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US 7,253,935 B2Granted
Optical scanner, image forming apparatus, and optical scanner attitude correcting method
AssigneeRicoh Company, Ltd.
InventorsKazuhiko Kobayashi, Nobumitsu Samukawa, Yohei Miura
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical scanner includes a light source that emits a light beam, a deflection unit that deflects the light beam, an optical unit that introduces the light beam to a target surface, a housing unit that stores these components, and a member that contacts the light source and/or the optical unit. The light source and/or the optical unit changes in attitude due to a temperature change while the optical scanner is operating. The member extends or contracts according to the temperature change so as to reduce the change of the attitude.
Claims30
An optical scanner comprising:
- at least one light source that emits a light beam;
- a deflection unit that receives the light beam from the light source and deflects the light beam in a main scanning direction;
- an optical unit that receives the light beam from the deflection unit and introduces the light beam to a target surface;
- a housing unit that stores at least one of the light source, the deflection unit, and the optical unit;
- and
- a member that directly or indirectly contacts at least one of the light source and the optical unit, wherein
- at least one of the light source and the optical unit changes in attitude due to a temperature change while the optical scanner is operating, and
- the member extends or contracts according to the temperature change so as to reduce the change of the attitude.
5 more elements
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- an image carrier;
- an optical scanner that forms a latent image on the image carrier;
- a developing unit that develops the latent image with a toner, thereby forming a toner image on the image carrier;
- and
- a transfer member that transfers the toner image from the image carrier onto a recording medium, wherein
- the optical scanner includes
- a single light source that emits a light beam,
- a deflection unit that receives the light beam from the light source and deflects the light beam in a main scanning direction,
- an optical unit that receives the light beam from the deflection unit and introduces the light beam to a target surface of the image carrier,
- a housing unit that stores at least one of the light source, the deflection unit, and the optical unit, and
- a member that directly or indirectly contacts at least one of the light source and the optical unit, wherein
- at least one of the light source and the optical unit changes in attitude due to a temperature change while the optical scanner is operating, and
- the member extends or contracts according to the temperature change so as to reduce the change of the attitude.
10 more elements
An image forming apparatus comprising:
- an image carrier;
- an optical scanner that forms a latent image on the image carrier;
- a developing unit that develops the latent image with a toner, thereby forming a toner image on the image carrier;
- and
- a transfer member that transfers the toner image from the image carrier onto a recording medium, wherein the optical scanner includes
- a single light source that emits a light beam,
- a deflection unit that receives the light beam from the light source and deflects the light beam in a main scanning direction,
- an optical unit that receives the light beam from the deflection unit and introduces the light beam to a target surface of the image carrier,
- a housing unit that stores at least one of the light source, the deflection unit, and the optical unit,
- a member that directly or indirectly contacts at least one of the light source and the optical unit, and
- a heat source that fixes the toner image onto the recording medium, wherein
- at least one of the light source and the optical unit changes in attitude due to a temperature change while the optical scanner is operating, and
- the member extends or contracts according to the temperature change so as to reduce the change of the attitude, and
- the member receives heat from the heat source directly or indirectly.
11 more elements
A method of correcting an attitude of an optical scanner, the optical scanner including
- a single light source that emits a light beam,
- a deflection unit that receives the light beam from the light source and deflects the light beam in a main scanning direction,
- an optical unit that receives the light beam from the deflection unit and introduces the light beam to a target surface of an image carrier,
- a housing unit that stores at least one of the light source, the deflection unit, and the optical unit, and
- a member that directly or indirectly contacts at least one of the light source and the optical unit, wherein
- at least one of the light source and the optical unit changes in attitude due to a temperature change while the optical scanner is operating, and
- the member extends or contracts according to the temperature change so as to reduce the change of the attitude, the method comprising:
- correcting the change in the attitude of at least one of the light source and the optical unit, and
- adjusting a position of the light beam on the target surface in the main scanning direction and in a sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the main scanning direction.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.