US 5,214,528 AGranted

Optical beam scanning apparatus

AssigneeKonica Corporation

InventorsYuichi Akanabe, Shin Shinotsuka

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Abstract

Disclosed are optical beam scanning apparatus and method of the internal drum scanning system, in which optical beams from a light source are made incident on optical beam rotating means such as a trapezoidal prism, and outgoing beams are focussed on the inner face of a cylinder through rotary optical means such as a rotary reflecting element. In the scanning apparatus and method of the present invention, by rotating the trapezoidal prism on the same revolution axis as that of the rotary reflecting element at a revolution speed corresponding to 1/2 of the revolution speed of the rotary reflecting element, beams going out from the trapezoidal prism can be rotated at the same speed as the revolution speed of the rotary reflecting element. According to the present invention having the above structure, even when a plurality of beams are used, crossing of the beams on the inner face of the cylinder can be prevented, and multiple beam scanning becomes possible and recording can be performed at a high speed.

Claims24

Dependent claims

An apparatus for recording an image on a photosensitive material by scanning with an optical beam having image information of said image comprising:

a cylinder for mounting said photosensitive material on an internal surface thereof, whereby said photosensitive material faces an interior of said cylinder and is adapted to be scanned in a circumferential direction thereof;
a projector for said optical beam;
a first optical device for transmitting said optical beam projected from said projector to said interior in a direction substantially parallel to a central axis of said cylinder;
a first rotator for rotating said first optical device, wherein said first optical device rotates said optical beam about a rotating axis of said first optical device at a rotating speed twice that of said first optical device;
a second optical device for changing a direction of said optical beam rotated by said first optical device to a direction which is substantially perpendicular to said central axis so as to direct said optical beam onto said photosensitive material;
a second rotator for rotating said second optical device about said central axis synchronized with rotation of said optical beam rotated by said first optical device whereby said image is recorded on said photosensitive material by scanning with said optical beam transmitted from said second optical device;
and
a control for controlling said projector so that said optical beam corresponding to only half a rotation of said first optical device is recorded.

5 more elements

An apparatus for recording an image on a photosensitive material by scanning with an optical beam having image information of said image comprising:

a cylinder for mounting said photosensitive material on an internal surface thereof, whereby said photosensitive material faces an interior of said cylinder and is adapted to be scanned in a circumferential direction thereof;
a projector for said optical beam;
a first optical device for transmitting said optical beam projected from said projector to said interior substantially parallel to a central axis of said cylinder;
a first rotator for rotating said first optical device, wherein said first optical device rotates said optical beam about a rotating axis of said first optical device at a rotating speed twice that of said first optical device;
an image formation element for focusing said optical beam rotated by said first optical device on said surface, wherein said first optical device is in a position conjugate with said surface;
a second optical device for changing a direction of said optical beam rotated by said first optical device to a direction which is substantially perpendicular to said central axis so as to direct said optical beam onto said photosensitive material;
and
a second rotator for rotating said second optical device about said central axis synchronized with rotation of said optical beam rotated by said first optical device whereby said image is recorded on said photosensitive material by scanning with said optical beam transmitted from said second optical device.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/757,347Filed 10 Sep 1991
Priority: JP 2-24277814 Sep 1990
Granted: 25 May 1993
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

H04N 1/0635
Using a picture-bearing surface stationary in the main-scanning direction: using oscillating or rotating mirrors
G02B 26/10
For controlling the direction of light: scanning systems
H04N 1/0607
Using cylindrical picture-bearing surfaces , i.e. scanning a main-scanning line substantially perpendicular to the axis and lying in a curved…:…
H04N 1/0678
With sub-scanning by translational movement of the main-scanning components: using a lead-screw or worm