# US 7,609,431 B2 · Light scanning device and image forming apparatus

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- Number: US 7,609,431 B2
- Document ID: US7609431B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/292,611
- Filed: 2008-11-21
- Published: 2009-03-26
- Granted: 2009-10-27
- Earliest claimed: 2006-01-17
- Assignees: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Kiichiro Iijima
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7609431B2

## CPC

- G03G 15/0409: {Details of projection optics (for projection printing apparatus G03B27/522)}
- G03G 2215/00746: of sheet velocity
- G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY

## Abstract

A light scanning device which exposes a photoconductor of an image forming apparatus, includes: a light emitting unit which emits a light; a mirror which reflects a light emitted by the light emitting unit in a direction toward the photoconductor; an obtaining unit which obtains data on a speed of an image formation; and a mirror support unit which has at least one contact member provided so that it can be brought into contact with or be detached from the mirror, and which changes at least one of a position and a number of contact members contacting the mirror on the basis of data obtained by the obtaining unit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A light scanning device which exposes a photoconductor of an image forming apparatus, comprising:
a light emitting unit which emits a light;
a mirror which reflects a light emitted by the light emitting unit in a direction toward the photoconductor;
a detector which detects a vibration of the mirror; and
a mirror support unit which has at least one contact member provided so that it can be brought into contact with or be detached from the mirror, and which changes at least one of a position and a number of contact members contacting the mirror according to a vibration detected by the detector.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The light scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the mirror support unit, in a case where a vibration having a predetermined frequency is detected by the detector, changes at least one of a position and a number of contact members contacting the mirror so that the mirror is not caused to resonate by the vibration.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The light scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the mirror support unit causes the contact member to push the mirror with a pressure that does not deform the mirror.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The light scanning device according to claim 1, wherein:
the mirror support unit comprises:
an approximately circular cam with a cutaway portion which contacts with the contact member, and
a drive member which rotates the cam; and
the mirror support unit, when detaching the contact members from the mirror, causes the cam to contact with the contact member at a cutaway portion of the cam, and when bringing the contact member into contact with the mirror, causes the cam to contact with the contact member at a position other than the cutaway portion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The light scanning device according to claim 4, wherein:
the mirror support unit comprises:
another contact member, and
another cam which contacts the other contact member; and
the mirror support unit causes all of the cams to be rotated by the drive member.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The light scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the contact member comprises an elastic member.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The light scanning device according to claim 6, wherein the elastic member is a part of the contact member which contacts with the mirror.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The light scanning device according to claim 7, wherein the contact member comprises a spring which applies a force to the elastic member in a direction toward the mirror.

### Claim 9

An image forming apparatus comprising a light scanning device which exposes a photoconductor of an image forming apparatus, the light scanning device comprising:
a light emitting unit which emits a light;
a mirror which reflects a light emitted by the light emitting unit in a direction toward the photoconductor;
a detector which detects a vibration of the mirror; and
a mirror support unit which has at least one contact member provided so that it can be brought into contact with or be detached from the mirror, and which changes at least one of a position and a number of contact members contacting the mirror according to a vibration detected by the detector.