Optical scanner and image forming apparatus including same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9261698-B2
Application number	US-201213601249-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 31, 2012
Priority date	Oct 26, 2011
Publication date	Feb 16, 2016
Grant date	Feb 16, 2016

Abstract

An optical scanner includes a light source for projecting a light beam against a target, a deflector for deflecting the light beam, a coupling lens, an optical element, a light source support member, and a housing. The coupling lens directs the light beam to the deflector. The optical element focuses the light beam deflected by the deflector into a desired shape. The light source support member supports the light source. The housing houses the light source supported by the light source support member, the deflector, and the optical elements. The housing includes at least two coupling lens mounts on which the coupling lens is fixed on an optical path between the light source and the target, and accommodates multiple light source support members. The coupling lens is fixed to the coupling lens mount using an adhesive agent after an optical axis of the light beam is aligned.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An optical scanner, comprising
a light source configured to project a light beam against a target;
a deflector configured to deflect the light beam projected from the light source;
a coupling lens configured to direct the light beam projected from the light source to the deflector;
an optical element configured to focus the light beam deflected by the deflector into a desired shape;
a light source support member configured to support the light source; and
a housing configured to house the light source supported by the light source support member, the deflector, and the optical element, the housing including at least two coupling lens mounts on which the coupling lens is fixable, the at least two coupling lens mounts being i) arranged on and extending parallel to a bottom surface of the housing, and ii) spaced apart from one another along a same direction as an optical axis of the light beam traveling between the light source and the target such that the light beam travels over the at least two coupling lens mounts, and,
wherein the light source is one of a plurality of light sources in the housing, the housing is configured to accommodate multiple light source support members that allow for the plurality of light sources to be arranged in a direction that is perpendicular to the optical axis of the light beam, and the coupling lens is fixable to one of the at least two coupling lens mounts using an adhesive agent after the optical axis of the light beam is aligned.

2. The optical scanner according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling lens is fixed to the one of the at least two coupling lens mounts using an ultraviolet curable adhesive agent.

3. The optical scanner according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling lens mounts are formed substantially in the shape of circular arc in cross section having different diameters.

4. The optical scanner according to claim 1 , wherein the coupling lens mounts have different lengths in the optical axis direction, and the length of the coupling lens mount disposed proximal to the light source is less than the length of the coupling lens mount disposed distal to the light source.

5. The optical scanner according to claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises a light source mount including a positioning portion formed substantially in the shape of circular arc in cross section to position the light source in place in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis, and the diameter of the positioning portion is larger than an outer diameter of the light source in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis.

6. The optical scanner according to claim 5 , wherein the light source mount includes a contact surface that contacts a light projecting surface of the light source in the direction of the optical axis of the light source, and the light source contacting the contact surface is pressed against the contact surface by the light source support member and fixed to the light source mount.

7. The optical scanner according to claim 5 , wherein the positioning portion includes a guide member on the circumference of the arc of the positioning portion, the guide member extending in the direction of the optical axis at the side opposite the light projection side of the light source,
wherein the guide member guides the side portion of the light source pressed by the light source support member to position the light source in place in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis upon installation of the light source on the positioning portion.

8. The optical scanner according to claim 7 , wherein the positioning portion includes at least two guide members disposed facing each other on the circumference of the arc of the positioning portion with the center of the arc of the circle interposed therebetween.

9. An image forming apparatus, comprising:
a latent image bearing member configured to bear an electrostatic latent image on a surface thereof;
the optical scanner of claim 1 configured to write the electrostatic latent image on the latent image bearing member;
a developing device configured to develop the electrostatic latent image with toner to form a toner image; and
a transfer device configured to transfer the toner image on a recording medium.

10. An optical scanner, comprising:
a light source configured to project a light beam against a target;
a coupling lens configured to direct the light beam projected from the light source to a deflector;
a housing configured to house the deflector and the light source supported by a light source support member, the housing including at least two coupling lens mounts on which the coupling lens is fixable, the at least two coupling lens mounts being arranged on and extending parallel to a bottom surface of the housing, and spaced apart from one another along a same direction as an optical axis of the light beam traveling between the light source and the target such that the light beam travels over the at least two coupling lens mounts, and,
wherein the coupling lens is fixable to one of the at least two coupling lens mounts using an adhesive agent after the optical axis of the light beam is aligned.

11. The optical scanner of claim 10 , wherein the light source is included in a plurality of light sources, the housing is configured to accommodate multiple light source support members that allow for the plurality of light sources to be arranged in a direction that is perpendicular to the optical axis of the light beam, and the coupling lens is fixed to the one of the at least two coupling lens mounts based on a focal length of the coupling lens.

Assignees

• Watanabe Kazunori
• Serizawa Keiichi
• Johno Hiroshi
• Ricoh Co Ltd

Inventors

• Watanabe Kazunori
• Serizawa Keiichi
• Johno Hiroshi

Classifications

• G02B26/123

  Multibeam scanners, e.g. using multiple light sources or beam splitters · CPC title

• B41J2/473

  using multiple light beams, wavelengths or colours · CPC title

• G02B26/124 Primary

  Details of the optical system between the light source and the polygonal mirror (G02B26/123, G02B26/127 take precedence) · CPC title

• B41J2/442

  using lasers · CPC title

• G02B26/121 Primary

  Mechanical drive devices for polygonal mirrors · CPC title