US5235348A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Led exposure head
Assignee: Agfa Gevaert NV
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Filing: 1991-06-28
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Granted: 1993-08-10
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Expires: 2011-06-28
Abstract
Abstract A housing for a light emitting diode recording head used for linewise recording information on a photoreceptor in a recording apparatus is constituted by elongated extrusion molded base and cover sections held together in a unitary structure by injection molded and closure members. The cover section has opposed inclined side walls engaged at their diverging margins on the base section and defining at their converging margins an elongated slot for receiving the lens array of the head. Preferably, the cover section is formed of two identical subsections with their converging margins held apart by an inner leg on each end member to define said slot. The end members and/or the ends of the base section can carry projections to facilitate accurate mounting of the head in the apparatus. The inner surfaces of the cover section can be contoured to provide sealing surfaces for cooperation with a sealing bead of resilient material surrounding the electrical components within the head.
Inventors
- 👤 Kris P. Avonts
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 00:31
CPC Classifications
B; B41; B41J; B41J2/00; B41J2/435; B41J2/447; B41J2/45
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
346 words
A light emitting diode exposure head for linewise recording information on a moving photoreceptor in a recording apparatus including at least one supporting wall for said head, said exposure head comprising a) a generally linearly aligned assembly of a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged in side-by-side relation on a common support and b) an elongated lens array parallel to said diode assembly, both of said assembly and said lens array being housed with c) a protective housing with the lens array exposed through the housing, said housing comprising an elongated extrusion molded generally planar base section on which said common support of said diode assembly is affixed, said base section being generally rectangular with opposite generally parallel side faces and opposite ends situated beyond ends of said diode assembly, a lengthwise elongated extrusion molded cover for said base section, said cover comprising a pair of opposed side walls extending lengthwise of said base section, said side walls each having first and second margins extending lengthwise in spaced apart generally parallel relation, the first margins of said side walls being each seated on a side face of said base section and the second margins of said sidewall being disposed in proximate spaced parallel relation to each other to define therebetween an elongated slot for receiving said lens array in general alignment with said diode assembly, said side walls between said first and second margins extending in inclined relation to said side faces of said base section and in converging relation to each other, whereby said cover has a generally truncated triangular cross-sectional configuration, said side walls terminating in opposite end edges generally adjacent to said opposite end of said base section, and injection molded end closure members anchored to the ends of said base section and the end edges of said cover side walls to hold the base section and the side walls into a unitary structure, and means at at least one of the ends of said base section for attaching the exposure head in recording position to a supporting wall of the recording apparatus.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
346 words
A light emitting diode exposure head for linewise recording information on a moving photoreceptor in a recording apparatus including at least one supporting wall for said head, said exposure head comprising a) a generally linearly aligned assembly of a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged in side-by-side relation on a common support and b) an elongated lens array parallel to said diode assembly, both of said assembly and said lens array being housed with c) a protective housing with the lens array exposed through the housing, said housing comprising an elongated extrusion molded generally planar base section on which said common support of said diode assembly is affixed, said base section being generally rectangular with opposite generally parallel side faces and opposite ends situated beyond ends of said diode assembly, a lengthwise elongated extrusion molded cover for said base section, said cover comprising a pair of opposed side walls extending lengthwise of said base section, said side walls each having first and second margins extending lengthwise in spaced apart generally parallel relation, the first margins of said side walls being each seated on a side face of said base section and the second margins of said sidewall being disposed in proximate spaced parallel relation to each other to define therebetween an elongated slot for receiving said lens array in general alignment with said diode assembly, said side walls between said first and second margins extending in inclined relation to said side faces of said base section and in converging relation to each other, whereby said cover has a generally truncated triangular cross-sectional configuration, said side walls terminating in opposite end edges generally adjacent to said opposite end of said base section, and injection molded end closure members anchored to the ends of said base section and the end edges of said cover side walls to hold the base section and the side walls into a unitary structure, and means at at least one of the ends of said base section for attaching the exposure head in recording position to a supporting wall of the recording apparatus.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
An exposure head according to claim 1 wherein the length of said cover is less than the length of said base section, and each of said end closure members have lugs thereon projecting away from said base section for attachment of the end closure members to said base section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
An exposure had according to claim 1 wherein each of said end closure members includes a protuberance projecting away from said base section beyond said second margins of said cover side walls thereby to form a protection for the lens array received within said elongated slot defined by said second margins of said side walls.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
An exposure head according to claim 1 wherein each of said side walls of the cover has a shoulder extending from a surface thereof facing said diode assembly that is generally parallel with a surface of the base section facing said cover.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An exposure head according to claim 1 wherein said common support for the diode assembly is a bar of thermally and electrically conductive material with a rectangular cross-section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
An exposure head according to claim 1 wherein said base section carries on each of two opposite sides of said common support for the diode assembly a circuit board supporting an array of electronic circuit components associated with said diodes, and a bead of resilient sealing material is disposed between each said circuit board and a surface of each of said side walls of said cover facing said assembly of diodes to form a seal therebetween.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
78 words
An exposure head according to claim 1, wherein said base section has on a side thereof facing said cover a plurality of ribs extending substantially the length of said base section, an interior pair of said ribs defining a channel for receiving the common support for said diode assembly, and one of said ribs being situated adjacent each of the side faces of the base section for seating of the first margins of sides walls of said cover.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
An exposure head according to claim 7 wherein said common support for said diode assembly is a bar of electrically and thermally conductive material which is secured to said base section by a thermally conductive adhesive.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
An exposure head according to claim 8 wherein printed circuit strips cooperating with said diodes are arranged on said ribs, and an exposed surface of said bar and on exposed surface of said printed circuit strips lie in different planes.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
An exposure head according to claim 7 wherein said base section is provided with an opening adjacent at least one of said opposite ends of said base section for the passage of electrical connectors into the head, and the base section has on surface thereof facing away from said cover a plurality of longitudinal cooling fins which terminate short of each said opening.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
72 words
An exposure head according to claim 1 wherein at least said one supporting wall of said recording apparatus has a mounting block thereon provided with guide surfaces and at least one of said end closure members has parallel guide tongues projecting therefrom for cooperating engagement with said guide surfaces to guide said recording head for displacement relative to said supporting wall in a direction perpendicular to the plane of said base section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
146 words
An exposure head according to claim 11 wherein said means at at least said one end of said base section for attaching the exposure head to said supporting wall of said recording apparatus comprises an extension projecting from one of said base section opposite ends away from said cover beyond one of said end closure members at said one of said opposite ends wherein said extension is adjustably connected to said mounting block on said supporting wall by an adjustment screw passing through said extension generally perpendicular of the plane of said base section and having a head abutting a surface of said extension and an end opposite said screw head in threadwise engagement with said mounting block, and compression spring means between said base section extension and said mounting block for urging said extension and said block apart in a direction of the screw axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
An exposure head according to claim 1 wherein each of said end closure members has a tongue projecting therefrom between said second margins of the cover side walls adjacent the end edges of said side walls for determining a spacing between the second margins of said side walls and thereby fix a width of the slot defined by said second margins.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-08-09 | 1997-02-08 | 1997-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-08-09 | 2001-02-08 | 2001-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-08-09 | 2005-02-08 | 2005-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |