Abstract: A light beam scanning device scans a luminous flux irradiated from a light source and deflected by a deflector to a scanned surface through an optical system having a set of mirrors. A apparatus, such as the light beam scanning device, further includes a scanning line curve adjusting device to bend a first mirror of the set of mirrors so as to correct a curve in a scanning line on the scanned surface, and a scanning line tilt adjusting device to change orientation of a second mirror of the set of mirrors so as to correct a tilt in the scanning line on the scanned surface. The light beam scanning device may be provided in an image forming apparatus.

Abstract: A printed matter delivery system, in which a printed matter delivery apparatus delivers printed matter having an image formed by an image forming apparatus is provided. The system includes a print management unit managing a print job performed by the image forming apparatus; a delivery management unit managing a delivery job performed by the printed matter delivery apparatus; a delivery authentication processing unit performing a matching confirmation process to determine whether authentication information of the delivery job matches authentication information of the print job; a print controlling unit causing the image forming apparatus to generate the printed matter based on the print job authenticated by the delivery authentication processing unit and to output the printed matter to the printed matter delivery apparatus; and a receipt confirmation unit obtaining receipt information input into the printed matter delivery apparatus at a delivery destination.

Abstract: A printed matter delivery system, in which a printed matter delivery apparatus delivers printed matter having an image formed by an image forming apparatus is provided. The system includes a print management unit managing a print job performed by the image forming apparatus; a delivery management unit managing a delivery job performed by the printed matter delivery apparatus; a delivery authentication processing unit performing a matching confirmation process to determine whether authentication information of the delivery job matches authentication information of the print job; a print controlling unit causing the image forming apparatus to generate the printed matter based on the print job authenticated by the delivery authentication processing unit and to output the printed matter to the printed matter delivery apparatus; and a receipt confirmation unit obtaining receipt information input into the printed matter delivery apparatus at a delivery destination.

Abstract: An optical scanning unit may include a light source unit configured to emit a light beam, an optical housing configured to receive and support the light source unit, an optical device configured to deflect the light beam and to focus the light beam on a light receiving member, and a fixing member configured to fix the light source unit to the optical housing by applying pressure to the light source unit, wherein the pressure is applied in a direction, which is substantially perpendicular to an optical axis direction of the light source unit.

Abstract: A light beam scanning device scans a luminous flux irradiated from a light source and deflected by a deflector to a scanned surface through an optical system having a set of mirrors. A apparatus, such as the light beam scanning device, further includes a scanning line curve adjusting device to bend a first mirror of the set of mirrors so as to correct a curve in a scanning line on the scanned surface, and a scanning line tilt adjusting device to change orientation of a second mirror of the set of mirrors so as to correct a tilt in the scanning line on the scanned surface. The light beam scanning device may be provided in an image forming apparatus.

Abstract: An optical scanning unit may include a light source unit configured to emit a light beam, an optical housing configured to receive and support the light source unit, an optical device configured to deflect the light beam and to focus the light beam on a light receiving member, and a fixing member configured to fix the light source unit to the optical housing by applying pressure to the light source unit, wherein the pressure is applied in a direction, which is substantially perpendicular to an optical axis direction of the light source unit.

Abstract: An optical scanning unit may include a light source unit configured to emit a light beam, an optical housing configured to receive and support the light source unit, an optical device configured to deflect the light beam and to focus the light beam on a light receiving member, and a fixing member configured to fix the light source unit to the optical housing by applying pressure to the light source unit, wherein the pressure is applied in a direction, which is substantially perpendicular to an optical axis direction of the light source unit.

Abstract: An optical scanning device including a light beam emission unit configured to emit a light beam, a main scanning line deflection unit configured to deflect the light beam in a main scanning direction to emit a scanning beam, a scanning lens configured to focus the scanning beam in the main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction, a reflective optical element configured to deflect the scanning beam, a tilt adjustment unit configured to change a position of the reflective optical element to adjust a tilt of a scanning line of the scanning beam irradiating a target to be irradiated, and a curve adjustment unit configured to bend the reflective optical element to adjust a curve in the scanning line of the scanning beam irradiating the target to be irradiated.

Abstract: An optical scanning device, that outputs a light beam through an emission window in an optical housing to scan a surface, may include a shutter member that closes or opens the emission window. The shutter member may include a first opening, that may allow the light beam passed through the emission window to pass the first opening, and a second opening, that may be at a position corresponding to an insertion operation of a cleaning member for cleaning the emission window. The shutter member may include a first opening, that may be on a front surface of the shutter member to allow the light beam passed through the emission window to pass the first opening, and a second opening, that may be on a side surface of the shutter member to allow a cleaning member to be inserted through the second opening for cleaning the emission window.

Abstract: An optical scanning unit of an image forming apparatus may include: an optical housing configured to include at least one optical part and to have a light-beam emitting aperture through which a light beam can emanate from the optical housing; a shutter configured to cover the light-beam emitting aperture; and a driving unit configured to drive the shutter to and fro, thus opening and closing the light-beam emitting aperture. Such a driving unit further can operate to coordinate at least one of the opening and the closing to occur after activation and before deactivation of a writing operation conducted by the optical scanning unit, respectively.

Abstract: An optical scanner includes a rotation control unit to change a number of revolutions of a rotary deflector to change a ratio of a scan speed of a light beam scanned on the surface of a latent image bearing member to a linear velocity of the latent image bearing member in accordance with a change in a linear velocity of the latent image bearing member, an inclination adjustment unit to adjust inclination of a scan line relative to a reference scan line on the latent image bearing member, an inclination adjustment unit controller to adjust the inclination adjustment unit based on the ratio, and a scan initiation unit to initiate scanning of the light beam on the surface of the latent image bearing member after adjustment of inclination is completed and the rotary deflector starts rotating at a constant speed for writing a latent image.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an electrostatic latent image carrier, and an optical writing device including at least one light source, at least one aperture, at least one light shield, a light deflector, an image forming lens, and a housing. The aperture adjusts a light beam generated by the light source into a reference shape. The light shield shields an optical path formed between the light source and the aperture by the light beam. The light deflector deflects the light beam to scan in a main scanning direction. The image forming lens focuses the deflected light beam to scan on the surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier to form an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the electrostatic latent image carrier. The housing contains the light source, the light deflector, and the image forming lens. The housing is integrally molded with the aperture and the light shield.

Abstract: An optical writing unit, e.g., that can be included in an image forming apparatus includes a housing within which are disposed additional components of the optical writing unit including the following, a plurality of optical elements, a polygon mirror configured to deflect a laser light beam, and a collecting member configured to collect dust in the housing.

Abstract: A curvature-adjustment device used for an optical scanner that includes an optical beam emission unit to emit an optical beam, a deflection unit to deflect the optical beam in a main scanning direction and a mirror to reflect the optical beam. The curvature-adjustment device corrects a curvature of a main scanning line on a surface of a scanning target, and includes a support unit to support the mirror at an end thereof by contacting a rear surface of the mirror, an edge-positioned adjustment unit to curve the mirror by exerting a first force, a center-positioned adjustment unit to curve the mirror reversely in a direction to which the edge-positioned adjustment unit curves the mirror by providing a second force perpendicular to the reflecting surface at a center of the mirror, and a fine adjustment unit to adjust the strength of the first force depending on the strength of the second force.

Abstract: An optical scanner scans a plurality of objects respectively with optical beams and includes a deflector assembly including at least one deflecting unit that deflects the optical beams in a main scanning direction and a plurality of reflection optical systems each including a plurality of reflection mirrors to reflect one of the optical beams and a curvature adjustment unit. The curvature adjustment unit forcibly curves one of the reflection mirrors in a direction opposite the main scanning direction with a holder structure, pushes the reflection mirror in a direction opposite the direction of the forcible curve with a pressure unit, and adjusts a direction and an amount of curvature of a main scanning line by adjusting an amount that the pressure unit deforms the reflection mirror. The main scanning lines on the plurality of objects are curved in a similar direction due to the forcible curve of the reflection mirror.

Abstract: An image reading apparatus is equipped with an optical unit. Just prior to shifting to a low power-consumption mode, the optical unit is shifted to a low power-consumption position that is different from a home position.

Abstract: An optical scanner scans a plurality of objects respectively with optical beams and includes a deflector assembly including at least one deflecting unit that deflects the optical beams in a main scanning direction and a plurality of reflection optical systems each including a plurality of reflection mirrors to reflect one of the optical beams and a curvature adjustment unit. The curvature adjustment unit forcibly curves one of the reflection mirrors in a direction opposite the main scanning direction with a holder structure, pushes the reflection mirror in a direction opposite the direction of the forcible curve with a pressure unit, and adjusts a direction and an amount of curvature of a main scanning line by adjusting an amount that the pressure unit deforms the reflection mirror. The main scanning lines on the plurality of objects are curved in a similar direction due to the forcible curve of the reflection mirror.

Abstract: An optical scanning device including a light beam emission unit configured to emit a light beam, a main scanning line deflection unit configured to deflect the light beam in a main scanning direction to emit a scanning beam, a scanning lens configured to focus the scanning beam in the main scanning direction and a sub-scanning direction, a reflective optical element configured to deflect the scanning beam, a tilt adjustment unit configured to change a position of the reflective optical element to adjust a tilt of a scanning line of the scanning beam irradiating a target to be irradiated, and a curve adjustment unit configured to bend the reflective optical element to adjust a curve in the scanning line of the scanning beam irradiating the target to be irradiated.

Abstract: An optical-scanning apparatus is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the optical-scanning apparatus includes a light deflector to deflect a beam from a light source; and an optical housing including a scanning-image optical system to focus the beam to scan a photo conductive photo receptor therewith as a light spot. The optical housing includes a collection member to collect particulate materials. The collection member includes a structure combining or overlapping plural sheet-shaped members, each including a highly-chargeable electrostatic absorption filter. Alternatively, the collection member includes an electrostatic absorption filter and a breathable sheet-shaped member covering almost all the surface of the electrostatic absorption filter.

Abstract: An optical-scanning apparatus is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the optical-scanning apparatus includes a light deflector to deflect a beam from a light source; and an optical housing including a scanning-image optical system to focus the beam to scan a photo conductive photo receptor therewith as a light spot. The optical housing includes a collection member to collect particulate materials. The collection member includes a structure combining or overlapping plural sheet-shaped members, each including a highly-chargeable electrostatic absorption filter. Alternatively, the collection member includes an electrostatic absorption filter and a breathable sheet-shaped member covering almost all the surface of the electrostatic absorption filter.