JP2002287063A - Optical scanner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate the assembling operation and mounting operation for an optical scanner, to reduce the size of a substrate for connection which is provided with a harness for connection with an image forming device main body, and to prevent a wire from being broken and so on owing to the forcible bending of the harness connected to a connector of the substrate for connection. SOLUTION: An optical scanning substrate 10 is arranged on a side wall 231a of a housing 231, a connection connector 10a for connecting a harness 220h for a polygon mirror which outputs a signal to a polygon motor and a connection connector 10b for connecting a harness 228h for a BD sensor are provided at the end part of the optical scanning substrate 10 in the direction wherein the side wall of the casing 231 connects, and a connection connector 10c for a harness 10h for main body connection is provided at the lower end part as the other end of the optical scanning substrate 10.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is used in an image recording apparatus such as a laser printer or a digital copying machine for recording an image by exposing and scanning a laser beam on a photosensitive drum according to image information. The present invention relates to an optical scanning device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an optical scanning device is designed so as to be as thin as possible in a height direction. Therefore, a substrate disposed on a side wall surface of a housing of the optical scanning device is mounted on the housing of the optical scanning device. The shape is long in the direction in which the side wall surfaces are continuous and short in the height direction of the optical scanning device.

[0003] An optical scanning device having a structure in which a harness for connecting an image forming apparatus main body on which the optical scanning device is mounted and the optical scanning device is provided on a substrate disposed on the side wall surface of the housing (actual flat type 6).
In JP-A-43617, a harness is provided between the optical component and an electrical component mounted on the optical scanning device to mutually transmit signals and supply power. For example, it receives a signal from a laser beam detection sensor and transmits a signal for controlling the start and stop of a drive motor for a polygon mirror.

Further, in the optical scanning device disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 6-43617, a substrate provided on a side wall surface of the optical scanning device and provided with a harness for connecting the image forming apparatus main body and the optical scanning device is provided. Reference numeral 41) in FIG. 1 indicates that a connector for connecting a harness for transmitting a signal from a laser beam detection sensor is provided at an end in a direction in which the side wall surfaces are continuous, and an image forming apparatus main body is provided at the opposite end. A connector for a harness to be connected is provided. Further, the semiconductor laser and its driving circuit are provided on a substrate provided with a harness connected to the image forming apparatus main body. This actual Kaihei 6-4
Japanese Patent No. 3617 does not disclose a harness of a driving motor for a polygon mirror. However, in order to connect a harness for a driving motor for a polygon mirror, a harness is separately provided and connected to the image forming apparatus main body or a substrate. It is necessary to provide a harness connector for the drive motor of the polygon mirror at the center of the above.

[0005]

According to the optical scanning device disclosed in the above publication, if a harness for a driving motor for the polygon mirror is separately provided, a plurality of harnesses are provided for connecting the optical scanning device and the image forming apparatus main body. This necessitates the problem that the number of operations increases when the optical scanning device is mounted.

In addition, when a harness connector for a driving motor for a polygon mirror is provided at the center of the board, the connector hinders the arrangement of the circuit on the board, which complicates the circuit configuration and increases the size of the board. There was a problem of doing. In addition, when the size of the substrate is increased, the substrate cannot be arranged on the side wall of the optical scanning device, so that it is difficult to mount the substrate when assembling the optical scanning device, which causes a problem that the assembling work becomes difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and has as its object to simplify the work of assembling and mounting an optical scanning device, and to provide a connection provided with a harness for connection to an image forming apparatus main body. It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical scanning device capable of reducing the size of a substrate for use and preventing occurrence of disconnection or the like due to excessive bending of a harness connected to a connector of the connection substrate.

[0008]

In order to solve the above problems, an optical scanning apparatus according to the present invention comprises a semiconductor laser, a polygon mirror for reflecting a beam from the semiconductor laser, and a polygon for controlling the rotation of the polygon mirror. Motor and
Light receiving means for receiving a part of the beam reflected by the polygon mirror to determine a scanning start position when scanning the object to be scanned, and the semiconductor laser, the polygon mirror, the polygon motor and the light receiving means In the optical scanning device held in the housing, the optical scanning substrate is disposed on a side wall of the housing, and a connector for connecting a signal line for outputting a signal to the polygon motor and the connector. A connection connector for connecting a signal line for inputting a signal from a light receiving unit is provided at each end of the optical scanning substrate in a direction in which a side wall of the housing is continuous, and the optical scanning device and the optical scanning device are connected to each other. The connector of the signal line that connects to the other device to be installed is
The optical scanning substrate is provided at another end.

According to the present invention having such features,
The number of connectors for connecting the optical scanning device and the image forming apparatus main body is increased, so that the number of mounting operations of the optical scanning device can be prevented from increasing and the work becomes complicated, and the substrate on which the connection harness is provided can be reduced in size. It becomes possible. Further, by arranging the substrate on the side wall of the optical scanning device, the mounting of the substrate is easy at the time of assembling the optical scanning device, and the assembling work is simplified.

According to the optical device of the present invention, when the other end of the optical scanning substrate is located on the lower surface side of the optical scanning device, the connector provided at the other end is connected to the other end. A prevention member for preventing excessive bending of the connected signal line is provided integrally with the housing.

According to the present invention having such features,
Even if the connector is placed on the lower side of the board, when the optical scanning device is placed on a flat surface, the harness, which is the signal line, is excessively bent, and breakage etc. occurs due to excessive force acting. Can be prevented. Thereby, it is possible to improve the reliability of the harness and extend the life.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 are views showing the overall configuration of an image forming apparatus provided with the optical scanning device of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view, and FIG. 4 is a detailed view around the photosensitive drum.

First, an outline of the image forming apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS.

The function of the image forming apparatus 1 is expanded by connecting the scanner 3, the automatic document feeder 4, the sheet post-processing device 5, the multi-stage paper feed unit 6 and the relay feed unit 8 with the printer 2 as the center. Has been done.

The scanner 3 is supported on a system rack 7 together with the automatic document feeder 4 disposed above the scanner 3, and is disposed above the printer 2 and the sheet post-processing device 5.

Hereinafter, each device will be described briefly.

The printer 2 records and outputs the image read by the scanner 3 and, when an image processing device (externally connected device) such as a personal computer is connected, records image data from the externally connected device. Output. In the printer 2, an electrophotographic processing unit 20 having a drum-shaped photosensitive drum 200 as a center is disposed substantially on the right side of the center of the image forming apparatus main body.

As shown in FIG. 4, around the photosensitive drum 200, a charging roller 201 for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 200, and a uniformly charged photosensitive drum 2
An optical scanning device 22 for writing an electrostatic latent image by scanning an optical image thereon, a developing unit 202 for developing the electrostatic latent image written by the optical scanning device 22 with a developer, and a photosensitive drum A transfer unit 203 for transferring an image stored and reproduced on the paper 200 onto paper and a developer remaining on the photosensitive drum 200 can be removed to record a new image on the photosensitive drum 200 Cleaning unit 204, a charge removing lamp unit (not shown) for removing charges from the surface of the photosensitive drum 200, and the like.

The optical scanning device 22 includes a semiconductor laser 221.
(See FIG. 1), a polygon mirror 220 that reflects the laser beam from the semiconductor laser 221, and an fθ lens 223 (223) that acts so that the laser beam reflected by the polygon mirror 220 scans the photosensitive drum 200 at a constant speed.
a, 223b), various mirrors 224, 225, and the like.

The semiconductor laser 221 emits a laser beam in accordance with image data read by the scanner 3 described later and stored in an image memory or image data transferred from an externally connected device such as a personal computer or a facsimile terminal. ,
An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed on the photosensitive drum 200.

Below the main body of the printer 2, there is arranged a paper supply unit 21 provided inside the main body of the printer 2. The paper supply unit 21 includes a paper storage tray 210 that stores paper.
And a separating / supplying unit 211 for separately supplying the sheets stored in the sheet storage tray 210 one by one.
The paper separated and supplied one by one from the paper supply unit 21 is sequentially supplied between the photosensitive drum 200 and the transfer unit 203 of the electrophotographic process unit 20, and the photosensitive drum 2
The image recorded and reproduced on the image No. 00 is transferred. The paper supply to the paper supply unit 21 is performed by pulling out the paper storage tray 210 to the front side of the printer 2 main body.

On the lower surface of the main body of the printer 2, paper sent from a multi-stage paper feed unit 6 or the like prepared as a peripheral device is received, and the paper is transferred between the photosensitive drum 200 of the electrophotographic process unit 20 and the transfer unit 203. A paper receiving port 27 for sequentially feeding the paper is provided.

A fixing device 23 is disposed above the electrophotographic process section 20. The fixing device 23 sequentially receives the sheets on which the images have been transferred, and heats and fixes the developer transferred on the sheets to the outside of the fixing device 23. And send out the paper.

The sheet on which the image is recorded is transferred from the discharge roller 28 of the printer 2 to the relay conveyance unit 8 on the upper surface of the main body of the printer 2.

In the upper and lower spaces of the optical scanning device 22, a process control unit (PCU) board for controlling an electrophotographic process, a printer control unit 24 for accommodating an interface board for receiving image data from an externally connected device, an interface board An image control unit 25 provided with an image control unit (ICU) substrate for performing predetermined image processing on image data received from the company and scanning and recording as an image by the optical scanning device 22; And a power supply unit 26 for supplying power to the power supply.

The multi-stage paper supply unit 6 is an external paper supply device, and separates the papers stored in the paper storage tray 610 one by one by a separation feeding unit 611. The paper is supplied toward the paper discharge port 62 communicating with the second paper receiver □ 27. In the image forming apparatus of the present embodiment, three sheet supply units 61, 61, 61
The sheets are arranged in a stacked state, and during operation, the sheet supply unit 61 containing desired sheets selectively operates. The paper supply to the paper supply unit 61 is performed by pulling out the paper storage tray 610 to the front side of the unit main body.

The multi-stage paper feed unit 6 is configured so that the printer 2 and the sheet post-processing device 5 are placed on the upper part. A moving roller 63 and a fixed portion 64 are provided at a lower portion so as to be able to be provided. At the time of movement, the fixed portion 64 is rotated to ascend to separate the fixed portion 64 from the floor surface, and at the time of fixation, the fixed portion 64 is rotated to descend to contact the fixed portion 64 with the floor surface, thereby forming a multi-stage. The paper feed unit 6 is fixed. Although the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment is described as an apparatus in which three paper supply units 61 are stacked, various types such as a multi-stage paper supply unit including at least one or more paper supply units 61 are used. There are things.

The sheet post-processing device 5 guides the sheet on which the image discharged from the relay conveyance unit 8 or the printer 2 is recorded at the upper part of the device by the carry-in roller pair 50, and
Post-processing is performed on the paper.

The post-processing includes staple processing, sorting processing, and the like. The image forming apparatus of this embodiment has three paper discharge trays 51 (51a to 51c), and gates 52 and 53 are provided as necessary. By switching, the discharge tray 51 for discharging the paper is selected. For example, the upper discharge tray 51a is used for discharging sheets in the copy mode,
The middle discharge tray 51b can be used for discharging paper in the print mode, and the lower discharge tray 51c can be used for discharging paper in the facsimile print mode. ing.

The scanner 3 automatically supplies a sheet document by the automatic document feeder 4, sequentially exposes and scans one sheet at a time to read a document image, and a book document or an automatic document. A manual reading mode for reading a document image by manually setting a document on a sheet that cannot be automatically supplied by the transport device 4 is provided. The image of the document set on the transparent document table 30 is exposed and scanned by a first scanning unit 31 and a second scanning unit 32 that move along the document table 30 at a predetermined speed relationship with each other. The original image is converted into an electrical signal and output after being guided by an optical component such as a mirror or an image forming lens 33 to form an image on the photoelectric conversion element 34.

The automatic document feeder 4 feeds the document placed on the document set tray 40 toward the document table 30 and discharges the scanned document onto the document discharge tray 42. It has. Also, the automatic document feeder 4 can rotate upward with the back side of the image forming apparatus as a fulcrum so that a document on a sheet that cannot be automatically supplied can be placed on the document table 30 and scanned. , The front side of the image forming apparatus is configured to be open.

The relay transport unit 8 is mounted on a paper discharge tray 9 provided on the top of the printer 2 and
This is a transport unit for introducing a sheet on which an image discharged from the printer is recorded toward a sheet post-processing device 5 located downstream of the printer 2. From the middle of the sheet conveyance path 84 of the relay conveyance unit 8, the sheet is transferred to the upper surface 82 of the relay conveyance unit 8 and the upper surface 5 of the sheet post-processing device 5.
4 separates another paper transport path 83 leading to the paper discharge tray 9. Two paper transport paths 83 and 84
Can be selected by switching a gate 81 disposed at a branch portion of the sheet transport path.

Next, an embodiment of the optical scanning device 22 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. However, FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an arrangement of main optical components of the optical scanning device and an optical path of a light beam, and FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of main optical components of the optical scanning device shown in FIG.

First, the configuration of the optical system of the optical scanning device 22 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 1, the optical scanning device 22 basically includes a semiconductor laser 221 and a polygon mirror 220 that receives and reflects the laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser 221 to form a light beam on the photosensitive drum 200. Is a device for scanning a light beam. The polygon mirror 220 has a plurality of reflection surfaces in the rotation direction.

From the semiconductor laser 221 to the polygon mirror 2
Various optical components are arranged on an optical path up to 20 (hereinafter, referred to as an outward path) and an optical path from the polygon mirror 220 to the photosensitive drum 200 (hereinafter, referred to as a return path).
Here, the optical component disposed on the outward path is referred to as an outward optical system, and the optical component disposed on the return path is referred to as a scanning optical system.

The outward optical system includes a semiconductor laser 221 that emits laser light, a collimator lens 222 that converts the emitted laser light into parallel light, and a collimator lens 222.
A concave lens 222 (in FIG. 1, a collimator /
Lens and concave lens are shown in the same figure number), and
An aperture plate 226 for narrowing the laser beam transmitted through the concave lens 222 into a rectangular beam; a cylindrical lens 227 for focusing a vertical direction of the laser beam passing through the opening of the aperture plate 226 on the polygon mirror 220; and a cylindrical lens The mirror mirror 224 guides the laser light to the polygon mirror 220 by reflecting the laser light transmitted through the reflection mirror 227, and two fθ lenses 223a and 223b for shaping the laser light beam reflected by the reflection mirror 224. . The semiconductor laser 221, the collimator lens and the concave lens 222, and the aperture plate 226 are incorporated in the same lens barrel so as to be movable.

As shown in FIG. 2, the scanning optical system has a plurality of reflection surfaces about a rotation axis, and rotates the laser light about the rotation axis to mainly emit laser light incident from the outward optical system. Polygon mirror 2 that scans in the scanning direction
20 and the two fθ lenses 223 for eliminating spherical aberration on the photosensitive drum 200 (that is, the image surface).
a, 223b and these fθ lenses 223a, 223b
A reflection mirror 224 that reflects the laser light transmitted through the mirror 224 and a laser beam reflected by the reflection mirror 224 to the optical scanning device 22.
A cylindrical mirror 225 formed of a cylindrical surface for causing the polygon mirror 220 to perform surface tilt correction while being incident on the photosensitive drum 200 outside the
A BD sensor mirror 230 that guides a part of the laser beam reflected by the reflection mirror 224 to the BD sensor 228, a condenser lens 229 that collects the laser beam reflected by the BD sensor mirror 230, and a condenser lens 229 It comprises the BD sensor 228 as a horizontal synchronizing signal output means for receiving a transmitted laser beam and generating a synchronizing signal.

The above-described forward optical system and scanning optical system are positioned and fixed at predetermined positions by a variety of positioning and holding members (only shown) in a housing 231 of the optical scanning device 22 which is integrally formed.

The optical scanning substrate 10 in FIG.
2 is a board for controlling input / output of each signal in 2,
It is arranged on one side wall 231 a of the housing 231 of the optical scanning device 22. The optical scanning substrate 10 has a BD
Harness (signal line) 228 for BD sensor that also serves as a power supply to sensor 228 and an output path of BD sensor 228
h, a polygon mirror harness (signal line) 22 that supplies power to a not-shown connector 10 b and a polygon motor (not shown) that controls the rotation of the polygon mirror 220.
connector 10a for connection to the main body, and a main unit connection harness (signal line) 10 for supplying power and transmitting control signals from the main unit (not shown) to the optical scanning device 22.
h is provided with a connector 10c.

As shown in FIG. 1, the connector 10a for the polygon mirror and the connector 10b for the BD sensor are arranged on the optical scanning substrate 10 in a direction in which the side walls of the housing 231 are continuous (in FIG. 1, the lateral direction). It is provided at each end. Thus, the polygon mirror harness 2
The connection between the connector 20a and the connector 10a and the connection between the BD sensor harness 228h and the connector 10b can be easily performed.

Also, a connection connector 10 for connecting the main unit is provided.
c is an optical scanning board 1 provided with a connector 10a for a polygon mirror and a connector 10b for a BD sensor.
Since it is provided at an end (lower end in FIG. 1) different from the upper end (left and right ends), the connection between the main device connection harness 10h and the connection connector 10c is easily performed. be able to.

As described above, in this embodiment, the connection connector 10c for connecting the main unit shown in FIG. In this case, the main device connection harness 10h is generally bent and used as shown in FIG. However, the main device connection harness 1
If the bending of 0h is performed excessively, disconnection or the like may occur. In order to prevent such a problem, in the present embodiment, a harness protection member 233 is provided on one side wall 231b of the housing 231 of the optical scanning device 22. Specifically, by extending the side wall 231b downward, the extended portion serves as a harness protection member 233. By providing the harness protection member 233 in this manner, for example, in the case of FIG. 4, the distance between the optical scanning device 22 and the power supply unit 26 located at the lower part is widened, and thereby excessive stress is applied to the main device connection harness 10h. It is possible to prevent occurrence.

[0045]

According to the optical scanning device of the present invention, the optical scanning board is disposed on the side wall of the housing, and the signal connector for connecting the signal line for outputting the signal to the polygon motor and the signal from the light receiving means are provided. A connector for connecting a signal line for inputting the optical scanning board is provided at each end in a direction in which the side walls of the housing of the optical scanning substrate are connected, and connects between the optical scanning device and another device to which the optical scanning device is attached. A connection connector for a signal line to be connected is provided at another end of the optical scanning board. This makes it possible to provide a plurality of connectors for connecting the optical scanning device and the image forming apparatus main body, thereby preventing an increase in the number of mounting operations of the optical scanning device and complicating the operation. The size can be reduced. Further, by disposing the substrate on the side wall of the optical scanning device, the mounting of the substrate during the assembly of the optical scanning device is facilitated, and the assembling work can be simplified.

According to the optical device of the present invention, when the other end of the optical scanning substrate is located on the lower surface side of the optical scanning device, it is connected to the connector provided at the other end. The prevention member for preventing the signal line from being excessively bent is provided integrally with the housing, so that the optical scanning device is placed on a flat surface even if the connector is arranged on the lower side of the substrate. At this time, it is possible to prevent the harness, which is a signal line, from being excessively bent and causing an unreasonable force to cause disconnection or the like. Thereby, it is possible to improve the reliability of the harness and extend the life.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an arrangement of main optical components of an optical scanning device of the present invention and an optical path of a light beam.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of main optical components of the optical scanning device shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an entire configuration of an image forming apparatus including the optical scanning device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view around a photosensitive drum.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Printer 3 Scanner 4 Automatic document feeder 5 Sheet post-processing apparatus 6 Multi-stage paper feed unit 7 System rack 8 Relay conveyance unit 9 Discharge tray 10 Optical scanning board 10a Connection connector for polygon mirror 10b For BD sensor Connector 10c Connector for main unit connection 10h Main unit connection harness 20 Electrophotographic process unit 21 Paper supply unit 22 Optical scanning unit 26 Power supply unit 200 Photoconductor drum 220 Polygon mirror 220h Polygon mirror harness 221 Semiconductor laser 222 Concave lens / Collimator lens 223a, 223b fθ lens 224 Reflecting mirror 225 Cylindrical mirror 226 Opening plate 227 Cylindrical lens 228 BD sensor 228h Harness for BD sensor 229 D mirror condenser lens 230 for BD Sensor 231 housing 231a 1 one side wall 231b 1 one sidewall 233 harness protector member

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Tetsuya Nishiguchi 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka City, Osaka F-term (reference) 2C362 AA03 AA42 BA04 BA90 DA08 DA41 EA00 2H045 AA52 CA88 DA02 DA41 5C062 AA05 AB40 AD06

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A semiconductor laser, a polygon mirror for reflecting a beam from the semiconductor laser, a polygon motor for controlling the rotation of the polygon mirror, and a scan start position for scanning an object to be scanned. And at least a light receiving means for receiving a part of the beam reflected by the polygon mirror, and wherein the semiconductor laser, the polygon mirror, the polygon motor and the light receiving means are provided in a housing.
In a physically held optical scanning device, an optical scanning substrate is disposed on a side wall of the housing,
A connector for connecting a cable for outputting a signal to the polygon motor and a connector for connecting a cable for inputting a signal from the light receiving unit are arranged in a direction in which a side wall of the housing of the optical scanning board is continuous. A connector provided at an end of each of the optical scanning boards is provided at another end of the optical scanning board, and a connector for connecting a cable between the optical scanning device and another device to which the optical scanning device is attached is provided. Optical scanning device. 2. When the other end of the optical scanning substrate is located on the lower surface side of the optical scanning device, an excessive bending of a cable connected to a connector provided at the other end is prevented. 2. The optical scanning device according to claim 1, wherein a preventing member is provided integrally with the housing.