JP2003295082A - Laser light shielding member, deflection scanner, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a laser light shielding member and deflection scanner which are made thinner, and an image forming apparatus using the same. <P>SOLUTION: The laser light shielding member is provided with a laser light opening part 2 which is arranged on the optical path of laser light L0 emitted from a semiconductor laser 11, a spring part 4 having elasticity to separate the laser opening part 2 from the optical path, a laser light shielding part 3 which is arranged in an area of the spring part 4 in the direction in which the spring part 4 separates the laser light opening part 2 from the optical path and shields the laser light L0 when the laser light opening part 2 is separated from the optical path by the spring part 4, and a part 5 pressed against the elasticity of the spring part 4 so that the laser light opening part 2 is positioned on the optical path. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to, for example, a copying machine provided with a function of forming an image on a recording medium such as a sheet.
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a printer or a facsimile machine, and a deflection scanning device provided in these devices, and more particularly, to a laser light shielding member provided in the deflection scanning device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a laser shutter provided in a deflection scanning device is, for example, one shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 of JP-A-4-29168.

This laser shutter is provided so that the optical path of the laser beam can be blocked when the lid of the printer body is opened. And when you open the lid of the printer,
By restricting the movement of the shutter that blocks the optical path of the laser light, the shutter will not move due to vibration or shock, and workability such as maintenance and inspection performed when the lid is opened can be improved. Even when the shutter is closed, by restricting the movement of the shutter that opens the optical path of the laser light, the shutter does not move due to vibration or shock, and the reliability can be improved.

[0004]

However, in the case of the above-mentioned prior art, the following problems have occurred.

7 and 8 are schematic views showing a laser shutter 126 according to the prior art. FIG. 7 shows a state where the lid of the printer main body is open, and FIG. 8 shows a state where it is closed.

As shown in the figure, the laser shutter 126
Is composed of a portion 126c that receives an action from the outside, a laser beam opening 127, a laser beam shield 126e, and a spring 128 that urges the laser shutter 126 in a closing direction. The arrangement is in the order described above. , The lower part. Then, when the lid of the printer body is opened, the spring 128 urges the laser shutter 126 body downward to shield the laser light, and when the lid of the printer body is closed, the stopper 132 on the printer body side. The portion 126c that receives an action from the outside is engaged with the laser shutter 126, and the main body of the laser shutter 126 is pushed upward along the guide 129 to allow the laser light to pass through the laser light opening 127.

Therefore, since this laser shutter has a structure long in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis, the height of this component becomes a problem when designing a thin deflection scanning device, and the deflection scanning device having a height higher than necessary is required. It was.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the thickness of a laser beam shielding member and a deflection scanning device, and an image forming device including the same. To provide a device.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a laser emitted from the light source means is provided in a device having a light source means for emitting a laser beam toward a predetermined surface. In a laser light shielding member capable of shielding light, a laser light passage portion which is provided on an optical path of laser light emitted from the light source means and passes the laser light, and an elasticity which separates the laser light passage portion from the optical path. An elastic portion having a force and the elastic portion are provided in a region where the elastic portion is arranged in a direction of separating the laser light passage portion from the optical path, and the laser light passage portion is provided from the optical path by the elastic portion. When separated from each other, the laser light shielding portion that shields the laser light emitted from the light source means and the laser light passage portion are positioned on the optical path, so as to resist the elastic force of the elastic portion. Characterized in that it and a pressed portion to be pressed.

The laser light passage portion is provided between the elastic portion and the pressed portion, and the laser light shield portion is provided between the laser light passage portion and the elastic portion in the optical path. It is also possible to have a substantially L-shaped section in cross section that extends along the optical path and extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the optical path and in the direction in which the elastic portion is provided, after extending along the elastic path. It is suitable.

A light source unit for emitting a laser beam and a deflection scanning unit for deflecting and scanning the laser beam from the light source unit are provided, and the laser beam deflected and scanned by the deflection scanning unit is condensed on a predetermined surface. In the deflection scanning device, the laser light shielding member according to claim 1 or 2 is provided between the light source means and the deflection means.

The deflection scanning device described above is installed in an external device, and an abutting portion provided in the external device abuts on the pressed portion to cause the laser light shielding member to move to the elastic portion. When pressed against the elastic force of to position the laser light passage portion on the optical path to pass the laser light, when the contact state between the contact portion and the pressed portion is released,
The elastic portion separates the laser light passage portion from the optical path, and the laser light shield portion shields the laser light emitted from the light source means.

The deflection scanning device described above and the laser light emitted from the deflection scanning device are guided to the surface of the corresponding image carrier to scan the image carrier and form the image on the image carrier. And an image forming unit configured to transfer a toner image obtained by developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the transfer material to a transfer material, the first and second casings being provided so as to be relatively openable and closable. In the above, the deflection scanning device is provided in the first housing, and the second housing is brought into contact with the pressed portion when the space between the first and second housings is closed, A contact portion is provided which presses the laser light shielding member against the elastic force of the elastic portion to position the laser light passage portion on the optical path and allows the laser light to pass therethrough. The laser light emitted from the light source means in association with the opening operation between the housings is Characterized in that it is shielded by 蔽部 material.

The deflection scanning device described above and the laser light emitted from the deflection scanning device are guided to the surface of the corresponding image carrier to scan the image carrier and form the image on the image carrier. An image forming device for transferring a toner image obtained by developing the formed electrostatic latent image onto a transfer material, in the installation portion in which the deflection scanning device is installed; An abutting portion that abuts the laser light blocking member against the elastic force of the elastic portion to position the laser light passage portion on the optical path to pass the laser light. The laser light emitted from the light source means is removed by the laser light shield member when the laser light is removed from the installation portion.

[0015]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be illustratively described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, the dimensions of the components described in this embodiment,
The material, the shape, and the relative arrangement of them should be appropriately changed depending on the configuration of the device to which the invention is applied and various conditions, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the following embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a deflection scanning device according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an initial position of a laser shutter as a laser light shielding member according to the present embodiment ( 3A is a front view, FIG. 3B is a side view, FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing a position when the laser shutter according to the present embodiment operates, FIG. 3A is a front view, and FIG.
FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing the laser shutter according to the present embodiment, and FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the image forming apparatus.

First, the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIG.

The image forming apparatus 50 emits a laser beam based on the obtained image information by the deflection scanning device 51, and the laser beam is provided on the photoconductor D0 provided on the rotating drum as an image carrier incorporated in the process cartridge 53. Irradiate with laser.

An image forming operation by the image forming means will be described. A latent image is formed on the photoconductor D0, and the latent image is developed by toner by the process cartridge 53.

On the other hand, the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking plate are fed while being separated one by one by a feeding roller and a separating pad, and further conveyed to the downstream side by each conveying roller, and this is conveyed. On the sheet, the transfer means 54 transfers the development with the toner formed on the photoconductor D0.

Then, the sheet on which the unfixed toner image is formed is further transported to the downstream side, the toner image is fixed by the fixing means 55, and then discharged by the discharging roller to the outside of the apparatus.

Next, the deflection scanning device 5 according to the present embodiment.
1 will be described.

In FIG. 1, in the state where the laser light passes, the laser light L0 generated from the semiconductor laser 11 as the light source means is collimated by the collimator lens 11a and is condensed into a linear light flux by the cylindrical lens 12. The rotary polygon mirror 13 as the deflection scanning means
Incident on the reflective surface of.

The reflected light is deflected and scanned by the rotation of the rotary polygon mirror 13 to become scanning light, which passes through the imaging lens system 14 and forms an image on the photoconductor D0 (predetermined surface) on the rotating drum.

The light beam imaged on the photoconductor D0 forms an electrostatic latent image in accordance with the main scanning by the rotation of the rotary polygon mirror 13 and the sub-scanning by the rotation of the rotating drum on which the photoconductor D0 is provided.

The scanning light from the rotary polygon mirror 13 reaches the one end of the scanning surface, is reflected by the BD mirror 15, is introduced into the BD sensor 16b through the condenser lens 16a, and starts scanning in a processing circuit (not shown). It is converted into a signal and transmitted to the semiconductor laser 11. Semiconductor laser 11
After receiving the scanning start signal, starts writing modulation based on image information transmitted from a host computer (not shown).

The semiconductor laser 11, the cylindrical lens 12, the rotary polygon mirror 13, the imaging lens 14, etc. are attached to the side wall and the bottom wall of an optical box 17 made of synthetic resin.

The photoconductor D0 (that is, the rotary drum) is arranged outside the optical box 17, and a window for taking out the scanning light from the optical box 17 toward the rotary drum D0 is provided at one end of the optical box 17. It is provided.

The image forming lens system 14 is composed of two toric lenses 14a and 14b, and scans light scanned by the rotary polygon mirror 13 at a constant angular velocity on the photoconductor D0.
It has a so-called Fθ function of converting into scanning light which scans at a constant speed in the main scanning direction.

The upward opening of the optical box 17 is the optical box 17
The rotating polygon mirror 13, the imaging lens system 14, the BD mirror 1
After assembling 5, etc., it is closed by the lid member.

A motor 13 for rotationally driving the rotary polygon mirror 13.
The symbol a is composed of a drive IC mounted on the motor board 13b, a stator excited by a drive current supplied from the drive IC, and a magnetic circuit including a rotor facing the stator.

Although the laser shutter 1 is arranged between the collimator lens 11a and the cylindrical lens 12 in FIG. 1, it may be arranged anywhere between the semiconductor laser 11 and the rotary polygon mirror 13.

Next, the structure of the laser shutter 1 as the laser light shielding member according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

The laser shutter 1 includes a portion 5 which is externally actuated to operate the laser shutter 1, a laser light opening 2 as a laser light passage portion for passing the laser light, and a laser light which shields the laser light. The shielding part 3 and the spring part 4 as an elastic part for urging the laser shutter 1 in the closing direction are molded members and are integrally molded,
The portion 5 to be pressed from the outside as the pressed portion 5, the laser light opening 2 for passing the laser light, and the spring portion 4 for urging the laser shutter in the closing direction are moved from the lower side to the upper side in the order described above. It is arranged toward.

The laser light shielding portion 3 is an extension portion 3a provided in the shutter body in the depth direction (optical axis (optical path) direction) from above the laser light opening portion 2 for passing the laser light. , A shield portion 3b extending in a direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis direction from the extending portion 3a and in a direction in which the spring portion 4 is provided, and has a substantially L-shaped section.

The shield portion 3b is set to a height lower than the natural length of the spring portion 4 and within the elastic deformation area of the spring portion 4 (in the area where the elastically deformed spring portion 4 is located in the direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis direction). ) Is provided so as to be arranged on the optical axis when the laser shutter 1 is closed, and shields the laser light L0.

The laser shutter 1 is housed in the optical box 17, and the upper part of the laser shutter 1 is located in the optical box 17.
The lid member 18 is closed.

With this arrangement, if the external action for operating the laser shutter 1 acts on the portion 5 that receives the external action, the laser light shielding portion 3 moves upward and the laser light is emitted. The laser beam opening 2 for passing the laser beam is located on the optical axis, and the laser beam L0 passes through the laser beam opening 2.

Here, the external action received by the portion 5 which receives the action from the outside in the laser shutter 1 means that the deflection scanning device 51 is installed in the installation portion in the image forming apparatus 50 shown in FIG. The force received by the portion 5 that receives an action from the outside is brought into contact with a frame body (main body cover) of the image forming apparatus 50 or an abutting portion of an apparatus (for example, a toner cartridge) that constitutes the image forming apparatus 50.
When the deflection scanning device 51 is installed in the installation part in the image forming apparatus 50, the site 5 receiving an external action abuts against the abutting part and is pressed to resist the elastic force of the spring part 4 so that the laser beam is applied. The main body of the shutter 1 is pushed up to position the laser beam opening 2 on the optical axis and allow the laser beam L0 to pass therethrough.

When the laser shutter 1 is detached from the installation portion, the contact state between the portion 5 receiving the action from the outside and the contact portion is released, and the elastic force of the spring portion 4 pushes down the laser shutter 1 main body. As a result, the laser light shield 3 is positioned on the optical axis, and the laser light is shielded.

When the rotary scanning shaft 52 is provided and the deflection scanning device 51 is included in the opening / closing unit as the first housing as shown in FIG. 6, the laser shutter 1 receives an action from the outside. The external action received by the portion 5 means that the portion 5 receiving the external action constitutes the frame body of the image forming apparatus 50 as the second housing or the image forming apparatus 50 in accordance with the operation of closing the opening / closing unit. This is the force received by abutting the abutting portion of the device. In a state where the first and second casings are closed, the portion 5 that receives an action from the outside abuts against the abutting portion and is pressed, so that the spring portion 4 is pressed.
Push up the laser shutter 1 body against the elastic force of
The laser light opening 2 is positioned on the optical axis to allow the laser light L0 to pass therethrough.

When the first housing is opened, the contact state between the portion 5 receiving the action from the outside and the contact portion is released, and the elastic force of the spring portion 4 pushes down the laser shutter 1 main body. As a result, the laser light shielding portion 3 is positioned on the optical axis, and the laser light is shielded.

Therefore, at the time of work such as maintenance and inspection, the optical path of the laser beam can be surely shielded, and the movement of the shutter is restricted by the spring portion 4, so that the shutter does not move due to vibration or impact, Workability can be improved. Even when the shutter opens the optical path of the laser light, the movement of the shutter is restricted, so that the shutter does not move due to vibration or shock, and the reliability is improved.

In the present embodiment, the laser light shielding portion 3 is elastically deformed in the spring portion 4 in a direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis or in a direction in which the laser light opening 2 is separated from the optical axis. By being provided inside, the height of the laser shutter 1 (in the direction substantially orthogonal to the optical axis) is the portion 5 that receives an action from the outside, the laser light opening 2 for passing the laser light, and Since it can be determined by the spring portion 4 that biases the laser shutter 1 in the closing direction, it can be designed to be lower by the height of the laser light shielding portion 13 compared to the conventional laser shutter. The deflection scanning device can be thinned, and the image forming device can be downsized.

In the present embodiment, the portion 5, the laser beam opening 2, and the spring 4 which are acted on from the outside are arranged in order from the lower side to the upper side in order to operate the laser shutter 1. If the external action of the laser acts on the site 5 that receives the external action, the laser light shielding unit 3
Moves upward and the laser beam opening 2 for passing the laser beam is located on the optical axis so that the laser beam L0 passes through the laser beam opening 2. However, the action from the outside It suffices that the receiving portion 5, the laser beam opening 2, and the spring portion 4 are arranged in order, and when an action from the outside acts on the portion 5 that receives the action from the outside, the portion 5
Is pressed against the elastic force of the spring portion 4, and the laser light shielding portion 3 moves in a direction in which an external action is exerted (a direction in which the biasing force of the spring portion 4 acts) to pass the laser light. The laser beam opening 2 for the purpose is located on the optical axis, the laser beam L0 may pass through the laser beam opening 2, and the installation direction of the laser shutter 1 may be appropriately determined according to the specifications of the apparatus.

Further, in the present embodiment, the laser shutter 1 is integrally molded by the molding member, but the invention is not limited to this, and for example, a coil spring or a leaf spring may be used with the elastic portion as a separate body. .

[0047]

As described above, according to the present invention,
It can be designed to be as low as the height of the laser beam shield,
It is possible to reduce the thickness of the laser shutter and the deflection scanning device.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a deflection scanning device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an initial position of the laser shutter according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a position when the laser shutter according to the present embodiment operates.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing a laser shutter according to the present embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a laser shutter according to a conventional technique.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view showing a laser shutter according to a conventional technique.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Laser Shutter 2 Laser Light Aperture 3 Laser Light Shield 4 Spring 5 Receiving External Action for Activating Laser Shutter 11 Semiconductor Laser 11a Collimator Lens 12 Cylindrical Lens 13 Rotating Polyhedral Mirror 14 Imaging Lens System 15 BD Mirror 16a Condensing lens 16b BD sensor 17 Optical box 18 Lid member 50 Image forming device 51 Deflection scanning device B0 Photoconductor L0 Laser light

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    F-term (reference) 2C362 EA12                 2H045 DA02 DA41                 2H076 AB02 AB81                 5C051 AA02 CA07 DB22 DB24 DB26                 5C072 AA03 DA02 DA04 DA15 HA02                       HA13 HB04 XA05

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A laser beam blocking member provided in a device having a light source unit for emitting a laser beam toward a predetermined surface and capable of blocking the laser beam emitted from the light source unit, the laser beam being emitted from the light source unit. A laser light passage portion provided on the optical path of the laser light for passing the laser light, an elastic portion having an elastic force for separating the laser light passage portion from the optical path, and the elastic portion for the laser light passage portion. It is provided in a region where the elastic portion is arranged in the direction of separating from the optical path, and shields the laser light emitted from the light source means when the elastic light portion separates the laser light passage portion from the optical path. A laser light shielding portion; and a pressed portion that is pressed against the elastic force of the elastic portion so that the laser light passage portion is located on the optical path.蔽部 material. 2. The laser light passage portion is provided between the elastic portion and the pressed portion, and the laser light shield portion is provided between the laser light passage portion and the elastic portion. After extending along the optical path, it has a substantially L-shaped section in cross section that extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the optical path and in a direction in which the elastic portion is provided, by extending less than the natural length of the elastic portion. The laser light shielding member according to claim 1, wherein 3. A light source means for emitting a laser beam, and a deflection scanning means for deflecting and scanning the laser beam from the light source means. The laser beam deflected and scanned by the deflection scanning means is collected on a predetermined surface. 3. A deflection scanning device for causing light to be emitted, wherein the laser beam shielding member according to claim 1 or 2 is provided between the light source means and the deflection means. 4. The deflection scanning device according to claim 3, wherein the deflection scanning device is installed in an external device, and an abutting portion provided in the external device abuts on the pressed portion to cause the laser light shield. The member is pressed against the elastic force of the elastic portion to position the laser light passage portion on the optical path to pass the laser light, and the contact state between the contact portion and the pressed portion is released. In this case, the deflection scanning device is characterized in that the elastic portion separates the laser light passage portion from the optical path so that the laser light emitted from the light source means is shielded by the laser light shield portion. 5. The deflection scanning device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the laser light emitted from the deflection scanning device is guided to the surface of each corresponding image carrier to scan the image carrier. Image forming means for transferring a toner image obtained by developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier to a transfer material, and the first and second casings can be opened and closed relatively. The deflection scanning device is provided in the first housing, and the second housing is provided in the image forming apparatus when the space between the first and second housings is closed. An abutting portion is provided that abuts on the pressing portion and presses the laser light blocking member against the elastic force of the elastic portion to position the laser light passage portion on the optical path and pass the laser light. The laser emitted from the light source means in association with the opening operation between the first and second casings. The image forming apparatus light, characterized in that it is shielded by the laser light blocking member. 6. The deflection scanning device according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the laser light emitted from the deflection scanning device is guided to the surface of the corresponding image carrier to scan the image carrier. An image forming apparatus including: an image forming unit configured to transfer a toner image obtained by developing an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier to a transfer material, wherein the deflection scanning device is installed. The laser light shielding member is pressed against the pressed portion against the elastic force of the elastic portion to position the laser light passage portion on the optical path and allow the laser light to pass therethrough. An image forming apparatus, wherein a contact portion is provided, and the laser light emitted from the light source means is shielded by the laser light shielding member when the contact portion is removed from the installation portion.