# US 10,120,299 B2 · Light scanning device with lens holder and image forming apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,120,299 B2 - Document ID: US10120299B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/604,171 - Filed: 2017-05-24 - Published: 2017-11-30 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-25 - Assignees: S-Printing Solution Co., Ltd. - Applicants: S-Printing Solution Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Heon-hee Lim; Han-sung Lee; Jin-kwon Chun; Sung-dae Kim - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10120299B2 ## CPC - G03G 15/0409: {Details of projection optics (for projection printing apparatus G03B27/522)} - G02B 7/021: {for more than one lens} - G02B 26/124: {Details of the optical system between the light source and the polygonal mirror (G02B26/123, G02B26/127 take precedence)} - G03G 15/0435: {by introducing an optical element in the optical path, e.g. a filter} - G03G 21/1666: {for the exposure unit} - H04N 1/0249: {Arrangements for mounting or supporting elements within a scanning head (H04N1/02481 takes precedence)} - H04N 2201/0448: for positioning scanning elements not otherwise provided for; Aligning, e.g. using an alignment calibration pattern - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract Provided are an light scanning device capable of adjusting the position of optics and an image forming apparatus including the light scanning device. The light scanning device includes first and second light sources configured to emit first and second light beams, respectively; optics including first and second lenses for transmitting the first and second light beams therethrough and a lens holder configured to support the second lens; and a housing configured to support the first and second light sources and the optics, wherein the first and second light sources and the first lens are supported to be fixed to the housing, and the second lens is supported to be able to move with respect to the first lens. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A light scanning device comprising: a first light source and a second light source to emit a first light beam and a second light beam to a target scanning surface, respectively; optics including: a first lens to transmit the first light beam, a second lens to transmit the second light beam, and a lens holder that movably supports the second lens with respect to the first lens in a sub-scanning direction with respect to a main scanning direction on the target scanning surface and along an optical axis direction of the second light source; and a housing that supports the first light source and the second light source and the optics, wherein the first light source, the second light source and the first lens are fixed to the housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The light scanning device of claim 1, wherein: the first lens is coupled to be fixed to the housing; and the optics includes an adjuster to move the lens holder with respect to the housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The light scanning device of claim 2, wherein the adjuster comprises: a first adjuster to move the lens holder in the sub-scanning direction; and a second adjuster to move the lens holder in the optical axis direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The light scanning device of claim 3, wherein the lens holder comprises: a first lens holder that supports the second lens, and a second lens holder that slidably supports the first lens holder, wherein the first lens holder is slidable in the optical axis direction with respect to the second lens holder. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The light scanning device of claim 4, wherein the first adjuster comprises: a first presser to apply a first adjustment force to the first lens holder and the second lens holder in the sub-scanning direction, and a first elastic member to apply a recovery force in a direction opposite the sub-scanning direction, and the second adjuster comprises: a second presser to apply a second adjustment force to the first lens holder in the optical axis direction, and a second elastic member to apply a recovery force in a direction opposite the optical axis direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The light scanning device of claim 5, wherein the first presser and the second presser press against different surfaces of the first lens holders, respectively. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The light scanning device of claim 4, wherein the first adjuster comprises a transporter to transport the first lens holder and the second lens holder in the sub-scanning direction, and the second adjuster comprises: a presser to apply an adjustment force to the first lens holder in the optical axis direction, and an elastic member to apply a recovery force in a direction opposite the optical axis direction. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The light scanning device of claim 7, wherein the transporter comprises: a lead screw installed in the sub-scanning direction, and a gear disposed at the second lens holder, the gear to interlock with the lead screw, and the presser presses against a surface of the first lens holder. ### Claim 9 (depends on 3) The light scanning device of claim 3, further comprising: at least one sensor on which some of the first light beam and some of the second light beam are incident; and a controller to control starting emission times of the first light beam and the second light beam respectively from the first light source and the second light source based on a time difference between signals obtained from the at least one sensor, the signals indicating that the at least one sensor has detected the first light beam and the second light beam. ### Claim 10 (depends on 2) The light scanning device of claim 2, wherein the adjuster comprises: a first adjuster to move the lens holder in a sub-scanning direction; and a third adjuster to move the lens holder in a main scanning direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The light scanning device of claim 10, wherein the lens holder comprises: a first lens holder that supports the second lens, and a second lens holder that slidably supports the first lens holder, wherein the first lens holder is supported to be able to slide in the optical axis direction with respect to the second lens holder. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The light scanning device of claim 11, wherein the first adjuster comprises: a first presser to apply a first adjustment force to the first and second lens holders in the sub-scanning direction, and a first elastic member to apply a recovery force in a direction opposite the sub-scanning direction, and the third adjuster comprises: a third presser to apply a third adjustment force to the first lens holder in the main scanning direction, and a third elastic member to apply a recovery force in a direction opposite to the main scanning direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The light scanning device of claim 12, wherein the first presser is a first cam pressing against a surface of the second lens holder in the main scanning direction, and the third presser is a second cam pressing against a surface of the first lens holder in the sub scanning direction. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The light scanning device of claim 1, wherein the second lens is bonded to the lens holder. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The light scanning device of claim 14, further comprising: a bonding device to fix the first lens to the housing; and an adjuster to move the lens holder with respect to the housing, while the second lens is bonded to the lens holder. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The light scanning device of claim 15, wherein the adjuster comprises: a presser to apply an adjustment force to the lens holder in a sub-scanning direction, and an elastic member to apply a recovery force in a direction opposite to the sub-scanning direction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The light scanning device of claim 16, wherein the presser is a screw supported by a surface of the lens holder. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The light scanning device of claim 1, wherein the first lens and the second lens are collimator lenses to shape the first light beam and the second light beam into collimated light beams, respectively. ### Claim 19 An electrophotography-type image forming apparatus comprising: an image receptor; a light scanning device to form an electrostatic latent image by scanning a first light beam and a second light beam to a target scanning surface of the image receptor, the light scanning device comprising: a first light source and a second light source to emit the first light beam and the second light beam, respectively; optics including: a first lens to transmit the first light beam, a second lens to transmit the second light beam, and a lens holder that movably supports the second lens with respect to the first lens in a sub-scanning direction with respect to a main scanning direction on the target scanning surface and along an optical axis direction of the second light source; and a housing that supports the first light source and the second light source and the optics, wherein the first light source, the second light source and the first lens are fixed to the housing; and a developer to develop the electrostatic latent image formed on the image receptor, wherein the developer supplies toner to the electrostatic latent image.