Joint structure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10852503-B2
Application number	US-201916356586-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 18, 2019
Priority date	Mar 20, 2018
Publication date	Dec 1, 2020
Grant date	Dec 1, 2020

Abstract

A joint structure includes: a plurality of holes open to opposing surfaces of two members that oppose to each other, the holes each being filled with a fluid or powder filler (U) in a state where the holes communicate with each other, such that the two members are relatively fixed by the filler. The holes of the two members each have an inner surface that is wider in cross-sectional direction at a location distant from openings of the holes than at a location close to the openings.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A joint structure, comprising:
a plurality of holes open to opposing surfaces of two frames that oppose each other, wherein
each hole of the plurality of holes is filled with a filler in a state that the plurality of holes communicate with each other and the two frames are fixed by the filler,
each hole of the plurality of holes has an inner surface that is wider in a cross-sectional direction at a location distant from an opening of the hole than at a location close to the opening,
at least one frame of the two frames supports an optical system, and
a direction of positioning of the optical system is a direction perpendicular to an optical axis that passes through the optical system.

2. The joint structure according to claim 1 , wherein the filler is an adhesive.

3. The joint structure according to claim 1 , wherein each hole of the plurality of holes has a retaining surface that faces opposite to the opposing surfaces, and the retaining surface has an inclined shape in which the inner surface of the hole becomes wider in the cross-sectional direction toward a direction away from the opposing surfaces.

4. The joint structure according to claim 3 , wherein the retaining surface is a plane that faces the direction opposite to the opposing surfaces.

5. The joint structure according to claim 1 , wherein positions of the two frames are adjustable in a direction along the opposing surface before being joined by the filler.

6. The joint structure according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of holes have openings that are different in size from each other on the opposing surfaces.

7. The joint structure according to claim 1 , wherein the plurality of holes are elongated holes.

8. An apparatus, comprising:
the joint structure according to claim 1 ; and
the two frames.

9. An apparatus, comprising:
two frames that oppose each other; and
a plurality of holes open to opposing surfaces of the two frames, wherein
each hole of the plurality of holes is filled with a filler in a state that the plurality of holes communicate with each other and the two frames are fixed by the filler,
each hole of the plurality of holes has a retaining surface that faces opposite to the opposing surfaces, and
in a case that force for separating the opposing surfaces from each other is applied between the two frames, a relative movement of the two frames is restricted by a contact between the filler and the retaining surfaces of the plurality of holes.

10. The joint structure according to claim 1 , wherein the optical system includes a lens.

11. The joint structure according to claim 1 , wherein
one frame of the two frames supports the optical system and another frame of the two frames supports another optical system, and
a direction of positioning of the optical system and the another optical system is a direction perpendicular to an optical axis that passes through the optical system and the another optical system.

12. The joint structure according to claim 1 , wherein the filler is a fluid.

13. The joint structure according to claim 1 , wherein the filler is a powder.

14. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the filler is an adhesive.

15. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein in each hole of the plurality of holes, the retaining surface has an inclined shape in which an inner surface of the hole becomes wider in the cross-sectional direction toward a direction away from the opposing surfaces.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15 , wherein the retaining surface is a plane that faces the direction opposite to the opposing surfaces.

17. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein positions of the two frames are adjustable in a direction along the opposing surface before being joined by the filler.

18. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the plurality of holes have openings that are different in size from each other on the opposing surfaces.

19. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the plurality of holes are elongated holes.

20. An apparatus, comprising:
a first frame having a first surface;
a second frame having a second surface, the first frame opposing the second frame such that the first surface opposes the first surface; and
a plurality of holes open to the first surface and the second surface, wherein
each hole of the plurality of holes is filled with a filler in a state that the plurality of holes communicate with each other and the first frame and the second frame are fixed by the filler, and
each hole of the plurality of holes has an inner surface that is wider in a cross-sectional direction at a location distant from an opening of the hole than at a location close to the opening.

Assignees

• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Toriumi Yuji
• Iikawa Makoto
• Fujiya Takaaki
• Satoh Hiroyuki

Classifications

• H04N23/55

  Optical parts specially adapted for electronic image sensors; Mounting thereof · CPC title

• F16B3/005

  the key being formed by solidification of injected material (joining of preformed parts by applying molten plastics B29C65/40; non-disconnectible pipe joints obtained using a hardenable filler F16L13/11) · CPC title

• F16B19/02

  Bolts or sleeves for positioning of machine parts, e.g. notched taper pins, fitting pins, sleeves, eccentric positioning rings · CPC title

• G02B7/004

  Manual alignment, e.g. micromanipulators · CPC title

• F16B11/006

  by gluing (gluing of plastics material B29C65/48) · CPC title