JP2008216548A - Optical element holding device, optical element unit, optical scanner, and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical element holding device having two long-length holding members to hold a long optical element, by holding the long optical element between the two long holding members, in which variation in the curved state of the long-length optical element is prevented, and to provide an optical element unit having the optical element holding device, an optical scanner and an image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: Although a lens holder 300, that is the optical element holding device, holds a long lens 26 that is the long optical element by holding the lens between two long holding members, a top plate 30 and the holder body, and for the end of the top plate 30 at one end side in the longitudinal direction and the end of the holder body 33, the relative dislocation of the end of the top plate 30 from the holder body 33 in the short-side direction is regulated but the relative dislocation in the longitudinal direction is enabled by a U-shaped member 36. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical element holding device that holds a long optical element such as a long lens or mirror, an optical element unit that includes the optical element holding device and the long optical element, and an optical scanning device that includes the optical element unit. And an image forming apparatus.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an optical scanning device that forms an image on the surface of a photosensitive member using light emitted from a light source as scanning light, a long lens or mirror whose longitudinal direction corresponds to the main scanning direction on the photosensitive member in its optical system Some have a long optical element. If there is an error in the optical system including such a long optical element, the scanning line for scanning the scanning light on the surface of the photosensitive member may be curved instead of linear, so the optical system is highly accurate. It is desirable to be manufactured with. However, it is difficult to manufacture an optical scanning device without manufacturing errors due to manufacturing errors of members constituting the optical system, assembly errors of assembling the members, and the like. Therefore, it is difficult to eliminate scanning line bending in a uniform manufacturing process.

In Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, a scanning line bending due to a manufacturing error is corrected by adjusting a curved state of a long lens by an adjustment member provided in a lens holder that holds a long lens among optical elements of an optical system. A possible optical scanning device is shown.
Here, an example of a lens unit capable of adjusting the curved state of the long lens will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram of a conventional lens unit 200 that includes a long lens 26 and a lens holder 300 and can adjust the curved state of the long lens 26.
As shown in FIG. 17, the lens holder 300 includes two long holding members, a holder main body 33 that is a lower holding member and a top plate 30 that is an upper holding member, and is provided between the holder main body 33 and the top plate 30. The long lens 26 is held between them. Further, the holder main body 33 and the top plate 30 are fixed to each other in the longitudinal direction between the holder main body 33 and the top plate 30 by fixing screws 38.

  The central portion of the long lens 26 includes an upper spring 32 that is an elastic member between the long lens 26 and the top plate 30, and a butting portion 35 is provided between the long lens 26 and the holder main body 33. . Since the elastic force of the upper spring 32 acts so as to press the long lens 26 against the abutting portion 35, the position of the central portion of the long lens 26 with respect to the lens holder 300 is fixed. Two lower springs 34 which are elastic members are provided on each end side in the longitudinal direction with respect to the abutting portion 35 between the long lens 26 and the holder main body 33. An adjustment screw 31 that is an adjustment member for adjusting the curved state of the long lens 26 is provided at a position facing the lower spring 34 with the long lens 26 between the long lens 26 and the top plate 30 interposed therebetween. Yes. In such a lens unit 200, the elastic force of the lower spring 34 acts to push up the lower surface of the long lens 26, and the upper surface of the long lens 26 abuts against the adjusting screw 31, so that the end of the long lens 26 is Is positioned with respect to the lens holder 300.

In the lens unit 200 shown in FIG. 17, the center portion of the long lens 26 is fixed by the upper spring 32 and the abutting portion 35, and both end portions of the long lens 26 are pressed upward by the lower spring 34. Thereby, when the lens unit 200 is assembled, the long lens 26 has a downwardly convex shape. By tightening the adjustment screw 31 from the state in which the long lens 26 is convex downward, both ends of the long lens 26 are pressed downward, so that the long lens 26 has a convex shape from a downward convex shape to a convex shape upward. The bending state can be adjusted.
Further, in the optical scanning device, the bending state of the scanning line on the photosensitive member can be adjusted by adjusting the bending state of the long lens 26. For this reason, even if the scanning line is bent due to a manufacturing error, if the optical scanning device includes a lens unit such as the lens unit 200, the scanning line can be adjusted by adjusting the curved state of the long lens 26 before shipment from the factory. Can be corrected to be linear.

JP 2004-45946 A JP 2002-182145 A

However, as shown in FIG. 17, in the lens unit 200 that holds the long lens 26 with the two long holding members of the holder main body 33 and the top plate 30, the long lens 26 is curved after shipment from the factory. Sometimes changed. If the bending state of the long lens 26 changes in this way, the scanning line may be bent even if the scanning line on the photoconductor is adjusted to be linear before shipment from the factory.
Such a change in the curved state of the long lens 26 occurs when the amount of change in the longitudinal direction due to thermal expansion differs between the holder main body 33 and the top plate 30.

For example, when the holder main body 33 is made of aluminum and the top plate 30 is made of iron, aluminum has a higher coefficient of thermal expansion. Therefore, when each member of the lens holder 300 expands in the longitudinal direction due to a temperature change of the environment, the length of the holder body 33 in the longitudinal direction is longer than that of the top plate 30. At this time, since both ends in the longitudinal direction of the top plate 30 and the holder main body 33 are fixed by the fixing screws 38, the holder main body 33 whose length in the longitudinal direction is longer than that of the top plate 30 is lowered at the center. Curved in a convex or upwardly convex state. When the holder main body 33 is curved in this way, the curved state of the long lens 26 held between the holder main body 33 and the top plate 30 also changes.
Even when the holder main body 33 and the top plate 30 are made of the same material, the amount of change in the longitudinal direction between the holder main body 33 and the top plate 30 may differ due to the difference in the installation environment between the holder main body 33 and the top plate 30. is there. For example, when the heat source such as a motor is located below the lens unit 200, the holder body 33 becomes an installation environment that tends to be hotter than the top plate 30. Even in the case of the same material, since the amount of change due to thermal expansion is greater in an installation environment that is likely to be high in temperature, the holder body 33 is longer in the longitudinal direction than the top plate 30. Even in such a case, the curved state of the long lens 26 changes.

In the above description, a problem has been described in which the amount of change in the longitudinal direction due to thermal expansion differs between the two long holding members, thereby causing the curved state of the long lens to change. If the amount of change in the longitudinal direction of the two long holding members is different, the same problem may occur without being limited to the one caused by thermal expansion.
In the above description, the problem that the bending state of the long lens 26 changes in the lens unit 200 that can adjust the bending state of the long lens 26 by the adjusting screw 31 provided in the lens holder 300 has been described. The problem that the curved state of the long lens 26 changes is not limited to the one provided with means for adjusting the curved state of the long lens 26, but a lens unit that holds the long lens between two long holding members. This is a problem that can occur. In addition, although the problem that the scanning line is bent due to the change in the curved state of the long lens has been described, the long optical element is not limited to the lens, and scanning is performed when the curved state changes even in a long concave mirror. Line bending occurs.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide two long holding members for holding a long optical element, and to provide a long optical member between the two long holding members. Provided is an optical element holding device that can be held by sandwiching elements and can prevent a change in the bending state of a long optical element, and an optical element unit, an optical scanning device, and an image forming apparatus provided with the optical element holding device. It is to be.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is directed to an optical element holding device for holding a long optical element by sandwiching the long optical element between two long holding members. At least one end side in the longitudinal direction of the holding member is characterized in that the ends of the two long holding members are relatively displaceable in the longitudinal direction.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical element unit comprising a long optical element and a long optical element holding means for holding the long optical element. It is characterized by comprising a length optical element holding device.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the optical element unit of the second aspect, the ends of the two long holding members are fixed to each other at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the two long holding members. It is what.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the optical element unit of the third aspect, the two long holding members are integrally formed members.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the optical element unit according to the second or third aspect, the two long holding members are separate members.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the optical element unit according to the second, third, fourth, or fifth aspect, at least one end side in the longitudinal direction of the two long holding members has an end portion of the two long holding members. It is possible to displace relatively in the longitudinal direction, and in the lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, the end portions of the two long holding members are provided with a lateral direction displacement regulating means for regulating relative displacement. It is a feature.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the optical element unit of the second, third, fourth, fifth, or sixth aspect, an elastic member is provided between at least one of the two long holding members and the long optical element. It is characterized by comprising.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the optical element unit according to the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth or seventh aspect, the long optical element holding device adjusts the curvature of the long optical element. It is characterized by providing.
According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the optical element unit according to the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh or eighth aspect, the long optical element is a long lens.
According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical scanning apparatus comprising: a light source; a light deflecting unit that deflects and scans light from the light source; and an optical system that forms an image of the light from the light deflecting unit on a scanned medium. The optical system includes the optical element unit according to the second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, or ninth aspect.
The invention of claim 11 forms a latent image on the surface of the latent image carrier by irradiating the surface of the latent image carrier with scanning light using an optical scanning device, and develops the latent image. In the image forming apparatus for forming an image by finally transferring the image obtained in (1) onto a recording material, the optical scanning apparatus according to claim 10 is used as the optical scanning apparatus.

  In the first to eleventh aspects of the present invention, at least one end side in the longitudinal direction is relatively displaceable in the longitudinal direction at the ends of the two long retaining members. Even if the amount of change is different from each other, the long holding member can be prevented from being bent. This is because the ends of the two long holding members before the change in the longitudinal length of the long holding members are mutually aligned on the side where the two long holding members are relatively displaceable in the longitudinal direction. This is because the opposite positions of the ends of the two long holding members can be shifted after a change in the length in the longitudinal direction with respect to the opposing position.

  According to the first to eleventh aspects of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the long holding member from being bent, so that the bending state of the long optical element held between the two long holding members changes. There is an excellent effect that it can be prevented.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a tandem color image forming apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as a printer 100) will be described.
FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the printer 100.
In FIG. 2, a printer 100 includes four image forming units 1 (K, Y, M, and C) for forming toner images of black, yellow, magenta, and cyan (hereinafter referred to as K, Y, M, and C). ). The toner image formed by each image forming unit 1 (K, Y, M, C) is transferred to a transfer belt 3 that is an intermediate transfer member by each primary transfer device 2 (K, Y, M, C). The color toner images are superimposed on the transfer belt 3 to form a color toner image.
The color toner image formed on the transfer belt 3 is transferred onto the transfer paper P, which is a recording material, by the secondary transfer device 4. The transfer paper P is transported to the fixing device 7 by the transport device 6.
The fixing device 7 includes a heat roll that is heated to a constant temperature and a pressure roller that is in pressure contact with the heat roll. When passing through this, the color toner image carried on the transfer paper P is pressure-melted and fixed on the transfer paper P. After the fixing process, the transfer paper P is carried out of the printer 100.

Next, the image forming unit 1 will be described.
FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram showing one of the four image forming units 1 (K, Y, M, C). The four image forming units 1 (K, Y, M, and C) have substantially the same configuration except that the colors of the toners to be handled are different from each other. The subscript K is omitted.
As shown in FIG. 3, the image forming unit 1 includes a charging device 11, an optical scanning device 12, a developing device 13, a cleaning device 14, and the like around a drum-type photoconductor 10. A primary transfer device 2 is provided at a position facing the photoconductor 10 with the transfer belt 3 interposed therebetween.
The photoconductor 10 that is rotationally driven in one direction (the arrow direction in FIG. 3) is uniformly charged to a specific polarity by the charging device 11 in order to form toner on the surface thereof. An electrostatic latent image is formed by exposing the surface of the charged photoconductor 10 with laser light emitted from the optical scanning device 12. Thereafter, toner is supplied from the developing device 13 to the surface of the photoconductor 10, whereby a toner image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor 10. On the other hand, the primary transfer device 2 charges the back surface of the transfer belt 3 with a polarity opposite to that of the toner, and transfers the toner image formed on the photoreceptor 10 onto the transfer belt 3. After the toner image is transferred to the transfer belt 3, the toner remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor 10 without being transferred to the transfer belt 3 is removed by the cleaning device 14.

FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the optical scanning device 12 as viewed from above.
As shown in FIG. 4, the optical scanning device 12 includes a light source 20 that includes a light emitting element such as an LED and irradiates laser light 21, a cylindrical lens 23 having a predetermined curvature only in the sub-scanning direction, and light deflecting means. A rotating polygon mirror 24 is provided. Furthermore, an Fθ lens 25, a long lens 26 which is a long optical element, a folding mirror 27, and the like are provided. The laser light 21 emitted from the light source 20 passes through the cylindrical lens 23 and is deflected and scanned by the rotating polygon mirror 24. The laser beam 21 deflected and scanned by the rotary polygon mirror 24 is transmitted through the Fθ lens 25, transmitted through the long lens 26, reflected by the folding mirror 27, and imaged on the photoreceptor 10 (not shown). An electrostatic latent image is created on 10 surfaces.

  Further, part of the laser light 21 deflected and scanned by the rotary polygon mirror 24 is reflected by the mirror 28 and enters the synchronization detection sensor 29. The synchronization detection sensor 29 receives the light and outputs a writing signal in the main scanning direction. In response to the output of the writing signal, writing modulation of the laser beam 21 emitted from the light source 20 is started.

  The color misregistration correction control for the color image forming apparatus adopting the tandem method as shown in FIG. 2 has already been proposed as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent No. 2907337. Further, an initial scanning line bending correction means has already been proposed as disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2002-131654, 2002-182145, and 2004-45946. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-333803 discloses means for suppressing deformation due to temperature change and means for correcting scanning line bending and inclination.

  The tandem method has been widely used in recent years because it is advantageous for speeding up color printers. A tandem color printer includes a plurality of color image forming apparatuses, and each color image is superimposed to form a color image. In this case, there is a problem because print quality deteriorates when color misregistration occurs between the image forming apparatuses due to a change over time during use. Therefore, as disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2907337, the result of printing is detected by a sensor, and the position in the scanning direction is shifted by controlling the writing position and the mirror (the top margin in Japanese Patent No. 2907337), and the position in the sub-scanning direction. Deviation (left margin in Japanese Patent No. 2907337), inclination component deviation (oblique inclination deviation in Japanese Patent No. 2907337), and magnification deviation (magnification error deviation in Japanese Patent No. 2907337) are corrected over time. However, there is no disclosure regarding correction of scan line bending over time.

Means for correcting the initial scanning line curve are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 2002-131684, 2002-182145, and 2004-45946.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-131684 is a method of adjusting the bending of a scanning line by tilting the long lens using means for tilting the optical axis of the long lens in the optical scanning device in the sub-scanning direction. The scale lens is fixed to the fixed surface.
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-182145, a long lens is forcibly bent with a grub screw provided in a lens holder, and adjustment is made so that the bending of the scanning line matches with each color.
In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-45946, three elastic pressing members fixed to a pressing substrate are provided, and the height of the screw from the opposite side is adjusted to adjust the inclination of the long lens and the deviation from the straight line, thereby scanning. Adjustments are made so that there is no line inclination or deviation from the straight line. Since there are three elastic pressing members and they are pressed with an equal force, they are said to be stably held for a long time.

However, in the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-131684, when the temperature of the environment changes and the fixing surface that fixes the long lens expands or contracts and deforms, the long lens is deformed accordingly.
Further, in the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-182145, distortion occurs when the long lens holder holding the female screw expands or contracts due to a change in environmental temperature, and the position of the female screw changes, or the abutting load condition is different. For this reason, the long lens is deformed.
Furthermore, even in the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-45946, the pressing substrate is deformed when it expands or contracts due to a change in environmental temperature, and the pressing force to the long lens changes or the position of the abutting screw changes. The long lens is deformed.

In any of the cases described above, when the long lens is deformed, the bending of the scanning line changes accordingly, so that the scanning line of each color in the color printer does not overlap (color shift), and the print quality deteriorates. It was a problem.
In other words, conventionally, there has been a problem that the scanning line bending state of a plurality of optical systems changes due to a change in the environmental temperature, and the print quality deteriorates, since measures against fluctuations in the scanning line with respect to the environmental temperature have not been taken.

In addition to the above-described conventional technology, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-333803, as a holding means for the long lens holder, a support pin provided in the long lens holder is received so as to hold the short direction in the groove portion of the support base, And the structure hold | maintained also to a longitudinal direction is disclosed by hold | maintaining the protrusion piece with which the long lens holder was equipped to the reference | standard pin. As the shape holding means (long lens holder) for suppressing the deformation of the long lens, a means for holding between two flat plates and a distance holding member is disclosed.
Since the long lens to be held has a protrusion and is fixed to one engaging portion of the two flat plates, the longitudinal position of the long lens is a flat plate (long lens holder). ) Is fixed in position. Even if the linear expansion coefficient of the interval holding member used in this shape holding means (long lens holder) is substantially the same as that of the long lens, the difference in expansion or contraction due to the temperature difference that occurs when the environmental temperature changes, The shape holding part may be slightly distorted due to the tightening of the fixing screws for assembling the parts and the variation in the parts materials.
Along with this, since the long lens integrated and held in the shape holding means (long lens holder) is also distorted, the problem of color misregistration similar to the color misregistration in the color printer may occur. It was. In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-333803, even when scanning line bending occurs, scanning line bending, that is, color misregistration can be automatically corrected by using a stepping motor and rotating the long lens by β. For this reason, the system has no color misregistration. However, in order to automatically correct the bending of the scanning line, it is necessary to provide a part such as a stepping motor and a system for automatically correcting it.

[Example 1]
Next, a first example (hereinafter referred to as Example 1) including the characteristic part of the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lens unit 200 as an optical element unit according to the first embodiment. The lens unit 200 includes a long lens 26 that is a long optical element, and a lens holder 300 that is an optical element holding device as an optical element holding unit that holds the long lens 26.
As shown in FIG. 1, the lens holder 300 includes two long holding members, a holder main body 33 that is a lower holding member and a top plate 30 that is a plate-like upper holding member, and the holder main body 33 and the top plate 30. The long lens 26 is sandwiched between and held. Three lower springs 34, which are elastic members, are provided on the upper surface of the holder main body 33. The lower spring 34 pushes up the long lens 26 and abuts the long lens 26 on the lower surface of the top plate 30. The long lens 26 is sandwiched between the plate 30 and fixed.
In FIG. 1, the direction of arrow A is the “scanning direction”, the direction orthogonal to the scanning direction, that is, the direction of arrow C is the “sub-scanning direction”, and the direction orthogonal to the scanning direction and also orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction, that is, the arrow The B direction is defined as “optical axis direction”. In the lens unit 200 of FIG. 1, the arrow A direction in FIG. 1 that is the scanning direction is the longitudinal direction, the arrow C direction in FIG. 1 that is the sub-scanning direction, and the arrow B direction in FIG. Hand direction.
Further, one end side (left side in FIG. 1) of the holder body 33 and the top plate 30 in the longitudinal direction (the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1) is fixed to the end of the holder body 33 and the end of the top plate 30 by a fixing screw 38. The parts are fixed to each other. On the other hand, the other end side in the longitudinal direction of the holder main body 33 and the top plate 30 (the right side in FIG. 1) is fixed to the holder main body 33 with a U-shaped member 36 which is a short direction displacement restricting means with a screw 37. The top plate 30 is passed between the U-shaped members 36. With such a structure, on the other end side in the longitudinal direction (right side in FIG. 1), the short direction (the arrow B direction and the arrow C direction in FIG. 1) that is a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is Although the relative displacement between the end portion of the top plate 30 and the end portion of the holder main body 33 is regulated, the structure is relatively displaceable in the longitudinal direction.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the lens unit 200 when the lens unit 200 of FIG. 1 is viewed from the end surface direction (arrow D direction in FIG. 1) on the side including the U-shaped member 36. Due to the structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 5, the temperature of the environment changes, the top plate 30 and the holder body 33 expand and contract in the longitudinal direction (the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1), and the relative length is increased. Even if it changes, it can prevent that the top plate 30 and the holder main body 33 curve. This is because the side provided with the U-shaped member 36 has a change in the longitudinal direction relative to the position where the end of the top plate 30 and the end of the holder main body 33 face each other before the change in the longitudinal direction occurs. This is because the position where the end portion of the top plate 30 and the end portion of the holder main body 33 face each other can be shifted after the occurrence.
Since the top plate 30 or the holder main body 33 can be prevented from being bent in this way, the bending state of the long lens 26 held between the top plate 30 and the holder main body 33 is prevented from changing. it can.

In the conventional lens unit 200 described with reference to FIG. 17, since both ends in the longitudinal direction are fixed, for example, when the top plate 30 extends from the holder body 33, the top plate 30 is convex upward or convex downward. Was distorted. Due to this distortion, the curved state of the long lens 26 changes, scanning line bending occurs, and color misregistration occurs in an image forming apparatus that superimposes a plurality of colors.
On the other hand, in the lens unit 200 of Example 1, since it is possible to prevent the bending state of the long lens 26 from changing, the occurrence of scanning line bending can be suppressed and the occurrence of color misregistration can also be prevented. Can do. In addition, since the U-shaped member 36 is used in the lens unit 200 according to the first embodiment, the top plate 30 can be held in the short direction (the arrow B direction and the arrow C direction in the drawing) with respect to the holder body 33. In addition, the shape of the holder body 33 can be simplified.

[Example 2]
Next, a second example (hereinafter referred to as Example 2) including the characteristic part of the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the lens unit 200 of the second embodiment. Similarly to the first embodiment, the lens unit 200 according to the second embodiment includes the long lens 26 and the lens holder 300, and the lens holder 300 includes the holder main body 33 and the top plate 30. The lens unit 200 according to the second embodiment is different from the lens unit 200 according to the first embodiment in that a mechanism for adjusting the curvature of the long lens 26 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 6, the top plate 30 of the lens holder 300 according to the second embodiment is provided with adjusting screws 31 as bending adjusting means made of potato screws on both ends in the longitudinal direction, and an elastic member at the center of the top plate 30. An upper spring 32 is provided. On the other hand, the holder main body 33 includes a lower spring 34 that is an elastic member on both ends in the longitudinal direction, and includes an abutting portion 35 in the center. In addition, the holder body 33 has a U-shaped member 36 serving as a short-direction displacement restricting means fixed to one end thereof with a screw 37.
When assembling the lens holder 300 of the second embodiment, one end of the top plate 30 is inserted between the U-shaped member 36 and the holder main body 33, and the other end of the top plate 30 and the holder main body 33 is inserted. Fix with fixing screw 38.

Next, the adjustment of the curvature of the long lens 26 in the lens unit 200 of Example 2 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 6, the long lens 26 is in a state where the upper spring 32 and the abutting portion 35 fix the central portion, and the lower spring 34 presses both ends upward. When the lens unit 200 is assembled, the adjustment screw 31 is loosened, and both ends are pushed up by the lower spring 34, so that the long lens 26 has a downwardly convex shape. After assembling the lens unit 200, the adjustment screw 31 is tightened so that the adjustment screw 31 presses both ends of the long lens 26 downward, so that the long lens is formed from a downward convex shape to an upward convex shape. 26 bending states can be adjusted. In addition, by adjusting the tightening state of the two adjusting screws 31 to each other, the curved state of the long lens 26 is adjusted so that only one of both end portions of the long lens 26 bends upward or downward. You can also

As shown in FIG. 4, the optical scanning device 12 includes a number of optical elements such as a cylindrical lens 23, a rotary polygon mirror 24, an Fθ lens 25, a long lens 26, and a folding mirror 27. It is very difficult to manufacture the optical scanning device 12 by creating each optical element and assembling the optical system so that manufacturing errors do not occur in such an optical system composed of many optical elements. Due to this manufacturing error, the scanning line on the photoconductor 10 where the optical scanning device 12 irradiates the laser beam 21 onto the photoconductor 10 is not linear but a curved scan line is generated. In the printer 100 including the lens unit 200 according to the second embodiment, the curved state of the long lens 26 is adjusted so that the scanning line bends in the opposite direction to the scanning line bend before shipment to the market. Thereby, the scanning line that has been curved due to the manufacturing error can be corrected to a straight line.
Further, in a full-color image forming apparatus such as the printer 100, if the scanning lines formed on the photoconductors 10 of the respective colors are deviated from each other, color misregistration occurs, and the image is further further than a state where only the scanning lines are bent. Quality deteriorates. Even if the scanning lines of the respective colors are corrected to be substantially linear, there is slight scanning line bending, and image quality deteriorates due to color misregistration even when the bending is shifted from one color to another. In the printer 100 including the lens unit 200 according to the second embodiment, the curved state of the long lens 26 that transmits the laser light 21 corresponding to each color is set so that the scanning lines formed on the photoconductors 10 of the respective colors coincide with each other. Adjust. As a result, it is possible to prevent color misregistration during color image formation.

  In the second embodiment, even if the top plate 30 or the holder main body 33 expands or contracts in the longitudinal direction due to a temperature change, it is possible to suppress distortion of the top plate 30 or the holder main body 33. It can suppress changing. Thereby, since the shape of the long lens 26 can be maintained in a curved state that can prevent scanning line bending and color misregistration, occurrence of scanning line bending and color misregistration can be prevented even in the market.

Example 3
Next, a third example (hereinafter referred to as Example 3) provided with the characteristic part of the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the end portion of the lens unit 200 on the side where the end portion of the top plate 30 and the end portion of the holder body 33 according to the third embodiment are relatively displaceable in the longitudinal direction. The configuration other than the end on the side where the top plate 30 and the holder main body 33 of the lens unit 200 of the third embodiment are relatively displaceable in the longitudinal direction is the same as that of the first or second embodiment. Can be applied. Here, the displacement of the top plate 30 and the holder main body 33 is relatively restricted in the lateral direction, but only a structure that can be relatively displaced in the longitudinal direction will be described.

As shown in FIG. 7, a pipe 41 having a hole capable of screwing the top plate top screw 40 is provided at a position facing the top plate 30 at one end of the holder body 33. The top plate 30 has a long hole 42 with a short diameter that is larger than the diameter of the pipe 41 and smaller than the head of the top plate top surface screw 40. When assembling the lens unit 200 of the third embodiment, the pipe 41 is passed through the long hole 42 of the top plate 30, and then the top plate top screw 40 is passed through the hole of the pipe 41. Thereby, it is set as the structure which controls the displacement of the upper direction of the subscanning direction with respect to the holder main body 33 of the top plate 30 and an optical axis direction (arrow B direction in FIG. 7). In addition, the downward displacement of the top plate 30 with respect to the holder main body 33 is regulated by pushing up the lower spring 34. By making the length from the upper surface of the holder body 33 including the pipe 41 to the tip of the pipe 41 longer than the thickness of the top board 30, a gap can be provided between the top board 30 and the holder body 33. . Accordingly, the top plate 30 and the holder main body 33 are relatively restricted in displacement in the short direction (the direction of arrow B or the direction of arrow C in FIG. 7), but the longitudinal direction (the arrow A in FIG. 7). (Direction) is relatively displaceable. In the second embodiment, the top plate 30 and the holder main body 33 are relatively displaced in the short direction, but the top plate top screw 40 and the long hole are structured so as to be relatively displaceable in the long direction. Since it is realizable with the simple structure of 42 and the pipe 41, there exists an effect which can be made low-cost.
In the third embodiment, the pipe 41 is a separate part from the holder body 33. However, the same effect can be obtained even if the structure of the holder body 33 is as shown in FIG. 16, and in this case, the number of parts can be further reduced. Therefore, the price can be reduced.

Example 4
Next, a fourth example (hereinafter referred to as Example 4) provided with the characteristic part of the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 8 shows the end of the lens unit 200 on the side in which the end of the top plate 30 and the end of the holder body 33 of the fourth embodiment are relatively displaceable in the longitudinal direction in the same direction as FIG. 5 of the first embodiment. It is the side view seen from. The configurations other than the end portion on the side where the top plate 30 and the holder main body 33 of the lens unit 200 of the fourth embodiment are relatively displaceable in the longitudinal direction are the same as those in the first or second embodiment. can do. Here, the displacement of the top plate 30 and the holder main body 33 is relatively restricted in the lateral direction, but only a structure that can be relatively displaced in the longitudinal direction will be described.

As shown in FIG. 8, the holder main body 33 included in the lens unit 200 of Example 4 includes a T-shaped structure 46 on the surface facing the top plate 30 at one end, and a cut is formed at the end of the top plate 30. 45 is provided. For this reason, by inserting a portion where the cut 45 of the top plate 30 is provided between the upper portion 46a of the T-shaped structure 46 and the holder main body 33, the body portion 46b of the T-shaped structure 46 is in the optical axis direction ( In FIG. 8, the displacement in the direction of arrow B) can be regulated. Further, the displacement of the top plate 30 in the sub-scanning direction (arrow C direction in FIG. 8) is restricted by being pushed up by the lower spring 34 through the long lens 26 and hitting the lower surface of the upper portion 46a of the T-shaped structure 46. can do.
Accordingly, the displacement of the top plate 30 and the holder main body 33 is relatively restricted in the short direction (the direction of arrow B or the direction of arrow C in FIG. 8), but the longitudinal direction (from the front of the page in FIG. 8 to A relatively displaceable structure can be realized in the back direction.

Example 5
Next, a fifth example (hereinafter referred to as Example 5) provided with the characteristic part of the present embodiment will be described.
FIG. 9 is a side view of the end portion of the lens unit 200 on the side in which the top plate 30 and the holder main body 33 of the fifth embodiment are relatively displaceable in the longitudinal direction from the same direction as FIG. 5 of the first embodiment. is there. The configurations other than the end portion on the side where the top plate 30 and the holder main body 33 of the lens unit 200 of the fifth embodiment are relatively displaceable in the longitudinal direction are the same as those in the first or second embodiment. can do. Here, the displacement of the top plate 30 and the holder main body 33 is relatively restricted in the lateral direction, but only a structure that can be relatively displaced in the longitudinal direction will be described.

As shown in FIG. 9, the holder main body 33 included in the lens unit 200 of Example 5 includes a key-shaped structure 47 on the surface facing the top plate 30 at one end. Therefore, by inserting one end portion of the top plate 30 inside the key-shaped structure 47, the displacement of the top plate 30 with respect to the holder body 33 in the sub-scanning direction (the direction of arrow C in FIG. 9) and the optical axis direction (see FIG. 9, the displacement in the direction of arrow B) can be regulated.
As a result, relative to the top plate 30 and the holder main body 33, the displacement is regulated in the short direction (the direction of arrow B or the direction of arrow C in FIG. 9), but the scanning direction (the figure is the longitudinal direction). A structure that is relatively displaceable can be realized in the direction from the front to the back of FIG.

  In the fourth embodiment, the cut 45 of the top plate 30 is provided, and the holder body 33 is provided with a T-shaped structure 46. In the fifth embodiment, the holder body 33 is provided with a key-shaped structure 47. In the configuration as in the fourth and fifth embodiments, the top plate 30 and the holder main body 33 are relatively displaceable in the short direction but relatively displaceable in the long direction. Therefore, another member other than the top plate 30 and the holder main body 33 is not necessary. As in the first, second, and third embodiments, the number of parts can be reduced and the assembly can be easily performed compared to the configuration that requires another member other than the top plate 30 and the holder main body 33. Cost can be reduced.

  In the first to fifth embodiments, the end of the top plate 30 on one end side and the end of the holder main body 33 are fixed in the longitudinal direction, and the end of the top plate 30 on the other end side and the end of the holder main body 33 are fixed. Are described as a structure that can be relatively displaced in the longitudinal direction. Not only at one end side, but also at both end sides in the longitudinal direction, the displacement of the end portion of the top plate 30 and the end portion of the holder body 33 is relatively restricted in the short direction, but is relatively displaced in the longitudinal direction. Even as a possible structure, distortion of the top plate 30 or the holder main body 33 can be suppressed. For this reason, the same effects as those of the first to fifth embodiments can be obtained even when the end portions of the top plate 30 on both ends in the longitudinal direction and the end portions of the holder body 33 are relatively displaceable in the longitudinal direction. Obtainable.

[Modification 1]
In the first to fifth embodiments, the lens holder 300 includes two members, a top plate 30 and a holder main body 33, and an end portion of the top plate 30 on one end side in the longitudinal direction and an end portion of the holder main body 33. Is fixed with a fixing screw 38. The lens holder 300 is not limited to a structure in which the long lens 26 is held by two long holding members made of different members, and the two long holding members may be integrated. Here, as a first modification, a lens unit 200 including two lens holders 300 in which two long holding members are integrated will be described.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the lens unit 200 of the first modification.
The first modification is the same as the first embodiment except for the structure of the lens holder 300. The first modification is different from the first embodiment in that the lens holder 300 has an integral structure including a holder upper part 39a and a holder lower part 39b.
With the lens holder 300 according to the first modification, the fixing screw 38 according to the first embodiment is not necessary, and the top plate 30 and the holder main body 33 are integrated. Therefore, the number of parts can be reduced. Thereby, the manufacturing cost of the lens unit 200 can be reduced.
Even in the case where the lens holder 300 has an integral structure as in the first modification example, the amount of deformation in the longitudinal direction varies depending on the environmental temperature of the holder upper part 39a and the holder lower part 39b, so that the holder upper part 39a and the holder lower part 39b And may be different. As described above, even if the holder upper portion 39a and the holder lower portion 39b have different deformation amounts in the longitudinal direction, the lens upper portion 39a and the holder lower portion 39b are prevented from being curved in the lens unit 200 according to the first modification. be able to. This is because the side provided with the U-shaped member 36 has a change in the longitudinal direction relative to the position where the end of the holder upper part 39a and the end of the holder lower part 39b face each other before the change in the longitudinal direction occurs. This is because the position where the end portion of the holder upper portion 39a and the end portion of the holder lower portion 39b face each other can be shifted after the occurrence. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the holder upper portion 39a and the holder lower portion 39b from being bent, so that the bending state of the long lens 26 held between the holder upper portion 39a and the holder lower portion 39b is changed. Can be prevented.

[Modification 2]
Next, the lens unit 200 of Modification 2 is provided with a lens holder 300 having a shape different from that of Modification 1, which is an integrated lens holder 300 formed of a holder upper part 39a and a holder lower part 39b similar to Modification 1. Will be described.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the lens unit 200 of the second modification.
As shown in FIG. 11, in the lens unit 200 of Modification 2, the end of the holder upper part 39a and the end of the holder lower part 39b on the side where the holder upper part 39a and the holder lower part 39b are not connected are not close to each other. This is different from Modification 1. Instead of the U-shaped member 36 of Modification 1, a B-shaped member 36a is provided. Even in the lens unit 200 according to the second modification including the lens holder 300 having such a shape, the curved state of the long lens 26 can be prevented from changing as in the first modification. Further, since the shape of the holder lower portion 39b can be made simpler than that of the first modification, the manufacturing cost of the lens holder 300 can be reduced.

[Modification 3]
Next, the lens unit 200 of Modification 3 is provided with a lens holder 300 having a shape different from that of Modification 1, which is an integrated lens holder 300 formed of a holder upper part 39a and a holder lower part 39b similar to Modification 1. Will be described.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the lens unit 200 of the third modification.
As shown in FIG. 12, the lens unit 200 of Modification 3 has the shapes of the end of the holder upper part 39a and the end of the holder lower part 39b on the side where the holder upper part 39a and the holder lower part 39b are not connected to each other. Is an inverted structure. That is, the U-shaped member 36 is fixed to the holder upper portion 39a with the screw 37. Even in the lens unit 200 according to the third modification including the lens holder 300 having such a shape, the curved state of the long lens 26 can be prevented from changing as in the first modification.

[Modification 4]
Next, a lens unit 200 according to the fourth modification, which includes a lens holder 300 having a shape different from that of the first modification, is an integrated lens holder 300 formed from a holder upper part 39a and a holder lower part 39b similar to the first modification. Will be described.
FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the lens unit 200 according to the fourth modification.
As shown in FIG. 13, the lens unit 200 of Modification 4 is the same as that of Modification 2 except that the holder upper portion 39 a and the holder lower portion 39 b are not connected to each other, and the B-shaped member 36 a is not provided. It is a configuration.
The U-shaped member 36 of Modification 1 and the B-shaped member 36a of Modification 2 are members that restrict the displacement in the sub-scanning direction and the displacement in the optical axis direction of the holder upper portion 39a and the holder lower portion 39b. is there. The lens holder 300 of Modification 4 is a highly rigid material that does not change the distance between the holder upper portion 39a and the holder lower portion 39b even when the holder upper portion 39a is pushed upward by the lower spring 34 via the long lens 26. And the structure. In addition, the lens holder 300 of Modification 4 also has rigidity that prevents the holder upper portion 39a and the holder lower portion 39b from shifting in the optical axis direction in the optical axis direction. If the lens holder 300 is highly synthesized as in the fourth modification, the U-shaped member 36 and the B-shaped member 36a are not required, and the screws and the like for fixing them are not required, thereby reducing the number of parts. be able to. Even in the lens unit 200 according to the fourth modification including the lens holder 300 having such a shape, the curved state of the long lens 26 can be prevented from changing as in the first modification.

[Modification 5]
Next, a fifth modification in which the characteristic part of the present embodiment is applied to the configuration of FIG. 8 of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-333803 will be described.
FIG. 14 is a schematic configuration diagram of a lens unit 200 of Modification 5.
14, 101 is a long lens, 102C is a spacing member, 102C1 is a support pin, 102A is a lower sheet metal member, 102A2 is a protruding piece as a scanning line bending correction unit, 102B is an upper sheet metal member, and 106 is supported. A base, 107 is a leaf spring, and 108 is a reference pin. The detailed operation and description of this figure are described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-333803, and will be omitted. The difference between the modified example 5 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-333803 is the structure of the shape holding means 102C, in which the sheet metal is held in the short direction on one side (one side is shown in FIG. The structure is not held in the longitudinal direction.

A fixing portion of the sheet metal 102B for achieving this structure is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 15, the upper sheet metal member has a long hole shape, and the short diameter of the long hole 42 is c. Further, the thickness of the upper sheet metal member 102B is b. An example of the spacing member of the fifth modification is shown in FIG. A pipe-like portion having a diameter smaller than the short diameter c of the long hole 42 is formed, and the height a is larger than the thickness b of the sheet metal. The diameter d of the head of the long hole screw 43 is larger than the short diameter c of the long hole 42. By assembling them, the upper sheet metal member 102B is held in the short direction but not in the long direction. In the conventional configuration, even if the shape holding means is made of substantially the same material as the long lens, a temperature difference occurs in the shape holding means, and distortion occurs when a difference in expansion of the sheet metal occurs. Long lenses were also a problem because they were distorted accordingly. With the structure of the modified example 5, even if a temperature difference occurs in the shape holding means, the longitudinal direction of the sheet metal is not fixed, so that no distortion occurs. For this reason, since the long lens is not distorted, the curve of the scanning line does not change, so that an automatic curvature correction system is unnecessary, and an inexpensive image forming apparatus that does not cause color misregistration due to curvature can be provided.

  In Examples 1 to 5 and Modifications 1 to 5, the case where the long optical element is a long lens has been described, but the long optical element is not limited to a long lens. For example, even in the case of a long concave mirror, when the bending state in the longitudinal direction changes, the bending state of the scanning line on the photosensitive member scanned by the optical scanning device having the optical system including the concave mirror also changes. Therefore, the characteristic part of this embodiment is applicable even if the long optical element sandwiched between the two long holding members is a concave mirror.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the lens holder that is an optical element holding device that holds the long lens 26 that is a long optical element by sandwiching the long lens 26 between the top plate 30 that is two long holding members and the holder body 33. 300, the end portion of the top plate 30 on one end side in the longitudinal direction and the end portion of the holder main body 33 in the short direction (arrow B in FIG. 1) by the U-shaped member 36 in the first and second embodiments. With respect to the direction and the direction of arrow C), the relative displacement between the end of the top plate 30 and the end of the holder main body 33 is restricted, but the structure is relatively displaceable in the longitudinal direction. For this reason, even if the top plate 30 and the holder main body 33 expand and contract in the longitudinal direction (in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1) due to thermal expansion due to a temperature change, It is possible to prevent the holder body 33 from being bent. This is because the side provided with the U-shaped member 36 has a change in the longitudinal direction relative to the position where the end of the top plate 30 and the end of the holder main body 33 face each other before the change in the longitudinal direction occurs. This is because the position where the end portion of the top plate 30 and the end portion of the holder main body 33 face each other can be shifted after the occurrence. For this reason, since it can prevent that the top plate 30 and the holder main body 33 curve, it can change that the bending state of the long lens 26 pinched and hold | maintained between the top plate 30 and the holder main body 33 changes. Can be prevented.
Further, in the case of the lens unit 200 as an optical element unit including the lens holder 300 and the long lens 26 that can prevent the bending state of the long lens 26 from changing, the optical path of the light transmitted through the long lens 26 is the same. It is possible to prevent the change.
Further, the side of the top plate 30 and the holder main body 33 that is not provided with the U-shaped member 36 is fixed to the end of the holder main body 33 by fixing the end of the top plate 30 with a fixing screw 38. Since the end of the top plate 30 is not displaced with respect to the end of the main body 33, the long lens 26 can be stably held.
In addition, as in the first to fifth embodiments, the two long holding members are separate members of the top plate 30 and the holder main body 33, thereby simplifying the shapes of the two long holding members. Can do. Furthermore, the top plate 30 and the holder main body 33 can be made of different materials.
Further, as in the first modification, the two long holding members are the holder upper part 39a and the holder lower part 39b, and the lens holder 300 in which the holder upper part 39a and the holder lower part 39b are integrally molded can be used to reduce the number of parts. Can be reduced.
Further, by providing the U-shaped member 36 which is a short direction displacement restricting means, the short direction (the arrow B direction and the arrow C direction in FIG. 1) which is a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction is Although the top plate 30 and the holder main body 33 are restricted from being relatively displaced, the structure is relatively displaceable in the longitudinal direction. Thereby, since the transversal direction with respect to the holder main body 33 of the top plate 30 can be fixed, the long lens 26 can be hold | maintained stably.
Further, by providing a lower spring 34, which is an elastic member, between the holder main body 33 and the long lens 26, the long lens 26 can be pressed against the lower surface of the top plate 30. 30 can be configured to hold the long lens 26 therebetween.
Further, as in the second embodiment, the lens unit 200 includes the adjusting screw 31 as a bending adjusting unit that adjusts the bending state of the long lens 26, so that the optical scanning line can be corrected.
Further, since the long optical element sandwiched and held between the top plate 30 and the holder main body 33 of the embodiment is the long lens 26, it is possible to prevent the bending state of the long lens 26 from changing. It is possible to prevent the optical path of the light passing through the long lens 26 from changing.
Further, if the optical scanning device 12 includes the lens unit 200, it is possible to prevent the scanning line curve of the laser beam to be irradiated from changing.
Further, in the case of the printer 100 as an image forming apparatus including the optical scanning device 12, since it is possible to prevent the scanning line curve of the laser light irradiated onto the photoconductor 10 from changing, the scanning line before shipping to the market. If the adjustment is made so as to eliminate the bending, it is possible to prevent the scanning line from being bent. Further, when a color image is formed, the color misregistration can be prevented if it is adjusted in advance so as not to cause the color misregistration.

2 is a lens unit according to Example 1. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a printer according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming unit. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an optical scanning device. FIG. 3 is a side view of the lens unit according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a lens unit according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of an end portion of a lens unit according to Embodiment 3. FIG. 6 is a side view of the lens unit according to the fourth embodiment. FIG. 6 is a side view of a lens unit according to Embodiment 5. The perspective view of the lens unit of the modification 1. FIG. The perspective view of the lens unit of the modification 2. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a lens unit according to Modification 3. The perspective view of the lens unit of the modification 4. FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a lens unit of Modification 5. Explanatory drawing of the fixing | fixed part of the sheet metal of the lens unit of the modification 5. FIG. Explanatory drawing of an example of the space | interval holding member of the modification 5. FIG. Explanatory drawing of the conventional lens unit.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming unit 2 Primary transfer device 3 Transfer belt 4 Secondary transfer device 6 Conveyance device 7 Fixing device 10 Photoconductor 11 Charging device 12 Optical scanning device 13 Developing device 14 Cleaning device 20 Light source 21 Laser beam 23 Cylindrical lens 24 Rotating polygon mirror 25 Fθ lens 26 Long lens 27 Folding mirror 28 Mirror 29 Synchronization detection sensor 30 Top plate 31 Adjustment screw 32 Upper spring 33 Holder body 34 Lower spring 35 Abutting portion 36 U-shaped member 37 Screw 38 Fixing screw 39a Holder upper portion 39b Lower part of the holder 40 Top plate screw 41 Pipe 42 Long hole 43 Long hole screw 45 Cut 46 T-shaped structure 47 Key-shaped structure 100 Printer 200 Lens unit 300 Lens holder

Claims (11)

In the optical element holding device that holds the long optical element by sandwiching the long optical element between two long holding members,
An optical element holding apparatus, wherein at least one end side in the longitudinal direction of the two long holding members is capable of relatively displacing ends of the two long holding members in the longitudinal direction. A long optical element;
In an optical element unit comprising a long optical element holding means for holding the long optical element,
An optical element unit comprising the long optical element holding device according to claim 1 as the long optical element holding means. The optical element unit according to claim 2,
An optical element unit, wherein the ends of the two long holding members are fixed to each other at one end side in the longitudinal direction of the two long holding members. In the optical element unit according to claim 3,
An optical element unit, wherein the two long holding members are integrally formed members. The optical element unit according to claim 2 or 3,
The optical element unit, wherein the two long holding members are separate members. The optical element unit according to claim 2, 3, 4 or 5,
At least one end side of the two long holding members in the longitudinal direction is such that the ends of the two long holding members are relatively displaceable in the longitudinal direction, and the short direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is two. An optical element unit comprising short-direction displacement restricting means for restricting relative displacement between end portions of one long holding member. The optical element unit according to claim 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6,
An optical element unit comprising an elastic member between at least one of the two long holding members and the long optical element. The optical element unit according to claim 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7,
The long optical element holding device comprises an optical element unit comprising a bending adjusting means for adjusting the bending of the long optical element. The optical element unit according to claim 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8,
The long optical element is a long lens. A light source;
Light deflecting means for deflecting and scanning light from the light source;
In an optical scanning device comprising an optical system that forms an image of light from the light deflecting means on a scanned medium,
An optical scanning device comprising the optical element unit according to claim 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9. By irradiating the surface of the latent image carrier with scanning light using an optical scanning device, a latent image is formed on the surface of the latent image carrier, and an image obtained by developing the latent image is finally recorded. In an image forming apparatus that forms an image by transferring it onto a material,
An image forming apparatus using the optical scanning device according to claim 10 as the optical scanning device.

Images