Burroughs, Inc.

George C Schafner

Richard C Fedder

Thomas Robson

William M Ward

Thomas F McMahon

Photo-optical reproducing, copying/printing apparatus wherein a solid state laser diode is caused to emit a divergent beam of light which is collected and collimated. A cylindrical multi-element lens shapes the beam first in a vertical and then in a second horizontal plane for impingement upon a rotating polygonal mirror assembly. A spherical multi-element lens thereafter focusses the laser beam as scanned by the rotating mirror assembly through a cylindrical lens assembly so as to scan across the surface of a photo receptor drum assembly horizontally, rotatably disposed adjacent to a cylindrical lens producing a latent image on the drum. The scanned image is then electrophotographically developed at the drum by first toning the image and thereafter causing the image to be transferred from the drum to a fuseable item such for example as paper which is adapted to pass across the surface of the drum in contact therewith. Each of the active elements of the photo-optical system is adjustable relative to the axis of the laser light beam permitting accurate, extremely high definition data output. The photo-optical system is also made as a modular assembly which is capable of being used with a number of different speeds of associated apparatus so that only the associated apparatus need be adapted, changed or reoriented to the basic photo-optical reproducing, copying/printing apparatus.

Optical scanning and imaging system utilizing laser diode

A self contained, demountable, unitary modular optical system for a Solid State Laser Diode Printer/Copier utilizes a folded light beam path whereby laser light is collimated through a compound four element collimating objective lens assembly, passed through a cylindrical lens focussing the beam to a horizontal line image onto the facets of a rotatable polygon mirror assembly. The beam is then passed through a cylindrical meniscus lens focussing the beam to a small dimension in the scanning or horizontal direction. A pair of cylindrical-spherical lenses with the corresponding centers of the cylindrical and spherical surfaces located near the facet of the polygon provide cross-scan focussing in the vertical direction as well as approximating a pair of toridal lenses. Horizontal and vertical spot size can thus be independently focussed.

Growing community of inventors

Orlando, FL, United States of America

George C Schafner