Patent ID: 8743167

Claim:
An optical scanner, comprising: a light source to project light; a light deflector disposed on an optical path of the light projected from the light source to deflect and scan the light; an optical element to focus the light deflected by the light deflector onto a scanning surface; and a holder to hold the optical element, the holder comprising: a curve adjustment mechanism to adjust a shape of the optical element in a sub-scanning direction relative to the scanning surface and perpendicular to a main scanning direction; a first pressing member disposed at a first side from which the first pressing member presses the optical element in the sub-scanning direction; a second pressing member disposed at a second side opposite the first side, to press the optical element from the second side; and a retainer to fix substantially a center of the optical element in a main scanning direction of the light striking the optical element at the first side, the retainer including a first surface and a second surface, the first surface facing the optical element and the second surface facing the holder such that the first and second surface face each other and the optical element and the holder are interposed between the first surface and the second surface, the first surface having a width in the scanning direction that is shorter than a width in the scanning direction of the second surface and a portion of the second surface that faces the first surface having a notch therein, wherein the retainer includes a projection disposed substantially at the center of the first surface in the scanning direction, the projection configured to press against the optical element.