Abstract: A lens moving device comprises a cam follower which is provided to a lens holding frame supporting a lens, and a cam gear with which the cam follower is engaged. The cam gear is rotated by a stepping motor, so that the lens holding frame and the lens move along the optical axis thereof. The cam gear is molded from synthetic resin and is provided with a stopper at the both ends of a non-operative area, in which the cam follower does not come in contact during a normal operation. The non-operative area has a gate mark, which is formed during the resin molding process. The stopper prevents the cam follower from interfering with the gate mark.

Abstract: A parallax correcting apparatus includes a finder block mounted on a stationary base; a pivotal projection and a pivotal recess which are formed on the finder block and the stationary base, a common axis thereof being perpendicular to an optical axis of the viewfinder; a first adjustment mechanism for rotating the finder block about the common axis; a pair of vertical position adjustment mounts formed on the stationary base on opposite sides of the common axis in a front and rear direction; a second adjustment mechanism for adjusting a height of one of the pair of vertical position adjustment mounts; a pair of fixing mounts formed on the stationary base on opposite sides of the common axis in a right and left direction; and a pair of fixing limbs formed on the finder block which are fixed to the pair of fixing mounts, respectively, after adjustment.

Abstract: A lens drive system includes a lens case supporting an image pick-up device; a movable lens frame supporting a lens group; a reversible motor supported by the lens case; a feed screw supported by the lens case and driven by the reversible motor; a half nut which moves together with the movable lens frame, is normally engaged with the feed screw, and is disengaged from the feed screw to slide thereon when more than a predetermined force is applied to the half nut in optical axis direction; and a plurality of ribs formed in the lens case projecting inwards behind a space for movement of the movable lens frame. Each rib includes a stop surface which comes into contact with a rear surface of the movable lens frame when the movable lens frame retreats while the half nut is sliding on the feed screw.

Abstract: A lens drive system includes a lens case supporting an image pick-up device; a movable lens frame supporting a lens group; a reversible motor supported by the lens case; a feed screw supported by the lens case and driven by the reversible motor; a half nut which moves together with the movable lens frame, is normally engaged with the feed screw, and is disengaged from the feed screw to slide thereon when more than a predetermined force is applied to the half nut in optical axis direction; and a plurality of ribs formed in the lens case projecting inwards behind a space for movement of the movable lens frame. Each rib includes a stop surface which comes into contact with a rear surface of the movable lens frame when the movable lens frame retreats while the half nut is sliding on the feed screw.

Abstract: A parallax correcting apparatus includes a finder block mounted on a stationary base; a pivotal projection and a pivotal recess which are formed on the finder block and the stationary base, a common axis thereof being perpendicular to an optical axis of the viewfinder; a first adjustment mechanism for rotating the finder block about the common axis; a pair of vertical position adjustment mounts formed on the stationary base on opposite sides of the common axis in a front and rear direction; a second adjustment mechanism for adjusting a height of one of the pair of vertical position adjustment mounts; a pair of fixing mounts formed on the stationary base on opposite sides of the common axis in a right and left direction; and a pair of fixing limbs formed on the finder block which are fixed to the pair of fixing mounts, respectively, after adjustment.

Abstract: A lens moving device comprises a lens frame to which a lens is attached and a drive mechanism which moves the lens frame along the optical axis of the lens. An arm-receiving opening is formed in a connecting member provided on the lens frame. The drive mechanism has a motor, and an output shaft of the motor is connected to a feed screw, on which a nut is fitted. A moving member is integrally formed on the nut, and first and second arms are provided on the moving member. The first and second arms are inserted into the arm-receiving opening. The first and second arms are arranged in order along the line, in which the lens is moved. A spring force of the first arm is greater than that of the second arm.

Abstract: A lens moving device comprises a cam follower which is provided to a lens holding frame supporting a lens, and a cam gear with which the cam follower is engaged. The cam gear is rotated by a stepping motor, so that the lens holding frame and the lens move along the optical axis thereof. The cam gear is molded from synthetic resin and is provided with a stopper at the both ends of a non-operative area, in which the cam follower does not come in contact during a normal operation. The non-operative area has a gate mark, which is formed during the resin molding process. The stopper prevents the cam follower from interfering with the gate mark.

Abstract: A lens moving device comprises a lens frame to which a lens is attached and a drive mechanism which moves the lens frame along the optical axis of the lens. An arm-receiving opening is formed in a connecting member provided on the lens frame. The drive mechanism has a motor, and an output shaft of the motor is connected to a feed screw, on which a nut is fitted. A moving member is integrally formed on the nut, and first and second arms are provided on the moving member. The first and second arms are inserted into the arm-receiving opening. The first and second arms are arranged in order along the line, in which the lens is moved. A spring force of the first arm is greater than that of the second arm.

Abstract: A lens is moved by a lens moving member in the direction of its optical axis, and a mirror group is moved by a mirror moving member in the direction of the optical axis of the lens. The moving ranges of the lens moving member and the mirror moving member overlap, and the mirror moving member and the lens moving member are moved at different rates or times such that the mirror moving member and lens moving member do not interfere. A flexible light shielding member on the lens moving member blocks non-image forming light from reaching the mirror group, but bends within a housing holding the moving members to allow the lens moving member to move in its full moving range. A pivotable light shielding member in the moving range of the lens moving member blocks non-image-forming light from reaching the mirror group, but pivots when the lens moving member is moved in contact with it, allowing the lens moving member to move in its full moving range.

Abstract: An optical variable power module has a movable lens unit slidably mounted on a chassis, such that the lens unit is moved along an optical axis defined thereby, and a movable mirror unit slidably mounted on the chassis, such that the mirror unit is moved along the optical axis of the lens unit. The movable mirror unit has a frame, a pair of supporting plates shiftably attached to the frame, and at least one mirror supported by the supporting plates. The chassis has a pair of abutment faces formed thereon such that the supporting plates can be abutted against the abutment faces. The abutment faces define a plane perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens unit, whereby the supporting plates are shifted with respect to the frame such that the longitudinal axis of the mirror supported by the supporting plates is perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens unit.

Abstract: An optical module is intended to be assembled in an optical apparatus, and includes a chassis member having an opening therein. A mirror unit is provided in the opening of the chassis member, such that a lower part of the mirror unit protrudes from a lower surface of the chassis member, through the opening thereof. A protecting wall element, extending lower than the mirror unit, is formed along and suspended from at least a part of a periphery of the opening in order to physically protect the lower part of the mirror unit.

Abstract: A sheet guide mechanism is provided with a guide path along which a sheet-like member is guided and which is defined between one and the other guide surfaces. A stationary guide member has a first surface defining the one guide surface, and a movable guide member having a second surface defines the other guide surface, which is shiftable relative to the stationary guide member. Protrusions are formed on one of the first and second surfaces, protruding toward the other of the first and second surfaces by a predetermined distance. A shiftable member is shiftable relative to the stationary guide member between a guide position and a remote position. A spring is provided between the shiftable member and the movable guide member allowing the elastic contact between the protrusions and the other of the first and second surfaces, when the shiftable member is located in the guide position.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus is provided with an original separation mechanism which is disposed on a lower side of the inlet port of a feeding path. The original separation mechanism is pressed to an original pick-up roller, and is provided for separating one original, which contacts the original pick-up roller, from at least one following original. The original separation mechanism includes a unit body, and a friction member attached to the upper surface of a unit body, extending toward a downstream side of the feeding direction of the original so as to intersect the feed path at a predetermined angle, and having an upper surface with a prescribed friction coefficient. The original separation mechanism further includes a pair of supporting members attached to both sides of the unit body with respect to the friction member, and each formed of a spring material having an upper surface which extends so as to intersect the upper surface of the lower original guide member at a predetermined angle.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus is provided with a photoconductive drum including an outer peripheral surface on which a latent image corresponding to an image to be transferred is formed, and a developing device for developing the latent image by a toner. The electrophotographic apparatus further includes a housing for rotatably supporting the photoconductive drum therein and having an opening on one side, a cover member for releasably closing the opening of the housing, and a transfer charger which is attached to one surface of the cover member opposing to the photoconductive drum, and which is provided for transferring the developed image onto a sheet-like member. A pre-roller is attached to an upstream end of a housing which houses the transfer charger. The pre-roller and the photoconductive drum are positioned relative to each other so that a gap of predetermined dimension is defined therebetween.

Abstract: An electrophotographic apparatus is provided with a control device for controlling the heating temperature of the fixing unit in accordance with the detected result by use of a condition detection mechanism. The control device controls the fixing unit: (a) to set the heating temperature thereof to a fixing possible temperature when the condition detection device detects that the imaging operation of the imaging device is initiated or has been continuing, (b) to set the heating temperature to a stand-by temperature lower than the fixing possible temperature when the condition detection device detects that a stand-by condition, in which the imaging operation is interrupted, continues for a first predetermined time, and (c) to set the heating temperature to a save-energy temperature, lower that the stand-by temperature, when the condition detection device detects that the stand-by condition has been continuing for a second predetermined time.

Abstract: An electrophotographic facsimile apparatus is provided with a main body, a recording mechanism substantially arranged in the main body, for printing received image information onto a recording paper fed through a recording paper path by using electrophotography, and an upper structure is disposed on the main body. The electrophotographic facsimile apparatus further includes an image recording head disposed in the upper structure for reading image information of a document to be transmitted, and an operation unit for inputting operation information. The recording paper path is formed between the main body and the upper structure, and inclines obliquely downward along a direction in which the recording paper is fed. The upper structure has an inclined upper surface parallel with the recording paper path. The operation unit is disposed on the inclined upper surface of the upper structure.

Abstract: A hinge structure couples a cover swingably and separably relative to a body of an image scanner. The hinge structure has a pair of hinge units by which the cover is separably joined to the body. Each of the hinge units comprises a rod mounted on the body and at least one hook mounted on the cover and removably engaging the rod. When the cover is in a closed position, lying over the copy support plate of the body, the hook is prevented from being disengaged from the rod by a stop member. When the cover is in an erected open position, the hook can be moved along the rod into a position where the hook can be disengaged from the rod, thereby separating the cover from the body.

Abstract: An image recording apparatus employing a fixing unit for fixing a toner image on a recording sheet by pressing and, or heating by means of a pair of fixing rollers disposed opposite to each other. At least one of the fixing rollers is arranged to be releasable manually or automatically when a clamshell is opened.

Abstract: A laser shutter mechanism is provided and fitted to a window in an optical system container of, e.g., an optical scanning unit in a laser beam printer. The shutter comprises a screen member for preventing the laser beam from emitting through a window to a beam receiving unit. The screen member is movable between its operative and inoperative positions, while it is biased to its operative position wherein it closes the window. An operating member is provided on the beam receiving unit for moving the screen member to its inoperative position where the window is allowed to emit the laser beam therethrough. Only when said beam receiving unit is properly positioned against the window, does the operating member moves the screen member.

Abstract: In a printer such as a laser beam printer utilized to print an image on a recording medium, an image transferring mechanism such as a photoconductive drum is disposed under the feed path of the recording medium so as to transfer an image such as a toner image onto the undersurface of the recording medium. The recording medium, on which the image is thus transferred is discharged and stacked with the image carrying side down in the proper order.