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Multi-beam scanning device and image forming system and method using the same

  • US 6,198,562 B1
  • Filed: 12/03/1999
  • Issued: 03/06/2001
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1999
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A multi-beam scanning device comprising:

  • a plurality of light sources which emit multiple beams, the plurality of light sources including a first light source which emits a first beam, and a second light source which emits a second beam;

    a plurality of coupling lenses which couple the multiple beams from the light sources, the plurality of coupling lenses including a first coupling lens which couples the first beam, and a second coupling lens which couples the second beam;

    a converging lens device which converts the coupled beams from the coupling lenses into converging beams, the converging beams being elongated in a direction corresponding to a main scanning direction and converging only in a direction corresponding to a sub-scanning direction that is substantially perpendicular to the main scanning direction, the converging beams which correspond to the first and second beams forming a difference angle that is largest among difference angles formed by all of the converging beams;

    a rotary deflector having a reflection surface which is rotated about a fixed rotation axis, the reflection surface deflecting the converging beams from the converging lens device while the reflection surface is rotated; and

    a scanning lens device which scans an image surface in the main scanning direction at a substantially uniform velocity by focusing each of the deflected beams from the rotary deflector into a beam spot on the image surface, wherein said multi-beam scanning device is configured to satisfy the conditions;

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