Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.

Katsuyuki Yanagisawa

Katsuhiko Nakaie

Tetsuya Sakamoto

Yoshiaki Haginoya

An optical device includes an optical component that reflects or shapes a light beam. In a particular embodiment, the optical device can include a bending moment generating structure that generates a bending moment in a supported portion of the optical component. The optical device can also include an adjusting mechanism that adjusts the bowing amount of the optical component by adjusting the bending moment of the bending moment generating structure.

Optical component bowing device, optical device, optical scanning device, and image forming apparatus

An optical component bowing device includes a bending moment generating structure. In a particular embodiment, the bending moment generating structure can have extension members that extend in a direction substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of an optical component. The extension members can be positioned adjacent longitudinal end portions of the optical component. The bending moment generating structure can also have loading members that load the extension members in a direction that is parallel to a longitudinal direction of the optical component, whereby displacement of the extension members can generate a bending moment in a supported portion of the optical component that reflects or shapes a light beam. The bending moment generating structure can also include a reflective surface. Extension members on at least one end of the optical component can be T-shaped when seen in plan view in a direction orthogonal to the reflective surface.

An optical component bowing device is configured to include a bending moment generating structure that generates a bending moment in a supported portion of an optical component that reflects or shapes a light beam.

An electrophotographic apparatus achieves miniaturization thereof and improvement of image quality. The shape of an optical scanning device mount frame mounting an optical scanning device is trapezoidal, and asymmetrical with respect to a center line thereof, and a short side part and a long side part are attached to a first and second frames of the apparatus, respectively. A space for attaching parts is available on the side of the first frame, and a driving device is placed inside the first frame so that the apparatus can be miniaturized. Since the optical scanning device mount frame is asymmetrical with respect to the center line thereof, as compared with one having a symmetrical shape, an eigenvalue of vibration can be shifted to a high frequency, and the mount frame is resistant to vibrate. Thus, the fluctuation of a light beam is suppressed, and the image quality can be improved.

Electrophotographic apparatus

A light scanning device includes: a light deflector deflecting and scanning light modulated by an image signal, and a member to which the light deflector is connected, wherein a portion of the member has an elastically deformable portion, a mass body is mounted to the elastically deformable portion, and a dynamic vibration absorber is formed by the elastically deformable portion and the mass body. Vibrations of the light scanning device can be reduced by the dynamic vibration absorber formed by the elastically deformable portion and the mass body. Image imperfections caused by the vibrations can be prevented.

Light scanning device

A raster scanner characterized in that at least one reflecting mirror is supported by a movable supporting mechanism in a manner capable of moving along an incident optical axis while being kept in a certain angle attitude or that an optical sub-frame provided with a beam generating means, a beam deflecting means and an imaging lens is supported by a movable supporting mechanism in a manner capable of moving along an output optical axis while being kept in a certain angle attitude to be able to avoid assuredly an occurrence of unbalance in image widths in the main scan direction at both ends of the image when length of optical path is adjusted. This invention also presupposes that the reflecting mirror is a cylindrical mirror. Angle adjusting performance of the cylindrical mirror is kept in good condition by rotating one end portion of the cylindrical mirror following to a rotation of the other end portion of the same centering on an axis parallel to a generating line of the cylindrical mirror. It also allows to correct inclination of the cylindrical mirror itself caused due to precision of the parts assuredly by minutely rotating one end portion of the cylindrical mirror while securing the other end portion of the same.

Raster scanner, mirror supporting structure of the same and method for

Disclosed is a reflection-mirror support structure in a raster scanner having at least one reflection mirror on a light path between a light source and a photosensitive body so that in repsonse to an image signal a beam is moved to perform scanning for every scanning line through a beam deflection means to thereby write a latent image corresponding to the image signal on the photosensitive body. The reflection-mirror support structure comprises a stopper member for restricting a lower end edge position of the reflection mirror, a support member for supporting the reflection mirror slantingly at a predetermined angle, a holder member for positioning the reflection mirror relative to the stopper and the supports and for holding the reflection mirror, and a vibration suppressing member for urging a substantially-central portion of an upper end edge of the reflection mirror against the stopper, whereby the vibration of the reflection mirror is surely suppressed while keeping the surface flatness of the reflection mirror well so that the beam scanning position on the photosensitive body is made so as not to be displaced to thereby maintain the good printing quality.

Growing community of inventors

Saitama, Japan

Katsuyuki Yanagisawa