A laser imaging system and method for printing includes a digital micromirror device and a switchable mirror element that acts as a clear lens element during the printing by the laser imaging system. A laser diode array provides a laser to the switchable mirror element in a laser path, wherein the switchable mirror element is located in the laser path between the laser diode array and the digital micromirror device to divert energy out of the system and away from the digital micromirror device during periods of non-laser imaging without reducing or powering down the laser system.

A laser imaging system and method for printing includes a digital micromirror device and a switchable mirror element that acts as a clear lens element during the printing by the laser imaging system. A laser diode array provides a laser to the switchable mirror element in a laser path, wherein the switchable mirror element is located in the laser path between the laser diode array and the digital micromirror device to divert energy out of the system and away from the digital micromirror device during periods of non-laser imaging without reducing or powering down the laser system.

An exposure head includes a light emitting board group, a first lens array, and a second lens array. The light emitting board group disposes a plurality of light emitting boards each including a plurality of light emitting elements disposed side by side in a second direction intersecting with the first direction. The plurality of light emitting boards are disposed along the second direction and alternately in the first direction. The light emitting board group includes a first light emitting board group and a second light emitting board group. The first lens array condenses light emitted from the plurality of light emitting elements disposed on the first light emitting board group onto the surface of the image bearing member. The second lens array condenses light emitted from the plurality of light emitting elements disposed on the second light emitting board group onto the surface of the image bearing member.

An exposure head includes a light emitting board group, a first lens array, and a second lens array. The light emitting board group disposes a plurality of light emitting boards each including a plurality of light emitting elements disposed side by side in a second direction intersecting with the first direction. The plurality of light emitting boards are disposed along the second direction and alternately in the first direction. The light emitting board group includes a first light emitting board group and a second light emitting board group. The first lens array condenses light emitted from the plurality of light emitting elements disposed on the first light emitting board group onto the surface of the image bearing member. The second lens array condenses light emitted from the plurality of light emitting elements disposed on the second light emitting board group onto the surface of the image bearing member.

The invention describes a laser printing system (100) for illuminating an object (70) in a working plane (80). The object (70) moves relative to a print head (50) of the laser printing system (100). The print head (50) comprises a total number of laser modules (150), each laser module (150) comprises at least one laser array (110) of lasers (115). At least two of the laser modules (150) share an electrical power supply (20). The laser printing system (100) further comprises a controller (10) being adapted such that at maximum processing speed of the print head (50) only a predefined number of laser modules (150) can be driven at nominal electrical power, wherein the predefined number of laser modules (150) is smaller than the total number of laser modules. The invention further relates to a corresponding method of laser printing. The laser printing system and the method allow designing the laser printing system for, for example, only 20% of the total power which would be required to drive all lasers at nominal electrical power while having only slightly reduced processing speed.

An image forming apparatus includes: a photoconductor; a charging portion that charges a surface of the photoconductor; an exposure portion including a substrate including a plurality of light emitting portions for exposing the photoconductor; a developing portion that develops a latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor with toner; a fan that generates an airflow for cooling the exposure portion; and a duct that communicates with the fan and communicates with the support portion, the duct guiding the airflow generated by the fan to the substrate; in which a part of the duct is formed by a charging support portion that supports the charging portion, a developing support portion that supports the development, and a duct portion, and a space between the duct portion and the charging support portion and a space between the duct portion and the developing support portion are sealed by a sealing member.

An image forming apparatus includes: a rotatable photoconductor; an exposure portion including a substrate on which a plurality of chips each including a plurality of light emitting portions that emit light for exposing the photoconductor is mounted, and a support portion configured to support the substrate; a fan configured to generate an airflow for cooling the exposure portion; and a duct configured to communicate with the fan and to communicate with the support portion to guide the airflow generated by the fan to the substrate.

An exposure unit includes first and second exposure heads. The first exposure head includes: first light emitting devices each emitting a first light beam; a first optical system performing imaging of each of the first light beams; a first coupler; and a first base member. The first coupler is provided at a first position, in the first base member, based on a position at which the imaging performed by the first optical system is performed. The second exposure head includes: second light emitting devices each emitting a second light beam; a second optical system performing imaging of each of the second light beams; a second coupler; and a second base member. The second coupler is provided at a second position, in the second base member, based on a position at which the imaging performed by the second optical system is performed and is fit into the first coupler.

An exposure unit includes first and second exposure heads. The first exposure head includes: first light emitting devices each emitting a first light beam; a first optical system performing imaging of each of the first light beams; a first coupler; and a first base member. The first coupler is provided at a first position, in the first base member, based on a position at which the imaging performed by the first optical system is performed. The second exposure head includes: second light emitting devices each emitting a second light beam; a second optical system performing imaging of each of the second light beams; a second coupler; and a second base member. The second coupler is provided at a second position, in the second base member, based on a position at which the imaging performed by the second optical system is performed and is fit into the first coupler.

A switchable mirror system and method includes a laser imaging module including one or more lasers and one or more DMDs (Digital Micromirror Devices), and a switchable mirror component located in a path upstream from the DMD (or DMDs) to direct a laser from the DMD when there is pause in a printing operation facilitated by said laser imaging module. A non-mechanical and electronic switchable mirror is thus located in the laser path between an LDA (Laser Diode Array) and a DMD to divert energy out of the system and away from the DMD during periods of non-laser imaging without reducing or power down the laser system.