Optical Scanning Apparatus Shaft Inclination Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing optical scanning apparatuses in image forming devices, such as laser beam printers, face issues with shaft inclination of the optical deflector, leading to distortion of the laser beam and deterioration in image quality due to the complexity of assembly processes required for shaft inclination control.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves an optical scanning apparatus with an optical deflector and an optical box, where two screws fix a board with bearing surfaces and abutment portions, preventing deformation and inclination by distributing the pressure evenly, thus suppressing shaft inclination without the need for additional control mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the optical deflector is fixed with screws at three points surrounding the motor, then the board can be secured to the optical box, but the board becomes distorted and the shaft of the motor unit becomes inclined when the bearing surfaces are inclined
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the fixing function into two separate mechanisms: screws for securing the board and abutment portions for preventing distortion. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function without interfering with the other, resolving the contradiction between fixing strength and manufacturing precision
Solution Approach 2:
The abutment portions act as intermediary elements between the board and the optical box, providing a reference surface that prevents board distortion. These abutment portions mediate the interaction between the inclined bearing surfaces and the board, preventing the board from following the inclination and thus preventing shaft inclination
2Manufacturing precision
If a shaft inclination control function using screws and springs is added, then the shaft inclination can be controlled, but the assembly process becomes complicated and the number of steps increases
Solution Approach 1:
The abutment portions provide automatic shaft inclination control through the board's own structural features, without requiring external control mechanisms. The board's rigid portion naturally abuts against the abutment portions, creating a self-regulating system that prevents shaft inclination without adding complexity to the assembly process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the shaft inclination control function from the screw mechanism and implements it through the abutment portions. This separation removes the need for complex screw adjustment mechanisms for inclination control, simplifying the overall assembly process while maintaining manufacturing precision
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an optical scanning apparatus, including: an optical deflector having a polygon mirror reflecting a light flux emitted from a light source to carry out scanning, a drive unit rotating the polygon mirror about a rotation shaft, and a board supporting the drive unit; an optical box to which the board is fixed; two holes provided in the optical box, through which two screws fixing the board are inserted, respectively; two bearing surfaces provided on the optical box at positions around the two holes, respectively, the two bearing surfaces supporting the board; and an abutment portion provided on the optical box and abutting against a portion that is prevented from being pressed by the two screws in the board which is sandwiched between the two screws and the two bearing surfaces so as to be fixed to the optical box.