Polygon Patents (Class 347/261)
  • Patent number: 8115793
    Abstract: An optical scanning device includes at least one scanning unit having a deflector for scanningly deflecting a light beam from a light source, and an imaging optical system for imaging the light beam scanningly deflected by the deflector upon a plurality of photosensitive drums, wherein, at each of a plurality of light paths extending from the deflector to the plurality of photosensitive drums, at least one reflection member for turning the light path into a sub-scan direction is provided, wherein the plurality of light paths are different in the number of the reflection members, wherein a polarization direction of a light beam incident on each reflection of the plurality of light paths is S-polarized at an optical axis of the imaging optical system, wherein the reflection surfaces of all the reflection members of the plurality of light paths have the same film structure, and wherein the difference among the plurality of light paths of a total turn angle defined by the reflection surface or surfaces of the ref
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ken Tanimura, Manabu Kato
  • Patent number: 8115795
    Abstract: An optical scanning device projects an image onto a photoreceptor within a print system. A laser light source generates a plurality of light beam outputs, wherein the light beam outputs are arranged in a two-dimensional parallelogram array within a substantially horizontal axis and a substantially vertical axis that is perpendicular to the horizontal axis. The two-dimensional parallelogram array has an odd number of rows of light beam outputs, wherein each row has an equal even number of light beam outputs. A rotating polygon mirror includes a plurality of deflecting surfaces, each of the deflecting surfaces deflects the light beams emitted from the laser light source. The light beam output array projects a first swath N onto the photoreceptor via the rotating mirror and swaths [N+1, N+2, . . . ] are subsequently placed at a level one-half down the number of light beam outputs of the previous swath. Each swath has the identical number of light emitting outputs as the two-dimensional array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Robert P. Loce, Beilei Xu
  • Publication number: 20120033025
    Abstract: A light scanning apparatus including: a light source to emit a laser beam; a light source driving unit to turn on and off the light source according to image data and a pixel clock; a rotary polygon mirror to deflect the light beam; a motor to rotationally drive the rotary polygon mirror; and a control unit to control a rotary speed of the motor to generate an acceleration control signal for accelerating the rotary speed and a deceleration control signal for decelerating the rotary speed, wherein for the acceleration control signal, the driving unit corrects the frequency of the pixel clock to be higher than the frequency, which is before the acceleration control, and for the deceleration control signal, the driving unit corrects the frequency of the pixel clock to be lower than the frequency, which is before the deceleration control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Kota Kiyama
  • Patent number: 8111278
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus which performs an exposure of a plurality of line images concurrently, by scanning an image carrier with a plurality of light beams in a main scanning direction and simultaneously drives the image carrier in a sub scanning direction, the image forming apparatus having: a plurality of light sources which are driven to emit the plurality of light beams corresponding to image data; a polygon mirror configured to deflect the plurality of light beams emitted from the plurality of light sources in a main scanning direction; and a control section which determines an image formation speed and switches, based on the determined image formation speed, a control between a control of changing a number of light sources used for light emission drive and a control of changing a number of polygon mirror use-surfaces used for a scanning with the light beams in the main scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Koichi Sawada
  • Patent number: 8085456
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a scanning optical system capable of reducing the number of its components and its size with a simple construction, and an image forming apparatus using the scanning optical system. In a specific scanning optical system, a plurality of light beams emitted from a plurality of light source units are deflected and scanned by a plurality of different deflecting facets of a common optical deflecting unit, and a plurality of scanned surfaces are scanned with the light beams deflected and scanned by the different deflecting facets, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazumi Kimura
  • Patent number: 8026940
    Abstract: A CPU (91) of an image forming apparatus includes a beam detecting part (911) that detects each of laser beams scanning by a predetermined number (e.g., four) of polygon mirrors (332) at a preset position (where a beam sensor (335) is disposed), a reference phase setting part (912) that sets a reference phase that is a phase to be a reference of the predetermined number of rotation phases of the polygon mirrors (332) based on a result of detection by the beam detecting part (911), and a phase control part (913) that controls polygon motor (330) so that predetermined number of rotation phases of the polygon mirrors (332) match the reference phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Kitao, Masanori Okada
  • Patent number: 8026941
    Abstract: A light scanning unit includes: a light source unit; a polygon mirror for deflecting and scanning light emitted from the light source unit, in a main scanning direction, and having a plurality of deflection surfaces and a plurality of edges at which adjacent deflection surfaces meet one another; an image forming optical system for condensing the deflected light; and a synchronization detection optical system for detecting a portion of light that is divided and reflected at an edge of the polygon mirror. The light scanning unit may be incorporated into an image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyung-soo Kim
  • Patent number: 7995089
    Abstract: A technique for minimizing motor polygon assembly output reflectivity using real time facet reflectivity measurements and mapping. An automatic power control sensor manages laser beams produced by the laser source associated with the system during overscan periods ‘outside’ of defined printing time. Errors are then recorded internal to the raster output scanner to minimize overall setup in the image output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Martin Pepe
  • Patent number: 7995087
    Abstract: An optical scanner forms an electrostatic latent image on a photosensitive member by scanning the photosensitive member with a light beam. The optical scanner includes: an incident optical system which at least comprises: a light beam emission device configured to emit a light beam; and a cylindrical lens configured to condense the light beam emitted from the light beam emission device, and a scanning optical system which at least comprises: a light deflecting device configured to reflect the light beam having passed through the cylindrical lens to deflect the light beam in a main scanning direction for scanning the photosensitive member; and a scanning lens configured to focus the light beam deflected by the light deflecting device on the photosensitive member to form an electrostatic latent image thereon. The incident optical system and the scanning optical system are divided by a light shielding wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ryota Kato
  • Patent number: 7986334
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazunori Bannai, Hideto Higaki, Daisuke Imaki, Noboru Kusunose, Yoshinobu Sakaue
  • Patent number: 7952604
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus capable of shortening first copy time to thereby reduce wait time before execution of a print job and prolonging the service life of a scanner motor at the same time. An image forming apparatus that forms a latent image on a photosensitive drum in response to a copy start instruction signal. A scanner motor drives a rotating polygonal mirror that scans the photosensitive drum by reflecting light, for rotation. A counter counts the number of times of start of the motor. A control circuit causes the scanner motor to be started up before the signal is generated, if the count of the counter is less than a predetermined value, and to cause the scanner motor to be started up upon generation of the signal, if the count of the counter is not less than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kenji Kuroki, Takashi Fujimori, Hiroyuki Eda
  • Patent number: 7932654
    Abstract: A motor is disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the motor includes a stator and a rotor, which is supported by the stator such that the rotor rotates. Here, the rotor includes a rotational axis, which is supported by the stator such that the rotational axis rotates, a rotating body, which rotates together with the rotational axis, and a hub, which has a ring-shaped body and a protruding part. Here, the ring-shaped body is interposed between the rotational axis and the rotating body, and the protruding part extends an outer circumferential surface of the ring-shaped body coupled to the rotating body. Thus, the motor can improve the coupling strength between the rotational axis and the rotating body, securing the rotating rotor's stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Viatcheslav Smirnov, Yeol Choi, Young-Sun Yoo
  • Patent number: 7932918
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7898709
    Abstract: In the optical deflector, the mean width of profile elements of a cross section of the deflection surface in the sub scan direction is set to be less than the spacing between spots of the light beams formed in the sub scan direction of the deflection surface. This makes it possible to prevent a variation in the size and shape of the spots of the light beams deflected by the deflection surface due to the undulation (unevenness) of the deflection surface. As a result, it is able to suppress a decrease of the granularity of images and form images with high quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kensuke Masuda, Yukio Itami, Hisashi Inada, Kiyofumi Arai, Takeshi Kikuchi, Yoshihiro Takahashi, Tomotaka Takamura
  • Patent number: 7889224
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshimichi Hagiya, Kazuya Miyagaki, Atsushi Takaura, Toshiaki Tokita
  • Publication number: 20100302341
    Abstract: An optical scanning device projects an image onto a photoreceptor within a print system. A laser light source generates a plurality of light beam outputs, wherein the light beam outputs are arranged in a two-dimensional parallelogram array within a substantially horizontal axis and a substantially vertical axis that is perpendicular to the horizontal axis. The two-dimensional parallelogram array has an odd number of rows of light beam outputs, wherein each row has an equal even number of light beam outputs. A rotating polygon mirror includes a plurality of deflecting surfaces, each of the deflecting surfaces deflects the light beams emitted from the laser light source. The light beam output array projects a first swath N onto the photoreceptor via the rotating mirror and swaths [N+1, N+2, . . . ] are subsequently placed at a level one-half down the number of light beam outputs of the previous swath. Each swath has the identical number of light emitting outputs as the two-dimensional array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2009
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert P. Loce, Beilei Xu
  • Patent number: 7834901
    Abstract: The present invention uses a pattern that enables image quality maintaining control to be performed at a resolution lower than that used for a normal image forming process. Thus, during an initial operation upon power-on, the image quality maintaining control is performed at the resolution lower than that used for the normal image forming process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Sueo Ueno
  • Patent number: 7804515
    Abstract: An image-forming device includes: a housing; an endless belt; a plurality of process units; and a plurality of scanner units. Each scanner unit and each process unit are inclined obliquely to a vertical direction. At least a part of each process unit is inserted into and removed from the housing in an obliquely inclined direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuo Tamaru, Hiroshi Igarashi, Yasushi Okabe
  • Patent number: 7800846
    Abstract: An imaging lens assembly includes a mount which comprises a mount adhering portion on which a light curable adhesive is applied, an imaging lens which comprises a lens portion, and a supporting portion to extend from the lens portion, and a holder coupled to the mount adhering portion by the light curable adhesive, and to support the supporting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chul-hyun Park
  • Patent number: 7791636
    Abstract: Disclosed is a scanning optical module, which includes a light source, a rotatable multifaceted mirror adapted to scanningly deflect a scanning beam emitted from the light source, in a given direction, a driving device adapted to drivingly rotate the rotatable multifaceted mirror through a shaft thereof, a plate-shaped member formed with a driving device-mounting portion mounting thereto the driving device in such a manner as to absorb heat generated in the shaft, an air blower adapted to generate an airstream, and an airstream passage-defining member adapted to direct the airstream from the air blower, toward the driving device-mounting portion of the plate-shaped member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Hideto Miyanagi, Yuuya Shimohora, Akihiro Masaki
  • Patent number: 7782353
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryota Kato, Jun Mihara, Yasuo Tamaru
  • Patent number: 7760225
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Yoshizawa, Takeshi Yamakawa, Katsunori Shoji
  • Patent number: 7746372
    Abstract: A beam deflector having a base, the beam deflector including a polygon mirror to reflect a light beam, a mirror driving unit including a rotor shaft erected from the base and a rotor to support the polygon mirror and to rotate about the rotor shaft, a friction member to contact with and be separated from the rotor so as to obstruct and release rotation of the rotor, respectively, and a friction member driving unit to drive the friction member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-hwan Yoo
  • Patent number: 7710441
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan S. Campbell, David B. Langer, David A. Schneider
  • Publication number: 20100091083
    Abstract: An optical scanning device includes an optical housing in which a polygon mirror that is rotated by a motor is accommodated and an air inlet that includes a filter. An airflow guiding member is arranged at a position opposite to a surface of the polygon mirror on the air inlet side. An air inducing path is provided, which includes a first flowing path and a second flowing path. The first flowing path includes a first end linked to the air inlet and a second end arranged close to a mirror surface of the polygon mirror. The second flowing path is formed with a surface of the airflow guiding member on an opposite side of the air inlet and a top surface of the polygon mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Yukio Itami, Tomoya Ohsugi, Magane Aoki, Tomohiro Nakajima, Yoshinori Hayashi, Naoki Miyatake, Kensuke Masuda, Naoto Watanabe, Satoshi Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 7688342
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a light source for which intervals between spots formed on the photosensitive member by respective beams emitted from a plurality of light-emitting portions are narrower than a predetermined resolution, and a rotating polygonal mirror having a plurality of mirror plane each of which deflects beams emitted from the light source while rotating. In particular, the image forming apparatus includes a selection unit which selects a light-emitting portion corresponding to a mirror plane used to deflect a beam from the light source, and a driving unit which drives the light source to emit a beam from the selected light-emitting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Fumitaka Sobue
  • Patent number: 7684099
    Abstract: In an optical scanning device, a rotational axis of a first rotary polygon mirror and a rotational axis of a second rotary polygon mirror are inclined toward the same side with respect to a direction perpendicular to a reference plane inclusive of each of center axes of a first member to be scanned and a second member to be scanned, as viewed in directions of the center axes of the first member to be scanned and the second member to be scanned. As a consequence, a width in an arrangement direction of a plurality of rotary polygon mirrors can be reduced, thus achieving miniaturization without degrading a quality of an image in an image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuaki Otoguro
  • Patent number: 7671884
    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].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukio Itami, Kensuke Masuda, Yoshihiro Takahashi, Tomotaka Takamura
  • Publication number: 20100045770
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure provide a method for improving performance of a raster output scanner (ROS) system with a reduced cost. The method can include identifying a current mirror facet of a motor polygon assembly (MPA) including multiple mirror facets that each mirror facet has a reflectivity characteristic, determining a driving signal based on the reflectivity characteristic of the current mirror facet and a performance characteristic of a light source, and driving the light source based on the driving signal to emit light that is reflected by the MPA onto a photoreceptor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2008
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: XEROX CORPORATION
    Inventor: Martin J. PEPE
  • Patent number: 7623282
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a polygon motor that rotates a reflection member; a laser emitting section that emits a laser beam toward a side face of the rotating reflection member; a photoconductor that is scanned by a laser beam reflected from the side face of the reflection member; a beam detecting section that detects a scanning start position of the reflected laser beam, and a scanning final position; and a control section that controls the polygon motor and the laser emitting section, based on detection signals from the beam detecting section, wherein when the detection signal at the scanning start position does not meet a predetermined time-based standard and/or a predetermined output-level standard, the control section controls the polygon motor so that the reflection member rotates in a reverse direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Ayumu Oda
  • Patent number: 7599105
    Abstract: A disclosed optical scanning device includes an oscillating mirror supported by a torsion beam for deflecting light beams from a light source unit to scan an object surface backward and forward. A window member transmits light beams incident on and reflected from an oscillating mirror. A sealing member holds the window member and seals a space in which the oscillating mirror is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Nakajima
  • Patent number: 7589756
    Abstract: A beam detecting unit detects at least one of a position of an optical beam in a sub scanning direction and a position of the optical beam in a main scanning direction. A color-misalignment correcting unit changes an optical-beam irradiating position on a photosensitive element based on a result of detection by the beam detecting unit. The beam detecting unit is arranged between an optical element that is closest to a corresponding photosensitive element and the corresponding photosensitive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Iwao Matsumae, Yoshinobu Sakaue, Kazunori Bannai
  • Patent number: 7564205
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a motor, a detector, and a controller. The detector detects a rotational speed of the motor. The controller selects a gain from a plurality of gains based on the rotational speed and controls rotation of the motor through feedback control. The controller uses a first gain from startup of the motor until the motor initially reaches a predetermined rotational speed after the startup. The controller switches to a second gain smaller than the first gain when the motor initially reaches the predetermined rotational speed after the startup, and uses the second gain in a predetermined range with respect to the rotational speed. The predetermined range is defined between a lower limit smaller than the predetermined rotational speed and a higher limit larger than the predetermined rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tasuku Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 7548361
    Abstract: At least one exemplary embodiment is directed to an image forming apparatus, which includes: a first to fourth image bearing members on which toner images of four colors of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black are formed respectively; a first rotatable polygon mirror for deflecting and scanning laser beams on the first to fourth image bearing members so as to form electrostatic latent images on the first to fourth image bearing members; a detachable fifth image bearing member on which a toner image of a color different from the four colors is formed; and a detachable optical unit including a second rotatable polygon mirror that deflects and scans a laser beam on the fifth image bearing member so as to form an electrostatic latent image on the fifth image bearing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Nakahata
  • Patent number: 7542065
    Abstract: A light beam scanning apparatus that causes a beam generated by a light source to scan corresponding to recording direction along a photosensitive medium by rotating polygonal mirrors, wherein to form a latent image on the photosensitive medium, comprising a first polygonal mirror that rotates at a first velocity, a second polygonal mirror that rotates at a second velocity different from the first velocity, and a controller that carries out image formation by selectively using the first polygonal mirror and the second polygonal mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichi Makino
  • Patent number: 7528363
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus is provided which includes a plurality of optical scanners, each including a rotating polygon mirror adapted to scan and expose a surface of an image bearing medium to create an electrostatic latent image on the surface in accordance with image data. The apparatus further includes a plurality of phase detectors, each assigned to a respective one of the plurality of optical scanners for detecting rotated phases of the rotating polygon mirrors. Moreover, the apparatus includes a rotated phase controller configured to control the rotated phases of the rotating polygon mirrors. The rotated phase controller is configured to control the rotated phases of the rotating polygon mirrors in accordance with results of detection by the plurality of rotated phase detectors so that rotated phase relationships of the rotating polygon mirrors are set to a predetermined pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Fukase
  • Patent number: 7522326
    Abstract: In an optical scanning device, a rotational axis of a first rotary polygon mirror and a rotational axis of a second rotary polygon mirror are inclined toward the same side with respect to a direction perpendicular to a reference plane inclusive of each of center axes of a first member to be scanned and a second member to be scanned, as viewed in directions of the center axes of the first member to be scanned and the second member to be scanned. As a consequence, a width in an arrangement direction of a plurality of rotary polygon mirrors can be reduced, thus achieving miniaturization without degrading a quality of an image in an image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasuaki Otoguro
  • Patent number: 7508563
    Abstract: An optical scanning device includes plural light source devices, a deflecting device having deflecting surfaces, an input optical system and a plurality of imaging optical systems, wherein a plurality of scan surfaces are simultaneously scanned by the deflecting device, wherein each of the plurality of imaging optical systems includes at least one transmission type imaging optical element and at least one reflection optical element, wherein each of at least two light beams scanningly deflected by the different deflecting surfaces of the deflecting device passes through the at least one transmission type imaging optical element constituting the imaging optical system and is thereafter reflected by the at least one reflection optical element and, subsequently, it passes again through the transmission type imaging optical element, and wherein, after passing again through the transmission type imaging optical element, the at least two light beams scanningly deflected by the different deflection surfaces of the de
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidekazu Shimomura
  • Patent number: 7502046
    Abstract: According to the present invention, highly accurate adjustment of the angles and positions of optical elements constituting an optical scanning unit can be easily performed. The optical scanning unit comprises: a first mirror that reflects the light beams emitted from Y, C and M laser diodes; a second mirror that reflects the light beam emitted from a K laser diode and the light beams reflected by the first mirror; a cylindrical lens that acts on the light beams reflected by the second mirror; and a third mirror that reflects the light beams emitted from the cylindrical lens toward a polygon mirror. The second mirror is provided with an adjusting mechanism that can adjust the light beams in the main scanning direction, and the third mirror is provided with an adjusting mechanism that can adjust the light beams in the sub-scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Ono, Masaki Saka, Ayumu Oda, Takahisa Narikiyo
  • Patent number: 7499205
    Abstract: A device for holding a laser diode (LD) and a collimate lens. A laser unit includes an LD supporting section supporting the LD, and a lens supporting section supporting the lens positioned opposite to the LD. A connecting portion connects the lens supporting section to the LD supporting section. An adjustment section for adjusting a relative position between the LD and the lens is provided in association with the LD supporting section. The adjustment section allows the LD supporting section to be movable and position-fixable with respect to the lens supporting section as if the LD supporting section serves as a leverage about the connecting portion functioning as a fulcrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshio Sakai, Yasuo Tamaru
  • Patent number: 7499204
    Abstract: The light beam deflection cycle of a rotational polygonal mirror includes first and third sections in which a latent image is not formed, and a second section in which the latent image is formed. A driving signal supply unit supplies a driving signal of a frequency less than the resonance frequency of a resonant driving type mirror to the resonant driving type mirror in the first section. The driving signal supply unit keeps the deflection angle of the resonant driving type mirror at the first target deflection angle in the second section. The driving signal supply unit supplies a driving signal of a frequency less than the resonance frequency of the resonant driving type mirror to the resonant driving type mirror in the third section. The optical scanning apparatus is used in an image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tomohiro Kawamoto
  • Patent number: 7450145
    Abstract: A light beam scanner switches between a first mode in which a laser is turned ON to emit a light beam every surface period of a rotary polygon to detect the light beam, and a second mode in which the laser is turned ON to emit the light beam with a long period specified with an integral multiple of two or more of the surface period of the rotary polygon to detect the light beam, for formation of an image and non-formation of an image, thereby improving a life of the laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Katsuyuki Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7450287
    Abstract: Provided are an optical scanning device and a method for detecting a synchronization signal. In the optical scanning device, a beam incident on a scanning area of an object's surface to be scanned and a beam incident on a synchronization signal detector are emitted by a light source but deflected from different deflecting surfaces of a beam deflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jae-hwan Yoo, Hyeong-chae Kim
  • Publication number: 20080239060
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a photoconductor, a laser scanning unit to scan a beam across the photoconductor to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor, a developing unit to apply a developer to the photoconductor having the electrostatic latent image formed thereon to form a visible image on the photoconductor, and a transferring unit to transfer the visible image, formed on the photoconductor, to a print medium. The laser scanning unit includes a light source to generate a beam according to an image signal, a polygon mirror including a plurality of reflection surfaces to deflect the beam, generated by the light source, in the main scanning direction, the reflection surfaces being aspherical to correct an aberration of the beam to converge the beam, deflected in the main scanning direction, on the photoconductor, and a motor to rotate the polygon mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Hyeon JO
  • Patent number: 7428089
    Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a light source that emits a light beam, an optical deflector at which a light beam emitted from the light source is incident, the optical deflector deflecting the incident light beam, an optical system that guides the deflected light beam to surface to be scanned by the deflected light beam, a driving device that drives at least a portion of the optical deflector, a thermal storage member mounted on the driving device, the thermal storage member absorbing and storing heat generated by the driving device, thereby controlling a temperature gradient of the driving device, and a casing body that accommodates the light source, the optical deflector, the optical system, the driving device, and the thermal storage member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Fumiya Hisa
  • Patent number: 7417661
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a speed information detection unit detecting speed information corresponding to a rotational speed of a scanner motor; a first judgment unit judging if the scanner motor has arrived at a first reference speed being lower than a rotational speed in scanning within a first term; a second judgment unit judging if the scanner motor has arrived at a second reference speed being not lower than the first reference speed after the first term, when the first judgment unit judges that the scanner motor has not arrived at the first reference speed within the first term; and an image formation unit initiating an image formation process when the first judgment unit judges that the scanner motor has arrived at the first reference speed within the first term and when the second judgment unit judges that the scanner motor has arrived at the second reference speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tasuku Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 7414239
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsunori Shoji, Takeshi Yamakawa, Hiroshi Yoshizawa
  • Patent number: 7400338
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: an optical scanning unit for deflecting and scanning a light on a photosensitive body, the optical scanning unit having: a light source for emitting the light; a deflection section that deflects the emitted light; a driving section that drives the deflection section; and a temperature detecting section that detects the temperature of the driving section or the temperature in vicinity of the driving section; a developing section that develops an electrostatic latent image by depositing a developer on the electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of the photosensitive body by the optical scanning unit; a transfer section that transfers the developer deposited on the surface of the photosensitive body to a recording medium; and a controller for changing a drive speed of the driving section based on the temperature detected by the temperature detecting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidetoshi Yano
  • Publication number: 20080165244
    Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a rotary polygonal mirror for scanningly deflecting light beams emitted from a light source device having light emitting members disposed spaced apart from each other in a main-scan direction, an input optical system by which, in a sub-scan section, light beams are incident on a deflecting surface of the rotary polygonal mirror in an oblique direction with respect to a normal to the deflecting surface, and an imaging optical system by which the light beams scanningly deflected by the rotary polygonal mirror are imaged on a surface to be scanned, wherein, when a maximum pivot angle of said rotary polygonal mirror is ?max [deg], the angle defined in the main-scan section between optical axes of the input optical system and the imaging optical system is 2ø [deg], the focal length of a converting optical element in the main-scan section is fcol [mm], the spacing between two light emitting members most spaced apart from each other in the main-scan direction is a [mm], the larges
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Yuichi Tomioka, Yoshihiro Ishibe
  • Publication number: 20080117281
    Abstract: A technique for minimizing motor polygon assembly output reflectivity using real time facet reflectivity measurements and mapping. An automatic power control sensor manages laser beams produced by the laser source associated with the system during overscan periods ‘outside’ of defined printing time. Errors are then recorded internal to the raster output scanner to minimize overall setup in the image output terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Inventor: Martin Pepe