Multi-beam light source unit, multi-beam scanner and image forming apparatus
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorHideyo Makino
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multi-beam light source unit is provided with a light source emitting a plurality of light beams from corresponding light emitting points arranged in an array at equal intervals, a collimator lens forming the plurality of light beams into parallel bundle of rays, and an adjusting mechanism adjusting relative positions of the light source and the collimator lens so that a central part between the light emitting points at both ends of the light source matches an optical axis of the collimator lens. The collimator lens is rotatable about the optical axis of the collimator lens.
Claims11
A multi-beam light source unit comprising:
- a light source configured to emit a plurality of light beams from corresponding light emitting points arranged in an array at equal intervals;
- a collimator lens configured to form the plurality of light beams into parallel bundle of rays;
- and
- an adjusting mechanism configured to adjust relative positions of the light source and the collimator lens independently so that a central part midway between outermost light emitting points is aligned on an optical axis of the collimator lens,
- wherein said collimator lens is configured to be rotatable about the optical axis of the collimator lens.
A multi-beam scanner comprising:
- a multi-beam light source unit configured to emit a plurality of light beams;
- a scanning section configured to scan a scanning surface by the plurality of light beams from the multi-beam light source unit;
- and
- an imaging section configured to image the plurality of light beams from the scanning section on the scanning surface,
- said multi-beam light source unit comprising:
- a light source configured to emit a plurality of light beams from corresponding light emitting points arranged in an array at equal intervals;
- a collimator lens configured to form the plurality of light beams into parallel bundle of rays;
- and
- an adjusting mechanism configured to adjust relative positions of the light source and the collimator lens independently so that a central part midway between outermost light emitting points is aligned on an optical axis of the collimator lens,
- wherein said collimator lens is configured to be rotatable about the optical axis of the collimator lens.
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- a multi-beam scanner;
- and
- an image transfer system configured to develop an image formed by the multi-beam scanner and to transfer the image onto a recording medium,
- said multi-beam scanner comprising a multi-beam light source unit configured to emit a plurality of light beams, a scanning section configured to scan a scanning surface by the plurality of light beams from the multi-beam light source unit, and an imaging section configured to image the plurality of light beams from the scanning section on the scanning surface,
- wherein said multi-beam light source unit comprises a light source configured to emit a plurality of light beams from corresponding light emitting points arranged in an array at equal intervals, a collimator lens configured to form the plurality of light beams into parallel bundle of rays, and an adjusting mechanism configured to adjust relative positions of the light source and the collimator lens independently so that a central part midway between outermost light emitting points is aligned on an optical axis of the collimator lens, and said collimator lens is configured to be rotatable about the optical axis of the collimator lens.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.