Patent ID: 6264303
Filing Date: 2001-07-24
Classification: B41J,G01D

Abstract:
An optical linear encoder comprising:a carriage for a recording scan;a linear scale disposed to permit said carriage to move along the length of said linear scale;a detection unit which is fixed to said carriage and optically detects the position of said carriage by optically detecting said linear scale, said detection unit having a surface on which an optical signal generating element is provided and a surface on which a light-receiving element for receiving light from said optical signal generating element is provided, said surfaces being opposed to each other, and said linear scale being disposed between said opposed surfaces;positioning slide members that slide on said linear scale are arranged on said detection unit; andcleaning members which move together with said carriage, said cleaning members being in sliding contact with said linear scale as said carriage moves along the length of said linear scale, and remove a contaminant on a surface of said linear scale,wherein said cleaning members comprise an elastic material and said cleaning members elastically press said linear scale against said positioning slide members so as to position said linear scale at a predetermined distance from said light-receiving element.