Scanner unit having an optical element supporting plate
AssigneeBrother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorYasuo Tamaru
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A scanner unit having an optical element supported by a supporting plate. The supporting plate includes a first engagement portion, first spring portions, a second spring portion and a second engagement portion. The first engagement portion engages protrusions of supporting pins that support a reflective surface of a beam detection mirror in a predetermined position. The first spring portions urge the beam detection mirror toward the supporting pins. The second spring portion urges an upper surface of the beam detection mirror and holds the mirror between a bottom plate and the second spring portion. The second engagement portion engages a flange to prevent the supporting plate from coming off upward against an urging force from the second spring portion.
Claims20
A scanner unit, comprising:
- a housing;
- a light source;
- a reflecting member;
- an optical element;
- and
- a supporting plate that supports the optical element, wherein the supporting plate includes:
- an engagement portion to be attached to a supporting member projected from a housing of the scanner unit;
- and
- at least one spring portion bent from the engagement portion toward the supporting member, the at least one spring portion exerting an urging force toward the supporting member on an optical element disposed between the supporting member and the spring portion.
A support mechanism for supporting an optical element in a device having a base and a supporting member extending from the base, the supporting member having a free end and an abutment face, the support mechanism comprising a support having:
- a base portion attached to the supporting member;
- a pair of springs extending from a side of the base portion to as to oppose the supporting member with the optical element therebetween;
- and
- a second spring extending from the base portion to engage a top of the element and press the optical element against the base.
An image forming apparatus, comprising:
- a scanner unit that scans and irradiates light;
- a photoconductive drum that is exposed by the light irradiated by the scanner unit;
- a developing device that develops an image exposed on the photoconductive drum into a visualized toner image using a developing agent;
- a fixing device that transfers the toner image onto a printing medium and fixes the toner image on the printing medium;
- wherein the scanner unit includes:
- an optical element;
- and
- a mount for the optical element having:
- a base;
- a support member extending from the base;
- and
- a supporting plate having:
- an engagement portion mounted to the support member;
- a pair of springs extending from the engagement portion, the pair of springs opposing the support member with the optical element held therebetween;
- and
- another spring extending from the engagement portion to engage an edge of the optical element and press the optical element against the base.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.