JP2000269581A - Mounting structure of light emitting element - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately adjust inclination of an optical axis of light emitting elements with simple work. SOLUTION: A setscrew 72 is rotated in an insertion direction to adjust the inclination of an optical axis and to project the top face of the setscrew 72 outword to an inclination reference face 66. This presses the inclination reference face 66 of the setscrew 72 and a LD holding member 60 to a positioning face 90 of a housing 78, and an axis center S of a LD 16 is inclined, by correcting an angle corresponding to the protruding length of the setscrew 72. By making the of the LD holding member 60 rotate relatively with respect to the housing 78 from this state enables inclination of the axis center S of the LD 16 in an arbitrary direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is applied to an optical scanning device for forming an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor by using a light beam emitted from a light emitting element such as a semiconductor laser, and the like. The present invention relates to a light emitting element mounting structure for mounting to a side.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An image forming apparatus such as a laser printer or a digital copier includes a semiconductor laser (hereinafter referred to as an LD) for emitting a laser beam corresponding to an image signal and an optical scanning device for deflecting the laser beam. Some are located. In this optical scanning device, a laser beam emitted from an LD is made incident on a scanning optical system composed of a lens, a mirror, and the like, and a laser beam deflected in the main scanning direction by the scanning optical system is irradiated on the photosensitive member. To form an electrostatic latent image.

Therefore, in the optical scanning device, it is necessary to precisely match the optical axis of the laser beam emitted from the LD with the optical axis of the scanning optical system in order to obtain high image quality. Therefore, in the image forming apparatus, an optical axis adjustment for finely adjusting the mounting position of the LD is performed at a stage before shipment. As adjustment items by the optical axis adjustment, focus adjustment for adjusting the position of the LD along the optical axis direction and XY alignment adjustment for adjusting the position of the LD in a plane orthogonal to the optical axis are general. For models requiring high image quality, the focus and X
In addition to the -Y alignment adjustment, an optical axis tilt adjustment for adjusting the inclination of the optical axis of the LD with respect to the optical axis of the scanning optical system is also performed. At the time of adjusting the tilt of the optical axis, for example, while monitoring the light intensity of the laser beam emitted from the LD and passing through the scanning optical system with a light-receiving sensor for adjusting the optical axis, the mounting angle of the LD to the device mounting portion is slightly changed. The LD is fixed at an attachment angle at which the highest light intensity is obtained by changing the LD.

[0004]

However, at the time of adjusting the tilt of the optical axis, the magnitude of the angle (correction angle) at which the LD is tilted from the initial mounting state as a reference and the direction in which the LD is tilted from the initial mounting state as a reference ( Correction direction) must be adjusted. Although this optical axis tilt adjustment is a complicated operation in the conventional light emitting element mounting structure, it is difficult to optimize the mounting angle of the LD by a single adjustment operation. It is necessary to repeat the work of bringing the mounting angle of the LD closer to the optimum value many times while monitoring the change in the light intensity detected by the light receiving sensor.

As a conventional LD mounting structure for adjusting the mounting angle of the LD, for example, a LD holder having a convex spherical surface centered on the light emitting point of the LD is formed on the outer surface of the LD. A concave spherical surface corresponding to the above is housed in a mounting member formed inside, and an adjusting member is inserted into a hole formed in the mounting member, and the holder is tilted by the adjusting member (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-4874). However, it is difficult to accurately process the convex spherical surface of the holder and the concave spherical surface of the mounting member. For this reason, there is a problem in that the LD mounting structure capable of adjusting the tilt of the optical axis increases the manufacturing cost.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a low-cost light-emitting element mounting structure capable of accurately adjusting the tilt of the optical axis of the light-emitting element by a simple operation in consideration of the above fact.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light emitting element mounting structure, wherein a light emitting element having a cylindrical outer shell and emitting a light beam from one end surface of the outer shell is provided. A holding member fitted to hold the light emitting element and provided with a tilt reference surface along a circumferential direction with respect to an axis of the outer shell portion, and along the axial direction of the outer shell portion from the tilt reference surface. The protruding adjustment projection, the light emitting element is positioned at a reference position in a tilt direction by separating from the adjustment projection and abutting on the tilt reference plane, and abutting the tilt reference plane and the adjustment projection to the light emitting element. A light-emitting element mounting body provided with a positioning surface inclined from a reference position, and the holding member being rotatably mounted around the axis.

According to the light emitting element mounting structure having the above-described structure, when the positioning surface of the light emitting element mounting body is separated from the adjustment projection and is in contact with the tilt reference surface of the holding member, the light emitting element is positioned in the tilt direction. Since the light emitting element can be accurately positioned at the reference position in the tilt direction by being positioned at the position, the reference position is set to a position where the optical axis inclination of the light beam emitted from the light emitting element is on average minimized. If it is set, the magnitude of the angle (correction angle) at which the light emitting element is inclined from the reference position during the adjustment of the optical axis tilt can be minimized on average. Therefore, the number of adjustment operations for gradually bringing the mounting angle of the light emitting element closer to the optimum value can be reduced, and the operation time required for the optical axis tilt adjustment can be reduced.

In a state where the positioning surface of the light emitting element mounting body is in contact with both the inclination reference surface and the adjustment projection of the holding member, the light emitting element is shifted from the reference position in accordance with the length of the adjustment projection from the inclination reference surface. Is determined (correction angle), the light-emitting element can be tilted from the reference position by a necessary correction angle by changing the length of the adjustment projection from the tilt reference plane. Further, since the holding member holding the light emitting element is rotatably attached to the light emitting element mounting body around the axis of the light emitting element, if the holding member is relatively rotated with respect to the light emitting element mounting body, light emission can be achieved. The direction in which the element is inclined from the reference position (correction direction) can be set to any direction.

A light emitting element mounting structure according to a second aspect of the present invention is the light emitting element mounting structure according to the first aspect, further comprising an adjusting means for adjusting a length of the adjustment projection from the inclination reference plane.

According to the light emitting element mounting structure having the above structure, the adjusting means adjusts the length of the adjustment projection protruding from the inclination reference plane, so that the light emitting element can be easily and precisely adjusted from the reference position to a required correction angle by a simple operation. Can be tilted.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the light emitting element mounting structure according to the first aspect, when the adjusting projection is inserted into the positioning surface, the adjusting projection is separated from the positioning surface. A recessed projection accommodating portion is provided for abutting the adjustment projection on the positioning surface when the adjustment projection comes off.

[0013] According to the light emitting element mounting structure having the above-described structure, by providing the projection housing in which the adjusting protrusion is removably provided on the positioning surface of the light emitting element mounting body, when the adjusting protrusion is inserted into the protrusion housing, The adjustment protrusion separates from the positioning surface,
Since the positioning surface of the light emitting element mounting body is in contact with the tilt reference surface of the holding member, the light emitting element can be accurately positioned at the reference position in the tilt direction. At this time, it is not necessary to adjust the projection length of the adjustment projection so as not to protrude from the inclination reference plane, so that the operation of positioning the light emitting element at the reference position is simplified. In addition, when the adjustment protrusion is detached from the protrusion storage portion, the positioning surface comes into contact with both the inclination reference surface and the adjustment protrusion, so that the light emitting element can be tilted from the reference position by a correction angle corresponding to the length of the adjustment protrusion.

[0014]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an optical scanning device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First Embodiment) FIGS. 1 and 2 show a first embodiment.
FIG. 6 shows an optical scanning device 10 to which the LD mounting structure 50 according to the present embodiment is applied. The optical scanning device 10 scans a drum-shaped photoconductor 12 with a laser beam L, and forms an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor 12 corresponding to an image signal. The optical scanning device 10 includes an optical box 14 as an outer shell of the device as shown in FIG. The optical box 14 includes a box body 18 having an open upper surface, and a lid plate 20 for closing the upper opening of the box body 18. The box main body 18 is provided with an LD mounting portion 22 outside the side wall portion. As shown in FIG. 1, an LD mounting structure 50 having a built-in LD 16 as a light source of the laser beam L is arranged in the LD mounting section 22.

A light transmitting plate (not shown) made of glass or the like is fitted into the box body 18 of the optical box 14 at a portion facing the laser beam output opening of the LD 16, and the laser light emitted from the LD 16 through this light transmitting plate. Beam L is optical box 14
Incident inside. Further, inside the box body 18, along the optical path of the laser beam L emitted from the LD 16, a collimating lens 24, a cylindrical lens 26,
A scanning optical system including optical components such as 8, 30, an fθ lens group 32, and a polygon mirror 34 is housed therein.

The collimator lens 24 shapes the laser beam L emitted from the LD 16. The cylindrical lens 26 having power only in the sub-scanning direction focuses the laser beam L passing through the collimator lens 24 in the sub-scanning direction, and the polygon mirror 34
Image up.

The laser beam L that has passed through the cylindrical lens 26 is turned back by a pair of plane mirrors 28 and 30 and enters the polygon mirror 34 through the fθ lens group 32 from the front. The polygon mirror 34 is formed in a polygonal column shape, and is provided with a plurality of planar reflecting surfaces on an outer peripheral surface around a central axis. The polygon mirror 34 is coaxially connected to a scanner motor (not shown), and rotates at a high speed when the scanner motor is driven. As a result, the laser beam L incident on the polygon mirror 34 is reflected and deflected along the main scanning direction.

Lens group 32 includes a polygon mirror 34
The laser beam L reflected and deflected by the laser beam is condensed on the photosensitive member 12 as a light spot, and the light spot is moved at a constant speed on the surface of the photosensitive member 12. As described above, the optical scanning device 10 employs a so-called front-incidence double-pass optical system in which the laser beam L incident on and reflected by the polygon mirror 34 passes through the fθ lens group 32 twice.

Reflected and deflected by the polygon mirror 34, fθ
The laser beam L that has passed through the lens group 32 twice is reflected by a plane mirror 38 having a rectangular shape elongated in the main scanning direction. A mirror 40 is disposed on the optical path of the laser beam L reflected by one end of the plane mirror 38 in the main scanning direction, and the laser beam L reflected by the mirror 40 detects the scanning start position in the main scanning direction. To the SOS sensor 42 for performing the operation. The laser beam reflected by the intermediate portion of the plane mirror 48 in the main scanning direction
L is reflected by a cylindrical mirror 44 having power only in the sub-scanning direction and is incident on the photoconductor 12.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the LD 16 has a cylindrical portion 54 whose outer peripheral surface has a predetermined radius of curvature as an outer shell.
An emission opening 56 for the laser beam L is formed at the center of one end surface (tip surface) of the cylindrical portion 54 in the axial direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the LD 16 is provided with three terminal pins 57 protruding from an end face (rear end face) opposite to the emission opening 56. These terminal pins 57 are respectively connected to electrodes (not shown) of the semiconductor element in the LD 16. At the rear end of the LD 16, a disk-shaped flange portion 58 having a larger diameter than the cylindrical portion 54 is coaxially arranged. Note that the symbol S in the figure indicates the axis of the LD 16, and the laser beam emitted from the LD 16
The optical axis of L coincides with the axis S.

The LD mounting structure 50 is, as shown in FIG.
A disk-shaped LD holding member 60 that holds the LD 16 is provided. An insertion portion 62 having a circular cross section penetrating in the axial direction is formed at the center of the LD holding member 60. The insertion portion 62 corresponds to the cylindrical portion 54 of the LD 16 as shown in FIG. The leading end side has a small diameter, and the rear end side corresponding to the flange portion 58 has a large diameter. As a result, a step portion 62A is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the insertion portion 62 at an intermediate portion in the axial direction.

As shown in FIG. 3, the LD holding member 60 holds the LD 16 by inserting the insertion portion 62 into the outer peripheral surface of the LD 16. Here, the LD 16 is axially moved by the LD holding member 60.
It is held rotatably about S,
The distal end on the sixth side protrudes from the insertion portion 62.

As shown in FIG. 1, the LD holding member 60 is coaxially provided with a flange 64 extending radially at a rear end opposite to the side from which the laser beam L is emitted. In addition, the LD holding member 60 is provided with a tilt reference surface 66 on the end surface on the emission side of the laser beam L, on the inner peripheral side of the flange portion 64. The tilt reference surface 66 is provided over the entire circumference along the circumferential direction centered on the axis S, and is accurately processed so as to be a plane orthogonal to the axis S. Three screw holes 68 penetrating in the axial direction are formed in the flange portion 64. In the flange portion 64, a screw hole 70 penetrating in the axial direction is formed at an intermediate portion between the two screw holes 68.

The screw hole 70 is formed as a screw hole, and a screw shaft-shaped set screw 72 is screwed into the screw hole 70 as shown in FIG.
The set screw 72 is screwed into the screw hole 70 from the rear end side of the LD holding member 60 and protrudes forward (in the traveling direction of the laser beam L) from the flange portion 64.

When the set screw 72 is rotated in the insertion direction, the set screw 72 moves along the axial direction to the emission side of the laser beam L, and the protruding length from the flange portion 64 increases. Conversely, when the set screw 72 is rotated in the removal direction, the flange portion 645 of the set screw 72 is rotated.
The length of protrusion from the base is reduced. Here, set screw 72
In the axial direction, the position can be adjusted from a position where the distal end surface coincides with the inclination reference surface 66 to a position where the tip surface projects forward by a predetermined length from the inclination reference surface 66.

In the insertion portion 62 of the LD holding member 60, FIG.
A ring-shaped spring washer 74 is inserted into the rear side of the LD 16 as shown in FIG.
LD with a plurality of elastic pieces 74A projecting from the inner peripheral end toward the center
16 is in contact with the rear end face. On the rear end face of the LD holding member 60, a thin disk-shaped fixing plate 76 is provided with three screws 7.
8 fastened and fixed. Here, the screw 78 is inserted through a through hole 76 </ b> A formed in the outer peripheral edge of the fixing plate 76, and the tip is screwed into the screw hole 68 of the LD holding member 60.

A fixing plate 76 fixed to the LD holding member 60 compresses the spring washer 74 in the axial direction. Thereby, the spring washer 74 presses the LD 16 in the traveling direction of the laser beam L. The LD 16 is pressed against the flange 5 by the pressing force from the spring washer 74.
8 is pressed against the step portion 62A of the fitting portion 62. Accordingly, the LD 16 is prevented from moving in the axial direction by the pressing force from the spring washer 74, and the LD 16 is moved by the frictional force between the flange portion 58 and the step portion 62A.
The relative rotation with respect to the holding member 60 is suppressed.

As shown in FIG. 1, a substantially U-shaped notch 76B is formed on the outer periphery of the fixing plate 76.
The rear end face of the set screw 72 faces outside through the notch 76B. On the rear end surface of the set screw 72, an engaging portion (not shown) that can be engaged with a driver, a wrench, or the like is formed. The fixing plate 76
A circular insertion hole 76C is formed in the center of
The three terminal pins 57 of D16 protrude rearward through the insertion holes 76C as shown in FIG.

The LD mounting structure 50 includes a housing 78 that is fastened and fixed to the LD mounting portion 22 of the optical box 14 as shown in FIG. The housing 78 is provided with a thick disc-shaped fitting insertion portion 80 on the distal end side. As shown in FIG. 3, a through hole 82 penetrating in the axial direction is formed at the center of the insertion portion 80.

The housing 78 is coaxially provided with a thin disk-shaped flange portion 84 having a diameter larger than that of the fitting portion 80 at an intermediate portion in the axial direction. As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of arms 86 are formed on the outer peripheral portion of the flange portion 84 so as to project in opposite directions along the radial direction, and each of the arms 86 penetrates in the axial direction. Insertion hole 8
6A is drilled.

As shown in FIG. 2, the housing 78 is provided with leg plates 88 extending rearward along the axial direction at both radial ends of the flange portion 84, respectively. Each of the pair of leg plates 88 is curved with a constant radius of curvature about the axis S. An opening 90 is provided between the pair of leg plates 88. The inner peripheral surfaces of the pair of leg plates 88 are respectively
A concave curved surface having a radius of curvature slightly larger than the outer diameter of the flange portion 64 of the LD holding member 60 is provided.
8, LD 16 was held inside as shown in FIG.
The LD holding member 60 is stored.

The rear end face of the fitting portion 80 of the housing 78
Positioning surface 90 for positioning LD 16 in the tilt direction
The positioning surface 90 is provided over the entire circumference along the circumferential direction centered on the axis SH (see FIG. 4) of the insertion portion 80, and is orthogonal to the axis SH of the insertion portion 80. It is processed with high precision so that it becomes a flat surface. Here, a pair of leg plates 8
As shown in FIG. 3, the LD holding member 60 housed between the eight
Is in contact with

As shown in FIG. 3, a driver board 92 is fixed to the housing 78 at the rear end surfaces of the pair of leg plates 88 by a pair of screws 94. The pair of screws 94 are respectively inserted through round holes 92A penetrating the driver board 92, and screw holes 88 formed in the rear end surface of the leg plate 88.
Screwed into A.

The driver substrate 92 and the LD holding member 60
And the coil spring 9 as shown in FIG.
6 is inserted coaxially, and the coil spring 96 is compressed in the axial direction by the driver board 94. As a result, the coil spring 96 presses the LD holding member 60 forward to constantly press the tilt reference surface 66 against the positioning surface 90 of the housing 78.

At this time, if the tip surface of the set screw 72 does not protrude from the tilt reference surface 66, the LD holding member 60 brings the tilt reference surface 66 into surface contact with the positioning surface 90 as shown in FIG. Thus, the axis S of the LD holding member 60 and the axis SH of the housing 78 coincide with each other within an error range due to the processing accuracy of the inclination reference surface 66 and the positioning surface 90.

If the tip surface of the set screw 72 protrudes forward with respect to the tilt reference surface 66, the LD holding member 60 moves the tilt reference surface 66 and the tip surface of the set screw 72 as shown in FIG. Both are brought into contact with the positioning surface 90. Accordingly, the axis S of the LD holding member 60 is inclined with respect to the axis SH of the housing 78 by an angle corresponding to the length of the set screw 72 protruding from the inclination reference plane 66.

The LD holding member 60 is connected to the housing 78.
When the set screw 72 is stored in the housing 78, the distal end surface of the set screw 72 has a positioning surface 90 in the housing 78 as shown in FIG.
It is positioned at the initial position where it comes into contact with the

At the center of the driver board 92, as shown in FIG.
A plurality of through holes 92B for connection to the upper printed wiring (not shown) are formed, and the terminal pins 57 of the LD 16 are inserted into the through holes 92B and soldered. Also, four work holes 97 are formed in the driver board 92 around the axis SH.
These work holes 97 are arranged at equal intervals (90 ° intervals) in the circumferential direction. When the screw hole 70 of the LD holding member 60 is rotated to a position substantially coincident with any of the work holes 97 of the driver board 92,
The set screw 72 can be rotated by a tool such as a driver through the work hole 97.

In the LD mounting structure 50 of the present embodiment, as described above, the LD holding member 60 is rotatably housed in the housing 78, and the LD 16 is rotatably held by the LD holding member 60. Further, the rotation resistance of the LD 16 with respect to the LD 16 is sufficiently smaller than the rotation resistance of the LD holding member 60 with respect to the housing 78. Accordingly, when the LD holding member 60 is relatively rotated with respect to the housing 78, the LD 16 is moved with respect to the LD holding member 60.
Relative rotation in the opposite direction. Therefore, even if the LD holding member 60 is rotated by an external force, the LD 16 does not rotate relative to the driver board 92, so that the terminal pins 57 are prevented from being twisted.

In the LD mounting structure 50 of the present embodiment, when the axis S of the LD 16 and the axis SH of the housing 78 coincide with each other, that is, when the set screw 72 does not protrude from the inclination reference plane 66. Even if the LD holding member 60 is rotated, the inclination of the axis S (optical axis) does not change. In this case, as shown in FIG.
Is tilted with respect to the axis SH of the housing 78, that is, when the set screw 72 protrudes from the tilt reference surface 66, when the LD holding member 60 is relatively rotated with respect to the housing 78, FIG. As shown in B), the axis S performs a motion that draws a conical trajectory around the axis SH, that is, a so-called razor motion. Thereby, when the LD holding member 60 is rotated, the magnitude of the inclination of the axis S with respect to the axis SH (correction angle) is not changed, and the axis of the axis S is not changed.
The direction of inclination (correction direction) with respect to SH can be set to any direction.

The housing 78 that houses the LD holding member 60 and to which the driver board 92 is fixed is fastened and fixed to the LD mounting portion 22 by a pair of screws 98 as shown in FIG. The screw 98 is inserted through the insertion hole 86A of the arm 86 of the housing 78 and screwed into the screw hole 22A provided in the LD mounting portion 22. At this time, the housing 78
Inserts the insertion portion 80 into the circular opening 22B provided in the LD mounting portion 22 and attaches the flange portion 84 to the LD mounting portion 22.
Adhere to. As a result, the housing 78 is positioned at a predetermined initial position.

Next, the operation of the LD mounting structure 50 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the inspection process of the optical scanning device 10, the optical box 1
A light receiving sensor (not shown) for adjusting the optical axis in 4 is set on the optical axis of the laser beam L. The inclination of the optical axis (hereinafter, referred to as a beam optical axis) of a laser beam L emitted from the LD 16 by this light receiving sensor, that is, a so-called laser beam
When the optical axis L of the L is detected, a correction angle adjusting tool (not shown) such as a driver is inserted into the housing 78 through the work hole 78 of the driver board 92, and the tool is engaged with the set screw 72. Let's set screw 7
2 is rotated in the insertion direction. As a result, as shown in FIG.
, And the axis S of the LD 16 is
8 with respect to the center axis SH of the set screw 72 in correspondence with the protruding length of the set screw 72. Here, the optical axis of the laser beam L emitted from the LD 16 coincides with the axis S of the LD 16.

The length of the set screw 72 protruding from the inclination reference plane 66 is proportional to the amount of rotation of the set screw 72. The correlation between the amount of rotation of the set screw 72 and the magnitude of the inclination of the axis S with respect to the axis SH (correction angle) can be determined in advance. Further, for example, when an area sensor is used as a light receiving sensor for optical axis adjustment, if the area sensor detects a coordinate point where the light amount reaches a peak, the correction angle is estimated from the coordinate point corresponding to the light amount peak. it can.

The axis S of the LD 16 is changed to the axis of the housing 78.
After tilting with respect to the SH, a tool (not shown) for adjusting the correction direction is inserted through the opening 90 between the leg plates 88 into the housing 7.
8 and engage this tool with the LD holding member 60
The LD holding member 60 is rotated. At this time, the LD holding member 6
The rotation direction and rotation angle of 0 need to be determined according to the direction in which the axis S of the LD 16 is inclined (correction direction). When the area sensor is used as the light receiving sensor for adjusting the optical axis, the correction direction is determined by the coordinate point corresponding to the light amount peak, similarly to the correction angle, when the coordinate point at which the light amount reaches a peak is detected by the area sensor. Can be estimated from Alternatively, the LD holding member 60 may be stopped at a position where the highest light intensity is detected by the light receiving sensor by rotating the LD 16 once without obtaining the correction direction in advance.

After the above-described adjustment of the tilt of the optical axis is completed, the light intensity of the laser beam L is detected again by the light receiving sensor, and if it is determined from the light intensity whether the correction angle is excessive or insufficient, the set screw is set. The protrusion length of 72 needs to be readjusted. However, the set screw 72 is the work hole 9
When it is not at a position where it can be operated through 7, the LD holding member 60 is rotated to move the set screw 72 to a position coinciding with the nearest work hole 97.

Therefore, if it is determined that the correction angle is excessive or insufficient, the set screw 72 is rotated in the insertion direction and the removal direction by an angle corresponding to the excessive or insufficient correction angle, and the set screw 72 projects from the inclination reference surface 66. Readjust. After the readjustment of the correction angle is completed, the LD holding member 60 is rotated to incline the axis S of the LD 16 in the correction direction obtained during the previous adjustment.

In the optical axis tilt adjustment for the optical scanning device 10 according to the present embodiment, the operation of changing the correction angle and the correction direction as described above becomes smaller than the value required for the optical axis tilt, and the required light intensity Repeat until is obtained. However, if the correlation between the amount of rotation of the set screw 72 and the correction angle is determined with high accuracy in advance, and the correction angle and the correction direction can be accurately estimated from the coordinate point where the light amount reaches a peak, the correction angle and the correction direction are changed. It is also possible to complete the operation to be performed once.

As described above, according to the LD mounting structure 50 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the positioning surface 90 of the housing 78 is separated from the distal end surface of the set screw 72, and the tilt reference surface of the LD holding member 60. When the LD 16 is in contact with the housing 66, the LD 16 is positioned at a reference position in the tilt direction, that is, a position where the axis S of the LD 16 coincides with the axis SH of the housing 78. Thereby, LD16
Can be positioned with high accuracy (reproducibility) to a reference position in the tilt direction. If this reference position is set to a position where the optical axis inclination of the laser beam L emitted from the LD 16 is minimized on average, When adjusting the tilt of the optical axis, the correction angle of the LD 16 can be minimized on average. Therefore, LD1
Since the number of adjustment operations for bringing the mounting angle of 6 closer to the optimum value can be reduced, the operation time required for the optical axis tilt adjustment can be reduced.

The positioning surface 90 of the housing 78 is LD
Tilt reference surface 66 of holding member 60 and set screw 72
In the state of contact with both of the tip surfaces, the tilt reference surface 6
Since the correction angle of the LD 16 is determined according to the length of projection of the set screw 72 from the inclination reference plane 66 from the inclination reference plane 66, if the length of projection of the set screw 72 from the inclination reference plane 66 is changed, the LD 16 will be required from the reference position. It is possible to incline precisely by the correction angle. Further, since the LD holding member 60 holding the LD 16 is rotatably attached to the housing 78 about the axis S, if the LD holding member 60 is relatively rotated with respect to the housing 78, the correction direction of the LD 16 Can be set in any direction.

Further, in the LD mounting structure 50 of the present embodiment, an L-shape in which the screw shaft-shaped set screw 72 is formed as a screw hole.
Since the set screw 72 is screwed into the screw hole 70 of the D holding member 60, the set screw 72 is accurately moved in the axial direction by a distance proportional to the rotation angle of the set screw 72. It can be tilted only by a necessary correction angle.

(Modification of Embodiment) FIGS. 7 and 8 show a modification of the adjustment projection and the positioning surface in the LD mounting structure 50 according to the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 7, an adjustment projection 100 that projects in the axial direction is integrally provided on the end surface of the LD holding member 60 on the emission side of the laser beam L as shown in FIG. The adjusting projection 100 has a hemispherical tip, and protrudes from the tilt reference surface 66 of the LD holding member 60 by a predetermined length forward (in the traveling direction of the laser beam L).

On the other hand, on the positioning surface 90 of the housing 78, as shown in FIG. 7, there is provided a recessed projection housing portion 102 corresponding to the adjustment projection 100 of the LD holding member 60.

As shown in FIG. 7, the LD holding member 60
Is located at a predetermined initial position in the rotation direction, the tip of the adjustment protrusion 100 is inserted into the protrusion storage portion 102. As a result, the adjustment protrusion 100 is separated from the positioning surface 90, and only the inclination reference surface 66 of the LD holding member 60 abuts on the positioning surface 90. Therefore, the LD 16 is positioned at the reference position in the tilt direction, that is, the position where the axis S of the LD 16 and the axis SH of the housing 78 coincide.

When the LD holding member 60 is rotated from a predetermined initial position in the rotation direction, the adjustment projection 100 is separated from the projection storage section 102 as shown in FIG. Both surfaces 66 abut. Therefore, the LD 16 is tilted from the reference position by a correction angle corresponding to the length of the adjustment protrusion 100 protruding from the tilt reference surface 66. By rotating the LD holding member 60 in this state, the correction direction of the LD 16 can be set to an arbitrary direction.

When the LD holding member 60 is provided with the adjustment projection 100 having a fixed projection length, when performing the optical axis tilt adjustment, the traversing direction can be changed only in the complementary direction while the correction angle is fixed. Can be changed to Therefore, the LD mounting structure 50 provided with the adjustment projection 100 instead of the set screw 72 is suitable for an inexpensive model or the like that does not need to perform the optical axis tilt adjustment with high accuracy. 10
By providing 0, the LD mounting structure 50 capable of adjusting the tilt of the optical axis can be realized at low cost.

However, although the tilt direction cannot be set to the direction corresponding to the initial position of the LD holding member 60, in such a case, for example, the housing 78 is moved 180 ° from the illustrated position.
If the LD 16 is rotated and attached to the LD attachment section 22, the correction direction of the LD 16 can be set to a direction corresponding to the initial position.

In the LD mounting structure 50 according to the first embodiment, the axis S of the LD 16 is
When the LD holding member 60 is tilted with respect to the
It is necessary to rotate to the position corresponding to the second work hole 97. Therefore, when it is necessary to adjust the correction angle a plurality of times, the adjustment work of the optical axis tilt becomes complicated, but the LD 16 is connected to the driver board 92 using an FPC (flexible printed board), a harness, or the like. If the driver board 92 is placed away from the housing 78, the set screw 72 can be rotated by the adjusting tool even when the LD holding member 60 is at an arbitrary position in the rotation direction.

(Second Embodiment) FIGS. 9 and 10 show an LD mounting structure 110 according to a second embodiment. Note that the same reference numerals are given to members common to the members according to the first embodiment, and description thereof will be omitted.

The LD mounting structure 110 is a housing 11 fastened and fixed to the LD mounting part 22 (see FIG. 2) of the optical box 14.
2 is provided. As shown in FIG. 11, the housing 112 includes an inner peripheral block 114 and an outer peripheral block 11.
6 can be divided, and the housing 112
Are assembled such that the inner peripheral block 114 and the outer peripheral block 116 are coaxial with each other as shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 9, the inner peripheral side block 114 is provided with a thick disk-shaped fitting portion 118 on the distal end side. A through hole 120 is formed in the center of the insertion portion 118 so as to penetrate in the axial direction. The fitting portion 118 is integrally provided with a flange-shaped slide portion 122 at a rear end portion. The slide portion 122 has a larger diameter than the outer diameter of the insertion portion 118, and extends radially from the outer peripheral surface of the insertion portion 118 over the entire circumference.

As shown in FIG. 11, the inner peripheral side block 114 is provided with leg plates 124 extending rearward along the axial direction at both ends in the radial direction at the rear end side. Each of the pair of curved plates 124 is curved along the outer peripheral end of the slide portion 122 around the axis S.

The rear end surface of the inner peripheral side block 114
As shown in FIG. 1, a positioning surface 125 for positioning the LD 16 in the tilt direction is provided on the inner peripheral side of the leg plate 124. The positioning surface 125 is provided over the entire circumference along the circumferential direction centered on the axis SH, and is accurately processed so as to be a plane orthogonal to the axis SH.

The positioning surface 125 is provided with a concave positioning groove 126 along one circumference along the circumferential direction centered on the axis S. The bottom surface of the positioning groove 126 is a slide surface 128, and the slide surface 128 is a plane inclined with respect to the positioning surface 125. Accordingly, the depth of the positioning groove 126 from the positioning surface 125 changes according to the position (phase) in the circumferential direction around the axis SH as shown in FIG.

Here, the slide surface 1 of the positioning groove 126
Reference numeral 28 denotes a predetermined initial phase as shown in FIG.
2 (0 °), which is the deepest at the bottom dead center, and the shallowest at the top dead center, which is a portion shifted by 180 ° from this initial phase. In this embodiment, the initial phase of the positioning groove 126 is determined based on the circumferential center of one of the leg plates 124 (lower in the figure).

On the inner peripheral side of the leg plate 124 of the inner peripheral side block 114, as shown in FIG.
The holding member 60 is stored. This LD holding member 60
The radius of curvature of the outer peripheral surface is slightly smaller than the radius of curvature of the inner peripheral surface of the leg plate 124, and the inner peripheral side block 114 rotatably supports the inner peripheral side of the leg plate 124.
Further, the LD holding member 60 causes the inclination reference surface 66 to abut against the positioning surface 125 of the inner peripheral side block 114 by the urging force of the coil spring 96, and the adjustment protrusion 100 protruding from the inclination reference surface 66 into the positioning groove 126. And the tip of the adjustment protrusion 100 is brought into contact with the slide surface 128. In the present embodiment, the positioning groove 126
Are provided as a part of the positioning surface 125.

On the other hand, the outer peripheral block 116 has a thin disk-shaped flange portion 130. As shown in FIG. 11, a circular opening 132 corresponding to the fitting portion 118 is opened in the center of the flange portion 130, as shown in FIG. Flange part 13
0, the stepped portion 13 that is concave toward the front (in the traveling direction of the laser beam L) at the outer peripheral edge of the circular opening 132.
4 are formed.

As shown in FIG. 11, a pair of arms 136 projecting from the outer peripheral portion of the flange portion 130 in the radial direction to the opposite sides are formed on the outer peripheral side block 116. Each has an insertion hole 136A penetrating in the axial direction. Further, on the rear end face of the flange portion 130, leg plates 138 extending rearward along the axial direction are provided at both ends in the radial direction. The pair of leg plates 138 is disposed at a position shifted by 90 ° from the arm 132 in the circumferential direction about the axis SH, and is curved with a constant radius of curvature about the axis SH. The rear end surface of the leg plate 138 is provided with a screw hole 138A.

As shown in FIG. 9, the circular opening 132 of the outer peripheral block 116
Fourteen insertion portions 118 are inserted, and the insertion portions 118
Project forward from the distal end surface of the outer peripheral block 116 through the circular opening 132. This fitting portion 118 is fitted into the circular opening 22B (see FIG. 2) of the LD mounting portion 22, as in the case of the LD mounting structure 50 according to the first embodiment.
The outer peripheral block 116 has a through hole 136 of the arm 136.
A is inserted and screwed into the screw hole 22A, and is fastened and fixed to the LD mounting portion 22 by a screw (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 9, the inner peripheral block 114 has a slide portion 122 slidably fitted into a step portion 134 of the outer peripheral block 116. Thus, the inner peripheral block 114 can rotate relative to the outer peripheral block 116. FIG. 9 shows a state in which the inner peripheral block 114 and the outer peripheral block 116 are integrally assembled.
As shown in the figure, in the axial direction, the positions of the rear end surface of the leg plate 124 and the rear end surface of the leg plate 138 coincide with each other, and the rear end surface of the leg plate 124 is fixed to the rear end surface of the leg plate 138 by screws 94 and fixed. 92 is pressed.

Therefore, when the driver board 92 is fastened and fixed to the leg plate 138 of the outer peripheral block 116,
The inner peripheral side block 114 includes the leg plate 124 and the driver board 9.
2 is restricted in the rotation direction by the frictional force with
Is loosened from the frictional force and becomes rotatable.

The adjustment protrusion 100 of the LD holding member 60 has a projection length from the inclination reference surface 66 at the bottom dead center 1 of the positioning groove 126.
26A is equal to the groove depth. As a result, the adjustment protrusion 100 is moved to the bottom dead center 126 of the positioning groove 126.
9A, the distal end of the positioning protrusion 102 is positioned on the sliding surface 128 of the positioning groove 126 as shown in FIG.
And the coil spring 96
The biasing force causes the quasi-base surface 66 to come into pressure contact with the positioning surface 125 in a surface contact state. As a result, the LD 16 is positioned at the initial position in the tilt direction, and the axis S of the LD 16 and the axis SH of the housing 112 match.

When the LD holding member 60 rotates relative to the inner peripheral side block 114 from the position shown in FIG. 9 and the adjustment protrusion 100 moves from the bottom dead center, as shown in FIG. Of the positioning projection 102 and the inclined quasi-base surface 66 both press against the positioning surface 125. Thereby, the axis S of the LD 16 is
The adjustment protrusion 100 is inclined with respect to the axis SH of the housing 112 by an angle corresponding to the amount of rotation from the bottom dead center 126A of the LD holding member 60, moves away from the bottom dead center 126A of the positioning groove 125, and When the inclination increases and the adjustment protrusion 100 moves to the top dead center 126B, the inclination of the axis S of the LD 16 becomes maximum.

In the LD mounting structure 50 of the present embodiment,
As shown in FIG. 10, the axis S of the LD 16 is
When the inner peripheral side block 114 is relatively rotated with respect to the outer peripheral side block 116 in the case where the inner peripheral side block 114 is tilted with respect to the axial center SH, the axial center S of the LD 16 has a conical locus about the axial center SH. Perform a drawing exercise, a so-called squirting exercise (Fig. 5
(B)). Thus, when the inner peripheral block 116 is rotated, the direction of the inclination of the axis S with respect to the axis SH (correction direction) is maintained without changing the magnitude of the inclination of the axis S with respect to the axis SH (correction angle). Can be set in any direction.

Next, the operation of the LD mounting structure 110 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described.

In the inspection process of the optical scanning device 10, a laser beam
When the L-axis tilt is detected, the driver driver board 92
Is slightly loosened to fasten to the leg plate 138 of the outer peripheral block 116, and a pair of leg plates 124 and 138
A tool (not shown) for adjusting the correction angle is inserted into the inner peripheral side of the housing leg plate 124 from between the positions, and the tool is engaged with the LD holding member 60 to thereby place the LD holding member 60 in the positioning groove 126.
From the bottom dead center 126A to the top dead center 126B. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, the axis S of the LD 16 is
Tilt by the correction angle corresponding to the amount of rotation of. Here, LD16
As in the case of the optical axis tilt adjustment in the first embodiment, if the coordinate point at which the light quantity peaks is detected by the optical axis adjustment area sensor, the coordinate point corresponding to this light quantity peak Can be estimated from

If the axis S of the LD 16 is inclined with respect to the axis SH of the housing 112, a tool (not shown) for adjusting the correction direction is inserted between the pair of leg plates 124.
And insert the tool into the leg plate 1 of the inner peripheral side block 114.
24 to rotate the inner peripheral side block 114 to a position corresponding to the correction direction. At this time, the correction direction is
As in the case of the optical axis tilt adjustment in the first embodiment,
If a coordinate point where the light amount reaches a peak is detected by the optical axis adjustment area sensor, it can be estimated from the coordinate point corresponding to the light amount peak, and the correction direction is not determined in advance and the LD 16
May be rotated once to stop the LD holding member 60 at a position where the highest light intensity is detected by the light receiving sensor.

As described above, according to the LD mounting structure 110 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the same functions and effects as those of the LD mounting structure 50 according to the first embodiment can be obtained. In addition, the axis S of the LD 16 is
It is not necessary to rotate the LD holding member 60 to a position corresponding to the work hole 97 of the driver board 92 when inclining with respect to the axis SH of the above, so that the work time required for the optical axis tilt adjustment can be reduced.

[0081]

As described above, according to the light emitting element mounting structure of the present invention, the tilt of the optical axis of the light emitting element can be accurately adjusted by a simple operation, and the tilt of the optical axis of the light emitting element can be adjusted. Since the structure is simple, the device cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state where an LD mounting structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention is disassembled along an axial direction.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an LD mounting structure according to a first embodiment of the present invention and an LD mounting portion to which the LD mounting structure is mounted.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the LD mounting structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line III-III shown in FIG. 2, showing a state before the optical axis tilt adjustment.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the present invention taken along line IV-IV shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the LD mounting structure according to the first embodiment, illustrating a state at the time of adjusting the tilt of the optical axis.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are a side view and a perspective view for explaining the movement of the axis of the LD at the time of adjusting the tilt of the optical axis in the LD mounting structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a configuration of an optical scanning device to which the LD mounting structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an LD mounting structure including a modified example of an adjustment protrusion and a positioning surface according to the first embodiment of the present invention, showing a state before an optical axis tilt adjustment.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of an LD mounting structure including a modification of the adjustment protrusion and the positioning surface according to the first embodiment of the present invention, showing a state at the time of adjusting the tilt of the optical axis.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of an LD mounting structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention, showing a state before an optical axis tilt adjustment.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of an LD mounting structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention, showing a state at the time of optical axis tilt adjustment.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a structure of a housing having a two-part structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a correlation diagram showing a relationship between a groove depth and a position (phase) in a circumferential direction in a positioning groove according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 10 optical scanning device (optical device) 16 LD (light emitting element) 50 LD mounting structure (light emitting element mounting structure) 54 fitting portion (outer shell portion) 58 flange portion (outer shell portion) 60 LD holding member (holding member) 66 Inclination reference surface 70 Screw hole (adjustment means) 72 Set screw (adjustment projection, adjustment means) 78 Housing (light emitting element mounting body) 100 adjustment projection 102 projection storage section

Claims (3)

[Claims] A light-emitting element having a cylindrical outer shell for emitting a light beam from one end face of the outer shell; a light-emitting element fitted to the outer shell for holding the light-emitting element; A holding member provided with a tilt reference surface along a circumferential direction with respect to the axis of the adjusting member; an adjusting protrusion protruding from the tilt reference surface along the axial direction of the outer shell portion; A positioning surface that abuts against a surface to position the light emitting element at a reference position in a tilt direction, abuts against the tilt reference surface and the adjustment protrusion and tilts the light emitting element from the reference position, and the holding member is provided. And a light emitting element mounting body rotatably mounted around the axis. 2. The light-emitting element mounting structure according to claim 1, further comprising an adjusting unit configured to adjust a length of the adjustment protrusion protruding from the inclination reference plane. 3. A recessed projection housing portion, wherein the adjustment projection is separated from the positioning surface when the adjustment projection is inserted into the positioning surface, and the adjustment projection comes into contact with the positioning surface when the adjustment projection is released. The light emitting element mounting structure according to claim 1, further comprising: