JPH1195138A - Light beam scanner and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To precisely fit a synchronous detector to a light beam operation device in a short time by providing a device with a fitting reference part for fitting the synchronous detector to a prescribed detecting position. SOLUTION: A substrate 9 is fitted to a frame body 10 so as to make the holes for fitting 84 and 85 of the substrate 9 coincide with screw holes 13 and 14 formed at the frame body 10. At the same time that a first fitting reference surface 11B is inserted in the notched part 86 of the substrate 9, the sensor 8 of the synchronous detector 80 is also inserted in an aperture part 111 and arranged so as to face in the incident direction of a light beam. After fixing screws 82 and 83 are made to pierce through the holes 84 and 85, the substrate 9 is fixed to the holes 13 and 14 by the screws 82 and 83 on a condition that it can be moved with respect to the frame body 10. When the detector 80 is moved in a main operating direction and the first fitting position decision part 87 of the substrate 9 is brought into contact with the reference part 11B, the incident light 8A of the light beam formed on the sensor 8 is arranged at the prescribed detecting position in the main operating direction. When the detector 80 is arranged at the prescribed detecting position, it is fixed to the frame body 10 by the screws 82 and 83 and precisely set.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a synchronous detector which is arranged on a scanning line when a light beam is scanned on a surface to be scanned by an optical deflector and detects the timing of the scanning for each scanning. The present invention relates to a light beam scanning device that can be mounted at an accurate position.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When recording a light beam emitted from a semiconductor laser light-emitting body as a light source on an image carrier using a rotating polygon mirror, an optical deflector such as an fθ lens, and a reflection mirror, scanning of the light beam is performed. Correct exposure is performed on the image carrier by providing a synchronous detector for detecting a scanning timing for each scanning on a scanning line for performing the scanning.

FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are an exploded perspective view showing an attached state of a synchronous detector provided in a conventional light beam scanning device, and a front view in which the attachment is completed.

As shown in FIG. 4A, a control component 81 for controlling a sensor 8A is attached to a substrate 9 of a synchronous detector 80 in order to have a sensor 8 and a substrate 9, and an opening of a frame 10 is provided. The substrate 9 is attached to the screw holes 13 and 14 of the frame 1 with screws 83 and 84 so that the synchronization detector 80 is arranged at 111.

FIG. 4B shows a state in which the substrate 9 is attached to the frame 10 with screw holes 13 and 14. First, the substrate 9 is temporarily fastened to the frame 10 together with the sensor 8 through the screw holes 13 and 14. Then, the adjustment is performed so that the sensor 8 as the detection unit of the synchronization detector 80 is accurately arranged at the AA line position where the scanning timing is detected for each scanning. In the adjustment method, the board 9 is fixed to the frame 10 with the screw holes 13 and 14 after the board 9 is moved to the right and left by the horizontal elongated holes 84 and 85 provided in the board 9 and adjusted.

[0006]

The sensor 8 of the synchronous detector 80 has a detection width of about 1 mm in the main scanning direction and a length of about 3 mm in the vertical direction in the sub-scanning direction. Therefore, in order to precisely arrange and fix the sensor 8 at a position to be detected every one scan in the main scanning direction, the substrate 9 is moved by using a jig or the like or irradiating the sensor 8 with light. After the sensor 8 is completely adjusted to the predetermined detection position, the screws 83 and 84 are used to screw the screw holes 13 and 1 of the frame 10.
4 and fixed.

Further, when assembling the light beam scanning device in the sub-scanning direction, it is necessary to adjust the reflection mirror so that the light beam in the sub-scanning direction is accurately incident on the sensor 8 due to an assembly error.

As described above, the operation of accurately attaching the synchronization detector 80 to the predetermined position of the frame 10 is a long-time assembling operation including the adjustment, which lowers the working efficiency in manufacturing the light beam scanning device. Therefore, there is a drawback that the manufacturing cost is increased.

The present invention has been specifically conceived to remedy the above disadvantages. That is, an object of the present invention is to enable accurate attachment of the synchronization detector to the frame without adjusting the synchronization detector to a predetermined detection position.

[0010]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a light beam scanning apparatus which deflects a light beam emitted from a light source and scans a surface to be scanned. In a light beam scanning device provided on a scanning line of a light beam and provided with a synchronization detector for detecting the timing of the scanning for each scanning, a part of the light beam scanning device includes the synchronization detection. An attachment reference portion for attaching the container to a predetermined detection position is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the light beam scanning device has a fixing means for fixing the synchronization detector at a predetermined detection position at a position where the synchronization detector is brought into contact with the mounting reference portion. It is assumed that.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the light beam scanning device, the synchronization detector includes a substrate and a sensor, and the mounting reference is attached to the substrate and / or the sensor to mount the synchronization detector at a predetermined detection position. And a mounting position determining unit that comes into contact with the unit.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the light beam scanning device, the mounting reference portion is provided with at least two positions for positioning the light beam in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction.
It is characterized by having been provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the light beam scanning device, a frame of the light beam scanning device is integrally formed with a resin together with the attachment reference portion.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus comprising:
A light beam scanning device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is provided.

[0016]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a light beam scanning apparatus 1 according to the present invention using a polygon detector 2 using a synchronous detector 80. FIG.

FIG. 1 shows the overall configuration of a light beam scanning device 1 in which a light beam emitted from a semiconductor laser light emitter 3 and converted into parallel light passes through a first cylindrical lens 4 of a first imaging optical system. The light beam deflected by the polygon mirror 2 rotating in the direction of the arrow and the fθ lens 5 is reflected on the surface of the photosensitive drum 12 by the reflection mirror 11 via the second cylindrical lens 6 of the second imaging optical system. The means for scanning and exposing in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction with the spot diameter are provided in the interior 1A of the frame 10 made of resin.

Further, in the light beam scanning device 1, in order to perform synchronization detection for each scan, the light beam before the start of main scanning is reflected by the reflecting mirror 7 arranged in the main scanning direction of the light beam. The reflected light is incident on a synchronous detector 80 composed of the substrate 9 and the sensor 8, and the synchronous timing is detected for performing the scanning by counting the number of beams from one incident beam.

FIGS. 2 (a), 2 (b) and 3 are exploded perspective views showing a synchronous detector 80 for receiving the light beam of FIG. 1 and a structure for attaching the synchronous detector 80 to a predetermined position of the frame 10. And an assembly drawing.

FIG. 2A shows a part of the frame 10 and the synchronization detector 80 in an exploded state.

First, on one side of the substrate 9, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, a sensor 8 provided with an incident hole 8A for receiving a vertically elongated light beam having a width of 1 mm and a length of 3 mm is fixed, and a control component 81 provided on the other side of the substrate 9. A synchronization detector 80 connected to the sensor 8 by a conducting wire or the like is configured.

Further, the first mounting position determining section 87 is provided on the substrate 9.
The first mounting position determining portion 87 is provided on a first mounting reference portion 11B (described in detail later) provided on a frame body 10 integrally formed of resin. Upon contact, the synchronous detector 80 is arranged at a predetermined detection position in the main scanning direction.

On the other hand, in order to dispose the synchronization detector 80 at a predetermined detection position in the main scanning direction, the first attachment reference portion 11B is integrally formed with the projection 1B integrally formed with the frame 10 by resin molding. I have.

Further, a U-shaped opening 11 for allowing a light beam to enter the sensor 8 of the synchronous detector 80 is provided in the frame 10.
1 is formed. In order to arrange the sensor 8 of the synchronization detector 80 at a predetermined detection position in the sub-scanning direction in the opening 111, a second attachment reference portion 11A is formed in a part of the opening 111. The synchronization detector 80 is arranged at a predetermined detection position in the sub-scanning direction by contacting the attachment reference portion 11A with the second attachment position determination portion 8B provided below the sensor 8.

Reference numerals 82 and 83 denote fixing screws for fixing the synchronous detector 80 composed of the substrate 9 and the sensor 8 to the frame 10. The fixing screws 8 and 83 are provided in mounting holes 84 and 85 provided in the substrate 9.
2 and 83, and screw holes 13 and 1 provided in the frame 10
At 4, the synchronization detector 80 is configured to be fixedly provided on the frame 10.

Next, the order of assembling the synchronous detector 80 at a predetermined detection position with respect to the frame 10 in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction will be described.

The substrate 9 is mounted on the frame 10 such that the mounting holes 84 and 85 of the substrate 9 substantially coincide with the screw holes 13 and 14 provided in the frame 10. At this time, the first attachment reference surface 11B is inserted into the cutout 86 of the substrate 9, and the sensor 8 of the synchronization detector 80 is also inserted into the opening 111 as shown in FIG. It is arranged facing.

Next, the fixing screws 82 and 83 are inserted into the mounting holes 8.
4 and 85, the substrate 9 is fixed to the screw holes 13 and 14 with fixing screws 82 and 83 so that the substrate 9 can be moved with respect to the frame 10.

Next, the synchronization detector 80 is moved in the main scanning direction indicated by the arrow shown in FIG. 2B, and the first mounting position determining portion 87 of the substrate 9 comes into contact with the first mounting reference portion 11B. 9 is a light beam entrance hole 8A formed in the sensor 8 through
Are arranged at predetermined detection positions in the main scanning direction.

Next, as shown in FIG.
Is moved downward in the sub-scanning direction in the opening 111, and the second mounting reference portion 11A and the second mounting position determining portion 8B of the sensor 8 are brought into contact with each other to form the sensor 8 at a predetermined detection position in the sub-scanning direction. A light beam entrance hole 8A is arranged.

As shown in FIG. 3, as means for arranging the sensor 8 of the synchronization detector 80 at a predetermined detection position in the main scanning direction, a part of the opening 111 is connected to the first attachment reference portion 11B. A corresponding mounting reference portion 111A is formed, and by contacting the mounting reference portion 111A with a mounting position determining portion 8C corresponding to a first mounting position determining portion 8B provided on the side of the sensor 8, the synchronization detector 80 is formed. Can be arranged at a predetermined detection position with respect to the main scanning direction.

As described above, when the synchronous detector 80 having the sensor 8 and the substrate 9 is disposed at a predetermined detection position with respect to the frame 10, the substrate 9 is then fixed by the fixing screws 82 and 83. , The incident hole 8A of the sensor 8 can be accurately set at the predetermined detection position.

As described above, the light beam scanning apparatus 1 in which the synchronization timing for scanning the light beam is accurately detected by the synchronization detector 80 assembled at the predetermined detection position is copied using an electrophotographic process. An extremely clear image can be obtained by a copier or an image forming apparatus such as a printer by using the exposure apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer.

[0034]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, an optical deflector for deflecting a light beam emitted from a light source to scan on a surface to be scanned and a scanning line of the light beam, wherein the scanning timing is set to one. In a light beam scanning device provided with a synchronization detector for detecting each scan, an attachment reference portion for attaching the synchronization detector to a predetermined detection position is provided in a part of the light beam scanning device. Thereby, when attaching the synchronous detector to the light beam scanning device, the synchronous detector can be accurately and quickly attached to the predetermined detection position from the attachment reference portion.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fixing means for fixing the synchronization detector at a predetermined detection position at a position where the synchronization detector is brought into contact with the mounting reference portion, so that the synchronization detector is attached to the mounting reference portion. By contacting the sync detector and fixing the sync detector to the light beam scanning device.
The timing for each scan can be fixed at an accurate position.

3. The mounting position according to claim 3, wherein the synchronization detector comprises a substrate and a sensor, and the substrate and / or the sensor come into contact with the mounting reference portion in order to mount the synchronization detector at a predetermined detection position. By providing a decision unit,
By bringing the mounting position determining unit provided on the substrate and / or the sensor into contact with the mounting reference unit, it is possible to arrange the synchronous detector at an accurate position of the predetermined detection position in a short time.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, at least two of the mounting reference portions are provided for positioning the light beam in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction.
The synchronous detector can be positioned and mounted in a short time at an accurate predetermined detection position in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, the frame of the light beam scanning device is integrally formed of resin together with the mounting reference portion, so that the frame of the light beam scanning device is integrally formed of resin. Therefore, the mounting reference portion can be accurately provided at a predetermined position of the frame body, and it is possible to manufacture a large amount at low cost.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, since the light beam scanning device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects is provided, when the light beam scanning device is used in an image forming apparatus, a predetermined detection is performed. The light beam scanning device 1 in which the synchronization timing for scanning the light beam is accurately detected by the synchronization detector assembled at the position is used in an exposure unit such as a copying machine using an electrophotographic process or a printer. And a very clear image can be obtained with a copying machine or a printer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a light beam scanning device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view and an assembled view showing a state where a synchronization detector is attached to a predetermined position of a frame of the light beam scanning device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which a synchronization detector is attached to a predetermined position of a frame of the light beam scanning device of the present invention.

4A and 4B are a perspective view and a front view showing a state in which a synchronous detector is attached to a frame of a conventional light beam scanning device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Light beam scanning device 1B Projection part 11A 2nd attachment reference part 11B 1st attachment reference part 8 Sensor 80 Synchronization detector 8B 2nd attachment position determination part 9 Substrate 10 Frame body 82,83 Fixing screw 87 First attachment position determination part 111 opening

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. An optical deflector for deflecting a light beam emitted from a light source and scanning on a surface to be scanned, and disposed on a scanning line of the light beam for detecting a timing of the scanning for each scanning. In a light beam scanning device provided with a synchronization detector, a light reference beam for mounting the synchronization detector at a predetermined detection position is provided in a part of the light beam scanning device. Scanning device. 2. A light beam scanning device according to claim 1, further comprising fixing means for fixing said synchronization detector at a predetermined detection position at a position where said synchronization detector is brought into contact with said attachment reference portion. . 3. The synchronous detector comprises a substrate and a sensor, and the substrate and / or the sensor are provided with a mounting position determining unit for making contact with the mounting reference unit in order to mount the synchronous detector at a predetermined detection position. 3. The light beam scanning device according to claim 2, wherein: 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least two mounting reference portions are provided for positioning the light beam in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction.
Or the light beam scanning device according to 3. 5. The light beam scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the frame of the light beam scanning device is integrally molded with a resin together with the mounting reference portion. 6. An image forming apparatus comprising the light beam scanning device according to claim 1. Description: