Polygon mirror for use with laser beam scanning apparatus including means for handling and storing the mirror

摘要

A rotatable mirror having a body with a regular polygon cross section, the faces of the polygon being mirror facets for scanning a laser beam, in combination with a container for storing the mirror. The container cooperates with elements of the mirror for preventing axial or lateral movement of the mirror in the container. Structure on the top surface of the body of the mirror both provides for handling the mirror without touching the facets and interacts with the cover of the container for securing the mirror when therein. A circular groove in the upper surface of the body of the mirror may receive a balance weight for compensating for any eccentricity between the centroid of the mirror and its axis of rotation.