JPH06127023A - Optical writing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To ensure a rigidity of an optical writing device base required for ensuring alignment of an optical writing component or device while the optical writing device base is operated in a copying machine, a printer, or other device. CONSTITUTION:In an optical writing device base used for an electrophotographic image forming device, component parts 2, 3 having no relation to devices other than the optical writing device base or the function of an optical writing device are provided as integral parts of the optical writing device base for the improvement of the rigidity of the base 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an optical writing device used in electrophotographic facsimiles, plain paper copying machines, laser printers and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In image forming apparatuses such as copiers, facsimiles, printers, etc., there is a demand for higher image forming speeds due to the demand for higher speeds of information transmission, office processing, etc., and accordingly, an optical writing unit base is constructed. It is also required that each of the parts to operate at high speed. Under such a high speed operation condition, it is necessary to set the rigidity of the unit base high in order to ensure the alignment of various components and devices in the optical writing unit base. Conventionally, the optical writing unit base in electrophotographic devices such as copying machines and printers is made of resin, and not only various lenses and mirrors are attached inside, but also parts of other units are attached to the outside, so it has a complicated shape. And there was a problem in terms of mechanical strength. Furthermore, since it is highly related to other units,
When the shape is changed, the shape of other units, the arrangement of parts, etc. are also affected, so it is a very difficult unit base to change the shape.

[0003]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above problems and to provide an optical writing device in which the rigidity of the optical writing unit base is further increased, and the size and cost are reduced. There is.

[0004]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an optical writing unit base for use in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, in order to increase the rigidity of the base, other than the optical writing unit base. Parts that are not related to the functions performed by the other units or the optical writing unit are integrally formed on the optical writing unit base, and a paper feed guide plate that guides the conveyance of the recording paper is integrally formed on the optical writing unit base. It is characterized in that it is formed, and that the scanner lens pedestal is attached to the optical writing unit base.

[0005]

According to the present invention, since the optical writing unit base and the components of other units are integrally formed, the rigidity of the base can be enhanced, and the space can be saved and the cost can be reduced. Specifically, a paper feed guide plate is integrally formed on the optical writing unit base, and a lens pedestal as a scanner unit is attached to the optical writing unit base.

[0006]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be specifically described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 shows a unit in which a paper feed guide plate for smoothly feeding the paper 9 and a lens pedestal are integrated with the optical writing unit base. A paper feed guide plate 2 is integrated in front of the optical writing unit base 1 and a scanner lens pedestal 3 is integrated in the rear thereof to maintain the rigidity of the optical writing unit base.
In the optical writing unit base, laser light is emitted by the LD unit 4, light is scanned by the polygon mirror 5, correction is performed by the fθ lens 6, the direction of the optical path is changed by the mirror 7, and the photoconductor belt 8 is moved. I work to write an image on. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a positioning state of the optical writing unit of the present invention in the electrophotographic copying machine.
In this copying machine, the optical writing unit base 1 is arranged in the center of the housing, and the reflected light of the original obtained by scanning the original supplied on the contact glass by the ADF 17 is used as a scanner lens block on the lens holder 13. The (light receiving element) 18 receives light, and the LD unit 4 irradiates the polygon mirror 5 with laser light generated based on the received information. The polygon mirror 5 scans the light, corrects it with the fθ lens 6, changes the direction of the optical path with the mirror 7, and writes an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive belt 8. The latent image on the photosensitive belt 8 is developed by the developing unit 10 and then transferred by the transfer charger 12 onto the paper 9 fed from the paper feeding cassette. At this time, the paper feed guide plate 2 of the unit base 1 appropriately guides the paper 9 to the transfer position. The recording paper on which the toner image has been transferred is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 14 via the fixing unit 15.
13 is a cover and 16 is a CTM. Since a part or all of the developing unit 10 and a part of the photoconductor belt 8 are included in the unit base 1, it is possible to achieve compactness. The optical writing unit base 1 made of resin has a complicated shape, and its rigidity is apt to decrease. However, in the present invention, the unitary unit base is provided with separate components such as the paper feed guide plate 2 and the scanner. The lens cradle 3 is integrated to enhance the rigidity, and the developing unit 10 is further included in the inside for compactness.

[0007]

As a result of having the above-mentioned constitution, the present invention has the following excellent effects. (a) Since the components of the other unit, which are conventionally separate from the optical writing unit base, are integrally formed, the rigidity of the base is increased, and space saving and cost reduction are possible. (b) Since the paper feed guide plate is formed integrally with the optical writing unit base, the assembling accuracy is improved and the rigidity of the base is increased. (c) Since the scanner lens holder, which is the scanner unit, is attached to and integrated with the optical writing unit base, the rigidity of the optical writing unit base can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a unit in which a paper feed guide plate that supplies paper to an optical writing unit base and a scanner lens pedestal are integrated.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing the positioning of an optical writing unit base of the present invention in an electrophotographic copying machine.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 optical writing unit base, 2 paper feed guide plate, 3 scanner lens cradle, 4 LD unit, 5 polygon mirror, 6 fθ lens, 7 mirror, 8 photoconductor belt, 9 paper, 10 developing unit, 11 paper feed cassette , 12 transfer charger, 13 cover, 14 paper ejection tray, 15 fixing unit, 16 CTM, 17 ADF, 18 scanner lens block, 19 optical writing unit base.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. An optical writing unit base used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, which is not related to a unit other than the optical writing unit base or a function of the optical writing unit in order to increase rigidity of the base. An optical writing device in which components are integrally formed on the optical writing unit base. 2. The optical writing device according to claim 1, wherein a paper feed guide plate for guiding conveyance of recording paper is integrally formed on the optical writing unit base. 3. The optical writing device according to claim 1, wherein the optical writing unit base has a scanner lens pedestal attached thereto.