# US 7,746,371 B2 · Optical writing device and image forming apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,746,371 B2 - Document ID: US7746371B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/219,174 - Filed: 2008-07-17 - Published: 2009-01-22 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2007-07-17 - Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Inventors: Yoshinobu Sakaue; Noboru Kusunose; Hideto Higaki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7746371B2 ## CPC - G03G 15/326: {by application of light, e.g. using a LED array} - G02B 26/123: {Multibeam scanners, e.g. using multiple light sources or beam splitters} - H04N 1/1135: {for the main-scan only} - G03G 15/0435: {by introducing an optical element in the optical path, e.g. a filter} - H04N 2201/02458: Lens or optical system - H04N 2201/0246: Mirror, reflecting element or beam splitter - H04N 2201/02481: Single piece support, e.g. molded plastic support - H04N 2201/0448: for positioning scanning elements not otherwise provided for; Aligning, e.g. using an alignment calibration pattern - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract An optical writing device that writes electrostatic latent images on an image carrier by irradiating and scanning the image carrier with an optical beam includes an optical element, a support housing configured to support members constituting the optical writing device, a pair of optical-element holding members opposing each other in a principal scanning direction and arranged in the support housing, and a displacing member configured to displace at least one of the pair of optical-element holding members relatively to the support housing on a plane perpendicular to the principal scanning direction. The optical-element holding member is made of a material having a coefficient of linear expansion smaller than that of the support housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An optical writing device for writing electrostatic latent images on an image carrier by irradiating and scanning the image carrier with an optical beam, the optical writing device comprising: an optical element; a support housing configured to support members constituting the optical writing device; a pair of optical-element holding members opposing each other in a principal scanning direction and arranged in the support housing; and a displacing member configured to displace at least one of the pair of optical-element holding members relative to the support housing on a plane perpendicular to the principal scanning direction, wherein the pair of optical-element holding members are made of a material having a coefficient of linear expansion smaller than that of the support housing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The optical writing device according to claim 1, wherein the displacing member displaces at least one of the pair of optical element holding members in a sub-scanning direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The optical writing device according to claim 1, wherein the displacing member displaces at least one of the pair of optical element holding members in a direction perpendicular to a sub-scanning direction. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The optical writing device according to claim 1, wherein the displacing member displaces at least one of the pair of optical element holding members in a rotational direction of the optical element holding member on a plane perpendicular to the principal scanning direction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The optical writing device according to claim 1, wherein the displacing member displaces at least one of the pair of optical element holding members in at least two directions among a sub-scanning direction, a direction perpendicular to the sub-scanning direction, and a rotational direction of the optical element holding member on a plane perpendicular to the principal scanning direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The optical writing device according to claim 1, wherein the displacing member is provided integrally with the support housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The optical writing device according to claim 1. wherein one of the pair of optical element holding members is positioned and fixed to the support housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The optical writing device according to claim 1, wherein the displacing member includes a shaft extending to both the outsides of the pair of optical element holding members. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The optical writing device according to claim 1, wherein the pair of optical element holding members include cross-linking members to have an integral structure. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The optical writing device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the pair of optical element holding members holds the longitudinal direction of the optical element in the principal scanning direction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The optical writing device according to claim 10, wherein the optical element includes a turn-back mirror or a scanning lens. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The optical writing device according to claim 10, wherein at least one of the pair of optical element holding members includes an optical element adjustment member configured to adjust the inclination of a scanning line of the optical beam by adjusting an angle of the optical element. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The optical writing device according to claim 1, wherein the optical element adjustment member is arranged on a side of at least one of the pair of optical element holding members that is displaced by the displacing member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) An image forming apparatus, comprising: an optical writing unit including the optical writing device of claim 1, and configured to write electrostatic latent images on an image carrier by irradiating and scanning the image carrier with an optical beam using the optical element; and an image forming unit configured to form images by developing the electrostatic latent images on the image carrier and transferring the developed images onto a recording medium.