US 12,332,578 B2
Optical scanning device
Yasushi Kuribayashi, Mishima Shizuoka (JP)
Assigned to TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed by TOSHIBA TEC KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Tokyo (JP)
Filed on Mar. 25, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/704,138.
Prior Publication US 2023/0305425 A1, Sep. 28, 2023
Int. Cl. G02B 26/08 (2006.01); G02B 26/12 (2006.01); G03G 15/043 (2006.01); H04N 1/053 (2006.01)
CPC G03G 15/043 (2013.01) [G02B 26/0816 (2013.01); G02B 26/12 (2013.01); G02B 26/123 (2013.01); G02B 26/124 (2013.01); H04N 1/053 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optical scanning device for an image forming apparatus, the optical scanning device configured to deflect light for scanning in a main scanning direction along a rotation axis of a photoconductive body, the optical scanning device comprising:
a plurality of light sources configured to emit laser lights;
a plurality of photodetectors configured to detect beams formed by the laser lights;
a plurality of optical element groups configured to guide the beams to the photodetectors; and
a polygon mirror configured to deflect the beams for scanning in one direction of the main scanning direction from one end to another end on an opposite side of the one end, wherein
the plurality of optical element groups cross a crossing axis parallel to the main scanning direction, cross a rotation axis of the polygon mirror, and are rotationally symmetrical with respect to an axis of symmetry parallel to the rotation axis of the polygon mirror,
the optical scanning device further comprising:
a base plate to which the plurality of light sources, the plurality of photodetectors, and the polygon mirror are attached; and
a plurality of assembly bases to which the plurality of optical element groups are respectively attached, wherein
the base plate includes a plurality of fixing sections configured to fix the plurality of assembly bases rotationally symmetrically with respect to the axis of symmetry,
wherein a plurality of first subassemblies formed by the plurality of assembly bases and the plurality of optical element groups have a same size and a same shape, and wherein
the plurality of optical element groups of the plurality of first subassemblies respectively include:
first turning back mirrors configured to reflect the beams irradiated on the other end toward an opposite side of the photodetectors in the main scanning direction;
second turning back mirrors configured to reflect the beams reflected by the first turning back mirrors toward the polygon mirror side or an opposite side of the polygon mirror side in a sub-scanning direction crossing the main scanning direction; and
third turning back mirrors configured to reflect the beams reflected by the second turning back mirrors toward the photodetectors in the main scanning direction.