JP2007183414A - Light source device, optical scanner using it, and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light source device having a slight variation in the secondary scanning direction. <P>SOLUTION: This light source device has a light source 30, an optical element 47 to pass the light from the light source 30, and a lens-barrel 31 securing the optical element 47 inside. It attaches the light source/optical element units 32a, 32b each having a holder 43 of the light 30 and the lens-barrel 31 on a base 45, and puts together the light emitted from the light source/optical element units 32a, 32b. The holder 43 of each of the light source/optical element units 32a, 32b has a cylinder 43d to house the lens-barrel 31 and a push piece 46 to push the lens-barrel 31 to the wall inside the cylinder 43d. The push piece 46 is positioned at a point perpendicularly crossing the optical axis O of the optical element 47 within the optical scanning surface of the light source device. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a light source device used in an optical scanning device incorporated in an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine or a laser printer, and more particularly to an optical element such as a collimator lens of a device that combines and uses a light source including a plurality of light emitting elements. Related to the fixing structure.

  As a conventional example of a method for fixing a light source or a collimator lens, there is a proposal as described in the following patent document.

  In patent document 1, in order to suppress the fluctuation | variation of optical elements, such as a collimator lens, it has a structure which fixes a lens-barrel to a base by laser welding. The welding position is a plane including the principal point of the optical element orthogonal to the optical axis, and a plurality of welding points are better.

  In Patent Document 2, an intermediate fixing member is press-fitted between a cylindrical holder and a lens barrel of a collimator lens in order to suppress fluctuations in an optical element such as a collimator lens. In the case of three places arranged on a line, one place is on the scanning direction line including the optical axis, and the other two places are symmetrical with respect to the scanning direction line including the optical axis. Although stress occurs in this method, the center point of the optical element is not changed.

In addition, a conventional example of a simple fixing method of the collimator lens includes means for mounting on a cylindrical holder and fixing by abutting or screwing.
JP 2001-111155 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-193451

  The problem to be solved by the present invention will be described with reference to the above patent document and other examples. The problem of Patent Document 1 is that a faithful electrostatic latent image is formed by correcting the imaging position on the photosensitive member (the spot diameter increases due to the imaging position shift) and the irradiation position on the photosensitive member. That is. As a means for this, the lens barrel of the collimator lens is fixed to the base by laser welding. In this case, the problem is that the laser welding apparatus is expensive. Further, since the lens barrel of the collimator lens is welded, it cannot be replaced if it is desired to replace the collimator lens due to an adjustment error or for some reason. Further, this patent document discloses only adjustment and fluctuation in the optical axis direction of the collimator lens, and does not show means for improving position fluctuation in the scanning direction and sub-scanning direction after adjustment of the collimator lens.

  The problem of Patent Document 2 is also similar to that of Patent Document 1, and it is possible to improve the imaging position on the photosensitive member (the spot diameter increases due to the deviation of the imaging position) and the irradiation position on the photosensitive member. It is to obtain a color image. As a means for this, optical components are placed in a lens barrel, and intermediate fixing members are provided at two or three locations. For this reason, there are problems that the number of parts increases and the assembly work becomes complicated.

  In addition to the above, there is adhesion as a method for fixing an optical element such as a collimator lens that enters a lens barrel of a light source portion of the optical scanning device. In this case, depending on the bonding method, when the environmental temperature varies, the amount of shrinkage or expansion differs due to variations in the thickness of the adhesive, etc., so that the optical elements such as the collimator lens vary in the sub-scanning direction. There was a problem in stability and reliability. Also in this case, there is a drawback that it is not possible to replace the collimator lens due to misadjustment or for some reason.

  In addition to the above, there is a simple method for fixing an optical element such as a collimator lens contained in a lens barrel, which is inserted into a cylindrical holder and abutted and fixed from the sub-scanning direction with a screw or a leaf spring. In this case, the assembly work is easy, but when the environmental temperature fluctuates, the optical elements such as the collimator lens slightly fluctuate in the sub-scanning direction due to the expansion and contraction of the screws and leaf springs. there were.

  In the case of one light source, there is no problem because good printing can be performed because the scanning interval does not change even if the absolute position of the spot on the photoconductor slightly fluctuates. However, when two light sources are combined, if the optical elements such as the two collimator lenses are relatively slightly displaced due to environmental temperature changes, etc., the scanning interval on the photosensitive member becomes non-uniform and banding occurs in printing. There is a problem that causes uneven pitch. This is very different from the case of one light source.

  An object of the present invention is to eliminate such drawbacks of the prior art and provide a light source device with little fluctuation in the sub-scanning direction, an optical scanning device using the same, and an image forming apparatus.

In order to achieve the above object, a first means of the present invention includes a light source, an optical element that transmits light from the light source, a lens barrel that fixes the optical element inside, and the light source and the lens barrel. In a light source device that attaches a plurality of light source / optical element units having an attached holder on a base and synthesizes and outputs light beams emitted from each light source / optical element unit,
The holder of each light source / optical element unit includes a cylindrical portion that houses the barrel inside, and a pressing means that presses and fixes the barrel to the inner surface of the cylindrical portion,
The pressing means is provided in the optical scanning plane of the light source device and at a position orthogonal to the optical axis of the optical element.

  According to a second means of the present invention, in the first means, the light source / optical element unit includes at least a first light source / optical element unit and a second light source / optical element unit. The optical element unit and the light source of the second light source / optical element unit each include a plurality of light emitting elements.

  A third means of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first means, one pressing fixing position of the lens barrel by the pressing means is provided.

  The fourth means of the present invention is characterized in that, in the first means, a plurality of press fixing positions of the lens barrel by the pressing means are provided on a line perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical element. is there.

  According to a fifth means of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth means, the light source / optical element unit includes at least a first light source / optical element unit and a second light source / optical element unit. The pressing direction of the first light source / optical element unit and the second light source / optical element unit by the pressing means is the same direction with respect to the lens barrel, for example, the left direction. .

  According to a sixth means of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth means, the pressing means is a screw screwed so as to penetrate the peripheral wall of the cylindrical portion. It is.

  According to a seventh means of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth means, the pressing means presses a penetrating portion penetrating from the outer peripheral surface to the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion, and a bent portion, for example. The part is composed of a plate spring that is inserted into the penetrating part and the other part is fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical part, and a fixing member such as a screw that fixes the plate spring to the cylindrical part. It is a feature.

According to an eighth means of the present invention, in the first means, the light source / optical element unit includes at least a first light source / optical element unit and a second light source / optical element unit,
The light beam from the first light source / optical element unit is transmitted, the light beam from the second light source / optical element unit is reflected, and the light beams from both the light source / optical element unit are combined. A photosynthesis element
The distance from the first light source / optical element unit to the light combining element and the distance from the second light source / optical element unit to the light combining element are set equal to each other.

According to a ninth means of the present invention, in the first means, the light source / optical element unit includes at least a first light source / optical element unit and a second light source / optical element unit,
A light combining element that transmits the light from the first light source / optical element unit, reflects the light from the second light source / optical element unit, and combines the light from both the light source / optical element unit;
A reflection member is disposed between the light source / optical element unit and the light combining element.

  A tenth means of the present invention is an optical scanning device comprising a light source device and a rotary polygon mirror that simultaneously deflects and scans light rays from the light source device on the same reflecting surface. It is a light source device of any means.

  The eleventh means of the present invention includes a photoconductor, a charging device for charging the photoconductor, and optical scanning for forming on the photoconductor an electrostatic latent image corresponding to image information to be recorded by light beam scanning. A developing device that forms a toner image by attaching toner to the electrostatic latent image, a transfer device that transfers the toner image onto a recording medium, and the transferred toner image is fixed on the recording medium. In the image forming apparatus including the fixing device, the optical scanning device is the optical scanning device of the tenth means.

  With the configuration of the present invention, it is possible to provide a light source device with little fluctuation in the sub-scanning direction. For this reason, the printing quality is not deteriorated by banding or the like, and the relative fluctuation in the scanning direction is small, so that the apparatus can be miniaturized.

  Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 6 are diagrams for explaining the first embodiment. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an internal configuration of the combined light source device. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a light source / collimator unit used in the combined light source device. FIG. 3, FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an arrangement state of spots on the photosensitive member formed by the combined light source device, and FIG. 5 is an image formation using the combined light source device. FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of an optical scanning device used in the image forming apparatus.

First, a schematic configuration of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
A drum-shaped photoconductor 18 for forming a toner image is rotationally driven at a constant peripheral speed by a motor (not shown). The photosensitive member 18 is uniformly charged to a specific polarity by the charging device 10 and then exposed to light from an optical scanning device 11 described later, thereby forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to image information to be recorded. . A developing device 12 is disposed downstream of the exposure position in the rotation direction, and a toner image is formed on the photoreceptor 18 by the developing device 12.

  The printing paper 13 that is a recording medium is conveyed by a conveying device 14 such as a conveying roller pair. The toner image on the photosensitive member 18 is transferred onto the printing paper 13 by charging the back surface of the printing paper 13 with the reverse polarity of the toner by the transfer device 15. After the transfer, the residual toner that has not been transferred is removed by the cleaning device 16. The printing paper 13 having the toner image transferred from the photoreceptor 18 is conveyed to the fixing device 17.

  The fixing device 17 includes a heat roller 17a that is controlled to be heated to a constant temperature, and a pressure roller 17b that presses the heat roller 17a. When passing therethrough, the toner image held on the printing paper 13 is pressurized and melted and fixed on the printing paper 13. After this fixing process, the printing paper 13 is discharged and stocked outside the image forming apparatus.

  FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an internal configuration of the optical scanning device 11. A synthesized light beam 21 emitted from a synthetic light source device 20 to be described later passes through a cylindrical lens 23 having a predetermined curvature only in the sub-scanning direction, is deflected and scanned by a rotary polygon mirror 24, passes through an Fθ lens 25, and is reflected by a folding mirror 28. The light is reflected and imaged on a photoreceptor 18 (not shown) to create an electrostatic latent image. The arrow X direction in the figure indicates the light scanning direction (main scanning direction).

  A part of the deflected and scanned light beam is guided to the optical sensor 27 by the mirror 26, and modulation for writing the light beam emitted from the combined light source device 20 is started by an output signal therefrom.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an internal configuration of the combined light source device 20. The combined light source device 20 mainly includes a base 45, a first light source / collimator unit 32 a and a second light source / collimator unit 32 b attached to the base 45.

  The light source / collimator unit 32 (the first light source / collimator unit 32a and the second light source / collimator unit 32b have the same structure) is arranged with a plurality of light emitting elements as shown in FIG. A light source holder 41 in which a light source 30 configured by arranging light emitting elements in a row) is inserted and held inside, and a collimator lens 47 (see FIG. 3) that collimates light emitted from the light source 30a is inserted inside. The lens barrel 31 is fixed, and the light source holder 41 is attached to the flange portion 43c, and the holder 43 is inserted and attached to the cylindrical portion 43d.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the light source 30 is inserted into a cylindrical storage portion provided at the center of the light source holder 41 and fixed by the heads of a plurality of screws 40. The light source holder 41 is fixed to the flange portion 43 c of the holder 43 with a screw 42 after adjusting the position in the direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the light source 30.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the cylindrical portion 43 d of the holder 43 is inserted into a circular opening 45 a formed in the base 45, and a plurality of portions inserted from the flange portion 43 c after rotation adjustment about the optical axis of the lens barrel 31. The light source / collimator unit 32 is fixed to the base 45 by tightening the screw 44 into the screw hole 45 b of the base 45.

  Next, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lens barrel 31 inserted into the cylindrical portion 43d of the holder 43 and adjusted by moving in the optical axis direction is screwed so as to penetrate the peripheral wall of the cylindrical portion 43d. It is pressed and fixed to the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 43d by one inserted screw 46. The arrangement position of the screw 46 is specified in a position perpendicular to the optical axis O of the collimator lens 47 (lens barrel 31) in the optical scanning plane of the optical scanning device 11 (see FIG. 6). The pressing force by the screw 46 acts in the direction Y orthogonal to the optical axis O. In this way, the center line of the cylindrical portion 43d and the optical axis O of the collimator lens 47 are matched.

  2 shows a state in which the screw 46 is screwed into the cylindrical portion 43d before being inserted into the opening 45a of the base 45 in order to clearly indicate the position of the screw 46 on the cylindrical portion 43d. In actual assembly, the cylindrical portion 43d is inserted through the opening 45a and penetrated, and the screw 46 is screwed into the cylindrical portion 43d of the portion protruding from the opening 45a (see FIG. 1). Further, in FIG. 3, a large difference is provided between the outer diameter of the lens barrel 31 and the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 43d in order to clearly show the fixation of the lens barrel 31 by the screw 46 in the cylindrical portion 43d. There is no dimensional difference as shown in.

  When fixing from a plurality of directions on the circumference of the lens barrel 31, when the screw expands and contracts due to a change in environmental temperature or the like, the moving direction of the collimator lens is not fixed and is unstable. However, if the screw 46 is fixed from one direction as in the present embodiment, the fluctuation direction is limited to the line connecting the screw 46 and the collimator lens 47 even if the screw expands and contracts. Since the screw 46 (46a, 46b) of the present embodiment is disposed at a position orthogonal to the optical axis O of the collimator lens 47 in the optical scanning plane, the fluctuation of the expansion and contraction of the screw 46 described above is optical scanning. This is limited to the direction, and does not vary in the sub-scanning direction perpendicular to the direction, so that there is an effect that the print quality is not deteriorated by banding or the like.

  In the case where the light beams from the two light source / collimator units 32a and 32b are shifted in the opposite directions with respect to the scanning direction due to environmental temperature changes or the like, the overall width of the plurality of light beams at the position of the rotary polygon mirror 24 is wide. Become. For this reason, it is necessary to provide an allowance for the surface dimension L (see FIG. 6) of the rotary polygon mirror 24, which tends to increase in size.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the screws 46a and 46b are in the same direction with respect to the respective collimator lenses 47, that is, the light source / collimator units 32a and 32b are viewed from the cylindrical lens 23 in FIG. In this case, the screws 46a and 46b are screwed into the respective collimator lenses 47 so as to act from the left side. For this reason, the fluctuation direction in the scanning direction due to the expansion and contraction of the screws 46a and 46b is the same direction, and the relative fluctuation of the light beams from the two light source / collimator units 32a and 32b can be suppressed to be small. Since it is not necessary to provide a margin for (see FIG. 6), the size can be reduced.

  Even if the relative position of the spot in the scanning direction on the photosensitive member 18 slightly varies due to minute variations in the expansion / contraction amount of the screw 46, the spot position is detected by the light sensor 27 (see FIG. 6). Since detection is performed for each light beam from the collimator units 32a and 32b and each light source element is turned on, there is no problem because the spot position in the scanning direction on the surface of the photoconductor 18 does not fluctuate.

  The light source / collimator units 32a and 32b are attached to the base 45 so as to face each other slightly inward. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, the five parallel rays emitted from the light emitting element of the first light source / collimator unit 32a and the five parallel rays emitted from the light emitting element of the second light source / collimator unit 32b are once Intersect and then proceed with increasing intervals, and pass through the cylindrical lens 23 to be combined.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an arrangement state of spots formed on the photoconductor 18 in the present embodiment. In the case of this embodiment, a row of spots S1 to S5 formed by light emitted from five light emitting elements built in the first light source / collimator unit 32a and a second light source / collimator unit 32b. The rows of the spots S6 to S10 formed by the light emitted from the five light emitting elements are inclined at a predetermined angle θ with respect to the main scanning direction X, and the spots S1 to S5 and the spot S6 are formed. ˜S10 are relatively displaced in a direction (sub-scanning direction) orthogonal to the main scanning direction X.

  The positions of the first light source / collimator unit 32a and the second light source / collimator unit 32b are adjusted in the combined light source device 20 so as to obtain such a spot arrangement state.

  FIG. 7 is a view showing a first modification of the spot arrangement on the photoconductor 18. In this example, the spots S1 to S5 and the spots S6 to S10 are inclined with respect to the main scanning direction X by a predetermined angle θ and arranged on a straight line.

  FIG. 8 is a view showing a second modification of the spot arrangement on the photoconductor 18. In this example, the spots S1 to S5 and the spots S6 to S10 are arranged in two rows in the direction (sub scanning direction) orthogonal to the main scanning direction X, and between the spots S1 and S2. There is a half-pitch shift in the sub-scanning direction so that the spot S6 is arranged.

  FIG. 9 is a view showing a third modification of the spot arrangement on the photoconductor 18. In the case of this example, the spots S1 to S5 and the spots S6 to S10 are arranged in one line in the direction (sub-scanning direction) orthogonal to the main scanning direction X.

  FIG. 10 is a view showing a fourth modification of the spot arrangement on the photoconductor 18. In the case of this example, the spots S1 to S5 and the spots S6 to S10 are arranged in two rows in the direction (sub scanning direction) orthogonal to the main scanning direction X, and the spots S1 to S5 and the spot S6. ˜S10 are shifted in the sub-scanning direction.

  FIG. 11 is a schematic configuration diagram of a combined light source device 20 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The holding structure of the light sources 30a and 30b and the adjustment method of the light source / collimator units 32a and 32b are the same as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  In this embodiment, as shown in the figure, the first light source / collimator unit 32a and the second light source / collimator unit 32b are arranged on one base 45 in a direction orthogonal to each other. A light combining element 33 formed of a beam splitter is disposed at the intersection of the light beam emitted from the collimator unit 32a and the light beam emitted from the second light source / collimator unit 32b.

  The light synthesizing element 33 allows the light from the first light source / collimator unit 32a (light source 30a) to pass through and reflects the light from the second light source / collimator unit 32b (light source 30b). The rays from 30a and 30b are synthesized.

  Each of the five light beams emitted from the first and second light source / collimator units 32a and 32b is a parallel light beam, and the five parallel light beams intersect once, and then proceed with increasing intervals. In FIG. 11, only the central ray is shown because the drawing becomes complicated.

  Since the distances between the two light sources 30a and 30b and the light combining element 33 are set to be equal to each other, in FIG. 11, ten light beams emitted from the light combining element 33 are overlapped. For this reason, in the figure, the number of combined rays is shown as five. By arranging in this way, the convergence and divergence states of the light beams from the two light sources 30a and 30b can be matched.

  If the lens system between the light sources 30 a and 30 b and the rotating polygon mirror 24 is devised, all the light beams can intersect at the position of the rotating polygon mirror 24. By doing so, the size of the rotary polygon mirror 24 can be realized with the same size as that in the case of single scanning, so that the rotary polygon mirror 24 can be downsized. In addition, since the optical axes from the two light sources 30a and 30b can be made completely coincident with each other, the imaging characteristics are good and a fine spot can be formed.

  FIG. 12 is a schematic configuration diagram of a combined light source device 20 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The holding structure of the light sources 30a and 30b and the adjustment method of the light source / collimator units 32a and 32b are the same as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  In this embodiment, as shown in the figure, the first light source / collimator unit 32a and the second light source / collimator unit 32b are arranged close to each other on the same base 45 in the same direction. A light combining element 34 is arranged from an optical line emitted from one light source / collimator unit 32a to an optical line emitted from the second light source / collimator unit 32b.

  The light combining element 34 is formed by integrating a beam splitter 34a and a reflecting portion 34b, which are light combining portions. The beam splitter 34a is arranged to face the first light source / collimator unit 32a, and the reflecting part 34b is arranged to face the second light source / collimator unit 32b.

  In this case, unlike the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the angle of the light beam from the light source 30a and the light beam from the light source 30b does not change even if the position of the light combining element 34 varies or the angle varies. In other words, compared to the example shown in FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the two light source / collimator units 32a and 32b and the beam splitter are arranged so that the light beams from the two light source / collimator units 32a and 32b have the same spread and the same angle when emitted from the light combining element 34. The optical path length to the part 34a is devised. By doing so, the convergence and divergence states of the light beams from the two light sources 30a and 30b can be matched, as in the embodiment shown in FIG.

  FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram of a combined light source device 20 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. The holding structure of the light sources 30a and 30b and the adjustment method of the light source / collimator units 32a and 32b are the same as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG.

  In this embodiment, as shown in the figure, the light source collimator units 32a and 32b are brought closer to each other by disposing reflecting members 35a and 35b such as mirrors between the two light source / collimator units 32a and 32b and the light combining element 33. In particular, the light source holders 41a and 41b housing the light sources 30a and 30b are mounted close to each other.

  Therefore, there is almost no difference in influence on the environmental temperature between the two light source / collimator units 32a and 32b. In addition, since the circuit board 36 for controlling the lighting of the light sources 30a and 30b can be integrated into one, the cost can be reduced. Furthermore, there is an effect of increasing the degree of freedom of mounting by devising the arrangement and angle of the reflecting member 35.

  FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the light source / collimator unit 32 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiments described so far, one screw 46 is used to fix the lens barrel 31, but the screw fixing the lens barrel 31 is in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the lens in the scanning plane and If they are arranged so as to act in the same direction, they can be fixed with two or more screws (in this embodiment, two screws 46 and 48) in the same direction on the same axis as shown in FIG. .

  When the lens barrel 31 is long, it is conceivable that with one point stop, the tilt with respect to the optical axis due to the floating of the end portion and the tilt variation may become a problem. However, as in the present embodiment, a plurality of screws 46, If fixed at 48, there is an effect of suppressing the inclination with respect to the optical axis due to the floating of the end of the lens barrel 31 to a small value. Note that it is preferable that the number of screws be the same between the two light source units because characteristics such as fluctuation can be equalized.

  15 and 16 are views for explaining a light source / collimator unit according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 15 is a front view of the light source / collimator unit, and FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in FIG. .

  In the present embodiment, a penetrating portion 49 penetrating from the outer peripheral surface toward the inner peripheral surface is formed near the lens barrel pressing portion of the cylindrical portion 43 d in the holder 43, and a V-shape is formed in the penetrating portion 49 in the middle of the leaf spring 50. A bent portion 50a formed by bending is inserted. The base end portion 50b of the leaf spring 50 is fixed to the outside of the cylindrical portion 43d by a screw 51, and the pressing force of the leaf spring 50 generated by tightening the screw 51 acts on the lens barrel 31 through the bent portion 50a. The lens barrel 31 is pressed and fixed in the cylindrical portion 43d.

  The pressing position of the lens barrel 31 by the bent portion 50a is within the optical scanning plane of the optical scanning device 11 (see FIG. 6) and with respect to the optical axis O of the collimator lens 47 (lens barrel 31), as in the above embodiment. Therefore, the pressing force by the bent portion 50a acts in the direction orthogonal to the optical axis O.

  When pressing while rotating like a screw, there is a concern that the lens barrel 31 moves in the optical axis direction by screwing after adjustment. If the leaf spring 50 is used as in the present embodiment, the lens barrel 31 does not move in the optical axis direction when pressed against the lens barrel 31, so that there is an advantage that adjustment is easy.

  In the present embodiment, only one end of the leaf spring 50 is fixed, but both ends of the leaf spring 50 can also be fixed with screws or the like.

  In the embodiment, the example in which two light source / optical element (optical element such as collimator lens) units are mounted on the base has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and three or more light sources / optical devices are used. It is also possible to synthesize light beams emitted from each light source / optical element unit by attaching an element unit.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the internal structure of the synthetic | combination light source device which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the light source and collimator unit used for the synthetic light source device. It is an expanded sectional view on a 2A-A line. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | positioning state of the spot on the photoreceptor formed with the synthetic | combination light source device. It is a schematic block diagram of the image forming apparatus using the synthetic | combination light source device. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of an optical scanning device used in the image forming apparatus. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | positioning state of the spot on the photoconductor by the 1st modification formed with the synthetic | combination light source device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | positioning state of the spot on the photoconductor by the 2nd modification formed with the synthetic | combination light source device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the arrangement | positioning state of the spot on the photoconductor by the 3rd modification formed with the synthetic | combination light source device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the arrangement state of the spot on the photoconductor by the 4th modification formed with the synthetic | combination light source device which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the internal structure of the synthetic | combination light source device which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the internal structure of the synthetic | combination light source device which concerns on the 3rd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the internal structure of the synthetic | combination light source device which concerns on the 4th Embodiment of this invention. It is a perspective view of the light source and the collimating unit of the synthetic light source apparatus which concerns on the 5th Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view of the light source and the collimating unit of the synthetic light source apparatus which concerns on the 6th Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing on the FIG. 15B-B line.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Charging device, 11 ... Optical scanning device, 12 ... Developing device, 13 ... Printing paper, 14 ... Conveying device, 15 ... Transfer device, 16 ... Cleaning device, 17 ... Fixing device, 18 ... Photoconductor, 20 ... Synthetic light source Device: 21 ... Light beam, 23 ... Cylindrical lens, 24 ... Rotary polygon mirror, 25 ... Fθ lens, 26 ... Mirror, 27 ... Optical sensor, 28 ... Folding mirror, 30 ... Light source, 30a ... First light source, 30b ... First 2 light sources 31, 31 a, 31 b .. barrel, 32 .. light source / collimator unit, 32 a... First light source / collimator unit, 32 b .. second light source / collimator unit, 33, 34. Splitter part, 34b ... reflective part, 35 ... reflective member, 40, 42, 44, 46, 46a, 46b, 48, 51 ... screw, 41 ... light source holder, 43, 43a, 43b ... Luda, 43c ... flange portion, 43d ... cylindrical portion, 45 ... base, 45a ... opening, 45b ... screw hole, 47 ... collimator lens, 49 ... penetrating portion, 50 ... leaf spring, 50a ... bent portion, 50b ... base End, X ... light scanning direction, Y ... direction orthogonal to light scanning direction, O ... optical axis, S1 to S10 ... spot.

Claims (11)

A plurality of light source / optical element units having a light source, an optical element through which light rays from the light source pass, a lens barrel that fixes the optical element inside, and a holder to which the light source and the lens barrel are attached are mounted on a base. In the light source device that combines and outputs the light beams emitted from each light source / optical element unit,
The holder of each light source / optical element unit includes a cylindrical portion that houses the barrel inside, and a pressing means that presses and fixes the barrel to the inner surface of the cylindrical portion,
The pressing means is installed in a position perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical element in the optical scanning plane of the light source device.   2. The light source device according to claim 1, wherein the light source / optical element unit includes at least a first light source / optical element unit and a second light source / optical element unit. A light source device, wherein each of the light sources of the two light source / optical element units includes a plurality of light emitting elements.   The light source device according to claim 1, wherein one pressing fixing position of the lens barrel by the pressing means is provided.   The light source device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of press fixing positions of the lens barrel by the pressing unit are provided on a line orthogonal to the optical axis of the optical element.   5. The light source device according to claim 1, wherein the light source / optical element unit includes at least a first light source / optical element unit and a second light source / optical element unit. A light source device, wherein the pressing direction of the light source / optical element unit and the second light source / optical element unit by the pressing means is the same direction with respect to the lens barrel.   6. The light source device according to claim 1, wherein the pressing means is a screw screwed so as to penetrate the peripheral wall of the cylindrical portion.   6. The light source device according to claim 1, wherein the pressing means includes a penetrating portion penetrating from an outer peripheral surface to an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion, and a pressing portion inserted into the penetrating portion. A light source device comprising: a leaf spring fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion; and a fixing member for fixing the leaf spring to the cylindrical portion. The light source device according to claim 1, wherein the light source / optical element unit includes at least a first light source / optical element unit and a second light source / optical element unit,
A light combining element that transmits the light from the first light source / optical element unit, reflects the light from the second light source / optical element unit, and combines the light from both the light source / optical element unit;
The light source device characterized in that the distance from the first light source / optical element unit to the light combining element and the distance from the second light source / optical element unit to the light combining element are set equal. The light source device according to claim 1, wherein the light source / optical element unit includes at least a first light source / optical element unit and a second light source / optical element unit,
A light combining element that transmits the light from the first light source / optical element unit, reflects the light from the second light source / optical element unit, and combines the light from both the light source / optical element unit;
A light source device, wherein a reflection member is disposed between the light source / optical element unit and the light combining element.   The light source device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the light source device includes a light source device and a rotary polygon mirror that simultaneously deflects and scans light beams from the light source device on the same reflection surface. There is provided an optical scanning device. A photosensitive member, a charging device that charges the photosensitive member, an optical scanning device that forms an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member corresponding to image information to be recorded by light beam scanning, and the electrostatic latent image Image forming apparatus comprising: a developing device that forms a toner image by attaching toner; a transfer device that transfers the toner image onto a recording medium; and a fixing device that fixes the transferred toner image onto the recording medium In
An image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the optical scanning apparatus is an optical scanning apparatus according to claim 10.

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