JP2005153362A - Optical printer head - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce an adverse effect of a variation in the relationship between the position of light-emitting element in a short side direction and the position of a rod lens array to be arranged above the light-emitting element in accordance with the light-emitting element in the short side direction on a print. <P>SOLUTION: The optical printer head has many light-emitting elements arranged on a long head substrate 1 in a row or in the form of a zigzag line in the long side direction. A long housing 3 to which a rod lens array 4 is fastened is arranged above the head substrate 1, and a long base plate 5 is arranged below the head substrate 1. Hole portions (a) are provided on width direction both ends of the center of the longitudinal direction of the base plate 5, protrusions (t) are provided in the position of the housing 3 corresponding to the hole portions (a) of the base plate 5, and the protrusions (t) are fitted into the hole portions (a). <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical printer head used as exposure means for an electrophotographic printer or the like.

  Conventionally, an optical printer head such as an LED array head has been used as exposure means for an electrophotographic printer or the like.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the conventional optical printer head includes a plurality of light emitting elements formed on a long head substrate 1 in a straight line or a staggered linear shape in the longitudinal direction. A light-emitting element array 2 is mounted, a long housing 3 to which a rod lens array 4 is attached is disposed above the head substrate 1, and a long base plate 5 is disposed below the head substrate 1. The head substrate 1, the housing 3 and the base plate 5 are integrally held by a plurality of clips 6, and a large number of light emitting elements constituting the light emitting element array 2 are externally provided. The light is selectively emitted based on the image data from the light, and the emitted light is irradiated and imaged on a photosensitive drum disposed outside via the rod lens array 4. Functions as an optical printer head by forming a predetermined latent image on the ram.

Then, the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum is converted into a toner image through a process such as development, and a predetermined image is recorded on the recording paper by transferring and fixing the toner image on the recording paper.
JP 2002-219821 A

  By the way, in the above-described conventional optical printer head, when the side surface of the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the optical printer head is pressed or an impact is applied, the position of the light emitting element array 2 in the short direction and the light emitting element array Corresponding to 2, the positional relationship in the short direction of the rod lens array 4 to be arranged immediately above the light emitting element array 2 fluctuates, and as a result, the printing may be adversely affected.

  The optical printer head of the present invention has a large number of light emitting elements arranged in a line or zigzag in a longitudinal direction on a long head substrate, and a rod lens array above the head substrate. In an optical printer head in which a long base plate is disposed below the head substrate and a long base plate is respectively disposed, holes are formed at both ends of the base plate in the longitudinal direction of the base plate. A protrusion is provided at a position corresponding to the hole of the housing, and the hole and the protrusion are fitted to each other.

  The optical printer head of the present invention has a large number of light emitting elements arranged in a line or zigzag in the longitudinal direction on a long head substrate, and a rod is disposed above the head substrate. In an optical printer head in which a long housing to which a lens array is attached is disposed below the head substrate and a long base plate is respectively disposed, both ends in the short direction of the center portion in the longitudinal direction of the base plate A protrusion is provided on the base plate, a hole is provided at a position corresponding to the protrusion of the base plate of the housing, and the protrusion and the hole are fitted to each other.

  Furthermore, the optical printer head of the present invention is characterized in that the dimension in the longitudinal direction of the hole and the protrusion is longer than the dimension in the lateral direction.

  Furthermore, the optical printer head of the present invention is characterized in that a plurality of the hole portions and the protrusion portions are provided along the longitudinal direction of the base plate or the housing.

  Furthermore, the optical printer head of the present invention is characterized in that a locking portion is provided in each of the protrusion and the hole, and the locking portion of the protrusion and the locking portion of the hole are fitted. Is.

  Furthermore, the optical printer head of the present invention is characterized in that a margin is provided in the longitudinal direction by making the longitudinal dimension of the hole portion larger than the longitudinal dimension of the projection. It is.

  According to the optical printer head of the present invention, it has a large number of light emitting elements arranged in a line or zigzag linearly in the longitudinal direction on a long head substrate, and a rod is disposed above the head substrate. In an optical printer head in which a long housing to which a lens array is attached is disposed below the head substrate and a long base plate is respectively disposed, both ends in the short direction of the center portion in the longitudinal direction of the base plate Since the hole portion is provided in the housing, the protrusion portion is provided at a position corresponding to the hole portion of the housing, and the hole portion and the protrusion portion are fitted, the side surface of the center portion in the longitudinal direction of the optical printer head is Even when pressed or when an impact is applied, the position of the light emitting element array on the head substrate in the short direction and the housing disposed immediately above the light emitting element array corresponding to the light emitting element array. It is possible to suppress that the position in the lateral direction of the ring of the rod lens array fluctuates, it is possible to suppress an adverse effect on printing.

  According to the optical printer head of the present invention, the protrusions are provided at both ends in the short direction of the longitudinal center of the base plate, the holes are provided at positions corresponding to the protrusions of the base plate of the housing, and the protrusions Since the portion and the hole are fitted, the same effect as described above can be obtained.

  Furthermore, according to the optical printer head of the present invention, since the longitudinal dimension of the hole and the protrusion is longer than the dimension in the short direction, the rod of the housing with respect to the lateral direction of the central part in the longitudinal direction can be more sure. The displacement of the lens array can be prevented.

  Furthermore, according to the optical printer head of the present invention, a plurality of the holes and the protrusions are provided along the longitudinal direction of the base plate or the housing. The displacement of the rod lens array can be prevented.

  Furthermore, according to the optical printer head of the present invention, since the protrusions and the holes are respectively provided with locking portions, the locking portions of the protrusions and the locking portions of the holes are fitted. It becomes possible to suppress the vertical fluctuation of the housing relative to the base plate.

  Furthermore, according to the optical printer head of the present invention, since the longitudinal dimension of the hole is made larger than the longitudinal dimension of the protrusion, a margin is provided in the longitudinal direction. Even after the housing is attached, it is possible to finely adjust the positional relationship with respect to the longitudinal direction of the optical printer head.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1 is a longitudinal sectional view in the vicinity of a central portion in the longitudinal direction of an optical printer head according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an exploded transverse sectional view of the optical printer head in FIG. 1, and FIG. In such an optical printer head, a rod lens array 4 is attached above a head substrate 1 having a large number of light emitting elements arranged in a line or a staggered pattern in the longitudinal direction. A long base plate 5 is disposed below the head substrate 1, and a long base plate 5 is disposed below the head substrate 1. The head substrate 1, the housing 3, and the base plate 5 are integrally held by a plurality of clips 6. It has a structure.

  A head substrate 1 constituting an optical printer head has a light emitting element array 2, electrodes (not shown), a driver IC (not shown) and the like attached to the upper surface and functions as a support base material for supporting them.

  Such a head substrate 1 is formed in a rectangular shape by an electrically insulating material such as glass cloth base epoxy resin, glass, ceramic, etc. For example, when it is made of glass cloth base epoxy resin, it is formed using glass yarn. It is manufactured by impregnating and curing a liquid epoxy resin on a glass cloth substrate, and cutting it into a rectangular shape.

  A large number of light emitting element arrays 2 mounted on the upper surface of the head substrate 1 are arranged in a line in the longitudinal direction of the head substrate 1, and are linear in the longitudinal direction at a density of, for example, 600 dpi (dot per inch). A large number of light emitting elements arranged are provided.

  As such a light-emitting element, for example, a light-emitting diode formed using a GaAlAs-based or GaAsP-based compound semiconductor or the like is preferably used, and a pn junction is provided inside the light-emitting diode. When power supply power is supplied through an electrode that is not connected, electrons and holes are recombined near the pn junction, and the light emitting element emits light with a predetermined luminance.

  For example, the light-emitting element array 2 having light-emitting diodes employs a conventionally well-known semiconductor manufacturing technique, specifically, MOCVD (Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition) method, etc. The light emitting elements are formed in a staggered pattern or in a line.

  The light emitting element array 2 thus obtained is placed at a predetermined position on the upper surface of the head substrate 1, and pads (not shown) provided on the light emitting element array 2 and corresponding electrodes are individually bonded with thin metal wires or the like. By doing so, it is mounted on the head substrate 1.

  Further, a housing 3 made of a resin such as polycarbonate or liquid crystal polymer is disposed above the head substrate 1.

  The housing 3 has a band-shaped opening into which the rod lens array 4 is inserted, and the lower region is brought into close contact with the upper surface of the head substrate 1 along the outer periphery of the head substrate 1. A sealed space is formed between 4 and the light emitting element array 2.

  Also, the rod lens array 4 inserted into the opening of the housing 3 has a structure in which a large number of rod-shaped lenses arranged linearly or in a staggered manner are sandwiched between a pair of side plates. It functions as an erecting equal-magnification optical system that irradiates and forms an image of light from the light-emitting element array 2 on the photosensitive member disposed above the rod lens array 4 at the same magnification.

  When the housing 3 is made of a plastic material such as a liquid crystal polymer, the housing 3 is manufactured by processing it into a predetermined shape by a conventionally known injection molding method.

  Then, the rod lens array 4 is fitted into the opening of the obtained housing 3, and the rod lens array 4 is attached and fixed by bonding them together.

  Further, the housing 3 is provided with projections t in the vicinity of both ends in the short direction of the substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction, and is fitted into a hole a provided in the base plate 5 to be described later. It has a function to increase the strength against the deviation from.

  For example, when the length in the longitudinal direction of the housing 3 is about 40 cm, such a projection t is set in an area of 15 cm to 25 cm from one end in the longitudinal direction of the housing 3, and the longitudinal direction of the projection t Are about 2 mm to 3 mm, 0.5 mm to 1 mm in the lateral direction, and 2 mm to 3 mm in length.

  On the other hand, a base plate 5 made of a metal material such as aluminum or SUS is disposed below the head substrate 1.

  When the base plate 5 is made of aluminum, for example, the base plate 5 is manufactured by processing an aluminum ingot into a predetermined shape by a conventionally known metal processing method or the like.

  The base plate 5 is provided with holes a in the vicinity of both ends in the short direction of the substantially central portion in the longitudinal direction, and the holes a are formed corresponding to the protrusions t of the housing 3. The inner diameter in the longitudinal direction of a is about 2 mm to 5 mm, the inner diameter in the lateral direction is 0.6 mm to 1.2 mm, and the depth is 2.5 mm to 3.5 mm.

  Then, by fitting the protrusion t and the hole a described above, even if the side surface of the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the optical printer head is pressed or an impact is applied, the head substrate 1 is mounted. The positional relationship in the short direction of the light emitting element array 2 and the positional relationship in the short direction of the rod lens array 4 of the housing 3 disposed immediately above the light emitting element array 2 corresponding to the light emitting element array 2 may fluctuate. It can be suppressed, and adverse effects on printing can be prevented.

  In addition, it is desirable that the protruding portion t and the hole portion a are provided so as to face the one end surface and the other end surface in the short direction.

  Further, the larger the number of the projections t and the holes a, the more effectively the function is performed. Therefore, as many production costs as the production cost allows, a large number of the projections t and the holes a are formed. It is desirable.

  Further, when forming a large number of protrusions t and holes a, if there are no special circumstances, the protrusions t and holes a may be formed at substantially equal intervals in the longitudinal direction.

  Also, if the optical printer head has a connector mounting portion, when this connector is mounted, there may be a pressing force or impact near the connector mounting portion in the short direction of the optical printer head. It is desirable to form a protrusion t and a hole a in the vicinity of the connector attaching portion.

  The housing 3, the head substrate 1 and the base plate 5 described above are integrally held by a plurality of clips 6 arranged along the main scanning direction.

  These clips 6 are formed by, for example, processing a metal leaf spring made of stainless steel or the like into a substantially U shape, and a part thereof is arranged on the outer surface of the housing 3 and the lower surface of the base plate 5. The housing 3, the head substrate 1 and the base plate 5 are integrally held by being attached from the base plate 5 side and pressing the housing 3 and the base plate 5 toward the head substrate 1 side.

  Thus, the optical printer head described above causes the light emitting elements of the light emitting element array 2 to selectively emit light individually based on the image data from the outside, and the emitted light is disposed outside via the rod lens array 4. The photosensitive drum is irradiated and imaged, and a predetermined latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum to function as an optical printer head.

  Then, the latent image formed on the photosensitive drum becomes a toner image through a process such as development, and a predetermined print is formed on the recording paper by transferring and fixing the toner image on the recording paper.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the above-mentioned form, A various change, improvement, etc. are possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention.

  For example, unlike the above-described embodiment, the protrusions t are provided at both ends in the short direction of the base plate 5, the holes a are provided at positions corresponding to the protrusions t of the base plate 5 of the housing 3, The hole a may be fitted, and this also shortens the light emitting element even when the side surface of the housing 3 at the center in the longitudinal direction of the optical printer head is pressed or an impact is applied. The positional relationship in the short direction of the rod lens array 4 to be disposed above the light emitting element corresponding to the light emitting element is suppressed from fluctuating, and as a result, the printing is adversely affected. Can be prevented.

  Note that on which side of the housing 3 and the base plate 5 the projecting portion t and the hole portion a should be determined in consideration of the ease of processing of each member and the like. For a member made of the above, it is easier to form the hole than the protrusion.

  Furthermore, the longitudinal dimension of the hole a and the protrusion t may be made longer than the dimension in the short direction, thereby ensuring the rod lens array of the housing 3 with respect to the short direction in the central part in the longitudinal direction. The shift of 4 can be prevented.

  Specifically, when the dimension in the short direction of the hole part a and the protrusion part t is 0.5 mm to 1.5 mm, the dimension in the longitudinal direction is preferably 1.5 times or more, and other design matters are considered. Thus, it is designed to be about 1.5 mm to 4.5 mm.

  Further, a plurality of holes a and protrusions t may be provided along the longitudinal direction of the base plate 5 or the housing 3, thereby further reliably ensuring the rod lens array 4 of the housing 3 with respect to the lateral direction of the central portion in the longitudinal direction. It is possible to prevent the deviation.

  Furthermore, a locking portion may be provided in each of the protrusion t and the hole a, and the locking portion of the protrusion t and the locking portion of the hole a may be fitted, so that the housing can be It becomes possible to suppress a change in direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, such a locking portion is provided in the case where a protrusion and a recess are provided at the corresponding portions of the protrusion t and the hole a, respectively, or as shown in FIG. There is a case where a hook portion is provided in the case.

  Furthermore, a margin may be provided in the longitudinal direction by making the longitudinal dimension of the hole a larger than the longitudinal dimension of the protruding part t, whereby the base plate 5 and the housing 3 are attached. Even after this, it is possible to finely adjust the positional relationship with respect to the longitudinal direction of the optical printer head.

  Specifically, the dimension of the surplus part obtained by subtracting the dimension in the longitudinal direction of the projection part t from the dimension in the longitudinal direction of the hole a ensures at least one time the width of one lens constituting the rod lens array 4. Designed to do.

  In the above embodiment, the LED head has been described as an example. However, the present invention can be applied to other optical printer heads such as an EL head, a plasma dot head, a liquid crystal shutter head, a fluorescent head, and a PLZT. is there.

1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an optical printer head according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is an exploded cross-sectional view of an optical printer head according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a top view of the optical printer head concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is the elements on larger scale of the recessed part and convex part of the latching | locking part provided in a projection part and a hole part. It is the elements on larger scale of the recessed part and convex part of the latching | locking part provided in a projection part and a hole part. It is the elements on larger scale of the hook part of the latching | locking part provided in a projection part and a hole part. It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of a conventional optical printer head. It is a top view of the conventional optical printer head.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Head substrate 2 ... Light emitting element array 3 ... Housing 4 ... Rod lens array 5 ... Base plate 6 ... Clip a ... Hole part t ... Projection part

Claims (6)

A long-length head substrate having a number of light emitting elements arranged in a straight line or a staggered pattern in a longitudinal direction on a head substrate having a long shape, and a rod lens array mounted on the head substrate. In an optical printer head in which a long base plate is disposed below the head substrate, respectively,
A hole is provided at both ends in the short direction of the longitudinal center of the base plate, a protrusion is provided at a position corresponding to the hole of the housing, and the hole and the protrusion are fitted. An optical printer head characterized by. A long-length head substrate having a number of light emitting elements arranged in a straight line or a staggered pattern in a longitudinal direction on a head substrate having a long shape, and a rod lens array mounted on the head substrate. In an optical printer head in which a long base plate is disposed below the head substrate, respectively,
Protrusions are provided at both lateral ends of the central portion of the base plate in the longitudinal direction, holes are provided at positions corresponding to the protrusions of the base plate of the housing, and the protrusions and the holes are fitted. An optical printer head characterized by that. 3. The optical printer head according to claim 1, wherein a dimension in a longitudinal direction of the hole and the protrusion is longer than a dimension in a lateral direction. 4. The optical printer head according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the hole portions and the protrusion portions are provided along a longitudinal direction of the base plate or the housing. The locking part is provided in each of the protrusion and the hole, and the locking part of the protrusion and the locking part of the hole are fitted to each other. The optical printer head described in 1. 6. The device according to claim 1, wherein a margin is provided in the longitudinal direction by making the longitudinal dimension of the hole portion larger than the longitudinal dimension of the protrusion. The optical printer head described.

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