Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a plurality of members for forming an image; a transmitting unit configured to transmit a sonic wave; a receiving unit configured to receive a first sonic wave that has been transmitted from the transmitting unit and has passed through a sheet and a second sonic wave that is generated from at least one of the plurality of members; a detection unit configured to detect information regarding a type or state of the sheet based on the first sonic wave; and a determination unit configured to determine a state of a member that has generated the second sonic wave based on the second sonic wave.

Abstract: A recording material determination apparatus includes a transmission unit, a reception unit, and a determination unit. The transmission unit transmits an ultrasonic wave to a recording material. The reception unit vibrates when the reception unit receives the ultrasonic wave having been transmitted from the transmission unit and having passed through the recording material, and outputs a signal corresponding to a vibration state. The determination unit determines a basis weight of the recording material in accordance with the signal output from the reception unit. A resonance frequency of the reception unit differs from a resonance frequency of the transmission unit, and the reception unit is capable of receiving a sound wave in an ultrasonic range and a sound wave in an audible range.

Abstract: A collimator lens to be held by a holder member, includes a lens portion including an area through which light passes, and a protruding portion protruding from the lens portion. The lens portion is formed on an outer peripheral surface of the collimator lens and includes a bonded portion to be bonded and fixed onto a bonding portion, which is formed on the holder member, through an adhesive. The protruding portion includes a plane formed on an outer peripheral surface of the protruding portion. The plane is formed at a position where a normal line to the plane intersects with the bonded portion.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes a light source for emitting a beam in accordance with image information; a controller substrate for controlling the light source; a deflector for scanningly deflecting the beam; an optical device for directing the deflected beam onto a member-to-be-scanned; a casing supporting the substrate, the deflector and the optical device, wherein the substrate is provided with a projected portion projecting relative to the casing; and a connector for removably connecting a cable for supplying a signal to the light source, the connector being provided on a side of the projected portion where the controller substrate is supported by the casing. The cable is insertable and removable relative to the connector in a direction parallel with a surface of the projected portion provided with the connector.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes a light source for emitting a beam in accordance with image information; a controller substrate for controlling the light source; a deflector for scanningly deflecting the beam; a optical device for directing the deflected beam onto a member-to-be-scanned; a casing supporting the substrate, the deflector and the optical device, wherein the substrate is provided with a projected portion projecting relative to the casing; and a connector for removably connecting a cable for supplying a signal to the light source, the connector being provided on a side of the projected portion where the controller substrate is supported by the casing. The cable is insertable and removable relative to the connector in a direction parallel with a surface of the projected portion provided with the connector.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes first and second light source units including respective light sources; a rotating polygon mirror that performs deflection scanning of laser beams emitted from the light sources included in the first and second light source units; and a positioning member including a first abutting portion on which the first light source unit abuts and a second abutting portion on which the second light source unit abuts, the positioning member positioning the first and second light source units. The first and second light source units are positioned by the positioning member and arranged next to each other in a rotation axis direction of the rotating polygon mirror. The positioning member is a single member disposed between the first and second light source units in the rotation axis direction.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes the optical scanning apparatus configured to scan a surface of an image bearing member provided in an image forming apparatus body with a laser beam. The optical scanning apparatus is inserted through an insertion opening formed in a frame member of the image forming apparatus body and supported by a support member mounted to the frame member. A housing of the optical scanning apparatus has an opening that allows passage of the laser beam, and includes a transparent dustproof member that covers the opening. On the surface side of the housing on which the dustproof member is provided, a plurality of projecting portions projecting with respect to the dustproof member are provided.

Abstract: Six first holes into which lead pins of a first semiconductor laser are inserted are arranged to form a parallelogram having line segments each connecting two first holes arranged in an X direction as first short sides, and line segments each connecting three first holes arranged in an intersecting direction intersecting with the X direction as first long sides. Six second holes into which lead pins of a second semiconductor laser are inserted are arranged to form a parallelogram having line segments each connecting two second holes arranged in the X direction as second short sides, and line segments each connecting three second holes arranged in the intersecting direction intersecting with the X direction as second long sides.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes first and second light source units including respective light sources; a rotating polygon mirror that performs deflection scanning of laser beams emitted from the light sources included in the first and second light source units; and a positioning member including a first abutting portion on which the first light source unit abuts and a second abutting portion on which the second light source unit abuts, the positioning member positioning the first and second light source units. The first and second light source units are positioned by the positioning member and arranged next to each other in a rotation axis direction of the rotating polygon mirror. The positioning member is a single member disposed between the first and second light source units in the rotation axis direction.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes first and second light source units including respective light sources; a rotating polygon mirror that performs deflection scanning of laser beams emitted from the light sources included in the first and second light source units; and a positioning member including a first abutting portion on which the first light source unit abuts and a second abutting portion on which the second light source unit abuts, the positioning member positioning the first and second light source units. The first and second light source units are positioned by the positioning member and arranged next to each other in a rotation axis direction of the rotating polygon mirror. The positioning member is a single member disposed between the first and second light source units in the rotation axis direction.

Abstract: The image forming apparatus includes the optical scanning apparatus configured to scan a surface of an image bearing member provided in an image forming apparatus body with a laser beam. The optical scanning apparatus is inserted through an insertion opening formed in a frame member of the image forming apparatus body and supported by a support member mounted to the frame member. A housing of the optical scanning apparatus has an opening that allows passage of the laser beam, and includes a transparent dustproof member that covers the opening. On the surface side of the housing on which the dustproof member is provided, a plurality of projecting portions projecting with respect to the dustproof member are provided.

Abstract: Six first holes into which lead pins of a first semiconductor laser are inserted are arranged to form a parallelogram having line segments each connecting two first holes arranged in an X direction as first short sides, and line segments each connecting three first holes arranged in an intersecting direction intersecting with the X direction as first long sides. Six second holes into which lead pins of a second semiconductor laser are inserted are arranged to form a parallelogram having line segments each connecting two second holes arranged in the X direction as second short sides, and line segments each connecting three second holes arranged in the intersecting direction intersecting with the X direction as second long sides.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes first and second light source units including respective light sources; a rotating polygon mirror that performs deflection scanning of laser beams emitted from the light sources included in the first and second light source units; and a positioning member including a first abutting portion on which the first light source unit abuts and a second abutting portion on which the second light source unit abuts, the positioning member positioning the first and second light source units. The first and second light source units are positioned by the positioning member and arranged next to each other in a rotation axis direction of the rotating polygon mirror. The positioning member is a single member disposed between the first and second light source units in the rotation axis direction.

Abstract: During one cycle of reciprocating operation of a MEMS mirror, a light receiving sensor detects a falling time at which a laser beam reflected by an upstream-of-sensor mirror and scanned in one direction passes an edge of a regulation portion, and a rising time at which the laser beam scanned in the other opposed direction passes the edge of the regulation portion. A controller executes an arithmetic operation on the basis of the two times detected by the light receiving sensor and controls the operation of the MEMS mirror, which is performed by the driver, such that the detected two times are held at respective setting times.

Abstract: During one cycle of reciprocating operation of a MEMS mirror, a light receiving sensor detects a falling time at which a laser beam reflected by an upstream-of-sensor mirror and scanned in one direction passes an edge of a regulation portion, and a rising time at which the laser beam scanned in the other opposed direction passes the edge of the regulation portion. A controller executes an arithmetic operation on the basis of the two times detected by the light receiving sensor and controls the operation of the MEMS mirror, which is performed by the driver, such that the detected two times are held at respective setting times.

Abstract: To provide an optical scanning apparatus which is strong against an external stress while suppressing an increase in the number of parts, an inserting portion 6 into which a laser light source unit 1 can be inserted is provided for a frame member 5. In a state where the laser light source unit 1 has been inserted into the inserting portion 6, the laser light source unit 1 and the inserting portion 6 of the frame member 5 are interference-fitted in two positions (front edge side fitting portion 4a and front edge side contact portion 6a; root side fitting portion 4b and root side contact portion 6b) which are away from each other in an optical axial direction.

Abstract: To provide an optical scanning apparatus which is strong against an external stress while suppressing an increase in the number of parts, an inserting portion 6 into which a laser light source unit 1 can be inserted is provided for a frame member 5. In a state where the laser light source unit 1 has been inserted into the inserting portion 6, the laser light source unit 1 and the inserting portion 6 of the frame member 5 are interference-fitted in two positions (front edge side fitting portion 4a and front edge side contact portion 6a; root side fitting portion 4b and root side contact portion 6b) which are away from each other in an optical axial direction.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus for mounting in an image forming apparatus having plural photosensitive members, includes: a semiconductor laser chip having plural light emission points; and deflection device which deflects plural laser beams emitted from the semiconductor laser chip; wherein the semiconductor laser chip is a vertical cavity surface emitting laser for emitting a laser beam in a direction perpendicular to a substrate plane of the chip, and, a first laser beam group constituted at least of two laser beams, among plural laser beams deflected by the deflection device, enters a first photosensitive member while a second laser beam group constituted at least of two laser beams other than the first laser beam group, among plural laser beams deflected by the deflection device, enters a second photosensitive member; and wherein a distance d2 between a first light emission point group emitting the first laser beam group on the semiconductor laser chip and a second light emission point group emitting t

Abstract: A multi-beam scanning optical system includes a plurality of light sources, a deflecting unit which deflects a plurality of laser beams emitted from the light sources, and a scanning optical unit which focuses the laser beams deflected by the deflecting unit onto the surface of a photosensitive member. The scanning optical unit is set such that lateral chromatic aberration is overcorrected. In addition, among angles formed between each laser beam incident on the surface of the photosensitive member and the normal at the surface of the photosensitive member in a sub-scanning direction, the oscillation wavelength of the light source that emits a laser beam forming the minimum angle is set to a value smaller than the oscillation wavelength of the light source that emits a laser beam forming the maximum angle.

Abstract: A scanning optical device has a first light source unit for generating a plurality of light beams, a second light source unit for generating at least one light beam, and a deflecting scanner for deflecting by a reflecting surface the light beams generated by the first and second light source units to scan a member to be scanned. The positions of the plurality of laser beams generated by the first light source unit are different from each other in a scanning direction in which the deflecting scanner scans, and the at least one light beam generated by the second light source unit is positioned between the plurality of light beams generated by the first light source unit in the scanning direction.