Optical scanning method and system capable of performing high speed scanning and high resolution, and image forming apparatus having the optical scanning system

An optical scanning method, comprising:

• providing a light source having multiple light emission points which is fixed to an integrated member to which is a first optical mechanism;
• emitting a plurality of laser beams from the multiple light emission points;
• converting the plurality of laser beams emitted from the multiple light emission points into converging laser beams with the first optical mechanism;
• limiting a size of a cross section of a light bundle bundling the plurality of laser beams with an aperture element;
• causing the plurality of laser beams to pass through a second optical mechanism having a negative power in at least a main scanning direction;
• leading the plurality of laser beams to a light deflective reflection mechanism configured to reflect and to deflect the plurality of laser beams;
• forming scanning laser beams with the light deflective reflection mechanism;
• and
• scanning an image recording surface with the scanning laser beams.

An image forming apparatus, comprising:

• a photosensitive drum;
• and
• an optical scanning apparatus comprising:
• a light source having multiple light emission points and configured to emit a plurality of laser beams;
• a first optical mechanism including an optical element fixed to an integrated member that fixes the light source, and is configured to convert the plurality of laser beams emitted by the multiple light emission points of the light source into converging laser beams;
• a light deflective reflection mechanism configured to reflect and to deflect the plurality of laser beams;
• a scanning optical mechanism configured to lead the plurality of laser beams to an image recording surface;
• a second optical mechanism arranged between the first optical mechanism and the light deflective reflection mechanism and having a negative power at least in a main scanning direction;
• and
• an aperture element arranged between the light source and the light deflective reflection mechanism.

An optical scanning system, comprising:

• light source means having multiple light emission points and for emitting a plurality of laser beams;
• first optical means including an optical element fixed to an integrated member that fixes the light source, and for converting the plurality of laser beams emitted by the multiple light emission points of the light source means into converging laser beams;
• light deflective reflection means for reflecting and deflecting the plurality of laser beams;
• scanning optical means for leading the plurality of laser beams to an image recording surface;
• second optical means arranged between the first optical means and the light deflective reflection means and having a negative power in at least a main scanning direction;
• and
• an aperture element arranged between the light source means and the light deflective reflection means.