Optical scanner with belt drive

Abstract

An optical scanner comprises a light source for emitting a light beam, a mirror mount for transmitting and receiving mirrors, a stationary support element for attaching a motor and a light source, and a receiving element. The support element has vertical and horizontal arms, with the motor rigidly connected to the vertical arm and a rotor rotatably connected to the horizontal arm. The motor drives the rotor via a pulley and belt, which in turn rotates the mirror mount and mirrors.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an optical scanner according to the preamble of the independent claim.

[0002] From DE 10 2015 226 773 A1, a scanning device is known which comprises a transmitter, receiver, and rotor, wherein these components are arranged axially overlapping. The rotor is rotatably mounted about a rotational axis, and the transmitter emits electromagnetic radiation which is detected by the receiver after reflection from an object. The drive motor, which is also arranged axially overlapping, drives the rotor.

[0003] The purpose of the invention is to build an optical scanner with low vibration.

[0004] The problem is solved by the optical scanner according to the invention.

[0005] Fig.Figure 1 shows an optical scanner according to the invention comprising a light source 10 for emitting a light beam 12, a mirror holder 30 for receiving a transmitting and receiving mirror 32, 34, a stationary support element 48 for attaching a motor 40 and a lighting carrier 44, a receiving element 50 and an evaluation unit 60.

[0006] The support element 48 has a vertical and a horizontal leg 48a, 48b, wherein the motor 40 is rotatably connected to the vertical leg 48a and a rotor 43 is rotatably connected to the horizontal leg 48b.

[0007] The motor 40 has a pulley 41 which is connected to the rotor 43 via a belt 42 such that, when the scanner 1 is operated, the motor 40 sets the rotor 43 into rotation. The mirror mount 30 is rigidly connected to the rotor 43, so that during operation the mirror mount 30, together with the transmitting and receiving mirrors 32, 34, is also set into rotation.

[0008] A key advantage of this design is the scanner's low-vibration construction. The drive is independent of the mirror holder's rotation, preventing any vibrations from being transmitted through the drive belt. This results in increased scanner stability and accuracy.

[0009] To further reduce vibrations, the motor 40 can also be attached to the vertical leg 48a with damping elements. Elastic materials such as foam, rubber, etc., are suitable for this purpose.

[0010] The horizontal leg 48b of the support element 48 has an axial recess 49 which opens into an axial recess of the rotor 43 and is coaxial with the axis of rotation D of the rotor 43. An optic or lens 20 is arranged within the axial recess 49.

[0011] Opposite the lens 20, a light source 10 is arranged, which is mounted on a lighting support 44, the lighting support 44 being connected to the horizontal leg 48b of the support element. The lighting support 44 can be designed, in particular, such that the light source 10 can be easily and quickly aligned towards the optics 20 and the subsequent transmitting mirror 32. For example, the lighting support can be connected to the horizontal leg 48b via three adjustment screws and three fastening screws.

[0012] The transmitting mirror 32, which is connected to the mirror holder 30, is arranged axially below the lens 20 and deflects the emitted light beam 12 perpendicular to the axis of rotation D of the rotor 43 or the mirror holder 30 in the direction of a scene.

[0013] The receiving mirrors 34 on the mirror mount 30 are aligned such that the emitted light 14, reflected from a scene, is directed onto a receiving element 50. The light events received at the receiving element 50 are forwarded as received signals to an evaluation unit 60.

[0014] To reduce mutual interference between the transmitting and receiving light 12, 14, the beam path of the transmitting light 12 is enclosed by a tube 35. The tube 35 is connected to the rotor 42 and to the mirror mount 30 and has a vertical leg extending from the rotor 42 and a horizontal leg extending from the transmitting mirror 32.

[0015] The horizontal leg of the tube 35 preferably has a larger diameter than the vertical leg. Reference symbol list 1 Scanner 10 light sources 12 outgoing light beam 14 incoming light beam 20 Collimation lens 30 Mirror bracket 32 transmission mirrors 34 reception mirrors 35 Tube 40 engine 41 Pulley 42 belts 43 Rotor 44 lighting fixtures 45 encoders 48 support element 48a vertical leg of the support element 48b horizontal leg of the support element 49 axial recess 50 receiver element 60 evaluation units QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2015 226 773 A1

[0002]

Claims

Optical scanner (1), comprising: - a light source (10) for emitting a light beam (12), - a mirror holder (30) for receiving a transmitting and receiving mirror (32, 34), - a support element (48) for mounting a motor (40), characterized in that: - the support element (48) has a vertical leg (48a) and a horizontal leg (48b), - the motor (40) is attached to the vertical leg (48a), - a rotor (43) is rotatably connected to the horizontal leg (48b), the motor (40) has a pulley (41) which is connected to the rotor (43) via a belt (42), so that the motor (40) sets the rotor (43) into a rotational movement when the scanner is operated, - the mirror holder (30) is connected to the rotor (43), so that during operation the mirror holder (30) together with the transmitting and receiving mirrors (32, 34) is set in rotation. Optical scanner (1) according to claim 1, wherein the rotor (43) is arranged on a bottom side of the horizontal leg (48b) and an illumination carrier (44) with the light source (10) is arranged on a top side such that the light source (10) lies in a recess (49) of the horizontal leg (48b), wherein the rotor (43) has an opening which is axially aligned with the recess of the (49) of the horizontal leg (48b), wherein an optic (20) is arranged opposite the light source (10) in the region of the opening of the rotor (43). Optical scanner (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the transmitting mirror (32) which is connected to the mirror holder (30) is arranged axially below the lens (20) such that the light beam (12) is deflected perpendicular to the axis of rotation (D) of the rotor (43) or of the mirror holder (30) in the direction of a scene. Optical scanner (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the beam path of the transmitting light (12) is enclosed by a tube (35) to reduce mutual interference between transmitting and receiving light (12, 14), wherein the tube (35) is connected to the rotor (43) and to the mirror holder (30) and has a vertical leg extending from the rotor (43) and a horizontal leg extending from the transmitting mirror (32), wherein the horizontal leg of the tube (35) has a larger diameter than the vertical leg.

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