JPH04145411A - Optical unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a light source body and a circuit board from being damaged by an external force by providing a housing, a fixture assembling a light emitting element and lens in one body in the housing and a fixing tool fixing a circuit board and a light source, and flexible substrate. CONSTITUTION:A light source body 112 is housed in a housing 111. A signal line 181 is connected to an electric circuit board 118. In the laser light emitting direction, the 1st CY lens 113 is arranged and a polygon scanner 114 attached to a scanner driver 141 is provided. The driver 141 is connected with one end of a signal line 142, with the other end of the line 142 being connected to a repeating connector 143. A signal is transmitted to the light source body 113 through a flexible substrate 181, etc., and laser light irradiates from a semiconductor laser in accordance with the signal. The laser light passes through an ftheta laser 115 after reflected by the scanner 114 and is reflected by a bending mirror 116. The reflected laser light irradiates a photosensitive drum 117 and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the drum 171. Since the light source body 112 is housed in the housing 111, the body 112 can be protected from any external force.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an optical unit installed in a laser printer, a laser facsimile, or the like.

(Prior Art) An optical unit according to Conventional Example 1 will be explained with reference to the drawings of FIGS. 16 to 19. This optical unit is installed in a laser printer.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 indicates a housing, and a light source body 2 is attached to a side plate 1a of the housing 1. The LD base 2a of the light source 2 is equipped with a semiconductor laser 18, and the cylindrical convex portion 2b includes a collimator lens 17.
is provided.

A round hole lb is formed in the side plate 1a of the housing 1, and the convex portion 2b of the light source body 2 is fitted into this round hole 1b from the outside.
Further, the LD base 2a is screwed to the side plate 1a, and the light source body 2 is attached to the side plate 1a of the housing 1.

A circuit board 7 for driving a semiconductor laser 18 is fixed to the back surface of the light source body 2 . Furthermore, a polygon scanner 4 and a lens 3 are housed within the housing 1.

In this optical unit, a laser beam is emitted from a semiconductor laser 18 as shown by a dashed line, and this laser beam passes through a collimator lens 17, is further reflected by a polygon scanner 4, passes through a lens 3, and is exposed to light (not shown). The body is irradiated, and an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoreceptor.

The connection structure of the PCB board and the signal line to the light source body 32 in the optical unit according to Conventional Example 2 will be explained with reference to the drawings of FIGS. 20 to 22.

This light source body 32 is attached to the side plate 1a of the housing 1 similar to the light source body 2 of the first conventional example. Therefore, since external force will be applied directly, it is necessary to strengthen the connection between the PCB board and the signal line.

Therefore, the structure is as explained below.

Reference numeral 19 indicates a flange body, and the collimator lens 17 is housed within this flange body 19.

An LD base 20 is attached to the back surface of this flange body 19 with screws 25 and 25. LD base 2
A hole 20a is formed in the LD mounting hole 20a, and a semiconductor laser 18 is fitted into the LD mounting hole 20a. Further, the semiconductor laser 18 is fixed by an LD holding plate 21 attached to the LD base 20 with screws 24 and 24.

A support post 28.28 is provided on the LD base 20, and a PCB board 30 is installed on the support post 28.28 and fixed with screws 29.29. Three terminals 18a of the semiconductor laser 18 are soldered to the conductor pattern on the PCB board 30. Furthermore, the PCB board 30
A connector 27 to which a signal line 31 is connected is connected to.

In this optical unit, the signal is transmitted through the signal line 31 and the connector 2.
7. The signal is transmitted to the terminal 18a of the semiconductor laser 18 via the conductor pattern of the PCB board 30, and in response to this signal, the semiconductor laser 18 emits laser light, which is irradiated through the collimator lens 17. .

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, the optical unit according to Conventional Example 1 has the following problems.

Since the light source body 2 and the circuit board 7 are attached to the outside of the side wall 1a from the housing 1 and are exposed from the housing 1, the light source body 2 is susceptible to external force and may be damaged.

Since the light source body 2 is attached to a location where it is easily subjected to external force, the mechanism for attaching the light source body 2 must be made strong, which makes the installation work complicated.

Since the circuit board 7 is attached to the back surface of the light source 2 in an exposed state, it is susceptible to electrical stress such as static electricity, which may cause the semiconductor laser 18 to deteriorate or the circuit board 7 to be damaged.

Since the light source body 2 is horizontally screwed onto the side plate 1a of the housing 1, workability is poor.

Screw the light source 211. ．． 11 to the side plate 1a, it is necessary to secure a portion for inserting the screw into the case body 2a.

Since the round hole 1b must be formed in the side plate 1a of the housing 1, the manufacturing process of the housing 1 becomes complicated and the manufacturing time becomes long. In particular, when the housing 1 is manufactured by molding, a pin for pulling out from the side is required in the molding die, which makes the structure of the mold complicated.

The optical unit of Conventional Example 2 has the following problems in addition to the problems of the optical unit of Conventional Example 1.

Since the PCB board 30 is attached to the LD base 20 via the support post 28, a space for providing the support post 28 is required on the LD base 20, which not only increases the size of the light source 32, but also makes it difficult to attach the PCB board 30 due to the structure. becomes more complex and the number of parts increases.

Since the signal line 31 is attached to the PCB board 30 via the connector 27, not only a space for the connector 27 is required, but also the structure for attaching the signal line becomes complicated and the number of parts increases.

(Means for Solving the Problems) The present invention has been made to solve the above conventional problems, and the optical unit described at the top of the claim has a housing, a light emitting element, and a lens assembled together. A light source body configured as a light source is housed in the housing.

The optical unit according to a second aspect of the present invention includes: a housing, a light source body configured by integrally assembling a light emitting element and a lens and housed in the housing; and a light source body connected to the light emitting element and housed in the housing. It has a circuit board.

The optical unit according to claim 3 includes a housing.

The light source body includes a light source body that is configured by integrally assembling a light emitting element and a lens and is housed in the housing, and a fixture for fixing the light source body that can be attached from above the housing. be.

The optical unit according to a fourth aspect of the present invention includes a light source body which is configured by integrally assembling a housing, a light emitting element and a lens and is housed in the housing, and a light source body which is directly soldered to the light emitting element and is placed in the housing. and a flexible substrate housed therein.

(Function) According to the invention of claim 1, since the light source body is housed in the housing, even if an external force is applied to the housing, the light source body is hardly affected by the external force.

According to the invention of claim 2, since the light source body and the circuit board connected to the light emitting element are housed in the housing, even if an external force is applied to the housing, the light source body and the circuit board receive almost no impact from the external force. I won't receive it. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent the circuit board from receiving electrical stress such as static electricity.

According to the third aspect of the invention, since the light source body is fixed by a fixture that can be attached from above the housing, the light source body can be attached to the housing by operating from above the housing.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, since the flexible substrate is directly soldered to the light emitting element, the number of parts can be reduced compared to conventional optical units, and the light source can be made smaller.

(Example) Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

The optical units described below are all installed in a laser printer.

A first embodiment according to claim 1 will be explained with reference to the drawings of FIGS. 1 to 3.

In the same figure, reference numeral 111 indicates a housing, and this housing 111 includes a light source body 112 having a semiconductor laser.
is stored. A signal line 181 is connected to the light source body 112, and this signal line 181 is connected to the electric circuit board 118. In the laser beam irradiation direction of the light source 112, there is a first
A CY lens 113 is arranged, and a polygon scanner 114 is also provided. The polygon scanner 114 is attached to a polygon scanner driver 141.

This polygon scanner driver 141 has a signal line 142.
One end of the signal 142 is attached, and the other end of the signal 142 is connected to a relay connector 143. Electric circuit board 118
A signal line 182 is connected to, and this signal line 182 is connected to a relay connector 183.

Reference numeral 115 indicates an fθ lens, and this fθ lens 115
is arranged in the reflection direction of the polygon scanner 114. Furthermore, a bending mirror 116 is arranged within the housing 111.

In this optical unit, a signal is transmitted to the light source body 112 via the flexible substrate 181 etc., and according to this signal, a laser beam indicated by a dashed line is irradiated from a semiconductor laser, and this laser beam is reflected by the polygon scanner 114. The light passes through the fθ lens 115, is reflected by the bending mirror 116, and is irradiated onto the photoreceptor drum 117, forming an electrostatic latent image on the photoreceptor tram 117.

In this optical unit, the light source 112 is connected to the housing 11.
1, it is possible to prevent external force from being applied to the light source body 112. Furthermore, since the housing 111 is provided with a polygon scanner driver 141 for driving the polygon scanner 114, etc., there is an advantage that the structure of the optical unit is simplified.

A second embodiment according to the invention of claim 1 will be explained with reference to the drawing of FIG.

In the figure, reference numeral 41 indicates a housing, and inside this housing 41, a light source 42, a polygon scanner 44,
A lens 43 is housed and fixed to the housing 41. The light source body 42 includes a semiconductor laser 42 as a light emitting element.
A and a collimator lens 42b are provided. A signal line 46 is connected to the terminal of the semiconductor laser 42a, and this signal line 46 is connected to a relay connector 48 attached to the side plate 41a. This relay connector 48 is connected to an external circuit that operates the semiconductor laser 4.2a.

In this optical unit, a signal from an external circuit is transmitted to the laser diode 42a via the relay connector 48 and further through the signal line 46, and according to this signal, the semiconductor laser 42 emits laser light, and this laser light passes through the collimator lens 42b. - As shown by the dotted chain line, the light is irradiated toward the polygon scanner 44, reflected by the polygon scanner 44 toward the lens 43, passed through the lens 43, and irradiated onto a photoreceptor (not shown), where it remains static. A latent image is formed.

A first embodiment according to the invention of claim 2 will be described with reference to the drawing in FIG. 5, and a second embodiment will be explained with reference to the drawing in FIG. 6.

The optical units shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 have substantially the same structure as the optical unit shown in FIG. 4, so only the differences will be explained, and the same members are the same as those in FIG. , and the explanation thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 47 indicates a circuit board, and this circuit board 47 is attached to the back surface of the light source body 42 and housed in the housing 41.

In FIG. 6, reference numeral 57 indicates a circuit board, and this circuit board 57 is attached to the bottom part 41e of the housing 41. Since the circuit boards 47 and 57 are both housed in the housing 41, the impact caused by external force I almost never receive it. Therefore, unlike the case where the circuit board is provided outside the housing 41, there is no need to firmly fix the circuit board, and a simple fixing structure can be achieved. Furthermore, half 4 body laser 4
2a and the circuit board 47, 57 are arranged close to each other, resistance to electrical noise is increased.

FIGS. 7 to 9 regarding the embodiment according to the invention of claim 3.
This will be explained with reference to the drawings in the figures.

Reference numeral 59 denotes a support stand, and this support stand 59 is a bottom part 61e of a housing having the same structure as the housing 41 shown in FIG.
and is housed within the housing. Support stand 5
A semicircular recess 53 is formed on the upper surface of the recess 5.
Screw holes 59a, 59a are formed on both sides of 3.

Note that the recess 53 may be U-shaped or 7-shaped in addition to the semicircular shape described above.

Reference numeral 62 indicates a light source body, and an LD base 62e of this light source body 62 is provided with a semiconductor laser 62a. The light source body 62 has a cylindrical convex portion 62d.
A collimator lens 62b is housed within 2d.

A round hole 55 is formed in the circumferential surface of the convex portion 62d.

Reference numeral 50 indicates a fixture, and this fixture 50 is attached to the central portion 50.
a is formed in an arc shape. This arc-shaped central portion 50
A is formed with a protrusion 54 projecting downward, and both ends 50
Holes 50c, 50c are formed in b, 50b.

The work of fixing the light source body 62 to the support stand 59 will be explained.

Fit the convex part 62d of the light source 62 into the concave part 53 of the support base 59 from above the housing, then install the fixture 5o on the support base 59, and fit the protrusion 54 of the fixture 5o into the round hole 55 of the convex part 62d. , press the convex portion 62d, and then tighten the screw 11.
11 through the holes 50c, 50c of the fixture 50, and attach them to the screw holes 59a, 59a, and attach the light source 62 to the support base 5.
9 and placed in the housing. Such work is performed from above the housing.

The first embodiment according to the invention of claim 4 is shown in FIGS.
The second embodiment is shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 according to the drawings in FIG.
This will be explained with reference to the drawings in the figures.

10 to 12, reference numeral 82 indicates a light source body, and this light source body 82 is housed in a housing having the same structure as the housing 41 shown in FIG. 4. Reference numeral 79 indicates a flange body, and the lens housing hole 7 of this flange body 79
A collimator lens 77 is provided within 9a.

The LD base 70 is attached to the back of the flange body 79 with screws 75.
．． 75. LD base 70 LD
For attachment, a semiconductor laser 78 is fitted into the hole 70a. Reference numeral 71 indicates an LD holding plate, and this LD holding plate 71 is attached to the LD base 70 with screws 74 and 74 to prevent the semiconductor laser 78 from falling off. A terminal penetration hole 71a is formed in the LD holding plate 71, a terminal 78a of the semiconductor laser 78 is inserted into the terminal penetration hole 71a, and the tip of the terminal 78a protrudes from the upper surface of the LD holding plate 71.

Reference numeral 72 indicates a flexible substrate, and this flexible substrate 72 is also accommodated within the housing. The tip of the terminal 78a of the semiconductor laser 78 penetrates the flexible substrate 72, and the tip of the terminal 78a penetrates the flexible substrate 72.
It is soldered to the second conductor pattern.

In this optical unit, a signal is directly transmitted from the flexible substrate 73 to the terminal 78a, and the semiconductor laser 78 is activated.

The numbers shown in Figures 13 to 15 are used in Figures 10 to 1.
The same reference numerals as those shown in FIG. 2 indicate the same members, and explanations of these members will be omitted.

For mounting the LD on the LD base 80, the semiconductor laser 78 is fitted into the hole 80a, and the screw 74.
A retainer plate 81 attached by 74 prevents it from falling off. A terminal penetration hole 81a is formed in the holding plate 81, and the terminal 78a of the semiconductor laser 78 projects from the upper surface of the holding plate 81 through the terminal penetration hole 81a.

Step portions 80b, 80b are formed on the LD base 80, and a reinforcing plate 86 is adhesively fixed to the step portions 80b, 80b. A through hole is formed in the reinforcing plate 86, and the terminal 78a passes through this through hole, and the tip of the terminal 78a protrudes from the upper surface of the reinforcing plate 86. A flexible substrate 72 is bonded onto the reinforcing plate 86. The tip of the terminal 78a of the semiconductor laser 78 is connected to the flexible substrate 72.
The tip of the terminal 78a is soldered to the conductor pattern of the flexible substrate 72.

Although the above embodiment shows an optical unit mounted on a laser printer, the present invention is not limited thereto and can also be applied to an optical unit mounted on a laser facsimile.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the invention of claims 1, 2.3.4, since the light source body is housed in the housing, it is possible to prevent the light source body from being damaged by external force. Become.

Furthermore, since the light source body is hardly affected by external force, when the light source body is attached to the side plate of the housing, there is no need to make the attachment firm.

Therefore, the installation work can be simplified.

Furthermore, since the light source is not attached to the side plate of the housing,
There is no need to provide a hole for screwing in the light source body, and the light source body can be made smaller.

Since there is no need to form a hole in the side plate of the housing for attaching the light source, the manufacturing process of the housing is simplified and the manufacturing time of the housing is shortened. When the housing is manufactured by molding, there is no need to provide a pin for pulling out from the side in the molding die, so the structure of the mold can be simplified.

According to the invention of claim 2.4, since the circuit board is housed in the housing, it is possible to prevent the circuit board from being damaged by external force.

Further, the circuit board can be prevented from being subjected to electrical stress such as static electricity. Therefore, the semiconductor laser may deteriorate or
There is no risk of damage to the circuit board.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the light source can be attached from above the housing.

Therefore, work efficiency can be improved.

According to the invention of claim 4, the structure for connecting the light emitting element of the light source body to the substrate and the signal line can be simplified, and the number of parts can also be reduced.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an optical unit according to a first embodiment of the invention of claim 1, FIG. 2 is a side view of the same, and FIG. 3 is a front view of the same.
FIG. 4 is a plan view of the optical unit according to the second embodiment of the invention of claim 1, FIG. 5 is a plan view of the optical unit according to the first embodiment of the invention of claim 2, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a plan view of the optical unit according to the second embodiment; FIG. 7 is a front view of a fixing structure for a light source provided in the optical unit according to the embodiment of the invention; 9 is a sectional view of the same, FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view of the light source provided in the optical unit according to the first embodiment of the invention of claim 4, FIG. 11 is a rear view of the same, and FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the same. 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a part showing the attachment of a light source body and a substrate provided in an optical unit according to a second embodiment of the invention of claim 4, FIG. 14 is a rear view of the same, and FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the same. 16 is a plan view of the conventional optical unit, FIG. 17 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 16, FIG. 18 is a front view of the same, FIG. 19 is a side view of the same, and FIG. 20 is a conventional optical unit. The attachment of the light source body, the substrate, and the signal line provided in the optical unit according to the example is shown in the vertical cross-sectional view of the part.
1 is a rear view of the same, and FIG. 22 is a cross-sectional view of the same. 41.111...Housing 42.112...Light source body 42a, 62a, 78...Semiconductor laser 42b, 62
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Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. An optical unit in which a light source body, which is constructed by integrally assembling a housing, a light emitting element, and a lens, is accommodated in the housing. 2. It has a housing, a light source body configured by integrally assembling a light emitting element and a lens and housed in the housing, and a circuit board connected to the light emitting element and housed in the housing. optical unit. 3. An optical system comprising a housing, a light source body which is configured by integrally assembling a light emitting element and a lens and housed in the housing, and a fixture for fixing the light source body that can be attached from above the housing. unit. 4. A housing, a light source body configured by integrally assembling a light emitting element and a lens and housed in the housing, and a flexible board directly soldered to the light emitting element and housed in the housing. Optical unit with.