Lens Holder Positioners for Optical Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing image reading devices face variances in image reading performance and resolution due to inaccuracies in the relative positional relationships of light guides, lens bodies, and light receivers.
Innovation Solution
An image reading device configuration with light guides, lens bodies, and light receivers mounted on lens holders within a housing, where the lens holders include positioners that ensure accurate alignment and attachment, maintaining uniform light emission and focusing capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the lens body position is adjusted by inserting into openings of a sheet metal housing and fixed using a light shield, then the housing structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the relative positional relationships of the light guide, lens body, and light receiver cannot be maintained with high accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces lens holders as intermediary components that are specifically designed to hold and position the light guide, lens body, and light receiver. These lens holders act as mediators between the sheet metal housing and the optical components, providing precise positioning features such as positioning holes and fixing protrusions that maintain accurate relative positions while allowing the overall housing structure to remain simple and easy to manufacture.
2Device complexity
If conventional fixing methods are used without dedicated positioners, then the device structure is less complex, but variances in image reading performance and resolution occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the housing structure into distinct functional components: the sheet metal housing provides overall support, while separate lens holders provide precise positioning for each optical element (light guide, lens body, light receiver). This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function - the housing for structural simplicity and the lens holders for positioning precision - thereby maintaining consistent image reading performance without excessive overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The lens holders are pre-designed with specific positioning features such as positioning holes, fixing protrusions, and alignment structures before assembly. These preliminary positioning features ensure that when the optical components are assembled, their relative positions are automatically and consistently accurate, preventing variances in image reading performance without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms during assembly.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration stabilizes the positional relationships, preventing variances in image reading performance and resolution, resulting in improved image reading accuracy and consistency.
Implementation Method 1
a light guide extending in a main scanning direction and configured to emit light to an object to be read
Implementation Method 2
a lens body to focus reflected light reflected by the object to be read
Implementation Method 3
a light receiver to receive the reflected light focused by the lens body
Data Source
AI summary
An image reading device includes light guides (5, 6) that emit light to an object to be read, a lens body (8) that condenses reflected light, a light receiver (13) that receives the reflected light, a sensor board (24) on which is mounted the light receiver (13), a lens holder (11), and a housing (9) that houses or holds these components. The lens holder (11) includes a holder bottom (11g), light guide positioners (11a, 11b) and lens body holders (11e, 11f). In the lens holder (11), the lens body (8) is attached between the lens body holders (11e, 11f), the sensor board (24) is attached to the holder bottom (11g) such that the light receiver (13) aligns with an optical axis of the lens body (8), and the light guides (5, 6) are attached to the light guide positioners (11a, 11b). A surface of each light guide positioner (11a, 11b) that faces the corresponding light guide (5, 6) to be attached has at least a portion having a same shape a s a shape of a surface of the light guide.