초록 ▼

An illuminator, a scanner module and an image scanning apparatus are provided. The scanner module includes an illuminator that includes a light source, a light guide extending in a main scanning direction to change a direction of the light from the light source, a guide holder recessed with a light

An illuminator, a scanner module and an image scanning apparatus are provided. The scanner module includes an illuminator that includes a light source, a light guide extending in a main scanning direction to change a direction of the light from the light source, a guide holder recessed with a light guide mounting portion in which the light guide is mounted, and at least one supporting protrusion protruding from an entrance of the light guide mounting portion into the light guide mounting portion to support the light guide received in the light guide mounting portion. As the light guide is supported by the supporting protrusion formed at the entrance of the light guide mounting portion, it is possible to reduce deformation of the light guide and/or to prevent the light guide from being falling out of the light guide mounting portion when subjected to, e.g., a shock.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An illuminator for use in an image scanning apparatus to illuminate light on an object to be scanned, comprising: a light source configured to emit the light;a light guide having an elongated shape with its length extending along a first direction, the light guide being configured to receive the

1. An illuminator for use in an image scanning apparatus to illuminate light on an object to be scanned, comprising: a light source configured to emit the light;a light guide having an elongated shape with its length extending along a first direction, the light guide being configured to receive the light from the light source, and to change a direction of the received light;a guide holder having formed thereon a mounting recess into which the light guide is received; andat least one supporting protrusion, formed at the guide holder, protruding into the mounting recess in order to support a part of the light guide in at least a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,wherein the light guide comprises: an emission face through which the light is emitted from the light guide,a pair of guide faces formed at both longitudinal sides of light guide, anda reflect face opposite the emission face of the light guide to reflect the light,wherein the at least one supporting protrusion having a plurality of supporting protrusions to support the pair of guide faces and the reflect face respectively. 2. The illuminator according to claim 1, wherein the first direction is a main scanning direction of the image scanning apparatus, and the at least one supporting protrusion protrudes. 3. The illuminator according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of supporting protrusions spaced apart from one another, the plurality of supporting protrusions being disposed along the main scanning direction. 4. The illuminator according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of supporting protrusions include three or more supporting protrusions. 5. The illuminator according to claim 1, wherein the at least one supporting protrusion is integrally formed with the guide holder. 6. The illuminator according to claim 1, wherein the light guide comprises an incidence face formed on at least one longitudinal end of the light guide, the light guide receiving the light from the light source through the incident face, the illuminator further comprising: a light source holder to which the light source is mounted, the light source holder having a surface arranged to face the incidence face of the light guide, the surface of the light source holder being configured reflect light incident thereupon. 7. The illuminator according to claim 6, further comprising: an elastic member disposed to elastically support at least one of longitudinal ends of the light guide in the guide holder. 8. The illuminator according to claim 7, wherein the light source is mounted to the light source holder opposite the surface of the light source holder facing the incidence surface, and wherein the elastic member is formed of thermal conductive material disposed adjacent the light source on a side of the light source opposite the light source holder to conduct heat away from the light source. 9. The illuminator according to claim 1, wherein the light guide is received into the mounting recess in the second direction. 10. A scanning module for use in an image scanning apparatus for scanning an object, comprising: an illuminator configured to illuminate a light on the object to be scanned; anda sensor configured to detect the light reflected from the object,wherein the illuminator comprises: a light source configured to emit the light;a light guide having an elongated shape with its length extending along a first direction, the light guide being configured to receive the light from the light source, and to change a direction of the received light;a guide holder having formed thereon a mounting recess into which the light guide is received; andat least one supporting protrusion formed at the guide holder, protruding into the mounting recess in order to a part of the light guide and restrict movement of the light guide in at least a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,wherein the light guide comprises: an emission face through which the light is emitted from the light guide,a pair of guide faces formed at both longitudinal sides of light guide, anda reflect face opposite the emission face of the light guide to reflect the light,wherein the at least one supporting protrusion having a plurality of supporting protrusions to support the pair of guide faces and the reflect face respectively. 11. The scanning module according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of supporting protrusions spaced apart from one another, the plurality of supporting protrusions being disposed along the first direction. 12. The scanning module according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of supporting protrusions include three or more supporting protrusions. 13. The scanning module according to claim 10, wherein the at least one supporting protrusion is integrally formed with the guide holder. 14. The scanning module according to claim 10, wherein the light guide comprises an incidence face formed on at least one longitudinal end of the light guide, the light guide receiving the light from the light source through the incident face, the illuminator further comprising: a light source holder to which the light source is mounted, the light source holder having a surface arranged to face the incidence face of the light guide, the surface of the light source holder being configured reflect light incident thereupon. 15. The scanning module according to claim 14, further comprising: an elastic member disposed to elastically support at least one of longitudinal ends of the light guide in the guide holder. 16. The scanning module according to claim 15, wherein the light source is mounted to the light source holder opposite the surface of the light source holder facing the incidence surface, and wherein the elastic member is formed of thermal conductive material disposed adjacent the light source on a side of the light source opposite the light source holder to conduct heat away from the light source. 17. The scanning module according to claim 10, wherein the light guide is received into the mounting recess in the second direction. 18. An image scanning apparatus, comprising: a scanner module; anda controller configured to control an operation of the scanner module,wherein the scanner module comprises: an illuminator configured to illuminate a light on an object to be scanned; anda sensor configured to detect the light reflected from the object,wherein the illuminator comprises: a light source configured to produce the light;a light guide having an elongated shape with its length extending along a first direction, the light guide being configured to receive the light from the light source, and to change a direction of the received light;a guide holder having formed thereon a mounting recess into which the light guide is received; andat least one supporting protrusion, formed at the guide holder, protruding into the mounting recess in order to support a part of the light guide and restrict movement of the light guide in at least a second direction perpendicular to the first direction,wherein the light guide comprises: an emission face through which the light is emitted from the light guide,a pair of guide faces formed at both longitudinal sides of the light guide, anda reflect face opposite the emission face of the light guide to reflect the light,wherein the at least one supporting protrusion having a plurality of supporting protrusions to support the pair of guide faces and the reflect face respectively. 19. The image scanning apparatus according to claim 18, wherein plurality of supporting protrusions spaced apart from one another, the plurality of supporting protrusions being disposed along the first direction. 20. The image scanning apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the plurality of supporting protrusions include three or more supporting protrusions. 21. The image scanning apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the light guide includes an emission face through which the light is emitted from the light guide, and the at least one supporting protrusion supports a portion of the emission face. 22. The image scanning apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the at least one supporting protrusion is integrally formed with the guide holder. 23. The image scanning apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the light guide comprises an incidence face formed on at least one longitudinal end of the light guide, the light guide receiving the light from the light source through the incident face, the illuminator further comprising: a light source holder to which the light source is mounted, the light source holder having a surface arranged to face the incidence face of the light guide, the surface of the light source holder being configured reflect light incident thereupon. 24. The image scanning apparatus according to claim 23, further comprising: an elastic member disposed to elastically support at least one of longitudinal ends of the light guide in the guide holder. 25. The image scanning apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the light source is mounted to the light source holder opposite the surface of the light source holder facing the incidence surface, and wherein the elastic member is formed of thermal conductive material disposed adjacent the light source on a side of the light source opposite the light source holder to conduct heat away from the light source. 26. The image scanning apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the light guide is received into the mounting recess in the second direction.