Patent ID: 7230638
Filing Date: 2007-06-12
Classification: G03G

Abstract:
1. An image forming apparatus comprising: a first laser scanner unit for emitting a first laser beam and a second laser beam, which has a first laser source for generating the first laser beam, a second laser source for generating the second laser beam, and a first rotary mirror for deflecting the first laser beam and the second laser beam generated from the first laser source and the second laser source; a second laser scanner unit for emitting a third laser beam and a fourth laser beam, which has a third laser source for generating the third laser beam, a fourth laser source for generating the fourth laser beam, and a second rotary mirror for deflecting the third laser beam and the fourth laser beam generated from the third laser source and the fourth laser source; a first photosensitive member irradiated with the first laser beam; a second photosensitive member irradiated with the second laser beam; a third photosensitive member irradiated with the third laser beam; and a fourth photosensitive member irradiated with the fourth laser beam, characterized in that: an optical path configuration for the third laser beam from the third laser source to the third photosensitive member is substantially the same as an optical path configuration for the first laser beam from the first laser source to the first photosensitive member; an optical path configuration for the fourth laser beam from the fourth laser source to the fourth photosensitive member is substantially the same as an optical path configuration for the second laser beam from the second laser source to the second photosensitive member; and a second virtual line connecting a rotation center of the third photosensitive member and a rotation center of the fourth photosensitive member is inclined with respect to a first virtual line connecting a rotation center of the first photosensitive member and a rotation center of the second photosensitive member, and an angle made by a rotation axis of the second rotary mirror and the second virtual line being the same as an angle made by a rotation axis of the first rotary mirror and the first virtual line.