Optical Scanner Housing Reinforcement for Vibration Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The demand for downsizing optical scanning apparatuses in image forming systems is hindered by the susceptibility to vibration and thermal deformation in H-shaped housing bodies with slits, leading to jitter images and color misregistration due to reduced strength and temperature differences between partitions.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a reinforcement member on the surface facing the lower-temperature portion of the partitioning plate, which is not equipped with the light deflector or heat sources, to reinforce the housing body and prevent deformation and vibration, thereby stabilizing the image formation process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If a slit is formed in the partitioning plate to enable optical path communication between first and second portions, then the optical scanning apparatus achieves downsizing and compact layout, but the housing body strength is reduced making it susceptible to vibration and thermal deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The partitioning plate is segmented by forming a slit to allow optical path communication between the first and second portions. This segmentation enables the compact H-shaped layout while maintaining structural integrity through careful positioning and reinforcement strategies.
Solution Approach 2:
Reinforcement members are strategically positioned at specific locations (first and second ends of the partitioning plate) rather than uniformly distributed. This local reinforcement approach strengthens critical areas susceptible to vibration and thermal deformation while minimizing impact on the overall compact design and optical path.
2Volume of moving object
If the housing body is designed with H-shape for downsizing, then the apparatus occupies less space, but temperature difference between first and second portions causes thermal deformation and color misregistration
Solution Approach 1:
Reinforcement members are placed at the first and second ends of the partitioning plate, which are the regions most susceptible to thermal deformation. This localized reinforcement compensates for the temperature difference between the first portion (with light deflector) and second portion, preventing warping and maintaining dimensional stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement members are pre-installed on the partitioning plate before final assembly, providing proactive structural support against anticipated thermal deformation. This preliminary reinforcement prevents color misregistration by maintaining the relative positions of optical components despite temperature variations during operation.
3Reliability
If a rib is added to prevent vibration in the first portion, then vibration resistance improves, but the rib expands due to heat and increases deformation, causing color misregistration
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding a single large rib structure that would be highly susceptible to thermal expansion, the reinforcement is segmented into multiple smaller members positioned at the ends of the partitioning plate. This segmentation reduces the overall thermal mass and expansion impact while maintaining vibration resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement members act as intermediary elements between the heat-generating first portion and the second portion. They provide structural support against vibration while being positioned to minimize their exposure to thermal effects, thus mediating between the conflicting requirements of vibration resistance and thermal stability.
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
This configuration effectively suppresses jitter images and color misregistration, maintaining image quality while reducing manufacturing costs by ensuring the structural integrity of the housing body and minimizing thermal deformation.
Implementation Method 1
the rib itself expands and an amount of deformation of the first portion increases
Implementation Method 2
when a vibration occurs as a result of driving of the polygonal mirror, a vibration is induced at a scanning (imaging) position of a scanning light beam
Data Source
AI summary
An optical scanning apparatus includes a housing, light deflector, first optical system and reinforcement member. The housing includes a peripheral wall and a partitioning portion to divide an inner side of the peripheral wall into first and second portion. The partitioning portion includes a first hole to cause the first portion to communicate with the second portion to form an optical path. The light deflector mounted in the first portion has a rotatable polygon mirror to perform deflection scanning of scanning light beams emitted from light sources and a drive unit to drive the rotatable polygon mirror to rotate. The first optical system mounted at least in the first portion causes the scanning light beams reflected from the rotatable polygon mirror to return towards the first hole. The reinforcement member mounted on a surface facing at least the second portion on the partitioning portion reinforces the housing.