Patent ID: 7705871

Claim:
An optical writing device comprising: an optical writing unit configured to emit a laser light beam toward at least one image carrier disposed above the optical writing unit so as to form an electrophotographic latent image on the at least one image carrier; an outer case configured to accommodate the optical writing unit, the outer case including at least one first opening through which the laser light beam passes; and at least one air supplying device configured to supply air into the outer case, wherein the optical writing unit includes: optical members configured to emit the laser light beam; an inner case provided inside the outer case and configured to accommodate the optical members, the inner case including at least one second opening through which the laser light beam emitted from the optical members towards the at least one first opening passes; and a dust-proof glass configured to close the at least one second opening, the dust-proof glass allowing the laser light beam to transmit through the dust-proof glass, and the outer case includes: at least one rise wall portion formed on a surface of the outer case that faces the at least one image carrier and extended toward the at least one image carrier, the at least one first opening being formed on the at least one rise wall portion, wherein the air supplied from the at least one air supplying device flows along the dust-proof glass provided to the at least one second opening and through an open space formed between a surface of the inner case and a surface of the outer case that face with each other and blows out of the outer case through the at least one first opening through which the laser light beam passes.