# US 9,519,138 B2 · Scanning line adjuster, optical scanner incorporating the scanning line adjuster, and image forming apparatus incorporating the optical scanner > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,519,138 B2 - Document ID: US9519138B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/012,890 - Filed: 2016-02-02 - Published: 2016-08-11 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-06 - Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd. - Applicants: Tomoaki Suga - Inventors: Tomoaki Suga - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9519138B2 ## CPC - G02B 26/125: {Details of the optical system between the polygonal mirror and the image plane (G02B26/123, G02B26/127 take precedence; F-Theta lenses G02B13/0005)} - G02B 1/041: {Lenses} - G02B 7/023: {permitting adjustment} - G02B 26/127: {Adaptive control of the scanning light beam, e.g. using the feedback from one or more detectors (G02B27/0031 takes precedence)} - G03G 15/04072: {by laser} - G03G 15/043: with means for controlling illumination or exposure (G03G15/041 takes precedence) - H04N 1/04: Scanning arrangements {, i.e. arrangements for the displacement of active reading or reproducing elements relative to the original or reproducing medium, or vice versa}(H04N1/387 takes precedence) - H04N 1/047: Detection, control or error compensation of scanning velocity or position ({H04N1/0402 and } H04N1/17 take precedence) - G03G 2215/0129: horizontal medium transport path at the secondary transfer - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS - G03G: ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY - H04N: PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION ## Abstract A scanning line adjuster, which is incorporated in an optical scanner and an image forming apparatus, includes an optical element, an attitude changer, and an optical element positioner. The optical element is disposed on an optical path extending from a light source to a scanned target object. The optical element has a positioning portion. The attitude changer changes an attitude of the optical element. The optical element positioner contacts the positioning portion to position the optical element. The optical element positioner contacts the positioning portion of the optical element in a direction perpendicular to a moving direction of the positioning portion of the optical element when the attitude changer changes the attitude of the optical element. The optical element positioner includes a contact end to contact the positioning portion. The contact end is made of a different material from the other part of the optical element positioner. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A scanning line adjuster comprising: an optical element disposed on an optical path extending from a light source to a scanned target object, the optical element having a positioning portion; an attitude changer to change an attitude of the optical element; and an optical element positioner to position the optical element, the optical element positioner to contact the positioning portion of the optical element in a direction perpendicular to a moving direction in which the positioning portion of the optical element moves when the attitude changer changes the attitude of the optical element, the optical element positioner including a contact end to contact the positioning portion, the contact end made of a different material from a material of the optical element positioner. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The scanning line adjuster according to claim 1, wherein a frictional coefficient of the contact end of the optical element positioner is smaller than a frictional coefficient of the optical element positioner other than the contact end. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The scanning line adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the contact end of the optical element positioner includes ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The scanning line adjuster according to claim 1, wherein the optical element extends in a main scanning direction and collects light in a sub-scanning direction, and wherein the attitude changer presses one longitudinal end of the optical element, rotates the optical element about a center in the main scanning direction of the optical element, and changes an attitude of the optical element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An optical scanner comprising: a light source; and the scanning line adjuster according to claim 1 to change the attitude of the optical element disposed on the optical path from the light source to the scanned target object and adjust a scanning line that optically scans the scanned target object. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) An image forming apparatus comprising: an image bearer to bear a latent image; the optical scanner according to claim 5 to optically form the latent image on a surface of the image bearer; and a developing device to develop the latent image formed on the surface of the image bearer into a visible image. ### Claim 7 A scanning line adjuster comprising: an optical element disposed on an optical path extending from a light source to a scanned target object, the optical element having a positioning portion; an attitude changer to change an attitude of the optical element; and an optical element positioner to position the optical element, the optical element positioner to contact the positioning portion of the optical element in a direction perpendicular to a moving direction in which the positioning portion of the optical element moves when the attitude changer changes the attitude of the optical element, the positioning portion of the optical element including a contact end to contact the optical element positioner, the contact end made of a different material from a material of the optical element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The scanning line adjuster according to claim 7, wherein a frictional coefficient of the contact end of the positioning portion of the optical element is smaller than a frictional coefficient of the optical element other than the contact end. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The scanning line adjuster according to claim 7, wherein the contact end of the optical element includes ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The scanning line adjuster according to claim 7, wherein the optical element extends in a main scanning direction and collects light in a sub-scanning direction, and wherein the attitude changer presses one longitudinal end of the optical element, rotates the optical element about a center in the main scanning direction of the optical element, and changes an attitude of the optical element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) An optical scanner comprising: a light source; and the scanning line adjuster according to claim 7 to change an attitude of the optical element disposed on the optical path from the light source to the scanned target object and adjust a scanning line that optically scans the scanned target object. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) An image forming apparatus comprising: an image bearer to bear a latent image; the optical scanner according to claim 11 to optically form the latent image on a surface of the image bearer; and a developing device to develop the latent image formed on the surface of the image bearer into a visible image. ### Claim 13 A scanning line adjuster comprising: an optical element disposed on an optical path extending from a light source to a scanned target object, the optical element having a positioning portion; an attitude changer to change an attitude of the optical element; an optical element positioner to position the optical element, the optical element positioner to contact the positioning portion of the optical element in a direction perpendicular to a moving direction in which the positioning portion of the optical element moves when the attitude changer changes the attitude of the optical element; and a pressing unit to press the positioning portion of the optical element against the optical element positioner, the pressing unit including a contact end to contact the positioning portion of the optical element, the contact end made of a different material from a material of the pressing unit. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The scanning line adjuster according to claim 13, wherein a frictional coefficient of the contact end of the pressing unit is smaller than a frictional coefficient of the pressing unit other than the contact end. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The scanning line adjuster according to claim 13, wherein the contact end includes ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The scanning line adjuster according to claim 13, wherein the optical element extends in a main scanning direction and collects light in a sub-scanning direction, and wherein the attitude changer presses one longitudinal end of the optical element, rotates the optical element about a center in the main scanning direction of the optical element, and changes an attitude of the optical element. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) An optical scanner comprising: a light source; and the scanning line adjuster according to claim 13 to change an attitude of the optical element disposed on the optical path from the light source to the scanned target object and adjust a scanning line that optically scans the scanned target object. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) An image forming apparatus comprising: an image bearer to bear a latent image; the optical scanner according to claim 17 to optically form the latent image on a surface of the image bearer; and a developing device to develop the latent image formed on the surface of the image bearer into a visible image.