JP3167706B2 - Recording device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus, and more particularly, to a recording apparatus that makes effective use of light emission luminance in a self-scanning optical printer.

Prior art As known documents describing the prior art according to the present invention,
For example, there are JP-A-58-223242 and JP-A-58-223243. Although this publication describes a recording apparatus using a phosphor dot array and a roof mirror lens array (a roof mirror lens array) as an image forming element, light is emitted in a direction in which the luminance of the minute light emitting segment array becomes highest. Since the configuration is not such that the utilization efficiency is increased, there is a disadvantage that the light-emitting energy of the minute light-emitting segment array cannot be effectively taken in as energy for passing through the optical system and writing on the photosensitive member.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a conventional example of an electrophotographic recording apparatus of the negative-positive recording system, in which 21 is a photoreceptor, 22 is a charger, 23 is a small light-emitting segment array, 24 is an imaging element,
25 is a developing device, 26 is a transfer charger, 27 is a separation charger, 28 is a cleaning device, 29 is a neutralization lamp, 30 is transfer paper, and 31 is a fixing device. With this configuration, light generated from the minute light-emitting segment array 23 that emits light in pixel units is modulated according to image information, and the modulated light is imaged on the surface of the photoconductor 21 by the image forming element 24 to form an electrostatic latent image. The electrostatic latent image is visualized by the developing device 25, and is fed at a predetermined timing. This is transferred to the transfer paper 30 by the action of the transfer charger 26, and is fixed by the fixing device 31. Here, as the minute light emitting segment array 23,
An LED array, an LSC array, a phosphor dot array (FLDA), or the like is used. As the imaging element, a selfoc lens array, a roof mirror lens array (RMLA), or the like is used.

In the negative-positive recording system, a portion corresponding to an image is exposed on the surface of a uniformly charged photoreceptor, and toner or the like is attached to a portion of the photoreceptor surface where the potential has been reduced by the exposure to develop. It is. Here, the optical axis of the roof mirror lens array is deflected by the optical path separating mirror,
The configuration is such that it is parallel to a plane having the optical axis direction as a normal line at a position near the plane of the substrate having the minute light emitting segment array.

FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b) are diagrams showing a roof mirror lens array (RMLA) as an imaging element and its light amount distribution characteristics.
FIG. 7A is a sectional view perpendicular to the direction of the roof mirror lens array, and FIG. 7B is a diagram showing the light amount distribution characteristics of the roof mirror lens array shown in FIG. In the figure, 32 is a roof mirror lens array (rMLA), 32 ₁ the roof mirror array (RMA), 32 ₃ is a lens array (LA), 32 ₄ are optical path separating mirror, 34 is a light emitting point. Since the roof mirror lens array (RMLA) 32 has a retroreflective optical system, it has a light utilization efficiency peak at a finite image height position slightly away from the image height 0 position. That is, the maximum light amount position (peak) on the image plane F of the light emitted from the light emitting point 34 on the object plane X′-X ′ toward the roof mirror lens array (RMLA) 32 is
(B) As shown in the figure, the roof mirror lens array 32 is located at a position h slightly shifted from the optical axis XX. That is,
This is a position on the image plane F inclined by an angle θ with respect to the optical axis XX. On the other hand, when the light emission distribution in the direction orthogonal to the array direction of the minute light emitting segment array has, for example, the distribution shown in FIG. 6, the luminance is highest in the normal direction of the plane including the substrate plane. .

Figure 7 is a diagram showing an example of an optical recording apparatus using a solid-state light-emitting element, in the figure, 32 ₂ a stop member, 33 is a phosphor dot array, 35 is a housing member, 36 opening, 37 the outer Enclosure,
Reference numeral 38 denotes a window, reference numeral 39 denotes a photoreceptor, and other portions having the same functions as those in FIG. 5 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. In this optical recording apparatus, a phosphor dot array (FLDA) 33 is used for the minute light emitting segment array, and a roof mirror lens array (RMLA) 32 is used for the imaging element. The housing member 35 has a phosphor dot array (FLDA) 33 fixed to the bottom thereof via an elastic member integrally fixed to a rigid base (not shown). Phosphor dot array (FLD
A) Light generated from a light emitting point 34 of 33 passes through an opening 36 provided in a housing member 35 and reaches a roof mirror lens array (RMLA) 32. The opening 36 also serves to prevent stray light. At the front end of the housing member 35, a dustproof cover member (not shown) provided with a slit for passing only the recording light emitted from the roof mirror lens array 32 is provided. The outer casing 37 is fixed on or integrally formed with the housing member 35 and has a roof mirror lens array (RM
LA) 32 is stored in the longitudinal direction. A window 38 provided at the front of the outer casing is used for exposing and scanning light emitted from a light emitting point 34 on a photoconductor 39 via a roof mirror lens array (RMLA) 32. The roof mirror lens array (RMLA) 32 housed in the outer casing is pressed and fixed by a leaf spring (not shown) or the like.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a phosphor dot array (FLDA). FIG. 8 (a) is a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the main scanning direction, and FIG. 8 (b) is a diagram showing an electrode arrangement. In the figure, 33 ₁ substrate glass, 34a, 34b in the electrode array, in practice the electrode array 34n (n = 1,2, ... i , ... n) which slightly separated on the substrate glass is arranged. 33 ₂ is a phosphor, 33 ₃ is a grid electrode, 33 ₄
Cathode filament, 33 ₅ face glass is 33 ₆ is the light shielding portion. In this example, the grid electrode 33 ₃ multiple electrodes Gn (n = 1,2, ... i , ... n) is divided into, The respective electrodes Gn, the control electrodes φ _{n (n} = 1 of driver 33 ₈ , 2,… i,
... n) connected in parallel electrode array 34n is facing the, selected control electrodes between the driver 33 _7, 33 _8, for example G _i, when a voltage is applied to the phi _i, phosphors of facing the electrode array 34i 33 ₂
Of dot emission in small areas (light emission point), to project in a direction perpendicular to the substrate glass 33 ₁ from the face glass 33 ₅ or the substrate glass 33 _1.

As described above, conventionally, when the roof mirror lens array is employed as the imaging element, the light emitting efficiency is not highest in the direction in which the luminance of the minute light emitting segment array becomes highest. The light emission energy of the array could not be effectively captured as energy for writing on the photoreceptor through the optical system.

Purpose The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances,
An object of the present invention is to provide a higher quality optical recording apparatus which forms a latent image on a photoreceptor by effectively utilizing light emission energy of a minute light emitting segment array.

Configuration According to the present invention, in order to achieve the above object, (1) light generated from a small light-emitting segment array in pixel units arranged on a substrate is modulated according to image information, and the modulated light is formed into an imaging optical system. A recording device that forms an electrostatic latent image by exposing the surface of the photoreceptor through an image forming device, visualizes the electrostatic latent image, and performs recording in accordance with image information. In the case where the angle at which the light peaks has a characteristic different from the radiation direction of the substrate plane of the micro-segment array, or the direction in which the coupling efficiency of the imaging optical system has the peak is not parallel to the optical axis. In the case of having the characteristics, the substrate plane of the minute light emitting segment array and the optical axis of the imaging optical system have a light use efficiency higher than that which can be obtained when the optical axis is in a vertical positional relationship. To The substrate is disposed such that the relationship between the plane of the substrate of the minute light-emitting segment array and the optical axis of the imaging optical system is shifted from the vertical, and (2) the arrangement on the substrate The light generated from the small light emitting segment array by the pixel unit is modulated according to the image information, and the modulated light is exposed and scanned on the photoreceptor surface via an imaging optical system to form an electrostatic latent image, A recording device that visualizes the electrostatic latent image and performs recording according to image information,
In the case where the angle at which the emission light emitted from the minute light emitting segment array has a peak has a characteristic different from the radiation direction of the substrate plane of the minute light emitting segment array, or the coupling efficiency of the imaging optical system has a peak. Direction, and a characteristic not parallel to the optical axis, the emission angle direction that is the peak of the emission intensity distribution of the light generated from the minute light-emitting segment array, and the peak of the transmitted light amount distribution of the imaging optical system. And a coupling angle substantially equal to each other. Hereinafter, a description will be given based on examples of the present invention.

Figure 1 is a block diagram for explaining an embodiment of a recording apparatus according to the present invention, in the figure, 11 is a photoreceptor, 12 is a roof mirror lens array (rMLA), 12 ₁ the roof mirror array (R
MA), 12 ₃ is a lens array (LA), 12 ₄ are optical path separating mirror, the phosphor dot array 13 (FLDA), 14 light-emitting points on the substrate X-X on the phosphor dot array (FLDA) 13 It is. In the embodiment of the present invention, a phosphor dot array (FLDA) 13 is used as a minute light emitting segment array, and a roof mirror lens array (RMLA) 12 is used as an image forming element.

The light generated from the light emitting point 14 passes through an opening (not shown) having a function of preventing stray light and passes through an optical path separating mirror 12.
₄ is reflected by the lens array (LA) 12 _3, via the roof mirror array (RMA) 12 _1, it focused on the position of the photosensitive member 11 over F. The phosphor dot array (FLDA) 13 is fixed to the bottom of a housing (not shown) by a rigid base from below through an elastic member or the like.

In the phosphor dot array (FLDA) 13, as shown in FIG. 2, the light emission amount of the minute light-emitting segment array becomes highest in the direction of the normal OY axis of the substrate surface XX. The roof mirror lens array (RMLA) 12
Are arranged at an angle θ with respect to the optical axis direction. In addition,
In the embodiment of the present invention, a lens array (LA), a roof mirror array (RMA), and a housing member holding an optical path separating mirror, which are components of the roof mirror lens array (RMLA) 12, will be described in describing the present invention. The illustration is omitted because it has no effect.

An OY axis direction which is a normal direction of a phosphor dot array (FLDA) 13 which is a minute light emitting segment array and an optical axis LL of a roof mirror lens array (RMLA) 12 which is an image forming element.
The direction of the normal to the plane of the phosphor dot array 13, which is a minute light-emitting segment array, without making the direction parallel (image height direction)
The light emission energy of the small light-emitting segment array that has passed through the optical system of the roof mirror lens array (RMLA) 12 can be effectively captured on the photoreceptor by tilting the small angle θ. That is, as shown in FIG. 5, the conventional optical system uses the image height position h of the peak of the light amount distribution perpendicular to the image plane F, as shown in FIG. the substrate plane of the array of the roof mirror lens array (rMLA) 12 who was tilted by an angle θ with respect to the optical axis direction, but to further enhance the light utilization efficiency, as shown in FIG. 2, the optical path separating mirror 12 ₄ the amount of reflected light becomes a range of OP ₁ P ₂ of the hatched portions around the O-Y-axis, use amount than the range of the shaded portion in the conventional example of FIG. 6 is increased, the image plane F is correspondingly Brightness will be increased.

When the minute light emitting segment array is an LED array, the light emission distribution is the light amount distribution in the arrangement direction as shown in FIG. 3, and the direction of high light emission luminance is higher than the normal direction of the plane including the substrate of the LED array chip. It is inclined by an angle θ _2.
An optical system when the rod lens array, the optical axis direction of the rod lenses to match the direction in which the emission luminance peak by tilting only theta _2, can be incorporated to enable the emission energy. The same applies to the case where the optical system is a roof mirror lens array (RMLA), in which the emission intensity distribution peak of the minute light-emitting segment array substantially coincides with the transmitted light amount distribution peak, and is arranged in accordance with the characteristics of the imaging element.

Effects As apparent from the above description, the present invention has the following effects.

(1) According to the recording apparatus of the first aspect, the substrate is arranged so that the substrate plane of the minute light emitting segment array and the optical axis of the imaging element are not perpendicular to each other. Can be effectively used as energy for passing through the optical system and writing on the photoreceptor.

(2) According to the recording device of the present invention, since the peak of the light emission intensity distribution from the light emitting segment substantially coincides with the peak of the transmitted light amount distribution of the imaging element, the light emission energy of the minute light emitting segment array is optically converted. It can be effectively captured as energy for writing on the photoreceptor through the system.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram for explaining an embodiment of a recording apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a light emission amount distribution of a minute light emitting segment array, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a conventional example of an electrophotographic recording apparatus, FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a conventional image forming element and its light amount distribution characteristics, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a conventional light emission amount distribution of a minute light emitting segment array, FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a conventional optical recording device using solid-state light emitting elements, and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a phosphor dot array. . 11 ... Photoconductor, 12 ... Roof mirror lens array (RML
A), 12 ₁ … Roof mirror array (RMA), 12 ₃ … Lens array (LA), 12 ₄ … Light path separation mirror, 13… Phosphor dot array (FLDA), 14… Emission point.

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ identification code FI H04N 1/036 (58) Investigated field (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41J 2/44-2/455 G03G 15/04 H01J 31/15 H04N 1/036

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method of modulating light generated from a minute light-emitting segment array in pixel units arranged on a substrate in accordance with image information, and exposing the modulated light on a photoreceptor surface via an imaging optical system. A recording apparatus for forming an electrostatic latent image, visualizing the electrostatic latent image, and performing recording in accordance with image information, wherein an angle at which a peak of light emission radiation of the minute light emitting segment array is set to the minute segment array In the case where the characteristic is different from the radiation direction of the substrate plane, or in the case where the coupling efficiency of the imaging optical system has a characteristic that is not parallel to the direction in which the coupling efficiency peaks and the optical axis, The substrate of the micro light emitting segment array is so arranged that the substrate plane of the light emitting segment array and the optical axis of the imaging optical system are higher than the value of light utilization efficiency that can be obtained when the optical positional relationship is vertical. And the surface, the relationship between the optical axis of the imaging optical system, the recording apparatus being characterized in that disposed the substrate is shifted from the vertical. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein light generated from a minute light emitting segment array in pixel units arranged on a substrate is modulated in accordance with image information, and the modulated light is exposed and scanned on a photoreceptor surface via an imaging optical system. A recording device that forms an electrostatic latent image according to the above, visualizes the electrostatic latent image, and performs recording in accordance with image information, wherein the angle at which the emission light of the minute emission segment array has a peak is the minute segment. In the case of having characteristics different from the radiation direction of the substrate plane of the array, or in the case where the coupling efficiency of the imaging optical system has a characteristic that is not parallel to the optical axis and the direction in which the coupling efficiency becomes a peak. Note that the emission angle direction at which the emission intensity distribution of light generated from the minute light-emitting segment array has a peak substantially coincides with the coupling angle at which the transmission light amount distribution of the imaging optical system has a peak. Apparatus.