mirrors is disposed at a prescribed distance from an adjacent one of the plurality of reflection mirrors in the prescribed direction, and
- wherein the optical system is a telecentric optical system in which, on a side toward the intermediate transfer belt with respect to the mirror array, a principal ray of the reading light is parallel to an optical axis, the principal ray being perpendicular to a surface of the intermediate transfer belt, and an inverted image is formed on the sensor by the optical system.
12 more elements
A reading module, comprising:
- a light source that radiates light to an illumination object;
- an optical system that images, as reading light, reflected light of light radiated from said light source to the illumination object;
- a sensor that includes a plurality of imaging regions for converting the reading light imaged by said optical system into an electric signal, which are arranged in a prescribed direction;
- and
- a turning mirror,
- wherein
- the optical system includes:
- a mirror array in which a plurality of reflection mirrors each having an aspherical concave surface as a reflection surface are disposed linearly in the prescribed direction;
- and
- a plurality of aperture stop portions each of which is provided between each of the plurality of reflection mirrors and a corresponding one of the plurality of imaging regions of the sensor and adjusts an amount of the reading light reflected on the each of the plurality of reflection mirrors,
- wherein
- each of the plurality of reflection mirrors is disposed at a distance equal to or greater than a radius of an entrance pupil of the plurality of reflection mirrors from an adjacent one of the plurality of reflection mirrors in the prescribed direction,
- a non-imaging region that is a plane surface is provided between each pair of adjacent ones of the reflection mirrors,
- the turning mirror is provided at a position opposed to the mirror array, and turns, toward the plurality of aperture stop portions, the reading light reflected on the each of the plurality of reflection mirrors, and
- only a space exists between the non-imaging region and the turning mirror.
12 more elements
A reading module, comprising:
- a light source that radiates light to an illumination object;
- an optical system that images, as reading light, reflected light of light radiated from said light source to the illumination object;
- a sensor that includes a plurality of imaging regions for converting the reading light imaged by said optical system into an electric signal, which are arranged in a prescribed direction;
- a first plane mirror, and
- a turning mirror,
- wherein
- the optical system includes:
- a mirror array in which a plurality of reflection mirrors each having an aspherical concave surface as a reflection surface are disposed in an array in the prescribed direction;
- and
- a plurality of aperture stop portions each of which is provided between each of the plurality of reflection mirrors and a corresponding one of the plurality of imaging regions of the sensor and adjusts an amount of the reading light reflected on the each of the plurality of reflection mirrors,
- wherein
- the mirror array and the plurality of aperture stop portions are integrally formed into one unit as an optical unit,
- each of the plurality of reflection mirrors is disposed at a prescribed distance from an adjacent one of the plurality of reflection mirrors in the prescribed direction,
- the mirror array is disposed on a front surface of the optical unit,
- the turning mirror is disposed at a position opposed to the front surface of the optical unit,
- the first plane mirror reflects, toward the turning mirror, the reading light traveling behind a rear surface of the optical unit, and
- the turning mirror turns, toward the optical unit, the reading light reflected on the first plane mirror, and turns, toward the plurality of aperture stop portions, the reading light reflected on the plurality of reflection mirrors.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.