JPH0377963B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention, a light beam generated by a recording section for recording an image on a photoreceptor and a light beam generating means is incident on a rotating polygon mirror via a modulator and a lens group. The present invention relates to a method for adjusting an optical axis of an image recording apparatus, which includes an optical system section that emits light to the recording section through an imaging lens after the image forming apparatus is used, and a control section that controls the recording section and the optical system section.

In an image recording apparatus having an optical system section that generates a light beam by a light beam generating means such as a gas laser tube, it is necessary to adjust the optical axis of the generated light beam to make it incident on a rotating polygon mirror. To this end, conventionally, the optical axis of the light beam has been adjusted by displacing a reflecting mirror, a condensing lens, and a modulator interposed between the light beam generating means and the rotating polygon mirror by trial and error. Therefore, adjusting the optical axis of the light beam requires a long time and has poor accuracy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the problems of the prior art and provide an optical axis adjustment method for an image recording apparatus that can adjust the optical axis of a light beam by a simple adjustment operation.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an image recording device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a simplified vertical sectional view of the image recording apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. The image recording device 1 includes a recording section 3 that includes a photoconductor 2, an optical system section 5 that is provided above a body 4 in which the recording section 3 is housed, and emits a laser beam to the recording section 3, and a control section 6. Above the fuselage 4 is a cover body 7.
is provided to cover the optical system section 5 and the control section 6. An operation display panel 8 including operation switches and indicator lamps is provided on the upper surface of the cover body 7. A paper feed cassette 10 is attached to a cassette opening 9 formed on the right side of the machine body 4 in FIGS. 1 and 2. A paper discharge tray 11 is provided protruding from the left side of the body 4 in FIGS. 1 and 2. As shown in FIG.

The laser beam emitted from the optical system section 5 in the recording section 3 is transmitted through an aperture 12 formed on the upper surface of the fuselage 4 in a direction perpendicular to the paper plane of FIG.
As shown at 3, the photoreceptor 2 is irradiated with light. The photoreceptor 2 is formed by providing a photosensitive layer on the outer peripheral surface of a rotating drum 14 having a true cylindrical shape.

Around the photoreceptor 2, there is a rotation direction 15 of the photoreceptor 2.
A charging corona discharger 16, a magnetic brush developing device 17, a transfer corona discharger 18, and a static eliminator 19 are arranged in this order along. Paper cassette 10
The sheet-shaped recording paper 20 stored in the
The image is sent to the transfer area 24 by the conveyance means 23 including the transfer means 23 . After the recording paper 20 is brought into close contact with the photoreceptor 2 in the transfer area 24, the recording paper 20 is moved through a guide path 26 by the action of the static eliminator 19 and the separation roller 25, and is transferred to a pair of paper ejection rollers 28 via a thermal fixing means 27. The paper is then discharged onto the paper discharge tray 11.

After the photoreceptor 2 is charged by the action of the charging corona discharger 16, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photoreceptor 2 by being irradiated with laser light in the exposure area 29. This electrostatic latent image is formed by a magnetic brush developing device 1.
It is visualized by 7. Further, in the transfer area 24, the image on the photoreceptor 2 is transferred to the recording paper 20, and the transferred image is transferred to the heat roller 30 of the heat fixing means 27.
The image is thermally fixed by the pressure roller 31 and the pressure roller 31.

The fuselage 4 and the arrow mark 13 near the opening 12
Components such as the charging corona discharger 16 and the magnetic brush developing device 17 of the recording section 3 along the laser beam path shown by are colored black. Also, instead of being colored black, dark colored felt or the like is fixed. As a result, the laser beam irradiated onto the exposure area 29 of the photoreceptor 2 is reflected by the photoreceptor 2, further reflected by the body 4 and the constituent members, and re-enters the photoreceptor 2. be prevented from being

3 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the optical system section 5 shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the optical system section 5 shown in FIG.
It is a simplified perspective view with a part of the fifth part removed.
The figure is a plan view from which the upper plate 38 of the optical system section 5 shown in FIG. 3 is removed. The optical system section 5 is housed in the casing 32 independently of the recording section 3 and the control section 6. The casing 32 includes a base 33 provided at the bottom of the casing 32, and four side walls 34, 35, 36, 3 extending upward at four ends of the base 34.
7, and a side wall 34 covering the upper part of the optical system section 5.
37 and an upper plate 38 which is connected to the upper end of the plate 37.
The optical system section 5 roughly includes a gas laser tube 39 as a light beam generating means filled with, for example, helium gas and neon gas, and a lens 40 for condensing the laser beam generated by the gas laser tube 39. a modulator 41; a collimating lens 42 as a lens group downstream of the modulator 41;
It includes an expander lens 43 (see FIG. 9), a rotating polygon mirror 44, and an imaging lens 45.

The gas laser tube 39 is arranged substantially parallel to the side wall 34 and supported by tube holders 46 and 47 provided on the base 33. The tube holding base 46 consists of a pair of holding members 48 and 49, one of which is fixedly provided on the base 33.
The other holding member 49 is brought into contact with the upper outer circumferential surface of the gas laser tube 39 placed in the recessed portion of the gas laser tube 39 , and the pair of holding members 48 and 49 are screwed together by a screw member 50 . The tube holder 47 is also configured similarly to the tube holder 46. The tube holders 46 and 47 are provided at intervals in the direction in which the gas laser tube 39 extends.

The laser beam generated by the gas laser tube 39 is emitted downstream along the optical axis 51 shown by the imaginary line, and the direction of the laser beam is changed approximately vertically by the first reflecting mirror 52. The first reflecting mirror 52 includes a reflecting mirror stand 53 fixedly provided on the base 33;
A substantially U-shaped support member 54 is fixed to the reflecting mirror stand 53 so as to be rotatable around a vertical axis, and a substantially U-shaped support member 54 is fixed to the vicinity of both upper ends of the support member 54 so as to be rotatable around a horizontal axis. It includes a mirror mounting member 55 and a mirror 56 fixed to the mirror mounting member 55. The laser beam whose direction has been changed by the mirror 56 of the first reflecting mirror 52 passes through the second reflecting mirror 40 via the condensing lens 40 provided on the downstream side along the optical axis 51 from the first reflecting mirror 52. 57. The condensing lens 40 is fixed to a lens mounting member 58 that is fixed to the base 33 by a screw member 50. The second reflecting mirror 57 is
It has the same configuration as the first reflecting mirror 52 and is fixed to the base 33.

The laser light incident on the second reflecting mirror 57 is reflected and incident on the modulator 41. A signal is applied to the modulator 41 from the control section 6 via a line not shown. The laser beam is modulated by this signal, passes between the pair of light shielding members 59a and 59b, and enters the collimating lens 42.
The modulator 41 is fixed on a modulator stand 60, and the modulator stand 60 is fixed on the base 33 with a screw member 50.

The collimating lens 42 for collimating the laser beam and the expander lens 43 made up of a plurality of lenses are housed in a cylinder 61. Cylindrical body 6
1 is held by a pair of holding members 62a and 62b that surround and hold the cylindrical body 61. The holding members 62a and 62b are fixedly provided on the base 33 by screw members 50 along the optical axis 51. The cylinder body 61 has screw members 50 attached to the holding members 62a and 62b.
is screwed on and fixed. The flange portion 63 formed at the upstream end of the cylinder 61 along the optical axis 51 has a
The light shielding members 59a and 59b are arranged with a slight interval in the horizontal direction. The downstream end side of the cylindrical body 61 along the optical axis 51 is inserted into a casing 64 in which the rotating polygon mirror 44 is housed. Therefore, the diameter of the laser beam incident on the collimating lens 42 inside the cylinder 61 is expanded by the plurality of expander lenses 43 inside the cylinder 61.
The light is incident on the rotating polygon mirror 44.

To explain with reference to FIG. 6, the rotating polygon mirror 44
is housed in a cylindrical inner casing 66 with a closed upper end and a window 65 formed therein. The window 65 is
They are formed in the inner casing 66 to correspond to the optical axis 51 of the laser beam incident on the rotating polygon mirror 44 and the laser beam reflected from the rotating polygon mirror 44 . The inner casing 66 is fixed on a disk-shaped holding base 67.
An output shaft 69a (see FIG. 9) of the motor 69 is inserted vertically through the center of the holding table 67. The holding stand 67 is fixed on a fixed stand 68 fixedly provided on the base 33. Inside the fixed base 68,
A motor 69 (see FIG. 9) that rotates at high speed is built-in. The tip of the output shaft 69a of this motor 69 is connected to the center of the rotating polygon mirror 44. As a result, the rotating polygon mirror 44 is rotated as the motor 69 is driven. Therefore, the holding stand 67 also serves as a bearing. An arc-shaped notch 71 is formed on the downstream side of the fixing base 68 along the optical axis 51 to attach a short tube 70 that accommodates the imaging lens.

The side portion of the casing 64 roughly includes a vertical portion 73 in which an insertion hole 72 for inserting the cylindrical body 61 is formed, and an arcuate portion 7 having a cylindrical cross section.
4 and a front plate 76 through which the short tube 70 is inserted. A fixing plate 77 is fixed to the outside of the front plate 76 in the radial direction of the short tube. A ring-shaped sealing member 78 made of a rubber-like material is interposed between the insertion hole 72 formed in the vertical portion 73 of the side plate 75 and the cylindrical body 61. A top plate 79 is fixed to the upper end of the side plate 75 by screw members 50. Therefore, the rotating polygon mirror 44 is hermetically sealed by the casing 64, which is made up of the side plates 75, the front plate 76, and the top plate 79, which are fixed to the base 33. The insertion hole 72 of the casing 4 is configured to be airtight with the outside of the casing 64 by the collimating lens 42 and the sealing member 78 inside the cylinder body 61, and the short tube inserted through the front plate 76 of the casing 64 is , are configured airtight with the outside of the casing 64 by the imaging lens 45.

Therefore, since the inside of the casing 64 in which the rotating polygon mirror 44 is provided is sealed, the surface of the rotating polygon mirror 44 is prevented from being contaminated by paper dust, toner, etc., and The rotation sound of the rotating polygon mirror 44 rotated at high speed is prevented from being transmitted to the outside as noise.

Rotating polygon mirror 44 housed in casing 64
As shown in FIG. 7, the laser beam emitted so as to reciprocate in the horizontal direction (horizontal direction in FIG. 5) is transmitted from the rotating polygon mirror 44 to the imaging lens 45 as shown in FIG.
, is reflected by the first mirror 80 , is incident on the second mirror 81 , is reflected, and is incident on the third mirror 82 . The imaging lens 45 is composed of a so-called f-theta lens, and thereby the scanning speed of the laser beam on the photoreceptor 2 in the horizontal direction is kept constant. The laser beam reflected by the third mirror 82 is emitted from the exit hole 83 formed in the base 33 of the casing 32, and enters the body 4 of the recording unit 3 as described above in connection with FIG. The light is irradiated onto the photoreceptor 2 as shown by the arrow 13 through the provided opening 12 . Note that each of the mirrors 80 to 82, the exit hole 83, and the opening 12 are connected to the photoreceptor 2.
It extends in parallel along the axis of the rotating drum 14 formed with. Referring again to FIGS. 3 to 5, the first mirror 80 and the third mirror 82 are mounted on mounting members 86 and 87 that are horizontally suspended between a pair of mounting stands 84 and 85 erected on the base 33. They are each attached by fixing members 88 . The mount 84 of the second mirror 81 is fixed by a fixing member 88 to a recess 89 extending from the base 83 and having a triangular cross section. The mounting base 85 is formed in a shape symmetrical to the mounting base 84 and includes a vertical portion 91 having a rising end surface 90a and a horizontal portion 92 that abuts the base 33 and is fixed by the screw member 50. Ru. The mounting bases 84 and 85 are
It is fixed to the base 33 so as to face the outside of the outlet hole 83 (in the left-right direction in FIG. 5). Fixed member 8
8 is formed in a substantially T-shape, and one end of the fixing member 88 is fixed to both left and right ends of each mirror 80 to 82 in FIG. It is fixed by a screw member 50.

One of the mounting members 86 to which the first mirror 80 is fixed is attached to each end surface 90a, 9 of the mounting bases 84, 85.
0b by a screw member 50. A long hole is formed in the mounting member 86 along the longitudinal direction of the mounting member 86 (the left-right direction in FIG. 5). The first mirror 80 is attached to the mounting member 86 by a fixing member 88 such that the mirror surface of the first mirror 80 faces the elongated hole.
Fixed. The mounting member 86 is attached to the mounting bases 84, 8
5 becomes thinner toward the top, and therefore the surface to which the first mirror 80 is fixed is inclined. As a result, the laser beam incident on the first mirror 80 is transferred to the second mirror 80 as shown in FIG.
reflected to 1. The second mirror 81 also
Like the mirror 80, it is tilted and fixed in the recess 89 of the base 33, so that the laser beam incident on the second mirror 81 changes the direction of the optical axis 51 and is incident on the third mirror 82. Ru.

The other mounting member 87 to which the third mirror 82 is fixed has rotating shafts 94a and 94b protruding from both ends (left and right ends in FIG. 5) of a flat plate portion 93.
The rotation shafts 94a, 94b are connected to the mounting base 84,
Hole 9 formed near the upper end of vertical portion 91 of 85
5 and 96, respectively, so as to be rotatable. A long hole is formed in the flat plate portion 93 of the mounting member 87,
The third mirror 82 is fixed to the mounting member 87 by a fixing member 88 so that the mirror surface faces this elongated hole. The laser beam incident on the third mirror 82 is
The light is reflected and emitted from the exit hole 83 to the recording section.
Since the first mirror 80 is fixedly provided on the mounting bases 84 and 85, and the second mirror 81 is fixedly provided on the base 33, the third mirror 80 is fixedly provided on the mounts 84 and 85, and the third mirror 80 is fixedly provided on the base 33. 82 is the hole 95, 9
The rotation shafts 94a and 94b fitted in the shafts 6 are rotated to adjust the angle. The mounting member 87 to which the angle of the third mirror 82 is adjusted is attached to the locking holes 97a, 9 formed in the end faces 90a, 90b of the mounting bases 84, 85.
Pins 98a and 98b are inserted into 7b and are fixed by pressing the rotation shafts 94a and 94b, respectively.

The angular position of the third mirror 82 with respect to the optical axis 51 may be adjusted to set the direction in which the laser beam is irradiated onto the photoreceptor 2 of the recording section 3 to be slightly shifted from the axis of the rotating drum 14. As a result, the laser beam is reflected on the mirror-finished surface of the photoreceptor 2 and is reflected back to the rotating polygon mirror 44 via the third mirror 82, second mirror 81, first mirror 80, and imaging lens 45. It enters the image forming lens 4 and is reflected.
5. Re-irradiation of the photoreceptor 2 via the first to third mirrors 80 to 82 is prevented.

The casing 32 has a first section that divides a section where the first to third mirrors 80 to 82 are housed and a section where the gas laser tube 39 is housed.
A partition plate 98 and a second partition plate 99 are provided.
The first partition plate 98 is connected to the side wall 37 and the rotating polygon mirror 44.
and a casing 64 that houses the casing 64.
The second partition plate 99 is provided between the casing 64 and the side wall 36. A plurality of ventilation holes 101 are formed in the first partition plate 98 to which filter members 100 that allow only air to pass through are fixed.

A fan 102 is provided near the gas laser tube 39 as a heat exhaust means for exhausting the heat generated by the gas laser tube 39 to the outside of the casing 32 in which the optical system section 5 is housed. The fan 102 is fixed to the base 33 by screw members 50. Therefore, the hot air inside the casing 32 is discharged to the outside of the casing 32 by the drive of the motor built in the fan 102. A cooling air intake port 103 is formed in the side wall 37 of the casing 32 on the side of the portion where the gas laser tube 39 is housed, which is partitioned off by the first partition plate 98 . The cooling air intake port 103 is provided with a filter member 10 that prevents floating dust from passing through and allows only air to pass through.
4 is provided. A suction fan 105 serving as a blowing means is provided on the base of the casing 32 so as to face a cooling air intake port 103 provided in the side wall 37 . The suction fan 105 sucks cooling air into the casing 32 by rotation of the motor 106 . This sucked air causes the pressure inside the casing 32 to be slightly higher than the outside air pressure. A portion of the sucked cooling air is
As shown by the arrow 107, the gas laser tube 39 is cooled and exhausted to the outside by the action of the fan 102, and the remainder of the cooling air is removed as shown by the arrow 1.
As shown at 08, the air passes through the ventilation hole 101 of the first partition plate 98 and flows into the portion of the casing 32 where the first to third mirrors 80 to 82 are housed. The first to third mirrors 80 of this casing 32
82 is housed, the pressure inside the casing 32 is slightly higher than that outside, so air flows out from the outlet hole 83.

Therefore, from the opening 12 of the recording section 3 to the exit hole 8
Dust such as paper dust and fine powder such as toner generated in the recording unit 3 are prevented from flowing into the casing via the casing 3. Therefore, the first to third mirrors 80 to 82 and the imaging lens 45 are prevented from being contaminated by dust or fine particles such as toner. Furthermore, gas laser tube 3
9 is housed in the casing 32,
The second reflecting mirrors 52, 57, the condensing lens 40, the collimating lens 42, etc. are prevented from being contaminated. Therefore, the laser light irradiated onto the photoreceptor 2 of the recording section 3 is not attenuated.
The image recorded on the recording paper 20 can be a clear image that is prevented from decreasing in resolution and contrast.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention, and parts corresponding to the above embodiments are given the same reference numerals. A female thread is threaded into the insertion hole 72 of a side plate 75 of the casing 64 in which the rotating polygon mirror 44 is housed, and a male thread 61a is threaded into the cylindrical body 61. Thereby, the cylindrical body 61 is attached to the casing 64 in an airtight manner. Therefore, floating fine particles such as dust and toner do not enter into the casing 64.

Retaining member 62 described in connection with FIGS. 3-5
Although a and 62b were fixed to the base 33,
In other embodiments of the present invention, a holding member may be provided on the fixed base 68 to hold the cylinder 61.

FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically showing the path of the laser beam shown in FIGS. 2 to 5. The cylinder body 61
A collimator lens 42 and an expander lens 43 consisting of a plurality of lens groups are housed in the . A cylindrical body 61 is fixedly provided to a casing 64 in which the rotating polygon mirror 44 is housed, and a collimating lens 42 is disposed on the upstream side or downstream side along the optical axis 51 within the cylindrical body 61 as shown by an arrow 115. This corrects variations caused by optical characteristics such as the refractive index of the condensing lens 40.

The optical characteristics of the condensing lens 40 vary due to variations in the density and density distribution of the glass material to be processed and the accuracy of machining such as polishing of the surface of the lens 40. Collimator lens 42
Also, like the lens 40, there are variations. Therefore, by moving the collimating lens 42, the above-described variations in the lenses 40 and 42 can be corrected, so that the yield of the lenses 40 and collimating lenses 42 is improved.

In another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 8, the cylindrical body 61 is screwed into or out of the insertion hole 72 formed in the vertical portion 73 of the casing 64, so that the entire cylindrical body 61 is inserted into the casing 64. 64, thereby causing the collimating lens 42 to move relative to arrow 1.
As shown in 15, variations in the lens 40 and the collimating lens 42 may be corrected by moving upstream or downstream with respect to the optical axis 51.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the barrel 61 is moved along the optical axis 51 relative to the casing 64, and the collimating lens 42 inside the barrel 61 is moved along the optical axis 51 within the barrel 61. It may be moved to correct variations in lens 40 and collimating lens 42.

In this manner, by correcting the variations in the condensing lens 40 and the collimating lens 42, the beam diameter of the laser beam irradiated onto the photoreceptor 2 can take a correct value.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram schematically showing the control section 6 connected to the modulator 41 of the optical system section 5. As shown in FIG. For example, an acousto-optic modulation element is used as the modulator 41, and the sequence controller 11 of the control unit 6
Connected to 6. Sequence controller 116
is connected to a storage means 117 realized by a random access memory or the like, and also connected to a central processing means 118 realized by a microcomputer or the like. As a result, a signal specifying an address is input from the central processing means 118 to the storage means 117, and a signal of the image pattern stored in the storage means 117 is applied to the modulator 41 via the sequence controller 116. As a result, the modulator 41 modulates the laser beam incident from the second reflecting mirror 57 in accordance with the signal. That is, when the modulator 41 is to irradiate one dot of the image pattern onto the exposure area 29 of the photoreceptor 2, a signal from the sequence controller 116 is input to the modulator 41 and the laser beam is modulated. When the signal from the sequence controller 116 is not input to the modulator 41, the laser light is emitted from the modulator 41 in an unmodulated state, that is, as zero-order light. This modulated laser light is incident on the collimating lens 42 and converted into parallel light, which is then incident on the expander lens 43.

In one embodiment of the present invention, this expander lens 43 is constituted by a zoom lens. Therefore, the beam diameter of the laser light incident on the expander lens 43 can be continuously expanded. As a result, the diameter of the beam spot irradiated and scanned onto the photoreceptor 2 of the recording section 3 can be expanded.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining images recorded by changing the beam spot diameter according to the present invention. FIG. 11a shows an image recorded with a conventional beam spot diameter, for example, a character "C" is recorded with 12 horizontal dots and 12 vertical lines. For this purpose, the modulator 41 has addresses A1 (0, 0), A2 stored in the storage means 117 from the sequence controller 116.
(0,1)A3(0,2),A4(0,3),...,A143
(11, 10) and A144 (11, 11) image pattern signals are given in order.

Figure 11b shows an image recorded by operating the zoom lens on the image shown in Figure 11a to enlarge the diameter of the beam spot by, for example, twice, and character "C" is It is recorded by dots and 6 vertical lines. For this purpose, the image pattern signal stored in the storage means 117 of the control section 6 is sent to the modulator 41 via the sequence controller 116 in response to a signal from the central processing means 118 at addresses A1 (0, 0), A3(0,2),A5
(0,4),...,A11(0,10),A25(2,0),
A27 (2, 2), …, A129 (10, 8), A131 (10,
10) The signal of the image pattern is given. At this time, from the sequence controller 116 to the recording unit 3
The moving speed of the photoreceptor 2, that is, the rotational speed of the rotary drum 14 is set to double.
Furthermore, by reducing the transfer speed of the image pattern signal applied to the modulator 41 to 1/2 of the normal transfer speed, the recording speed of the recording paper 20 is such that recording is performed with a normal beam spot diameter. For example, the speed is twice as fast as when compared to the previous version.

In this way, by using a zoom lens as the expander lens 43, the rotation speed of the rotating polygon mirror 44 can be kept constant, and the signal transfer speed to the modulator 41 can be set according to the diameter of the beam spot. By increasing the rotation speed of the rotary drum 14, the recording speed of the recording paper 20 can be increased. The central processing means 118 is connected to the operation display panel 8, and inputs operation signals caused by pressing the switch and outputs display signals. The sequence controller 116 provides the recording unit 3 with signals for sheet feeding from the central processing means 118 and the like. Further, the central processing means 118 may be connected to a host computer 119 provided outside the image recording device 1.

FIG. 12 is an enlarged plan view of the flange portion 63 of the cylindrical body 61 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of FIG. 12. Primary light 12 of the modulated laser light emitted from the modulator 41
0 passes between the pair of light shielding members 59a and 59b provided horizontally with an interval and is incident on the collimating lens 42. The distance between the light shielding member 59a and the light shielding member 59b is made approximately equal to the beam diameter of the laser light emitted from the modulator 41.

unmodulated laser light emitted from the modulator 41;
That is, the zero-order light 121 is transmitted through one light shielding member 59a.
The light is blocked by A detector 122 for detecting laser light is fixed at a position of the light shielding member 59a that is irradiated with the zero-order light of the laser light. This detector 122 is chosen to have sufficient sensitivity to the wavelength of the laser light generated by the gas laser tube 39. The other light blocking member 59b blocks laser light of secondary or higher order light other than the 0th order light 121 and the primary light 120 among the laser light. Detector 122
is connected to the control section 6 by a lead wire (not shown).

Based on the detection signal of the detector 122, the central processing means 118 of the control unit 6 determines whether or not the laser beam is being generated from the gas laser tube 39, and whether the output of the generated laser beam is sufficient. It is possible to automatically determine whether

In the above-described embodiment, an acousto-optic modulation element was used as the modulator 41, but in other embodiments of the present invention, the angular displacement of the laser beam is changed according to the electrical signal from the sequence controller 116 that is input to the modulator 41. Other elements that can be used may also be used.

In this way, since the zero-order light 121 of the laser beam that is not irradiated onto the photoreceptor 2 is detected, even when an electrostatic latent image is being formed on the photoreceptor 2, the It is possible to make a judgment by detecting the output etc.

Referring again to FIGS. 4 and 5, the base 33 of the casing 32 in which the optical system unit 5 is housed includes first, second, and third lenses from the upstream side along the optical axis 51 shown by the imaginary line. , fourth fitting hole 109, 110, 1
11 and 112 are formed. Each fitting hole 109-1
12 is a long hole extending slightly parallel to the optical axis 51. The first fitting hole 109 is formed between the gas laser tube 39 and the first reflecting mirror 52. Second
The fitting hole 110 accommodates the first reflecting mirror 52 and the condensing lens 4.
0. The third fitting hole 111 is formed between the condensing lens 40 and the second reflecting mirror 57. The fourth fitting hole 112 is connected to the modulator 41 and the cylinder body 61.
is formed between.

FIG. 14 shows a first adjustment jig 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.
23, and FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a second adjustment jig 124 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The first adjustment jig 123 and the second adjustment jig 124 as optical axis adjustment jigs are composed of a horizontal plate portion 125 and a vertical plate portion 126 that are formed in a substantially T-shape.
The bottom portion 125a of the horizontal plate portion 125 is provided with a protrusion 127 that slightly extends in a direction perpendicular to the vertical plate portion 126.
is provided in a protruding manner on the side facing away from the vertical plate portion 126.
This protrusion 127 is fitted into each fitting hole 109 to 112 formed in the base 33 of the casing 32 in which the optical system section 5 described above is housed. As a result, the vertical plate portions 126 of the first and second adjusting jigs 123 and 124 are erected in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis 51. A long hole 128 is formed in the vertical plate portion 126 of the first adjustment jig 123 and extends horizontally at a height H from the bottom portion 125a. This long hole 128
is provided to adjust the laser beam emitted from the gas laser tube 39 so that it is within a horizontal plane at a height H from the base 33. The vertical plate part 126 of the second adjustment jig 124 has small holes 12 spaced apart horizontally from the bottom part 125a to a height H.
9a, 129b, and 129c are formed. This height H is determined from the base 33 of the optical system section 5 to the optical axis 51.
Matches the height.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view for explaining an adjustment operation for adjusting the optical axis 51 of the laser beam from the gas laser tube 39 of the optical system section 5 to the collimating lens 42 housed in the cylinder 61. In the first step, the first fitting hole 109 (see Fig. 5) is
The protrusion 127 of the adjustment jig 123 is fitted. The gas laser tube 39 is rotated around the axis of the gas laser tube 39, and the laser beam is directed to the first adjustment jig 1.
Adjust so that it passes through the elongated hole 128 of 23. This laser light may be shifted from the horizontal center of the elongated hole 128. In this way, the laser beam is parallel to the base 33 and has an optical axis 51a in a horizontal plane with a height H. In the second step, the first adjustment jig 123 is removed.

In the third step, the protrusion 1 of the second adjustment jig 124 is inserted into the second fitting hole 110 and the third fitting hole 111.
27 and remove the lens attachment member 58 to which the condensing lens 40 is attached. 2 laser beams
The position of the mirror 56 of the first reflecting mirror 52 is adjusted so that the light passes through the small holes 129b at the center of the second adjusting jigs 124a and 124b. For this purpose, the support member 54 is rotated around the vertical axis, and the mirror mounting member 55 is rotated around the horizontal axis. In this way, the laser beam is made parallel to the base 33 and has an optical axis 51b at a height H from the base 33.

In the fourth step, the lens attachment member 58 is attached to the base 33 so that the laser beam passes through the small hole 129b at the center of the second adjustment jig 124b on the downstream side along the optical axis 51.

In the fifth step, the two second adjustment jigs 1
24a and 124b are removed from the base 33. Furthermore, the second adjustment jig 124c is fitted into the fourth fitting hole 112 of the base 33, and the modulator stand 60 to which the modulator 41 is attached is removed from the base 33. In the sixth step, the laser beam is applied to the second adjustment jig 124c.
The second reflecting mirror 5 transmits light through the small hole 129c.
Similarly to the adjustment of the first reflecting mirror 52, the displacement of the mirror 7 is adjusted. As a result, the laser beam is parallel to the base 33, and the optical axis 51 is at a height H from the base 33.
c.

In the seventh step, the modulator stand 60 with the modulator 41 attached is attached to the base 33. When this modulator 41 is installed, when the laser light is not modulated by the modulator 41, the laser light is
When the laser beam passes through the small hole 129c of the adjustment jig 124c and is modulated by the modulator 41,
The position of the modulator 41 is adjusted so that the laser beam passes through the small hole 129b at the center of the second adjustment jig 124c. As a result, the laser beam entering the collimating lens 42 housed in the cylindrical body 61 and shown by the imaginary line has an optical axis 51d. In step 8, the second adjustment jig 124c
Remove from the base.

As mentioned above, steps 1 to 8
In this case, the laser beam generated by the gas laser tube 39 enters the collimating lens 42 with its optical axes 51a to 51d accurately adjusted. Each of the fitting holes 109 to 109 previously formed in the base 33 in this way
112, a first or second adjustment jig 123; 124;
a, 124b, and 124c in order, the optical axes 51a to 51d along which the laser beam should travel can be set.
are the elongated hole 128 of the first adjustment jig 123 and the second adjustment jig 123.
It is easily set by the small holes 129b and 129c of the adjustment jig 124. Therefore, the displacement of the first reflecting mirror 52, lens 40, second reflecting mirror 57, and modulator 41 may be adjusted and fixed so that the laser beam passes through the elongated hole 128 and the small hole 129b. Note that the second adjustment jig 124 has a small hole 1.
29a and 129c are provided symmetrically in the horizontal direction with the center small hole 129b as the center.
The adjustment jig 124 may be used after being inverted along the optical axis 51. The small holes 129a to 129c are
For example, it is formed with a diameter of 0.8 mm. As another embodiment of the present invention, the vertical plate portion 126 of the second adjustment jig 124b has three small holes 129a, 129b, 1
29c, the part that indicates the position to be irradiated with the light beam is the adjustment jig 124b.
A display may be formed on the side surface.

FIG. 17 is a sectional view for explaining the mounting structure of the cover body 7 that covers the upper part of the body 4 of the image recording apparatus 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing a state in which the cover body 7 is opened upward. A casing 32 in which the optical system part 5 is housed is mounted on the upper plate part 130 of the body 4 in which the recording part 3 is housed. Above the upper plate part 130 of the body 4, a casing 131 of the control part 6 adjacent to the casing 32 with a gap is fixedly provided to the cover body 7 via a top plate 132. These recording section 3, optical system section 5, and control section 6 are electrically connected by lines as described in connection with FIG. Therefore, when these lines are removed, each recording section 3 and optical system section 5
and the control unit 6 can be repaired and adjusted independently.

The body 4 and the cover body 7 are connected to each other by a gas spring 133 as a support member. One end 132a of the top plate 132 (left end in FIG. 17)
and the outer surface of the side wall 34 of the casing 32 are connected to each other by a hinge member 138. Near one end 132a of the top plate 132, a bearing member 134 is provided to protrude downward between the one side 7a of the cover body 7 and the casing 32. An insertion hole 135 is provided in the upper plate portion 130 of the fuselage 4 at a position to the right of FIG. 17 below the corresponding position of the bearing member 134.
is formed. A connecting portion 137 is provided in a protruding manner at one end (upper end in FIG. 17) of the cylinder 136 of the gas spring 133. This connecting portion 137 consists of a substantially L-shaped rod, and the tip portion 137 of the rod
a is rotatably supported by the bearing member 134. A piston rod 139 protruding from the cylinder of the gas spring 133 is inserted into the insertion hole 135.
inserted into. A bearing member 141 is provided in the side portion 140 of the body 4 near the insertion hole 135. The tip 139a of the piston rod 139 on the side away from the cylinder 136 is bent in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axis of the piston rod 139, and is rotatably supported by the bearing member 141. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 18, the cover body 7
When the right end of the cover body 7 in FIGS. 17 and 18 is pushed up in the direction indicated by 42, the hinge member 1
It is released by moving away from the fuselage 4 about the rotation center 38.

In the gas spring 133, a cylinder 136 is filled with a gas such as nitrogen and houses a piston to which a piston rod 139 is fixed, and a spring force is exerted by the gas pressure caused by the displacement of the piston. The cover body 7 is opened and closed slowly and smoothly.

The spring force of this gas spring 133 acts on the cover body 7 to lock the cover body 7 so that it will not be opened. For this purpose, a pin 144 is provided protruding inward from the side portion 140 of the body 4, and a locking member 145 that is engaged with the pin 144 is provided on the side portion 7b of the cover body 7 on the side away from the hinge member 138. In the locking member 145, a protrusion 146a formed at one end of the rod 146 is locked to the pin 144, and a support shaft 147 protruding from the side portion 7a is inserted into approximately the center of the rod 146. One end of a spring member 148 is connected to the other end of the spring member 148 on the side away from the protrusion 146a. The other end of this spring member 148 is
It is connected to the side portion 7b of the cover body 7. As a result, the pressing member 149 protrudes from the cover body 7 side between the other end of the locking member 145 and the support shaft 147.
is loosely fitted into a notch 150 formed in the side portion 7b of the cover body 7 by the spring force of the spring member 148. Therefore, the cover body 7 will not be opened by the spring force of the gas spring 133. When opening the cover body 7, move the pressing member 149 loosely fitted into the notch 150 by the arrow 1.
51 direction to push the locking member 145 onto the support shaft 14.
The protrusion 146a is separated from the pin 144 by rotating it 7 times counterclockwise. As a result, the cover body 7 is separated from the body 4 and opened.

With the cover body 7 open, the lid 152 of the upper plate portion 130 of the fuselage 4 is in an openable state.
Below the lid 152 is a reservoir that stores the developer in the case of a one-component developer from the magnetic brush developing device 17 of the recording section 3, and stores the toner 153 in the case of a two-component developer. A tank 154 is provided. The developer or toner 153 is extracted from this storage tank 154.
is transported by a transport member 155 to a supply tank 156 of the magnetic brush developing device 17 . The lid 152
An opening 157 is formed in the upper plate portion 130 of the body 4 between the storage tank 154 and the storage tank 154 .

Therefore, when the cover body 7 is opened, the lid 152
The developer or Nato 153 can be easily replenished by opening. Furthermore, by opening the cover body 7, the rotating drum 14 on which the photoreceptor 2 of the recording section 3 is formed can be easily replaced, and maintenance work such as regular repairs and adjustments can be carried out. can be done easily.

In the embodiments described above, a zoom lens is used as the expander lens 43, but in still other embodiments of the present invention, an expander lens having a fixed magnification may be used.

In the above embodiment, the photoreceptor 2 is formed on the rotating drum 14, but in other embodiments of the present invention, the photoreceptor may be formed directly on recording paper, or on an endless belt. A body may be formed.

Although the embodiments described above use laser light as the light beam, still other embodiments of the invention may be implemented using light beams of other wavelengths.

As described above, according to the present invention, the light beam can be adjusted by adjusting the displacement of the light beam generating means, the focusing lens, and the modulator so that the light beam is detected by the optical axis adjustment jig prepared in advance. The optical axis can be easily adjusted.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an image recording device 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a simplified vertical sectional view of the image recording device 1 shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is shown in FIG. 4 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the optical system section 5, FIG. 4 is a simplified perspective view with a part of the optical system section 5 shown in FIG. 3 removed, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the optical system section 5 shown in FIG. 3. top plate 3
8 is a plan view with part 8 removed; FIG. 6 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the casing 64 shown in FIGS. 3 to 5;
FIG. 7 is a simplified sectional view for explaining the mirrors 80 to 82 seen from the cutting plane line - in FIG. 5, FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 to 5, FIG. 10 is a block diagram schematically showing the control section 6 connected to the modulator 41 of the optical system section 5, and FIG. 11 12 is an enlarged plan view of the flange portion 63 of the cylindrical body 61 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5; FIG. 13 is a perspective view of FIG. 12, FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing the first adjustment jig 123 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing the second adjustment jig 124 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 16 is a perspective view for explaining the adjustment operation for adjusting the optical axis 51 of the laser beam, and FIG. 17 is an upper view of the body 4 of the image recording device 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing the cover body 7 shown in FIG. 17 in an upwardly opened state. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Image recording device, 2... Photoreceptor, 3... Recording section, 4... Body, 5... Optical system section, 6... Control section, 7... Cover body, 12... Opening, 14 ……
Rotating drum, 16... Charging corona discharger, 17
... Magnetic brush developing device, 18 ... Corona discharger for transfer, 19 ... Static eliminator, 20 ... Recording paper, 32
...Casing of optical system section 5, 33...Base, 3
4-37...Side wall, 38...Top plate, 39...Gas laser tube, 40...Condensing lens, 41...
...Modulator, 42...Collimating lens, 43...
Expander lens, 44...Rotating polygon mirror, 45
...Imaging lens, 51, 51a to 51d...Optical axis, 52, 57...Reflector, 59a, 59b...
Light shielding member, 61...Cylinder, 64...Rotating polygon mirror 4
4 casing, 78... sealing member, 80-82
... Mirror, 83 ... Exit hole, 98, 99 ... Partition plate, 101 ... Ventilation hole, 103 ... Cooling air intake port, 105 ... Suction fan, 109-112 ...
...Fitting hole, 120...Primary light of laser beam, 121
...0th order light of laser beam, 122 ...detector, 12
3...First adjustment jig, 124, 124a to 124
c...Second adjustment jig, 128...Long hole, 129a
~129c...Small hole, 131...Casing of control unit 6, 133...Gas spring, 154...
Storage tank, 157...Opening, H...Height from base 33 to optical axis.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An optical system section for projecting a light beam controlled in accordance with an image to be recorded; and an optical system section for receiving the light beam projected from the optical system section to produce an image corresponding to the light beam. The optical system includes a recording section for recording, and a control section for controlling the optical system section and the recording section, and the optical system section is supplied with an image signal corresponding to the image to be recorded from the light beam generating means and the control section. An optical axis adjustment method in an image recording device including a modulator for modulating a light beam received from a light beam generation means in accordance with an image signal, and a scanning means for scanning the light beam received from the modulator, An optical axis adjustment jig, in which at least two beam holes are formed at predetermined positions, is positioned at a predetermined position between the modulator and the scanning means, and the modulated light from the modulator passes through one of the beam holes. A method for adjusting an optical axis of an image recording apparatus, the method comprising: adjusting the position of the modulator so that unmodulated light from the modulator passes through the other beam hole.