JPH10319336A - Multi-beam light source device and optical deflection scanning device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Problem] To easily and quickly adjust a beam interval. A driving substrate is screwed to a laser holder for holding a multi-beam type semiconductor laser, and a cylindrical base of the laser holder is fitted into a fitting hole of an optical box. Subsequently, the rotation adjustment jig pin T ₁ via the relief hole 14b of the driving substrate 14 is engaged with the jig hole 11b of the laser holder 11 to adjust the rotational position of the laser holder 11. After adjusting the beam interval, the laser holder 11 is fastened to the optical box 10 by the screw 15.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a multi-beam light source device used for a laser beam printer, a digital copying machine, and the like, and an optical deflection scanning device using the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, in a laser beam printer, a digital copying machine or the like, in order to increase a recording speed, an optical deflection scanning device of a multi-beam writing method for simultaneously writing a plurality of lines using a plurality of laser beams has been developed. Was.

In this method, a plurality of laser beams separated from each other are simultaneously scanned. As shown in FIG. 6, for example, three laser beams are generated from a semiconductor laser 101, and these are collimated by a collimator lens 102, respectively. After being formed, the light is irradiated on the reflection surface 105 a of the rotary polygon mirror 105 through the cylindrical lens 104, and is imaged on the photosensitive member of the rotary drum 107 through the imaging lens system 106.

[0004] The three laser beams enter the reflecting surface 105a of the rotating polygon mirror 105 while being separated in a direction along the rotation axis of the rotating polygon mirror 105 (hereinafter, referred to as "Z-axis direction"). Are scanned in the main scanning direction (Y-axis direction) orthogonal to the main scanning direction. Form a latent image.

[0005] The cylindrical lens 104 condenses each laser beam linearly on the reflection surface 105 a of the rotary polygon mirror 105. This has a function of preventing the point image formed on the photoconductor from being distorted due to the tilting of the rotary polygon mirror 105 as described above. Further, the imaging lens system 10
6 is a spherical lens 106a and a toric lens 106b
These have the function of preventing the distortion of the point image on the photoreceptor similarly to the cylindrical lens 104,
It has a so-called Fθ function for correcting the point image so that it is scanned at a constant speed in the main scanning direction on the photoconductor.

The three laser beams are respectively
Detection mirror 1 at the end of the main scanning plane (XY plane) in the Y-axis direction
08 and introduced into the optical sensor 109,
The signal is converted into a write start signal and transmitted to the semiconductor laser 101. Upon receiving the write start signal, the semiconductor laser 101 starts write modulation of each laser beam.

By adjusting the timing of the write modulation of each laser beam in this manner, the write start (write) position of the electrostatic latent image on each line formed on the photosensitive member is controlled.

The semiconductor laser 101 is a multi-beam laser that emits a plurality of laser beams simultaneously as described above. As shown in FIG. 5, the semiconductor laser 101 is integrated with a collimator lens 102 via a driving substrate 114 and a laser holder 112. as the light source unit E ₀ which is coupled to, is assembled on the side wall of an optical box 110.

The light source unit E ₀ presses the semiconductor laser 101 into the center hole 111 a of the base 111, and attaches the lens barrel 113 holding the collimator lens 102 to the laser holder 112 together with the base 111 by a method such as bonding or screwing. It is stuck. Before fixing the laser holder 112 to the optical box 110, the base 111 is rotated around its central axis while the semiconductor laser 101 emits light, and the arrangement direction of the emission points of the plurality of laser beams of the semiconductor laser 101 ( The angle of the laser array is adjusted, and the beam interval is adjusted so that the interval between the writing lines on the photosensitive member matches the design value.

[0010]

However, according to the above prior art, when the light source unit is assembled to the optical box as described above, the base is rotated while emitting a semiconductor laser which is a multi-beam laser. However, there is an unsolved problem that the operation of adjusting the beam interval between a plurality of laser beams is troublesome and time-consuming.

In addition, since the driving substrate for driving the semiconductor laser is integrated with the base and the laser holder, the driving substrate is deformed when an operator's hand or tool comes into contact with the driving substrate during the operation of adjusting the beam interval. Or the coupling position with respect to the laser holder may be shifted. As a result, if the emission point of the laser beam moves or a trouble such as a focus shift occurs, it takes time to adjust the beam interval, the assembly time of the optical deflection scanning device becomes longer, and the productivity is significantly reduced.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned unresolved problems of the prior art, and is a high-performance and inexpensive multi-beam light source that can easily and quickly adjust a beam interval of a multi-beam light source device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a light source device and a light deflection scanning device using the same.

[0013]

In order to achieve the above object, a multi-beam light source device according to the present invention comprises a light source supporting member capable of changing a rotational position with respect to a housing, and a light source supported by the light source supporting member. And a light source drive board integrally coupled to the light source support member, wherein the light source support member includes a jig engaging portion for engaging a jig for changing the rotational position, The jig engaging portion is configured to be exposed from the light source driving board.

It is preferable that the jig engaging portion has a jig hole formed in the light source supporting member.

It is preferable that the light source drive board has an escape hole through which a jig engaged with the jig engaging portion of the light source support member penetrates.

The jig engaging portion of the light source supporting member may protrude outside the light source driving board.

[0017]

In a multi-beam light source device, a beam interval is adjusted by rotating a light source support member such as a laser holder for supporting a light source such as a semiconductor laser with respect to a housing such as an optical box. If such a fine adjustment operation is performed while gripping the light source support member or the side edge of the light source driving substrate, sufficient accuracy cannot be obtained, and the light source driving substrate may be deformed or the light source may be deformed. Troubles such as displacement of the coupling position with respect to the support member occur, and it becomes difficult to adjust the beam interval. Therefore, a jig engaging portion for engaging a special jig for rotating the light source support member is provided, and this is exposed from a relief hole or the like of the light source driving board.

The beam interval can be quickly and extremely accurately adjusted without contacting the light source driving substrate. As a result, the cost of assembling the light deflection scanning device can be significantly reduced.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows an optical deflection scanning device according to an embodiment, which comprises semiconductor lasers 1 to 2 as light sources.
Laser beams P ₁ and P ₂ , which are book light beams, are generated, collimated by a collimator lens 2, and then passed through a stop 3 and a cylindrical lens 4 to irradiate a reflecting surface 5 a of a rotary polygon mirror 5 as scanning means. Then, an image is formed on the photoreceptor on the rotating drum 7 through the image forming lens system 6.

The two laser beams P ₁ and P ₂ are incident on the reflecting surface 5a of the rotary polygon mirror 5 in a state where the _two laser beams P ₁ and P ₂ are separated from each other in the direction along the rotation axis of the rotary polygon mirror 5 (Z-axis direction). Is scanned in the main scanning direction (Y-axis direction) orthogonal to the direction of the arrow. Form a latent image.

The cylindrical lens 4 condenses the laser beams P ₁ and P ₂ linearly on the reflection surface 5 a of the rotary polygon mirror 5. This has the function of preventing the point image formed on the photosensitive member from being distorted due to the tilting of the rotary polygon mirror 5 as described above, and the image forming lens system 6 includes a spherical lens 6a. And a toric lens 6b.
Like the cylindrical lens 4, it has a function of preventing a point image on the photoconductor from being distorted, and a function of correcting the point image so that the point image is scanned at a constant speed in the main scanning direction on the photoconductor.

The two laser beams P ₁ and P ₂ are respectively separated below the main scanning plane by the detection mirror 8 at the end of the main scanning plane (XY plane) in the Y-axis direction, and traverse the main scanning plane. The light is introduced into the optical sensor 9 on the opposite side, converted into a write start signal, and transmitted to the semiconductor laser 1. Upon receiving the write start signal, the semiconductor laser 1 starts write modulation of both laser beams P ₁ and P ₂ .

By adjusting the timing of the write modulation of the laser beams P ₁ and P _{2 in} this manner, the write start (write) position of the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive member is controlled.

The semiconductor laser 1 is a multi-beam laser that emits a plurality of laser beams simultaneously as described above. As shown in FIG. 2, a semiconductor laser 1 includes a lens barrel 12 containing a collimator lens 2 via a laser holder 11. The multi-beam light source device E ₁ is integrally attached to a side wall of the optical box 10 as a housing.

The multi-beam light source device E ₁ comprises a laser holder 11 which is a light source support member into which the semiconductor laser 1 is pressed into a central hole 11 a, and a lens barrel 1 which holds a collimator lens 2.
2 and a driving substrate 14 which is a light source driving substrate fixed to the laser holder 11 by a pair of screws 13. The semiconductor laser 1 is a multi-beam laser having two light emitting points as described above. The plurality of lead pins projecting rearward of the semiconductor laser 1 pass through the through hole of the drive board 14 and are drawn out to the surface on the opposite side, and are soldered to a connection pattern (not shown).

The drive substrate 14 has mounted thereon a laser drive circuit or the like which is a drive circuit for causing the semiconductor laser 1 to emit light, and is fixed to the laser holder 11 by screws 13. After the drive substrate 14 is fixed in this manner, the laser holder 11 is fixed to the side wall of the optical box 10 by using the screw 15 which is loosely fitted in the escape hole 14a of the drive substrate 14.

[0028] In assembling the multi-beam light source device E ₁ is the laser holder 11 which is fixed to the semiconductor laser 1 temporarily fixed to the optical box 10 by screws 15, is rotated to indicate the laser holder 11 in the arrow A, A ' By that
The arrangement direction of the laser array of the semiconductor laser 1 is adjusted, and two laser beams P ₁ ,
Performs adjustment of the so-called beam spacing to match the design value of the beam interval P ₂ on the rotary drum 7, Sonouede, optical box 1 a laser holder 11 by tightening the screw 15
Fix to 0.

The laser holder 11 has a jig hole 11b is jig engaging portion for engaging the rotation adjustment jig pin T ₁ is a jig used to adjust the working of the beam spacing, also driving substrate 14 It is escape hole 14 for loosely fitted rotational adjustment jig pin T ₁
b. The rotation adjusting jig pin T ₁ is
The laser holder 11 is inserted into the jig hole 11b of the laser holder 11 through the escape hole 14b of _{No. 4} and the rotation adjustment jig pin T1 is rotated in this state to move the laser holder 11 to the arrow A or A '.
The beam is adjusted by a very small amount in the direction shown in FIG.

Thus, for example, the dot density DP
In a laser beam printer or the like in which I (dots / inch) is 600 DPI, the pitch of the writing line is set to 2
Adjust to about μm. Next, the multi-beam light source device E ₁
Will be described.

First, the lens barrel 12 holding the collimator lens 2 is fitted to the cylindrical portion of the laser holder 11, the optical axis of the collimator lens 2 is adjusted, and the focus is adjusted. The lens barrel 12 is fixed to the laser holder 11.

Next, the drive substrate 14 is screwed to the laser holder 11 with screws 13, and each lead pin of the semiconductor laser 1 is pulled out to the surface of the drive substrate 14 and soldered to a connection pattern.

The operation of assembling the multi-beam light source device E _1, which is integrated in this way to the optical box 10 is carried out as follows. Laser holder 1 with lens barrel 12 attached
The cylindrical base 11c of the cylindrical portion 1 is fitted into the fitting hole 1 of the optical box 10.
The laser holder 11 is temporarily fixed to the optical box 10 by a screw 15 which is fitted into the clearance 0a and the escape hole 14a of the drive board 14 is penetrated. In this state, the escape hole 14b of the drive substrate 14
The rotation adjusting jig pin T ₁ is engaged with the jig hole 11 b of the laser holder 11 through
By rotating ₁ , the laser holder 11 is rotated, and the beam interval is adjusted as designed.

The dimensions of the clearance holes 14b of the drive substrate 14, it is necessary to sufficiently increase set as the rotation adjustment jig pin T ₁ is no possibility of contact with the periphery of the hole 14b away.

[0035] the drive substrate 14 By providing such escape hole 14b, the rotation adjustment jig pin T ₁ by the rotation regulating jig pin T ₁ during adjustment operations of the beam interval it in contact with the drive board 14 Problems such as deformation or a change in the relative position between the drive substrate 14 and the laser holder 11 can be effectively avoided.

When the operation of adjusting the beam interval is completed, the screws 15 that have temporarily fixed the laser holder 11 are tightened, and the laser holder 11 is fixed to the optical box 10.

[0037] According to this embodiment, it can be performed in a simple and accurate using the rotation adjustment jig pin T ₁ to adjust the beam interval. In addition, since there is no trouble such as deformation of the driving substrate or displacement of the driving substrate during the operation, the beam interval can be adjusted in a short time.

As a result, the assembly cost of the multi-beam type optical deflection scanning device can be greatly reduced.

FIG. 3 shows a first modification. This provided a protrusion 21d on the upper edge of the laser holder 21 to form a jig hole 21b to engage the rotational adjustment jig pin T ₂ here, rotational adjustment jig beyond the upper edge of the driving substrate 24 Tool pin T ₂
Is inserted into the jig hole 21b of the laser holder 21. The rotation adjustment jig pin T
_There is no need for an escape hole for loosely fitting ₂ , so that the effective area of the drive board 24 is not wasted due to the escape hole of the rotation adjusting jig pin T ₂ .

Also, since the jig hole 21b is disposed at a position far away from the center of rotation of the laser holder 21, the rotational moment required for adjusting the beam interval can be reduced, and therefore, a more rapid operation can be achieved. In addition to being able to perform the work, there is an advantage that finer adjustment is easier.

If the laser holder is configured to be provided with protrusions at the upper and lower edges thereof to form jig holes in the respective laser holders and to rotate the laser holder using a pair of rotation adjusting jig pins, the beam is increased. Needless to say, the operation of adjusting the distance becomes easier and faster.

FIG. 4 shows a second modification. This makes the size of the laser holder 31 and larger than the driving board 34, vertical end portion is outside the example projecting about 2mm of the drive substrate 34 of the laser holder 31 is provided on the rotational adjustment hand T ₃ is a jig The upper and lower edges of the laser holder 31 are sandwiched between the pair of holding portions provided.
Since the rotation regulating jig pin does not need a detailed operations such as when inserting the jig hole, which moreover can be rotated by firmly gripping the entire laser holder 31 by the rotation regulating hand T _3, the beam interval Can be performed very simply and quickly.

[0043]

Since the present invention is configured as described above, the following effects can be obtained.

The operation of adjusting the beam interval can be performed very simply, with high accuracy, and quickly without contacting the drive substrate. Thereby, the assembly cost of the multi-beam type optical deflection scanning device can be significantly reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram showing a light deflection scanning device according to a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing only the multi-beam light source device of FIG. 1 in an exploded manner.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a first modified example.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a second modification.

FIG. 5 is a partial schematic cross-sectional view showing a multi-beam light source device of an optical deflection scanning device according to a conventional example.

FIG. 6 shows the entire light deflection scanning device of FIG. 5;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Semiconductor laser 2 Collimator lens 4 Cylindrical lens 5 Rotating polygon mirror 10 Optical box 11, 21, 31 Laser holder 11b, 21b Jig hole 14, 24, 34 Drive board 14a, 14b Escape hole

Claims (6)

[Claims] A light source supporting member capable of changing a rotational position with respect to a housing; a light source supported by the light source supporting member;
A light source drive board integrally coupled to the light source support member, wherein the light source support member includes a jig engaging portion for engaging a jig for changing the rotational position; A multi-beam light source device, wherein a tool engaging portion is configured to be exposed from the light source driving board. 2. The multi-beam light source device according to claim 1, wherein the jig engaging portion has a jig hole formed in the light source support member. 3. The multi-beam light source device according to claim 1, wherein the light source driving board has an escape hole through which a jig engaging with the jig engaging portion of the light source support member penetrates. . 4. The multi-beam light source device according to claim 1, wherein the jig engaging portion of the light source support member protrudes outside the light source driving board. 5. The multi-beam light source device according to claim 3, wherein an end of the light source supporting member forms a jig engaging portion protruding outside the light source driving board. 6. An optical deflection scanning device comprising: the multi-beam light source device according to claim 1; and scanning means for scanning a plurality of light beams generated from the multi-beam light source device.