JP2010243927A - Optical scanner - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical scanner where a deflector can be cooled effectively. <P>SOLUTION: The optical scanner10 is used for an image forming device. The deflector 17 deflects a beam B. A casing 12 contains the deflector 17. A channel R1 through which air to cool the deflector 17 flows is provided on the casing 12. A heat radiating member 32 has a plane 34a to which the deflector 17 is attached, a plane 34b facing the plane 34a and arranged in a standing condition, and a plane 34c facing the plane 34a and arranged in a standing condition. A portion of the channel R1 are surrounded on three sides with planes 34a-34c, in a section vertical to a y-axis direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical scanning device, and more particularly to an optical scanning device used in an image forming apparatus.

  As a conventional optical scanning device, for example, an optical scanning device described in Patent Document 1 is known. Hereinafter, the optical scanning device will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the printer 100 including the optical scanning device 110 described in Patent Document 1.

  As illustrated in FIG. 6, the printer 100 includes an intake fan 102, an exhaust fan 104, and an optical scanning device 110. Further, the optical scanning device 110 includes a housing 111, a heat radiating unit 112, and dustproof glasses 114a to 114d.

  The casing 111 stores the heat radiating means 112 and the dustproof glasses 114a to 114d, and stores a light source, a deflector, and other optical elements (not shown). The dust-proof glasses 114 a to 114 d are provided in openings through which the beam is emitted, and prevent dust from entering the housing 111. The heat radiating means 112 is attached to a deflector (not shown) and cools the deflector.

  The casing 111 is provided with a flow path R100. As shown in FIG. 6, the flow path R <b> 100 is a passage that is provided so as to penetrate the housing 111 in the left-right direction, and through which air for cooling the heat radiation means 112 flows. The intake fan 102 causes air to flow into the flow path R100. The exhaust fan 104 causes air to flow out from the flow path R100.

  In the optical scanning device 110 as described above, the heat radiating means 112 is provided in the middle of the flow path R100. Therefore, the heat radiating means 112 is cooled by the air passing through the flow path R100. Thereby, a deflector (not shown) is cooled.

  However, the optical scanning device 110 has a problem that the deflector cannot be cooled sufficiently. More specifically, the heat radiating means 112 is only provided in the middle of the flow path R100. Therefore, the area where the heat radiating means 112 is in contact with air is relatively small. Therefore, in the optical scanning device 110, it is difficult to sufficiently cool the deflector.

JP 2008-33135 A

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical scanning device capable of effectively cooling a deflector.

  An optical scanning device according to an aspect of the present invention is an optical scanning device used in an image forming apparatus, which includes a deflection unit that deflects a beam, and a housing that stores the deflection unit, and the deflection unit is cooled. And a heat dissipating member to which the deflecting means is attached, wherein the first flow is in a cross section perpendicular to the direction in which the air flows. And a heat dissipating member surrounding three sides of the road.

  According to the present invention, the deflector can be effectively cooled.

1 is a schematic perspective view of an optical scanning device according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is the figure which planarly viewed the optical scanning device of FIG. It is an external appearance perspective view of the optical scanning device of FIG. It is an external appearance perspective view of the optical scanning device of FIG. It is an external appearance perspective view of the optical scanning device provided with the heat radiating member concerning a modification. FIG. 6 is a plan view of a printer including an optical scanning device described in Patent Document 1.

  The optical scanning device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described below.

(Optical scanning device)
First, an outline of an optical scanning device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an optical scanning device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The optical scanning device 10 roughly includes a housing 12, a light source 14Y, a collimator lens 15Y, a cylindrical lens 16, a deflector 17, scanning lenses 18, 20Y, a folding mirror 22Y, and a dustproof glass 24Y. Installed. In FIG. 1, only the light source 14Y, the collimator lens 15Y, the folding mirror 22Y, and the dustproof glass 24Y are used for Y (yellow) image formation. However, actually, the light sources 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K corresponding to the four colors Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black), the collimator lenses 15Y, 15M, 15C, and 15K, Scanning lenses 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K, folding mirrors 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K and dustproof glasses 24Y, 24M, 24C, and 24K are provided.

  The light source 14Y is configured by a laser diode and emits a beam B that is diffused light. The beam B is converted into parallel light by the collimator lens 15Y, and is imaged by the cylindrical lens 16 so as to be linear on the reflecting surface of the deflector 17. The deflector 17 is composed of a polygon mirror and a motor, and deflects the beam B in the main scanning direction at a constant angular velocity. The scanning lenses 18 and 20Y correct the aberration of the deflected beam B. The folding mirror 22Y reflects the beam B toward the photosensitive drum 50Y. The beam B reflected by the folding mirror 22Y passes through the dust-proof glass 24Y and forms an image on the photosensitive drum 50Y. The photosensitive drum 50Y is rotationally driven at a predetermined speed. A two-dimensional image (electrostatic latent image) is formed by the main scanning by the beam B and the sub-scanning by the rotation of the photosensitive drum 50Y. The housing 12 stores a light source 14Y, a collimator lens 15Y, a cylindrical lens 16, a deflector 17, scanning lenses 18 and 20Y, a folding mirror 22Y, and a dustproof glass 24Y.

  Next, a specific configuration of the optical scanning device 10 will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the optical scanning device 10. FIG. 2 shows the optical scanning device 10 with the lid removed. 3 and 4 are external perspective views of the optical scanning device 10. In FIG. 3, a part of the optical scanning device 10 is cut to show the inside of the optical scanning device 10. FIG. 4 shows the optical scanning device 10 with the lid removed. 2 to 4, the main scanning direction is defined as the y-axis direction, the sub-scanning direction is defined as the z-axis direction, and the direction perpendicular to the y-axis direction and the z-axis direction (the traveling direction of the beam B) is the x-axis direction. It is defined as

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the housing 12 is composed of a main body 12a and a lid 12b. As shown in FIG. 1, the main surfaces S1 and S2 and side surfaces S3 to S6 (the side surface S6 is not shown). )). As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the main body 12 a is a rectangular parallelepiped box that is open on the positive side in the z-axis direction, and includes a main surface S <b> 2 and side surfaces S <b> 3 to S <b> 6. The lid 12b closes the opening of the main body 12a and constitutes the main surface S1. The main body 12a is made of, for example, a resin. The lid 12b is made of sheet metal, for example. The main surface S1 and the main surface S2 are located opposite to each other in the z-axis direction, the side surface S3 and the side surface S6 are located opposite to each other in the x-axis direction, and the side surface S4 and the side surface are opposed to each other. S5 is located opposite to both ends in the y-axis direction.

  The housing 12 is divided into two regions, an element region E and a flow path R, as shown in FIGS. Specifically, the housing 12 has a partition wall 40. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the partition wall 40 extends in the y-axis direction parallel to the side surface S3 at a position away from the side surface S3 by a predetermined distance. The partition 40 connects the side surface S4 and the side surface S5, and also connects the main surface S1 and the main surface S2. Thereby, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the inside of the housing 12 is divided into an element region E and a flow path R. The partition wall 40 is provided by standing a resin rib on the main surface S2 of the main body 12a.

  The flow path R is a space through which air for cooling the deflector 17 flows, and is provided in the housing 12 so as to extend along the side surface S3 as shown in FIGS. That is, the flow path R is a cavity formed so as to extend in the y-axis direction. An opening O1 is provided in the vicinity of the side surface S3 of the side surface S5. Further, an opening O2 is provided in the vicinity of the side surface S3 of the side surface S4. The opening O1 and the opening O2 communicate with each other through the flow path R.

  The flow path R is composed of a flow path R1 and a flow path R2, as shown in FIGS. The flow path R2 is provided on the upstream side of the flow path R1 (that is, the negative direction side in the y-axis direction). The flow path R2 is formed so as to extend in the y-axis direction by being surrounded by the main surface S1, the intermediate wall 42a, the side surface S3, and the partition wall 40. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the intermediate wall 42a is a plate-like member provided in parallel with the main surfaces S1 and S2 between the main surface S1 and the main surface S2.

  The light source unit 30 is provided so as to be adjacent to the flow path R2. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the light source unit 30 is provided on the negative direction side of the intermediate wall 42a in the z-axis direction so as to overlap the flow path R2 when viewed in plan from the z-axis direction. . The light source unit 30 includes light sources 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K, collimator lenses 15Y, 15M, 15C, and 15K, a cylindrical lens 16, and a mirror (not shown) that reflects the beam B.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the flow path R <b> 1 is formed to extend in the y-axis direction by being surrounded by the main surface S <b> 1 and the heat radiating member 32. The heat dissipating member 32 is a member for cooling the deflector 17 formed by bending a single metal plate into a U-shape. The heat radiating member 32 is placed on the positive side in the z-axis direction of the intermediate wall 42b. Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the intermediate wall 42b is a plate-like member provided in parallel with the main surfaces S1 and S2 between the main surface S1 and the main surface S2.

  Moreover, the heat radiating member 32 has the upstream part 32a and the downstream part 32b, as shown in FIG. 2 thru | or FIG. The upstream portion 32a is provided on the upstream side of the downstream portion 32b (that is, the negative direction side in the y-axis direction).

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the upstream portion 32 a is configured by flat surfaces 34 a to 34 c. The plane 34a is parallel to the xy plane and is placed on the positive side of the intermediate wall 42b in the z-axis direction.

  The plane 34b is erected with respect to the plane 34a on the positive side of the plane 34a in the x-axis direction. More specifically, the flat surface 34a and the flat surface 34b are constituted by a single metal plate. The plane 34b is provided to be parallel to the yz plane by being bent perpendicularly to the plane 34a.

  The plane 34c is erected with respect to the plane 34a on the negative side of the plane 34a in the x-axis direction. More specifically, the flat surface 34a and the flat surface 34c are configured by a single metal plate. The plane 34c is provided to be parallel to the yz plane by being bent perpendicularly to the plane 34a. Therefore, the flat surface 34c faces the flat surface 34b with the flat surface 34a interposed therebetween. Thereby, the upstream portion 32a has a U-shape when viewed in plan from the y-axis direction. As a result, a part of the flow path R1 is surrounded on three sides by the planes 34a to 34c in a cross section perpendicular to the direction in which air flows (that is, a cross section perpendicular to the y-axis direction). Further, the flow path R1 is surrounded on all sides by the flat surfaces 34a to 34c and the lid 12b.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the downstream portion 32 b is composed of flat surfaces 34 a, 34 d, and 34 e. The plane 34d is erected with respect to the plane 34a on the positive side of the plane 34a in the x-axis direction. More specifically, the flat surface 34a and the flat surface 34d are formed of a single metal plate. The plane 34d is provided so as to be parallel to the yz plane by being bent perpendicularly to the plane 34a.

  The plane 34e is erected with respect to the plane 34a on the negative side of the plane 34a in the x-axis direction. More specifically, the flat surface 34a and the flat surface 34e are configured by a single metal plate. The plane 34e is provided so as to be parallel to the yz plane by being bent perpendicularly to the plane 34a. Therefore, the flat surface 34e faces the flat surface 34d with the flat surface 34a interposed therebetween. Thereby, the downstream portion 32b has a U-shape when viewed in plan from the y-axis direction. As a result, the flow path R1 is surrounded on three sides by the planes 34a, 34d, and 34e in a cross section perpendicular to the air flow direction (that is, a cross section perpendicular to the y-axis direction). Further, a part of the flow path R1 is surrounded on all sides by the flat surfaces 34a, 34d, 34e and the lid 12b.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the width W1 in the direction perpendicular to the air flow direction of the plane 34a in the upstream portion 32a (ie, the x-axis direction) is perpendicular to the direction of air flow in the plane 34a in the downstream portion 32b. It is narrower than the width W2 in the direction (that is, the x-axis direction). And the deflector 17 is attached to the plane 34a in the upstream part 32a. More specifically, the deflector 17 is provided on the negative side in the z-axis direction of the intermediate wall 42b so as to overlap the plane 34a in the upstream portion 32a when viewed in plan from the z-axis direction. Accordingly, the deflector 17 is located downstream of the light source unit 30 in the flow path R (that is, the positive direction side in the y-axis direction).

  Further, the width W3 in the direction perpendicular to the direction in which the air flows in the flow path R2 (that is, the x-axis direction) is wider than the widths W1 and W2. Therefore, there is a step between the flow path R1 and the flow path R2. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the end of the flat surface 34b on the negative direction side in the y-axis direction is folded back to the positive direction side in the x-axis direction. Similarly, the end on the negative direction side in the y-axis direction of the plane 34c is folded back to the negative direction side in the x-axis direction.

  Further, the height H1 of the flow path R1 in the z-axis direction is higher than the height H2 of the flow path R2 in the z-axis direction, as shown in FIG. Therefore, there is a step between the flow path R1 and the flow path R2. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the end of the flat surface 34a on the negative direction side in the y-axis direction is folded back to the positive direction side in the z-axis direction. As described above, since the flat surfaces 34a to 34c are folded, a large gap is not formed between the flow path R1 and the flow path R2.

  The element region E is located on the positive direction side of the flow path R in the x-axis direction when viewed in plan from the z-axis direction. In the element region E, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, an optical element that refracts, transmits, or reflects the beam B deflected by the deflector 17 is provided. Specifically, the optical elements include light sources 14Y, 14M, 14C, and 14K (light sources 14M, 14C, and 14K are not shown), scanning lenses 18, 20Y, 20M, 20C, and 20K (scanning lenses 20M, 20C, and 20K). 20K is not shown), folding mirrors 22Y, 22M, 22C, and 22K (folding mirrors 22M, 22C, and 22K are not shown) and dustproof glasses 24Y, 24M, 24C, and 24K. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, the optical elements (light sources 14Y, 14M, 14C, 14K, scanning lenses 18, 20Y, 20M, 20C, 20K, folding mirrors 22Y, 22M, 22C, 22K and dustproof glasses 24Y, 24M, 24C, 24K) are not provided between the side surface S3 and the flow path R1 in the housing 12. That is, the optical element is located on the opposite side of the side surface S3 with respect to the flow path R1 in the housing 12.

  In the optical scanning device 10 as described above, air flows into the flow path R from the opening O1, and air flows out of the flow path R from the opening O2. At this time, the air passing through the flow path R1 comes into contact with the intermediate wall 42a and removes the heat from the intermediate wall 42a, whereby the light source unit 30 is cooled. Further, the air passing through the flow path R <b> 2 comes into contact with the heat radiating member 32, and the heat from the heat radiating member 32 is taken away, whereby the deflector 17 is cooled. The air flow is generated by a fan (not shown) provided in the image forming apparatus.

(effect)
The optical scanning device 10 configured as described above can effectively cool the deflector 17 as described below. More specifically, in the conventional optical scanning device 110, as shown in FIG. 6, the heat radiating means 112 is only exposed from the casing 111 in the middle of the flow path R100. Therefore, the heat dissipating means 112 is in contact with air only on one surface. Therefore, in the optical scanning device 110, it is difficult to sufficiently cool the deflector.

  Therefore, in the optical scanning device 10, the heat dissipation member 32 has a structure surrounding three sides of the flow path R1. As a result, the heat radiating member 32 comes into contact with air over a larger area than the heat radiating means 112. As a result, in the optical scanning device 10, more heat is taken from the heat radiating member 32 than in the optical scanning device 110, and the deflector 17 is cooled more effectively.

  Further, in the optical scanning device 10, the deflector 17 can be effectively cooled for the following reason. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the width W1 of the upstream portion 32a is narrower than the width W2 of the downstream portion 32b. Therefore, the flow velocity in the upstream portion 32a is larger than the flow velocity in the downstream portion 32b. Therefore, in the optical scanning device 10, the deflector 17 is attached to the upstream portion 32a. Thereby, the deflector 17 is cooled more effectively.

  Further, in the optical scanning device 10, the ends on the negative direction side in the y-axis direction of the planes 34a to 34c are folded back. Therefore, no large gap is formed between the flow path R1 and the flow path R2. Therefore, most of the air from the flow path R2 flows into the flow path R1 without leaking out of the flow path R1. As a result, the deflector 17 is cooled more effectively.

  In the optical scanning device 10, as shown in FIG. 2, the width W3 of the flow path R2 is wider than the widths W1 and W2 of the flow path R1. Therefore, the flow velocity in the flow path R1 is larger than the flow velocity in the flow path R2. Therefore, the deflector 17 is cooled more effectively.

(Modification)
Below, heat radiating member 32 'which concerns on a modification is demonstrated, referring drawings. FIG. 5 is an external perspective view of the optical scanning device 10 including the heat radiation member 32 ′ according to the modification.

  The heat radiating member 32 ′ shown in FIG. 5 is not clearly divided into an upstream portion 32a and a downstream portion 32b. Specifically, the heat radiating member 32 ′ has a shape in which the width in the x-axis direction gradually increases as going to the positive direction side in the y-axis direction. Even with such a structure, the deflector 17 can be efficiently cooled.

  The present invention is useful for an optical scanning device, and is particularly excellent in that the deflector can be effectively cooled.

E element region O1, O2 opening R, R1, R2 flow path S1, S2 main surface S3 to S6 side surface 10 optical scanning device 12 housing 12a main body 12b lid 14C, 14K, 14M, 14Y light source 15C, 15K, 15M, 15Y collimator Lens 16 Cylindrical lens 17 Deflector 18, 20Y, 20M, 20C, 20K Scan lens 22C, 22K, 22M, 22Y Folding mirror 24C, 24K, 24M, 24Y Dust-proof glass 30 Light source part 32, 32 'Heat radiation member 32a Upstream part 32b Downstream Part 34a-34e, 34'a-34'c plane 40 partition 42a, 42b intermediate wall

Claims (6)

In an optical scanning device used in an image forming apparatus,
Deflection means for deflecting the beam;
A housing containing the deflecting means, wherein the housing is provided with a first flow path through which air for cooling the deflecting means flows;
A heat dissipating member to which the deflecting means is attached, and a heat dissipating member surrounding three sides of the first flow path in a cross section perpendicular to the direction in which the air flows;
Having
An optical scanning device characterized by the above. The heat radiating member is erected with respect to the first surface to which the deflecting means is attached, the second surface erected with respect to the first surface, and the first surface. And has a third surface
A part of the first flow path is surrounded on three sides by the first surface, the second surface, and the third surface in a cross section perpendicular to the direction in which the air flows,
2. The optical scanning device according to claim 1, wherein: The first flow path is surrounded on all sides by the first surface, the second surface, the third surface, and the housing in a cross section perpendicular to the direction in which the air flows;
The optical scanning device according to claim 2. The heat dissipation member has an upstream part and a downstream part connected to the downstream side of the upstream part,
The width of the first surface in the upstream portion in the direction perpendicular to the air flowing direction is narrower than the width of the first surface in the downstream portion in the direction perpendicular to the air flowing direction,
The deflection means is attached to the first surface in the upstream portion;
The optical scanning device according to claim 2, wherein: The housing is provided with a second flow path connected to the upstream side of the first flow path,
The flow rate in the first channel is greater than the flow rate in the second channel;
The optical scanning device according to claim 1, wherein: A light source that emits the beam, the light source provided adjacent to the second flow path;
More
The optical scanning device according to claim 5.

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