Bow-free telecentric optical system for multiple beam scanning systems

An image forming apparatus comprising:

• a photoreceptor;
• and
• a multiple beam scanning system for scanning a plurality of light beams onto a surface of the photoreceptor such that the plurality of light beams are scanned in a scan direction along the surface, the multiple beam scanning system comprising:
• a light source for generating the plurality of light beams along a first light path;
• a first input and output telecentric optical subsystem including at least one optical element aligned to redirect the plurality of light beams along a second light path;
• a deflector including a reflection surface that periodically intersects an end of the second light path, and means for moving the reflective surface such that the plurality of light beams are periodically scanned along a first scan path;
• and
• a second input and output telecentric optical subsystem including a plurality of optical elements that are sequentially optically aligned to receive the light beams scanned along the first scan path, and to redirect the scanned plurality of light beams along a second scan path onto the predetermined surface,
• wherein the plurality of optical elements of said second input and output telecentric optical subsystem comprise a positive cross-scan cylindrical first optical element, a negative cross-scan cylindrical second optical element, and a positive cross-scan cylindrical third optical element.