JP5028344B2 - Optical scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical scanning device used for a writing system such as a digital copying machine and a laser printer, and an image forming apparatus equipped with the optical scanning device.

  In recent years, image forming apparatuses have been required to increase the printing speed and reduce the size of the apparatus. However, as speed increases and miniaturization advances, an increase in the amount of heat generated by the machine and heat storage inside the machine have become problems. As one of the heat sources, there is heat generated by a deflector that is a component of the optical scanning device. For example, a polygon scanner widely used as a rotating deflector easily generates heat because a polygon mirror is rotated at a high speed.

  With respect to the heat generated by the deflector, measures such as making the housing cover of the optical scanning device into a sheet metal or providing a cooling mechanism to exhaust heat to the outside of the device have been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1).

  Patent Document 2 also discloses an optical scanning apparatus and an image forming apparatus that can efficiently cool a deflector and suppress heat generation in the optical scanning apparatus in order to solve such a problem.

On the other hand, in the image forming apparatus, as the printing speed increases, self-heating of the fixing mechanism, the image forming unit, the optical deflector, and the like cannot be ignored. When an image forming apparatus provided with these devices is operated in a low temperature environment, a temperature difference may occur in the image forming apparatus and condensation may occur. As a basic dew condensation prevention means, there is a method of raising the surface temperature around the heat generating part by using a heating mechanism, but at this time, if the heating by the heating mechanism is not sufficient, dew condensation cannot be prevented. Even if a heating device is installed, the heat supply route is not secured, the supply route is dispersed, the loss in the supply route is large, etc. Heating effect may not be obtained.
For example, in Patent Document 3, a heat source of a fixing unit and a photoconductor are connected by heat conduction means, and the photoconductor is heated and kept warm using heat generated from the fixing unit, thereby causing dew condensation on the photoconductor. Means for preventing this are disclosed.

JP 2004-160747 A Japanese Patent Application No. 2008-069290 JP-A-5-40413

  As described above, when the temperature in winter is low, the temperature inside the optical housing which is a part of the optical scanning device is low, whereas the deflector tends to have heat. Condensation may occur on the components and must be prevented.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides an optical scanning apparatus and an image forming apparatus that solve this problem in the conventional optical scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus, and that can efficiently heat the inside of the deflector and the optical housing as needed. This is the issue.

According to the present invention, there is provided an optical scanning method in which an optical deflector is housed in an optical housing, a light beam from a light source is deflected by the optical deflector, and a scanned surface of an image carrier is scanned via an optical system. In the apparatus, a temperature adjusting means for arranging the optical deflector facing the opening provided in the optical housing and sending the medium to the optical deflector is provided at a position opposite to the optical deflector so as not to contact the optical deflector. The temperature adjusting means is supported by a support member having an opening through which the medium passes, and an uneven portion is formed on the support member . The temperature adjusting means is on the convex portion above the support member surface having the opening formed. The upper surface of the convex portion and the temperature adjusting means are in close contact, the concave portion and the lower surface of the temperature adjusting means are spaced apart, the temperature adjusting means includes a heating device, and the optical housing is installed on the support member. that is solved by.

Moreover, it is preferable that the power supply for a temperature control means and the wire harness for signal processing are provided on the plane formed by the recessed part of a support member .
Moreover, it is preferable that the cover which covers a wire harness is installed on the plane formed with a recessed part.
Also, preferably the guide projections for guiding the optical housing when inserting the optical housing to the support member is formed in the support member.

Further, it is preferable that the heating device is turned off according to the temperature or humidity of the temperature sensor or humidity sensor provided in the optical housing.
Further, it is preferable that the opening is disposed within a projection range when the temperature adjusting means is projected onto the support member .

Moreover, it is preferable that the opening formed in the support member has a circular shape with a diameter of 2 mm or less or a shape with a long side portion having a length of 2 mm or less.
Further, the optical deflector includes a rotary polygon mirror, and driving means for driving the rotary polygon mirror, and a substrate for mounting a driving circuit of the driving means, the substrate is arranged to face the opening It is preferable.

Further, it is preferable that the temperature adjusting means is disposed on the opposite side of the rotary polygon mirror with the substrate interposed therebetween.
In addition, it is preferable that a protrusion for fixing the temperature adjusting means is provided on the support member .

Moreover, it is preferable that the fan of the temperature adjusting means is capable of reverse rotation.
Further , the above-described problem is solved by an image forming apparatus including the above-described optical scanning device according to the present invention.

  According to the optical scanning device of the present invention, the medium is efficiently taken in through the opening of the support member and the space for the medium formed between the concave portion and the lower surface of the temperature adjusting means, and is heated by the heating device. The medium can be sent to the optical deflector by temperature adjusting means.

Furthermore, since the wire harness for power supply and signal processing for the temperature adjusting means and the heating device is provided on the plane formed by the concave portion of the support member , the optical scanning device can be reduced in size and simplified. .
Moreover, when the cover which covers a wire harness is installed on the plane formed by a recessed part, a wire harness is not damaged when inserting an optical housing on a supporting member .
Further, since the guide protrusion for fixing the temperature adjusting means is provided on the support member , the temperature adjusting means can be positioned, and the shift and rotation thereof can be restricted.

In addition, since the heating device is turned off according to the temperature or humidity of the temperature sensor or humidity sensor provided in the optical housing, the accurate temperature / humidity in the optical housing and the accurate temperature of the optical deflector are adjusted. Based on this, it is possible to switch to a heating mode in which the optical deflector is heated or a cooling mode in which it is cooled as required.
Further, since the opening is disposed within the projection range when the temperature adjusting means is projected onto the support member , the heating medium can be taken in efficiently, and the heating efficiency can be improved.

In addition, since the opening formed in the support member has a circular shape having a diameter of 2 mm or less or a shape having a long side portion having a length of 2 mm or less, the entrance of a tool or other member is prevented, and the accuracy of the optical scanning device is reduced. Decline and damage can be prevented.
Further, the optical deflector includes a rotary polygon mirror, and driving means for driving the rotary polygon mirror, and a substrate for mounting a driving circuit of the driving means, the substrate is arranged to face the opening As a result, the substrate of the optical deflector can be efficiently heated.

Further, the temperature adjusting means is disposed on the opposite side of the rotary polygon mirror across the substrate, so that the substrate of the optical deflector can be efficiently heated without being affected by the rotary polygon mirror. .
Further, since the protrusion for fixing the temperature adjusting means is provided on the support member , the temperature adjusting means can be positioned and the shift and rotation thereof can be restricted.

In addition, since the fan of the temperature adjusting means can be rotated in the reverse direction, it is possible to dehumidify the paper disposed at a position facing the optical housing, eliminating the need for a separate dehumidifying device, and reducing the size of the optical scanning device.・ Simplification is realized.
Further, according to the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to realize a small image forming apparatus with excellent productivity by suppressing heat generation in the optical scanning apparatus to prevent a temperature rise in the image forming apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an optical scanning device applicable to the present invention. The optical scanning device 100 shown in this figure is of a multi-beam type, and includes first and second semiconductor lasers 51 and 52 constituting a multi-beam light source unit. The multi-beams emitted from the semiconductor lasers 51 and 52 are converted into parallel light beams by the collimating lenses 53 and 54, respectively, synthesized by the synthesis prism 55, and narrowed down in the sub-scanning direction by the cylinder lens 56. Subsequently, the beam reflected by the polygon mirror 57 serving as a rotating deflector passes through the fθ lens 58 and the toroidal lens 59 so that the dot pitch in the main scanning direction is equalized. The multibeam subjected to such processing is reflected by the reflecting mirror 60 and scans on the photosensitive drum 1. As a result, the print data is written.

  Further, a synchronization detection sensor 61 is disposed outside the image area. When the laser detection from the first semiconductor laser 51 is detected by the synchronization detection sensor 61, the detection timing is the main scanning first line. This is a reference for the writing start position. When the laser beam irradiation from the second semiconductor laser 52 is detected by the synchronization detection sensor 61, the detection timing becomes a reference for the writing start position of the main scanning second line. This is performed for each main scanning line to align the main scanning image position.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the vicinity of a deflector in an example of an optical scanning device according to the present invention. In this figure, the optical elements such as the light source unit and the lens / mirror provided in the optical scanning device are omitted, and the top plate or upper cover of the optical housing is omitted and the inside of the housing is visible. . As shown in FIG. 2, a polygon scanner 10 as an optical deflector configured by a polygon mirror (rotating polygonal mirror) and a polygon motor is disposed in the optical housing 11. A temperature control device 12 having a heating device (not shown) is disposed on the bottom surface of the optical housing 11. The heating device may be a hot wire, and the temperature control device may be a fan.

As shown in FIG. 3, the bottom plate 11a of the optical housing 11 has an opening 13 is provided, so that the substrate 15 of the polygon scanner 10 over the opening 13 is located, the polygon scanner 10 is an optical housing 11 Attached to and fixed. The bottom surface of the substrate 15 on which the driving circuit of the polygon scanner is mounted is exposed to the outside of the optical unit through the opening 13 so that the heating medium from the temperature adjusting device 12 can be applied.

  The temperature adjustment device 12 is disposed on the opposite side of the polygonal mirror 14 with respect to the substrate 15 of the polygon scanner 10 and at a position corresponding to the polygon scanner 10, and is disposed inside the optical housing 11. The polygon scanner 10 is provided so that it can be directly heated. Since the temperature adjusting device 12 directly heats the polygon scanner 10, the temperature can be adjusted efficiently.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the optical scanning device in the main scanning direction, and shows a plate-like member 16 as a supporting member having an opening 17 that supports the temperature adjusting device 12. The temperature control device 12 is supported and mounted on the plate-like member 16 and is configured as a fan equipped with a heater (heating device). The plate-like member 16 that supports the temperature control device can be configured, for example, as a partition plate that partitions the image forming unit and the paper feed unit in the image forming apparatus, and is disposed under the polygon scanner 10 and the temperature control device 12. . The temperature control device 12 is held between the polygon scanner 10 and the plate-like member 16 at a position facing the polygon scanner without contacting the polygon scanner. By not making contact, it is possible to reduce / prevent factors that the temperature control device affects the polygon scanner, such as vibration.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the plate-like member 16 that supports the temperature control device 12. In this figure, the plate-like member 16 is shown as a single plate-like member, but when used in an actual machine, it is formed in a shape corresponding to the actual machine as shown in FIG. Now, as schematically shown in FIG. 5, a large number of small openings 17 are formed in the plate-like member 16 that supports the temperature control device 12. In the illustrated example, the large number of openings 17 are arranged in a “cross” shape. When the temperature control device 12 is a fan, air as a heating medium is taken in from the opening 17 and the taken air is blown onto the lower surface of the substrate 15 of the polygon scanner 10 by the fan, whereby a polygon scanner as an optical deflector. 10 temperature adjustments are made.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the numerous openings 17 are arranged so as to be within the installation range of the temperature control device 12. Thereby, it becomes possible to take in the air which is a heating medium efficiently, and heating efficiency can be made favorable. When the opening is also outside the installation range of the temperature control device 12, the air taken in from the opening (opening outside the installation range) circulates around the opening and is efficiently sent to the heating target (polygon scanner 10). In some cases, the heating efficiency may be reduced.

  Further, in this example, the openings 17 are circular in which each opening has a diameter of 2 mm or less, prevents entry of tools such as a driver and other members, and optical scanning that requires high-precision positioning. The influence on the apparatus can be prevented. At the same time, it is possible to prevent foreign matter from dropping from the image forming apparatus image forming unit to the paper supply unit or the like. The shape of the opening 17 is not limited to a circle, and may be an elliptical shape or a polygonal shape. In that case, it is preferable that the length of the long side portion is 2 mm or less.

  FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which the temperature adjusting device 12 is mounted and supported on the plate-like member 16. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 4, the plate-like member 16 is formed with a convex portion 16a protruding upward, and the temperature control device 12 is placed on and supported on the convex portion 16a. Is done. In this example, the convex portion 16a has a rectangular shape in plan and a concave portion 16b is formed in the central portion, and the opening 17 is formed in the concave portion 16b. As can be seen from FIG. 4, the upper surface of the convex portion 16 a is in close contact with the lower surface of the temperature adjusting device 12, and the concave portion 16 b and the lower surface of the temperature adjusting means 12 are separated from each other. A space S1 is formed, and this space is a medium transmission path. Further, since the convex portion 16a of the plate-like member protrudes upward, a space S2 is formed by the concave portion 16c and the step 21 around the convex portion 16a, and outside the plate-like member 16. Also, a medium transmission path is formed. Thereby, it is possible to efficiently take in air as a heating medium. In addition, the ridgeline part of the convex part 16a is not restricted to the square shape like the example of illustration, A curved shape may be sufficient.

  FIG. 8 shows an example of a configuration that regulates the positioning and rotation of the temperature control device 12 to the plate-like member 16. In the illustrated example, a plurality of protrusions 19 are provided on the plate-like member 16 at positions where they contact the outer surface of the temperature adjustment device 12, and the positioning and rotation regulation of the temperature adjustment device 12 are performed by the plurality of protrusions 19. It is composed. You may provide this some protrusion 19 on the convex part 16a of the plate-shaped member 16 shown to FIG.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the plate-like member 16 that supports the temperature control device 12. The temperature control device 12 is installed on the plate-like member 16 on the large number of openings 17 arranged in a cross shape so as to be fixed to the plurality of protrusions 19. Since the step 21 is formed, the flat surface 22 formed by the recess 16 c where the temperature control device 12 is installed is recessed from the flat surface 23 by the step 21. On the plane 23, the optical housing 11 is inserted and installed in the left-right direction in the figure so that the positions of the polygon scanner 10 and the temperature control device 12 are aligned (see FIG. 4).
FIG. 10 is a side view of the plate-like member 16 when the broken line portion in FIG. The plate-like member 16 that supports the temperature adjusting device is formed with a guide protrusion 20 that guides the optical housing 11 when the optical housing 11 is inserted into the plate-like member 16, and the optical housing 11 is displaced on the plate-like member 16 by the guide protrusion. It is supposed not to.

FIG. 11 shows a flowchart for controlling ON / OFF of a heater (not shown) of the temperature control device.
As described above, when using the image forming apparatus in winter, dew condensation may occur in the optical housing 11 due to a temperature difference between the inside and outside of the apparatus, and it is necessary to determine whether heating is necessary. At this time, for example, a temperature / humidity sensor (not shown) may be provided in the optical housing 11 to measure the temperature. When it is determined by the temperature / humidity sensor that heating is necessary, the heater switch is turned on, the heater provided in the temperature control device 12 is activated, and the air medium taken in by the temperature control device 12 is warmed and heated. The inside of the polygon scanner and the optical housing is warmed by the air medium. On the other hand, if heating is not required, the heater switch remains OFF and the heater does not operate. Therefore, the temperature adjustment device 12 functions as a blower that blows air as a cooling medium to the polygon scanner. Thus, by controlling ON / OFF of the heater of the temperature control device, the temperature control device can also be used as the air blowing means of the polygon scanner, and a separate air blowing means becomes unnecessary.
Here, as the heater, a heat ray attached to the upper surface or the lower surface of the temperature control device 12 can be considered. Also, the heater switch can be provided separately from the switch of the image forming apparatus. Alternatively, the polygon scanner 10 may be warmed for a certain period of time by automatically operating the heater when the temperature / humidity sensor determines that heating is required after the image forming apparatus is turned on.

  FIG. 12 is a plan view of the plate-like member 16 in a state where the temperature control device 12 is supported, and a wire harness 14 for power supply and signal processing for the temperature control device 12 and the heating device is provided. . As shown in the figure, the wire harness 14 is disposed on the plane 22 lower than the plane 23 into which the optical housing is inserted and installed, so that it is not necessary to provide a separate installation space for the wire harness, and the image forming apparatus can be reduced in size. Can be realized.

  FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a plate-shaped member in which the wire harness 14 is covered with a cover 30 installed on the plane 22. Preferably, the cover 30 has the same height as the step 21, and the upper surface of the cover 30 is located at the same height as the flat surface 23. Thus, by covering the wire harness 14 facing the optical housing 11 with the cover 30, the wire harness is protected from damage when the optical housing is inserted.

  As described above, the optical scanning device according to the present invention is provided such that the optical deflector (a part thereof) is exposed to the outside of the optical housing, and the optical deflector can be directly heated by the temperature adjusting device. Therefore, the temperature of the optical deflector can be adjusted efficiently, and condensation on the deflector can be effectively suppressed.

  Heretofore, the temperature control device has been described using air as a medium, but a liquid temperature control device can also be adopted. For example, a portion exposed to the outside of the optical housing of the optical deflector may be directly heated / cooled using a heat pipe.

Finally, an image forming apparatus including an optical scanning device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus including the optical scanning device according to the present invention. This image forming apparatus is configured as an intermediate transfer type tandem-type full-color printer, and an intermediate transfer belt 5 wound around a plurality of rollers is disposed at a substantially central portion of the apparatus main body. Four image forming units 2 (Y, M, C, Bk) are arranged along the lower running side of the transfer belt 5.

  Each image forming unit 2 includes a photosensitive drum 1 as an image carrier. Around the photosensitive drum 1, a charging unit, a developing device, a cleaning unit, and the like are arranged, and a transfer roller as a primary transfer unit is provided inside the intermediate transfer belt 5 at a position facing each photosensitive drum 1. It has been. In the case of this example, the four image forming units 2 have the same structure, but the developer colors handled by the developing devices of the respective image forming units are different from four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. . In the case of this example, the four image forming units 2 are arranged in the order of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black from the left in the drawing. Each image forming unit 2 is detachably provided as a process cartridge in the apparatus main body.

  An optical scanning device 100 is provided below the image forming unit 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the optical scanning device 100 has one deflector 10 in the center, and deflects and scans light beams from four light sources divided into four systems by one deflector 10. An optical system for writing latent images on the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1Bk, and collimating four laser diode (LD) light sources prepared for each color and a laser beam emitted from the light sources. A rotating deflector (polygon scanner) 10 composed of a polygon mirror (rotating polygon mirror) and a polygon motor, a scanning / imaging lens such as an fθ lens arranged in the optical path of each light source, and a correction lens, An optical system composed of a mirror and the like. The laser light emitted from the laser diode in accordance with the image information of each color is deflected and scanned by the polygon scanner 10 and irradiated to the photosensitive drums 1Y, 1M, 1C, and 1Bk of each color.

  In addition, a toner bottle 3 containing toner for replenishing the developing device of each image forming unit is provided at the uppermost part inside the apparatus. Each toner bottle 3 is filled with toners of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (Bk) from the left in the drawing, and a predetermined replenishment amount from here through a conveyance path (not shown). Only the toner of each color is supplied to the developing device of each color image forming unit.

  The paper feed unit 9 at the lower part of the apparatus body is provided with a two-stage paper feed cassette that stores transfer paper as a recording material, and the transfer paper is selectively fed from one of the paper feed cassettes. The paper is fed toward the registration roller 7 through the conveying roller. The transfer sheet fed to the registration roller 7 is sent out at a predetermined timing toward the secondary transfer portion where the transfer counter roller 4 and the secondary transfer roller 6 face each other. A fixing unit 8 is installed above the secondary transfer roller 6. In the fixing unit 8, for example, a fixing roller and a pressure roller are provided. The upper surface of the apparatus main body is configured as a paper discharge tray.

An image forming operation in the full color printer of this example configured as described above will be briefly described.
The photosensitive drum 1 of the image forming unit 2 is rotated in the clockwise direction in the figure by a driving unit (not shown), and the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is uniformly charged to a predetermined polarity by the charging unit. The charged photoconductor surface is irradiated with laser light from the optical scanning device 100, whereby an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoconductor drum 1 surface. At this time, the image information exposed on each photosensitive drum 1 is single-color image information obtained by separating a desired full-color image into color information of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black. Each color toner is applied from the developing device to the electrostatic latent image formed in this way, and visualized as a toner image.

  Further, the intermediate transfer belt 5 is driven to run counterclockwise in the drawing as indicated by the arrow, and the toner images of the respective colors are sequentially superimposed on the intermediate transfer belt 5 from the photosensitive drum 1 by the action of the primary transfer roller in each image forming unit 2. Transcribed. In this way, the intermediate transfer belt 5 carries a full-color toner image on its surface.

  A single color image can be formed using any one of the color image forming units 2, or a two-color or three-color image can be formed using a plurality of image forming units. In the case of monochrome printing, image formation is performed using the rightmost Bk unit in the figure among the four image forming units.

  The residual toner adhering to the surface of the photosensitive drum after the toner image is transferred is removed from the surface of the photosensitive drum by the cleaning means, and then the surface is subjected to the action of the static eliminator to initialize the surface potential. Ready for image formation.

  On the other hand, the transfer paper is selectively fed from the paper supply unit 9 and sent to the secondary transfer position by the registration roller pair 7 in timing with the toner image carried on the intermediate transfer belt 5. . In this example, a transfer voltage having a polarity opposite to the toner charging polarity of the toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt is applied to the transfer roller 6, whereby the toner image on the surface of the intermediate transfer belt is collectively transferred onto the paper. When the sheet on which the toner image has been transferred passes through the fixing device 8, the toner image is fused and fixed to the sheet by heat and pressure. The transfer sheet on which the toner image is fixed is discharged to a discharge tray formed on the upper surface of the apparatus main body by a discharge roller.

  As described above, since the deflector 10 and the inside of the optical housing of the optical scanning device 100 are directly heated by the temperature adjusting device 12, dew condensation in the optical scanning device is effectively suppressed. Further, since the temperature adjusting device 12 is supported by the plate-like member 16 and is held so as not to come into contact with the deflector 10, an influence on the optical deflector such as unnecessary heat and vibration from the temperature adjusting device 12. Is reduced or prevented. Further, the plate-like member 16 partitions the image forming unit and the paper feeding unit 9 so that the image forming unit is made into an enclosure, and dust, toner, and the like can be prevented from falling on the paper feeding unit 9.

As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated by the example of illustration, this invention is not limited to this.
The deflector of the optical scanning device may have a single polygonal mirror. Further, the scanning is not limited to the multi-beam method, and scanning with a single beam may be used. The arrangement of optical elements provided in the optical scanning device and the shape of the optical housing are also arbitrary. In addition, a temperature control device having an appropriate configuration can be used. The shape and size of the plate-like member that supports the temperature control device can also be set as appropriate. When a duct is used, the shape, size, material, and the like of the duct are arbitrary and can be appropriately configured according to the present invention.

  Further, the image forming apparatus including the optical scanning device is not limited to the illustrated printer, and may be a copying machine, a facsimile, or a multifunction machine having a plurality of functions. Not only the intermediate transfer method but also a direct transfer method device is possible. Further, the image forming method, the number of colors, and the like are not limited to the tandem type.

It is a perspective view showing an example of an optical scanning device applicable to the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the deflector vicinity in an example of the optical scanner which concerns on this invention. It is the perspective view which looked at the optical scanning device from the lower part. It is sectional drawing of the main scanning direction of an optical scanning device. It is a schematic diagram of the plate-shaped member which supports a temperature control apparatus. It is a top view which shows arrangement | positioning of the opening provided in the plate-shaped member. It is a perspective view which shows a mode that the temperature control apparatus was mounted | worn and supported by the plate-shaped member. An example of the structure which controls the positioning and rotation to the plate-shaped member of a temperature control apparatus is shown. It is a top view of the plate-shaped member which supports a temperature control apparatus. It is the side view of a plate-shaped member which looked at the broken line part in Drawing 9 from the direction of arrow A. The flowchart which controls ON / OFF of the heating apparatus of a temperature control apparatus is shown. It is a top view of the plate-shaped member in the state in which the wire harness for power supply and signal processing of a temperature control apparatus and a heating apparatus was provided. The wire harness covered with the cover installed on the plane is shown. 1 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram illustrating an example of an image forming apparatus including an optical scanning device according to the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Photosensitive drum 2 Image forming unit 5 Intermediate transfer belt 8 Fixing unit 9 Paper feed part 10 Polygon scanner (optical deflector)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Optical housing 12 Temperature control device 13 Opening part 14 Rotating polygon mirror (polygon mirror)
15 Substrate 16 Plate member (support member)
16a Convex part 17 Opening (medium passage opening)
20 Relay duct 100 Optical scanning device

Claims (12)

An optical deflector housed inside the optical housing, a light beam from a light source is deflected by the optical deflector, the optical scanning device for scanning a scanned surface of the image carrier through an optical system,
Place the optical deflector facing the opening provided in the optical housing, so that the temperature regulating means for sending media to the optical deflector, not in contact with the optical deflector a position facing the optical deflector Provided,
The temperature adjusting means is supported by a support member having an opening through which the medium passes,
The support member uneven portion is formed on, the temperature adjusting means is placed on the convex portion above the said opening is formed the support member surface, the upper surface and the temperature regulating means of the convex portion is in close contact , the bottom surface of the recess and the temperature regulating means spaced apart,
The temperature adjusting means includes a heating device ,
The optical scanning device is characterized in that the optical housing is installed on the support member . Light according to claim 1, wherein the wire harness for power supply and signal processing for temperature adjustment means and said heating device, and which are located on a plane formed by the recess of the support member Scanning device. The optical scanning device according to claim 2, characterized in that the cover for covering the wire harness is placed on the plane formed by the recess. The optical scanning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said guide protrusion for guiding the optical housing when inserting the optical housing to the support member is formed on the support member. 5. The optical scanning according to claim 1, wherein the heating device is turned off according to a temperature or humidity of a temperature sensor or a humidity sensor provided in the optical housing. apparatus. The opening includes an optical scanning device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is placing the temperature adjusting means in the projection range of the case that has projected to the support member. The optical scanning according to claim 1, wherein the opening formed in the support member has a circular shape with a diameter of 2 mm or less or a shape with a long side portion having a length of 2 mm or less. apparatus. The optical deflector includes a rotary polygon mirror having drive means for driving the rotary polygon mirror, and a substrate for mounting a driving circuit of the driving means are arranged such that the substrate faces the opening The optical scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the optical scanning device is an optical scanner. It said temperature adjusting means includes an optical scanning apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in that disposed on the opposite side of the said rotary polygonal mirror across said substrate. The optical scanning device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, protrusions for fixing the temperature adjustment means, characterized in that provided on the support member. The optical scanning device according to claim 1, wherein a fan of the temperature adjusting unit is reversely rotatable. An image forming apparatus, comprising the optical scanning apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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