KR20040025520A - Laser scanning unit assembly and laser printer having the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A laser scan unit assembly and a laser printer having the same are provided to allow plural laser beams radiated from plural laser scan units to be focused in parallel to a photosensitive member. CONSTITUTION: A laser scan unit assembly includes a laser scan unit(10), a hinge section, and an adjusting section(30). The laser scan unit(10) radiates a laser beam and includes a case having a laser source, collimate lens, a cylinder lens, a poly-mirror, and a reflective mirror therein. An output window(11) is formed at the front surface of the laser scan unit(10) for radiating the laser beam. The hinge section allows the laser scan unit(10) to rotate with respect to a printer body(40). The hinge section is positioned at a side of the laser scan unit(10). A rotational center shaft of the hinge section is aligned in line with the laser beam radiated through the output window(11).

Description

LASER SCANNING UNIT AND LASER PRINTER WITH THE SAME

The present invention relates to a laser printer that scans a plurality of laser beams to form an image, and more particularly, a laser scan unit which can adjust a plurality of laser beams scanned by a plurality of laser scan units to be scanned on a photosensitive member in parallel with each other. An assembly and a laser printer using the same.

In general, a laser printer forms an image on a photosensitive member using a laser beam output from a laser scanning unit, and then transfers the image onto a paper to perform a predetermined printing. Certain types of laser printers, such as laser color printers, output a plurality of laser beams from a plurality of laser scanning units to form an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member. At this time, since the plurality of laser scan units are installed in parallel to each other at a predetermined interval, the laser beams scanned from the laser scan unit are imaged on the photosensitive member in parallel at a predetermined interval to form an electrostatic latent image. Subsequently, the laser printer develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member with a developer, transfers the developed image onto paper, and performs printing.

However, a laser printer using such a plurality of laser scanning units has a laser that is scanned from each laser scanning unit due to processing tolerances of the components constituting the laser scanning unit or assembly errors generated when assembling each laser scanning unit. It happens that the beams are not parallel to each other. If the plurality of laser beams are not formed in parallel with the photosensitive member, the position of each color is shifted and the print quality is poor.

In order to solve such a problem, conventionally, a laser scan unit assembly has been devised to adjust the angle of a reflection mirror reflecting a laser beam scanned from a laser scan unit so that a plurality of laser beams formed on the photoreceptor become parallel. However, since the reflective mirror is inside the laser scan unit, such a scan unit assembly generally includes a motor for adjusting the angle of the reflective mirror. The motor is controlled by the controller to adjust the angle of the reflection mirror so that the laser beams are imaged on the photoreceptor in parallel with each other.

However, the laser scan unit assembly for adjusting the reflection mirror using the motor as described above has the following problems.

First, since the motor is installed inside the laser scan unit, the internal temperature of the laser scan unit rises as the temperature of the motor increases during long time use, thereby shortening the life of the laser scan unit.

Secondly, since the motor and the motor control unit are additionally required, the manufacturing cost increases.

Third, the size of the laser printer is increased because a separate space for mounting the motor control unit is required.

Therefore, there has been a need for an invention for a laser scan unit assembly that can be adjusted such that a plurality of laser beams are imaged on the photoconductor in parallel to each other without using a motor.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object thereof is to provide a laser scan unit assembly which can be adjusted so that a plurality of laser beams output from a plurality of laser scan units are manually formed in parallel to a photoreceptor.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a laser printer having a laser scan unit assembly capable of manually adjusting a plurality of laser beams formed on a photosensitive member in parallel.

1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a laser scan unit assembly according to the present invention,

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the laser scan unit assembly of Figure 1 assembled in the printer body,

Figure 3 is a side view showing a state in which the elastic member is installed in the hinge portion of FIG.

4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the guide ring is assembled to the screw of FIG.

Figure 5 is a side cross-sectional view showing a state in which the pressing means is installed in the control unit of FIG.

6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which two laser scan unit assemblies of FIG. 1 are assembled to a printer main body;

7 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a laser scan unit assembly according to a second embodiment of the present invention is assembled to a printer body;

8 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a laser scan unit assembly according to a third embodiment of the present invention is assembled to a printer body;

9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the laser scan unit assembly according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention is assembled to a printer main body.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

One; Laser beam 10; Laser scanning unit

11; Output window 20; Hinge

21; Hinge axis 22; Center of rotation of the hinge

25; Hinge support 26; Support groove

30,30 '; Control unit 31; First adjusting means

32,32 '; Second adjusting means, screw 35; Guide ring

40,41; A printer body 50; Elastic member

60; Pressing means 61; A guide rod

62; Spring 64; Fixture

70; Control unit 71; Nut part

72; Screw 73; Guide ring

75; Second adjusting means 80; Hinge

81; Support groove 85; Hinge shaft

An object of the present invention as described above, the laser scanning unit having an output window for outputting a laser beam on the front; A hinge part provided on one side of the laser scanning unit and configured to be rotatably mounted to the printer main body; And an adjusting unit provided on an opposite side of the laser scanning unit provided with the hinge and adjusting the rotation amount of the laser scanning unit. Here, the main body is characterized in that the hinge supporting portion for supporting the rotation of the hinge portion.

At this time, the hinge portion is formed of a hinge shaft, the hinge support portion is preferably formed of a support groove for supporting the hinge shaft. In addition, the hinge support portion preferably further includes an elastic member for pressing the hinge shaft against the support groove.

Alternatively, the hinge portion may be formed as a support groove, and the hinge support portion may be formed as a hinge shaft for supporting the support groove.

In addition, the control unit is characterized in that it comprises a first adjusting means provided on the opposite side of the laser scanning unit and the second adjusting means provided on the main body. At this time, it is preferable that the first adjusting means is an inclined surface, the second adjusting means is a screw, or the first adjusting means is a screw, and the second adjusting means is an inclined surface.

And, it is preferable that the guide ring is further assembled to the end of the screw in contact with the inclined surface.

In addition, the control unit preferably further comprises a pressing means for pressing the first adjusting means against the second adjusting means.

As still another aspect of the present invention, an object of the present invention as described above includes: a photosensitive member in which an image is formed by a plurality of laser beams; A developing apparatus for developing an image formed on the photosensitive member and transferring the image to paper; A paper transfer device for transferring the paper to a developing device; And a laser scan unit having an output window for outputting a laser beam to the photosensitive member, a hinge portion provided on one side of the laser scan unit, and configured to rotatably mount the laser scan unit to the main body of the printer. It is provided on the opposite side of the provided laser scanning unit, a plurality of laser scan unit assembly including an adjusting unit for adjusting the amount of rotation of the laser scanning unit; characterized in that it comprises a, wherein the adjusting unit adjusts the plurality of laser beam spacing It is achieved by providing a laser printer characterized in that.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail an embodiment of a laser scanning unit assembly according to the present invention.

1 to 2, the laser scan unit assembly according to the first embodiment includes a laser scan unit 10, a hinge unit 20, and an adjusting unit 30.

The laser scanning unit 10 is a device that scans the laser beam 1, and a laser light source, collimator, cylinder lens, polymirror, fexeta lens, reflector, etc. required to scan the laser beam 1 It is a unit in a case. An output window 11 through which the laser beam 1 is output is provided on the front surface of the laser scanning unit 10.

The hinge portion 20 allows the laser scan unit 10 to rotate relative to the main body 40 of the printer, and is provided on one side of the laser scan unit 10. That is, when the portion having the output window 11 is the front surface of the laser scanning unit 10, the hinge portion 20 is one side 13 of the left and right side surfaces 13, 14 of the laser scanning unit 10. To be prepared. Hinge portion 20 is preferably formed as a hinge shaft 21 as shown in FIG. At this time, it is preferable that the laser beam 1 emitted from the rotational central axis 22 of the hinge portion 20 and the output window 11 be on the same plane. In addition, a hinge support portion 25 is formed at a position corresponding to the hinge portion 20 in the main body 40 of the printer on which the laser scan unit assembly is mounted. The hinge support portion 25 is formed as a support groove 26 that can support the hinge portion 20 in the shape of a hinge shaft 21. At this time, the support groove 26 is preferably formed as a V-shaped groove. In addition, it is preferable to press the hinge shaft 21 with the elastic member 50 as shown in FIG. 3 so that the hinge shaft 21 and the support groove 26 are always in contact. At this time, the elastic member 50 may be formed of a metal plate having a certain elasticity, it is fixed to the hinge support portion 25 by a plurality of screws (51). Here, the elasticity of the elastic member 50 is within the range in which the laser scan unit 10 can freely rotate up and down by the adjusting unit 30 while maintaining the hinge shaft 21 in contact with the support groove 26. Is determined.

The adjusting unit 30 adjusts the amount of rotation of the laser scanning unit 10 about the hinge unit 20, and is opposite to the side surface 13 on which the hinge unit 20 of the laser scanning unit 10 is formed. (14) is provided. The adjusting part 30 is composed of a first adjusting means 31 installed in the laser scanning unit 10 and a second adjusting means 32 installed in the main body 41 of the printer. At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, the first adjusting means 31 is formed of the inclined surface 31a, and the second adjusting means 32 is preferably formed of a screw that moves forward and backward with respect to the inclined surface 31a. Then, when the screw 32 is advanced (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2), the laser scan unit 10 rotates upwardly about the hinge portion 20. When the screw 32 is retracted (FIG. 2 is opposite to the arrow), the laser scanning unit 10 rotates downward about the hinge portion 20. At this time, in order to facilitate contact between the screw 32 and the inclined surface 31a, it is preferable to assemble the guide ring 35 at the end portion 32a of the screw as shown in FIG. In addition, it is further included a pressing means for pressing the first adjusting means 31 at a constant pressure against the second adjusting means 32 in order to ensure the vertical rotation of the laser scanning unit 10 by the screw 32. desirable. An example of such a pressing means is shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 5, the pressurizing means 60 includes a guide rod 61 fixed to the fixing part 64, and a spring 62 interposed between the first adjusting means 31 and the guide rod 61. do. Here, the fixing part 64 guides the linear movement of the screw 32 and is installed in the printer main body 41 so as to fix the guide rod 61. Therefore, the first adjusting means 31 is always 2, the end portion 32a of the screw 32, which is the adjusting means, is pressed at a constant pressure.

Referring to the operation of the laser scan unit assembly having the configuration as described above are as follows.

When the second adjusting means of the adjusting part 30, that is, the screw 32 is turned to move the end 32a of the screw forward (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2), the inclined surface 31a of the first adjusting means 31 causes the laser to The scan unit 10 rotates upwardly about the hinge shaft 21. On the contrary, when the end 32a of the screw is turned backward by turning the screw 32, the laser scanning unit 10 is pivoted downward about the hinge axis 21 by the inclined surface 31a.

If two laser scan unit assemblies are mounted on the printer main body as shown in FIG. It can be adjusted so that the laser beam output from the parallel. That is, by turning the second adjusting means 32 and 32 'of each laser scan unit assembly, the laser scan units 10 and 10' are pivoted up and down about the hinge portions 21 and 21 '. The beams may be adjusted to form images parallel to each other on a photoreceptor (not shown).

A second embodiment of a laser scan unit assembly according to the invention is shown in FIG. 7. Referring to FIG. 7, the laser scan unit assembly according to the second embodiment includes a laser scan unit 10, a hinge unit 20, and an adjusting unit 70.

The laser scanning unit 10 is a device for outputting a laser beam and is the same as the first embodiment, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The hinge portion 20 allows the laser scan unit 10 to rotate relative to the main body 40 of the printer, and is provided on one side of the laser scan unit 10. Since the structure of the hinge part 20 is also the same as 1st Embodiment, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

The adjusting unit 70 adjusts the amount of rotation of the laser scanning unit 10 about the hinge unit 20, and is opposite to the side surface 13 on which the hinge unit 20 of the laser scanning unit 10 is formed. (14) is provided. The adjusting unit 70 is composed of a first adjusting means installed on the laser scanning unit 10 and a second adjusting means 75 installed on the main body 41 of the printer. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, the first adjusting means is formed of a screw 72, and the second adjusting means 75 is formed of an inclined surface 75a. The screw 72 is assembled to the nut part 71 installed in the laser scan unit 10 so that the straight motion can be performed. The inclined surface 75a is inclined in the direction in which the laser scanning unit 10 rises when the screw 72 moves forward (in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 7), and is fixed to the main body 41 of the printer. Therefore, when the screw 72 is rotated forward, the laser scan unit 10 is turned upward by the inclined surface 75a of the second adjusting means. When the screw 72 is rotated in the opposite direction to reverse the screw 72 (the direction opposite to the arrow in FIG. 7), the laser scan unit 10 pivots downward according to the inclined surface 75a of the second adjusting means. At this time, in order to facilitate contact between the end portion 72a of the screw and the inclined surface 75a as described in the first embodiment, the guide ring 73 can be assembled to the end portion 72a of the screw, and the screw 72 In order to ensure the vertical rotation of the laser scanning unit 10 by a) may further include a pressing means for pressing the first adjusting means at a constant pressure against the second adjusting means (75).

A third embodiment of a laser scan unit assembly according to the invention is shown in FIG. 8. Referring to FIG. 8, the laser scan unit assembly according to the third embodiment includes a laser scan unit 10, a hinge unit 80, and an adjusting unit 30.

The laser scanning unit 10 is a device for outputting a laser beam and is the same as the first embodiment, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The hinge portion 80 allows the laser scan unit 10 to rotate relative to the main body 40 of the printer, and is provided on one side 13 of the laser scan unit 10. Hinge 80 is formed as a support groove 81 as shown in FIG. At this time, the support groove 81 is preferably formed as a V-shaped groove. The hinge support portion 85 is formed at a position corresponding to the hinge portion 80 of the main body 40 of the printer on which the laser scan unit assembly is mounted. The hinge support part 85 is formed in a hinge shaft shape capable of supporting the hinge part 80 having a support groove 81 shape. In addition, as in the first embodiment, an elastic member for pressing the support groove 81 to the hinge shaft 85 may be provided so that the support groove 81 of the hinge portion 80 is always in contact with the hinge shaft 85. have.

The adjusting unit 30 adjusts the amount of rotation of the laser scanning unit 10 about the hinge unit 80, and is opposite to the side surface 13 on which the hinge unit 80 of the laser scanning unit 10 is formed. (14) is provided. Since the adjusting unit 30 is the same as the adjusting unit of the laser scanning unit of the first embodiment described above, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Therefore, even in this embodiment, the laser scan unit 10 rotates upward when the screw 32 of the adjusting unit 30 is rotated forward, and the laser scan unit 10 is downward when the screw 32 is reversed. Since it rotates to be able to adjust the parallelism between the laser beams.

9 shows a fourth embodiment of a laser scan unit assembly according to the invention. Referring to FIG. 9, the laser scan unit assembly according to the fourth embodiment includes a laser scan unit 10, a hinge 80, and an adjusting unit 70.

The laser scanning unit 10 is a device for outputting a laser beam and is the same as the first embodiment, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The hinge portion 80 allows the laser scan unit 10 to rotate relative to the main body 40 of the printer, and is provided on one side 13 of the laser scan unit 10. Since the structure of the hinge part 80 is the same as that of 3rd Embodiment, detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

The adjusting unit 70 adjusts the amount of rotation of the laser scanning unit 10 about the hinge unit 80, and is opposite to the side surface 13 on which the hinge unit 80 of the laser scanning unit 10 is formed. (14) is provided. Since the adjusting unit 70 is the same as the adjusting unit of the laser scanning unit of the second embodiment described above, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Therefore, even in this embodiment, the laser scan unit 10 is rotated upward when the screw 72 of the adjusting unit 70 is rotated forward, and the laser scan unit 10 is downward when the screw 72 is reversed. Since it rotates to be able to adjust the parallelism between the laser beams.

According to the laser scan unit assembly according to the present invention as described above, it can be adjusted so that the plurality of laser beams are imaged on the photosensitive member in parallel with each other by manually turning the adjusting unit. Therefore, since there is no need to install a motor inside the laser scan unit, the life of the laser scan unit is not shortened as the temperature of the motor rises, the manufacturing cost does not increase, and a separate space for mounting the motor control unit is required. There is an advantage in that the size of the laser printer can be made smaller.

As described above, according to the laser scanning unit according to the present invention, it is possible to manually adjust the plurality of laser beams output from the plurality of laser scanning units to form an image parallel to the photosensitive member.

In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a laser printer having a laser scanning unit assembly capable of manually adjusting a plurality of laser beams formed in the photosensitive member in parallel.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described specific embodiments, and various modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the gist of the invention as claimed in the claims. Such changes will fall within the scope of the claims

Claims (20)

In the laser scanning unit assembly mounted on the printer body, A laser scanning unit having an output window at which a laser beam is output on a front surface thereof; A hinge part provided on one side of the laser scan unit and configured to be rotatably mounted to the main body of the laser scan unit; And And a control unit provided at an opposite side of the laser scan unit provided with the hinge unit and configured to adjust the rotation amount of the laser scan unit. The laser scanning unit assembly of claim 1, wherein the main body is provided with a hinge support part for supporting rotation of the hinge part. The laser scan unit assembly of claim 2, wherein the hinge portion is formed by a hinge shaft, and the hinge support portion is formed by a supporting groove supporting the hinge shaft. 4. The laser scanning unit assembly of claim 3, wherein the hinge support portion further comprises an elastic member for pressing the hinge shaft against the support groove. The laser scan unit assembly of claim 2, wherein the hinge portion is formed as a support groove, and the hinge support portion is formed as a hinge shaft for supporting the support groove. The laser scan unit assembly of claim 1, wherein the control unit comprises a first adjusting means provided on an opposite side of the laser scanning unit and a second adjusting means provided on the main body. 7. The laser scan unit assembly of claim 6, wherein the first adjusting means is an inclined surface and the second adjusting means is a screw. 7. The laser scan unit assembly of claim 6, wherein the first adjusting means is a screw and the second adjusting means is an inclined surface. The laser scanning unit assembly of claim 7, wherein a guide ring is further assembled at an end of the screw in contact with the inclined surface. 7. The laser scanning unit of claim 6, wherein the adjusting unit further comprises pressing means for pressing the first adjusting means against the second adjusting means. In a laser printer which forms an image using a plurality of laser beams, A photosensitive member on which an image is formed by the plurality of laser beams; A developing device for developing and transferring the image formed on the photosensitive member onto paper; A paper transfer device for transferring the paper to the developing device; And A laser scan unit having an output window for outputting a laser beam to the photosensitive member, a hinge portion provided at one side of the laser scan unit, and configured to be rotatably mounted to the main body of the printer; And a plurality of laser scan unit assemblies provided on opposite sides of the laser scan unit provided with the hinge and including an adjusting unit to adjust the rotation amount of the laser scan unit. The laser printer, characterized in that for adjusting the interval of the plurality of laser beams with the adjustment unit. 12. The laser printer according to claim 11, wherein the main body of the printer is provided with a hinge support part for supporting rotation of the hinge part. The laser printer according to claim 12, wherein the hinge portion is formed by a hinge shaft, and the hinge support portion is formed by a support groove supporting the hinge shaft. The laser printer of claim 13, wherein the hinge support part further comprises an elastic member for pressing the hinge shaft against the support groove. The laser printer according to claim 12, wherein the hinge portion is formed as a support groove, and the hinge support portion is formed as a hinge shaft for supporting the support groove. 12. The laser printer according to claim 11, wherein the adjusting part comprises a first adjusting means provided on an opposite side of the laser scanning unit and a second adjusting means provided on the main body. The laser printer according to claim 16, wherein the first adjusting means is an inclined surface, and the second adjusting means is a screw. The laser printer according to claim 16, wherein the first adjusting means is a screw, and the second adjusting means is an inclined surface. 19. The laser printer according to any one of claims 17 and 18, wherein a guide ring is further assembled at an end of the screw in contact with the inclined surface. 17. The laser printer according to claim 16, wherein the adjusting unit further comprises pressing means for pressing the first adjusting means against the second adjusting means.