JP2001174742A - Color image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain a color image forming device which can easily improve the relative position precision of an image carrier (or a process cartridge) to an optical scanner and can be made compact as the whole. SOLUTION: Plural pairs of optical scanners 2 and image carriers 4 corresponding to them are provided, and a luminous flux emitted from each optical scanner is transmitted onto the surface of a corresponding image carrier, and the surface of this image carrier is scanned to form images of different color light on the surface of the image carrier, and a color image is formed from images formed on the surfaces of plural image carriers. In this color image forming device, each of plural optical scanners has a holding member 17 which holds the optical scanner, and the relative position of the optical scanner to the corresponding image carrier is controlled by this holding member.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a color image forming apparatus using a plurality of optical scanning devices, and more particularly, to an optical scanning device and a corresponding image carrier (or a process cartridge) provided by a holding member for holding the optical scanning device. The present invention relates to a compact color image forming apparatus capable of easily improving the relative position accuracy between the optical scanning device and the image carrier (or the process cartridge) by regulating the relative position of the color image forming device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a color image forming apparatus has a plurality of photosensitive members (for example, Y (yellow),
(Magenta), C (cyan), and BK (black)
The light beam (laser light) is blinked by each optical scanning device corresponding to each photoconductor based on image information of each color,
A desired color image is formed by forming an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductor of each color and superimposing toner images developed by developing means on a single transfer medium sequentially. At this time, if an image superimposed on a single transfer medium shifts for each color (hereinafter, referred to as “color shift”), a desired output image such as a change in hue or color unevenness occurs. The problem that it cannot be obtained arises.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a pattern of the above image shift. In the figure, a straight line a indicates a reference scanning line, and a broken line b indicates a shifted scanning line. In the drawing, the inclination of the scanning line, the half-magnification, the top margin deviation, the left edge registration deviation, the magnification, and the scanning line curvature, and the image deviation is caused by the combination of these six patterns.

Conventionally, in order to correct such image misalignment, a registration misregistration patch image for misregistration detection is formed on a transfer medium at power-on or in a print cycle, and the misregistration patch image is used as a registration detection means. By reading with a CCD (line sensor), the relative shift amount from the reference color is detected. Two CCDs are arranged at both ends of the image forming effective area on the transfer medium, and the inclination of the scanning line of each optical scanning device is detected by detecting an image shift at two points.

Conventionally, in order to adjust the inclination of the scanning line, for example, in Japanese Patent No. 2672313, the inclination of the scanning line is adjusted by moving a pair of folding mirrors based on the detection result from the CCD. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 10
In JP-A-186255, this is performed by rotating a cylindrical mirror.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a main part when a plurality of optical scanning devices and photosensitive members are attached to a color image forming apparatus main body.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of optical scanning devices (scanner units) 92 (92a to 92d) and a photosensitive member 9 are provided.
4 (94a to 94d) are independently attached to the color image forming apparatus main body 91. The color image forming apparatus includes a developing unit 93 (93a to 93d),
(94a-94d), and in order to perform maintenance of the intermediate transfer medium 95, for example, an alligator structure is employed as shown in FIG.

[0008]

However, the above-described conventional color image forming apparatus has the following various problems.

Since a plurality of optical scanning devices and photoconductors are independently mounted on the main body of the color image forming apparatus, relative positional errors due to mounting play are large, resulting in magnification deviation and single magnification. Since the displacement due to the mounting backlash cannot be corrected, an optical scanning optical system having a long focal length is employed in order to reduce the magnification displacement and the one-side magnification to desired values. Therefore, the size of the entire apparatus has been increased.

When a crocodile structure is employed for maintenance, for example, it is necessary to increase the precision of components in order to suppress the relative positional deviation between the plurality of optical scanning devices and the photosensitive members. For this reason, the entire apparatus has been complicated and the cost has been increased.

Since a plurality of folding mirrors are used, the entire apparatus tends to be complicated, and the required surface accuracy of the mirror tends to be high.

[0012] Cylindrical mirrors are expensive and difficult to manufacture, resulting in high costs.

According to the present invention, the relative position between the optical scanning device and the image carrier is regulated by regulating the relative position between the optical scanning device and the corresponding image carrier by a holding member for holding the optical scanning device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a color image forming apparatus capable of easily improving the accuracy, reducing the size of the entire apparatus, and easily adjusting the scanning line inclination and the one-side magnification by using a holding member.

Further, according to the present invention, the relative position accuracy between the optical scanning device and the process cartridge is controlled by regulating the relative position between the optical scanning device and the corresponding process cartridge by a holding member for holding the optical scanning device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a color image forming apparatus which can be easily improved, can be made more compact, and can easily adjust a scanning line inclination and a one-sided magnification by a holding member.

[0015]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color image forming apparatus, wherein a plurality of pairs of an optical scanning device and an image carrier corresponding to the optical scanning device are provided, and a light beam emitted from each optical scanning device is corresponded to each other. Light on the surface of the image carrier, and scans the surface of the image carrier to form images of different color light on the surface of the image carrier, and forms a color image from images formed on the plurality of image carrier surfaces. In the color image forming apparatus, the plurality of optical scanning devices each have a holding member for holding the optical scanning device, and the holding member regulates a relative position between the optical scanning device and the corresponding image carrier. It is characterized by doing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the holding member is elastically held by an elastic member.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, the holding member has means for adjusting a tilt of a scanning line of the optical scanning device.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first, second or third aspect of the present invention, the holding member has means for adjusting a magnification of the optical scanning device.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color image forming apparatus, comprising:
A plurality of sets of an optical scanning device and a process cartridge including an image carrier corresponding to the optical scanning device are provided, and a light beam emitted from each optical scanning device is guided onto the corresponding image carrier surface, and the image carrier surface is scanned. A color image forming apparatus that forms images of different color lights on the image carrier surface and forms a color image from the images formed on the plurality of image carrier surfaces; It has a holding member for holding the scanning device, and the holding member regulates a relative position between the optical scanning device and the corresponding process cartridge.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect, the holding member is elastically held by an elastic member.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the fifth or sixth aspect, the holding member has means for adjusting a tilt of a scanning line of the optical scanning device.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth, sixth or seventh aspect of the present invention, the holding member has a means for adjusting a magnification of the optical scanning device.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the present invention, the process cartridge is configured such that the image carrier and at least the developing means are integrally formed into a cartridge and can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. I have.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of photoconductors provided corresponding to colors to be developed;
A plurality of optical scanning devices arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of photoconductors and configured to scan by deflecting a light beam in a predetermined direction to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor; A plurality of developing means for developing each of the formed electrostatic latent images with a color material of a color corresponding to each photoconductor, and a transfer means for transferring each of the developed images of the respective colors to be superimposed on a transfer medium, In the color image forming apparatus having a plurality of optical scanning devices, each of the plurality of optical scanning devices has a holding member that holds the optical scanning device, and the relative position between the optical scanning device and the image carrier corresponding thereto is held by the holding member. The feature is that it is regulated.

According to an eleventh aspect, in the tenth aspect, the holding member is elastically held by an elastic member.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the tenth or eleventh aspect, the holding member has means for adjusting a tilt of a scanning line of the optical scanning device.

According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in the tenth, eleventh or twelfth aspect, the holding member has means for adjusting a magnification of the optical scanning device.

According to a fourteenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color image forming apparatus comprising: a plurality of photoconductors provided corresponding to colors to be developed;
A plurality of optical scanning devices arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of photoconductors and configured to scan by deflecting a light beam in a predetermined direction to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor; A plurality of developing means for developing each of the formed electrostatic latent images with a color material of a color corresponding to each photoconductor, and a transfer means for transferring each of the developed images of the respective colors to be superimposed on a transfer medium, Wherein the photoreceptor and the developing means are configured to be taken out as one process cartridge for each color, and the plurality of optical scanning devices are respectively holding members for holding the optical scanning devices. And the relative position between the optical scanning device and the corresponding process cartridge is regulated by the holding member.

According to a fifteenth aspect, in the fourteenth aspect, the holding member is elastically held by an elastic member.

According to a sixteenth aspect, in the fourteenth or fifteenth aspect, the holding member has means for adjusting a tilt of a scanning line of the optical scanning device.

According to a seventeenth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth aspects, the holding member has a means for adjusting a magnification of the optical scanning device.

[0032]

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of Embodiment 1 of a color image forming apparatus of the present invention.

In the figure, 2 (2a, 2b, 2c, 2
d) is an optical scanning device (scanner unit) having a configuration described later, and 4 (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) are photosensitive members (photosensitive drums) as image carriers. 3 (3a, 3b,
3c, 3d) are developing units as developing means,
Each of the electrostatic latent images formed on each photoconductor 4 is developed with a color material (cyan, magenta, yellow, black) corresponding to each photoconductor 4. 1 is a color image forming apparatus main body, 5
Is a transfer medium (intermediate transfer member). Reference numeral 6 denotes a registration detecting unit, which detects the relative shift amount from the reference color in each scanner unit 2. Reference numeral 7 denotes a fixing device. 17
(17a, 17b, 17c, 17d) are holding members according to the present embodiment, which hold the scanner unit 2, and regulate the relative position between the scanner unit 2 and the corresponding photosensitive member 4 as described later. are doing.

In the present embodiment, each light beam that has been light-modulated based on image information irradiates the corresponding photoreceptor 4 surface to form a latent image. This latent image is formed on the surface of the photoreceptor 4 which is uniformly charged by a primary charger (not shown). The developing unit 3 converts the latent image into a cyan, magenta, yellow, and black image, respectively. The transfer rollers 31 (31a, 31b, 31c, 3c) as transfer means are transferred to the transfer medium 5 conveyed on the transfer belt 33.
A color image is formed by sequentially performing electrostatic transfer according to 1d). Thereafter, residual toner remaining on the surface of the photoconductor 4 is removed by a cleaner (not shown),
It is uniformly charged again by the primary charger to form the next color image.

The transfer medium 5 is stacked on a sheet feed tray 32, is fed one by one by a sheet feed roller, and is sent out onto a transfer belt 33 by a registration roller in synchronization with an image writing timing. . A cyan image, a magenta image, a yellow image, and a black image formed on the surface of the photoconductor 4 while being accurately conveyed on the transfer belt 33 are sequentially transferred onto the transfer medium 5 to form a color image. It is formed. The color image formed on the transfer medium 5 is heat-fixed by the fixing device 7 and then conveyed by a paper discharge roller or the like and output outside the apparatus main body 1.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main portion showing a crocodile structure of the color image forming apparatus of the present embodiment. In FIG.
The same elements as those shown in FIG.

In the present embodiment, an alligator structure is employed for maintenance, and the scanner unit 2 and the developing unit 3 are separated from the parts below.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a main part showing one scanner unit 2a and a corresponding photosensitive member 4a.
In the figure, the same elements as those shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 8 denotes a light source unit, for example, a light source means composed of a semiconductor laser, a collimator lens for converting a light beam emitted from the light source means into a substantially parallel light beam, and an aperture stop for limiting a passing light beam (light quantity). And Reference numeral 9 denotes a cylindrical lens having a predetermined refractive power only in the sub-scanning direction, and forms a light beam emitted from the light source unit 8 as a substantially linear image on a deflecting surface of an optical deflector described later in the sub-scanning cross section. Let me. Reference numeral 10 denotes an optical deflector as a deflecting element, for example, a polygon mirror (rotating polygon mirror), which is rotated at a constant speed in a direction indicated by an arrow A in the figure by a driving means (not shown) such as a motor. Reference numeral 11 denotes an fθ lens system having fθ characteristics, and the first and second two fθ lenses
It has lenses 11a and 11b.

In the scanner unit 2a shown in the figure, a divergent light beam emitted from a semiconductor laser is converted into a substantially parallel light beam by a collimator lens, and the light beam (light amount) is restricted by an aperture stop and is incident on a cylindrical lens 9. . Of the substantially parallel light beam incident on the cylindrical lens 9, the light beam is emitted as it is in the main scanning section. In the sub-scan section, the light converges and converges.
The image is substantially formed as a line image (a line image elongated in the main scanning direction) on the 0 deflection surface. The light flux reflected and deflected by the deflecting surface of the optical deflector 10 is guided onto the surface of the photoconductor 4a via the fθ lens system 11, and the optical deflector 10 is rotated in the direction of arrow A to thereby rotate the photoconductor. Optical scanning is performed in the direction of arrow B on the surface 4a. Then, as described above, for example, C (cyan), M
(Magenta), Y (yellow), and B (black) latent images are formed on the corresponding photoconductor 4 surface.
To form a single full-color image.

FIG. 4 shows a holding member 17a according to this embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a main part configuration diagram showing the configuration of FIG. 2, showing a state in which the relative position between the scanner unit 2a and the photoconductor 4a is regulated by a holding member 17a.

In the figure, the holding member 17a is elastically held by a plurality of elastic members 19 such as a spring and a leaf spring, and is fixed to the shaft 20 of the photosensitive member 4a by pressing it through a bearing (not shown) or the like. It is configured to: Thereby, in this embodiment, the scanner unit 2a
It is possible to maintain the relative positional accuracy between the photoconductor 4a and the photoconductor 4a.

The scanner unit 2a is arranged on a unit holder 18 as shown in FIG. 3, and can be adjusted in the X-axis rotation direction in the figure by a pair of hinges 12 as a holding member and first adjusting means 13 and the like. Is configured. In the present embodiment, the inclination of the scanning line can be adjusted by this adjustment mechanism based on the information of the registration detecting means 6 shown in FIG.

The unit holder 18 comprises a shaft 14 as a holding member, an elastic member 15 and a second adjusting means 16.
The configuration is such that adjustment can be made in the Z-axis rotation direction in the drawing. In the present embodiment, the one-side magnification can be adjusted by the adjusting mechanism based on the information of the registration detecting unit 6.

In this embodiment, the top margin shift,
The left end registration deviation is adjusted by electrically shifting the timing. The magnification is electrically adjusted by slightly changing the pixel clock.
An adjustment mechanism can be provided for the scanning line curvature depending on the required performance.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the relative position between the scanner unit 2 and the corresponding photosensitive member 4 is regulated by the holding member 17 for holding the scanner unit 2 as described above, so that the scanner unit 2 The relative positional accuracy with respect to the photoreceptor 4 can be easily improved, and the color misregistration can be prevented by adjusting the scanning line inclination and the one-side magnification by using the holding member 17. I have an output image.

In this embodiment, the color image forming apparatus is constituted by a straight path which does not use a return mirror. However, the present invention is not limited to this. 2
A folding mirror may be arranged inside. Thereby, the size of the entire apparatus can be further reduced.

In this embodiment, the scanner unit 2
Although the color image forming apparatus provided with a plurality of pairs of the photoconductor 4 and the corresponding photoconductor 4 has been described, it is needless to say that the present invention can be applied to a single scanner unit including the photoconductor.

(Embodiment 2) FIGS. 5 to 10 are sectional views of a main part of a color image forming apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. 5 to 10, the same elements as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

This embodiment is different from the above-described first embodiment in that the photosensitive member and the developing unit are one process cartridge 21 (21a, 21b, 21c, 2) for each color.
1d), and the relative position between the scanner unit 2 and the process cartridge 21 is regulated by the holding member 17 for holding the scanner unit 2. Other configurations and optical functions are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment, and thus, similar effects are obtained. Each of the process cartridges 21 is configured such that the photosensitive member 4 and at least the developing unit 3 are integrally formed as a cartridge as described above and can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the main body of the color image forming apparatus of this embodiment, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a crocodile structure for maintenance, and FIG. Corresponding process cartridge 2
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a state where the scanner unit 2a is held by the holding member 17a. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a process cartridge 21a. FIG. 2 is a main part configuration diagram showing a configuration of one scanner unit 2a.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 6, the scanner unit 2 and the parts including the process cartridge 21 are separated.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, a holding member 17 elastically held by a plurality of elastic members 19 is provided.
a and the process cartridge 21a are in contact with each other, and the holding member 17a and the process cartridge 21a
a are positioned by positioning pins 23.
Thus, in the present embodiment, the relative position accuracy between the scanner unit 2a and the process cartridge 21a can be maintained by the holding member 17a. The holding member 17a and the photoconductor 4a may be configured to be in contact with each other.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, the light beam reflected and deflected by the optical deflector 10 and passed through the fθ lens system 11 is bent toward the photoreceptor 4a by the turning mirror 22 to reduce the size of the entire apparatus. ing.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the holding member 17a has the shaft 14, the elastic member 15, the second adjusting means 16, and the like.
It is configured to be adjustable in the shaft rotation direction. In the present embodiment, the one-side magnification can be adjusted by the adjusting mechanism based on the information of the registration detecting unit 6. Further, the holding member 17a in this embodiment has a pair of hinges (not shown) and first adjusting means (not shown) as in the first embodiment, and is configured so that these elements can be adjusted in the X-axis rotation direction in the figure. Have been. With this adjusting mechanism, the inclination of the scanning line can be adjusted based on the information of the registration detecting means 6.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the relative position between the scanner unit 2 and the corresponding process cartridge 21 is regulated by the holding member 17 for holding the scanner unit 2 as described above, so that the scanner unit 2 The relative positional accuracy with respect to the process cartridge 21 can be easily improved, and the color misregistration can be prevented by adjusting the scanning line inclination and adjusting the one-side magnification using the holding member 17. An output image can be obtained.

[0057]

According to the present invention, as described above, the relative position between the optical scanning device and the corresponding image carrier is regulated by the holding member for retaining the optical scanning device. A color image forming apparatus that can easily improve the relative positional accuracy with respect to the body, can reduce the size of the apparatus as a whole, and can easily adjust the inclination of the scanning line and the one-side magnification using the holding member. can do.

According to the present invention, the relative position between the optical scanning device and the corresponding process cartridge is regulated by the holding member for holding the optical scanning device as described above. It is possible to easily improve the positional accuracy, to reduce the size of the entire apparatus, and to achieve a color image forming apparatus in which the adjustment of the scanning line inclination and the adjustment of the one-side magnification can be easily performed by the holding member. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a main part of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a main part showing a crocodile structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a main configuration diagram showing the configuration of a scanner unit and a holding member according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a main part configuration diagram showing a configuration of a holding member according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a main part according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an essential part cross-sectional view showing a crocodile structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a scanner unit and a process cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where the scanner unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention is held by a holding member.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing a cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory view showing a cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a main part of a conventional color image forming apparatus.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view of a main part showing a crocodile structure of a conventional color image forming apparatus.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram for explaining image misalignment.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Color image forming apparatus main body 2 (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) Optical scanning device (scanner unit) 3 (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) Developing unit 4 (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) Image carrier (photosensitive Body) 5 transfer medium 6 registration detecting means 7 fixing device 8 light source unit 9 cylindrical lens 10 optical deflector 11 fθ lens system 12 hinge 13 first adjusting means 14 shaft 15 elastic member 16 second adjusting means 17 (17a, 17b) , 17c, 17d) Holding member 18 Unit holder 19 Elastic member 20 Shaft 21 (21a, 21b, 21c, 21d) Process cartridge 22 Folding mirror 23 Positioning pin 31 (31a, 31b, 31c, 31d) Transfer roller 32 Feed tray 33 Transfer belt

Claims (17)

[Claims] A plurality of sets of an optical scanning device and a corresponding image carrier are provided, and a light beam emitted from each of the optical scanning devices is guided on a corresponding image carrier surface, and the light beam is emitted from the image carrier surface. Scanning to form images of different colored light on the image carrier surface,
In a color image forming apparatus for forming a color image from images formed on the plurality of image carriers, the plurality of optical scanning devices each have a holding member that holds the optical scanning device, and the light is emitted by the holding member. A color image forming apparatus wherein a relative position between a scanning device and the corresponding image carrier is regulated. 2. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said holding member is elastically held by an elastic member. 3. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said holding member has means for adjusting a tilt of a scanning line of said optical scanning device. 4. A color image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said holding member has means for adjusting a magnification of said optical scanning device. 5. A plurality of sets of an optical scanning device and a process cartridge including an image carrier corresponding thereto are provided, and a light beam emitted from each optical scanning device is guided on a corresponding image carrier surface, and the image is formed. A color image forming apparatus that scans the surface of the image carrier to form images of different color light on the image carrier surface and forms a color image from the images formed on the plurality of image carrier surfaces; A color image forming apparatus, wherein each device has a holding member for holding the optical scanning device, and the holding member regulates a relative position between the optical scanning device and the corresponding process cartridge. 6. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said holding member is elastically held by an elastic member. 7. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said holding member has means for adjusting a tilt of a scanning line of said optical scanning device. 8. A color image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said holding member has means for adjusting a magnification of said optical scanning device. 9. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the process cartridge is configured such that the image carrier and at least the developing unit are integrally formed into a cartridge and can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. 10. A plurality of photoconductors provided corresponding to a color to be developed, and a plurality of photoconductors are arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of photoconductors, and are scanned by deflecting a light beam in a predetermined direction. A plurality of optical scanning devices for forming an electrostatic latent image on a body, a plurality of developing means for developing each of the electrostatic latent images formed on each of the photoconductors with a color material of a color corresponding to each of the photoconductors, Transfer means for transferring each of the developed images of the respective colors on a transfer medium in a superimposed manner, wherein the plurality of optical scanning devices each have a holding member for holding the optical scanning device, A color image forming apparatus, wherein a relative position between the optical scanning device and the corresponding image carrier is regulated by the holding member. 11. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said holding member is elastically held by an elastic member. 12. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said holding member has means for adjusting a tilt of a scanning line of said optical scanning device. 13. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said holding member has a unit for adjusting a magnification of said optical scanning device. 14. A plurality of photoconductors provided corresponding to a color to be developed, and a plurality of photoconductors are arranged corresponding to each of the plurality of photoconductors, and are scanned by deflecting a light beam in a predetermined direction. A plurality of optical scanning devices for forming an electrostatic latent image on a body, a plurality of developing means for developing each of the electrostatic latent images formed on each of the photoconductors with a color material of a color corresponding to each of the photoconductors, Transfer means for transferring the developed images of each color onto a transfer medium in a superimposed manner, wherein the photosensitive member and the developing means can be taken out as one process cartridge for each color. Wherein each of the plurality of optical scanning devices has a holding member for holding the optical scanning device, and the holding member regulates a relative position between the optical scanning device and the corresponding process cartridge. Features Over the image forming apparatus. 15. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said holding member is elastically held by an elastic member. 16. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said holding member has means for adjusting a tilt of a scanning line of said optical scanning device. 17. The color image forming apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said holding member has means for adjusting a magnification of said optical scanning device.