JP2013114095A - Optical scanner - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an optical scanner of which the variation in pitch interval due to assembly errors and manufacturing errors of optical components can be suppressed.SOLUTION: The optical scanner includes: a light source provided with a plurality of light emitting points spaced at least in a main scanning direction; deflecting means which deflects a plurality of luminous fluxes from the light source; and an imaging optical system which images the plurality of luminous fluxes deflected by the deflecting means, on a scanned surface. With respect to the imaging optical system, a shape within a main scanning cross section of an optical plane where an absolute value of power in a sub-scanning direction is largest in an entire effective scanning area satisfies |Δθ|≤0.1/D wherein: D (mm) is an amount of spacing within the main scanning cross section on the optical plane where the absolute value of power in the sub-scanning direction is largest, between principal rays A and B of luminous fluxes from two light emitting points farthest from each other in the main scanning direction out of the plurality of light emitting points and satisfies D≥0.35; and Δθ(rad) is an angle formed between a normal in an emission position of a center line L between the principal rays A and B on the optical plane where the absolute value of power in the sub-scanning direction is largest and the center line L within the main scanning cross section.

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical scanning device, and more particularly to a laser beam printer that forms a latent image by deflecting and scanning a plurality of light beams, and records image information by transferring and fixing an image visualized with toner or the like to a transfer member. The present invention relates to an optical scanning device suitable for an image forming apparatus such as a digital copying machine.

  Optical scanning devices that form a latent image by deflecting and scanning a plurality of light beams are widely used in laser beam printers and digital copying machines having an electrophotographic process. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a main scanning (direction in which a laser beam scans a surface to be scanned) of a conventional optical scanning device. The light source means 10 having a plurality of light emitting points emits a plurality of light fluxes that are modulated and blinked according to image information, pass through the collimator lens 20, and then enter the cylindrical lens 30. The cylindrical lens 30 has power only in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction orthogonal to the optical axis, and the light beam width that passes through the cylindrical lens 30 is limited by the aperture stop 40 and is deflected by the deflecting unit. A line image that is long in the main scanning direction is formed in the vicinity of the reflecting surface 51 of a certain polygon mirror 50. Each light beam reflected and deflected by the polygon mirror 50 is imaged as a light spot on the scanning surface 70 such as the photosensitive drum surface by the imaging optical system 60, and the polygon mirror 50 rotates to cause the surface of the scanning surface 70 to rotate. A latent image is formed by scanning the light spot.

  However, when a manufacturing error or an assembly error such as tilt or shift occurs in an optical component such as the light source means 10 or the imaging optical system 60 during manufacturing or assembly, a plurality of light beams are imaged as light spots on the scanned surface 70. Deviation from the design value occurs at the position. In particular, the amount of deviation in the sub-scanning direction differs depending on the scanning position in the main scanning direction, and the amount of deviation differs for each light beam. Unevenness occurs in the interval in the sub-scanning direction of the scanning lines drawn on 70 (hereinafter referred to as pitch interval).

  In order to solve this problem, for example, in Patent Document 1, the focal length of the collimator lens is increased in accordance with the fθ coefficient of the imaging optical system and the interval between adjacent light emitting points in the main scanning direction, and the light flux width in the main scanning direction. By reducing the main scanning stop that restricts the distance from the polygon mirror that is the deflecting means, the interval between the two adjacent light beams in the main scanning direction is narrowed to reduce the incident angle difference on the imaging lens surface constituting the imaging optical system. Thus, a method for suppressing the variation in pitch interval due to assembly errors and manufacturing errors is disclosed.

JP 2001-147388 A

However, in the prior art disclosed in Patent Document 1, the focal length of the collimator lens and the position of the main scanning stop are limited, and the design freedom of the incident optical system is reduced.
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an optical scanning device that reduces variations in pitch interval due to manufacturing errors and assembly errors of optical components without limiting the focal length of the collimator lens and the position of the main scanning aperture. is there.

を満足し、主走査断面内において、前記副走査方向のパワーの絶対値が最も大きい光学面の前記中央線Ｌの射出位置における法線と前記中央線Ｌとの成す角をΔθ（rad）とした時、前記副走査方向のパワーの絶対値が最も大きい光学面の主走査断面内の形状は、

を満足することを特徴とする。 In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides light source means having a plurality of light emitting points spaced at least in the main scanning direction, deflecting means for deflecting a plurality of light beams from the light source means, and deflecting by the deflecting means. An imaging optical system that forms an image on the surface to be scanned, and the imaging optical system emits two of the plurality of light emitting points that are most separated in the main scanning direction. When the principal rays of the light beam emitted from the point are A and B, respectively, and the center line that passes through the center of the principal rays A and B is L, the absolute power in the sub-scanning direction is obtained over the entire effective scanning area. The distance D (mm) of the principal rays A and B in the main scanning section on the optical surface having the largest value is

And the angle formed between the normal line at the emission position of the central line L of the optical surface having the largest absolute value of the power in the sub-scanning direction and the central line L in the main scanning section is Δθ (rad) The shape in the main scanning section of the optical surface where the absolute value of the power in the sub-scanning direction is the largest is

It is characterized by satisfying.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide an optical scanning device that suppresses variations in pitch interval due to assembly errors and manufacturing errors of optical components without limiting the focal length of the collimator lens and the position of the main scanning aperture.

FIG. 3 is a main scanning sectional view of the optical scanning device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Main scanning sectional view of optical path of chief ray of two light beams of first embodiment The main scanning cross-sectional enlarged view of the center line passing through the optical path of the principal ray of the two luminous fluxes and the center of the first embodiment The graph which shows the separation amount of 2 light beams most spaced apart in the main scanning direction of 1st Example Graph of the angle formed by the center line L and the surface normal in the first embodiment Graph showing the ratio of the sag amount dX and the separation amount D of the first embodiment The graph which shows the variation | change_quantity of the pitch space | interval by the manufacture and assembly error of 1st Example FIG. 6 is a main scanning sectional view of an optical scanning device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The graph which shows the separation amount of two light beams most spaced apart in the main scanning direction of 2nd Example. Graph of angle formed by center line L and surface normal of second embodiment Graph showing the ratio of the sag amount dX and the separation amount D in the second embodiment The graph which shows the variation | change_quantity of the pitch space | interval by the manufacture and assembly error of 2nd Example The graph which shows the uniformity of the subscanning magnification of 2nd Example Main scanning sectional view of a conventional optical scanning device

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a main scanning sectional view of an optical scanning device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. A plurality of light beams emitted from each light emission point of the semiconductor laser array 10 which is a light source means having a plurality of light emission points are converted into substantially parallel light beams by a collimator lens 20 formed of a bonding lens. Each light beam emitted from the collimator lens 2 enters a cylindrical lens 30 having power only in the sub-scanning direction, is refracted only in the sub-scanning direction, remains substantially parallel in the main scanning cross section, and remains in the sub scanning cross section. Is emitted as convergent light. After that, each light beam is limited in its width by the aperture stop 40, and then formed as a long line image in the main scanning direction in the vicinity of the reflecting surface 51 of the polygon mirror 50 which is a deflecting means. Each light beam deflected and reflected by the polygon mirror 50 is imaged as a light spot by the imaging optical system 60 on the photosensitive drum surface 70 (scanned surface) which is a scanned surface. As the polygon mirror 50 rotates in the direction of the arrow in the figure, the light spot scans on the photosensitive drum surface 70 to form an electrostatic latent image.

を満足し、かつ、主走査断面内において、副走査方向のパワーの絶対値が最も大きい光学面の中央線Ｌの射出位置における法線と中央線Ｌとの成す角をΔθ（rad）とした時、副走査方向のパワーの絶対値が最も大きい光学面の主走査断面内の形状が、

を満足するように構成している。 In the optical scanning device of the present invention, the principal rays of the light beam emitted from the two light emitting points that are the most separated in the main scanning direction among the plurality of light emitting points are A and B, and pass through the center of the principal rays A and B. When the center line, which is a line, is L, the distance D (mm) of the principal rays A and B in the main scanning section on the optical surface having the largest absolute value of power in the sub-scanning direction in the entire effective scanning area But,

And the angle formed by the normal and the center line L at the emission position of the center line L of the optical surface having the largest absolute value of power in the sub-scanning direction in the main scanning section is Δθ (rad) The shape in the main scanning section of the optical surface where the absolute value of the power in the sub-scanning direction is the largest,

It is configured to satisfy.

により与えられる。ここで光軸と光学面との交点を原点とし、光軸方向をＸ軸、主走査断面内においてＸ軸と直行する方向をＹ軸としている。 By configuring the optical surface of the imaging optical system 60 in this way, it is possible to reduce the sensitivity of the imaging lens 62 to the amount of variation in pitch interval due to manufacturing errors and assembly errors. Table 1 shows various numerical values of the scanning optical system in the optical scanning device of the first embodiment. Here, the semiconductor laser array 10 has four light emitting points arranged at intervals of 100 (μm), and 3.886 around the optical axis so as to have a pixel density corresponding to the resolution in the sub-scanning direction on the photosensitive drum surface 70. It is rotated by (deg). At this time, the two light emitting points farthest apart in the main scanning direction are separated by 299.310 (μm) in the main scanning direction and 20.331 (μm) in the sub scanning direction. Each of the optical surfaces 61a to 62b of the imaging lenses 61 and 62 constituting the imaging optical system 60 has a shape (bus shape) in the main scanning section using the coefficients shown in Table 1.

Given by. Here, the intersection of the optical axis and the optical surface is the origin, the optical axis direction is the X axis, and the direction perpendicular to the X axis in the main scanning section is the Y axis.

The shape (sub-wire shape) in the sub-scanning section is an arc, and its radius of curvature changes along the Y axis. The change in the radius of curvature is given by the following equation.

を満足するのが良い。本実施例においては、

である。 The method of changing the radius of curvature in the sub-scanning cross section differs between the laser side (upper side in FIG. 1) and the counter-laser side (lower side in FIG. 1). A subscript l is attached to the laser side coefficient. The power in the sub-scanning direction is concentrated on the optical surface 62b of the imaging lens 62. By increasing the absolute value of the power in the sub-scanning direction on the optical surface 62b, the variation in pitch interval due to manufacturing errors and assembly errors is increased. The sensitivity of the optical surfaces 61a, 61b, and 62a can be reduced. More preferably, among the imaging optical elements of the imaging optical system, the power φs of the optical surface having the largest absolute value of the power in the sub-scanning direction is combined with the power φs in the sub-scanning direction and the powers of all the optical surfaces of the imaging optical system. The power φt in the sub-scanning direction is

Good to be satisfied. In this example,

It is.

  FIG. 2 is an optical path diagram in the main scanning section of the principal rays A and B at arbitrary scanning positions of the light beams from the two light emitting points farthest in the main scanning direction among the four light emitting points of the semiconductor laser array 10. It is. Since the two light emitting points are separated from each other in the main scanning direction, the principal rays A and B emitted from the collimator lens 2 each have an angle with respect to the optical axis. After passing through the cylindrical lens 30, the chief rays A and B intersect at the center of the aperture stop 40 and reach the reflecting surface 51 of the polygon mirror 50 with a certain distance. The principal rays A and B reflected and deflected by the polygon mirror 50 reach the photosensitive drum surface 70 via the imaging optical system 60. At this time, the writing timing is slightly shifted so as to reach the same scanning position on the photosensitive drum surface 70, and the rotation angles of the polygon mirror 50 with respect to the principal rays A and B are slightly different. Since the principal rays A and B are separated from each other in the main scanning direction on the reflection surface 51 of the polygon mirror 50, the principal rays A and B are also principally on the optical surfaces 61a to 62b of the imaging lenses 61 and 62 constituting the imaging optical system 60. They are separated in the scanning direction.

  FIG. 3 shows the optical paths of principal rays A and B from the incidence on the imaging lens 62 at an arbitrary scanning position to the photosensitive drum surface 70, and a center line L that is a line passing through the center of the principal rays A and B. FIG. The chief rays A and B are separated from each other in the main scanning direction on the optical surface 62b that is the optical surface having the largest absolute value of the power in the sub scanning direction of the imaging optical system 60. The distance D (mm) differs for each scanning position, and [Equation 3] is satisfied over the entire effective scanning area. At this time, the method of the optical surface 62b at the intersection of the center line L for each scanning position and the optical surface 62b that is the optical surface having the largest absolute value of the power in the sub-scanning direction of the imaging optical system 60 in the main scanning section. The bus line shape of the optical surface 62b is configured so that the angle Δθ (rad) formed by the line N and the center line L satisfies [Equation 4] in the entire effective scanning area. By configuring the imaging optical system 60 in this manner, the sensitivity of the imaging lens 62 with respect to the pitch interval variation due to manufacturing errors and assembly errors can be reduced.

  Preferably, of the principal rays A and B, the surface along the optical axis direction of the principal ray (primary ray B in FIG. 3) passing through the side closer to the optical axis and the other principal ray (principal ray A in FIG. 3). An optical surface that has the largest absolute value of power in the sub-scanning direction so that the ratio dX / D between the sag amount (passage position difference) dX and the separation amount D decreases from the on-axis toward the periphery. It is desirable to configure the bus bar shape of the surface 62b. Since the angle of the incident light beam on the optical surface 62b increases toward the periphery, the angle of the output light beam increases toward the periphery. Therefore, in order to reduce Δθ, it is necessary to make the generatrix shape of the optical surface 62b approach the polygon mirror 50 from the axial direction toward the periphery, and to increase the angle of the surface normal. For this reason, it is preferable to configure the generatrix shape of the optical surface 62b so that dX / D decreases from the axial direction toward the peripheral portion. However, dX is positive in the direction toward the surface to be scanned. More preferably, Δθ is 0 at least at one point other than on the axis (scanning position 0 mm) as in this embodiment.

  FIG. 4 shows the principals at the scanning positions of the principal rays A and B of the light beams emitted from the two light emitting points farthest in the main scanning direction of the conventional optical scanning device and the optical device of the first embodiment on the optical surface 62b. A separation amount D in the scanning direction is shown. The minimum value is 0.373 (mm), which satisfies the formula (1).

  FIG. 5 shows the normal line of the optical surface 62b at the intersection of the center line L passing through the center of the principal rays A and B and the optical surface 62b in the main scanning section of the conventional optical scanning device and the optical device of the first embodiment. 6 is a graph at each scanning position of an angle Δθ (rad) formed with a line L. The value of Δθ is suppressed to be smaller than that in the conventional example, and the expression (2) is satisfied in the entire effective scanning area. Further, as can be seen from FIG. 4, since the separation amount D increases as it goes off-axis, the amount of change in pitch interval off-axis can be configured by having a point where Δθ is 0 other than on-axis. Can be further suppressed.

  FIG. 6 is a graph showing the ratio between the sag amount dX and the separation amount D of the surface between the principal rays A and B of the optical scanning device of the first embodiment. It can be seen that dX / D decreases toward the periphery. Therefore, the angle of the surface normal at each main scanning position of the optical surface 62b increases toward the periphery.

  FIG. 7 shows the conventional optical scanning device and the optical scanning device of Example 1 when the imaging lens 61 is shifted by −0.1 (mm) and the imaging lens 62 is shifted by +0.1 (mm) in the sub-scanning direction. It is the graph which drawn the variation | change_quantity from the design value of pitch space | interval for every scanning position. As can be seen from FIG. 4, the separation amount D is almost the same between the conventional example and the first embodiment. However, as can be seen from FIG. 5, the conventional example has a large Δθ and does not satisfy the expression (2) in the entire effective scanning area. The fluctuation amount of the pitch interval has become large. However, in the first embodiment, the sensitivity of the optical surfaces 61a, 61b, and 62a with respect to the variation amount of the pitch interval is reduced by concentrating the power in the sub-scanning direction on the optical surface 62b, and the method of the optical surface 62b in the main scanning section is reduced. The angle Δθ formed by the line and the center line L is suppressed so as to satisfy the expression (2) over the entire effective scanning area, and the sensitivity due to the optical surface 62b with respect to the variation amount of the pitch interval is reduced. It can be seen that the amount of variation in the interval can be reduced.

  FIG. 8 is a main scanning sectional view of the optical scanning device according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The difference from the first embodiment is that the power of the imaging lens 61 in the main scanning direction is reduced and the power of the imaging lens 62 in the main scanning direction is increased, so that the curvature of the lens surface 62b is as in the first embodiment. The amount of variation in pitch interval is reduced without increasing the pitch.

  Table 2 is a table showing various numerical values of the scanning optical system in the optical scanning device of the second embodiment. The semiconductor laser array 10 has four light emitting points arranged at intervals of 100 (μm), and is rotated 4.124 (deg) around the optical axis, and the two light emitting points that are the most separated in the main scanning direction are the main scanning direction. Are spaced apart by 299.223 (μm) and 21.575 (μm) in the sub-scanning direction.

  FIG. 9 shows principals at the scanning positions of the principal rays A and B of the light beams emitted from the two light emitting points farthest in the main scanning direction of the conventional optical scanning device and the optical device of the first embodiment on the optical surface 62b. A separation amount D in the scanning direction is shown. The minimum value is 0.425 (mm), which satisfies Expression (1), and is larger than the separation amount D of the conventional example.

  FIG. 10 shows the normal line of the optical surface 62b at the intersection of the center line L passing through the center of the principal rays A and B and the optical surface 62b in the main scanning section of the conventional optical scanning device and the optical device of Example 2. 5 is a graph in which an angle Δθ (rad) formed with a center line L is plotted with respect to a main scanning position. The value of Δθ is smaller than that of the conventional example, and the expression (2) is satisfied over the entire effective scanning area. Further, there is a point where Δθ becomes 0 other than on the axis.

  FIG. 11 is a graph showing the ratio between the sag amount dX and the separation amount D of the surface between the principal rays A and B of the optical device according to the second embodiment. It can be seen that dX / D decreases toward the periphery. Therefore, the angle of the surface normal at each main scanning position of the optical surface 62b increases toward the periphery.

である。 FIG. 12 shows the pitch when the imaging lens 61 is shifted by −0.1 (mm) and the imaging lens 62 is shifted by +0.1 (mm) in the sub-scanning direction of the conventional optical scanning device and the optical device of the second embodiment. It is the graph which drawn the variation | change_quantity from the design value of a space | interval for every scanning position. The power in the sub-scanning direction is concentrated on the optical surface 62b, and the angle Δθ formed by the normal line of the optical surface 62b and the center line L in the main scanning section is suppressed so as to satisfy the expression (2). It can be seen that the reduction is achieved. The power φt in the sub-scanning direction obtained by combining the power φs in the sub-scanning direction of the optical surface 62b and the power in the sub-scanning direction of the four optical surfaces of the imaging lenses 61 and 62 satisfies the equation (5).

It is.

を満足することが好ましい。図１３は、第２の実施例の光走査装置における、(βa-βs)/βsの値を主走査位置に対してプロットしたグラフであり、式（６）を満足させるようにしている。(βa-βs)/βsは、有効走査域における副走査方向の結像倍率の一様性を表したものであり、式（６）を満足させることで製造誤差・組立誤差がない状態での走査位置ごとのピッチ間隔のムラを抑えることができる。製造誤差・組立誤差がない状態でのピッチ間隔のムラを小さく抑え、製造誤差・組立誤差によるピッチ間隔の変動量を低減させることで全体としてピッチ間隔のムラを小さく抑えている。 The imaging magnification βs in the sub-scanning direction on the axis, and the imaging magnification βa in the sub-scanning direction at an arbitrary scanning position other than on the axis in the effective scanning area,

Is preferably satisfied. FIG. 13 is a graph in which the value of (βa−βs) / βs is plotted with respect to the main scanning position in the optical scanning device of the second embodiment so as to satisfy Expression (6). (βa−βs) / βs represents the uniformity of the imaging magnification in the sub-scanning direction in the effective scanning region, and satisfying equation (6) in a state where there is no manufacturing error / assembly error. Unevenness in the pitch interval for each scanning position can be suppressed. The pitch interval non-uniformity in a state where there is no manufacturing error / assembly error is suppressed, and the pitch interval non-uniformity due to the manufacturing error / assembly error is reduced to reduce the pitch interval non-uniformity as a whole.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. As the light source means, a semiconductor laser array having four light emitting points arranged at intervals of 100 (μm) is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the light emitting points are arranged in two dimensions even if they are arranged in one dimension. The interval between the light emitting points and the number of the light emitting points can also be changed. In that case, it is only necessary to satisfy the above-mentioned conditions for the two light emitting points that are the most distant from each other in the main scanning direction.

  In the above embodiment, the optical surface of the imaging lens closest to the surface to be scanned is an optical surface having the largest absolute value of power in the sub-scanning direction, and the shape in the main scanning section is aspherical. As illustrated in a case, at least one surface of the imaging optical element having an optical surface having the largest absolute value of power in the sub-scanning direction may have an aspheric shape in the main scanning section. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the shape in the main scanning section of the imaging optical element having an optical surface having the largest absolute value of power in the sub-scanning direction is not limited to an aspherical surface. A spherical surface may be used if the above is satisfied.

  The imaging optical system is composed of two imaging lenses, but may be, for example, a single imaging lens. In that case, it is only necessary to increase the power in the sub-scanning direction on one of the entrance surface and the exit surface of the one imaging lens to satisfy the above-described conditions. Alternatively, three or more imaging lenses may be used, and in this case, each condition may be satisfied for an optical surface having the largest absolute value of power in the sub-scanning direction.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Semiconductor laser array 20 Collimating lens 30 Cylindrical lens 40 Aperture stop 50 Polygon mirror 51 Reflecting surface 60 of polygon mirror Imaging optical system 61 The first imaging lens (61a: entrance surface, 61b: exit surface)
62 Second imaging lens (62a: entrance surface, 62b: exit surface)
70 Photosensitive drum surface

Claims (6)

Light source means comprising at least a plurality of light emitting points spaced apart in the main scanning direction;
Deflecting means for deflecting a plurality of light beams from the light source means;
An imaging optical system for imaging a plurality of light beams deflected by the deflecting means on a scanned surface;
Have
The imaging optical system is
Of the plurality of light emitting points, chief rays of light beams emitted from the two light emitting points farthest in the main scanning direction are denoted as A and B, and a center line that is a line passing through the center of the chief rays A and B is defined as a central line. When L
The separation amount D (mm) of the principal rays A and B in the main scanning section on the optical surface where the absolute value of the power in the sub-scanning direction is the largest in the entire effective scanning area is:

Satisfied,
In the main scanning section, when the angle formed by the normal line at the emission position of the central line L of the optical surface having the largest absolute value of the power in the sub-scanning direction and the central line L is Δθ (rad),
The shape in the main scanning section of the optical surface having the largest absolute value of the power in the sub-scanning direction is

Satisfy,
An optical scanning device.   The optical surface having the largest absolute value of the power in the sub-scanning direction is the sag amount of the surface along the optical axis direction at the passing position of the principal rays A and B separated by the separation amount D in the main scanning section. Of the principal rays A and B, the difference in passing position along the optical axis direction of the other principal ray with respect to the principal ray passing the side closer to the optical axis, dX / mm, is dX / D from the axis. The optical scanning device according to claim 1, wherein the optical scanning device decreases toward a peripheral portion.   3. The optical scanning device according to claim 1, wherein in the effective scanning area, there is at least one point where Δθ is 0 except on the axis.   The at least one surface of the imaging optical element having an optical surface having the largest absolute value of power in the sub-scanning direction has an aspheric shape in the main scanning section. The optical device according to any one of the above. Of the imaging optical elements of the imaging optical system, the power in the sub-scanning direction of the optical surface having the largest absolute value of the power in the sub-scanning direction is φs, and the sub-scanning direction of all the optical surfaces of the imaging optical system When the power in the sub-scanning direction combined with the power of φ is φt,

5. The optical scanning device according to claim 1, wherein: When the imaging magnification in the sub-scanning direction on the axis is βs, and the imaging magnification in the sub-scanning direction at an arbitrary scanning position other than on the axis in the effective scanning area is βa,

The optical scanning device according to claim 1, wherein:

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