US5293266A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical beam scanning apparatus
Assignee: Minolta Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1992-12-15
•
Granted: 1994-03-08
•
Expires: 2012-12-15
Abstract
Abstract An optical beam scanning apparatus wherein a resin polygonal scanner deflects a light beam radiated from a laser diode as the polygonal scanner is rotating. The polygonal scanner is pressed by a pressing member against a scanner rest which rotates together with a rotary shaft of a motor and thus fixed on the scanner rest. The pressing member has a plurality of tabs, and the polygonal scanner is pressed evenly when the tabs pierce the polygonal scanner.
Inventors
- 👤 Jun Kohsaka
- 👤 Hiromu Nakamura
- 👤 Masanori Yamamoto
- 👤 Shinya Sakanashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 02:28
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/08; G02B26/10; G02B26/12; G02B26/121
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
110 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus comprising: a polygonal scanner which is made of resin and has a plurality of reflective facets on its periphery; a motor which has a rotary shaft for rotating the polygonal scanner; a scanner rest for supporting the polygonal scanner thereon, the scanner rest being rotatable together with the rotary shaft of the motor; and a pressing member which presses the polygonal scanner against the scanner rest to fasten the polygonal scanner to the rotary shaft of the motor, the pressing member pressing the polygonal scanner at such points that forces caused by the pressure and applied to all the reflective facets will be substantially even.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
110 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus comprising: a polygonal scanner which is made of resin and has a plurality of reflective facets on its periphery; a motor which has a rotary shaft for rotating the polygonal scanner; a scanner rest for supporting the polygonal scanner thereon, the scanner rest being rotatable together with the rotary shaft of the motor; and a pressing member which presses the polygonal scanner against the scanner rest to fasten the polygonal scanner to the rotary shaft of the motor, the pressing member pressing the polygonal scanner at such points that forces caused by the pressure and applied to all the reflective facets will be substantially even.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polygonal scanner has four reflective facets, and the pressing member presses the polygonal scanner at two points.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the two points where the pressing member presses the polygonal scanner are on a diagonal line drawn between two corners of the polygonal scanner and symmetrical with respect to an axis of rotation of the polygonal scanner.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polygonal scanner has four reflective facets, and the pressing member presses the polygonal scanner at four points.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the four points where the pressing member presses the polygonal scanner are distributed such that each point corresponds to each reflective facet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polygonal scanner has six reflective facets, and the pressing member presses the polygonal scanner at three points.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
55 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the three points where the pressing member presses the polygonal scanner are on lines drawn between an axis of rotation of the polygonal scanner and every other corner of the polygonal scanner respectively and are at a same distance from the axis of rotation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polygonal scanner has six reflective facets, and the pressing member presses the polygonal scanner at six points.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the six points where the pressing member presses the polygonal scanner are distributed such that each point correspond to each reflective facet.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polygonal scanner has eight reflective facets, and the pressing member presses the polygonal scanner at four points.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein the four points where the pressing member presses the polygonal scanner are on lines drawn between an axis of rotation of the polygonal scanner and every other corner of the polygonal scanner respectively and are at a same distance from the axis of rotation.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polygonal scanner has eight reflective facets, and the pressing member presses the polygonal scanner at eight points.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the eight points where the pressing member presses the polygonal scanner are distributed such that each point corresponds to each reflective facet.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
29 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polygonal scanner has ten reflective facets, and the pressing member presses the polygonal scanner at five points.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the five points where the pressing member presses the polygonal scanner are on lines drawn between an axis of rotation of the polygonal scanner and every other corner of the polygonal scanner respectively and are at a same distance from the axis of rotation.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polygonal scanner has ten reflective facets, and the pressing member presses the polygonal scanner at ten points.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein the ten points where the pressing member presses the polygonal scanner are distributed such that each point corresponds to each reflective facet.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polygonal scanner has twelve reflective facets, and the pressing member presses the polygonal scanner at six points.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
55 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the six points where the pressing member presses the polygonal scanner are on lines drawn between an axis of rotation of the polygonal scanner and every other corner of the polygonal scanner respectively and are at a same distance from the axis of rotation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the polygonal scanner has twelve reflective facets, and the pressing member presses the polygonal scanner at twelve points.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the twelve points where the pressing member presses the polygonal scanner are distributed such that each point corresponds to each reflective facet.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressing member is made of a hard material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressing member is fastened to the rotary shaft by a screw.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pressing member has a plurality of tabs, and the pressing member presses the polygonal scanner when the tabs pierce the polygonal scanner.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
100 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus comprising: a polygonal scanner which is made of resin and has a plurality of reflective facets in its periphery; a motor which has a rotary shaft for rotating the polygonal scanner; a scanner rest for supporting the polygonal scanner thereon, the scanner rest being rotatable together with the rotary shaft of the motor; and a pressing member which presses the polygonal scanner against the scanner rest to fasten the polygonal scanner to the rotary shaft of the motor, the pressing member pressing the polygonal scanner at points within an area supported by the scanner rest.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
100 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus comprising: a polygonal scanner which is made of resin and has a plurality of reflective facets in its periphery; a motor which has a rotary shaft for rotating the polygonal scanner; a scanner rest for supporting the polygonal scanner thereon, the scanner rest being rotatable together with the rotary shaft of the motor; and a pressing member which presses the polygonal scanner against the scanner rest to fasten the polygonal scanner to the rotary shaft of the motor, the pressing member pressing the polygonal scanner at points within an area supported by the scanner rest.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
61 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the polygonal scanner is in contact with the scanner rest entirely within a first distance from an axis of rotation of the polygonal scanner, and the points where the pressing member presses the polygonal scanner are at a second distance smaller than the first distance from the axis of rotation.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the pressing member is made of a hard material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the pressing member is fastened to the rotary shaft by a screw.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
34 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein the pressing member has a plurality of tabs, and the pressing member presses the polygonal scanner when the tabs pierce the polygonal scanner.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
132 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus comprising: a polygonal scanner which is made of resin and has a plurality of reflective facets in its periphery; a motor which has a rotary shaft for rotating the polygonal scanner; a scanner rest for supporting the polygonal scanner thereon, the scanner rest being rotatable together with the rotary shaft of the motor; and a pressing member which presses the polygonal scanner against the scanner rest to fasten the polygonal scanner to the rotary shaft of the motor, the pressing member pressing the polygonal scanner at points each of which is on an upper surface of the polygonal scanner out of an area enclosed by lines from an axis of rotation of the polygonal scanner and both ends of an effective reflective area of each reflective facet.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
132 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus comprising: a polygonal scanner which is made of resin and has a plurality of reflective facets in its periphery; a motor which has a rotary shaft for rotating the polygonal scanner; a scanner rest for supporting the polygonal scanner thereon, the scanner rest being rotatable together with the rotary shaft of the motor; and a pressing member which presses the polygonal scanner against the scanner rest to fasten the polygonal scanner to the rotary shaft of the motor, the pressing member pressing the polygonal scanner at points each of which is on an upper surface of the polygonal scanner out of an area enclosed by lines from an axis of rotation of the polygonal scanner and both ends of an effective reflective area of each reflective facet.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein the pressing member is made of a hard material.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein the pressing member is fastened to the rotary shaft by a screw.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
34 words
An optical beam scanning apparatus as claimed in claim 30, wherein the pressing member has a plurality of tabs, and the pressing member presses the polygonal scanner when the tabs pierce the polygonal scanner.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-03-07 | 1997-09-06 | 1998-03-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-03-07 | 2001-09-06 | 2002-03-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-03-07 | 2005-09-06 | 2006-03-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |