Abstract: An optical scanning device includes: a light source; a polygon scanner that deflects a light beam output from the light source; and various types of optical elements for focusing the light beam deflected by the polygon scanner onto a desired position on a surface to be scanned, wherein a hole or a thin-walled portion that is provided on an arrangement surface of an optical housing on which the polygon scanner and an optical element having power in a sub-scanning direction are arranged, wherein the hole or a thin-walled portion extends along a main-scanning direction, and is provided near to the optical element having power in the sub-scanning direction between the polygon scanner and the optical element having power in the sub-scanning direction.

Abstract: A light-orientation adjusting unit for use with a light-receiving member includes an optical unit, a posture control unit, a first unit supporter, and a second unit supporter. The optical unit passes through a light beam toward the light-receiving member. The posture control unit controls the posture of the optical unit to adjust an inclination of scanning line to be formed on the light-receiving member by the light beam. The first unit supporter regulates a movement of the optical unit within a given range by contacting the first unit supporter to the optical unit. The second unit supporter regulates a movement of the optical unit within a given range by contacting the second unit supporter to the optical unit. The first unit supporter including a first biasing member and second unit supporter including a second biasing member are disposed on a first and second ends of the optical unit, respectively.

Abstract: An optical scanner includes a light source, an optical element, a deflector, a casing, and a first cover. The deflector deflects the light beam emitted from the light source to scan a photoreceptor through the optical element. The casing includes an upper opening, walls including a transparent plate defining a deflector compartment to accommodate the deflector, and an optical element mounting portion to accommodate the light source and the optical element. The first cover covers the upper opening of the casing and includes a recessed portion recessed toward the bottom of the casing and including a first opening at the bottom thereof facing the deflector. The recessed portion and the walls are directly or indirectly connected to define a single continuous space isolating the deflector compartment from the optical element mounting portion. The recessed portion and the deflector compartment communicate via the first opening.

Abstract: A curvature correction device used in an optical scanning unit includes a holder and a pushing unit. The optical scanning unit includes a light beam emitter to emit a light beam, a deflection unit to deflect the light beam in a main scanning direction, and a reflection mirror to reflect the light beam. In at least one embodiment, the curvature correction device includes a holder and a pushing unit. The holder holds the reflection mirror in a state in which the reflection mirror is forcibly bent in a first direction. The pushing unit pushes the reflection mirror held by the holder to bend the reflection mirror in a second direction opposite the first direction. The curvature correction device corrects the curvature of the main scanning line by adjusting an amount at which the pushing unit pushes the reflection mirror. The holder has a stiffness larger than the reflection mirror.

Abstract: In an optical scanning apparatus, an optical element has power for predominantly correcting a position of a scanning line by scanning in a sub-scanning direction; a scanning line curvature adjusting unit adjusts a curvature of the scanning line by deforming the optical element in the sub-scanning direction; a scanning line inclination adjusting unit adjusts an inclination of the scanning line by rotating the scanning line about an axis that is at right angles to a main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction; and one automatic actuating unit each provided in the scanning line curvature adjusting unit, and the scanning line inclination adjusting unit.

Abstract: An optical scanning unit used for scanning a photoconductor includes a light source, a rotatable deflector, a driver, a scan lens, an optical element, a first casing, a second casing, a first cover, and a second cover. The rotatable deflector deflects a light beam generated by the light source to scan a surface of the photoconductor. The driver rotates the rotatable deflector. The scan lens converts the light beam deflected by the rotatable deflector with equiangular motion speed to a light beam having constant speed motion. The optical element is disposed along an optical path from the scan lens to the photoconductor surface. The first casing houses the light source, the rotatable deflector, and the scan lens. The second casing houses the first casing and the optical element. The first cover covers at least the first casing. The second cover covers the optical element housed in the second casing.

Abstract: An optical scanner for writing an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier includes a scanning optical system that forms an optical scanning path, a pair of optical detecting units arranged at two positions on the optical scanning path for detecting a write-start position and a write-end position to measure a time for scanning from the write-start position to the write-end position, and an optical housing that houses at least the scanning optical system and the optical detecting units. The optical detecting units are mounted on the optical housing via an intermediate member having a thermal expansion coefficient smaller than that of the optical housing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member having a photosensitive surface and an optical writing apparatus generating a laser beam modulated according to image data. The optical writing apparatus includes a housing, an optical deflector, an f-theta lens and a separator. The optical deflector is configured to rotate to deflect the laser beam. The f-theta lens is configured to correct the laser beam deflected by the optical deflector and to transmit a corrected laser beam towards the image bearing member. The separator is configured to separate an inside space of the housing into at least two sections including a first section in which the optical deflector is mounted and a second section in which the f-theta lens is mounted. The separator includes a heat resistant transparent plate disposed at a position of crossing passage of the laser beam between the optical deflector and the f-theta lens.

Abstract: An optical scanner for writing an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier includes a scanning optical system that forms an optical scanning path, a pair of optical detecting units arranged at two positions on the optical scanning path for detecting a write-start position and a write-end position to measure a time for scanning from the write-start position to the write-end position, and an optical housing that houses at least the scanning optical system and the optical detecting units. The optical detecting units are mounted on the optical housing via an intermediate member having a thermal expansion coefficient smaller than that of the optical housing.

Abstract: An optical scanner for writing an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier includes a scanning optical system that forms an optical scanning path, a pair of optical detecting units arranged at two positions on the optical scanning path for detecting a write-start position and a write-end position to measure a time for scanning from the write-start position to the write-end position, and an optical housing that houses at least the scanning optical system and the optical detecting units. The optical detecting units are mounted on the optical housing via an intermediate member having a thermal expansion coefficient smaller than that of the optical housing.

Abstract: A light-orientation adjusting unit for use with a light-receiving member includes an optical unit, a posture control unit, a first unit supporter, and a second unit supporter. The optical unit passes through a light beam toward the light-receiving member. The posture control unit controls the posture of the optical unit to adjust an inclination of scanning line to be formed on the light-receiving member by the light beam. The first unit supporter regulates a movement of the optical unit within a given range by contacting the first unit supporter to the optical unit. The second unit supporter regulates a movement of the optical unit within a given range by contacting the second unit supporter to the optical unit. The first unit supporter including a first biasing member and second unit supporter including a second biasing member are disposed on a first and second ends of the optical unit, respectively.

Abstract: In an optical scanning apparatus, an optical element has power for predominantly correcting a position of a scanning line by scanning in a sub-scanning direction; a scanning line curvature adjusting unit adjusts a curvature of the scanning line by deforming the optical element in the sub-scanning direction; a scanning line inclination adjusting unit adjusts an inclination of the scanning line by rotating the scanning line about an axis that is at right angles to a main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction; and one automatic actuating unit each provided in the scanning line curvature adjusting unit, and the scanning line inclination adjusting unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image bearing member having a photosensitive surface and an optical writing apparatus generating a laser beam modulated according to image data. The optical writing apparatus includes a housing, an optical deflector, an f-theta lens and a separator. The optical deflector is configured to rotate to deflect the laser beam. The f-theta lens is configured to correct the laser beam deflected by the optical deflector and to transmit a corrected laser beam towards the image bearing member. The separator is configured to separate an inside space of the housing into at least two sections including a first section in which the optical deflector is mounted and a second section in which the f-theta lens is mounted. The separator includes a heat resistant transparent plate disposed at a position of crossing passage of the laser beam between the optical deflector and the f-theta lens.

Abstract: An optical scanner for writing an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier includes a scanning optical system that forms an optical scanning path, a pair of optical detecting units arranged at two positions on the optical scanning path for detecting a write-start position and a write-end position to measure a time for scanning from the write-start position to the write-end position, and an optical housing that houses at least the scanning optical system and the optical detecting units. The optical detecting units are mounted on the optical housing via an intermediate member having a thermal expansion coefficient smaller than that of the optical housing.