Patent attributes
An image scanning apparatus includes a beam splitter disposed between a deflection surface and surfaces to be scanned. The beam splitter is formed of reflective surfaces and transmissive surfaces. One transmissive surface is disposed between the reflective surfaces in the sub-scanning direction, and an optical path of light beams reaching surfaces to be scanned that are physically closer to the deflection surface than a surface to be scanned located at the position physically farthest from the deflection surface between the reflective surfaces intersects with an optical path of a light beam reaching the surface to be scanned located at a position physically farthest from the deflection surface between the deflection surface and the transmissive surface in a sub-scanning cross section in the beam splitter.
