JP3493848B2 - Optical scanning device - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an output device such as a printer which prints out information based on information sent from the outside, and deflects and scans a light beam such as a laser beam based on the information. The present invention relates to an optical scanning device for irradiating a recording medium such as a photoconductor to record the above information.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a printer such as a laser printer for printing out information based on information such as image information sent from a computer or the like, one semiconductor laser is based on information from the outside. The light beam from is modulated and deflected and scanned to irradiate the photoconductor, the image corresponding to the above information is recorded on the photoconductor, and the photoconductor is precharged to the opposite polarity to the photoconductor. Then, the toner corresponding to the print color of the print output is brought into contact with the toner to attach the toner to the portion where the image information is recorded, and the toner is transferred onto a predetermined paper to obtain the print output corresponding to the above information. At this time, when deflecting the light beam from the semiconductor laser, a sine wave oscillating element such as a galvanometer mirror,
A rotary deflection element such as a polygon mirror has been used.

Here, in order to speed up the print output operation, it is essential to speed up the scanning of the photosensitive member. For this purpose, the sine wave oscillating speed and the sine wave oscillating speed in the sine wave oscillating element are required. It is necessary to increase the rotation speed of the rotary deflection element. However, there is a mechanical problem of the sine wave oscillating element or the rotary deflection element (more specifically, the strength of the member that supports the oscillation of the sine wave oscillating element or the upper limit of the rotation speed of the motor that rotates the rotary deflection element. There is a problem in that there is a limit to the speedup of each, depending on the value).

Therefore, in order to solve this problem, a plurality of light sources are used. More specifically,
For example, using two semiconductor lasers with the same oscillation wavelength,
By deflecting scanning so that the irradiation position of the light beam from each semiconductor laser on the photoconductor is shifted in the direction perpendicular to the scanning direction by a predetermined distance, two scanning lines on the photoconductor are scanned at one time. The scanning speed has been doubled without increasing the sine wave oscillating speed of the sine wave oscillating element or the rotating speed of the rotary deflecting element.

[0005]

However, when the scanning speed is increased by using the above-mentioned two semiconductor lasers, the two semiconductor lasers are separately fixed to the frame of the optical scanning device in the printer. It had been.

By the way, in recent years, in order to reduce the price and weight of a printer, the above-mentioned housing is made up of 50% glass fiber.
It is generally performed by using a plastic resin such as a contained polycarbonate.

Here, a printer or the like usually includes many constituent members, such as a fixing device, which become hot during its operation. Therefore, the high temperature member may deform the plastic resin casing. At this time, in the conventional case, since the respective semiconductor lasers were separately fixed to the housing as described above, the positional deviation between the semiconductor lasers due to the deformation of the housing from the position after the position adjustment of the semiconductor lasers at the time of manufacturing. There was a problem that was generated. This means that the positional relationship of the optical axes of the respective light beams deviates, and in the above-described operation of scanning two scanning lines at a time, the respective scanning positions will deviate over time. As a result, the image becomes misaligned on the printed output. This displacement of the image causes, for example, an image that should originally be one straight line to become zigzag.

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its problem is that an optical scanning device such as a printer having a housing made of plastic resin is deformed due to heat or the like. Even so, it is an object of the present invention to provide an optical scanning device in which the positional relationship of the optical axes of a plurality of semiconductor lasers does not shift.

[0009]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 1 provides a plurality of light sources, such as semiconductor lasers, which emit light beams such as laser beams, and the plurality of light sources. And a holder member such as a lens holder integrally formed of metal, deflection scanning means for deflecting and scanning the light beam, and a tree member for holding the holder member.
Comprising a housing made of fat, wherein the <br/> light beams emitted from a plurality of light sources is not suited to substantially the same position of the deflection scanning means, and, after the deflection scan of each of the light beams The holder member tilts the plurality of light sources so that the optical axes are different from each other.
It is arranged and configured to hold at an angle .

According to the operation of the invention described in claim 1, the plurality of light sources are held by the holder member integrally formed of metal , and emit the light beams respectively. Then, the deflection scanning means respectively deflects and scans the light beams. Furthermore, the holder part
The material is held in a resin case.

[0011] At this time, <br/> light beam emitted from the plurality of light sources is not suited to substantially the same position of the deflection scanning means, and,
The holder member holds a plurality of light sources at a tilt angle so that the optical axes of the respective light beams after the deflection scanning are different from each other .
It is arranged that.

Therefore, even if the resin housing for holding the holder member is deformed due to aging or the like, the positional relationship between the plurality of light sources does not shift, and the positions between the optical axes of the plurality of light beams are not changed. Since the relationship does not change, the positional relationship does not change with respect to the optical axis of the light beam emitted from the deflection scanning means after the deflection scanning.

Further, since the plurality of light sources are arranged so that the optical axes of the light beams emitted from the deflection scanning means after being deflected and scanned are arranged, the same number of scanning as the number of the light sources is scanned on the irradiation object. You can scan the lines at once,
The scanning speed can be increased. Furthermore, the holder part
The material is a holder member integrated by metal
Therefore, even if the housing is deformed due to aging etc.
The positional relationship between the
The positional relationship between the respective optical axes does not change.

[0014]

[0015]

[0016]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 2 is the optical scanning device according to claim 1 , wherein the deflection scanning means includes an optical axis of the light beam and a scanning direction in the deflection scanning. It is configured to be an optical deflection element such as a sine wave oscillating element that oscillates a sine wave periodically about a rotation axis perpendicular to the.

According to the operation of the invention described in claim 2 , in addition to the operation of the invention described in claim 1 , the deflection scanning means includes:
It is an optical deflecting element which periodically sine wave-oscillates about an optical axis of the light beam and a rotation axis perpendicular to the scanning direction in deflection scanning.

Therefore, the deflection scanning means can be downsized, and the entire optical scanning device can be downsized. In order to solve the above problems, the invention according to claim 3 is the optical scanning device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the deflection scanning means has a polygonal surface having a rotation surface parallel to the scanning direction in the deflection scanning. Configured to be a mirror.

According to the operation of the invention described in claim 3 , in addition to the operation of the invention described in claim 1 or 2, the deflection scanning means has a polygon mirror having a rotating surface parallel to the scanning direction in the deflection scanning. It is said that

Therefore, the deflection scanning means is simplified, and
The cost can be reduced .

[0022]

[0023]

[0024]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention according to claim 4 is the optical scanning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the light source emits the light beam from a semiconductor. A light emitting element such as a laser and a moving unit such as a screw for moving the position of the light emitting element with respect to the holder member are provided.

According to the operation of the invention described in claim 4 , in addition to the operation of the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 3 , the moving means includes the position of the light emitting element included in each light source. Is movable with respect to the holder member.

Therefore, the positional relationship between the optical axes of the plurality of light beams can be easily adjusted.

[0028]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Next, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. (I) First Embodiment First, a first embodiment corresponding to the invention described in claims 1 to 3 and 5 to 7 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5.

First, the structure of an optical scanning device of a printer as a first embodiment to which the invention described in claims 1 to 3 and 5 to 7 is applied will be described with reference to FIG. It should be noted that FIG. 1 relates to an image recording system in a printer or the like for recording a print output corresponding to the information on a photoconductor based on information such as image information output from a computer or the like. 7 shows an embodiment to which the invention described in 7 is applied.

As shown in FIG. 1, the optical scanning device S includes a frame 1 serving as a housing provided with a window 4, a light source unit 2, image forming lenses 3 and 3 ', and a deflection scanning means. The detector 12, the reflection mirror 15, and the photodiode detector 16 are included.

Further, the light source unit 2 includes semiconductor lasers 6 and 6'as light emitting elements (light sources), heat sinks 7 and 7 ', substrates 8 and 8', and a collimator lens 9.
And 9 ', and a lens holder 10 as a holder member,
It is composed of lens barrels 11 and 11 '. here,
The semiconductor lasers 6 and 6 ′ emit light beams L and L ′ having the same oscillation wavelength, respectively.

Further, the deflector 12 includes an optical deflection element 13 and
And a drive unit 14. Next, the operation of each unit will be described together with the detailed configuration.

The semiconductor lasers 6 and 6'included in the light source unit 2 fixed to the frame 1 emit light beams L and L'intensity-modulated based on information output from a computer or the like. At this time, the semiconductor lasers 6 and 6 ′ are fixed to the lens holder 10 together with the heat sinks 7 and 7 ′ for heat radiation, and the lens holder 10 is fixed to the frame 1 by the mounting screws 17.

Further, the light beams L and L ′ emitted from the semiconductor lasers 6 and 6 ′ are made into parallel light fluxes by the collimator lenses fixed to the lens holder 10 via the lens barrels 11 and 11 ′, respectively. The deflector 12 which will be described later
It is emitted toward. Further, the lens holder 10 is formed so that the optical axes of the light beams L and L ′ form a tilt angle θ with the optical deflection element 13 which is the irradiation point on the deflector 12 as a center and enter the optical deflection element 13. Has been done. At the same time, the lens holder 10 causes the light beams L and L ′ deflected and scanned by the deflector 12 to have a predetermined pitch P corresponding to the dot density in the copy in a direction perpendicular to the scanning direction.
Is formed so as to irradiate the cylindrical photoconductor 5. It should be noted that this predetermined pitch has a dot density of 300.
When recording with dpi (Dot Per Inch), about 8
When the recording is performed with a dot density of 600 dpi, it is about 43 μm.

Light beam L emitted from the light source unit 2
And L ′ enter the light deflection element 13 with a tilt angle θ, and are reflected by the light deflection element 13 to be directed toward the photoconductor 5. At this time, the light deflection element 13
By the operation of the driving unit 14, the sine wave is oscillated in the direction indicated by the double-headed arrow in FIG. 1 at an angular velocity corresponding to the scanning velocity on the photoconductor 5. As a result, the light beam L reflected by the light deflection element 13
And L ′ are deflected and scanned in the scanning direction shown in FIG. 1 while maintaining the mutual tilt angle θ. The operations of the light deflecting element 13 and the driving unit 14 in the deflector 12 will be described later.

The light beams L and L'deflected and scanned by the deflector 12 are focused by the imaging lenses 3 and 3 ', and are irradiated onto the photoconductor 5 through the window 4 provided in the frame 1, whereby the photoconductor 5 is exposed. A printed output based on information from the computer is recorded on the body 5. At this time, each time one scanning is performed, the light beams L and L ′ are incident on the photodiode detector 16 via the reflection mirror 15 before the scanning for the scanning range on the photoconductor 5 is started. The deflection angle of the deflector 12 is set to. This means that the light beam L is applied to the photodiode detector 16 every scanning.
To calculate the position of the light spot on the photoconductor 5 by detecting the elapsed time from the timing of incidence of L and L'and converting the elapsed time into a distance based on the scanning speed in the deflector 12. Is.

Thereafter, the photoconductor 5 is previously charged with a polarity opposite to that of the photoconductor 5 and brought into contact with the toner corresponding to the printing color of the print output, whereby the light beams L and L'on the photoconductor pair 5 are brought into contact. By attaching toner to a portion where information is recorded and transferring the toner onto a predetermined paper, a print output corresponding to the above information can be obtained.

Scanning on the photoconductor 5 will be described with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, the straight lines indicated by reference characters A ₁ , A ₂ , A ₃ ... Correspond to the scanning locus of the light beam L, and the straight lines indicated by reference characters B ₁ , B ₂ , B ₃ ... It corresponds to the scanning locus of.

As shown in FIG. 2, the light beams L and L '.
Shows two scanning lines (for example, A ₁ and B ₁ , A ₂ and B ₂ , A ₃₎ on the photoconductor 5 by the deflection scanning of the deflector 12 while always maintaining the distance D corresponding to the tilt angle θ. Information such as an image is recorded on the photoconductor 5 while simultaneously scanning B ₃ ... At this time, since the photoconductor 5 is rotating at a predetermined speed in a direction in which the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 1 is the tangential direction, the scanning of the light beams L and L'scans two scanning lines at a time. Meanwhile, the photoconductor 5 is scanned from top to bottom in FIG. Further, regarding the scanning range of the light beams L and L ′ (the length of one scanning line in FIG. 2), the photosensitive range (the range in which an image is recorded) of the photoconductor 5 is the range indicated by reference symbol R in FIG. The deflection angle in the deflector 12 is set so that

Further, the light beams L and L'during scanning.
The distance D corresponds to the tilt angle θ as described above,
More specifically, assuming that the focal length obtained by combining the imaging lenses 3 and 3 ′ is f, then D = f × θ (rad), usually f = 150 mm, θ = 0.2 rad (= about 11 °) Therefore, in this case, the distance D is 3
It will be 0 mm.

Regarding the modulation of the light beams L and L'based on the information from the computer or the like, one light beam corresponds to every other scanning line among the scanning lines in the information from the computer or the like. Then, it is modulated by a semiconductor laser driving device (not shown). Further, regarding the detection of the position of the light spot by the light beams L and L ′ on the photoconductor 5 which is necessary at the time of modulation, the photodiode detector 16 described above is provided for each scanning.
By detecting the elapsed time from the timing at which the light beams L and L ′ are incident on the photodiode detector 16 based on the output signal of the above, and converting the elapsed time into the distance by the scanning speed in the deflector 12, Not calculated by the control unit.

Next, the lens holder 10 for holding the semiconductor lasers 6 and 6 ', which is a feature of the present invention, will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, in FIG.
3A is a side view of the lens holder 10, and FIG.
Shows a sectional view taken along the line α-α ′ in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the lens holder 10 is integrally molded of aluminum, and the semiconductor lasers 6 and 6'are abutted and fixed together with the heat sinks 7 and 7 '. The formed angle is the tilt angle θ. Further, the lens holder 10 has screw holes 17 'for fixing it to the frame 1.
And 17 "are provided.

Since the lens holder 10 is made of aluminum, the lens holder 10 is hardly deformed even when heat or the like is applied from the outside, so that the optical axes of the semiconductor lasers 6 and 6'which have been adjusted once are not displaced. .

Next, a method of fixing the semiconductor lasers 6 and 6'to the lens holder 10 will be described in detail with reference to FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, the semiconductor lasers 6 and 6'are fixed to heat sinks 7 and 7 ', respectively, and the heat sinks 7 and 7'via the substrates 8 and 8', a fixing screw 18 and a moving means. Lens holder 10 by 18 '
Are fixed to the contact surfaces 10 'and 10 "of the lens holder. At this time, the fixing screws 18 and 18' are attached to the heat sinks 7 and 7'through the clearance holes 19 and 19 'formed larger than the screw diameters of the lens holder. Therefore, the semiconductor lasers 6 and 6'are adjusted in position by moving the semiconductor lasers 6 and 6'in a plane parallel to the respective contact surfaces 10 'and 10 ", and then the heat sinks 7 and 7'are fixed. It can be fixed to the lens holder 10. This position adjustment is performed when the optical scanning device S including the light source unit 2 is manufactured, and the tilt angle θ and the pitch P on the photoconductor 5 are adjusted.
(See FIG. 2). When adjusting this position, the clearance holes 19 and 19 'are used to adjust the size of the light emitting portions of the semiconductor lasers 6 and 6'and the lens holder 1.
It is possible to adjust the movement within a range determined by the diameter of the hole into which the semiconductor lasers 6 and 6 ′ of 0 are inserted. Further, regarding the adjustment of the focusing positions of the light beams L and L ', when the light source unit 2 is assembled, the lens barrels 11 and 11' to which the collimator lenses 9 and 9'are fixed are fixed by the semiconductor lasers 6 and 6 '. The adjustment is performed by sliding the inside of the inserted hole in the optical axis directions of the light beams L and L ′, and then the lens holder 10 and the lens barrels 11 and 11 ′ are fixed with an instant adhesive or the like to adjust the adjustment. It is possible to prevent the focus position from changing.

Next, the optical deflection element 1 which constitutes the deflector 12
3 and the drive unit 14 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the movable member 23 is supported by the frame member 20 that constitutes the optical deflector 13 via the upper and lower integrally formed spring members 21 and 22. These, frame material 2
0, the spring parts 21 and 22, and the movable part 23 are composed of a single insulating substrate, and their shapes are
It is formed using photolithography and etching techniques. Here, as the insulating substrate, for example, a quartz substrate having a thickness of about 5 × 10 ⁻⁵ m can be used. In addition,
The frame member 20 is not always necessary.

Further, the movable part 23 has light beams L and L '.
And a conductive coil pattern 25 for reflecting the
Are formed using photolithography and etching techniques. The surface accuracy of the reflecting mirror 24 is about ¼ of the wavelength of the light beams L and L ′ in order to stabilize the light spot shapes of the light beams L and L ′ at the time of image formation. Further, the upper and lower spring portions 21 and 22 have lead wires 2 for conducting to the coil pattern 25, respectively.
6 and 27 are provided, and the lead wire 21 on the upper side is provided with a jumper wire 28 which is connected beyond the coil pattern 25. Regarding the method of forming the frame member 21, the spring portions 21 and 22, the movable portion 23, the reflecting mirror 24, and the coil pattern 25 described above, for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-
Since it is publicly known in Japanese Patent No. 57052, etc., detailed description thereof will be omitted.

As the drive unit 14, for example, a permanent magnet or the like is used, and a predetermined constant bias magnetic field is applied to the movable unit 2.
It is formed so as to apply to 3. Next, operations of the light deflection element 13 and the drive unit 14 will be described.

In the deflector 12, the coil pattern 25 of the optical deflector 13 having the structure shown in FIG.
4 is arranged in the bias magnetic field applied by 4, and a current is passed through the coil pattern 25 through the lead wires 26 and 27 and the jumper wire 28, so that the movable portion 23 uses the upper and lower spring portions 21 and 22 as axes. It reciprocally swings sinusoidally in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. The swinging movement of the movable portion 23 causes the light beams L and L ′ reflected by the reflecting mirror 24 to be deflected and swept within a plane including the optical axis thereof.

In the case of the optical scanning device S shown in FIG. 1, the angular range in which the movable portion 23 reciprocally swings is such that the scanning range of the deflected light beams L and L'is approximately 110 degrees. Is set.

Further, as the deflector 12 uses the above-mentioned optical deflecting element 13 that sine-wave oscillates, the imaging lens 3
A so-called F arc sine θ lens is used as The outline of the F arc sine θ lens will be described.

In a general imaging lens, when the incident angle of the light beam on the lens is β, there is a relationship of r = f × tan β (1) with respect to the position r at which an image is formed on the image plane. At this time, f is the focal length of the imaging lens.

However, the incident angle of the light beam reflected by the light deflecting element 13 which sine wave oscillates changes trigonometrically with time. Therefore, when the general imaging lens is used and the semiconductor laser is turned on at a constant time interval to intermittently emit a light beam and the beam spot train is imaged on the photoconductor 5, Spot rows are not evenly spaced.

Therefore, in the case of deflecting and scanning the light beam by using the optical deflecting element 13 which sine wave oscillates as in the present embodiment, in order to avoid the above-mentioned problems, the above equation (1) is used. In, the image forming lens 3 having a characteristic of r = f × arcsin β (this image forming lens is referred to as an F arc sine θ lens) is used.

As described above, according to the optical scanning device S of the first embodiment, since the lens holder 10 is integrally formed of aluminum, the frame 1 made of plastic resin for holding the lens holder 10 is formed. Semiconductor lasers 6 and 6 ′ even if they are deformed by heat or aging
The positional relationship between them does not shift, and the positional relationship between the optical axes of the light beams L and L ′ does not change. Therefore, the positional relationship does not change with respect to the optical axes of the light beams L and L ′ emitted from the deflector 12 after being deflected and scanned.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the irradiation positions of the light beams L and L'on the photoconductor 5 from changing due to aging. Further, since the lens holder 10 is formed so that the optical axes of the light beams L and L ′ emitted from the deflector 12 after being deflected and scanned are different from each other, two scanning lines are formed on the photoconductor 5 at a time. It is possible to scan, compared to the case where one semiconductor laser is used to scan the scanning lines one by one,
The scanning speed can be doubled without increasing the swing speed of the light deflection element 13.

Furthermore, since the deflector 12 is composed of a small optical deflecting element 13 that swings in a sine wave, the entire optical scanning device S can be miniaturized. Furthermore, the lens holder 10
Since the semiconductor lasers 6 and 6'are arranged so that their movements can be adjusted, the tilt angle θ and the photoconductor 5 can be easily adjusted.
It is possible to change and adjust the upper pitch P. (II) Second Embodiment Next, a second embodiment corresponding to the invention described in claims 1 and 2 and 4 to 7 will be described with reference to FIG.

In the first embodiment described above, the deflector 1
In the second embodiment, the deflector 12 is the polygon mirror 3.
It consists of 0. In the following description, the first
The same members as those in the embodiment are given the same member numbers, and detailed description of the configuration and operation is omitted.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the optical scanning device S'of the second embodiment, a regular hexagonal polygon mirror 30 having a rotating surface parallel to the scanning direction is provided as the deflector 12.

Then, the light beams L and L ′ emitted from the light source unit 2 are applied to the polygon mirror 30,
The polygon mirror 2 is rotated by a motor (not shown) at a constant speed corresponding to the scanning speed, so that the polygon mirror 2 is deflected and scanned while maintaining the tilt angle θ, and the imaging lenses 3 and 3 '.
The photoconductor 5 is irradiated with the light. At this time, the precision of the reflecting surface of the polygon mirror 30 is the same as that of the reflecting 24 mirror of the light deflecting element 13 of the first embodiment.
Is about 1/4 of the wavelength.

As a result, similarly to the first embodiment, the photoconductor 5 is simultaneously scanned with two scanning lines (see FIG. 2).
The image will be recorded on the top. In addition, in the case of the second embodiment, the imaging lens 3 has the same structure as that of the first embodiment.
Instead of the arc sine θ lens, a general imaging lens having the characteristic of the above formula (1) is used.

Since the other structure is the same as that of the first embodiment, the detailed description will be omitted. As mentioned above,
According to the optical scanning device S ′ of the second embodiment, since the lens holder 10 is integrally formed of aluminum, the resin frame 1 that holds the lens holder 10 is deformed by heat or aging. However, the positional relationship between the semiconductor lasers 6 and 6 ′ does not shift, and the positional relationship between the optical axes of the light beams L and L ′ does not change. Therefore, the positional relationship does not change with respect to the optical axes of the light beams L and L ′ emitted from the deflector 12 after being deflected and scanned.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the irradiation positions of the light beams L and L'on the photosensitive member 5 from changing due to secular change or the like. Further, since the lens holder 10 is formed so that the optical axes of the light beams L and L ′ emitted from the deflector 12 after being deflected and scanned are different from each other, two scanning lines are formed on the photoconductor 5 at a time. It is possible to scan, compared to the case where one semiconductor laser is used to scan the scanning lines one by one,
The scanning speed can be doubled without increasing the swing speed of the light deflection element 13.

Further, since the deflector 12 is composed of the polygon mirror 30, the deflector 12 can be simplified and the cost of the optical scanning device S'can be reduced. Furthermore, with respect to the lens holder 10, the semiconductor lasers 6 and 6 '
Are arranged so that they can be moved and adjusted, it is possible to easily change and adjust the tilt angle θ and the pitch P on the photoconductor 5.

In the first and second embodiments described above, the lens holder 10 is integrally formed of aluminum, but the invention is not limited to this, and the lens holder 10 may be formed of zinc alloy or the like.

Furthermore, in the above-mentioned first and second embodiments, the case where two semiconductor lasers are used has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and an optical scanning device having three or more semiconductor lasers is provided. It can also be applied.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, a plurality of reading light beams are deflected and scanned by the above operation at the same time with respect to a reading object other than the printer described above, such as a printing original to be read, by the above-described operation. , The image information corresponding to the read object is read, and a plurality of recording light beams are deflected and scanned based on the read image information to irradiate the photoconductor, and the image corresponding to the read image information is printed on the photoconductor. The present invention can be widely applied to a device that optically scans and records an image, such as a copying machine or a fax machine that records the image information on the object and copies the image information corresponding to the read object.

[0068]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, even if the resin housing holding the holder member is deformed due to aging or the like, the positional relationship between the plurality of light sources is maintained. Since the positional relationship between the optical axes of the plurality of light beams does not change without shifting, the positional relationship also changes with respect to the optical axes of the light beams emitted from the deflection scanning means after being deflected and scanned. Never.

Therefore, it is possible to prevent the irradiation positions of a plurality of light beams on the object to be irradiated from deviating due to aging, etc. Therefore, when the above-mentioned light beams are used for image recording or the like, an image due to aging etc. Displacement can be prevented and a clear image can be obtained.

Further, since the plurality of light sources are arranged so that the optical axes of the light beams emitted from the deflection scanning means after being deflected and scanned are arranged, the same number of scanning as the number of the light sources is scanned on the object to be read. You can scan the lines at once,
The scanning speed can be increased.

Further, the holder member is fixed to the housing constituting the optical scanning device. At this time, the holder member is
Since it is a holder member integrated with metal, the positional relationship between multiple light sources does not shift even if the housing is deformed due to aging, etc., and the positional relationship between the optical axes of multiple light beams Does not change.

According to the invention of claim 2 , claim 1
In addition to the effect of the invention described in (1), since the deflection scanning means is an optical deflection element which periodically sine-wave oscillates about the optical axis of the light beam and a rotation axis perpendicular to the scanning direction in the deflection scanning, The light deflection unit can be downsized, and the entire optical scanning device can be downsized.

[0073] According to the invention described in claim 3, claim 1
Alternatively, in addition to the effects of the invention described in 2,
Since the polygon mirror has a rotating surface parallel to the scanning direction in the deflection scanning, the optical deflection scanning means can be simplified and the cost of the optical scanning device can be reduced.

[0074]

[0075]

[0076]

[0077]

According to the action of the invention described in claim 4 , in addition to the effect of the invention described in any one of claims 1 to 3 , the moving means includes the position of the light emitting element included in each light source. Is movable with respect to the holder member, the positional relationship between the optical axes of the plurality of light beams can be easily adjusted.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of an optical scanning device of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a scanning state on a photoconductor.

3A and 3B are diagrams showing a configuration of a lens holder, FIG. 3A is a side view, and FIG. 3B is a sectional view of an α-α ′ portion in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing fixing of a semiconductor laser to a lens holder.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a sine wave oscillating light deflection element.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a configuration of an optical scanning device of a second embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Frame 2 ... Optical unit 3, 3 '... Imaging lens 4 ... window 5 ... Photoconductor 6, 6 '... semiconductor laser 7, 7 '... heat sink 8, 8 '... substrate 9, 9 '... Collimator lens 10 ... Lens holder 10 ', 10 "... abutting surface 11, 11 '... lens barrel 12 ... Deflector 13 ... Optical deflection element 14 ... Drive unit 15 ... Reflective mirror 16 ... Photodiode detector 17 ... Mounting screw 17 ', 17 "... screw holes 18, 18 '... Fixing screw 19, 19 '... Clearance hole 20 ... Frame material 21, 22 ... Spring part 23 ... Movable part 24 ... Reflector 25 ... Coil pattern 26, 27 ... Lead wire 28 ... Jumper line 30 ... Polygon mirror S, S '... Optical scanning device L, L '... light beam

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) G02B 26/10

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A plurality of light sources for respectively emitting light beams, a holder member which holds the plurality of light sources and is integrally formed of metal, and a deflection scanning means for deflecting and scanning the light beams, respectively. the resin-made housing for holding the holder member, wherein the not suited to substantially the same position of a plurality of light beams the deflection scanning means which is emitted from the light source, and wherein each of the post-deflection scanning The holder so that the optical axes of the light beams are different from each other.
An optical scanning device, wherein a member holds the plurality of light sources at a tilt angle . 2. The optical scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the deflection scanning means includes an optical axis of the light beam and deflection scanning.
Periodically around the rotation axis perpendicular to the scanning direction at
An optical scanning device characterized in that it is an optical deflecting element that swings in a sine wave . 3. The optical scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the deflection scanning unit is parallel to a scanning direction in deflection scanning.
An optical scanning device characterized by being a polygon mirror having a smooth rotating surface . 4. The optical scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the light source moves a light emitting element that emits the light beam and a position of the light emitting element with respect to the holder member. Possible
An optical scanning apparatus characterized by each and a moving means for the.