Optical scanning device and image forming apparatus
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorTomoya Ohsugi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical scanning device that uses a light spot to scan an image surface with a light source, a deflector, and an imaging element includes a housing in which the light source, the deflector, and the imaging element are set. The housing includes at least two sidewalls opposed to each other, a bottom surface that extends substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, and ribs that are substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface and formed to extend from the two sidewalls, respectively. Discontinuous sections (sections between ribs or notched sections of the ribs) for passing light beams are provided in the ribs. A reinforcing member separate from the ribs are bridged to the discontinuous sections.
Claims14
An optical scanning device that uses a light spot to scan a surface of an image with a light source, a deflector, and an imaging element, the optical scanning device comprising a housing in which the light source, the deflector, and the imaging element are set,
- wherein
- the housing includes at least two sidewalls opposed to each other, a bottom surface that extends substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, and ribs that are substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface and formed to extend from the two sidewalls, respectively,
- and wherein
- the ribs are formed with discontinuous sections, including a notched portion for passing light beams, and a reinforcing member which is separate from the ribs and bridging across the discontinuous sections
An optical scanning device comprising a light source and a deflector set in a housing to use a light spot to scan a surface of an image with the light source, the deflector, and an imaging element,
- wherein
- the housing includes at least two sidewalls opposed to each other, a bottom surface that extends substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, and ribs that are substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface and connect the two sidewalls,
- and wherein
- the ribs are formed integrally with openings through which light beams traveling from the light source to the deflector and light beams deflected by the deflector pass.
An image forming apparatus that uses a light spot to scan an image bearing member to write an image on the image bearing member to form an image, wherein the image forming apparatus uses an optical scanning device, which uses a light spot to scan a surface of an image with a light source, a deflector, and an imaging element set within a housing,
- wherein
- the housing includes at least two sidewalls opposed to each other, a bottom surface that extends substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, and ribs that are substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface and formed to extend from the two sidewalls, respectively,
- and wherein
- the ribs are formed with discontinuous sections, including a notched portion for passing light beams are provided in the ribs, and a reinforcing member which is separate from the ribs, bridging across the discontinuous sections.
An image forming apparatus that uses a light spot to scan an image bearing member to write an image on the image bearing member to form an image, wherein the image forming apparatus uses an optical scanning device, which includes a light source and a deflector set in a housing to use a light spot to scan a surface of an image with the light source, the deflector, and an imaging element,
- wherein
- the housing includes at least two sidewalls opposed to each other, a bottom surface that extends substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, and ribs that are substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface and connect the two sidewalls,
- and wherein
- the ribs are formed integrally with openings through which light beams traveling from the light source to the deflector and light beams deflected by the deflector pass.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.