Apparatus for driving optical system for exposure of a copying machine

Claim 1

In a photocopying machine having an optical system for optically scanning a document to be copied, and a driving force transmitting means for driving said optical system in forward and backward directions for the purpose of scanning of the document to be copied, said driving force transmitting means comprising: a driving motor; a rotatable driving force transmitting member coupled to said optical system for driving said optical system in said forward and backward directions; a first driving system coupled between said motor and said driving force transmitting member for transmitting forward rotational movement to said driving force transmitting member; a second driving system coupled between said motor and said driving force transmitting member for transmitting reverse rotational movement to said driving force transmitting member; said first driving system including a first spring clutch for transmitting forward rotational movement to said driving force transmitting member in response to engagement of said first spring clutch; said second driving system including a second spring clutch for transmitting reverse rotational movement to said driving force transmitting member in response to engagement of said second spring clutch; an actuating lever having a first engaging member, said actuating lever being selectively movable to a first position at which said first engaging member engages said first spring clutch to cause said first spring clutch to engage to thereby rotate said driving force transmitting member in said forward direction; spring means coupled to said actuating lever for biasing said actuating lever toward said first position to urge said engaging member toward said first clutch engaging position; a cam member coupled to said driving force transmitting member and rotatable in correspondence with said driving force transmitting member, said cam member including a cam means for moving said actuating lever from said first position thereof where said actuating lever causes said first spring clutch to engage to cause said driving force transmitting member to rotate in said forward direction, to a second position thereof where said engaging member of said actuating lever releases engagement of said first spring clutch, thereby causing said driving force transmitting member to stop rotating and to stop movement of said optical system and actuating means coupled to said actuating lever for causing said first engaging member of said actuating lever to engage with said second spring clutch of said second driving system to cause said second driving system to transmit reverse rotational movement to said driving force transmitting member to thereby move said optical system in said backward direction toward its original position.