Scanning optical device and image forming apparatus

Abstract

To prevent peeling of a connector of a scanner motor having a straight type connector surface-mounted with solder, in assembly lines of a scanning optical device and an image forming apparatus.SOLUTION: A connector 7 includes a plurality of terminal pins 9, each having: a contact portion 9a extending substantially perpendicular to a substrate 8 in contact with a connector cable 3; and a solder joint portion 10 continuous with the contact portion 9a and joined to a surface of the substrate 8 by a low-melting-point solder 11. Distal ends of the solder joint portions 10 of the plurality of terminal pins 9 face in the same distal-end direction De. While a connector cable 3 configured to transmit electric power and an electric signal to a scanner motor 1 is connected to the connector 7, the connector cable 3 is connected to the connector 7 so as to extend in a direction Do opposite to the distal-end direction De.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a scanning optical device that scans an object with a laser beam corresponding to image information, and to an image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic recording method, such as a laser beam printer, that is equipped with this scanning optical device. [Background technology]

[0002] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional scanning optical device, and FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional connector that connects a cable that transmits signals to drive a scanner motor. Connector 306 is a straight-type connector that has four round terminal pins 310. Terminal pins 310, which are connected to connector cable 308, extend perpendicular to substrate 307. Connector 306 is surface-mounted on the surface of substrate 307 by soldering, without the terminal pins 310 penetrating through substrate 307. Furthermore, connector 306 is installed so that the tips of solder joints 309 of the four terminal pins 310 face in the opposite direction to the position on substrate 307 where rotating polygon mirror 302 is mounted (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Connector cable 308 connected to connector 306 extends in the same direction as the tips of solder joints 309 of terminal pins 310, preventing laser light L from being blocked by connector cable 308 (see, for example, Patent Document 2). Furthermore, if the connector cable connected to the scanner motor has excess length, it will be more expensive and may be pinched by nearby components and break. Therefore, the connector cable must be routed to the minimum necessary length. Therefore, when connector cable 308 is routed while connected to connector 306, tensile stress is generated in connector 306 toward the tip of solder joint 309 of terminal pin 310. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-056446 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 11-133336 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the above-described conventional technology has the following problem: When connector 306 is surface-mounted on the surface of substrate 307, connector 306 is joined to substrate 307 by solder 313 forming fillet 314 at solder joint 309 of terminal pin 310. If terminal pin 310 is round (round pin), tip 315 of solder fillet 314 formed at bent portion R of terminal pin 310 has a tapered joint area with substrate 307. Therefore, when force acts on connector 306 in the direction of the tip of solder joint 309 of terminal pin 310, tensile stress concentrates at tip 315 of solder fillet 314 formed at bent portion R of terminal pin 310, which may become the starting point of solder fracture and cause connector 306 to peel off from substrate 307.

[0005] The present invention was made under these circumstances, and aims to prevent the connectors of scanner motors having straight-type connectors surface-mounted by solder from peeling off on assembly lines for scanning optical devices and image forming devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention has the following configuration.

[0007] (1) A scanning optical device comprising: a light source that emits laser light; a rotating polygon mirror that deflects the laser light emitted from the light source; an optical element for guiding the laser light deflected by the rotating polygon mirror to a scanned body; a motor that rotates the rotating polygon mirror; a substrate on which the rotating polygon mirror and the motor are mounted; an optical box that houses the substrate and the optical element; and an optical cover that closes the opening of the optical box; and a connector surface-mounted on the substrate, the connector having a plurality of terminal pins each having a contact portion extending approximately perpendicular to the substrate that contacts a cable and a joint portion that is continuous from the contact portion and joined to the surface of the substrate by soldering, the plurality of terminal pins having tips of the joint portions facing the same first direction, and when the cable that sends power and electrical signals to the motor is connected to the connector, the cable is connected to the connector so as to extend in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

[0008] (2) An image forming apparatus comprising: a scanning optical device according to (1); an image carrier which is the scanned body on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by the scanning optical device; a developing means which develops the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier with toner to form a toner image; and a transfer means which transfers the toner image to a recording material. [Effects of the Invention]

[0009] According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the connector of a scanner motor having a straight type connector surface-mounted by solder from peeling off in an assembly line for a scanning optical device or an image forming device. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0010] [Figure 1] Schematic cross-sectional view showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of a scanning optical device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 3] Cross-sectional view of the connector of the embodiment [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a modified example of the scanning optical device according to the embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a modified example of the scanning optical device according to the embodiment. [Figure 6] A perspective view of a conventional scanning optical device. [Figure 7] Cross section of a conventional connector DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0011] An image forming apparatus equipped with a scanning optical device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the following description, an image forming apparatus equipped with a scanning optical device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described first, followed by a description of the scanning optical device in the image forming apparatus. Next, a deflector to be assembled to the scanning optical device will be described.

[0012] [General scanning optical device] An optical deflector (scanner motor) used in a typical scanning optical device will be described with reference to FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a conventional scanning optical device. Scanner motor 301 is composed of a rotating polygon mirror 302, a rotor 303, a rotating shaft 304, and a substrate 307. Rotor 303 rotates rotating polygon mirror 302. Rotating shaft 304 is integrated with rotor 303. Motor driver IC 305 controls the scanner motor. Electrical components such as motor driver IC 305 and connector 306 are mounted on substrate 307. Electric power and electrical signals for rotating rotor 303 are sent to scanner motor 301 from an electrical control substrate (not shown) via connector cable 308 connected to connector 306. Laser light L emitted from a semiconductor laser is deflected and scanned by rotating polygon mirror 302. The laser light reflected by rotating polygon mirror 302 is scanned onto scanned object 312 via optical member 311.

[0013] <Example> [Image forming device] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The image forming apparatus according to this embodiment includes an optical scanning device and an image forming unit that scans an image carrier, such as a photosensitive drum, and forms an image on a recording material, such as recording paper, based on the scanned image. Here, a printer will be used as an example of the image forming apparatus. As shown in FIG. 1, an image forming apparatus (printer) 110 emits laser light L based on image information from an optical scanning device 101 controlled by an electrical control board 111 via a connector cable 3, and irradiates a photosensitive drum 103, which serves as both a scanned object and an image carrier and is housed in a process cartridge 102. A latent image is then formed on the photosensitive drum 103, and this latent image is visualized as a toner image using toner as a developer. The process cartridge 102 integrally includes the photosensitive drum 103 and, as process means acting on the photosensitive drum 103, a charging unit, a developing unit, and the like.

[0014] Meanwhile, recording materials P loaded on a stacking plate 104 are fed while being separated one by one by a feeding roller 105, and then conveyed further downstream by an intermediate roller 106. A toner image formed on a photosensitive drum 103 is transferred onto the conveyed recording material P by a transfer roller 107 serving as a transfer means. The recording material P with this unfixed toner image formed thereon is conveyed further downstream. The toner image is then fixed to the recording material P by a fixing device 108 having a heater inside. The recording material P is then discharged outside the apparatus by a discharge roller 109.

[0015] In this embodiment, the charging means and developing means as process means acting on the photosensitive drum 103 are provided integrally with the photosensitive drum 103 in the process cartridge 102, but each process means may be configured separately from the photosensitive drum 103. In addition, the configuration of the image forming apparatus is not limited to the configuration shown in Fig. 1, and may be, for example, a color image forming apparatus.

[0016] [Scanning optical device] Next, the scanning optical device 101 in the image forming apparatus 110 will be described with reference to Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the configuration of the scanning optical device 101 of this embodiment. In the following description, the direction in which the laser light scans the photosensitive drum 103 will be referred to as the main scanning direction, and the direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction, in other words, the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 103, will be referred to as the sub-scanning direction.

[0017] Laser light L emitted from a light source 201 is focused only in the sub-scanning direction by an anamorphic collimator lens 202, which is an integrated combination of a collimator lens and a cylindrical lens, and is limited to a predetermined beam diameter by an optical diaphragm 204 formed in an optical box 203. As shown in FIG. 2, the light source 201 is provided on a side surface of the optical box 203. The laser light L is deflected by a rotary polygon mirror 2, which is rotated by a scanner motor 1, passes through an fθ lens 205, and is then irradiated onto the photosensitive drum 103. As a result, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 103. The light source 201, the anamorphic collimator lens 202, the scanner motor 1, etc. are housed in the optical box 203, and the opening of the optical box 203 is closed by an optical cover (not shown). The scanner motor 1 is supplied with power and an electrical signal from an electrical control board 111 shown in FIG. 1 via a connector cable 3 (cable), thereby rotating at a predetermined rotation speed.

[0018] The scanner motor 1 is composed of a rotating polygon mirror 2 that deflects laser light L, a rotor 4 that rotates the rotating polygon mirror 2, a rotating shaft 5 that is integral with the rotor 4, and a substrate 8 on which electrical components such as a motor driver IC 6 and a connector 7 are mounted. The connector 7 is a straight-type connector that has four round terminal pins 9, and the terminal pins 9 that are connected to the connector cable 3 extend perpendicular to the substrate 8. The terminal pins 9 of the connector 7 do not penetrate the substrate 8, but are surface-mounted on the surface of the substrate 8 with low-melting-point solder (not shown). The connector 7 is installed so that the tips of the solder joints 10 of the four terminal pins 9 face in the direction toward the position on the substrate 8 where the rotating polygon mirror 2 is mounted. The connector cable 3 connected to the connector 7 extends in the opposite direction to the tips of the solder joints 10 of the terminal pins 9 (the opposite direction to the position on the substrate 8 where the rotating polygon mirror 2 is mounted) and is connected to an electrical control substrate 111. 2, the longitudinal direction of the connector 7 is designated as D1, and the lateral direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is designated as D2. A plurality of (four in this embodiment) round terminal pins 9 are arranged along the longitudinal direction D1.

[0019] [Connector and board joint] Next, the joint between the connector 7 and the board 8 will be described with reference to Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the terminal pin 9 in a state in which the connector cable 3 is connected to the connector 7. Specifically, it is a cross-sectional view taken along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction D1 and passing through any one of the multiple terminal pins 9.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 3 , the terminal pin 9 of the connector 7 is bent at a substantially right angle in only one direction, forming a bent portion R. The terminal pin 9 has a contact portion 9a that contacts the connector cable 3 and a solder joint portion 10 that is soldered to the substrate 8 with low-melting-point solder 11. The terminal pin 9 has a bent portion R that connects the contact portion 9a and the solder joint portion 10 so that the extension direction of the contact portion 9a is different from the extension direction of the solder joint portion 10. In this embodiment, the terminal pin 9 is cylindrical, and the cross section perpendicular to the extension direction of the terminal pin 9 is circular. Note that the shape of the terminal pin 9 is not limited to a cylindrical shape and may be other shapes such as an ellipse or a rectangle. The diameter of the solder joint portion 10 is defined as a diameter Ra.

[0021] The direction in which the contact portion 9a extends is a direction intersecting an imaginary plane formed by the longitudinal direction D1 and the longitudinal direction D2, or in this embodiment, a direction perpendicular to the imaginary plane. In this embodiment, the angle of the bent portion R, more specifically, the angle θ between the direction in which the contact portion 9a extends and the direction in which the solder joint portion 10 extends, is 90°.

[0022] In this embodiment, the connector 7 is provided so that an imaginary plane formed by the longitudinal direction D1 and the longitudinal direction D2 is parallel to the substrate 8, and therefore the contact portion 9a is perpendicular to the substrate 8. The direction in which the solder joint portion 10 extends is the direction away from the connector 7, which is the tip direction De described below.

[0023] In the connector 7, the low-melting-point solder 11 is joined to the substrate 8 with a fillet 12 formed only at the solder joint 10 of the terminal pin 9. The thickness of the low-melting-point solder 11 from the substrate 8 is such that it does not overlap the center line O of the round (cylindrical) solder joint 10, and the fillet 12 is formed at the bent portion R. The center line O is an imaginary line passing through the center of the circular cross section of the solder joint 10. The surface of the solder joint 10 that comes into contact with the low-melting-point solder 11 is designated as surface 10a, and the thickness of the low-melting-point solder 11 between surface 10a and the substrate 8 is designated as thickness W1. The highest portion of the fillet 12 at the bent portion R from the substrate 8 is designated as portion 12a, and the thickness of the low-melting-point solder 11 from the substrate 8 to portion 12a is designated as thickness W2. As described above, thickness W2 does not overlap the center line O, i.e., (W1 + Ra / 2) > W2.

[0024] Furthermore, the connector cable 3 extends with almost no excess length in a reverse direction Do, which is a second direction opposite to the tip direction De, which is a first direction of the solder joints 10 of the terminal pins 9. The rotating polygon mirror 2 is located in the tip direction De. That is, in this embodiment, the connector 7 is soldered to the substrate 8 so that the rotating polygon mirror 2 is located in the direction in which the solder joints 10 extend.

[0025] According to this embodiment, the scanning optical device 101 has the above-described configuration, and thus can achieve the following effects. When the connector cable 3 connected to the connector 7 is routed, stress acts on the connector 7 in the direction in which the connector cable 3 extends, i.e., in the direction Do opposite to the tip direction De of the solder joint 10 of the terminal pin 9. At this time, the stress acting on the fillet 12 formed at the bent portion R of the terminal pin 9 reduces its tensile component and adds a compressive component, thereby suppressing damage to the low-melting-point solder 11. Therefore, when assembling the scanning optical device 101 or the image forming device 110, it is possible to prevent the connector 7 of the scanner motor 1 from peeling off from the substrate 8, and to provide a scanning optical device and an image forming device with higher reliability.

[0026] [Variation 1] Modified examples of the scanning optical device will now be described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. Figure 4 is a perspective view showing a scanning optical device 206, which is a modified example of this embodiment. In Figure 4, the opening of the optical box 203 is covered with an optical cover 207, and the connectors are not visible, but the configuration of the connectors is the same as that described in Figure 3, and the symbols described in Figure 3 etc. will be used.

[0027] The optical cover 207 has a hole 211 penetrating the optical cover 207 for guiding the connector cable 3 connected to the connector 7 to the outside of the scanning optical device 206. If the direction orthogonal to directions D1 and D2 is defined as the up-down direction, the hole 211 is provided so as to be located above (directly above) the connector 7 when the optical cover 207 is placed over the optical box 203. The direction in which the connector cable 3 passes through the hole 211 from the inside of the scanning optical device 206 to the outside is defined as direction D3. The hole 211 has a chamfered portion 14 that comes into contact with the connector cable 3 extending in direction D3.

[0028] The optical cover 207 has an end 207a that intersects with the connector cable 3 that is routed through the hole 211. The optical cover 207 has a cable guide 13 between the end 207a and the chamfered portion 14 of the hole 211. The cable guide 13 of the first modification has a connection portion 13a that is connected to the optical cover 207, and a restriction portion 13b that is continuous with the connection portion 13a, covers at least a portion of the connector cable 3, and restricts movement of the connector cable 3 in a direction that intersects with the direction D3. In the first modification, the restriction portion 13b is configured to cover the entire connector cable 3. In the first modification, an end 13c of the restriction portion 13b opposite to the side where the connection portion 13a is connected is an open end, thereby improving the ease of passing the connector cable 3 through the cable guide 13, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0029] 4, the connector cable 3 connected to the connector 7 is routed directly outside the scanning optical device 206, and a cable guide 13 for hanging the connector cable 3 is provided on the optical cover 207. The position of the cable guide 13 is provided in the opposite direction to the tip of the solder joint 10 of the terminal pin 9 of the connector 7 when the connector 7 is used as the reference.

[0030] By providing the cable guide 13, it is possible to regulate the direction in which the connector cable 3 extends. Furthermore, by providing a chamfered portion 14 at the contact portion between the optical cover 207 and the connector cable 3, it is possible to prevent the connector cable 3 from breaking due to contact with a corner of the optical cover 207. Note that if the connector cable 3 comes into contact with the optical box 203, the cable guide 13 and the chamfered portion 14 may be provided on the optical box 203. Furthermore, from the standpoint of dust prevention, etc., the hole 211 may be covered.

[0031] Furthermore, when routing connector cable 3 on optical lid 207 as in Modification 1, the following configuration may be used. That is, the tip of solder joint 10 of connector 7 may face away from rotating polygon mirror 2. In this case, the direction in which connector cable 3 is routed is the opposite direction Do from tip direction De, toward rotating polygon mirror 2. However, because connector cable 3 is routed above connector 7 through hole 211 and above optical lid 207 in the opposite direction to direction D3 in FIG. 4, it does not interfere with rotating polygon mirror 2 or optical components inside optical box 203, and does not obstruct the path of laser light L.

[0032] [Variation 2] Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an optical scanning device 208 provided in a color image forming apparatus, with multiple (for example, four) light sources 201a and 201b provided on a side surface 209b, which will be described later. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the optical scanning device 208 as seen from the opening side of the optical box 209. The configuration of the connector 7 in Fig. 5 is the same as the configuration described in Fig. 3, and the symbols described in Fig. 3 and other figures are used. The optical box 209 has a bottom surface 209a and a side surface 209b that stands upright from the bottom surface 209a and intersects with the connector cable 3. An optical cover closes the opening (opening surface) formed by the side surface 209b.

[0033] The side surface 209b is provided with a notch 212 for guiding the connector cable 3 connected to the connector 7 to the outside of the optical scanning device 208. The direction in which the connector cable 3 passes through the notch 212 from the inside of the optical scanning device 208 to the outside is defined as direction D4. The notch 212 has a chamfered portion 212a that comes into contact with the connector cable 3 extending in direction D4.

[0034] The optical box 209 is provided with a cable guide 15 between the connector 7 and the notch 212. The cable guide 15 of the second modification has a connection portion 15a connected to a bottom surface 209a of the optical box 209, and a restriction portion 15b that is continuous with the connection portion 15a, covers at least a portion of the connector cable 3, and restricts movement of the connector cable 3 in a direction intersecting with direction D4. In the second modification, the restriction portion 15b is configured to cover the entire connector cable 3. In the second modification, an end portion 15c of the restriction portion 15b opposite to the side where the connection portion 15a is connected is an open end, thereby improving the ease of passing the connector cable 3 through the cable guide 15, but the present invention is not limited to this.

[0035] 5, the connector cable 3 connected to the connector 7 is routed inside the optical scanning device 208, and a cable guide 15 for hanging the connector cable 3 is provided in the optical box 209. When the connector 7 is used as a reference, the cable guide 15 is provided in the opposite direction Do to the tip direction De of the solder joint portion 10 of the terminal pin 9 of the connector 7.

[0036] By providing the cable guide 15, the connector cable 3 can be routed in a desired direction, and blocking of the laser light L by the connector cable 3 can be prevented. In the second modification, the direction D4 is the same as the direction Do opposite to the tip direction De of the solder joint portion 10. Furthermore, since the connector cable 3 is routed along the bottom surface 209a, the connector cable 3 does not enter the range of the scanning direction of the laser light L by the rotating polygon mirror 2. Furthermore, by passing the connector cable 3 through the cutout portion 212, it is possible to prevent the connector cable 3 from being caught between the optical box 209 and the optical cover (not shown) and breaking. Note that the cutout portion 212 may be covered from the standpoint of dust prevention, etc.

[0037] In the embodiment described above, the connector cable connected to the connector is configured to extend in a direction opposite to the tip direction of the solder joints of the terminal pins, in a direction in which no optical elements are arranged. When the connector cable is extended in the direction in which the optical elements are arranged, the connector may be installed so that the tip direction of the solder joints of the terminal pins is opposite to the direction in which the connector cable extends. In this case, for example, as described at the end of Modification 1, the connector cable may be extended outside the scanning optical device, and the cable guide may be configured in the optical cover. Additionally, the position of the cable guide may be provided in the opposite direction to the tip direction of the solder joints of the connector's terminal pins, when the connector is used as a reference.

[0038] As described above, according to this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the connector of a scanner motor having a straight type connector surface-mounted by solder from peeling off on an assembly line for a scanning optical device or an image forming device.

[0039] The disclosure of this embodiment includes the following configuration. (Configuration 1) a light source that emits laser light; a rotating polygon mirror that deflects the laser light emitted from the light source; an optical member for guiding the laser light deflected by the rotary polygon mirror to a scanned body; a motor for rotating the rotary polygon mirror; a substrate on which the rotary polygon mirror and the motor are mounted; an optical box that houses the substrate and the optical member; an optical cover that closes an opening of the optical box; A scanning optical device comprising: a connector surface-mounted on the substrate; Equipped with the connector includes a plurality of terminal pins each having a contact portion extending substantially perpendicular to the board and contacting a cable, and a joining portion continuing from the contact portion and joining to a surface of the board by soldering; The terminal pins each have a tip of the joint portion facing the same first direction, A scanning optical device characterized in that, when the cable that supplies power and electrical signals to the motor is connected to the connector, the cable is connected to the connector so as to extend in a second direction opposite to the first direction. (Configuration 2) 2. The scanning optical device according to configuration 1, wherein the first direction is a direction in which the tip of the joint faces the rotating polygon mirror. (Configuration 3) a cable guide for guiding the cable; 3. The scanning optical device according to claim 1, wherein the cable guide is provided on the opposite side of the connector from the rotating polygon mirror. (Configuration 4) the optical cover has a hole through which the cable connected to the connector is guided from the inside to the outside of the optical box; The scanning optical device described in configuration 3, wherein the cable guide is provided on the outside of the optical cover when the optical cover is closing the opening surface, and guides the cable led from the hole to the outside. (Configuration 5) 5. The scanning optical device according to claim 4, wherein the hole has a chamfered portion at a portion that comes into contact with the cable when the cable is guided by the cable guide. (Configuration 6) the optical box has a bottom surface; 4. The optical scanning device according to configuration 3, wherein the cable guide is provided on the bottom surface. (Configuration 7) the optical box has a side surface extending from the bottom surface, The scanning optical device described in configuration 6, characterized in that the side surface has a cutout portion through which the cable connected to the connector and guided by the cable guide is led from the inside to the outside of the optical box. (Configuration 8) 8. The scanning optical device according to claim 7, wherein the cutout portion has a chamfered portion at a portion that comes into contact with the cable when the cable is guided by the cable guide. (Configuration 9) the first direction is a direction in which the tip of the joint faces away from the direction of the rotary polygon mirror, a cable guide that is provided on the outside of the optical cover when the optical cover is closing the opening surface and that guides the cable; 2. The optical scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the cable guide is provided in the second direction with respect to the connector. (Configuration 10) the optical cover has a hole through which the cable connected to the connector is guided from the inside to the outside of the optical box; The scanning optical device described in configuration 9, characterized in that the cable guide is provided outside the optical cover when the optical cover is closing the opening surface, and guides the cable led from the hole to the outside. (Configuration 11) 11. The scanning optical device according to claim 10, wherein the hole has a chamfered portion at a portion that comes into contact with the cable when the cable is guided by the cable guide. (Configuration 12) 12. The scanning optical device according to any one of configurations 1 to 11, wherein the joint is joined to the substrate with low-melting-point solder. (Configuration 13) 13. The optical scanning device of any one of configurations 1 to 12, wherein the terminal pin is round. (Configuration 14) a scanning optical device according to any one of configurations 1 to 13; and an image carrier, which is the scanned body on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by the scanning optical device; a developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier with toner to form a toner image; a transfer means for transferring the toner image onto a recording material; An image forming apparatus comprising: [Explanation of symbols]

[0040] 1 scanner motor 2 Rotating polygonal mirror 3 Connector Cable 7 Connectors 8 PCB 9 terminal pins 10 Solder joint 11 Low melting point solder

Claims

1. a light source that emits laser light; a rotating polygon mirror that deflects the laser light emitted from the light source; an optical member for guiding the laser light deflected by the rotary polygon mirror to a scanned body; a motor for rotating the rotary polygon mirror; a substrate on which the rotary polygon mirror and the motor are mounted; an optical box that houses the substrate and the optical member; an optical cover that closes an opening of the optical box; A scanning optical device comprising: a connector surface-mounted on the substrate; the connector includes a plurality of terminal pins each having a contact portion extending substantially perpendicular to the board and contacting a cable, and a joining portion continuing from the contact portion and joining to a surface of the board by soldering; The terminal pins each have a tip of the joint portion facing the same first direction, A scanning optical device characterized in that, when the cable that supplies power and electrical signals to the motor is connected to the connector, the cable is connected to the connector so as to extend in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

2. 2. The scanning optical device according to claim 1, wherein the first direction is a direction in which the tip of the joint faces the rotary polygon mirror.

3. a cable guide for guiding the cable; 2. The scanning optical device according to claim 1, wherein the cable guide is provided on the opposite side of the connector from the rotating polygon mirror.

4. the optical cover has a hole through which the cable connected to the connector is guided from the inside to the outside of the optical box; 4. The scanning optical device according to claim 3, wherein the cable guide is provided on the outside of the optical cover when the optical cover is closing the opening surface, and guides the cable led from the hole to the outside.

5. 5. The scanning optical device according to claim 4, wherein the hole has a chamfered portion at a portion where the hole comes into contact with the cable when the cable is guided by the cable guide.

6. the optical box has a bottom surface; 4. The scanning optical device according to claim 3, wherein the cable guide is provided on the bottom surface.

7. the optical box has a side surface extending from the bottom surface, 7. The scanning optical device according to claim 6, wherein the side surface has a notch through which the cable connected to the connector and guided by the cable guide is led from the inside to the outside of the optical box.

8. 8. The scanning optical device according to claim 7, wherein the notch has a chamfered portion at a portion that comes into contact with the cable when the cable is guided by the cable guide.

9. the first direction is a direction in which the tip of the joint faces away from the direction of the rotary polygon mirror, a cable guide that is provided on the outside of the optical cover when the optical cover is closing the opening surface and that guides the cable; 2. The optical scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the cable guide is provided in the second direction with respect to the connector.

10. the optical cover has a hole through which the cable connected to the connector is guided from the inside to the outside of the optical box; 10. The scanning optical device according to claim 9, wherein the cable guide is provided on the outside of the optical cover when the optical cover is closing the opening surface, and guides the cable led from the hole to the outside.

11. 11. The scanning optical device according to claim 10, wherein the hole has a chamfered portion at a portion where the hole comes into contact with the cable when the cable is guided by the cable guide.

12. 2. The scanning optical device according to claim 1, wherein the joining portion is joined to the substrate with low-melting-point solder.

13. 2. The optical scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the terminal pin is round.

14. a scanning optical device according to any one of claims 1 to 13; an image carrier, which is the scanned body on which an electrostatic latent image is formed by the scanning optical device; a developing means for developing the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier with toner to form a toner image; a transfer means for transferring the toner image onto a recording material; An image forming apparatus comprising:

Images