Optical beam scanning apparatus
AssigneeDainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
InventorHideaki Ogawa
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical beam scanning apparatus includes a beam-to-beam distance adjuster (300) for rotationally displacing a beam splitter (301). The beam-to-beam distance adjuster (300) comprises three arm members (312, 313, 314) which are linked to each other through notch portions (323, 324). A member (315) is linked to the arm member (313). The beam splitter (301) is secured on the member (315) from which a plate spring (316) extends. A projection member (317) is provided between a leading edge portion of the plate spring (316) and the arm member (314). A rotation angle of the beam splitter (301) can be changed by actuating three arm members (312, 313, 314) in link motion, whereby a beam-to-beam distance between two beams (B.sub.a, B.sub.b) can be also changed.
Claims7
An optical beam scanning apparatus for deflecting a plurality of optical beams and scanning photosensitive material with said deflected optical beams, said optical beam scanning apparatus comprising:
- (a) means for generating a plurality of optical beams;
- (b) means for modulating said plurality of optical beams;
- (c) beam turning means for turning modulated optical beams to thereby produce a beam group consisting of optical beams which intersect each other at a prescribed point;
- (d) means for rotationally displacing said beam turning means to thereby change an angle of intersection of said optical beams, said displacing means including:
- (d-1) a link mechanism comprising first to third arm members, said first and second arm members linked to each other through a first link node, said second and third arm members linked to each other through a second link node, both ends of said link mechanism supported at predetermined points through third and fourth nodes, respectively,
- (d-2) a supporting member connected to said beam turning means, said supporting member linked to said second arm member through a fifth link node,
- (d-3) an elastic member extending from said supporting member in a different direction from a longitudinal one of said second arm member,
- (d-4) a projection member provided between said first arm member and a leading edge portion of said elastic member, and
- (d-5) means for actuating said link mechanism in link motion;
- (e) deflecting means for periodically deflecting said beam group;
- and
- (f) focusing means for focusing each optical beam of said deflected beam group on said photosensitive material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.