The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 21, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 10, 2000
Hiroaki Uchiyama, Kitakatsuragi-gun, JP;
Toshio Yamanaka, Yao, JP;
Ayumu Oda, Nara, JP;
Kyosuke Taka, Nara, JP;
Yoshikazu Harada, Nara, JP;
Norio Tomita, Yamatokoriyama, JP;
Nobuo Manabe, Yamatokoriyama, JP;
Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
An object of the invention is to reproduce a faithful image irrespective of thermal expansion of a light-scanning unit and to reproduce a faithful image without enhancing the strength of the light-scanning unit excessively. A pair of supporting portions of a light-scanning unit, each having a flat face, are supported in linear contact with a right column-shaped supporting member provided with the apparatus body. The light-scanning unit is provided on the supporting member near to a starting position where writing image data on a photosensitive body with a scanning line is started in a main scanning direction so as not to be mutually displaced relative to the supporting member. Thereby, the light-scanning unit is allowed to extend in the longitudinal direction of the supporting member due to thermal expansion of the light-scanning unit. Also, an elongated supporting member made of stainless steel penetrates a base body of a light-scanning unit made of synthetic resin which scans in scanning line of laser light on the photosensitive body to exposure, to support the light-scanning unit. The center of gravity of the light-scanning unit is positioned near to the supporting member and vertically below the supporting member, to make the moment acting on the light-scanning unit small and hold the light-scanning unit in a stable state. The supporting member suppresses deformation of the base body due to thermal expansion.