Abstract: A disclosed optical scanner includes a light source unit and a control unit configured to control the light source unit. Light emitted from the light source unit is scanned to expose a scan object surface and form an image on the scan object surface. The light source unit includes plural light sources arranged at a density equal to N (N being an integer of two or more) times higher than a density of pixels on the scan object surface. The control unit controls the light source unit such that one pixel is formed by at least two of the light sources.

Abstract: In an exposure apparatus employing an over filled optical system, the light quantity distribution on a scanning plane is kept nearly constant for a plurality of scanning light quantities. It selects the light quantity of the light beam irradiated onto the photosensitive body from a plurality of levels, and sets the light quantity selected. According to the light quantity, it selects one of a plurality of correction current profiles, and supplies a light source with a current passing through the correction based on the correction current profile selected. Since the light quantity of the light beam irradiated onto the photosensitive body is corrected by the correction current, the light quantity of the light beam on the photosensitive body becomes nearly constant in the scanning direction.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus having a photosensitive element, is provided with a light source for scanning light to the photosensitive element; a light blocking member disposed in a light traveling path of the light from the light source and moving between a blocking position where the light blocking member blocks the light scanned from the light source and a withdrawal position where the light blocking member is withdrawn from the blocking position; a power supply unit for supplying electric power to the light source for scanning light; a power switch unit for regulating power supply from the power supply unit; and an operating part locating the light blocking member at the blocking position and controlling the power switch unit to cut off the power supply in a predetermined exposure condition. As a result, a user is kept from being exposed to the light from a light source.

Abstract: The invention aims to provide an image forming apparatus digitally correcting curve and inclination of a laser beam. To this end, provided is an image forming apparatus that corrects a position shift of a scan line in a sub-scanning direction.

Abstract: Emission windows are prevented from being contaminated and are cleaned easily. The emission windows for emitting light beams are disposed on a housing of a laser exposure device having optical elements arranged inside for exposing a photoreceptor, and the upper surface of the housing is provided with a slidable shutter with openings. An image forming apparatus includes guide rails independent of the laser exposure device to movably guide predetermined cleaning brushes in the longitudinal direction of the emission windows. When the cleaning brushes are mounted on the guide rails and moved toward the inner side of the apparatus, the cleaning brushes touch a slant portion of a rib and the shutter is moved to the right to align the openings with the emission windows. While the cleaning brushes touch a longitudinally extending portion, the emission windows are exposed to enable the cleaning of the exposed window using the cleaning tool.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the invention, a control method for an exposure shutter of an image forming apparatus includes, opening the shutter only to a slit glass for monochrome when monochrome printing is performed, and opening the shutter to slit glasses for monochrome and color when color printing is performed.

Abstract: An exposure apparatus which forms a pattern on an object. The apparatus includes an exposure head structure in which a plurality of elemental exposure units are arrayed, each elemental exposure unit including (i) at least one light source for emitting exposure light and (ii) an optical element which forms an image of the at least one light source on the object, for exposing the object. Positions of the images of the at least one light source in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the object include plural positions different from each other. A sensor detects a position of the surface of the object and produces a detection result. A controller receives the detection result and controls the exposure head structure such that a pattern is formed on the object by the exposure is selected to expose the object based on the detection result by the sensor.

Abstract: The exposure apparatus is provided with: an optical member; and a holding member that holds the optical member. Both end portions of the optical member are held by the holding member with a first adhering unit that is cured by light irradiation for first duration and a second adhering unit that is cured by light irradiation for second duration which is longer than the first duration.

Abstract: A disclosed optical path switching device includes a polarization bistable VCSEL that emits a beam having a rising polarization plane, a laser light source configured to emit a beam having a polarization plane orthogonal to the rising polarization plane, and an optical path switching unit configured to switch an optical path of the beam emitted from the polarization bistable VCSEL by switching the angle of the rising polarization plane of the beam emitted from the polarization bistable VCSEL. The beam emitted from the polarization bistable VCSEL is incident on an entrance window of the optical path switching unit, and the beam emitted from the laser light source is incident on an exit window of the polarization bistable VCSEL.

Abstract: A disclosed device for optically scanning a target surface includes a light source unit configured to emit a light beam; a light intensity detecting unit; a coupling unit configured to substantially collimate the emitted light beam; a beam limiting unit configured to limit the amount of the collimated light beam; a beam splitting unit configured to split the beam limited light beam and thereby to cause a first portion of the beam limited light beam to enter the light intensity detecting unit, wherein the light intensity detecting unit is configured to detect the intensity of the first portion of the beam limited light beam; and a beam deflecting unit configured to deflect a second portion of the split light beam toward the target surface. In the disclosed device, the beam limiting unit and the beam splitting unit are integrated as a single unitary structure and positioned between the coupling unit and the light deflecting unit.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a light source that emits a light beam; a photosensitive member; a brushless motor including a stator where a plurality of coils are placed and a rotor where a plurality of magnets are placed; a rotary polygon mirror, which is rotated by the brushless motor, and which periodically deflects the light beam emitted from the light source to sequentially form scanning lines on the photosensitive member; an energization switching unit that turns on and off energizations of the coils; a voltage detecting unit that outputs a detection signal based on induced voltages that are generated in the coils by rotation of the rotor; and a control unit that controls turning on/off of the energizations by the energization switching unit based on the detection signal.

Abstract: An optical scanner includes a light source, a polygon mirror, an optical member, a casing, and an exit hole cover. The light source emits a light beam. The polygon mirror rotates and deflects the light beam to be scanned in a scanning direction. The optical member focuses the light beam deflected by the polygon mirror onto a scanning target. The casing houses the polygon mirror and the optical member and includes a first wall portion having a wall inner surface opposing the polygon mirror and the optical member and a wall outer surface opposing the scanning target. The first wall portion is formed with an exit hole through which the light beam is irradiated toward the scanning target. The exit hole cover is formed of a light transmissible member and is disposed on the wall outer surface to cover the exit hole.

Abstract: An optical scanning unit irradiates a polygon mirror with a plurality of light beams emitted from a light source according to image data, and scans and exposes a plurality of photoreceptors with the plurality of light beams as scanning lights. The optical scanning unit comprises a primary optical system unit including an optical system that emits the plurality of light beams, which are emitted from the light source toward the polygon mirror, and a secondary optical system unit including an optical system that emits the light beams, which are reflected by the polygon mirror toward the photoreceptors. The arrangement is such that the primary optical system unit is fitted removably to the secondary optical system unit, and that a combined unit of the primary optical system unit and the secondary optical system unit is removably fitted to an image forming apparatus having the photoreceptors.

Abstract: An image-forming device has cylindrical image-carrying members, and an optical scanning unit. The cylindrical image-carrying members are in a main casing for rotating about respective rotational axes which are parallel to one another and juxtaposed in a single direction. The optical scanning unit is in the main casing and has laser generators, a rotatable polygon mirror, mirrors, and lenses. The laser generators have a one-to-one relationship to the image-carrying members to emit laser beams. The rotatable polygon mirror deflects the respective laser beams to scan the respective image-carrying members. The mirrors have a one-to-one relationship to the image-carrying members to guide the respective laser beams along respective optical paths to the respective image-carrying members. The lenses have a one-to-one relationship to the plurality of image-carrying members provided in the respective optical paths and between the respective mirrors and the respective image-carrying members.

Abstract: In an optical beam scanning apparatus and an image forming apparatus equipped with the optical beam scanning apparatus of the present invention, plural optical members that irradiate scanning lines by laser beams (beams) emitted from plural light sources individually onto corresponding photoconductive drums are disposed within an optical unit housing and a housing cover, a fixing mechanism configured to fix part of a parallel plate provided within the optical unit housing and the housing cover is provided, and a twist angle adjusting mechanism configured to adjust an angle of twist of the parallel plate by rotating, in a specific direction, the parallel plate having the part thereof being fixed with the fixing mechanism is provided. According to the optical beam scanning apparatus and the image forming apparatus equipped with the optical beam scanning apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to adjust the curve and the inclination of the scanning line with ease and at high accuracy.

Abstract: An imaging system comprises a laser source for emitting a beam, a photoconductive surface, a scanning device and a controller. The controller designates at least a first part and a second part of each line of image data, corresponding to a first part and a second part of each associated sweep of the beam. The laser source is modulated based upon the first part of the line of image data during the first part of a first one of the associated sweeps of the beam. The laser source is not modulated according to image data for the second part of the first one of the sweeps. During the first part of a second one of the associated sweeps of the beam, the laser source is not modulated based upon image data. However, the laser source is modulated based upon the second part of the line of image data during the second part of the second one of the sweeps.

Abstract: An optical head is adapted to form an electrostatic latent image on an image carrier. A transparent substrate has a first face adapted to oppose the image carrier and a second face opposing the first face. An organic EL photo emitter is disposed so as to oppose the second face of the substrate. In the photo emitter, a light emitting layer is adapted to emit light irradiating the image carrier to form the electrostatic latent image. An electrode layer is laminated on the light emitting layer. A reflection reducer eliminates stray light generated when the light emitted from the light emitting layer is reflected by at least the electrode layer.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a printing apparatus using an order-separation type optical modulator. The printing apparatus includes an illumination lens system, a diffraction type optical modulator, a filter system, and a projection system. The illumination lens system converts light, which is output from a light source, into linear light and outputs linear, parallel light, the diffraction type optical modulator performs desired modulation on the linear, parallel light emitted from the illumination lens system and forms diffracted light having a plurality of diffraction orders.

Abstract: A rotary drive apparatus includes a rotary body with a support portion, a rotor magnet supported by the support portion of the rotary body, a fixation section facing the rotor magnet and rotatably supporting the rotary body, and a winding coil provided in the fixation section, in which an expression E1/E2?0.75 is satisfied where Young's modulus of the rotor magnet is E1 [GPa], and Young's modulus of the support portion is E2 [GPa].

Abstract: The optical scanning apparatus includes a light amount reducing filter such as a neutral density filter which has transmittance ?nd satisfying an expression ?nd=(W1/W0)/(?AOM×?ref×?tra) and a light amount reducing function using absorption or reflection and which is disposed between a laser light source and an AOM on an optical path of laser light beam. In the expression, W0 denotes the amount of light emitted from the laser light source, W1 denotes the amount of light required for recording on a recording medium, ?AOM denotes diffraction efficiency in the AOM, ?ref denotes a sum of reflectances of reflective optical elements located between the laser light source and a surface to be scanned, of the recording medium, and ?tra denotes a sum of transmittances of transmissive optical elements located between the laser light source and the surface to be scanned, other than transmittance of the neutral density filter.

Abstract: An exposure device is provided with a shutter member having a slit. The shutter member is provided between a member to be scanned and a housing of a main device unit that has an optical transmission member. The shutter member is freely movable between an open position at which the slit is in opposition to the optical transmission member and a shut position at which the slit is not in opposition to the optical transmission member, and a light beam is irradiated through the optical transmission member and the slit to the member to be scanned. Furthermore, in the exposure device, a depressed portion is provided below the slit, and an aperture portion of the depressed portion is in opposition to the slit at least in a state where the shutter member is moved to the shut position at which a light path of the light beam is shut.

Abstract: An electro-optical apparatus including: an electro-optical panel on which a plurality of electro-optical devices are arranged; a focusing lens which focuses light emitted from the electro-optical devices; an optically transparent spacer which is interposed between the electro-optical panel and the focusing lens and contacts the electro-optical panel and the focusing lens; and a frame which has a first facing surface facing a first surface which is a surface of the spacer on the side of the focusing lens, wherein the first surface contacts the first facing surface.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus can satisfactorily correct a field curvature caused by spherical aberration in an incidence optical system. A light beam emitted from a light source is guided to an optical deflector for deflecting the light beam through a first optical system having a collimating operation, and a second optical system including a surface having a beam expanding operation and an aspherical operation for compensating for aberration in order. When the light beam deflected by the optical deflector is guided to a surface to be scanned through a third optical system, the light beam emitted from the light source is converted into a nearly collimated light beam through the first and second optical systems within a main scanning cross-section and is made incident on a deflecting surface of the optical deflector to make its width wider than that of the deflecting surface thereof in a main scanning direction.

Abstract: An optical scanning device for scanning plural surfaces including a plurality of laser light units each configured to emit a laser beam, a deflecting device configured to deflect the laser beams from the plurality laser light units to sweep a plurality of predetermined planes, respectively, and a scanning image forming optical unit configured to project the laser beams deflected by the deflecting device on the plural surfaces, respectively, to scan the plural surfaces with the laser beams. The scanning image forming optical unit includes a plurality of optical detecting devices configured to detect the laser beams and a first plurality of reflecting devices positioned to reflect at least two laser beams of the laser beams toward one of the plurality of optical detecting devices.

Abstract: An 8-bit (256 gradient) image is represented using a driver IC of 6-bit (64 gradient) construction to drive a plurality of arrayed optical shutter elements. The image data are divided into 64 gradient sections, synchronized by shift clock signals, and transmitted in four cycles to the shift register. The optical shutter element is not turned OFF at the 64th pulse, but is continuously driven without transmitting to the comparator the standard clock signal of the 64th pulse, which controls the ON time of the optical shutter element. In this way, an image of a higher number of gradient levels can be represented using a driver IC of a low number of bits, thereby providing a solid state scanning type optical recording device which suppresses noise generation by reducing the load on the driver IC when driving at multi-level gradient.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical beam scanning device and an image forming apparatus capable of restraining the light amount irregularity in the main scanning direction in the image plane. An optical beam scanning device of the present invention is for having a light beam with the width in the main scanning direction wider than the width in the main scanning direction of the reflection surface of a deflector incident on the deflector, reflecting and polarizing a part thereof by the reflection surface of the deflector, and focusing the polarized light beam on a surface to be scanned by optical means including a transmission type optical member. Then, the polarization direction of the light beam incident on the deflector is substantially in the main scanning direction.

Abstract: A device for holding a sheetlike article on a movable underlying surface for transporting the sheetlike article in at least one direction selected from the group consisting of a direction into and a direction out of an operating station having a printing unit, includes a member having a surface underlying the sheetlike article, the sheetlike article being retainable by pneumatic pressure on the surface, a screening device disposed locally fixedly with respect to an operating station, the screening device serving for reducing an airflow in a region of the printing unit at least with respect to adjacent regions, the reduction in the airflow resulting from the sheetlike article being held on the underlying surface.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical beam scanning device and an image forming apparatus capable of restraining the light amount irregularity in the main scanning direction in the image plane.

Abstract: Disclosed in a multi-beam optical scanning apparatus which includes a light source unit including a plurality of radiation points disposed with being spaced from each other in a main scanning direction, and a deflecting unit for deflecting a plurality of light beams radiated from the light source unit toward a surface to be scanned.

Abstract: A liquid container containing ink, which is detachably mountable to a carriage, the improvement residing in the provision of an optical medium to which information is writable using visible light and from which the information is readable.

Abstract: A laser scanning unit and an electrophotographic image forming apparatus adopting the same include a plurality of photogenerators emitting parallel lights, a plurality of rotatable polygonal mirrors which deflect the lights emitted from the photogenerators in a main scanning direction having a range of a predetermined angle to scan the lights onto photosensitive media proceeding in a sub scanning direction, the rotatable polygonal mirrors stacked on a driving unit to match corresponding ones of the photogenerators and coupled with a rotation shaft of the driving unit to rotate therewith, a plurality of first lenses which are installed in light paths between the photogenerators and the rotatable polygonal mirrors, respectively, and collect the lights in the sub scanning direction, and a plurality of second lenses which collect the lights deflected by the rotatable polygonal mirrors on corresponding ones of the photosensitive media.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes a light source, a deflector with a deflecting/reflecting surface which deflects an incident light beam from the light source, an imaging optical system including at least one scanning optical element for leading the light beam deflected by the deflector onto a surface to be scanned and forming an image as a spot on the surface to be scanned and, a synchronization detector for obtaining a scanning start position signal with respect to a main scanning direction on the surface to be scanned. The scanning optical element is provided with a light-beam passage for allowing a light beam traveling toward the synchronization detector to pass through. The light-beam passage is provided in an inner portion of the scanning optical element located outside an effective portion of the scanning optical element.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus provides improved image quality by changing the amount of writing scale compensation for a pixel clock during a scanning cycle. A pixel clock generation unit of the optical scanning apparatus divides the scanning cycle into multiple division periods. A phase change of the pixel clock is carried out for each of the division periods. The phase change can also be different from scanning cycle to scanning cycle.

Abstract: An image forming device capable of implementing a change of resolution and capable of forming an image with few linear flaws in a main scanning direction. A recording material is slantedly wound onto a rotary drum at an angle such that, if recording at a predetermined resolution, main scanning lines that are recorded are parallel with both ends of the recording material along a direction of winding onto the drum. Whenever a main scanning line being recorded on the recording material is displaced, relative to a main scanning line that would be recorded at the predetermined resolution, by precisely an amount corresponding to a pre-specified number of pixels, image data is shifted in a direction opposite to the direction of the displacement by the amount corresponding to the pre-specified number of pixels.

Abstract: A light beam modulated with image information has its optical axis moved in a given direction by a light beam moving unit, and reflected successively by a plurality of rotating reflecting mirrors of a spinner to a photosensitive medium. The movement of the light beam which is caused by the light beam moving unit is controlled depending on the speed at which the reflecting mirrors move and the direction in which the reflecting mirrors move, so that the light beam reflected by each of the reflecting mirrors can scan the photosensitive medium. An image represented by the image information can efficiently be recorded on the photosensitive medium.

Abstract: A vibration mirror is reciprocatively vibrated by an electrostatic force to reflect an incident light beam.

Abstract: A refractive body includes a lens, holder, and aperture particularly suited for use in raster scanners. The refractive body advantageously can be made from resinous materials, such as plastics, but can be formed from any refractive material as may be appropriate. The aperture is formed from portions of the refractive body surrounding the lens and can act to divert excess light from the optical path of the scanner by refraction or reflection.

Abstract: A refractive body includes a lens, holder, and aperture particularly suited for use in raster scanners. The refractive body advantageously can be made from resinous materials, such as plastics, but can be formed from any refractive material as may be appropriate. The aperture is formed from portions of the refractive body surrounding the lens and can act to divert excess light from the optical path of the scanner by refraction or reflection.

Abstract: The present invention provides a color image forming method and a color image forming apparatus by which location deviations among toner images and the densities of the toner images can be detected with a simple detecting structure. In this color image forming apparatus, location detecting toner marks are formed at three or more locations in the main-scanning direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of a conveyor belt, and location deviations among the location detecting toner marks are detected from the outputs from sensors, so that location deviations among toner images formed by image forming units can be corrected. Also, the densities of density detecting toner patches formed on the conveyor belt are detected with at least one of the sensors for detecting the location detecting toner marks, so that the densities of toner images formed by the image forming units can be corrected.

Abstract: Optical systems are disposed in the two symmetrical direction with respect to an optical deflector, and direct the optical beams deflected by the optical deflector into respective surfaces to be scanned, and forming images thereon. A housing encloses a plurality of light sources, optical deflector and optical systems, the housing includes a base plate on which the optical deflector and optical system, and a side wall surrounding the base plate; the base plate divides the housing into two sections; the plurality of light sources are disposed on the side wall; and optical components of the optical systems are distributed into the two sections of the housing.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a semiconductor laser array to emit a plurality of laser beams through a plurality of independently controllable laser elements according to an image signal, an imaging optical system to magnify the laser beams emitted from the laser array, and a photosensitive drum having an imaging surface to form an electrostatic latent image by being photo-exposed through the imaging optical system.

Abstract: A multi-beam scanning optical system which obtains an image by reducing an error between the imaging positions of light beams from a plurality of light sources without any complicated adjustment, and an image-forming apparatus using the same.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for generating a color plane in an image. For example, a noise generation device is coupled to at least one component within a laser imaging assembly to cause a random deviation in the placement of the spots within respective color planes. This random deviation advantageously alleviates the problem of misregistration, white gapping, and moiré patterns, etc. In one embodiment, a system is provided that includes a laser imaging assembly having a laser generating a laser beam that is optically coupled to a photoconductor, typically an organic photoconductive (OPC) drum. The laser beam is optically coupled to a number of predetermined positions on the OPC drum to generate an image on the OPC drum. A noise generator is operatively coupled, for example, to a component in the laser imaging assembly.

Abstract: There is provided an image forming apparatus that is provided with photosensitive drums (11M), (11C), (11Y) and (11Bk) for forming latent images by irradiation of light reflected by a polygon mirror and a fixing device (40) for fixing toner images corresponding to the latent images on a sheet material to prevent deterioration of an image to be formed if reflective surfaces of a reflective polyhedron are thinned out in reducing a process speed of image formation. This apparatus is further provided with a control unit (35) for, if the number of surfaces of the polygon mirror is m (m is an integer of three or more), performing control for selecting n such that m/(n+1) does not make an integer as a relation between m and n and performing control for making n surfaces unused as a reflective surface of light among continuous n+1 surfaces of the reflective polyhedron in the decelerating image forming process.

Abstract: It is an exemplified object of the present invention to provide an optical unit that can easily and inexpensively align an optical axis of the lens and a beam from a light source during continuous operation, and to provide an electrophotographic recording device that has such an optical unit and thereby can form a high-quality latent image on a photosensitive body. The optical unit as an exemplified embodiment of the present invention is configured to have the optical axis of the lens and a mounting position thereof substantially aligned with each other, and thus reduce or eliminate a misalignment of the optical axis with the light source and lens even if temperature rises.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes an incidence optical system for causing a beam emitted from a light source to be incident on a deflector, and a scanning optical system for causing the beam reflected and deflected by the deflector to be imaged on a surface to be scanned. The scanning optical system has a first lens on the deflector side and a second lens on the surface to be scanned side. The first lens has positive power in the main scanning direction and has negative power in the sub scanning direction. The power of the first lens in the main scanning direction is greater than the power of the second lens in the main scanning direction, and the second lens has positive power in the sub scanning direction.

Abstract: Optical systems are disposed in the two symmetrical direction with respect to an optical deflector, and direct the optical beams deflected by the optical deflector into respective surfaces to be scanned, and forming images thereon. A housing encloses a plurality of light sources, optical deflector and optical systems, the housing comprises a base plate on which the optical deflector and optical system, and a side wall surrounding the base plate; the base plate divides the housing into two sections; the plurality of light sources are disposed on the side wall; and optical components of the optical systems are distributed into the two sections of the housing.

Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes a light source, a deflector with a deflecting/reflecting surface which deflects an incident light beam from the light source, an imaging optical system including at least one scanning optical element for leading the light beam deflected by the deflector onto a surface to be scanned and forming an image as a spot on the surface to be scanned and, a synchronization detector for obtaining a scanning start position signal with respect to a main scanning direction on the surface to be scanned. The scanning optical element is provided with a light-beam passage for allowing a light beam traveling toward the synchronization detector to pass through. The light-beam passage is provided in an inner portion of the scanning optical element located outside an effective portion of the scanning optical element.

Abstract: The invention provides an optical scanning device for color image formation in which color aberration depending on the variation in the image formation position on the scanned surface caused by the angle change of the optical system.

Abstract: An exposure device in which an image forming lens is disposed in such a posture that the center line of an image forming is out of axial alignment with the center of beam intensity distribution of the light emitting diode output (the center of beam intensity distribution) so as to reduce possible incidence of stray light when local part of the light output from the light emitting diode array reflects on said wires. As a result, the stray light does not strikes the circumference surface of the image supporting body and the vivid image can be formed.