JP5631295B2 - Optical scanning apparatus and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical scanning device and an image forming apparatus including the optical scanning device.

  As an image processing apparatus that is an electronic device, there is an image forming apparatus (for example, a multifunction peripheral (MFP), a printer, a facsimile, or the like) that forms an image on recording paper. The image forming apparatus includes a plurality of basic operation modes such as a copy mode, a facsimile mode, a printer mode, and a scanner mode.

  In such an image forming apparatus, in order to obtain a desired image based on image information, the photosensitive member is charged by the charging device, and then the photosensitive drum is scanned by the laser beam by the optical scanning device in accordance with the image information. Thus, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum. The optical scanning device referred to herein includes various lenses such as an imaging lens for converging light from a light emitting source that emits a laser beam on a photosensitive member, and various types for guiding the laser beam to a predetermined path. A long lens having a long axis in the main scanning direction is used as an imaging lens. The long lens is positioned in the housing so that its long axis (longitudinal) direction and the axial direction of the photosensitive drum are parallel to each other (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In the image forming apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, when an optical scanning device including a long lens is incorporated into the image forming device, the long lens of the optical scanning device is manually rotated and moved to tilt the optical axis (scanning line). ) Can be corrected. The inclination of the scanning line may be shifted due to an external force or the like. However, correction of the inclination of the scanning line is performed by removing the optical scanning device from the image forming apparatus and manually rotating and moving the long lens of the optical scanning device that has been removed. Do. As a result, it is possible to prevent image quality deterioration such that the image itself is inclined or the image is shifted due to the inclination of the scanning line.

JP 2010-8761 A JP 2008-139352 A

  However, in the technique of Patent Document 1, correction of the tilt of the optical axis after the optical scanning device is incorporated into the image forming apparatus is manually performed, and thus it is necessary to take out the optical scanning device from the image forming apparatus. Therefore, in the technique of Patent Document 1, it takes time to correct the inclination of the optical axis.

  A technique of Patent Document 2 is a solution to the problem of the technique of Patent Document 1. The technique of Patent Document 2 uses a motor as a drive source to adjust the tilt of a lens by rotating a cam with a spur gear and a worm gear of the motor. According to the technique of Patent Document 2, the optical axis can be adjusted without any external operation (automatic), and the optical scanning device can form an image even when the optical axis tilt is corrected. There is no need to remove it from the device.

  However, in the technique of Patent Document 2, unlike the technique of Patent Document 1, the correction of the optical axis tilt cannot be performed by an external operation (manual), and the degree of freedom in correcting the optical axis tilt is high. That's not true.

  In order to solve the above problems, the present invention relates to correction of the tilt of the optical axis of the laser beam by adjusting the optical axis by manual operation (external operation) and without manual operation (external operation). It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical scanning apparatus and an image forming apparatus that can adjust the optical axis without any adjustment) and have a high degree of freedom in correcting the inclination of the optical axis.

In order to achieve the above object, an optical scanning apparatus according to the present invention adjusts the optical axis of a laser beam by displacing the optical member in an optical scanning apparatus that irradiates a laser beam to a scanned object via the optical member. An adjusting device for adjusting the optical axis by manual operation without removing the optical scanning device from the image forming device after the optical scanning device is incorporated into the image forming device; There line and an automatic optical axis adjustment for adjusting the optical axis by the drive, a shared optical axis adjusting unit for use in any of the optical axis adjustment of the automatic optical axis adjustment and the manual optical axis adjustment is provided on the adjusting device The shaft portion that moves while rotating in each of the first direction approaching the optical member and the second direction away from the optical member, and supports the shaft portion, and the shaft portion rotates. Along with this, the shaft portion is moved. A shaft support section that rotates, a rotation section that rotates the shaft section, a drive section that rotates the rotation section, and a manual adjustment section that adjusts the optical axis by manual operation. The axis adjustment unit is provided in the rotation unit, and when the automatic optical axis adjustment is performed, the drive unit rotates the shaft unit via the shared optical axis adjustment unit, and when the manual optical axis adjustment is performed, the manual adjustment is performed. The adjusting unit rotates the shaft through the shared optical axis adjusting unit .

According to the present invention, the manual optical axis adjustment for adjusting the optical axis by manual operation without taking out the optical scanning apparatus from the image forming apparatus after the optical scanning apparatus is incorporated in the image forming apparatus, and the driving of the adjusting apparatus The optical axis is automatically adjusted to adjust the optical axis, and the tilt of the optical axis of the laser beam emitted from the lens is adjusted by displacing the lens by the adjusting device. With regard to correction, it is possible to adjust the optical axis by manual operation (external operation) and to adjust the optical axis without manual operation (no external operation). An optical scanning device can be realized.

Furthermore, the shared optical axis adjusting unit for use in any of the optical axis adjustment of the automatic optical axis adjustment and the manual optical axis adjustment is provided.

As this, the by sharing an optical axis adjusting unit for use in any of the optical axis adjustment of the manual optical axis adjustment and the automatic optical axis adjustment is provided, the adjusting section and the automatic optical axis for adjusting the manual optical axis It is not necessary to provide an adjustment unit for adjustment, and the optical axis adjustment mechanism is not complicated and can be made compact.

Furthermore , the adjustment device supports a shaft portion that moves while rotating in each of a first direction approaching the optical member and a second direction away from the optical member, and supports the shaft portion, and A shaft support part that moves the shaft part as the shaft part rotates, a rotating part that rotates the shaft part, a drive part that rotates the rotating part, and an optical axis adjustment by manual operation. A manual adjustment unit for performing, and the shared optical axis adjustment unit is provided in the rotating unit, and the automatic optical axis adjustment is performed by the drive unit via the shared optical axis adjustment unit during the automatic optical axis adjustment. It is rotated, when the manual optical axis adjustment, Ru rotates the shaft portion through the common optical axis adjustment portion by the manual adjustment section.

By this Uslu, said automatic optical axis adjustment, the by rotating the shaft portion via a shared optical axis adjustment portion by the drive unit, it is possible to perform the automatic optical axis adjustment without manual operation During the manual optical axis adjustment, the manual optical axis adjustment can be performed manually by rotating the shaft part through the shared optical axis adjustment part by the manual adjustment part.

  In the above-described configuration, the manual adjustment unit includes a manual shaft portion that can be rotated manually, and a manual gear that is synchronized with the rotation of the manual shaft portion. The distal end of the manual shaft portion is disposed inside the housing, the base end portion of the manual shaft portion is disposed outside the housing, and the manual shaft portion is inserted into the base. The manual gear may be fitted to the rotating portion by pushing from the end toward the tip.

  In this case, since the base end portion of the manual shaft portion is disposed outside the housing of the optical scanning device, the manual optical axis adjustment is performed by a user pressing the base end portion (manual operation). It becomes possible. Further, when there is no manual operation in which the user does not press the base end portion, the automatic optical axis adjustment can be performed.

  Moreover, according to this structure, the said manual gear does not always fit with the said rotation part, but it becomes possible to make it fit when needed. As a result, when the automatic optical axis adjustment is performed, the drive unit is driven only by the torque necessary for the rotation of the shaft portion without considering the fitting between the manual gear and the rotation portion. Automatic optical axis adjustment can be performed.

  In the above-described configuration, a manual urging member is provided at the end of the manual adjustment unit arranged outside the housing of the optical scanning device, and the manual urging member causes the manual shaft to be moved to the tip part. May be biased in a direction from the base toward the base end.

  In this case, the manual urging member urges the manual shaft portion in the direction from the distal end portion toward the base end portion, so that when the manual optical axis adjustment is not required, the manual gear and the rotation are performed. Thus, the manual gear and the rotating part can be fitted only when adjusting the manual optical axis.

  The said structure WHEREIN: The screw part in which the groove of the screw was formed may be provided in the said shaft part, and the screw part which fits the screw part of the said shaft part so that rotation is possible in the shaft support part may be provided.

  In this case, the screw portion is provided in the shaft portion, the screw portion is provided in the shaft support portion, and the screw portion of the shaft portion and the screw portion of the shaft support portion become the rotation attenuation portion. The screw portion of the shaft portion and the screw portion of the shaft support portion are fitted to attenuate the turning force applied to the shaft portion by an external force, and the shaft portion is moved by the drive portion via the rotating portion. The optical member can be displaced by turning. In other words, unnecessary rotation of the shaft portion can be prevented, and only rotation of the necessary shaft portion can be performed. As a result, it becomes possible to adjust the displacement amount of the optical member according to only the necessary rotation amount of the shaft portion.

  In the above configuration, the adjustment device includes a biasing portion that biases the optical member in a preset direction, and the optical member and the shaft portion are opposed to each other by the biasing of the biasing portion. Good.

  In this case, since the lens and the shaft portion are opposed to each other by the urging by the urging portion, it is possible to prevent the lens from being displaced when correction of the tilt of the optical axis of the laser beam is unnecessary. Become.

  In the above-described configuration, the rotation unit includes a first rotation unit that uses the shaft unit as a rotation shaft, engages with the shaft unit, and rotates the shaft unit, and a rotation of the first rotation unit. An axis that intersects the moving axis is a rotation axis, and a second rotation unit that rotates the first rotation unit is provided, and the drive unit may rotate the second rotation unit. .

  In this case, the axial direction of the rotating shaft (the shaft portion) of the first rotating portion is orthogonal to the axial direction of the rotating shaft of the second rotating portion. The external force applied to the first rotating portion (particularly the shaft portion) is easily transmitted in the axial direction of the shaft portion, but is transmitted in other directions (desirably, a direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the shaft portion). hard. For this reason, it is possible to attenuate the external force applied to the first rotation part from being transmitted to the second rotation part, and as a result, the first rotation part through the second rotation part is used. It is possible to suppress (prevent) external force from being applied to the drive unit. Further, since the second rotating part is rotated by driving the driving part and the first rotating part is rotated by rotating the second rotating part, the driving part is directly connected to the shaft part. Not connected. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the external force applied to the first rotating unit from being transmitted to the driving unit.

  In addition, according to this configuration, it is possible to drive the drive unit only when the optical axis is automatically adjusted, so it is possible to increase the time during which the drive unit is not excited, and the optical member It is possible to prevent heat generation of the drive unit due to excitation other than when the optical axis is automatically adjusted (for example, during manual optical axis adjustment or during standby).

  In the above configuration, excitation of the drive unit may be switched, and the drive unit may not be excited except in a state where at least the optical member is displaced to adjust the optical axis of the laser beam.

  In this case, the drive unit can be excited only when the optical axis of the optical member is automatically adjusted, and other than when the optical axis of the optical member is automatically adjusted (for example, during the manual optical axis adjustment or It is possible to prevent heat generation of the drive unit due to excitation during standby.

  The said structure WHEREIN: The said drive part may be provided in the exterior of the housing of the said optical scanning device.

  In this case, it is possible to suppress the heat generated from the driving unit from being filled in the housing of the optical scanning device.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to the present invention is provided with the optical scanning device according to the present invention.

  According to the present invention, since the optical scanning device according to the present invention is provided, the manual optical axis adjustment and the automatic optical axis adjustment can be switched, and as a result, regarding the correction of the tilt of the optical axis of the laser beam, An optical scanning device that can adjust the optical axis by manual operation (operation from outside) and can adjust the optical axis without manual operation (no operation from outside). Can be realized. In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to easily correct the tilt of the optical axis (the manual optical axis adjustment or the automatic optical axis adjustment) without taking out the optical scanning device from the image forming apparatus.

  According to the optical scanning device and the image forming apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to adjust the optical axis by manual operation and to adjust the optical axis without manual operation with respect to correction of the tilt of the optical axis of the laser beam. .

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram illustrating the overall configuration of the image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment, and is a schematic cross-sectional view viewed from the front. FIG. 2 is a view schematically showing a main part inside the housing when the exposure unit shown in FIG. 1 is viewed from above. FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of the exposure unit showing the arrangement of the second fθ lens. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of the exposure unit showing the relationship between the second fθ lens and the adjusting device. FIG. 5 shows a schematic configuration of the adjusting device when the adjusting device corresponding to FIG. 4 is viewed from a plane, and is a schematic diagram of the adjusting device at the time of automatic optical axis adjustment. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of the adjusting device when adjusting the manual optical axis, showing a schematic configuration of the adjusting device when the adjusting device corresponding to FIG. 4 is seen from a plane. FIG. 7 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of the exposure unit showing the relationship between the second fθ lens and the adjusting device according to another embodiment. FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of the adjusting device when the adjusting device according to another embodiment is viewed from a plane corresponding to FIG. 5. FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of the exposure unit showing the relationship between the second fθ lens and the adjusting device according to another embodiment corresponding to FIG. FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part of the exposure unit showing the relationship between the second fθ lens and the adjusting device according to another embodiment, corresponding to FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<Overall configuration of image forming apparatus>
FIG. 1 is a schematic front view showing an overall configuration of an image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, and is a schematic cross-sectional view seen from the front.

  The image forming apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 forms an image composed of at least one color (a plurality of colors or a single color) on a sheet such as a recording sheet (hereinafter referred to as a recording sheet) in accordance with image data for image formation. A color image forming apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus 1 forms an image on a recording sheet by an electrophotographic method. As operation modes, a copy mode, a facsimile mode, a document filing mode (a mode in which a scanned image is stored in the image forming apparatus 1), A mail mode (a mode in which a scanned image is transmitted in a format attached to an e-mail), a network printer mode, and the like are provided. The operation mode of the image forming apparatus 1 is not limited to these and can be arbitrarily set.

  In the image forming apparatus 1, a document reading device 12 for reading a sheet such as a document (hereinafter referred to as a document), an image forming unit 13 for forming an image of the document, and a sheet transport for transporting a sheet are provided on the apparatus main body 11. A system 14 is provided.

  The image forming unit 13 includes an exposure unit 2, a plurality of development units 3, a plurality of toner cartridge units 5, an intermediate transfer belt unit 6, a fixing unit 7, and the like. The image data handled by the image forming apparatus 1 uses a plurality of colors (here, black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y)). Therefore, the developing unit 3 and the toner cartridge unit 5 are each provided with a plurality (four here) so as to form a plurality of types (four types here) corresponding to the respective colors, and black, cyan, magenta, respectively. , Yellow), and these constitute an image station for each color (here, four).

  The exposure unit 2 is an optical scanning device configured as a laser scanning unit (LSU) including a laser emitting portion and a reflection mirror, and is a photosensitive drum 4 (covered in the present invention) through various optical components (see below). The scanning body is irradiated with a laser beam and optically scanned.

  The developing unit 3 visualizes the electrostatic latent images formed on the respective photosensitive drums 4 with toners of four colors (Y, M, C, K).

  The intermediate transfer belt unit 6 includes an intermediate transfer belt 61 that acts as an intermediate transfer member, a driving roller 62, a driven roller 63, a plurality of intermediate transfer rollers 64, and a cleaning unit 65. The transfer of the toner image from the photosensitive drum 4 to the intermediate transfer belt 61 is performed by an intermediate transfer roller 64 that is in contact with the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 61.

  The intermediate transfer belt 61 is provided in contact with each photosensitive drum 4. The intermediate transfer belt 61 sequentially superimposes and transfers the toner images of each color formed on the photosensitive drum 4, thereby forming a color toner image (multicolor toner image) on the surface. The driving roller 62 stretches and rotates the intermediate transfer belt 61 together with the driven roller 63 and the intermediate transfer roller 64, so that the intermediate transfer belt 61 rotates in the moving direction (the direction of arrow M in FIG. 1). Accordingly, the driven roller 63 and the intermediate transfer roller 64 are driven to rotate. Four intermediate transfer rollers 64 are provided corresponding to the respective colors Y, M, C, and K. The cleaning unit 65 is for removing the toner image remaining on the intermediate transfer belt 61.

  The toner cartridge unit 5 is a unit that stores toner, and supplies the toner from the toner cartridge unit 5 to the developing tank of the developing unit 3.

  The fixing unit 7 fixes an unfixed toner image on a recording sheet, and includes a heat roller 71 and a pressure roller 72 that act as a fixing roller. The heat roller 71 is rotationally driven, and the pressure roller 72 is driven by this rotational driving. The heat roller 71 is configured to convey the recording sheet while sandwiching the recording sheet together with the pressure roller 72.

  As described above, the toner images visualized according to the respective colors on the respective photosensitive drums 4 are laminated on the intermediate transfer belt 61. The toner images stacked on the intermediate transfer belt 61 are recorded by the transfer roller 8 constituting the secondary transfer mechanism unit disposed at the contact position between the recording paper and the intermediate transfer belt 61 by the circumferential movement of the intermediate transfer belt 61. Transferred onto paper.

  The paper transport system 14 includes a paper feed tray 91, a manual paper feed tray 92, and a paper discharge tray 93.

  The paper feed tray 91 is a tray for storing recording paper on which an image is formed (printed) in advance, and is provided below the exposure unit 2 in the apparatus main body 11.

  A recording paper on which an image is formed (printed) is placed on the manual paper feed tray 92.

  The paper discharge tray 93 is provided above the image forming unit 13 in the apparatus main body 11 and stacks recording sheets on which image formation (printing) has been performed face-down.

  The apparatus main body 11 is provided with a paper conveyance path 21 for sending recording paper sent from the paper feed tray 91 and the manual paper feed tray 92 to the paper discharge tray 93 via the transfer roller 8 and the fixing unit 7. ing. This paper transport path 21 includes a reverse transport path 22 for printing on both sides (front and back) of the recording paper.

  In the image forming apparatus 1 configured as described above, when single-sided printing is requested as a recording sheet, the recording sheet supplied from the sheet feeding tray 91 and the manual sheet feeding tray 92 is conveyed along the sheet conveying path 21. Then, the toner image is transferred onto the recording paper by the drive roller 62 and the transfer roller. Thereafter, the recording paper passes through the fixing unit 7 so that the unfixed toner on the recording paper is melted and fixed by heat, and the recording paper to which the unfixed toner is fixed in the fixing unit 7 is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 93. The

  When double-sided printing is requested for the recording paper, after the single-sided printing is completed and the recording paper passes through the fixing unit 7, the recording paper conveyance direction is reversed and the paper conveyance path 21 is reversed. Guided to the transport path 22. Then, the recording paper is conveyed again to the transfer nip between the drive roller 62 and the transfer roller 8. A toner image is transferred to the back surface of the recording paper conveyed to the transfer nip, and unfixed toner is fixed in the fixing unit 7. After the printing on the back surface of the recording paper is thus completed, the recording paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 93.

  Next, the exposure unit 2 which is an optical scanning device of the image forming apparatus 1 will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<Exposure Unit 2 of Image Forming Apparatus 1>
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the exposure unit 2 is a laser scanning unit (LSU) that emits laser beams from four laser emitting units 30 corresponding to the respective colors to a photosensitive drum 4 via a rotary polygon mirror 35 and the like. The optical scanning device is configured to expose each charged photosensitive drum 4 in accordance with input image data, whereby an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data is formed on the surface of each photosensitive drum 4. To form.

  Various optical components are arranged on the optical path from the laser emitting portion 30 of the exposure unit 2 to the photosensitive drum 4. Specifically, four collimating lenses 31, four first reflecting mirrors 32, a cylindrical lens 33, a second reflecting mirror 34, a rotating polygonal mirror 35, a first fθ lens 36, and a folding mirror 37 in order from the laser emitting unit 30 side. , And a second fθ lens 38 (an optical member in the present invention) are disposed in order.

  The four laser emitting units 30 are beam emitting means for emitting a laser beam and correspond to each color.

  The four collimating lenses 31 correspond to the four laser emitting units 30, respectively, and convert the laser beams emitted from the laser emitting units 30 into parallel beams.

  The four first reflecting mirrors 32 correspond to the four collimating lenses 31, respectively, reflect the laser beam converted by the collimating lens 31 and make it incident on the cylindrical lens 33.

  In the cylindrical lens 33, the four laser beams incident from the four first reflecting mirrors 32 are focused on the photosensitive drum 4 in the sub-scanning direction.

  The second reflecting mirror 34 reflects the four laser beams emitted from the cylindrical lens 33 and makes them enter the rotating polygon mirror 35.

  The rotary polygon mirror 35 irradiates a laser beam to the central region in the height direction of the reflection surface, and guides the laser beam reflected by the reflection surface of the rotation polygon mirror 35 from the rotary polygon mirror 35 to the photosensitive drum 4. In particular, the laser beam incident on the cylindrical lens 33 in the sub-scanning direction of the laser beam is substantially converged on the surface of the reflecting surface of the rotary polygon mirror 35, and the laser beam incident on the cylindrical lens 33 is rotated in the main scanning direction. The laser beam incident on the reflecting surface of the polygon mirror 35 and reflected by the reflecting surface of the rotating polygon mirror 35 is guided from the rotating polygon mirror 35 to the photosensitive drum 4.

  In the first fθ lens 36, the parallel laser beam emitted from the rotary polygon mirror 35 is converged so as to have a predetermined beam diameter on the surface of the photosensitive drum 4 in the main scanning direction, and is rotated in the sub-scanning direction. The diffused laser beam emitted from the mirror 35 is converted into parallel light. The first fθ lens 36 converts a laser beam that moves at a constant angular velocity in the main scanning direction by a constant angular velocity movement of the rotary polygon mirror 35 so as to move at a constant linear velocity on the scanning line on the photosensitive drum 4. It has a function.

  The folding mirror 37 reflects the laser beam separated by the rotary polygon mirror 35 and passed through the first fθ lens 36 and makes it incident on the second fθ lens 38.

  The second fθ lens 38 has a convex lens surface (not shown) that protrudes toward the light exit surface, and is made of, for example, polycarbonate resin. The second fθ lens 38 is a long lens that is long in the main scanning direction (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The second fθ lens 38 converges the laser beam incident as parallel light in the sub-scanning direction so as to have a predetermined beam diameter on the photosensitive drum 4, and the first fθ lens 36 converges the light in the main scanning direction. The formed laser beam is converged on the photosensitive drum 4 as it is.

  The exposure unit 2 is provided with an adjusting device 40 that adjusts the optical axis of the laser beam irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 4 via the second fθ lens 38. According to the adjusting device 40, the optical axis inclination of the laser beam emitted from the second fθ lens 38 is adjusted by rotating the other end portion 38b around the one end portion 38a of the second fθ lens 38 as a photosensitive member. The inclination of the scanning line on the image plane (drum surface) of the body drum 4 is corrected.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the adjusting device 40 includes a support body 41 on which the second fθ lens 38 is mounted and a displacement unit 50 that displaces the second fθ lens 38.

  The support 41 is, for example, a long member injection-molded with a resin material, and the second fθ lens 38 is fixed by a leaf spring 42 as shown in FIG. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, a shaft hole 44 for pivotally supporting the housing 2a of the exposure unit 2 is formed at one end portion 43 of the support body 41, which is a mounting portion of the one end portion 38a of the second fθ lens 38. The protrusion 2b of the housing 2a of the exposure unit 2 is inserted into the shaft hole 44, and one end 43 of the support 41 is fixed to the housing 2a of the exposure unit 2.

  The displacement portion 50 is a mechanism that allows the other end portion 48 of the support body 41 to turn about the one end portion 43 of the support body 41, and serves as a mounting portion for the other end portion 38 b of the second fθ lens 38. A kick spring 51 which is provided at the other end 48 of the support 41 and urges the other end 48 of the support 41 counterclockwise around the one end 43 of the support 41 and the support 41 (the other end 48 of the support 41). ) And an adjustment unit 52 that adjusts the optical axis of the laser beam. In the present embodiment, one end portion 43 of the support body 41 corresponds to the one end portion 38a side of the second fθ lens 38, and the other end portion 48 of the support body 41 corresponds to the other end portion 38b side of the second fθ lens 38. Corresponding to In this embodiment, the kick spring 51 urges the other end 48 of the support 41 counterclockwise around the one end 43 of the support 41 as an axis. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, the biasing direction may be set in advance according to the embodiment.

  The kick spring 51 biases the second fθ lens 38 in a preset direction (bias the other end 48 of the support 41 counterclockwise around the one end 43 of the support 41). The biasing force of the kick spring 51 causes the support body 41 (second fθ lens 38) and the shaft portion 53 to oppose each other. The kick spring 51 not only biases the support body 41 that supports the second fθ lens 38 but also presses the other end 38 b side of the second fθ lens 38. In the present embodiment, the other end 48 of the support body 41 corresponds to the other end 38 b side of the second fθ lens 38.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the adjustment unit 52 engages with the shaft portion 53 with the shaft portion 53 being rotatable, the shaft support portion 54 that supports the shaft portion 53, and the shaft portion 53 as a rotation shaft. The first gear 55 that rotates the shaft portion 53 (first rotating portion in the present invention) and the shaft that intersects the rotation shaft (shaft portion 53) of the first gear 55 (virtual shaft) rotate. A second gear 56 (second rotating portion referred to in the present invention) that is engaged with the first gear 55 and rotates the first gear 55, and a drive portion 57 that rotates the second gear 56. Consists of In the present embodiment, a combination of the first gear 55 and the second gear 56 constitutes a rotating part, the rotating part is rotated by the drive part 57, and the shaft part 53 is rotated by the rotating part. .

  The shaft portion 53 rotates in both directions of the first direction Z1 (see FIGS. 4 to 6) approaching the second fθ lens 38 and the second direction Z2 (see FIGS. 4 to 6) away from the second fθ lens 38. The support body 41 (mounted on the support body 41) is urged (pressed) in the counterclockwise direction around the one end portion 43 by the urging force of the kick spring 51. Against the second fθ lens 38). In the shaft portion 53, a force can be applied in a direction opposite to the biasing direction (counterclockwise direction) of the kickback 51. Further, the shaft portion 53 and the support body 41 (second fθ lens 38) are arranged in a state where the balance of force is maintained. The tip of the shaft portion 53 has a hemispherical shape and is arranged in contact with the support body 41. Further, a male screw portion 53b (a screw portion of the shaft portion referred to in the present invention) in which a groove of a male screw is formed is provided at the distal end portion 53a of the shaft portion 53. Further, at least the base end portion 53c of the shaft portion 53 has a D shape in cross section (hereinafter referred to as D shape) and is fitted in the through hole 55a of the first gear 55 (see below). Thus, by engaging the base end portion 53c of the shaft portion 53 with a D shape, the engagement between the shaft portion 53 and the first gear 55 is maintained without being affected by the rotation of the first gear 55. Can do.

  The shaft support portion 54 supports the shaft portion 53 and moves the shaft portion 53 itself as the shaft portion 53 rotates. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the bottom surface portion 54 a and two walls are provided. It consists of parts 54b and 54c. One wall portion 54 b of the shaft support portion 54 is provided with an insertion portion 54 d for inserting the shaft portion 53, and the other wall portion 54 c is inserted with the shaft portion 53 and the male screw portion 53 b of the shaft portion 53. A female screw portion 54e (a screw portion of the shaft support portion referred to in the present invention) that fits in a freely rotatable manner is provided. The shaft portion 53 can be fixed to the shaft support portion 54 by fitting the female screw portion 54 e of the shaft support portion 54 and the male screw portion 53 b of the shaft portion 53.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the first gear 55 is a crown gear that uses the shaft portion 53 as a rotation shaft, engages with the shaft portion 53 and rotates the shaft portion 53, and is located at the center of the first gear 55. The shaft portion 53 is inserted into the through hole 55 a of the portion, and the shaft portion 53 rotates in synchronization with the rotation of the first gear 55. The first gear 55 is a common single member that is used for both the manual optical axis adjustment and the automatic optical axis adjustment, and serves as a common optical axis adjustment unit.

  4-6, the 2nd gear 56 is a spur gear which rotates the 1st gear 55, and the axial direction of the rotating shaft used as the axis | shaft (virtual axis) of the rotation is 1st gear. It is in the crossing state orthogonal to the axial direction of 55 rotating shafts (shaft part 53). The second gear 56 is fitted to the first gear 55 and is rotated by the drive of the drive unit 57.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the drive unit 57 is a motor and is provided outside the housing 2 a of the exposure unit 2. This drive part 57 rotates the 2nd gear 56, and ON / OFF of excitation is switched. For this reason, the drive unit 57 is not always excited, but at least when the optical axis of the second fθ lens 38 is adjusted. That is, the drive unit 57 can be excited only when the optical axis of the second fθ lens 38 is automatically adjusted, and the second fθ lens 38 is displaced except when the optical axis of the second fθ lens 38 is automatically adjusted. In a state where the optical axis of the laser beam is not adjusted, heat generation of the motor of the drive unit 57 can be prevented without exciting the drive unit 57.

  In the adjustment unit 52, as shown in FIG. 5, the second gear 56 is rotated by driving the driving unit 57, the first gear 55 is rotated by rotating the second gear 56, and the rotation of the first gear 55 is performed. The shaft portion 53 is rotated by the movement. Since the male screw portion 53 b of the shaft portion 53 and the female screw portion 54 e of the shaft support portion 54 are rotatably fitted, the shaft portion 53 is attached to the support body 41 based on the turning direction of the first gear 55. It moves in any direction of the approaching direction (first direction Z1) and the direction away from the support body 41 (second direction Z2). By the movement of the shaft portion 53, the other end portion 48 of the support body 41 in contact with the tip end of the shaft portion 53 rotates around the one end portion 43 of the support body 41, and the second fθ lens 38 mounted on the support body 41. Is displaced. By the displacement of the second fθ lens 38, the optical axis of the laser beam irradiated from the second fθ lens 38 to the photosensitive drum 4 is adjusted. The optical axis adjustment by the first gear 55, the second gear 56, and the drive unit 57 is referred to as automatic optical axis adjustment that does not require manual operation (external operation) by the user.

  Further, the adjusting device 40 (specifically, the adjusting unit 52) has an optical axis of the laser beam externally provided in addition to a mechanism (automatic optical axis adjusting mechanism) for adjusting the optical axis of the laser beam without manual operation. A manual adjustment section 58 (manual optical axis adjustment mechanism) that adjusts by an operation (manual operation by the user) is provided, and the adjustment device 40 can switch between manual optical axis adjustment and automatic optical axis adjustment.

  The manual adjustment unit 58 can be manually operated from the outside of the housing 2a of the exposure unit 2, and can be manually rotated from the outside of the housing 2a of the exposure unit 2 as shown in FIGS. 58a and a manual gear 58b synchronized with the rotation of the manual shaft 58a. The manual shaft portion 58a serves as a rotation shaft for the manual gear 58b.

  The manual shaft portion 58a is provided from the outside to the inside of the housing 2a of the exposure unit 2, passes through the through hole 2d formed in the housing 2a, and the distal end portion 58c of the manual shaft portion 58a is disposed inside the housing 2a. A central portion 58d is disposed in the through hole 2d, and a proximal end portion 58e is disposed outside the housing 2a. A manual gear 58b using two E-rings 58f is provided at the front end 58c of the manual shaft 58a. A compression spring 58g (manual urging member in the present invention) is wound around the shaft around a base end portion 58e of a manual shaft portion 58a disposed outside the housing 2a of the exposure unit 2, and the compression spring 58g is wound around the shaft. Thus, the manual shaft portion 58a is biased in a direction (Z3 direction) from the distal end portion 58c toward the proximal end portion 58e.

  The manual gear 58b is a gear that can be fitted to the first gear 55. When the manual shaft portion 58a is biased in the Z3 direction by the compression spring 58g without manual operation as shown in FIG. The part 58a and the first gear 55 are not fitted in a separated state. On the other hand, the manual gear 58b is moved from the position shown in FIG. 5 by pushing the manual shaft portion 58a from the proximal end portion 58e toward the distal end portion 58c against the bias of the compression spring 58g by the user's manual operation. 6 and the manual gear 58b is engaged with the first gear 55 of the rotating portion as shown in FIG. When the manual gear 58b is engaged with the first gear 55, the user rotates the manual shaft portion 58a and rotates the first gear 55 via the manual gear 58b (rotating portion). The optical axis of the laser beam can be adjusted. That is, according to the adjustment device 40, manual optical axis adjustment by the user can be performed.

  As described above, according to the adjustment device 40, the shaft portion 53, the shaft support portion 54, the first gear 55, the second gear 56, the drive portion 57, and the manual adjustment portion 58 are provided. When the laser beam optical axis is automatically adjusted without manual operation (at the time of automatic optical axis adjustment), the manual gear 58b of the manual adjustment unit 58 is separated from the first gear 55 as shown in FIG. When the optical axis is adjusted without fitting the manual gear 58b with the first gear 55, and when the optical axis of the laser beam is adjusted manually (when the manual optical axis is adjusted), as shown in FIG. The optical axis can be adjusted by fitting the manual gear 58b of the manual adjustment unit 58 to the first gear 55. As described above, according to the adjustment device 40 according to the present embodiment, the automatic optical axis adjustment and the manual optical axis adjustment can be switched, and the exposure unit 2 having a high degree of freedom in optical axis adjustment is realized.

  In the adjusting device 40 described above, the shaft portion 53 (particularly the male threaded portion 53b) and the shaft support portion 54 (particularly the female threaded portion 54e) cause the shaft portion to be externally applied to the adjusting device 40 (vibration, impact, etc.) The rotational power applied to 53 can be attenuated. For example, even if an external force is applied to the shaft portion 53, at least a part of the external force is converted into a frictional force or a counter force at a moving part where the male screw portion 53b and the female screw portion 54e are fitted. As a result, the moving force (specifically, the rotational force applied to the shaft portion 53) that moves the shaft portion 53 by an external force can be attenuated. In the adjusting device 40 according to the present embodiment having such an operational effect, the shaft portion 53 is fitted by an external force by fitting the shaft portion 53 (particularly the male screw portion 53b) and the shaft support portion 54 (particularly the female screw portion 54e). And the second fθ lens 38 can be displaced by rotating the shaft portion 53 through the rotating portion by the driving portion 57. That is, unnecessary rotation of the shaft portion 53 can be prevented, and only necessary rotation of the shaft portion 53 can be performed. As a result, the amount of displacement of the second fθ lens 38 can be adjusted according to only the required amount of rotation of the shaft portion 53.

  Further, the axial direction of the rotation shaft (shaft portion 53) of the first gear 55 and the axial direction of the rotation shaft (virtual axis in the present embodiment) of the second gear 56 are orthogonal to each other. The external force applied to the first gear 55 (particularly the shaft portion 53) is easily transmitted in the axial direction of the shaft portion 53, but is difficult to be transmitted in other directions (particularly, the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the shaft portion 53). Therefore, the external force applied to the first gear 55 can be attenuated from being transmitted to the second gear 56, and as a result, the external force applied to the drive unit 57 from the first gear 55 via the second gear 56 is suppressed. (Prevent). Further, since the second gear 56 is rotated by the drive of the drive unit 57 and the first gear 55 is rotated by the rotation of the second gear 56, the drive unit 57 is not directly connected to the shaft portion 53. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the external force applied to the first gear 55 from being transmitted to the drive unit 57. In the present embodiment, since the drive unit 57 can be driven only when the optical axis is automatically adjusted, the time during which the drive unit 57 is not excited can be increased, and the optical axis of the second fθ lens 38 is automatically adjusted. It is possible to prevent the heat generation of the drive unit 57 due to the excitation other than when performing the operation.

  By the combination of the male screw portion 53b and the female screw portion 54e, or the combination of the first gear 55 and the second gear 56, the rotational force applied to the shaft portion 53 by the external force (unnecessary moving force of the shaft portion 53) is attenuated. A rotation attenuation unit is configured.

  As described above, according to the exposure unit 2 according to the present embodiment, the adjustment device 40 can switch between manual optical axis adjustment and automatic optical axis adjustment, and the adjustment device 40 displaces the second fθ lens 38. Since the inclination of the optical axis of the laser beam emitted from the second fθ lens 38 is adjusted, the optical axis is adjusted by manual operation (manual optical axis adjustment) and the manual operation for correcting the optical axis inclination of the laser beam. It is possible to automatically adjust the optical axis without automatic adjustment (automatic optical axis adjustment), and it is possible to realize the exposure unit 2 which is an optical scanning device having a high degree of freedom in optical axis adjustment.

  Further, according to the image forming apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, since the exposure unit 2 which is an optical scanning device is provided, it is possible to switch between manual optical axis adjustment and automatic optical axis adjustment, and as a result, the laser beam With regard to the correction of the optical axis inclination, the optical axis can be adjusted manually and the optical axis can be automatically adjusted without manual operation, and the degree of freedom of optical axis adjustment is high.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to easily correct the optical axis inclination (manual optical axis adjustment or automatic optical axis adjustment) without taking out the exposure unit 2 from the image forming apparatus 1.

  In addition, since a shared optical axis adjustment unit (first gear 55 in the present embodiment) that is used for either the manual optical axis adjustment or the automatic optical axis adjustment is provided, an adjustment unit for manual optical axis adjustment, There is no need to provide an adjustment unit for automatic optical axis adjustment, and the optical axis adjustment mechanism can be made compact without being complicated.

  Also, during automatic optical axis adjustment, the drive unit 57 can rotate the shaft portion 53 via the first gear 55 to perform automatic optical axis adjustment without manual operation. During manual optical axis adjustment, manual adjustment is possible. The shaft portion 53 can be rotated by the portion 58 via the first gear 55, and the manual optical axis can be adjusted manually.

  Further, since the base end portion 58e of the manual shaft portion 58a is disposed outside the housing 2a of the exposure unit 2, manual optical axis adjustment is performed by the user pushing the base end portion 58e (manual operation). Can do. Further, when the user does nothing (no manual operation), automatic optical axis adjustment can be performed. As a result, the correction of the tilt of the optical axis can be easily performed manually and automatically without taking out the exposure unit 2 from the image forming apparatus 1.

  Further, according to this configuration, the manual gear 58b is not always fitted to the rotating portion (by the compression spring 58g), and can be fitted when necessary. As a result, when the automatic optical axis adjustment is performed, the drive unit 57 is driven only by the torque necessary for the rotation of the shaft portion 53 without considering the fitting between the manual gear 58b and the rotation portion, and the automatic optical axis is adjusted. Adjustments can be made.

  Further, since the manual shaft 58a is urged in the direction from the distal end 58c toward the proximal end 58e by the compression spring 58g which is a manual urging member, when the manual optical axis adjustment is not necessary, the manual gear 58b is rotated. The fitting with the moving part (first gear 55) is prevented, and the manual gear 58b and the first gear 55 can be fitted only during manual optical axis adjustment.

  Further, the shaft portion 53 is provided with a male screw portion 53b, the shaft support portion 54 is provided with a female screw portion 54e, and the male screw portion 53b of the shaft portion 53 and the female screw portion 54e of the shaft support portion 54 serve as a rotational damping portion. By the fitting of the male screw part 53b of the shaft part 53 and the female screw part 54e of the shaft support part 54, the turning force applied to the shaft part 53 by an external force (specifically, by the rotation accompanying the movement of the shaft part 53) And the second fθ lens 38 can be displaced by rotating the shaft portion 53 via the rotating portion by the driving portion 57. That is, unnecessary rotation of the shaft portion 53 can be prevented, and only necessary rotation of the shaft portion 53 can be performed. As a result, the amount of displacement of the second fθ lens 38 can be adjusted according to only the required amount of rotation of the shaft portion 53.

  Further, since the second fθ lens 38 and the shaft portion 53 oppose each other due to the urging by the kick spring 51, the second fθ lens 38 can be prevented from being displaced when correction of the tilt of the optical axis of the laser beam is unnecessary. Further, even when the force balance between the second fθ lens 38 and the shaft portion 53 cannot be maintained due to the external force, the external force can be attenuated by the rotation attenuation portion, and the external force is prevented from being transmitted to the drive portion 57. be able to.

  Further, the axial direction of the rotation shaft (shaft portion 53) of the first gear 55 and the axial direction of the rotation shaft of the second gear 56 are in a state of being orthogonal. The external force applied to the first gear 55 (particularly the shaft portion) is easily transmitted in the axial direction of the shaft portion 53, but is not easily transmitted in other directions (desirably, the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of the shaft portion 53). Therefore, the external force applied to the first gear 55 can be attenuated from being transmitted to the second gear 56, and as a result, the external force applied to the drive unit 57 from the first gear 55 via the second gear 56 is suppressed. (Prevent). Further, since the second gear 56 is rotated by the drive of the drive unit 57 and the first gear 55 is rotated by the rotation of the second gear 56, the drive unit 57 is not directly connected to the shaft portion 53. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the external force applied to the first gear 55 from being transmitted to the drive unit 57.

  In addition, according to this configuration, the driving unit 57 can be driven only when the optical axis is automatically adjusted. Therefore, the time during which the driving unit 57 is not excited can be increased, and the optical axis of the second fθ lens 38 can be increased. It is possible to prevent heat generation of the drive unit 57 due to excitation other than when automatically adjusting (for example, during manual optical axis adjustment or during standby).

  Further, since the kick spring 51 presses the other end 38b side of the second fθ lens 38, the kick spring 51 does not displace the second fθ lens 38 when correction of the tilt of the optical axis of the laser beam is unnecessary. Furthermore, the second fθ lens 38 can be arranged without fixing the other end 38 b side of the second fθ lens 38 by the kick spring 51.

  In addition, since the other end portion 38b of the second fθ lens 38 is rotatable about the one end portion 38a side of the second fθ lens 38, the adjusting device 40 allows the other end portion 38b of the second fθ lens 38 to rotate. By rotating only the side, the second fθ lens 38 can be displaced, and the optical axis of the laser beam can be easily adjusted.

  Moreover, since the drive part 57 is provided in the exterior of the housing 2a of the exposure unit 2, it can suppress that the heat which generate | occur | produces from the drive part 57 fills the inside of the housing 2a of the exposure unit 2. FIG.

  In the present embodiment, the second fθ lens 38 is applied as an optical member. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the scanning target (photosensitive drum 4) is interposed to irradiate the laser beam. Other forms may be used as long as they are optical members.

  In the present embodiment, the shaft portion 53 is provided with a male screw portion 53b in which a groove of a male screw is formed, and the shaft support portion 54 is provided with a female screw portion 54e that fits into the male screw portion 53b of the shaft portion 53. However, the form of these screw portions is not limited to this, and the shaft portion 53 is provided with a female screw portion 54e in which a groove of the female screw is formed, and the shaft support portion 54 is provided with the female screw of the shaft portion 53. A male screw portion 53b that fits into the portion 54e may be provided. That is, the shaft portion 53 may be provided with a screw portion in which a screw groove is formed, and the shaft support portion 54 may be provided with a screw portion that is rotatably fitted to the screw portion of the shaft portion 53.

  Moreover, in this Embodiment, although the axial direction of the 1st gear 55 and the axial direction of the 2nd gear 56 are orthogonally crossed, this is a suitable form. Therefore, for example, a case where the axial direction of the first gear 55 and the axial direction of the second gear 56 have an angle of 90 ° ± 10 ° (a state of being substantially orthogonal) may be used.

  Further, in the exposure unit 2 according to the present embodiment, the second fθ lens 38 is mounted on the support body 41, but the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIG. The 2fθ lens 38 alone may be configured.

  In the second fθ lens 38 shown in FIG. 7, a shaft hole 38c corresponding to the shaft hole 44 of the support body 41 is formed at one end 38a, and the protrusion 2b of the housing 2a of the exposure unit 2 is inserted into the shaft hole 38c. The one end 38a of the second fθ lens 38 is fixed to the housing 2a of the exposure unit 2. A kick spring 51 is provided at the other end 38 b of the second fθ lens 38. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, one end 38 a of the second fθ lens 38 corresponds to the one end 38 a side of the second fθ lens 38, and the other end 38 b of the second fθ lens 38 is other than the second fθ lens 38. This corresponds to the end 38b side.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the rotating part for rotating the shaft part 53 includes the first gear 55, the second gear 56, and the driving part 57. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as long as it is a rotation part which can convert the driving force by the drive part 57 into turning power, the form which eliminated the 2nd gear 56 as shown in FIG. 8 may be sufficient, for example.

  8 includes a first gear 55, a drive unit 57, and a connecting unit 59 that connects the shaft unit 53 to the drive shaft 57a of the drive unit 57. Further, in the shaft portion 53 shown in FIG. 8, a base end portion 53c is formed to extend in the axial direction with respect to the shaft portion 53 according to the present embodiment. The connecting portion 59 is a coupling, and the driving portion 57 is a motor. 8, the shaft portion 53 and the shaft portion 53 of the drive portion 57 are connected by a connecting portion 59, and the drive shaft 57a, the connecting portion 59, and the shaft portion 53 of the drive portion 57 are connected by the drive portion 57. Is converted into the rotational force of the shaft portion 53, and the shaft portion 53 is rotated by the drive portion 57.

  According to the rotating portion shown in FIG. 8, the first gear 55 and the connecting portion 59 serving as the rotation attenuating portion are provided, so that the rotation shaft (shaft portion 53) of the first gear 55 and the drive portion 57 are connected. An external force applied to the first gear 55 can be attenuated by the connecting portion 59 by the connecting portion 59 that connects the drive shaft 57a. As a result, it is possible to attenuate (preferably prevent) the external force from being applied to the drive unit 57. Specifically, the external force applied from the first gear 55 to the connection unit 59 is attenuated by the external force and driven from the connection unit 59. It is possible to prevent external force from being applied to the portion 57. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the external force applied to the first gear 55 from being transmitted to the drive unit 57.

  In this embodiment, the kick spring 51 is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the other end 48 of the support 41 is attached counterclockwise with the one end 43 of the support 41 as an axis. Any other form may be used as long as it is an urging part that urges, for example, a spring shown in FIGS.

  The urging portion shown in FIG. 9 is a compression spring 51a provided outside the support body 41, and is urged in the direction of arrow X shown in FIG. By using this compression spring 51a, it is not necessary to use the kick spring 51, and the positioning projection 2c for placing on the housing 2a of the exposure unit 2 is inserted into the other end 48 of the support 41. A shaft hole 47 is formed.

  The urging portion shown in FIG. 10 is a tension spring 51b provided on the wall portion 54c of the shaft support portion 54 that is outside the support body 41, and is urged in the direction of the arrow X shown in FIG. By using the tension spring 51b, the kick spring 51 need not be used, and the positioning projection 2c for placement on the housing 2a of the exposure unit 2 is inserted into the other end 48 of the support 41. A shaft hole 47 is formed.

  It should be noted that the color image forming apparatus according to the present invention showing the present embodiment as an example can be applied to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile machine. In this embodiment, the exposure unit 2 that is an optical scanning device is applied to the image forming apparatus 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any device that requires an optical scanning device can be used. Other forms such as a display device that displays data such as image data using a laser beam may be used.

  In addition, the present invention can be implemented in various other forms without departing from the spirit, main point, or main features of the present invention. Therefore, the above-described embodiment is merely an example in all respects and should not be interpreted in a limited manner. The scope of the present invention is indicated by the claims, and is not restricted by the text of the specification. Further, all modifications and changes belonging to the equivalent scope of the claims are within the scope of the present invention.

  The present invention can be applied to an optical scanning device.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image forming apparatus 2 Exposure unit 2a Exposure unit housing 2b Exposure unit housing projection 2c Exposure unit housing positioning projection 2d Exposure unit housing through-hole 3 Development unit 4 Photosensitive drum 5 Toner cartridge unit 6 Intermediate transfer belt unit 7 Fixing unit 8 Transfer roller 11 Apparatus body 12 of image forming apparatus Document reading apparatus 13 Image forming unit 14 Paper conveying system 21 Paper conveying path 22 Reverse conveying path 30 Laser emitting unit 31 Collimating lens 32 First reflecting mirror 33 Cylindrical lens 34 Second reflection mirror 35 Rotating polygon mirror 36 First fθ lens 37 Folding mirror 38 Second fθ lens 38a One end portion 38b of the second fθ lens The other end portion 38c of the second fθ lens Shaft hole 40 Adjustment device 41 Support body 42 Plate spring 43 One end 44 of the support body Shaft hole 47 Shaft hole 48 Other end portion 50 of support body Displacement portion 51 Kick spring 51a Compression spring 51b Tension spring 52 Adjustment portion 53 Shaft portion 53a Shaft end portion 53b Male thread portion 53c Shaft base end portion 53d Shaft portion recess 53e Shaft portion Central portion 54 shaft support portion 54a bottom surface portions 54b, 54c wall portion 54d insertion portion 54e female screw portion 55 first gear 55a through hole 56 second gear 57 drive portion 57a drive shaft 58 manual adjustment portion 58a manual shaft portion 58b manual gear 58c Manual shaft distal end 58d Manual shaft central portion 58e Manual shaft proximal end 58f E-ring 58g Compression spring 59 Connecting portion 61 Intermediate transfer belt 62 Drive roller 63 Followed roller 64 Intermediate transfer roller 65 Cleaning unit 71 Heat roller 72 Pressure roller 91 Paper feed tray 92 Manual feed tray 93 Paper discharge tray

Claims (9)

In an optical scanning device that irradiates a laser beam to a scanned object via an optical member,
An adjusting device for adjusting the optical axis of the laser beam by displacing the optical member is provided,
After the optical scanning device is incorporated into the image forming apparatus, manual optical axis adjustment for adjusting the optical axis by manual operation without adjusting the optical axis by driving the adjusting device without removing the optical scanning device from the image forming apparatus. There rows and automatic optical axis adjustment,
A shared optical axis adjustment unit used for any optical axis adjustment of the manual optical axis adjustment and the automatic optical axis adjustment is provided,
In the adjusting device,
A shaft portion that moves while rotating in each of the first direction approaching the optical member and the second direction away from the optical member,
A shaft support portion that supports the shaft portion and moves the shaft portion as the shaft portion rotates;
A rotating part for rotating the shaft part;
A drive unit for rotating the rotating unit;
A manual adjustment unit for adjusting the optical axis by manual operation,
The shared optical axis adjusting unit is provided in the rotating unit,
During the automatic optical axis adjustment, the driving unit rotates the shaft through the shared optical axis adjustment unit,
An optical scanning device characterized in that, when the manual optical axis is adjusted, the shaft is rotated by the manual adjustment unit via the shared optical axis adjustment unit . The optical scanning device according to claim 1 ,
The manual adjustment unit is composed of a manual shaft that can be manually rotated and a manual gear that is synchronized with the rotation of the manual shaft.
The manual shaft portion is inserted from the outside of the housing of the optical scanning device to the inside, a distal end portion of the manual shaft portion is disposed inside the housing, and a proximal end portion of the manual shaft portion is disposed outside the housing. Arranged,
The optical scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the manual gear is engaged with the rotating portion by pushing the manual shaft portion from the base end portion toward the distal end portion. The optical scanning device according to claim 2 ,
A manual urging member is provided at the end of the manual adjustment unit disposed outside the housing of the optical scanning device,
The optical scanning device, wherein the manual urging member urges the manual shaft portion in a direction from the distal end portion toward the proximal end portion. In the optical scanning device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 ,
The shaft portion is provided with a screw portion in which a screw groove is formed,
An optical scanning device characterized in that a shaft portion is provided with a screw portion that is rotatably fitted to a screw portion of the shaft portion. In the optical scanning device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
The adjustment device is provided with a biasing portion that biases the optical member in a preset direction,
The optical scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the optical member and the shaft portion oppose each other by the urging force of the urging portion. In the optical scanning device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
The rotating portion includes a first rotating portion that uses the shaft portion as a rotating shaft and engages the shaft portion to rotate the shaft portion;
A second rotation unit that rotates the first rotation unit with an axis that intersects the rotation axis of the first rotation unit as a rotation axis;
The optical scanning device, wherein the driving unit rotates the second rotating unit. In the optical scanning device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 ,
2. An optical scanning device according to claim 1, wherein excitation of the drive unit is switched, and the drive unit is not excited except in a state where at least the optical member is displaced to adjust the optical axis of the laser beam. In the optical scanning device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 ,
The optical scanning device, wherein the driving unit is provided outside a housing of the optical scanning device. In the image forming apparatus,
An image forming apparatus comprising the optical scanning device according to claim 1 .

Images