US 12,143,547 B2
Image reading apparatus with posture adjustment portion and stimulus output portion
Kenichiro Kawasaki, Osaka (JP); and Kazuhisa Hirahara, Osaka (JP)
Assigned to KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc., Osaka (JP)
Appl. No. 18/018,254
Filed by KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc., Osaka (JP)
PCT Filed Mar. 9, 2022, PCT No. PCT/JP2022/010308
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 26, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/230377, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 3, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-074684 (JP), filed on Apr. 27, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0288868 A1, Sep. 14, 2023
Int. Cl. G03G 21/18 (2006.01); H04N 1/024 (2006.01)
CPC H04N 1/02481 (2013.01) [H04N 1/0249 (2013.01)] 5 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An image reading apparatus, comprising:
optical elements comprising:
a light emitting portion that emits light irradiated onto a document sheet;
a photoelectric conversion portion that receives light reflected by the document sheet and outputs an electrical signal based on the light; and
a lens and/or mirror arranged on an optical path between the light emitting portion and the photoelectric conversion portion;
a posture adjustment portion having an operation shaft rotatable about a first axis and configured to adjust a posture of at least one of the optical elements according to rotation of the operation shaft; and
a stimulus output portion configured to output a stimulus that allows an operator of the operation shaft to perceive rotation each time the operation shaft is rotated by a predetermined specific angle, wherein
the posture adjustment portion has a first gear that rotates integrally with the operation shaft, and a second gear that is rotatable about a second axis parallel to the first axis and that engages with the first gear; and
the stimulus output portion includes, in either one or both of the first gear and the second gear, contact portions that are provided at intervals corresponding to the specific angle and formed so that a tip of a tooth or a bottom of teeth of one of the first gear and the second gear is able to come into contact with a bottom of teeth or tip of a tooth of the other.