Light Scanning Device Lens Holder Position Adjustment
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
High-speed and high-resolution image forming apparatuses face challenges with durability, noise, and vibration due to increased rotation speed of rotating polygonal mirrors, and the use of multiple light sources leads to manufacturing cost increases and position errors in beam spots due to contraction of bonding materials.
Innovation Solution
A light scanning device with first and second light sources, optics, and a lens holder that allows the second lens to move relative to the first lens, enabling adjustment of optical positions to compensate for position errors and maintain uniform beam spot intervals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the rotation speed of a rotating polygonal mirror is increased to achieve high-speed image forming, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to durability, noise, and vibration problems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the function of beam direction control from the rotating polygonal mirror by using a fixed mirror with a reflecting surface having a specific curvature (e.g., parabolic or spherical). This eliminates the need for high-speed rotation, thereby resolving the contradiction between productivity improvement and reliability deterioration.
2Productivity
If multiple light sources are employed to emit multiple light beams, then productivity is improved by scanning multiple beams, but manufacturing cost increases sharply
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a single light source that emits one light beam, which is then divided into multiple beams by a beam splitting member (e.g., beam splitter or diffraction grating). This segmented approach allows multiple scanning beams to be generated from one light source, improving productivity while avoiding the high cost of multiple light sources.
3Productivity
If multiple light sources are used to emit multiple light beams, then productivity is improved, but manufacturing precision deteriorates due to position errors in beam spots caused by bonding material contraction
Solution Approach 1:
By using a single light source and beam splitting member instead of multiple light sources, the patent eliminates the need for bonding multiple light sources to the housing. This removes the source of bonding material contraction and the resulting position errors, thereby maintaining manufacturing precision while still enabling multiple beam scanning through beam segmentation.
4Ease of manufacture
If a single light source is used with beam splitting, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but device complexity increases due to additional optical members
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of multiple light sources into a single light source with a beam splitting member. This merging approach reduces the number of separate components (light sources, housings, bonding materials) while achieving the same functional result of multiple beam scanning, thereby reducing manufacturing cost without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution minimizes mechanical adjustments, reduces the number of parts, and simplifies manufacturing by ensuring uniform beam spot intervals and reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining high-resolution imaging.
Implementation Method 1
optics including first and second lenses for transmitting the first and second light beams therethrough
Data Source
AI summary
Provided are an light scanning device capable of adjusting the position of optics and an image forming apparatus including the light scanning device. The light scanning device includes first and second light sources configured to emit first and second light beams, respectively; optics including first and second lenses for transmitting the first and second light beams therethrough and a lens holder configured to support the second lens; and a housing configured to support the first and second light sources and the optics, wherein the first and second light sources and the first lens are supported to be fixed to the housing, and the second lens is supported to be able to move with respect to the first lens.