Image recording apparatus
View Patent ↗A laser beam emitted from each semiconductor laser 27 is guided by a step index type multi-mode optical fiber, a graded index type multi-mode optical fiber deformable and movable with movement of a recording head, and a step index type multi-mode optical fiber, to be emitted from a light emitter toward an imaging optical system.
1. In an image recording apparatus for guiding light emitted from light source fixed to a main apparatus body, through optical fiber, to a recording head movable relative to a recording material, said optical fiber comprising:
a multi-mode optical fiber connected to said light sources;
a graded index type multi-mode optical fiber having one end fixed immovable and connected to one of said multi-mode optical fiber, and deformable and movable with movement of said recording head; and
a step index type multi-mode optical fiber forming a light emitter at one end thereof for emitting light toward said recording material, and having the other end connected to said graded index type multi-mode optical fiber, each end of said step index type multi-mode optical fiber being fixed to a support plate of said recording head, wherein
said recording material is mounted on a rotatable recording drum and said recording head is movable parallel to the rotary axis of said recording drum.
2. An image recording apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein said optical fiber connected to said light source is a step index type multi-mode optical fiber.
3. An image recording apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein said graded index type multi-mode optical fiber and said step index type multi-mode optical fiber forming a light emitter at one end thereof, are connected to each other at an optical fiber connecting unit disposed on said recording head.
4. An image recording apparatus as defined in claim 3 , wherein:
said recording material is mounted on an inner peripheral surface in form of a hollow half cylinder of a cylindrical inner surface drum; and
said recording head is movable parallel to an axis of said cylindrical inner surface drum, and has a deflector for causing light beams emitted from said step index type multi-mode optical fiber to scan said cylindrical inner surface drum circumferentially.
5. An image recording apparatus as defined in claim 1 , wherein the graded index type multi-mode optical fiber comprises a plurality of optical fibers.