IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS

Abstract

The present invention provides a light source apparatus in which wasteful cost increases can be suppressed during the manufacture of various types of light source apparatuses, and replacement of a broken light source can be performed at low cost, a recording apparatus using the light source apparatus, and an image forming apparatus comprising the recording apparatus. A plurality of optical units comprising optical members (a light source element and a lens) for outputting a single beam are combined separably in row form. A holder is used as means for holding the optical units in row form.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the constitution of the main parts of a recording apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the recording apparatus;

FIGS. 3 to 7 are front views of various light source apparatuses according to the present invention;

FIG. 8A is a front view of a lens according to the present invention;

FIG. 8B is a front view of a lens having a fixed aperture;

FIG. 8C is a side view of a lens having a fixed aperture;

FIG. 8D is a perspective view of a lens having a fixed aperture;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are front views of the light source apparatus;

FIGS. 11 to 14 are views showing the constitution of an image forming apparatus including a recording apparatus;

FIG. 15 is a view showing an example of the arrangement of optical units provided opposite a drum;

FIG. 16 is a view showing an example of a holder in which a plurality of the optical units are disposed;

FIG. 17 is a view showing an example of a state in which a plurality of the holders face the drum;

FIG. 18 is a view showing respective ideal recording ranges of three optical units;

FIG. 19 is a view showing an example in which an actual recording range deviates from the ideal recording range; and

FIG. 20 is a view showing an example of image data that are modified in anticipation of the deviation.

Claims

1. An image forming apparatus which uses an optical unit array formed by arranging a plurality of optical units, each of which is formed by incorporating a light source element and a lens for condensing light from the light source element into a casing, and performs image formation in an image formation area using energy from the light source element by apportioning the image formation area among the optical units, wherein the optical unit array comprises gaps between the casings of adjacent optical units, and is installed in a holding member such that the optical units can be attached and detached.

2. The image formation area as claimed in claim 1, wherein a casing outer shape width of the optical unit in an array direction is smaller than a width of an image formation area apportioned to each optical unit.

3. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a material of the casing of the optical unit is different to a material of the holding member.

4. An image forming apparatus which uses an optical unit array formed by arranging a plurality of optical units, each of which is formed by incorporating a light source element and a lens for condensing light from the light source element into a casing, and performs image formation in an image formation area using energy from the light source element by apportioning the image formation area among the optical units, wherein the optical unit array is an optical unit group formed by arranging n number of the optical units in a holder, N number of the optical unit groups are arranged in a holding member so as to cover a width of the image formation area, a gap is provided between the casings of adjacent optical units, and the optical units are installed in the holder detachably (here, n and N are natural numbers of two or more).

5. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein a casing outer shape width of the optical unit in an array direction is smaller than a width of an image formation area apportioned to each optical unit.

6. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the holders carrying the optical unit groups comprise gaps between adjacent holders, and are installed in the holding member detachably.

7. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein a material of the casing of the optical unit is different to a material of the holding member.

8. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein a material of the casing of the optical unit is different to a material of the holder.

9. The image forming apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the material of the holder is different to the material of the holding member.