Optical beam scanning apparatus

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

• a cylinder for holding the photosensitive material, wherein the photosensitive material faces an interior of the cylinder and is adapted to be scanned in a circumferential direction thereof;
• means for projecting the optical beam;
• first optical means for transmitting the optical beam projected from the projecting means to the interior of the cylinder in a direction substantially parallel to a central axis of the cylinder, wherein the first optical means includes two anamorphic optical systems, and the optical beam passes through the two anamorphic optical systems;
• means for rotating the first optical means about the central axis, wherein the first optical means rotates the optical beam projected from the projecting means about a rotating axis of the first optical means at a rotating speed twice the rotating speed of the first optical means;
• second optical means for transmitting the rotated optical beam and changing a direction of the optical beam rotated by the first optical means to a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the central axis so as to direct the optical beam onto the photosensitive material;
• and
• means for rotating the second optical means about the central axis synchronized with a rotation of the optical beam rotated by the first optical means whereby the image is recorded on the photosensitive material by scanning with the optical beam transmitted from the second optical means.

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

• a cylinder for holding the photosensitive material, wherein the photosensitive material faces an interior of the cylinder and is adapted to be scanned in a circumferential direction thereof;
• means for projecting the optical beam into the interior of the cylinder in a direction perpendicular to a central axis of the cylinder;
• first reflecting means for changing a direction of the optical beam to a direction parallel to the central axis;
• first optical means for transmitting the optical beam transmitted from the reflecting means in a direction substantially parallel to the central axis, the first optical means including an anamorphic optical system through which the optical beam passes;
• second reflecting means for reflecting the optical beam transmitted from the first optical means to the anamorphic optical system of the first optical means;
• means for rotating the first optical means about the central axis, wherein the first optical means rotates the optical beam projected from the projecting means about a rotating axis of the first optical means at a rotating speed twice the rotating speed of the first optical means;
• second optical means for transmitting the rotated optical beam and changing a direction of the optical beam rotated by the first optical means to a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the central axis to direct the optical beam onto the photosensitive material;
• and
• means for rotating the second optical means about the central axis synchronized with a rotation of the optical beam rotated by the first optical means whereby the image is recorded on the photosensitive material by scanning with the optical beam transmitted from the second optical means.

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

• a cylinder for holding the photosensitive material, wherein the photosensitive material faces an interior of the cylinder and is adapted to be scanned in a circumferential direction thereof;
• means for projecting the optical beam;
• first optical means for transmitting the optical beam projected from the projecting means to the interior in a direction substantially parallel to a central axis of the cylinder, wherein the first optical means includes first and second reflecting surfaces arranged perpendicular to each other so that the optical beam projected from the projecting means is reflected at the first reflecting surface to transmit the optical beam to the second reflecting surface and the optical beam is reflected at the second reflecting surface to project from the first optical means;
• means for rotating the first optical means about the central axis, wherein the first optical means rotates the optical beam projected from the projecting means about a rotating axis of the first optical means at a rotating speed twice that of the first optical means;
• second optical means for transmitting the rotated optical beam and changing a direction of the optical beam rotated by the first optical means to a direction which is substantially perpendicular to the central axis to direct the optical beam onto the photosensitive material;
• and
• means for rotating the second optical means about the central axis synchronized with a rotation of the optical beam rotated by the first optical means whereby the image is recorded on the photosensitive material by scanning with the optical beam transmitted from the second optical means.