Laser exposure apparatus and printer

Abstract

The invention discloses a laser exposure device and a printer, and belongs to the field of image processing, a light spot adjusting lens assembly is located between a laser and a polygonal reflector, and a scanning lens assembly is located between the polygonal reflector and a reflector assembly. The light spot adjusting lens assembly comprises a collimating lens, a convex-plane lens, a plano-concave lens and a wedge-shaped lens which are arranged in sequence, the scanning lens assembly comprises a first f theta lens, a second f theta lens and a concave-plane lens which are arranged in sequence, and laser light generated by the laser device is irradiated to the polygonal reflector after passing through the collimating lens, the convex-plane lens, the plano-concave lens and the wedge-shaped lens. The polygonal reflector rotates relative to the shell and reflects laser, the reflected laser passes through the first f theta lens, the second f theta lens and the concave plane lens and then irradiates to the reflector assembly, the reflector assembly reflects the laser to the light thermosensitive element, and by arranging the convex plane lens, the plano-concave lens and the concave plane lens, the size and shape of light spots of the laser are adjusted. And images printed by the printer are clear.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to the field of image processing, in particular to a laser exposure device and a printer. Background Art

[0002] In the field of image forming technology, especially in the field of laser printer technology, it is necessary to scan a photothermographic element having a photosensitive layer through an optical scanning device, so as to form a latent image on the photothermographic element, and then obtain a complete and clear image through a heat treatment device. In the prior art, a laser, a polygon mirror, etc. are usually set in the optical scanning device, and the light beam emitted from the laser is irradiated onto the reflective surface of the polygon mirror so as to subsequently scan the photothermographic element. However, the spot size of the light beam emitted from the laser in the prior art is not adjusted, resulting in blurred imaging of the photothermographic element and unclear images printed by the printer. Summary of the invention

[0003] In order to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art, one of the objectives of the present invention is to provide a laser exposure device for adjusting the spot of a laser beam so that the image printed by the printer is clear.

[0004] In order to overcome the deficiencies of the prior art, a second object of the present invention is to provide a printer that can adjust the spot of a laser beam so that the image printed by the printer is clear.

[0005] One of the purposes of the present invention is achieved by the following technical solution:

[0006] A laser exposure device comprises a housing, a laser, a polygonal reflector and a reflector assembly, wherein the laser and the reflector assembly are fixed to the housing, and the polygonal reflector is rotatably mounted on the housing. The laser exposure device also comprises a spot adjustment lens assembly and a scanning lens assembly, wherein the spot adjustment lens assembly is located between the laser and the polygonal reflector, and the scanning lens assembly is located between the polygonal reflector and the reflector assembly. The spot adjustment lens assembly comprises a collimator, a convex-planar lens, a plano-concave lens and a wedge-shaped mirror which are arranged in sequence, and the scanning lens assembly comprises a first fθ lens, a second fθ lens and a concave-planar lens which are arranged in sequence. The laser light generated by the laser passes through the collimator, the convex-planar lens, the plano-concave lens and the wedge-shaped lens in sequence and then irradiates the polygonal reflector. The polygonal reflector rotates relative to the housing and reflects the laser light. The reflected laser light passes through the first fθ lens, the second fθ lens and the concave-planar lens and then irradiates the reflector assembly. The reflector assembly reflects the laser light to a photothermographic element.

[0007] Furthermore, the collimator is located between the laser and the convex-plano lens, one side of the convex-plano lens is convex and the other side is flat, the convex surface of the convex-plano lens faces the collimator, and the flat surface of the convex-plano lens faces the plano-concave lens.

[0008] Furthermore, the plano-concave lens is located between the convex-plano lens and the wedge-shaped mirror, one side of the plano-concave lens is a plane, and the other side of the plano-concave lens is a concave surface, the plane of the plano-concave lens faces the convex-plano lens, and the concave surface of the plano-concave lens faces the wedge-shaped mirror.

[0009] Furthermore, the concave-flat lens is located between the second fθ lens and the reflector assembly, one side of the concave-flat lens is concave, and the other side of the concave-flat lens is flat, the concave surface of the concave-flat lens faces the second fθ lens, and the flat surface of the concave-flat lens faces the reflector assembly.

[0010] Furthermore, the laser, the collimating mirror, the convex-plano lens, the plano-concave lens, the wedge mirror and the polygonal reflector are located on the same straight line.

[0011] Furthermore, the first fθ lens is arc-shaped.

[0012] Furthermore, one side of the second fθ lens is a plane, and the other side is a convex arc surface, the plane of the second fθ lens faces the first fθ lens, and the arc surface of the second fθ lens faces the concave-planar lens.

[0013] Further, the length of the second fθ lens is greater than the length of the first fθ lens.

[0014] Furthermore, the length of the concave-planar lens is greater than the length of the second fθ lens.

[0015] The second object of the present invention is achieved by adopting the following technical solution:

[0016] A printer is provided with an area to be scanned, and the printer further comprises any one of the above-mentioned laser exposure devices, wherein the laser reflected by the reflector assembly irradiates the area to be scanned and scans the area to be scanned.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the spot adjustment lens assembly of the laser exposure device of the present invention includes a collimator mirror, a convex-planar lens, a plano-concave lens and a wedge mirror arranged in sequence, and the scanning lens assembly includes a first fθ lens, a second fθ lens and a concave-planar lens arranged in sequence. The laser generated by the laser passes through the collimator mirror, the convex-planar lens, the plano-concave lens and the wedge mirror in sequence and then irradiates the polygonal reflector. The polygonal reflector rotates relative to the shell and reflects the laser. The reflected laser passes through the first fθ lens, the second fθ lens and the concave-planar lens and then irradiates the reflector assembly. The reflector assembly reflects the laser to the photothermographic element. By setting the convex-planar lens, the plano-concave lens and the concave-planar lens, the size and shape of the laser spot are adjusted to make the image printed by the printer clear. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 is a three-dimensional diagram of the laser exposure device of the present invention;

[0019] Figure 2 for Figure 1 A partial structural stereogram of a laser exposure device;

[0020] Figure 3 for Figure 2 A stereoscopic view of a first cylindrical mirror of a laser exposure device;

[0021] Figure 4 for Figure 2 A stereoscopic view of a second cylindrical mirror of a laser exposure device;

[0022] Figure 5 for Figure 2 A stereoscopic view of a third cylindrical mirror of a laser exposure device;

[0023] Figure 6 for Figure 2 A perspective view of a reflector assembly of a laser exposure device;

[0024] Figure 7 for Figure 1 A stereoscopic diagram of a laser exposure device in use;

[0025] Figure 8 for Figure 1 Optical path diagram of the laser exposure device in use.

[0026] In the figure: 10, housing; 20, laser; 30, spot adjustment lens assembly; 31, collimator; 32, first cylindrical mirror; 320, first mounting seat; 3201, fixing portion; 3202, mounting portion; 3203, mounting groove; 3204, dispensing hole; 321, convex-planar lens; 33, second cylindrical mirror; 330, second mounting seat; 331, plano-concave lens; 34, wedge mirror; 40, polygonal reflector; 50, scanning lens assembly; 51, first fθ lens; 52, first Second fθ lens; 53, third cylindrical mirror; 530, third mounting seat; 531, concave-flat lens; 60, reflector assembly; 61, fourth mounting seat; 62, reflector; 70, zero-position lens assembly; 71, fourth cylindrical mirror; 710, fifth mounting seat; 711, cylindrical mirror body; 72, zero-position sampling reflector; 720, sixth mounting seat; 721, sampling reflector body; 80, film transport assembly; 81, first transport axis; 82, second transport axis; 83, third transport axis. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The following will be combined with the drawings in the embodiments of the present invention to clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only part of the embodiments of the present invention, not all of the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by ordinary technicians in this field without creative work are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0028] It should be noted that when a component is referred to as being "fixed to" another component, it may be directly on the other component or there may be another intermediate component through which it is fixed. When a component is considered to be "connected to" another component, it may be directly connected to the other component or there may be another intermediate component at the same time. When a component is considered to be "set on" another component, it may be directly set on the other component or there may be another intermediate component at the same time. The terms "vertical", "horizontal", "left", "right" and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only.

[0029] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as those commonly understood by those skilled in the art of the present invention. The terms used herein in the specification of the present invention are only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. The term "and / or" used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more related listed items.

[0030] See also Figure 1The laser exposure device includes a housing 10, a laser 20, a spot adjustment lens assembly 30, a polygonal reflector 40, a scanning lens assembly 50, a reflector assembly 60, a zero position lens assembly 70 and a film transport assembly 80. The laser 20, the spot adjustment lens assembly 30, the scanning lens assembly 50, the reflector assembly 60 and the zero position lens assembly 70 are fixed to the housing 10, and the polygonal reflector 40 is rotatably mounted on the housing 10. The spot adjustment lens assembly 30 is located between the laser 20 and the polygonal reflector 40, and the scanning lens assembly 50 is located between the polygonal reflector 40 and the reflector assembly 60. The zero position lens assembly 70 is located between the scanning lens assembly 50 and the reflector assembly 60 and is located at the edge.

[0031] The laser 20 is used to emit multiple light beams in a continuous period of time, wherein the wavelength and intensity of the light beams can be selected according to usage requirements.

[0032] Please continue reading Figure 2 The spot adjustment lens assembly 30 includes a collimator 31, a first cylindrical lens 32, a second cylindrical lens 33 and a wedge lens 34. The collimator 31, the first cylindrical lens 32, the second cylindrical lens 33 and the wedge lens 34 are arranged in sequence and located on the same straight line.

[0033] The collimator 31 can focus the light beam emitted by the laser 20 to prevent the laser spot finally projected onto the photothermographic element from being too large, which would cause blurry imaging of the photothermographic element and affect the scanning accuracy of the device.

[0034] The first cylindrical mirror 32 and the second cylindrical mirror 33 are used to adjust the size and shape of the laser spot so that the size and shape of the spot irradiated to the photothermographic element meet the requirements and improve the imaging quality.

[0035] Please continue reading Figure 3 The first cylindrical mirror 32 includes a first mounting seat 320 and a convex-planar lens 321 mounted on the first mounting seat 320. The first mounting seat 320 includes a fixing portion 3201 and a mounting portion 3202 extending from the fixing portion 3201. The fixing portion 3201 is provided with a fixing groove, and the fixing portion 3201 is fixed to the housing 10 through the fixing groove. The mounting portion 3202 is provided with a mounting groove 3203 and a glue-dispensing hole 3204 located at the edge of the mounting groove 3203. The mounting groove 3203 is an open step structure, and the convex-planar lens 321 is plugged into the mounting groove 3203. By dispensing glue to the glue-dispensing hole 3204, the convex-planar lens 321 is fixed to the first mounting seat 320. The convex-planar lens 321 has a convex surface on one side and a flat surface on the other side. The convex surface of the convex-planar lens 321 faces the collimating lens 31, and the flat surface of the convex-planar lens 321 faces the plano-concave lens 331.

[0036] Please continue reading Figure 4The second cylindrical mirror 33 includes a second mounting seat 330 and a plano-concave lens 331. The structure of the second mounting seat 330 is substantially the same as that of the first mounting seat 320. One side of the plano-concave lens 331 is a plane, and the other side of the plano-concave lens 331 is a concave surface. The plane of the plano-concave lens 331 faces the convex-planar lens 321, and the concave surface of the plano-concave lens 331 faces the wedge-shaped mirror 34.

[0037] The wedge mirror 34 is used for beam control deviation. The inclination angles of the two sides of the wedge mirror 34 are relatively small, which can deflect the light path to the thicker side and deflect the incident light path by a certain angle. The light beam emitted by the laser 20 is first deflected by the wedge mirror 34 and then irradiated onto a reflective surface of the polygonal reflector 40.

[0038] The polygonal reflector 40 is rotatably mounted on the housing 10. The polygonal reflector 40 includes a plurality of reflective surfaces located on the side of the regular polygonal rotating body, and can rotate around the central axis of the regular polygon, that is, it can rotate around an axis perpendicular to the plane containing the regular polygon at a position equidistant from each vertex. The reflective surface of the light beam is arranged to be parallel to the rotation axis along each side of the regular polygon, and the light beam emitted from the above-mentioned laser 20 is irradiated onto a reflective surface, thereby entering the first fθ lens 51 as a scanning light.

[0039] Please continue reading Figure 2 The scanning lens assembly 50 includes a first fθ lens 51, a second fθ lens 52, and a third cylindrical mirror 53 arranged in sequence. The first fθ lens 51 is located between the polygonal reflector 40 and the second fθ lens 52, and the first fθ lens 51 is arc-shaped. The second fθ lens 52 has a flat surface on one side and a convex arc surface on the other side. The flat surface of the second fθ lens 52 faces the first fθ lens 51, and the arc surface of the second fθ lens 52 faces the concave-planar lens 531. The length of the second fθ lens 52 is greater than the length of the first fθ lens 51.

[0040] Please continue reading Figure 5 The third cylindrical mirror 53 includes a third mounting seat 530 and a concave flat lens 531. The third mounting seat 530 is fixed to the housing 10, and the concave flat lens 531 is mounted on the third mounting seat 530. The concave flat lens 531 is located between the second fθ lens 52 and the reflector assembly 60. One side of the concave flat lens 531 is a concave surface, and the other side of the concave flat lens 531 is a flat surface. The concave surface of the concave flat lens 531 faces the second fθ lens 52, and the flat surface of the concave flat lens 531 faces the reflector assembly 60. The length of the concave flat lens 531 is greater than the length of the second fθ lens 52.

[0041] Please continue reading Figure 6The reflector assembly 60 includes a fourth mounting seat 61 and a reflector 62 mounted on the fourth mounting seat 61. The reflector 62 is tilted to reflect the light emitted by the concave-planar lens 531 to the photothermographic element of the area to be scanned. In this embodiment, the photothermographic element is a film.

[0042] Please continue reading Figure 1 The zero position lens assembly 70 includes a fourth cylindrical mirror 71 and a zero position sampling reflector 72. The fourth cylindrical mirror 71 can form a light spot in the horizontal direction, and the size of the light spot can be adjusted to meet different imaging requirements. The fourth cylindrical mirror 71 includes a fifth mounting seat 710 and a cylindrical mirror body 711. The structure of the fifth mounting seat 710 is the same as that of the first mounting seat 320, and the cylindrical mirror body 711 is plugged and fixed to the fifth mounting seat 710.

[0043] The zero position sampling reflector 72 is used to determine whether other optical components are installed in place to determine the initial position of the laser exposure device when it starts working, so as to ensure the scanning accuracy of the laser exposure device. The zero position sampling reflector 72 includes a sixth mounting seat 720 and a sampling reflector body 721 mounted on the sixth mounting seat 720. The structure of the sixth mounting seat 720 is the same as that of the first mounting seat 320. The sixth mounting seat 720 is fixed to the housing 10, and the sampling reflector body 721 is plugged into the sixth mounting seat 720 and fixed to the sixth mounting seat 720.

[0044] Please continue reading Figure 7 as well as Figure 8 The film transport assembly 80 includes a first transport shaft 81, a second transport shaft 82 and a third transport shaft 83. The first transport shaft 81, the second transport shaft 82 and the third transport shaft 83 are all rotatably mounted. The first transport shaft 81 and the second transport shaft 82 are located above the third transport shaft 83. The diameters of the first transport shaft 81 and the second transport shaft 82 are smaller than the diameter of the third transport shaft 83. A gap is formed between the first transport shaft 81 and the second transport shaft 82 for the laser to pass through. A transport channel for the film to move is formed between the first transport shaft 81, the second transport shaft 82 and the third transport shaft 83. The first transport shaft 81 and the second transport shaft 82 are located above the photothermographic element, and the third transport shaft 83 is located below the photothermographic element. The third transport shaft 83 carries the photothermographic element.

[0045] Please continue reading Figure 7 as well as Figure 8When using the laser exposure device, the laser generated by the laser 20 passes through the collimator 31, the convex-planar lens 321, the plano-concave lens 331 and the wedge mirror 34 in sequence and then irradiates the polygonal reflector 40. The polygonal reflector 40 rotates relative to the shell 10 and reflects the laser. The reflected laser passes through the first fθ lens 51, the second fθ lens 52 and the concave-planar lens 531 and then irradiates the reflector assembly 60. The reflector assembly 60 reflects the laser, and the laser passes through the gap between the first conveying shaft 81 and the second conveying shaft 82 and falls on the photothermographic element on the third conveying shaft 83.

[0046] The present application adjusts the size and shape of the laser spot by setting a convex-planar lens 321, a plano-concave lens 331 and a concave-planar lens 531, so that the image printed by the printer is clear.

[0047] The present application also discloses a printer, which includes the laser exposure device mentioned above.

[0048] The above embodiments only express several implementation methods of the present invention, and the descriptions thereof are relatively specific and detailed, but they cannot be understood as limiting the scope of the invention patent. It should be pointed out that, for ordinary technicians in this field, several modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the concept of the present invention, which are equivalent modifications and improvements made to the above embodiments based on the essential technology of the present invention, and all of them belong to the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A laser exposure device, comprising a housing, a laser, a polygonal reflector and a reflector assembly, wherein the laser and the reflector assembly are fixed to the housing, and the polygonal reflector is rotatably mounted on the housing, characterized in that: The laser exposure device also includes a spot adjustment lens assembly and a scanning lens assembly. The spot adjustment lens assembly is located between the laser and the polygonal reflector, and the scanning lens assembly is located between the polygonal reflector and the reflector assembly. The spot adjustment lens assembly includes a collimator, a convex-planar lens, a plano-concave lens and a wedge mirror arranged in sequence. The scanning lens assembly includes a first fθ lens, a second fθ lens and a concave-planar lens arranged in sequence. The laser light generated by the laser passes through the collimator, the convex-planar lens, the plano-concave lens and the wedge mirror in sequence and then irradiates the polygonal reflector. The polygonal reflector rotates relative to the shell and reflects the laser light. The reflected laser light passes through the first fθ lens, the second fθ lens and the concave-planar lens and then irradiates the reflector assembly. The reflector assembly reflects the laser light to the photothermographic element.

2. The laser exposure device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The collimator is located between the laser and the convex-planar lens. The convex-planar lens has a convex surface on one side and a flat surface on the other side. The convex surface of the convex-planar lens faces the collimator, and the flat surface of the convex-planar lens faces the plano-concave lens.

3. The laser exposure device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The plano-concave lens is located between the convex-planar lens and the wedge-shaped mirror, one side of the plano-concave lens is a plane, and the other side of the plano-concave lens is a concave surface. The plane of the plano-concave lens faces the convex-planar lens, and the concave surface of the plano-concave lens faces the wedge-shaped mirror.

4. The laser exposure device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The concave-flat lens is located between the second fθ lens and the reflector assembly, one side of the concave-flat lens is concave, and the other side of the concave-flat lens is flat. The concave surface of the concave-flat lens faces the second fθ lens, and the flat surface of the concave-flat lens faces the reflector assembly.

5. The laser exposure device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The laser, the collimating mirror, the convex-plano lens, the plano-concave lens, the wedge mirror and the polygonal reflector are located on the same straight line.

6. The laser exposure device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first fθ lens is arc-shaped.

7. The laser exposure device according to claim 6, characterized in that: The second fθ lens has a flat surface on one side and a convex curved surface on the other side. The flat surface of the second fθ lens faces the first fθ lens, and the curved surface of the second fθ lens faces the concave-planar lens.

8. The laser exposure device according to claim 7, characterized in that: The length of the second fθ lens is greater than the length of the first fθ lens.

9. The laser exposure device according to claim 8, characterized in that: The length of the concave-planar lens is greater than the length of the second fθ lens.

10. A printer having an area to be scanned, characterized in that: It comprises the laser exposure device as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the laser reflected by the reflector assembly irradiates the area to be scanned and scans the area to be scanned.

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