Patent ID: 8368982

Claim:
A scanning optical apparatus comprising: a first light source configured to emit a first laser beam; a second light source configured to emit a second laser beam; a deflection unit including a plurality of reflecting surfaces and configured to be rotationally driven around a rotation axis, wherein the first laser beam and the second laser beam are incident on a same reflecting surface of the deflection unit, and the deflection unit deflects the first laser beam and the second laser beam so that a first photosensitive member is scanned with the first laser beam and a second photosensitive member is scanned with the second laser beam; a first reflecting mirror configured to reflect the first laser beam deflected by the deflection unit towards the first photosensitive member; a second reflecting mirror configured to reflect the second laser beam deflected by the deflection unit towards the second photosensitive member; an optical box in which the deflection unit, the first reflecting minor and the second reflecting minor are provided, the optical box including a first side wall, a second side wall, and a third side wall that connects the first side wall and the second side wall, the first reflecting mirror being provided closer to the third side wall than the second reflecting mirror, the first reflecting minor and the second reflecting minor being provided at adjustable angles in the optical box; a reinforcing member configured to connect the first side wall and the second side wall and disposed between the first reflecting mirror and the second reflecting minor, as viewed from a direction parallel to the rotation axis of the deflection unit; and a cover attached to the optical box while the reinforcing member connects the first side wall and the second side wall and configured to close the optical box, the first laser beam reflected by the first reflecting minor passing through a first region of the cover and the second laser beam reflected by the second reflecting mirror passing through a second region of the cover.