LASER EXPOSURE DEVICE AND OPTICAL AXIS ADJUSTMENT METHOD IN LASER EXPOSURE DEVICE

Abstract

In a laser exposure device according to the present invention, a positioning pin, which is formed in a lens holder supporting a lens system, is inserted through an elongated hole for restriction of a board holder supporting a laser diode. An eccentric cam is inserted into an elongated hole for rotation movement formed in a board holder and a circular hole for rotation movement which is formed in the lens holder and which faces the elongated hole for rotation movement. An eccentric cam is inserted into an elongated hole for slide movement formed in the board holder and a circular hole for slide movement which is formed in the lens holder and which faces the elongated hole for slide movement. The eccentric cams are rotated to relatively move the board holder and lens holder with respect to each other to thereby establish alignment between the optical axes of the laser diode and lens system. In a state where the eccentric cams are fitted into the elongated holes, the board holder and lens holder are fixed to each other by screws.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a color copier according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a state where a front cover thereof is opened;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view schematically showing an image forming section according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing an example in which a light source unit according to the first embodiment has been mounted on a laser exposure device;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view schematically showing a state where an adjustment tool has been inserted into the light source unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view schematically showing a board holder and a lens system according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is an explanatory view schematically showing the movement direction of the board holder and lens holder according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view schematically showing the light source unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view schematically showing a first adjustment tool according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory view showing the adjustment tool, board holder, and lens holder according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10A is an explanatory view schematically showing the movement direction of a fixed base plate and a light receiving board according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10B is an explanatory view showing the adjustment tool, fixed base plate, and light receiving board according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10C is a perspective view schematically showing a state where the adjustment tool has been inserted into a detection unit according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a light source unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view schematically showing a state where the adjustment tool has been inserted into the light source unit according to the second embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 13 is an explanatory view showing the movement direction of a board holder and a lens holder according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A laser exposure device, comprising: a laser light source;a lens system which guides laser light emitted from the laser light source to a predetermined position;a light source board which supports the laser light source;a lens board which supports the lens system;a restricting member which joins the light source board and lens board such that they can relatively be moved with respect to each other in a first direction;an elongated hole for rotation movement which is formed in the light source board or lens board at the position on the extension of the center line connecting the center of the restricting member and that of the laser light source and whose long side extends in parallel to the center line;a circular hole for rotation movement which is formed in the light source board or lens board at the position facing the elongated hole for rotation movement and whose diameter is smaller than the length of the short side of the elongated hole for rotation movement;an elongated hole for slide movement which is formed in the light source board or lens board and whose short side extends along the first direction; anda circular hole for slide movement which is formed in the light source board or lens board at the position facing the elongated hole for slide movement and whose diameter is smaller than the length of the short side of the elongated hole for slide movement.

2. The laser exposure device according to claim 1, wherein the restriction member includes an elongated hole for restriction which is formed in the light source board or lens board and whose long side extends in parallel to the first direction and a positioning pin which is formed in the light source board or lens board at the position facing the elongated hole for restriction, which has a diameter corresponding to the length of the short side of the elongated hole for restriction, and which is inserted through the elongated hole for restriction.

3. The laser exposure device according to claim 1, wherein when a first eccentric cam is inserted through the elongated hole for rotation movement and is rotated about the circular hole for rotation movement, the light source board and lens board are relatively moved with respect to each other in the rotation direction about the restricting member.

4. The laser exposure device according to claim 1, wherein when a second eccentric cam is inserted through the elongated hole for slide movement and is rotated about the circular hole for slide movement, the light source board and lens board are relatively moved with respect to each other along the first direction.

5. The laser exposure device according to claim 1, wherein when the first and second eccentric cams are inserted respectively through the elongated hole for rotation movement and the elongated hole for slide movement and rotated respectively about the circular hole for rotation movement and circular hole for slide movement, the light source board and lens board are relatively moved with respect to each other in the rotation direction about the restricting member and, at the same time, relatively moved with respect to each other along the first direction.

6. The laser exposure device according to claim 1, wherein the long side of the elongated hole for rotation movement extends in parallel to the first direction, andthe long side of the elongated hole for slide movement extends in the direction crossing the first direction.

7. The laser exposure device according to claim 6, wherein the long side of the elongated hole for slide movement extends in the direction crossing at right angles the first direction.

8. A laser exposure device, comprising: a laser light source;a lens system which guides laser light emitted from the laser light source to a laser receiving element;a light-receiving board which supports the laser receiving element;a fixed board fixed to a unit main body;a restricting member which joins the light-receiving board and fixed board such that they can relatively be moved with respect to each other in a first direction;an elongated hole for rotation movement which is formed in the light-receiving board or fixed board at the position on the extension of the center line connecting the center of the restricting member and that of the laser receiving element and whose long side extends in parallel to the center line;a circular hole for rotation movement which is formed in the light-receiving board or fixed board at the position facing the elongated hole for rotation movement and whose diameter is smaller than the length of the short side of the elongated hole for rotation movement;an elongated hole for slide movement which is formed in the light-receiving board or fixed board and whose short side extends along the first direction; anda circular hole for slide movement which is formed in the light-receiving board or fixed board at the position facing the elongated hole for slide movement and whose diameter is smaller than the length of the short side of the elongated hole for slide movement.

9. The laser exposure device according to claim 8, wherein the restriction member includes an elongated hole for restriction which is formed in the light-receiving board or fixed board and whose long side extends in parallel to the first direction and a positioning pin which is formed in the light-receiving board or fixed board at the position facing the elongated hole for restriction, which has a diameter corresponding to the length of the short side of the elongated hole for restriction, and which is inserted through the elongated hole for restriction.

10. The laser exposure device according to claim 8, wherein when a first eccentric cam is inserted through the elongated hole for rotation movement and is rotated about the circular hole for rotation movement, the light-receiving board and fixed board are relatively moved with respect to each other in the rotation direction about the restricting member.

11. The laser exposure device according to claim 8, wherein when a second eccentric cam is inserted through the elongated hole for slide movement and is rotated about the circular hole for slide movement, the light-receiving board and fixed board are relatively moved with respect to each other along the first direction.

12. The laser exposure device according to claim 8, wherein when the first and second eccentric cams are inserted respectively through the elongated hole for rotation movement and the elongated hole for slide movement and rotated respectively about the circular hole for rotation movement and circular hole for slide movement, the light-receiving board and fixed board are relatively moved with respect to each other in the rotation direction about the restricting member and, at the same time, relatively moved with respect to each other along the first direction.

13. The laser exposure device according to claim 8, wherein the long side of the elongated hole for rotation movement extends in parallel to the first direction, andthe long side of the elongated hole for slide movement extends in the direction crossing the first direction.

14. The laser exposure device according to claim 13, wherein the long side of the elongated hole for slide movement extends in the direction crossing at right angles the first direction.

15. An optical axis adjustment method in a laser exposure device which uses a lens system to guide laser light emitted from a laser light source to a predetermined position, the laser exposure device including: a first board which is integrated with the lens system; and a second board which supports the laser light source or a laser receiving element provided in the predetermined position, which is joined to the first board through a restricting member, and which can relatively be moved with respect to the first board,the laser exposure device further including: an elongated hole for rotation movement which is formed in the first board or second board at the position on the extension of the center line connecting the center of the restricting member and that of the laser light source or that of the laser receiving element and whose long side extends in parallel to the center line; a circular hole for rotation movement which is formed in the first board or second board at the position facing the elongated hole for rotation movement and whose diameter is smaller than the length of the short side of the elongated hole for rotation movement; an elongated hole for slide movement which is formed in the first board or second board and whose short side extends along the slide movement direction; and a circular hole for slide movement which is formed in the first board or second board at the position facing the elongated hole for slide movement and whose diameter is smaller than the length of the short side of the elongated hole for slide movement,the method comprising:a rotation movement step of rotating a first eccentric cam fitted into the elongated hole for rotation movement about the circular hole for rotation movement to relatively move the first and second boards with respect to each other in the rotation direction about the restricting member; anda parallel movement step of rotating a second eccentric cam fitted into the elongated hole for slide movement about the circular hole for slide movement to relatively move the first and second boards with respect to each other in the slide direction defined by the restricting member.

16. The optical axis adjustment method in a laser exposure device according to claim 15, wherein the restriction member includes an elongated hole for restriction which is formed in the first board or second board and whose long side extends in parallel to the slide movement direction and a positioning pin which is formed in the first board or second board at the position facing the elongated hole for restriction, which has a diameter corresponding to the length of the short side of the elongated hole for restriction, and which is inserted through the elongated hole for restriction.

17. The optical axis adjustment method in a laser exposure device according to claim 15, wherein after the completion of the rotation movement step and parallel movement step, the first and second boards are fixed to each other in a state where the first eccentric cam is fitted into the elongated hole for rotation movement and second eccentric cam is fitted into the elongated hole for slide movement.

18. The optical axis adjustment method in a laser exposure device according to claim 15, wherein the rotation movement step and parallel movement step are performed simultaneously.

19. The optical axis adjustment method in a laser exposure device according to claim 15, wherein the second board supports the laser light source.

20. The optical axis adjustment method in a laser exposure device according to claim 15, wherein the second board supports the laser receiving element.