# US 8,786,927 B2 · Optical scanning apparatus > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,786,927 B2 - Document ID: US8786927B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/171,602 - Filed: 2014-02-03 - Published: 2014-05-29 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-08-08 - Assignees: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Mitsuhiro Obara - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8786927B2 ## CPC - G02B 26/123: {Multibeam scanners, e.g. using multiple light sources or beam splitters} - B41J 2/473: {using multiple light beams, wavelengths or colours} - G02B 26/10: Scanning systems - G02B 26/121: {Mechanical drive devices for polygonal mirrors} - G02B 26/08: for controlling the direction of light (in light guides G02B6/35) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS ## Abstract The optical scanning apparatus including a light source unit having plurality laser light sources for emitting laser light and one lens in which the laser light emitted from the plurality laser light sources is transmitted, a deflect device that deflects and scans the laser light on an image bearing member, an optical member that images the laser light on the image bearing member, a housing that internally includes the deflect device and the optical member, the housing forms an opening portion that passes through the laser light emitted from the plurality of the laser light sources, and an elastic member that blocks a gap between the lens and the opening portion, the elastic member being pinched between the lens and the housing. It achieves sealing of the flow-in path and sealing of the gap between the light source unit and the housing with a simple configuration. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An optical scanning apparatus comprising: a light source that emits a laser light; a lens through which the laser light emitted from the light source is passed; a support member directly supporting the lens; and a deflect device that deflects the laser light and scans an image bearing member with the laser light, wherein the support member includes a protruding portion projecting to the downstream side in a laser light emitting direction with respect to a laser light emitting surface of the lens, wherein as viewed in the laser light emitting direction, the protruding portion surrounds a peripheral portion of the lens, wherein the protruding portion includes an opened portion that exposes a side surface of the lens, wherein a plurality of plane surface portions are provided on outer surfaces of the protruding portion, and wherein with respect to an area surrounded by a plurality of planes each of which includes at least one plane surface portion among the plurality of the plane surface portions, the area as viewed in the laser light emitting direction is a quadrilateral, and the area includes a whole of the lens therein. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the opened portion exposes the side surface of the lens as viewed in the sub-scanning direction of the lens. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of the planes includes two planes extending in a main scanning direction of the lens, and wherein the lens is positioned between the two planes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protruding portion includes four corner portions at each of which two of the plurality of the plane surface portions cross with each other. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a gap is formed between the protruding portion and the side surface of the lens in a direction perpendicular to the laser emitting direction. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support member supports the light source. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a housing that supports the support member and the deflect device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a laser light passing through the lens comes into the deflect device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support member includes a bonding portion surface that adheres the support member with the lens, and wherein the bonding portion surface is provided to at a position opposite face a laser light incident surface with each other. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the laser light incident surface of the lens abuts the bonding portion surface. ### Claim 11 An optical scanning apparatus comprising: a light source that emits a laser light; a lens through which the laser light emitted from the light source is passed; a support member directly supporting the lens; and a deflect device that deflects the laser light and scans an image bearing member with the laser light, wherein the support member includes a plate-shaped protrusion extending to a downstream of a laser light emitting surface of the lens with regard to a laser light emitting direction, wherein as viewed in the laser light emitting direction, the plate-shaped protrusion surrounds a whole of the lens, and wherein as viewed in the laser light emitting direction, an area surrounded by the plate-shaped protrusion is a quadrilateral. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the plate-shaped protrusion includes an opened portion that exposes a side surface of the lens. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the opened portion exposes the side surface of the lens as viewed in the sub-scanning direction of the lens. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a gap is formed between the plate-shaped protrusion and the side surface of the lens in a direction perpendicular to the laser emitting direction. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the support member supports the light source. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising a housing that supports the support member and the deflect device. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 11, wherein a laser light passing through the lens comes into the deflect device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the support member includes a bonding portion surface on which the lens is adhered, and wherein the bonding portion surface is provided to oppose face a laser light incident surface of the lens with each other. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the laser light incident surface of the lens abuts the bonding portion surface. ### Claim 20 An optical scanning apparatus comprising: a light source that emits a laser light; a lens through which the laser light emitted from the light source is passed; a support member supporting the lens; and a deflect device that deflects the laser light and scans an image bearing member with the laser light, wherein the support member includes a protruding portion projecting to the downstream side in a laser light emitting direction with respect to a laser light emitting surface of the lens, wherein the support member including a bonding surface on which the lens is adhered, and wherein the bonding surface is provided at a position opposite to face a laser light incident surface of the lens with each other. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the laser light incident surface of the lens abuts the bonding surface. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the lens has a function of aligning a shape of the laser beam. ### Claim 23 (depends on 20) The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the lens is an anamorphic lens. ### Claim 24 (depends on 20) The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the support member supports the light source. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising a housing that supports the support member and the deflect device. ### Claim 26 (depends on 20) The optical scanning apparatus according to claim 20, wherein a laser light passing through the lens comes into the deflect device.