Patent ID: 8928722
Filing Date: 2015-01-06
Classification: B41J,G02B,G03G

Abstract:
1. An optical scanning device comprising: a housing having a bottom wall and a wall part that rises from the bottom wall and an arrangement space defined by a first inner wall surface in a part of the wall part; a laser light source outputting a laser light; a polygon mirror arranged on the bottom wall in the arrangement space and deflecting the laser light to scan a predetermined object with the laser light while rotating; an elongated optical element fixed to the bottom wall so as to extend in a predetermined direction in the housing and guiding the laser light deflected by the polygon mirror to the predetermined object; a polygon motor rotating the polygon mirror; a control board fixed on the bottom wall below the polygon mirror and configured to control the polygon motor; and a flow-control member arranged in the arrangement space and guiding an airflow generated by a rotation of the polygon mirror to an outside of the arrangement space to circulate the airflow within the housing, wherein the flow-control member includes: a main body part that is arranged between the polygon mirror and the first inner wall surface so as to surround the polygon mirror along a rotational direction of the polygon mirror; and a groove part formed on the main body part and capable of guiding the airflow, the groove part extending in a direction that allows the airflow to be guided to the outside of the arrangement space, the housing includes a cover member that is attached to an upper edge of the wall part and covers the arrangement space from above, and the main body part of the flow-control member is integrated with the cover member, the first inner wall surface is formed in an approximately U-shape as seen from above, the optical element partitions the housing into the arrangement space and an opposing space facing the arrangement space, the arrangement space being defined between the optical element and the first inner wall surface, a first gap is defined between both longitudinal ends of the optical element and the wall part, a second gap defined above the optical element and providing communication between the opposing space and the arrangement space and between the optical element and the cover member, the groove part of the flow control member is configured so that airflow is guided to the opposing space through the second gap and returns into the arrangement space through the first gap so that the airflow is circulated between the arrangement space and the opposing space.