Optical scanner and image forming apparatus including a light shielding device disposed between light beams that fall on the deflecting unit and light beams that are deflected from the deflecting unit

摘要

An optical scanner includes more than two light sources, a rotatable deflecting unit that commonly deflects the light beams emitted by the light sources. An optical unit guides a corresponding one of deflected light beams to a corresponding surface to be scanned. The optical system units are disposed symmetrically around a center of rotation of the deflecting unit. A housing unit that houses the light source units, the deflecting unit, and the optical system units. A light shielding unit disposed in the housing unit so as to prevent the reflection and scattering of the deflected light beams by the optical system units, the light shielding unit being disposed between light beams that fall on the deflecting unit and light beams that are deflected from the deflecting unit.