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US 6,779,725 B2Granted
Image reader and imaging apparatus capable of reducing vibration and fluctuation in image reading
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorsMasashi Kohchi, Masaru Watanabe, Tomoaki Suga
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An image reader comprises a light source illuminating an original, an optical guide system configured to guide a light beam reflected from the original and conveying information about an image on the original, a light-receiving unit configured to receive the light beam guided by the optical guide system and to convert the information about the image into electric signals, a stay member holding the light-receiving unit, a balance weight configured to act on the stay member and to reduce oscillation of the light-receiving unit, and a balance-weight holding structure configured to hold the balance weight in an unrestrained state with respect to the stay member.
Claims25
An image reader comprising:
- a light source configured to illuminate an original;
- an optical guide system configured to guide a light beam reflected from the original and to convey information about an image on the original;
- a light-receiving unit configured to receive the light beam guided by the optical guide system and to convert the information about the image into electric signals;
- a stay member holding the light-receiving unit;
- a balance weight configured to act on the stay member and to reduce oscillation of the light-receiving unit;
- and
- a balance-weight holding structure configured to hold the balance weight in an unrestrained state relative to the stay member, the balance-weight holding structure comprising pins disposed in holes defined by the balance weight, lengths of the pins being greater than a thickness of the balance weight to provide a first air gap between the stay member and the balance weight, and diameters of the pins being less than diameters of the holes to provide second air gaps between the pins and inner faces of the holes.
4 more elements
An image reader comprising:
- a light source configured to illuminate an original;
- an optical guide system configured to guide a light beam reflected from the original and to convey information about an image on the original;
- a light-receiving block comprising:
- a light-receiving unit configured to receive the light beam guided by the optical guide system and to convert the information about the image into electric signals;
- and
- a stay member holding the light-receiving unit;
- and
- a balance weight provided to the stay member in an unrestrained manner and configured to bring a center of mass of the light-receiving block to a center of the stay member, the balance weight extending horizontally in a direction away from a center of gravity of the light-receiving unit beyond an edge of the stay member.
5 more elements
A light-receiving block comprising:
- a light-receiving unit comprising an imaging lens and a light-receiving element, the imaging lens configured to focus a light image on the light-receiving element, and the light-receiving element configured to convert the light image into electric signals;
- a stay member holding the light-receiving unit;
- a balance weight;
- and
- a balance-weight holding structure configured to hold the balance weight in an unrestrained state relative to the stay member, the balance-weight holding structure comprising pins disposed in holes defined by the balance weight, lengths of the pins being greater than a thickness of the balance weight to provide a first air gap between the stay member and the balance weight, and diameters of the pins being less than diameters of the holes to provide second air gaps between the pins and inner faces of the holes.
2 more elements
A light-receiving block comprising:
- a light-receiving block comprising:
- a light-receiving unit comprising an imaging lens and a light-receiving element, the imaging lens configured to focus a light image on the light-receiving element, and the light-receiving element configured to convert the light image into electric signals;
- and
- a stay member holding the light-receiving unit;
- a balance weight;
- and
- a balance-weight holding structure configured to hold the balance weight in an unrestrained state relative to the stay member so that a center of mass of the light-receiving unit corresponds to a center of the stay member the balance weight extending horizontally in a direction away from a center of gravity of the light-receiving unit beyond an edge of the stay member.
4 more elements
An imaging apparatus comprising:
- an image reader configured to read an image on an original and to output an imaging signal;
- and
- an imaging unit configured to receive the imaging signal from the image reader and to reproduce the image read from the original, the image reader comprising:
- a light source configured to illuminate the original;
- an optical guide system configured to guide a light beam reflected from the original and to convey information about the image on the original;
- a light-receiving unit configured to receive the light beam guided by the optical guide system and to convert the information about the image into electric signals;
- a stay member holding the light-receiving unit;
- a balance weight configured to act on the stay member and to reduce oscillation of the light-receiving unit;
- and
- a balance-weight holding structure configured to hold the balance weight in an unrestrained state relative to the stay member, the balance-weight holding structure comprising pins disposed in holes defined by the balance weight, lengths of the pins being greater than a thickness of the balance weight to provide a first air gap between the stay member and the balance weight, and diameters of the pins being less than diameters of the holes to provide second air saps between the pins and inner faces of the holes.
7 more elements
An imaging apparatus comprising:
- an image reader configured to read an image on an original and to output an imaging signal;
- an imaging unit configured to receive the imaging signal from the image reader and to reproduce the image read from the original, the image reader comprising:
- a light source configured to illuminate the original;
- an optical guide system configured to guide a light beam reflected from the original and to convey information about an the image on the original;
- a light-receiving block comprising:
- a light-receiving unit configured to receive the light beam guided by the optical guide system and to convert the information about the image into electric signals;
- and
- a stay member holding the light-receiving unit;
- and
- a balance weight provided to the stay member in an unrestrained state and configured to bring a center of mass of the light-receiving block to a center of the stay member, the balance weight extending horizontally in a direction away from a center of gravity of the light-receiving unit beyond an edge of the stay member.
7 more elements
An image reader comprising:
- irradiating means for irradiating an original;
- optical guide means for guiding a light beam reflected from the original and for conveying information about an image on the original;
- light-receiving means for receiving the light beam guided by the optical guide means and for converting the information about the image into electric signals;
- first holding means for holding the light-receiving means;
- weighting means for acting on the first holding means and for reducing oscillation of the light-receiving means;
- and
- second holding means for holding the weighting means in an unrestrained state relative to the first holding means, the second holding means comprising pins disposed in holes defined by the weighting means, lengths of the pins being greater than a thickness of the weighting means to provide a first air gap between the first holding means and the weighting means, and diameters of the pins being less than diameters of the holes to provide second air gaps between the pins and inner faces of the holes.
4 more elements
An image reader comprising:
- irradiating means for irradiating an original;
- optical guide means for guiding a light beam reflected from the original and conveying information about an image on the original;
- a light-receiving block comprising:
- light-receiving means for receiving the light beam guided by the optical guide means and for converting the information about the image into electric signals;
- and
- first holding means for holding the light-receiving means;
- and
- weighting means provided to the first holding means in an unrestrained manner, the weighting means extending horizontally in a direction away from a center of gravity of the light-receiving means beyond an edge of the first holding means.
5 more elements
A light-receiving block comprising:
- light-receiving means comprising an imaging lens and a light-receiving element, the imaging lens configured to focus a light image on the light-receiving element, and the light-receiving element configured to convert the light image into electric signals;
- first holding means for holding the light-receiving means;
- weighting means;
- and
- second holding means for holding the weighting means in an unrestrained state relative to the first holding means, the second holding means comprising pins disposed in holes defined by the weighting means, lengths of the pins being greater than a thickness of the weighting means to provide a first air gap between the first holding means and the weighting means, and diameters of the pins being less than diameters of the holes to provide second air gaps between the pins and inner faces of the holes.
2 more elements
A light-receiving block comprising:
- a light-receiving means comprising an imaging lens and a light-receiving element, the imaging lens configured to focus a light image on the light-receiving element, and the light-receiving element configured to convert the light image into electric signals;
- first holding means for holding the light-receiving means;
- weighting means;
- and
- second holding means for holding the weighting means in an unrestrained state relative to the first holding means such that the weighting means extends in a direction away from a center of gravity of the light-receiving means beyond an edge of the first holding means.
2 more elements
An imaging apparatus comprising:
- an image reader configured to read an image on an original and to output an imaging signal;
- and
- an imaging unit configured to receive the imaging signal from the image reader and to reproduce the image read from the original, the image reader comprising:
- irradiating means for irradiating an original;
- optical guide means for guiding a light beam reflected from the original and for conveying information about an image on the original;
- light-receiving means for receiving the light beam guided by the optical guide means and for converting the information about the image into electric signals;
- first holding means for holding the light-receiving means;
- weighting means for acting on the first holding means and for reducing oscillation of the light-receiving means;
- and
- second holding means for holding the weighting means in an unrestrained state relative to the first holding means, the second holding means comprising pins disposed in holes defined by the weighting means, lengths of the pins being greater than a thickness of the weighting means to provide a first air gap between the first holding means and the weighting means, and diameters of the pins being less than diameters of the holes to provide second air gaps between the pills and inner faces of the holes.
7 more elements
An imaging apparatus comprising:
- an image reader configured to read an image on an original and to output an imaging signal;
- an imaging unit configured to receive the imaging signal from the image reader and to reproduce the image read from the original, the image reader comprising:
- irradiating means for irradiating an original;
- optical guide means for guiding a light beam reflected from the original and conveying information about an image on the original;
- a light-receiving block comprising:
- light-receiving means for receiving the light beam guided by the optical guide means and for converting the information about the image into electric signals;
- and
- first holding means for holding the light-receiving means;
- and
- weighting means provided to the first holding means in an unrestrained manner, the weighting means extending horizontally in a direction away from a center of gravity of the light-receiving means beyond an edge of the first holding means.
7 more elements
An image reader comprising:
- a light source configured to illuminate an original;
- an optical guide system configured to guide a light beam reflected from the original and to convey information about an image on the original;
- a light-receiving unit configured to receive the light beam guided by the optical guide system and to convert the information about the image into electric signals;
- a stay member configured to hold the light-receiving unit;
- a balance weight configured to act on the stay member and to reduce oscillation of the light-receiving unit;
- and
- a balance-weight holding structure configured to hold the balance weight in an unrestrained state relative to the stay member, the balance-weight holding structure contacting a portion of a bottom face of the balance weight to support the balance weight in a gravitational direction such that an air gap is disposed between a top face of the balance weight and the stay member.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.