JP2658036B2 - Light beam scanning device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a laser printer, a digital copying machine, and the like, in which a light beam containing information is formed on a photoreceptor and information contained in the light beam is recorded. Optical recording devices such as
In particular, it relates to a light beam scanning device used in the optical recording device.

[Conventional technology]

FIG. 5 is a conceptual perspective view showing a main part of the conventional light beam scanning device 1. As shown in FIG.

The light beam scanning device 1 includes a light source 3 for emitting a light beam 2 containing information, a light beam deflecting unit (polygon scanner) 4 for deflecting the light beam 2 emitted from the light source 3 in a predetermined direction, Imaging lens system 7 composed of lenses 5 and 6 for condensing the formed light beam 2, and a drum-shaped photoconductor 8 disposed below the light beam 2 passing through the imaging lens system 7 The light beam 2 including information is guided to the photoconductor 8 via the above-described components, and the main beam is scanned in the longitudinal direction of the photoconductor 8 to thereby perform main scanning. An electrostatic latent image of information is formed on the surface.

The components described above are hermetically housed in an integrated housing 10, and a light beam is emitted behind the bottom surface 10 a of the housing 10 along the main scanning direction (scanning direction) of the light beam 2. Slot 10b is formed.

The long hole 10b is sealed by a transparent dustproof member (for example, transparent glass or a polymer material with hard coating) 11, as shown in FIG. In FIG. 6, reference numeral 12 denotes a housing of the main body of the optical recording apparatus, 12a denotes a window for guiding a hole beam formed on the upper surface of the housing 12, and 13 denotes a lid for sealing the housing 10. .

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

By the way, according to the above-described conventional light beam deflecting device 1, the bottom surface 10 of the housing 10 for housing the components of the device is provided.
Since a long light 10b along the scanning direction of the light beam 2 is formed below the mirror 9 installed at a position where the optical path length of the light beam is long with respect to the light beam deflecting means 4 as a reference, The length and the cross-sectional area of the hole 10b become large, so that the mechanical rigidity of the housing 10 against external force is extremely low,
The housing 10 is deformed due to the formation of the elongated hole 10b, and not only the manufacturing accuracy of the housing 10 itself is reduced, but also the optical components constituting the light beam deflecting device 1 to a small extent due to the deformation of the housing 10. If the relative mounting position of the light beam is deviated, the traveling direction of the light beam is greatly changed by the principle of light, and information contained in the light beam cannot be accurately recorded on the photoconductor 8.

In view of the circumstances described above, the present invention reduces as much as possible the relative position deviation between the optical components arranged in the housing,
An object of the present invention is to provide a light beam scanning device that stably maintains initial performance.

[Means for solving the problem]

In order to solve the problems described above, according to the present invention, a light source that emits a light beam containing information, a light beam deflecting unit that deflects the light beam in a predetermined direction and performs main scanning, and a light beam that is deflected by the light beam deflecting unit And a mirror for guiding the light beam guided through the imaging lens system to the photoreceptor side for forming an electrostatic latent image are housed in an integrated housing. In the light beam deflecting device of the optical recording apparatus as described above, a side wall is formed integrally with the housing on an optical path between the light beam deflecting unit through which the light beam passes and the mirror, and the side wall forms the A first room in which an upper surface for accommodating and housing at least the light source and the light beam deflecting unit is opened, and a second room in which a lower surface for at least accommodating and housing the mirror is opened. And defining a long hole for light beam emission along the main scanning direction of the light beam on the side wall, and guiding the light beam guided through the long hole toward the photoconductor by the mirror. According to the housing having such a structure, not only the mechanical rigidity of the housing itself is improved, but also the opening area of the long hole for the light beam guide formed in the housing is reduced. As a result, the reduction in rigidity of the housing due to the formation of the elongated hole for guiding the light beam is reduced as much as possible, and as a result, the deviation of the relative position between the optical components disposed in the housing is reduced as much as possible. Will be done.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the light beam scanning device according to the present invention will be described in detail.

FIG. 1 is a conceptual perspective view showing a light beam scanning device 20 according to the present invention, and the same parts as those in FIGS. 5 and 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

In the light beam scanning device 20, a light source 3 for emitting a light beam (laser light) 2 containing information, a light beam deflecting unit 4 for deflecting the light beam 2 emitted from the light source 3, and a deflecting unit 4 An imaging lens system 7 for condensing the formed light beam 2 and a mirror 9 for reflecting the light beam 2 passing through the imaging lens system 7 to a drum-shaped photosensitive member 8 disposed below are integrally housed. It is fixedly installed at a predetermined position in the housing 21.

The housing case 21 has a reinforcing rib 21a surrounding the components of the deflection device 20 formed therein.

In the housing 21, a side wall 21b is formed integrally with the housing 21 on an optical path between the light beam deflecting means 4 and the mirror 9 through which the light beam 2 passes. Due to the side wall 21b, the housing 21 is open to the first room 30 in which the upper surface for positioning and housing the light source 3, the light beam deflecting means 4, and the imaging lens systems 5, 6 is opened, and the lower surface for positioning and housing the mirror 9 is opened. The second room 40 is defined.

A long hole 21c of a predetermined length is formed in the side wall 21b located immediately after the lens 6 of the coupling lens system 7 along the main scanning direction of the light beam 2. The length of the elongated hole 21c is formed to be slightly longer than the main scanning distance L proportional to the optical path length of the light beam 2 from the hole beam deflecting means 4 to the side wall 21b. It is obvious that the main scanning distance L increases in proportion to the optical path length of the light beam 2 with respect to the light beam deflecting means 4.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2 shown by the BB cross section in FIG. 1, the upper surface of the first room 30 is covered by the lid 13, and the lower surface of the second room 40 is covered by the lid 23, Further, it is placed and fixed on the upper surface of the optical recording device main body 12. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 24 denotes a light beam 2 guided from the mirror 9 to the photosensitive member 8.
A long hole 23a is formed in the lid 23 located below the mirror 24 along the main scanning direction of the light beam 2, and the long hole 23a is It is covered with a transparent dustproof member (not shown).

According to the light beam scanning device 20 having such a configuration, the housing 21 itself is positioned at least by the side wall 21b formed integrally with the housing 21, and the upper surface for positioning and housing the light source 3 and the light beam deflecting means 4 is provided. First room where was released
30 and at least the second chamber 40 in which the lower surface for positioning and housing the mirror 9 is opened, the mechanical rigidity of the housing housing 21 itself is set to be extremely high, and
A long hole 21c is formed on the side wall 21b along the main scanning direction of the light beam 2 deflected by the light beam deflecting means 4, and the light beam 2 guided through the long hole 21c is passed through the mirror 9 to the photosensitive member 8 , The length and area of the long hole 21c for guiding the light beam 2 to be formed in the housing 21 need only be small, so that the rigidity of the housing 21 can be reduced as much as possible. Will be done.

In the above embodiment (FIG. 2), the lid 23 is mounted on the bottom surface of the second chamber 40 in which the mirror 9 is housed and arranged, and the second mirror 24 is installed in the lid 23. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and uses the lid 23 and the second mirror 24 as shown in the sectional view of FIG. Without the second
The bottom surface of the chamber 40 may be directly placed and fixed on the upper surface of the optical recording device main body 12. In addition, in order to improve the dustproof function in the housing 21, the slot 21c is made of a transparent dustproof member (for example, a transparent glass or hard coating) as shown in FIG. (The applied polymer material) 25.

〔The invention's effect〕

As described above, in the present invention, at least the first room in which the upper surface for positioning and housing the light source and the light beam deflecting means is opened by the side wall formed integrally with the housing housing, and at least the mirror The lower surface for positioning and housing is defined in the open second room, so that the mechanical rigidity of the housing housing itself is set extremely high, and the first and second rooms are separated from each other. Since a long hole along the main scanning direction of the light beam deflected by the light beam deflecting means is formed on the defining side wall, the length and area of the long hole for guiding the light beam to be formed in the housing are reduced. As a result, the reduction in rigidity of the housing can be reduced as much as possible, and as a result, the deviation of the relative position between the optical components installed in the housing is reduced as much as possible, and the initial performance is stabilized. Light beam scanning to maintain It is possible to provide a location.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a conceptual perspective view of a light beam deflecting device according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a BB sectional view of FIG. 1, FIGS. 3 and 4 are sectional views showing another embodiment, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2 ... light beam, 3 ... light source, 4 ... light beam deflecting means, 7 ... imaging lens system, 8 ... photoconductor, 9 ... mirror, 21 ... housing, 20 ... light beam Deflection device, 21b ...
... side wall, 21c ... long hole, 30 ... first room, 40 ... second
Room.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] A light source for emitting a light beam containing information; a light beam deflecting means for deflecting the light beam in a predetermined direction for main scanning; An imaging lens system (7) for condensing the light beam deflected by the means, and a light beam guided through the imaging lens system (7) to the photoconductor (8) side for forming an electrostatic latent image. In a light beam deflecting device of an optical recording apparatus in which a guiding mirror (9) is housed and housed in an integrated housing (21), the light beam deflecting means (4) through which the light beam (2) passes is provided. ) And the mirror (9), a side wall (21b) is formed integrally with the housing (21) on an optical path, and the side wall (21b)
The housing (21) at least by the light source (3).
A first chamber (30) having an open upper surface for positioning and housing the light beam deflecting means (4), and a second chamber having an open lower surface for positioning and housing at least the mirror (9).
And a slot (21c) for emitting a light beam is formed on the side wall (21b) along the main scanning direction of the light beam (2). A light beam guided through the mirror (9) to the photoconductor (8) side by the mirror (9).