Image scanning unit and image forming apparatus having the same

An image scanning device for use in an image forming apparatus which includes a guide shaft to control a motion of the image scanning device, comprising:

• a non-metallic carriage including an integrally formed channel having a substantially semi-circular shape and a plurality of friction reducing protrusions spaced intermittently around a diameter of the guide shaft to engage the guide shaft and wherein the channel is formed of a rigid material, the channel includes first and second friction reducing protrusions formed as first and second planar faces engaging the guide shaft at 180 degree intervals along the diameter of the guide shaft and the first and second planar faces are substantially parallel to each other and the channel further includes a third friction reducing protrusion formed as a third planar face engaging the guide shaft, the third planar face extending from one of the first and second planar faces at an incline in a direction non-perpendicular to the first and second planar faces, the channel further including a non-planar face which does not engage the guide shaft, the non-planar face extending at one end from the third planar face and being spaced apart from the guide shaft;
• an image sensor detachably mounted on the non-metallic carriage;
• and
• a driver to linearly move the non-metallic carriage and the image sensor along the guide shaft.

An image scanning device for use in an image forming apparatus which includes a guide shaft to control a motion of the image scanning device, comprising:

• a carriage including an integrally formed channel having a plurality of portions spaced intermittently around a diameter of the guide shaft to intermittently engage the guide shaft, wherein the channel is formed of a rigid material and the plurality of portions include:
• first and second portions, formed as first and second planar faces substantially parallel to each other, to engage the guide shaft at 180 degree intervals along the diameter of the guide shaft, and
• a third portion, formed as a third planar face which extends from one of the first and second planar faces at an incline in a direction non-perpendicular to the first and second planar faces, to engage the guide shaft,
• wherein the channel further includes a non-planar face which does not engage the guide shaft, the non-planar face extending at one end from the third planar face and being spaced apart from the guide shaft;
• an image sensor detachably mounted on the carriage;
• and
• a driver to linearly move the carriage and the image sensor along the guide shaft.

An image scanning device, comprising:

• a guide shaft;
• a carriage including an integrally formed channel having a plurality of portions spaced intermittently around a diameter of the guide shaft to intermittently engage the guide shaft, the plurality of portions including:
• first and second portions, formed as first and second planar faces substantially parallel to each other, to engage the guide shaft at 180 degree intervals along the diameter of the guide shaft, and
• third and fourth portions, formed as third and fourth planar faces and separated by a part of the channel that does not engage the guide shaft, to engage the guide shaft,
• wherein the channel further includes a fifth portion having a non-planar face which does not engage the guide shaft, the non-planar face extending at one end from the third planar face and extending at another end from the fourth planar face, and being spaced apart from the guide shaft;
• an image sensor mounted on the carriage;
• and
• a driver to move the carriage and the image sensor along the guide shaft.