Abstract: An optical scanning device that scans a photoreceptor with light, the device includes: a light emitter that emits light according to a supply current amount; a source-side optical system that includes an optical element corresponding to the light emitter, the optical element transmitting and shaping the light emitted from the corresponding light emitter; a polygon mirror that cyclically deflects the light shaped by the source-side optical system; an image-side optical system that condenses the light deflected by the polygon mirror on a surface of the photoreceptor; a motor that rotates the polygon mirror; and a light source controller that: monitors a temperature of the optical element; and adjusts the supply current amount for the light emitter or adjusts the temperature of the optical element corresponding to the light emitter to make a temperature difference between the light emitter and the corresponding optical element fall within an allowable range.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a polygon mirror that deflects a light beam includes: a light emitter that emits the light beam; an optical sensor that is disposed at a position on which the light beam deflected by the polygon mirror is incident; a detector that detects a minimum level being a light intensity level of the light beam, the lowest within a range detected by the optical sensor; a switcher that switches a light intensity level of the light beam emitted from the light emitter until the detector detects the minimum level; and a determiner that determines a degree of contamination of a component on an optical path of the light beam extending from the light emitter to the optical sensor, on the basis of the minimum level detected when the light intensity level is switched by the switcher.

Abstract: An optical writing device includes a light source, a deflector, an imager, and a casing, wherein the imager includes a scanning optical member, the casing includes an optical axis direction positioner, the optical axis direction positioner includes two one side positioners, and one other side positioner, a central position in a sub-scanning direction of the one other side positioner is located between central positions in the sub-scanning direction of the two one side positioners, the scanning optical member is bonded to the casing at a bonding position, and a position in the sub-scanning direction of the bonding position and a position in the sub-scanning direction of the optical axis direction positioner overlap with each other, a main-scanning direction positioner is further provided, and the main-scanning direction positioner is located on the other side with respect to the central position of the scanning optical member in the main-scanning direction.

Abstract: An optical writing device includes a light source, a deflector, an imager, and a casing, wherein the imager includes a scanning optical member, the casing includes an optical axis direction positioner, the optical axis direction positioner includes two one side positioners, and one other side positioner, a central position in a sub-scanning direction of the one other side positioner is located between central positions in the sub-scanning direction of the two one side positioners, the scanning optical member is bonded to the casing at a bonding position, and a position in the sub-scanning direction of the bonding position and a position in the sub-scanning direction of the optical axis direction positioner overlap with each other, a main-scanning direction positioner is further provided, and the main-scanning direction positioner is located on the other side with respect to the central position of the scanning optical member in the main-scanning direction.

Abstract: In a displacement sensor, an illumination optical system, which converts laser light emitted from an emission unit into first converging light, and irradiates with the first converging light a detection space through which a target moves. An imaging optical system converts laser light reflected from the target into second converging light, and irradiates with the second converging light a light-receiving surface of a detection unit. The image of the emission unit into which the illumination optical system focuses the first converging light is displaced along the optical axis of the imaging optical system by a temperature change of the illumination optical system. The range in which the image is displaced is limited to be located either anterior to the front principal point of the imaging optical system, or posterior to the rear principal point of the imaging optical system.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus including a polygon mirror that deflects a light beam includes: a light emitter that emits the light beam; an optical sensor that is disposed at a position on which the light beam deflected by the polygon mirror is incident; a detector that detects a minimum level being a light intensity level of the light beam, the lowest within a range detected by the optical sensor; a switcher that switches a light intensity level of the light beam emitted from the light emitter until the detector detects the minimum level; and a determiner that determines a degree of contamination of a component on an optical path of the light beam extending from the light emitter to the optical sensor, on the basis of the minimum level detected when the light intensity level is switched by the switcher.

Abstract: An optical print head, including: an elongated substrate having a line-shaped region in which light-emitting elements are arranged; an optical member condensing light from the light-emitting elements onto an irradiation target; a holding member holding the optical member; a base member holding the substrate and the holding member; an integrated circuit mounted in a first region in proximity of an end in a longitudinal direction of the substrate on a first surface of the substrate facing the base member, heat being generated in the integrated circuit during optical writing; and a thermally conductive member between the integrated circuit and the base member. In the optical print head, the holding member has a support portion contacting the substrate in a second region at a position differing from the first region in plan view on a second surface of the substrate not facing the base member.

Abstract: An optical scanning device that scans a photoreceptor with light, the device includes: a light emitter that emits light according to a supply current amount; a source-side optical system that includes an optical element corresponding to the light emitter, the optical element transmitting and shaping the light emitted from the corresponding light emitter; a polygon mirror that cyclically deflects the light shaped by the source-side optical system; an image-side optical system that condenses the light deflected by the polygon mirror on a surface of the photoreceptor; a motor that rotates the polygon mirror; and a light source controller that: monitors a temperature of the optical element; and adjusts the supply current amount for the light emitter or adjusts the temperature of the optical element corresponding to the light emitter to make a temperature difference between the light emitter and the corresponding optical element fall within an allowable range.

Abstract: A print head includes a platform with a face whose portion covered with a heat conductor includes a heat release section, which is deformed relative to a substantially flat portion of the face of the platform to be located at a smaller distance from the surface of the chip in a direction normal to the face at a side near to the light emission area in the longitudinal direction of the light source panel than at another side far from the light emission area. Alternatively, the heat conductor, when disconnected from the face of the platform, is thicker at a side near to the light emission area in the longitudinal direction of the light source panel than at another side far from the light emission area.

Abstract: An optical writing apparatus includes: a light source panel including light emitting elements arranged on an elongate glass substrate; an optical member that causes emergent light to form an image; a first holding member holding the optical member; and a second holding member holding the glass substrate, wherein legs are provided below the first holding member on sides of both ends, the legs extending downward, drooping ends of the legs being mounted and fixed on the second holding member, one end of the glass substrate is positioned inside the space, an integrated circuit being provided, a through hole is provided to an upper surface of the second holding member, and when cooling air for the integrated circuit flows into the space, the cooling air is guided through the through hole to a side of a lower surface of the upper surface of the second holding member.

Abstract: A print head includes a platform with a face whose portion covered with a heat conductor includes a heat release section, which is deformed relative to a substantially flat portion of the face of the platform to be located at a smaller distance from the surface of the chip in a direction normal to the face at a side near to the light emission area in the longitudinal direction of the light source panel than at another side far from the light emission area. Alternatively, the heat conductor, when disconnected from the face of the platform, is thicker at a side near to the light emission area in the longitudinal direction of the light source panel than at another side far from the light emission area.

Abstract: An optical writing apparatus includes: a light source panel including light emitting elements arranged on an elongate glass substrate; an optical member that causes emergent light to form an image; a first holding member holding the optical member; and a second holding member holding the glass substrate, wherein legs are provided below the first holding member on sides of both ends, the legs extending downward, drooping ends of the legs being mounted and fixed on the second holding member, one end of the glass substrate is positioned inside the space, an integrated circuit being provided, a through hole is provided to an upper surface of the second holding member, and when cooling air for the integrated circuit flows into the space, the cooling air is guided through the through hole to a side of a lower surface of the upper surface of the second holding member.

Abstract: An optical print head, including: an elongated substrate having a line-shaped region in which light-emitting elements are arranged; an optical member condensing light from the light-emitting elements onto an irradiation target; a holding member holding the optical member; a base member holding the substrate and the holding member; an integrated circuit mounted in a first region in proximity of an end in a longitudinal direction of the substrate on a first surface of the substrate facing the base member, heat being generated in the integrated circuit during optical writing; and a thermally conductive member between the integrated circuit and the base member. In the optical print head, the holding member has a support portion contacting the substrate in a second region at a position differing from the first region in plan view on a second surface of the substrate not facing the base member.

Abstract: In a displacement sensor, an illumination optical system, which converts laser light emitted from an emission unit into first converging light, and irradiates with the first converging light a detection space through which a target moves. An imaging optical system converts laser light reflected from the target into second converging light, and irradiates with the second converging light a light-receiving surface of a detection unit. The image of the emission unit into which the illumination optical system focuses the first converging light is displaced along the optical axis of the imaging optical system by a temperature change of the illumination optical system. The range in which the image is displaced is limited to be located either anterior to the front principal point of the imaging optical system, or posterior to the rear principal point of the imaging optical system.

Abstract: An optical scanning device comprises: photoreceptors corresponding one-to-one to solid colors; high-resolution light sources each emitting a set of beams irradiating the corresponding photoreceptor with a predetermined distance therebetween along a sub-scanning direction; a deflection unit; a first optical system directing the sets of beams from the high-resolution light sources to the deflection unit; a low-resolution light source emitting a set of beams irradiating a predetermined photoreceptor with a distance therebetween larger than the predetermined distance along the sub-scanning direction; and a second optical system directing all of the sets of beams to the corresponding photoreceptor.

Abstract: An optical scanning device in which optical beams from a light-emitting element are passed through a collimator lens and are deflected by a deflector and which scans over an image carrier by using the deflected optical beams, comprising: a device housing; and a holder supported on a base of the housing so as to be rotatable about an optical axis of the collimator lens, and penetrating through a through-hole in a side wall of the housing along the optical axis without contacting the side wall, wherein the holder includes first and second holder parts, the first holder part located inside the housing, and the second holder part located outside the housing, the collimator lens is held by the first holder part, the light-emitting element is held by the second holder part, and the optical beams pass through the through-hole in the side wall and reach the collimator lens.

Abstract: An optical scanning device comprises: photoreceptors corresponding one-to-one to solid colors; high-resolution light sources each emitting a set of beams irradiating the corresponding photoreceptor with a predetermined distance therebetween along a sub-scanning direction; a deflection unit; a first optical system directing the sets of beams from the high-resolution light sources to the deflection unit; a low-resolution light source emitting a set of beams irradiating a predetermined photoreceptor with a distance therebetween larger than the predetermined distance along the sub-scanning direction; and a second optical system directing all of the sets of beams to the corresponding photoreceptor.

Abstract: Deflection of multiple laser beams, scanning of the photoreceptors by such beams in the main scanning direction and light path separation in the sub scanning direction are carried out by having multiple laser beams strike the same deflecting reflective surface of the deflector at different angles in the sub scanning direction. In order to adjust the incident angles in the sub scanning direction, the angles of the laser beams are simultaneously changed. In order to adjust the incident positions in the sub scanning direction, the laser beams are simultaneously moved in a parallel fashion by a light source adjustment unit.

Abstract: Deflection of multiple laser beams, scanning of the photoreceptors by such beams in the main scanning direction and light path separation in the sub scanning direction are carried out by having multiple laser beams strike the same deflecting reflective surface of the deflector at different angles in the sub scanning direction. In order to adjust the incident angles in the sub scanning direction, the angles of the laser beams are simultaneously changed. In order to adjust the incident positions in the sub scanning direction, the laser beams are simultaneously moved in a parallel fashion by a light source adjustment unit.

Abstract: The light beam scanning device has a casing injection molded from magnesium or magnesium alloy as the material. A polygon mirror and a motor are sealed in the inside of the casing and a cover covering the latter. Since the thickness of the magnesium or magnesium alloy material can be reduced, heat generated from a motor is dissipated satisfactorily. Heat dissipating fins are formed to the casing to promote heat dissipation and enhance the strength of the casing.