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.

Abstract: In a sheet separator of a sheet supplier, a friction separator and an electrostatic separator separate an uppermost sheet from other sheets of a plurality of sheets loaded on a sheet tray by a friction force and an attraction force generated by a non-uniform electric field, respectively. A conveyance member is provided downstream from the friction separator and the electrostatic separator in a sheet conveyance direction to feed the uppermost sheet separated by at least one of the friction separator and the electrostatic separator in the sheet conveyance direction. The friction separator and the electrostatic separator are arranged in such a manner that planes of projection of the friction separator and the electrostatic separator overlap or coincide in a direction perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction in which the conveyance member feeds the uppermost sheet.

Abstract: An optical writing device includes a dichroic mirror and a deflection beam splitter. The dichroic mirror causes a light beam to pass therethrough or reflect depending on the wavelengths of the light beam. The deflection beam splitter causes a light beam to pass therethrough or reflect depending on a direction from which the light beam is received.

Abstract: A sheet feeding device including a belt including a dielectric material seamlessly wound about rollers and disposed opposite a top surface of a stack of multiple sheets placed on a sheet storage stand to attract a sheet from the stack of multiple sheets and convey the sheet, and a charger to form a predetermined charge pattern on a surface of the belt. A shaft of one of the rollers provided downstream from the other roller in a direction of sheet feed serves as a pivot of the belt about which the belt swings, and the belt swings around the pivot such that the surface of the belt facing the top surface of the stack of multiple sheets and a surface of the sheet storage stand facing the surface of the belt are substantially parallel to each other.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carriers and an optical writing device including light sources that emit light beams of different wavelengths, a deflector that deflects the light beams emitted from the light sources and synthesized on an identical axis in a sub-scanning direction, a first beam separator, a second beam separator, a first imaging device, and a second imaging device. The first beam separator and the second beam separator are located between the first imaging device and the second imaging device and transmit or reflect the light beams according to travel directions or wavelengths thereof. One of the targets is scanned with the light beam transmitted through the second beam separator. Another target is scanned with the light beam reflected by the second and first beam separators. The first and second imaging devices narrow the beams in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, respectively.

Abstract: An optical writing device includes a dichroic mirror and a deflection beam splitter. The dichroic mirror causes a light beam to pass therethrough or reflect depending on the wavelengths of the light beam. The deflection beam splitter causes a light beam to pass therethrough or reflect depending on a direction from which the light beam is received.

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.

Abstract: An optical scanning unit includes first and second light beam generators, a deflector, a beam detector, and an optical element. The first and second light beam generators respectively emit a first and second light beam. The deflector deflects the first and second light beams in a main scanning direction and to scan a surface of first and second photosensitive members using the first and second light beams respectively. The beam detector detects both of the first and second light beams deflected by the deflector. The beam detector detects a light beam position of the first and second light beams in a sub-scanning direction. The optical element is disposed along an optical path for the first and second light beams starting from the first and second light beam generators to the deflector to set a light incoming angle striking the deflector same for the first and second light beams.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus includes a housing having a bottom plate, a photoelectric conversion element configured to convert an optical signal of light reflected by an original document to an electrical signal, and a circuit board configured to implement a circuit controlling the signal sent from the photoelectric conversion element, wherein the bottom plate of the housing forms a portion thereof facing a lower end portion of the circuit board to protrude outwardly toward a downward direction of the bottom plate of the housing so that the lower end portion of the circuit board is accommodated therein or wherein the bottom plate of the housing includes an opening portion facing the lower end portion of the circuit board so that the lower end portion of the circuit board is protruded from the opening portion in a downward direction of the bottom plate of the housing.