Housing Or Mounting Patents (Class 347/263)
  • 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: 7889630
    Abstract: The invention relates to a record carrier (1) comprising an area for storing data, the record carrier adhering to a pre-defined, standardized condition with respect to a physical parameter. The record carrier comprises parameter information on the physical parameter, which parameter information is of a higher precision than the precision of the physical parameter mentioned in the pre-defined, standardized condition. Using this high precision parameter information, it is possible to derive the exact position of a visible image pixel data making up a label. This parameter information thus enables a recorder to write a visible label on the record carrier according to the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Nicolaas Lambert, Adrianus Johannes Maria Denissen
  • Patent number: 7880757
    Abstract: In an image forming device, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) head is attached to a slide member. The slide member includes a slidable base side member and a leading end side member which can move with respect to the base side member in a direction that is different from a sliding direction of the base side member. The LED head is provided on the leading end side member, and a positioning pin is provided on the LED head. The LED head is positioned with respect to a photoconductive drum by the positioning pin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Murata Machinery, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Nakano, Hideatsu Shimamoto
  • Patent number: 7872662
    Abstract: A printer includes an upper unit which opens and closes about a fulcrum lying at a rear position of a lower unit, and a paper path which is opened by opening the upper unit. A sensor unit is attached to the lower unit and includes a lower sensor holder and an upper sensor holder which are disposed in opposition to each other via the paper path. The paper path can be opened by pivoting the upper sensor holder relative to the lower sensor holder. When the upper unit is closed, the upper sensor holder is also closed in accordance with a closing pivoting motion of the upper unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Toshiba Tec Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Teruyuki Ochiai, Hiroyasu Ishii, Osamu Watanabe, Yukihiro Tamura, Yoshimi Urushibata, Kazuhiro Fushimi
  • Patent number: 7852366
    Abstract: A system and a method print one or more images to one or more reimageable documents, wherein the one or more representative of at least a portion of a digital file. The method includes a connecting a portable printer to a computing device. Moreover, the method includes emitting ultraviolet light from a light source, wherein an imaging layer of the reimageable document is imagable by ultraviolet light, wherein ultraviolet light forms a color contrast on the imaging layer that defines an image representative of at least a portion of the digital file.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventors: Gabriel Iftime, Eric J. Shrader, Peter M. Kazmaier, Paul F. Smith, Hadi K. Mahabadi
  • Patent number: 7843483
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a lower body including a plurality of photosensitive members and having an opening; an upper body which is configured to open and cover the opening; a plurality of exposure units which are supported by the upper body and which are opposed to the photosensitive members when the cover covers the opening; a main substrate provided in the housing; an exposure control substrate which is provided to the upper body and controls light emission of the exposure units; a plurality of first cables which electrically connect the exposure units to the exposure control substrate, respectively, each of the first cables including a plurality of signal lines; and a second cable which electrically connects the exposure control substrate to the main substrate and which includes at least one signal line, a number of which is smaller than a total number of the signal lines included in the first cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Junichi Yokoi, Takuya Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 7840164
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including an image forming unit to form an image on a print medium, the image forming apparatus including a guide shaft, first and second shaft insertion members into which the guide shaft is inserted, a unit main body including first and second insertion holes provided along the guide shaft and whose diameters larger than external diameters of the first and second shaft insertion members, respectively, and an adhesive to adhere the first and second shaft insertion members inserted into the first and second insertion holes, to the unit main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeong-seop Hong
  • Patent number: 7835663
    Abstract: An image-forming device includes: a side wall unit including: a resin frame having a first surface and a second surface opposing the first surface; and a sheet metal frame that is mounted over at least a part of the first surface of the resin frame and is fixed to the resin frame by at least one screw. The resin frame has at least one fixing threaded boss on the second surface, each fixing threaded boss being located at a position corresponding to one of the at least one screw and having a threaded hole opened on the first surface to receive the screw. Each fixing threaded boss includes an outer peripheral wall and an inner peripheral wall, both of which extend from the second surface in a direction away from the sheet metal frame, tip ends of the outer peripheral wall and the inner peripheral walls being connected, the inner peripheral wall being located around the threaded hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiya Tomatsu
  • Publication number: 20100265310
    Abstract: An optical scanning device that uses a light spot to scan an image surface with a light source, a deflector, and an imaging element includes a housing in which the light source, the deflector, and the imaging element are set. The housing includes at least two sidewalls opposed to each other, a bottom surface that extends substantially perpendicular to the sidewalls, and ribs that are substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface and formed to extend from the two sidewalls, respectively. Discontinuous sections (sections between ribs or notched sections of the ribs) for passing light beams are provided in the ribs. A reinforcing member separate from the ribs are bridged to the discontinuous sections.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Inventor: Tomoya Ohsugi
  • Patent number: 7815304
    Abstract: A paper stacking unit and an image forming apparatus having the same, the paper stacking unit including: a base frame supporting a print media, a cover pivotally connected to the base frame and supporting the print media together with the base frame, and a plate connected to the cover for auxiliarily supporting the print media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Byung-sun Ahn
  • Patent number: 7817177
    Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a light source, a deflector that deflects a light beam from the light source, a first optical system that guides the light beam to the deflector, a second optical system that guides the light beam from the deflector to a surface to be scanned, and a housing that holds the light source and the deflector. At least one optical element included in the first optical system or the second optical system is attached to the housing via an intermediate member. The optical element is adjustable with respect to the intermediate member. The number of directions in which the optical element can be adjusted is two or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Limited
    Inventors: Yoshinori Hayashi, Tomoya Ohsugi, Kenichiroh Saisho, Yasuhiro Naoe, Hiroyuki Okuwaki, Ryouji Hirai
  • Patent number: 7804511
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: an image holder; an exposure member that has an exposure portion exposing the image holder; a first positioning unit that determines a distance in a first direction, which is a direction of an optical axis of the exposure member, between the exposure member and the image holder; and a second positioning unit that determines a position of the exposure member with respect to the image holder in a second direction being a direction of an axis line of the image holder, and a position of the exposure member with respect to the image holder in a third direction being perpendicular to both the first direction and the second direction, and that determines the distance between the exposure member and the image holder at a position substantially closer to the exposure member than the position of the first positioning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Honobe, Tomokazu Kurita, Shigeru Tanaka, Junichi Ozawa, Taro Mitsui, Yukihiro Ichiki, Toshiyuki Matsui
  • Patent number: 7800641
    Abstract: A light source unit is provided, which includes a light source with a plurality of light emission portions two-dimensionally arranged; a substrate on which the light source is mounted; a first support portion supporting the substrate; a bias member biasing the substrate towards the first support portion; a coupling element coupling a light beam emitted from the light source; a second support portion supporting the coupling element; a holding member holding a position of the substrate relative to the first support portion, a fitting portion provided in each of the first and second support portions to rotatably fit the first and second support portions into each other around an optical axis of the light source; and a fastening member integrally fastening the first and second support portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuaki Kubo, Tomohiro Nakajima, Taku Amada, Yoshinori Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7796147
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryota Kato, Yasuo Tamaru, Jun Mihara
  • Patent number: 7791633
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takasumi Wada, Takayuki Ohno, Yasuhiro Ono, Ayumu Oda, Takahisa Narikiyo
  • Patent number: 7791623
    Abstract: An optical component bowing device is configured to include a bending moment generating structure that generates a bending moment in a supported portion of an optical component that reflects or shapes a light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Sakamoto, Katsuyuki Yanagisawa, Katsuhiko Nakaie
  • Patent number: 7787003
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus including: a photoconductor, adapted such that an electrostatic latent image is formed thereon and extending in a first direction; and an optical scanner, operable to emit a light beam to expose the photoconductor while scanning in the first direction, wherein: the photoconductor and the optical scanner define a space therebetween; and the space allows air to flow therethrough in the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Takeshi Sowa, Masayuki Kanazawa, Yoichi Mitsui, Takatomo Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 7782348
    Abstract: An exposing device includes a light source that emits scanning light, a polygonal rotating mirror that scans and deflects the scanning light in a specific scanning direction, a reflection mirror that reflects the scanning light that has been scanned and deflected at plural reflection points aligned in a specific direction for the scanning light to go incident on the image carrier, and a unit main body in which the polygonal rotating mirror and the reflection mirror are disposed at a specific interval. The unit main body has two attachment fixing portions on almost a same line linking the reflection points and fixed to the apparatus main body. An attachment support is supported on the apparatus main body and allows free expansion of the unit main body in a plane direction including the scanning direction of the polygonal rotating mirror on a side where the polygonal rotating mirror is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Masato Ohnishi
  • 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: 7777769
    Abstract: An image forming unit is provided in which, through making a distance limiting member to limit a distance between an exposing unit and an image carrying body be able to contact and separate with respect to the image carrying body by a contact/separation enabling section, it is eliminated that developer remaining on the surface of the image carrying body coagulates on the distance limiting member, so it is eliminated that the surface of the image carrying body is scraped by the developer, and that a bad print occurs. The image forming unit has an image carrying body exposed by an exposing unit, a distance limiting member to limit a distance between the exposing unit and the image carrying body. The distance limiting member is installed capable of contacting with and separating from the image carrying body by a contact/separation enabling section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Oki Data Corporation
    Inventor: Ken Nozawa
  • 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: 7755655
    Abstract: An exposure device for exposing the charged surface of a photoconductive drum is provided with a light source for emitting light based on image information; a rotary multifaceted mirror for reflecting the light emitted from the light source to scan the surface of the photoconductive drum; a driving mechanism for drivingly rotating the rotary multifaceted mirror; an inner casing for covering at least the driving mechanism and the rotary multifaceted mirror; and an outer casing for covering the inner casing from the outside. An air vent for communicating the inside and outside of the inner casing is formed in a part of the inner casing facing the rotary multifaceted mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Kotaro Kawasaki
  • Patent number: 7722184
    Abstract: An indicator structure for mounting an indicator representative of desired information to the body of an apparatus, wherein the indicator is made up of a sheet marked with the information in such a manner as to be visible from the outside of the indicator and a single transparent cover covering at least the information such that the information is visible from the outside. The sheet and cover are removably mounted to the body of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Yamada, Tamaki Someya, Shigeru Horiguchi
  • Patent number: 7724276
    Abstract: An optical assembly lock/unlock apparatus includes an interlock mechanism configured to selectively lock an optical assembly in a fixed position relative to a scan engine and unlock the optical assembly relative to the scan engine when the scan engine is to be removed from and secured to a print engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Erika Molchan, Rich Young, Elias Garcia
  • Patent number: 7705873
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus, includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording sheet; a casing that encloses the image forming unit and that has an ejection port configured to eject the recording sheet on which the image are formed; an ejection tray that stacks recording sheets ejected from the ejection port; a main frame side connector configured to electrically connect to an external device, the main frame side connector connectable to an external device side connector provided in the external device while at least a part of the external device is disposed outside the casing; and a supporting member that displaceably supports the main frame side connector with respect to the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Kuse
  • Patent number: 7675536
    Abstract: Multi-functional image forming devices that may include a base color laser printer comprising a front side, a back side, a top, and a bottom. The color laser printer may further include a media path, a laser printhead, and a plurality of image forming units. A scanning mechanism comprising a scan bed may be mounted on the top of the base color laser printer. In one embodiment, the media path includes a first section positioned within the base color laser printer and a second section that extends between the scanning mechanism and the top of the base color laser printer. In one embodiment, the scanning mechanism is pivotally mounted to the base color laser printer and movable to access the second section of the media path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2010
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Franklin Joseph Palumbo, Darin M. Gettelfinger, Francis Foldes, Jr., Steven David Sieckowski, Paul Douglas Horrall, Reginald Keith Bethel
  • Patent number: 7663658
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a plurality of image carrier units and a position determining unit. The image carrier units form toner images in a sequential manner, and each of the plurality of image carrier units includes an image carrier and a supporting member to support the image carrier. The position determining unit includes a holding member having a plurality of openings for receiving the supporting members of the respective image carriers and a pressure mechanism. Each of the plurality of openings has a predetermined shape to sustain a weight of a corresponding one of the plurality of image carrier units through a corresponding one of the supporting members in a vertical direction and to grip the corresponding one of the supporting members in a horizontal direction. The pressure mechanism presses the supporting members held through the plurality of openings of the holding member to fix the image carriers at respective specific positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Murano, Kazuyoshi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7663656
    Abstract: An optical scanning device including a first housing including a rotating deflector configured to deflect a light beam from at least one light source to scan a surface to be scanned with a deflected light beam, a second housing including one or more reflecting mirrors, and three supporting members configured to support the second housing relative to an image forming apparatus. The first housing is mounted inside the second housing, and mounts to fix the first housing to the second housing are positioned substantially on or within sides of a triangle formed by the three supporting members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventor: Kozo Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7656421
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a main body including an opening; a plurality of process units which are arranged in the main body in an arrangement direction with a gap therebetween; a plurality of exposure units which are arranged in the arrangement direction alternately with the process units; a cover which is rotatable about a rotation shaft to open and close the opening; and a plurality of support members which connect the exposure units to the cover and which allow the exposure units to be retreated from the process units with the opening and closing of the cover. The process units are disposed at positions where the process units contact with the exposure units moved with the opening and closing of the cover and at least contact portions thereof contacting with the exposure units are movable by pressing forces of the exposure units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nao Itabashi
  • Publication number: 20090295903
    Abstract: A method and apparatus usable in an image forming apparatus, comprising a photoreceptor, and a plurality of exposing devices having a plurality of light emitting elements arranged therein for exposing the photoreceptor, wherein the plurality of exposing devices include at least two exposing devices having a distribution tendency similar to the plurality of light emitting elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Naoki ABE
  • Patent number: 7619643
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a first support member, an image carrying member configured to carry a toner image thereon, and an optical writing apparatus connected to the first support member and configured to form an electrostatic latent image on the image carrying member. The optical writing apparatus includes an optical system having at least one optical element, a first casing configured to support the optical system, and a second casing configured to encase the first casing and to prevent intrusion of dust to the optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Sakaue, Kazunori Bannai, Kozo Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7619797
    Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes a housing that positions and holds a plurality of light sources emitting light beams, a deflection mirror that deflects the light beams to perform main scanning, and at least one of optical image forming elements closest to the deflection mirror to form images on respective image carriers. A plurality of reflectors guide the light beams exiting the housing to the respective image carriers. A pair of support members face each other to support the housing in a main scanning direction. A support mechanism supports the reflectors by bridging the reflectors between the support members and also couples the support members to each other. Relative positions of the reflectors are arranged in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to a main scanning direction between the support members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Nakajima
  • Patent number: 7612791
    Abstract: A printer includes: a main substrate that includes electronic parts for controlling an operation of a printer main body; and a wireless communication module that transmits and receives data, wherein: the main substrate is disposed in one side of the printer main body; and the wireless communication module is disposed in another side of the printer main body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Tasuku Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 7605833
    Abstract: A writing device to write an image onto a photoconductor, including a print head having plural LEDs, a first supporting member, having a position determining section to determine the position of the print head, and an adjustment screw, and a second supporting member, having a reference shaft which comes into contact with the first supporting member and movably supports the first supporting member while moving to or separating from the photoconductor, and a pressuring member which presses the first supporting member against the reference shaft, wherein the second supporting member is engaged with the first supporting member by the adjustment screw, whereby when the adjustment screw is rotated, the print head is shifted along with the first supporting member, and a first direction joining the position determining section and the adjustment screw makes a right angle with a second direction joining the adjustment screw and the reference shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Business Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Akihiko Shimazu
  • Patent number: 7595813
    Abstract: In an image forming apparatus (1) utilizing electrophotographic technology, position and posture of a laser scan unit (5) with respect top a frame (13) is adjusted easily without cost rise and upsizing of the apparatus. Semicircular recesses (53) and an elongate hole (54) are formed at each of three fixing portions (52a, 52b and 52c) in the vicinities of side faces (51b) and a rear face (51c) of a housing (51) of the laser scan unit (5), and an adjuster 30 serving as a spacer is attached to each of the fixing portions (52a, 52b and 52c). Each adjuster (30) is elected among a plurality of kinds of adjustors respectively having different thicknesses manufactured by press working of metal plates commercially produced and having different thicknesses with using the same dies. The adjustor has a pair of semicircular engaging portions 30b and a coupling portion 30a perpendicular to and coupling the engaging portions (30b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Funai Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazuto Hori
  • Patent number: 7593149
    Abstract: An optical scanning unit includes: a light source configured to emit a light beam; a lens arranged so that the light beam emitted from the light source passes therethrough; a rotatable deflector configured to deflect the light beam coming from the lens, the deflected light beam being guided to a light receiving member; a movable lens holder configured to hold the lens, the lens holder being provided in a space between the light source and the deflector; a support member having a first face located on a first side thereof, the first face facing toward a vertically-downward direction and extending in a direction substantially parallel to a reference-axis defined between the light source and the deflector, there also being a second face located on a second side, the second face being arranged opposite to the first face; and a force-transferring member configured to transfer a force to the lens holder for moving the lens holder along the first face of the support member, the force being applied to the force-trans
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasumasa Tomita
  • Patent number: 7589751
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus comprises an adjusting mechanism that adjusts an interval between an LED head writing an optical image on a photoreceptor and a photoreceptor drum to a reference interval (A), and the adjusting mechanism includes a regulating member attached to the LED head. In the adjustment of the interval between the LED head and the photoreceptor drum, the LED head and the regulating member are integrally moved until the regulating member comes into contact with the photoreceptor drum. The interval between the LED head and the photoreceptor drum is (A-B) at this point. The LED head and the regulating member are moved in the direction opposite to the photoreceptor drum by a distance (B). As a result, the interval between the LED head and the photoreceptor drum is set to the reference interval (A).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shohichi Fukutome, Ayumu Oda, Takaharu Motoyama, Tomohiko Okada
  • Patent number: 7557973
    Abstract: An optical scanning device has a light source for irradiating a beam; a scanning optical system for allowing the beam to deflectively scan a scanned surface; and a housing for supporting the light source and the scanning optical system. The housing includes opposed facing first and second side surfaces. A first frame faces the first side surface or a surface near the first surface. A second frame faces the second surface of the housing. A first support supports the first side surface or a side surface near the same at two points with the first frame. A second support supports the second side surface at one point with the second frame. A forcible contact mechanism generates a biasing force for urging the first side surface toward the first frame; and an adjusting mechanism on the second support adjusts a deviation of the housing over a horizontal plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Teruyuki Miyamoto, Koji Izumi
  • Patent number: 7554569
    Abstract: A light scanning device includes a light source that emits a laser beam, a deflector that deflects the laser beam emitted from the light source, a motor that drives the deflector so as to scan the deflected laser beam, an optical system that converges the deflected laser beam on an object surface, a housing configured such that the motor and the optical system are fixed thereto, the housing including one of a through hole penetrating from an inside thereof to an outside thereof and a thin portion whose wall thickness is thinner than any other portion of the housing, and a heat radiating member including an exposed portion that is exposed outside the housing, the heat radiating member being configured such that heat generated inside the housing is radiated outside the housing from the motor via one of the through hole and the thin portion, and the exposed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Shimpei Shinozaki
  • Publication number: 20090115834
    Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes a housing that positions and holds a plurality of light sources emitting light beams, a deflection mirror that deflects the light beams to perform main scanning, and at least one of optical image forming elements closest to the deflection mirror to form images on respective image carriers. A plurality of reflectors guide the light beams exiting the housing to the respective image carriers. A pair of support members face each other to support the housing in a main scanning direction. A support mechanism supports the reflectors by bridging the reflectors between the support members and also couples the support members to each other. Relative positions of the reflectors are arranged in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to a main scanning direction between the support members.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Inventor: Tomohiro Nakajima
  • Patent number: 7515171
    Abstract: A light scanning module mounted to a main body, the module including a light scanning unit including a light scanning window to scan a light onto a photosensitive body of the main body, a cleaning shutter part including a cleaning part to clean the light scanning window and is coupled to the main body to move between an opening position to open the light scanning window and a closing position to close the light scanning window, and the cleaning shutter part, including a cleaning part accommodating part to accommodate at least one area of the cleaning part to pivotally rotate, and a rotation regulating part provided on one side of the cleaning part and is contact-supported on an internal wall of the cleaning part accommodating part to block the pivotal rotation of the cleaning part if the cleaning shutter part moves from the closing position to the opening position, and is separated from the internal wall of the cleaning part accommodating part to permit the pivotal rotation of the cleaning part if the cleanin
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventor: Kyung-min Lim
  • Patent number: 7483048
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for fixing a shaft of a cartridge and an image forming device including the apparatus. The apparatus includes a fixed supporting part formed at a frame, and rotatably supporting a first end of at least one shaft of at least one cartridge. A movable supporting part is formed at the frame to be movable between a first position and a second position, and rotatably supporting a second end of the shaft of the cartridge. An operating part operates to move the movable supporting part between the first position and the second position. The fixed supporting part and the movable supporting part fix the shaft of the cartridge, and the movable supporting part works together with opening and closing operation of the cover. The shaft of the cartridge is fixed in the proper position, but also a corresponding cartridge, such as an image forming cartridges, is easily assembled and disassembled in the frame of the main body when the cartridge is mounted in the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woo-chul Jung, Se-hyun Lyu, Heung-sup Jeong
  • Patent number: 7477279
    Abstract: In unit chassis 30 in which optical instruments are mounted, three of main fixing members 31, 32 and 33 formed in the reinforced reinforcing areas or in the contiguous areas thereof, as well as sunsidiary fixing member 34 connected to said main fixing members by flexible member 35, are provided, and unit chassis 30 is fixed by said fixing members in more than four places. The polygon mirror as a vibration source is mounted in the position 9x that are inside of a triangle PO formed by three of main fixing members 31, 32 and 33 or in the vicinity thereof. In this case, high-reinforcing area P2 reinforced more than any other area is formed between said position 9x and the position 8x of deflecting mirror for reflecting the scanned beam light. Main fixing members 31 and 32 among three of main fixing members are formed in two places having the high-reinforcing area between them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventor: Masato Ohnishi
  • Patent number: 7477280
    Abstract: The invention provides an image forming apparatus that includes a light source receiving printing data to generate a scanning beam; a polygon mirror receiving the scanning beam to scan in a predetermined width; a reflection mirror reflecting the scanned beam; a blocking member moving between a blocking position blocking the scanning beam and an non-blocking position allowing the scanning beam to pass; a developing cartridge provided to move inside/outside of the image forming apparatus to move the blocking member, and accommodating a photosensitive body receiving the scanning beam reflected by the reflection mirror; a sensor interposed between the polygon mirror and the reflection mirror to detect a first position of the scanned beam; and a controller determining whether the developing cartridge is mounted on the basis of the detected signal of the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Young-min Kim
  • Patent number: 7460142
    Abstract: An image processing apparatus having a structure in which the positioning accuracy of the optical instruments related to image processing are hardly influenced from the condition of the installation surface of the apparatus body. Near the edges of floor plate 60 forming the undersurface of the body of image processing apparatus A, four legs 61, 62, 63a, and 63b are provided in a protruding manner in three points forming generally a triangle, and optical unit X1 in which the optical instruments are mounted is supported by vertical positioning plate 6a or horizontal positioning plate 6a, which are a part of the apparatus body's structure, in three points forming a triangle in the same direction as the triangle formed by Legs 61, 62, and 63 in three points when viewed from underneath, and then, these three points are arranged in the position near each of the three points provided with legs 61, 62, and 63 when viewed from underneath.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: Kyocera Mita Corporation
    Inventors: Akihiro Masaki, Teruyuki Miyamoto, Chisato Hatakeyama
  • Patent number: 7453615
    Abstract: An optical scanning apparatus includes a housing that positions and holds a plurality of light sources emitting light beams, a deflection mirror that deflects the light beams to perform main scanning, and at least one of optical image forming elements closest to the deflection mirror to form images on respective image carriers. A plurality of reflectors guide the light beams exiting the housing to the respective image carriers. A pair of support members face each other to support the housing in a main scanning direction. A support mechanism supports the reflectors by bridging the reflectors between the support members and also couples the support members to each other. Relative positions of the reflectors are arranged in a cross-sectional plane perpendicular to a main scanning direction between the support members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomohiro Nakajima
  • Patent number: 7450146
    Abstract: An optical scanning device includes a plurality of light sources, a deflector, optical systems, and a plurality of light shielding units to shield flare light from an opposite optical system. Two light shielding units are arranged not to satisfy ?=n(360/x) degrees, where ? is an angle formed by a line from a portion of one light shielding unit nearest the deflector to a rotation axis of the deflector and a line from a portion of the other light shielding unit nearest the deflector to the rotation axis of the deflector with the rotation axis of the deflector being an apex angle, x is the number of mirror faces of the deflector, and n is an integer not more than x.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Sakaue, Kazunori Bannai
  • Patent number: 7446786
    Abstract: An image forming device, comprising: a cylindrical rotatable photoreceptor rotatably supported by an apparatus body; an exposure device in which plural exposure heads which expose an outer circumferential surface of the rotatable photoreceptor are disposed in a common housing in such a manner that exposure sections thereof are consecutively positioned; and a supporting unit having a position adjusting mechanism for adjusting a posture of the exposure device in at least two locations, which supports the exposure device and which is fixed on the apparatus body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masato Mikami, Kunihiro Maie, Kouji Tsutsumi, Shingo Yano
  • Patent number: 7446787
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes an image forming unit for forming a toner image on a recording material. A first accommodating body accommodates the image forming unit. A fixing unit fixes an image formed by the image forming unit on the recording material. A second accommodating body accommodates the fixing unit, with the second accommodating body being attached to an external part of the first accommodating body. An air current path is formed by a space created by connecting the first accommodating body and the second accommodating body such that the recording material on which the image has been formed is conveyed from the first accommo-dating body to the second accommodating body in order to fix the image. The air current path is adapted to guide air to move outside of the apparatus by use of fans.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takehiro Kishi
  • Patent number: 7436426
    Abstract: A laser scanning apparatus capable of preventing a secondary contamination of light transmitting windows and an image forming device having the same include a light emitting unit to emit light, a cover connected to a laser scanning apparatus body, and having at least one light transmitting window through which light passes, a cleaning member reciprocally disposed on the cover to clean the light transmitting window when on a cleaning path, and a guide unit to guide a movement of the cleaning member, so that the cleaning path is other than a returning path of the cleaning member and have different up and down periods from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyung-min Lim