CN2887803Y - Paper sheet feed case and image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

An image recording apparatus including: a sheet-supply cassette which accommodates a stack of recording sheets and which is insertable into and removable from a main body of the apparatus; an end wall which is disposed at a downstream end of the cassette in a sheet-supply direction in which the sheets are supplied, so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the sheet-supply direction and which has a height larger than that of a maximum number of the sheets that can be accommodated in the cassette; an image recording unit disposed in the main body for recording an image on the sheets; an arm disposed in the main body and pivotable about a shaft which extends in the direction perpendicular to the sheet-supply direction; a sheet-feed roller which is disposed at a free end of the arm and which is, in a state in which the cassette is inserted into the main body, in contact with an uppermost one of the sheets accommodated in the cassette and which feeds the uppermost one of the sheets toward the image recording unit; and a link mechanism which is disposed in the main body for raising and lowering the roller and the arm and which cooperates with the end wall to retract the roller and the arm above the cassette when the cassette is inserted into and removed from the main body.

Description

A kind of sheet feed cassette and image recorder

The application is based on the Japanese patent application No.2004-376506 of Japanese patent application No.2004-268861 that submitted on September 15th, 2004 and submission on December 27th, 2004, and the content of these patent applications here is cited as a reference.

Technical field

The utility model that can require to protect relates generally to the improvement structure of image recorder.

Background technology

, be provided with and be used for when being inserted into sheet feed cassette in the equipment or therefrom removing, preventing the structure that paper feed roller and sheet feed cassette are interfered for example in chopping machine, duplicator, the facsimile apparatus etc. at image recorder.For example, patent documentation 1 (JP-A-2002-249242, especially Fig. 3-8) and disclosed an embodiment of this structure with the cooresponding patent documentation 2 of JP-A-2002-321838 (U.S. Patent No. 6,651,974).That is to say, on the upper surface of the side plate of sheet feed cassette, form guiding surface respectively, these side plates are positioned at the relative outside, end of Width that is layered in the folded recording medium (for example cutting recording paper) of one on the sheet feed cassette, and extend along the paper supply direction that feeding recordable paper is opened.When sheet feed cassette being inserted in this equipment or therefrom removing, but the pivot member (arm) that is supporting described one or more paper feed rollers pivotly is in its lower surface place and the guiding surface moving contact that forms as mentioned above, but pivot member and paper feed roller bounce back above sheet feed cassette thus.

Simultaneously, also general known a kind of image recorder, this image recorder comprises: the paper-supply section that recording paper is provided; The image recording unit of document image on the recording paper of supplying out from paper-supply section; With row's paper part, this row's paper part will be discharged from the recording paper that image recording unit is supplied with, and make the user obtain to have recorded on it record images paper.

For example, patent documentation 3 (JP-A-6-9066, especially Fig. 1) disclosed following technology: in order to make the sheet feed stacker that is arranged in the paper-supply section can hold recording paper with the length dimension that differs from one another, bracket panel is pivotally mounted to sheet feed stacker on the upstream extremity seen of paper supply direction of supply recording paper, the paper put area that is used for that recording paper is placed on it of sheet feed stacker is stretched arrange.In disclosed layout, being formed with the groove near the upstream end portion that sheet feed stacker is seen along the paper supply direction is the holding portion of form, is used for when bracket panel does not use this bracket panel being contained in this holding portion.Therefore, make the total compact dimensions.

In addition, patent documentation 4 (JP-A-10-167547, especially Fig. 1) disclosed following technology: bracket panel is pivotally mounted on row's paper disc in the row's of being arranged on paper part, and the paper put area that is used for recording paper is placed on it of the row of making paper disc stretches layout thus.According to this technology, under the situation that long recording paper is discharged on row's paper direction, bracket panel is arranged in its extended position, can very stably support the recording paper of discharging by row's paper disc and bracket panel thus.This patent documentation 4 has also disclosed a kind of structure, promptly arranges paper and partly is arranged on paper-supply section top, and be provided with and have the paper supply passage that U-shaped roughly turns to shape, is used for from paper-supply section recording paper being carried the sheet feeding/discharge part.

But as for the technology that paper feed roller and pivot member are bounced back above sheet feed cassette, observe following problem: as at above-mentioned patent documentation 1 with the same disclosed in 2, but be arranged on above the side plate of sheet feed cassette at pivot member and paper feed roller is arranged under the situation of the roughly pars intermedia office of the Width of recording paper, but the size of pivot member on the direction vertical with the direction of the supply of supplying with recording paper increase inevitably.Therefore, the width dimensions of sheet feed cassette is undesirablely greater than the greatest width dimension that can be contained in the recording paper in the sheet feed cassette.In addition, but pivot member is arranged on the side plate top of sheet feed cassette.Therefore, to trend towards size big and have a relatively large height dimension for this equipment.And, must on every block of side plate of sheet feed cassette, accurately design and form suitable cam face, but so that make that pivot member can be according to the distance of sheet feed cassette motion process in the equipment of being inserted into and when therefrom removing and motion up and down pivotly.Therefore, the manufacturing of this sheet feed cassette trouble that becomes inevitably.

Simultaneously, in the image recorder above the row's of being constructed such that paper disclosed in the above-mentioned patent documentation 4 partly is arranged on paper-supply section, recently attempted to reduce the especially thickness of image recorder of size.For this reason, attempt by simplifying employed parts or allowing parts to have the structure that a plurality of functions are simplified sheet feed stacker and row's paper disc, so that satisfy the overall dimensions of reduction equipment or the requirement that therefore thickness also reduce its manufacturing cost.

As for the technology that the paper put area is extended, observe following problem.In the layout disclosed in the above-mentioned patent documentation 3, it is the holding portion that is used to hold bracket panel of form that sheet feed stacker is formed with the groove.Therefore, under the situation that the recessed surface of holding portion exposes when bracket panel is arranged in the extendible portion, a phenomenon can occur, promptly the recording paper in the row's of being contained in paper disc is subjected to bending, thereby recording paper partly falls to downwards on the recessed surface of holding portion.If recording paper deflection or keep deflection, then can produce following paper and supply with fault: plurality of sheets of paper Zhang Keneng is once supplied and is not separated from each other by paper feed, and perhaps these paper may fold during supplying with along the paper supply passage or blocked.And, under the situation in the image recording unit that ink jet recording head is used in this equipment, the deflection of paper may cause place, the part of paper surface header record appears and the surface of the paper that will write down between the difference of distance, thereby reduced recording quality undesirablely.

Summary of the invention

In order to solve the problem that occurs in the prior art, a purpose of the present utility model is: a kind of image recorder and a kind of sheet feed stacker are provided, this sheet feed stacker guarantees that this equipment integral size reduces, and avoids the supply fault of recording medium in the structure of simplifying sheet feed stacker and row's paper disc.

The utility model provides a kind of sheet feed cassette, and this sheet feed cassette is used for image recorder, and can hold one and fold and will it is characterized in that this sheet feed cassette comprises: base plate along the recording paper of paper supply direction supply; Row's paper disc, this row paper disc is provided with according to the mode that covering partly is placed on the upstream portion at least that the recording paper on the base plate sees along the paper supply direction; First holding portion, this first holding portion are positioned near the upstream end portion that base plate sees along the paper supply direction, have the concave shape of upwards opening; Auxiliary row's paper disc, this auxiliary row's paper disc can selectively be arranged on between the upper/lower positions: the dish accommodated position is contained in first holding portion at the auxiliary row of this Pan Rongnaweizhichu paper disc; And the dish extended position, be provided with fartherly at the auxiliary row of this dish extended position paper disc along the upstream end portion of row's paper direction ratio base plate, it is opposite with the paper supply direction wherein to arrange the paper direction; And at least one projection, described at least one projection is arranged on first holding portion and/or near it.

The utility model also provides a kind of image recorder, comprising: paper-supply section, this paper-supply section are located at the upstream end of the paper supply direction of the paper supply passage that is substantially the U-shaped shape; Image recording section, this image recording section is at the downstream part of the paper supply direction of paper supply passage; With row's paper part, this row paper partly is arranged on above the paper-supply section, and at the downstream part of row's paper direction of image recording section, and row's paper direction is opposite with the paper supply direction, it is characterized in that this image recorder comprises: sheet feed stacker, this sheet feed stacker is arranged in the paper-supply section; Row's paper disc, this row paper disc is arranged on the sheet feed stacker according to the mode that covering partly is contained in the upstream portion at least that the folded recording paper in the sheet feed stacker sees along the paper supply direction; First holding portion, this first holding portion are arranged near the upstream end portion that sheet feed stacker sees along the paper supply direction, have the concave shape of upwards opening; Auxiliary row's paper disc, this auxiliary row's paper disc can selectively be arranged on between the upper/lower positions: the dish accommodated position is contained in first holding portion at the auxiliary row of this Pan Rongnaweizhichu paper disc; And the dish extended position, be provided with fartherly at the auxiliary row of this dish extended position paper disc along the upstream end portion of arranging paper direction ratio sheet feed stacker; And at least one projection, described at least one projection is arranged on first holding portion and/or near it.

Technique effect of the present utility model is, in the sheet feed cassette and image recorder that constitute as mentioned above, be installed on the sheet feed stacker that is positioned at below row's paper disc as the auxiliary row's paper disc that replenishes of row's paper disc, and the gap between row's paper disc and the sheet feed stacker is by effectively with act on the space that allows auxiliary row's paper disc to move between dish accommodated position and dish extended position.Therefore, the auxiliary row's paper disc that is used for very stably supporting recording paper with row's paper disc cooperation can be arranged to can not hinder reducing of entire equipment thickness.

Because auxiliary row's paper disc is arranged to and can moves,, provide recording paper so that prevent that auxiliary row's paper disc from disturbing to sheet feed stacker so it can be arranged on Pan Rongnaweizhichu when not using between dish extended position and dish accommodated position.

First holding portion that is formed on sheet feed stacker according to the mode with the concave shape that is used for holding auxiliary row's paper disc is provided with at least one projection that is used for preventing the downward deflection of recording paper.Therefore, this layout prevents that recording paper from keeping deflection, thereby for example can avoid paper supply fault and recording quality variation.

Description of drawings

Consider to read following the utility model detailed description of preferred embodiments in conjunction with the drawings and will understand top and other purpose, feature, advantage and technology and the industrial significance that can require the utility model protected better, in these accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a transparent view, demonstrates the image recorder that is equipped with the ink jet print head of having used the utility model principle on it;

Fig. 2 is the side-looking sectional elevation drawing, demonstrates the equipment of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 has removed the planar view in the state of image read-out therein for the equipment of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is the transparent view of sheet feed cassette;

Fig. 5 is the planar view of sheet feed cassette;

Fig. 6 A and 6B are the transparent view of sheet feed cassette, wherein Fig. 6 A demonstrates that auxiliary supports wherein extends and auxiliary row's paper disc is in the state of dish extended position, and Fig. 6 B demonstrates that auxiliary supports wherein extends and auxiliary row's paper disc is in the state of Pan Rongnaweizhichu;

The cutaway view of Fig. 7 A for cutting open along the 7A-7A line of Fig. 6 A, and Fig. 7 B is the side-looking sectional elevation drawing demonstrates and is in that auxiliary supports wherein not have to extend and auxiliary row's paper disc is in sheet feed cassette in the state of Pan Rongnaweizhichu;

The cutaway view of Fig. 8 A for cutting open along the 8A-8A line of Fig. 6 A, and Fig. 8 B in the situation that first and second projectioies are not set therein with the cooresponding side-looking sectional elevation drawing of Fig. 8 A;

Fig. 9 is a transparent view, demonstrates a kind of improved sheet feed cassette;

Figure 10 is the planar view that is arranged on this sheet feed cassette below the main frame;

Figure 11 is the transparent view of this sheet feed cassette, has partly removed main frame in this transparent view and has demonstrated connecting rod mechanism;

The cutaway view of Figure 12 for cutting open along the 12-12 line of Figure 10;

Figure 13 is a transparent view, demonstrates main frame and has the paper supply passage that U-shaped turns to shape;

Figure 14 is a transparent view, demonstrates connecting rod mechanism and paper feed roller, has wherein removed main frame partly;

Figure 15 A is an amplification side elevation view, demonstrates connecting rod mechanism and paper feed roller, and the cutaway view of Figure 15 B for cutting open along the 15B-15B line of Figure 15 A;

Figure 16 is a decomposition enlarged perspective, demonstrates the part of connecting rod mechanism, is fixed on the main frame at this part place connecting rod mechanism;

Figure 17 A-17G is used for by being accompanied by the view that connecting rod mechanism that sheet feed cassette moves illustrates the retraction structure of paper feed roller;

Figure 18 A-18G is used for by being accompanied by the view that first connecting rod mechanism that improves embodiment that sheet feed cassette moves illustrates the retraction structure of paper feed roller;

Figure 19 A-19G is used for by being accompanied by the view that second connecting rod mechanism that improves embodiment that sheet feed cassette moves illustrates the retraction structure of paper feed roller;

Figure 20 A-20G is used for by being accompanied by the view that the 3rd connecting rod mechanism that improves embodiment that sheet feed cassette moves illustrates the retraction structure of paper feed roller;

Figure 21 is a side elevation view, is used to illustrate be used for preventing the layout of paper P towards the supply fault of sheet feed cassette loopback; And

Figure 22 A and 22B are side elevation view, are used to illustrate be used for preventing paper P other layout towards the supply fault of sheet feed cassette loopback.

The specific embodiment

Can require the image recorder of the utility model protected to describe to application on it with reference to these accompanying drawings below.

It is the image recorder 1 of form that Fig. 1 and 2 demonstrates with multi-function device (MFD), and this image recorder 1 has printing function, copy function, scan function and facsimile function.The same as illustrated in fig. 1 and 2, this image recorder 1 has the shell 2 as equipment body.This shell 2 is by carrying out injection-molded formation with the synthetic resin material.

Be provided with image read-out 12 on the top of shell 2, these image read-out 12 operations are used for the copy function and the facsimile function of this equipment 1.Image read-out 12 is arranged to and can pivots up and down by the end of unshowned hinge means around shell 2.The original copy covering member 13 that is covered with the upper surface of image read-out 12 is hinged on the rear end of image read-out 12 by hinge 12a in its back-end, thereby this original copy covering member 13 can pivot up and down around hinge 12a.

In addition, on the top of shell 2, be provided with operating personal control panel 14, this operating personal control panel 14 is positioned on the front side of image read-out 12, and has various control buttons and button, LCDs etc.Be used for when original copy covering member 13 is upwards opened glass board 16 that original copy or manuscript are placed on it being provided with on the upper surface of image read-out 12.Below glass board 16, be provided for reading in the image-scanning device (CIS: contact-type image sensor) of the image on the original copy, make that this image-scanning device can be along in the direction vertical with the paper plane of Fig. 2 (promptly, main scanning direction that is to say along in the Y-axis line direction shown in Fig. 1) go up guide shaft 44 crank motions that extend.

In unshowned ink storing part, store and be used for holding four print cartridges that four kinds of mutual different colours are the ink of black (Bk), cyan (C), magenta (M) and yellow (Y).These print cartridges are connected with the header record 4 of recording section (image recording unit) 7 by corresponding flexible ink supply pipe usually.

As illustrated in fig. 1 and 2, paper-supply section 11 is arranged on the bottom or bottom of shell 2.In paper-supply section 11, be provided with as be used to hold one folded every all as the sheet feed cassette 3 of the sheet feed stacker of the recording paper P of recording medium, make sheet feed cassette 3 to advance and enter paper-supply section 11 and retraction from paper-supply section 11.Sheet feed cassette 3 inserts the open front 2a (that is, on the left side in Fig. 2) that passes on the front side that is positioned at shell 2.Sheet feed cassette 3 arrange be used for holding with one folded have selected specification for example A4 specification, letter paper specification, document paper specification or postcard specification cut the recording medium that paper P is a form, make every Width parallel that cuts paper P (promptly along the paper supply direction of opening with feeding recordable paper with two parallel short sides, sub scanning direction, X-axis line direction or by in the represented direction of the arrow A shown in Fig. 1 and 2) vertical direction (promptly, the direction vertical with the paper plane of Fig. 2, main scanning direction or Y-axis line direction) extend.

In sheet feed cassette 3 is inserted into state in the shell 2, sheet feed cassette 3 away from the place, end (that is, on the right side in Fig. 2) in the opposed end of the open front 2a of shell 2, the inclination that is provided with as the end wall of sheet feed cassette 3 divides cardboard 8.This inclination divides cardboard 8 to have convex curved shape in planar view, wherein should tilt divide the outstanding with the middle body cooresponding vertical middle body of paper P on the Width (Y-axis line direction) of paper P of cardboard 8, this plate 8 leaves the leading edge of paper P at two longitudinal components on the opposite side of central outshot at them along retraction when the respective direction of the Width opposed end of paper P is extended simultaneously.It is the separation part of form that the central outshot of branch cardboard 8 is provided with disengaging pawl 8a or serration resilient separation pad 8a, is used for contacting to impel paper P to separate with quires with the leading edge of every paper P.

As following illustrating in greater detail, paper feed 6 comprises roller hold-down arm 6a, and roller hold-down arm 6a locates to be supported by shell 2 at its near-end (upper end), makes this roller hold-down arm 6a to pivot up and down.This roller hold-down arm 6a locates to carry paper feed roller 6b at its free end (lower end), passes to this paper feed roller 6b from rotatablely moving of drive source (not shown) by the gear drive 6c (Figure 11 and 14) that is arranged among the roller hold-down arm 6a.Paper feed roller 6b and tilt to divide the separation of cardboard 8 partly to cooperate with each other so that topmost paper P separate with quires in being contained in sheet feed cassette 3 and with isolated paper P via comprising that being roughly paper supply passage 9 that U-shaped turns to channel part carries towards the recording section 7 that is positioned at above the sheet feed cassette 3.Paper supply passage 9 turns to the first paper supply passage at the radially outer place of channel part to limit member 60 and provides in the space that the U-shaped of paper supply passage 9 turns to the second paper supply passage at the inner radial place of channel part to limit between the member 52 by being limited to U-shaped at paper supply passage 9.Every paper P is arranged to carry and passes paper supply passage 9, make paper P aim at the line of centers of paper supply passage 9 on the Width of paper supply passage 9 at the line of centers on the Width of paper P, the Width of paper supply passage 9 is vertical with the paper supply direction of conveyance of sheets P.In current images recording unit 1, the paper supply direction comprises the row's paper direction B (being represented by arrow B) from 10 discharges of row's paper part with the paper supply direction A (represented by arrow A) of paper P 7 supplies from paper-supply section 11 towards recording section and the paper P that recording section 7 is supplied with that will be explained below.Because every paper P passes paper supply passage 9 carrying out carrying when U-shaped turns to, so paper supply direction A and row's paper direction B are opposite each other.In addition, can be called as " Width " in appropriate circumstances below with these directions A direction (Y-axis line direction) vertical with B.

As Fig. 2,3 with the same shown in 11, recording section 7 has the main frame 21 of box-like structure, this main frame 21 comprises pair of sidewalls 21a, 21a, diapire 21b and rear wall 21c, and be arranged between first guiding elements 22 and second guiding elements 23 that each all is form with the elongated board, these guiding elements are supported by these side plates 21a and extend along Y-axis line (main scanning direction).The balladeur train 5 that is carrying the ink jet print head 4 of recording section 7 is installed in and is positioned at balladeur train 5 along first guiding elements 22 of the upstream end of row's paper direction B be positioned at balladeur train 5 on second guiding elements 23 of the downstream part of row's paper direction B, thereby bridge joint this two guiding elements 22,23, make this balladeur train 5 can be on these guiding elements 22,23 sliding motion.Therefore, this balladeur train 5 can be along Y-axis line direction crank motion.

In order to make balladeur train 5 crank motions, on the upper surface of second guiding elements 23 of the downstream part of row's paper direction B, be provided with the synchronous belt 24 that extends along main scanning direction (Y-axis line direction) being positioned at balladeur train 5.In addition, can operate and be used for balladeur train 5 reciprocating slide-frame driven motor (not shown) being fixed on the lower surface of second guiding elements 23 by synchronous belt 24.

As shown in Figure 3, the pressing plate 26 with flat pattern is fixed on the main frame 21 between first and second guiding elements 22,23.This pressing plate 26 is according to facing to being extended along Y-axis line direction by the mode of the downside of the header record 4 of balladeur train 5 carrying.

As shown in fig. 2, on the upstream side that pressing plate 26 is seen along row's paper direction B, be provided with driven roller 50 and be arranged on mip rolls 51 below this driven roller 50, as a pair of alignment roller that is used for paper P is flowed to the downside of header record 4.At pressing plate 26 on the downstream that row's paper direction B sees, be provided with exit roller 28 and pressure roller (spur roller) 28a, exit roller 28 is driven and is used for along arranging the paper P conveying sheet feeding/discharge part 10 that paper direction B will pass recording section 7, and pressure roller (spur roller) 28a is facing to exit roller 28 and towards exit roller 28 biasings.

The paper P that has carried out recording operation by recording section 7 on it is drained in the paper part 10, and the recording surface of this paper P is towards last.Row's paper part 10 is positioned at paper-supply section 11 tops, and opens on the front side of shell 2 according to the mode the same with the open front 2a of shell 2 with row's paper opening 10a of row's paper part 10 connections.Paper P along row's paper direction B from 10 discharges of row's paper part is stacked on and is arranged on the open front 2a in-to-in row paper disc 10b.In addition, make and be arranged to extend to the front end of opening at row's paper opening 10a of shell 2 by synthetic resin from the lower surface of second guiding elements 23 with the separator of battery plates (following covering member) 29 that shell 2 forms as one, thus the row of covering paper disc 10b on the upside of row's paper disc 10b as shown in fig. 2.

Then detailed description is used in the sheet feed cassette 3 in the present image recording unit 1.As shown in Fig. 4-9, sheet feed cassette 3 has and is used for placing the base plate 31 of paper P thereon.Therefore, sheet feed cassette 3 has the function of sheet feed stacker.On the upstream end portion that base plate 31 is seen along paper supply direction A, be formed with the upwardly extending two blocks of side plates 32,32 of the opposite side edges part parallel with paper supply direction A from this base plate 31.Above-mentioned row's paper disc 10b is removably mounted on the side plate 32,32 according to the mode of these side plates 32,32 of bridge joint, thereby this row's paper disc 10b partly is covered with the upstream portion that the folded P of the paper that is placed on the base plate 31 sees along paper supply direction A.This row's paper disc 10b has otch 43, this otch 43 in planar view, have the shape that is substantially U-shaped and the row of being formed on paper disc 10b along the downstream end office that row's paper direction B sees, make this otch 43 be positioned at the Width pars intermedia office of row's paper disc 10b.The outside that this otch 43 is convenient to slave unit 1 is supplied paper P in the sheet feed cassette 3 that top into covers by row's paper disc 10b.

On the downstream end portion that base plate 31 is seen along paper supply direction A, be provided with and move the extensible paper guide 45 of (promptly can stretching and shrink) along the left and right directions (Width) of sheet feed cassette 3, be used to make the Width centering of these paper P with respect to sheet feed cassette 3.

On the upstream end portion that base plate 31 is seen along paper supply direction A, be provided with auxiliary supports 33 with the plate-like shape of being substantially, make this auxiliary supports 33 be positioned at the Width pars intermedia office of base plate 31.This auxiliary supports 33 constitutes can be from the upstream end portion of base plate 31 along away from the i.e. downstream sliding motion on row's paper direction B of the outward direction of this base plate 31.As shown in fig. 2, auxiliary row's paper disc 35 is installed on this auxiliary supports 33, should the row's of assisting paper disc 35 layouts be used for supporting the downstream end portion that these paper P sees along row's paper direction B, these downstream end portion are promptly stretched out towards the downstream of arranging on the paper direction B along outward direction from row's paper disc 10b.

Locating along near the cooresponding end upstream end portion of paper supply direction A of auxiliary supports 33, be formed with first holding portion 34 with concave shape of upwards opening with sheet feed cassette 3.But the auxiliary row's paper disc 35 that is installed on the auxiliary supports 33 is arranged to pivoting action, make auxiliary row's paper disc 35 selectively be arranged on between the upper/lower positions: the dish accommodated position (as at Fig. 4,6B with the same as shown in the 7B), be contained in first holding portion 34 at the auxiliary paper disc 35 of arranging of this Pan Rongnaweizhichu; And the dish extended position (as at Fig. 5,6A with the same as shown in the 7A), be provided with fartherly at the auxiliary row of this dish extended position paper disc 35 along arranging the upstream end portion of paper direction B, supporting the paper P that stretches out towards the downstream along row's paper direction B from row's paper disc 10b thus as mentioned above than base plate 31.

Auxiliary supports 33 has the gripping hole 42 of passing its thickness formation, makes this gripping hole 42 be positioned at the upstream end that first holding portion 34 is seen along paper supply direction A.This gripping hole 42 is convenient to the user and grips this auxiliary supports 33 when auxiliary supports 33 is slidably moved.

Auxiliary row's paper disc 35 the dish extended position keeping lateral attitude (as at Fig. 6 A with the same as shown in the 7A), the downstream part along row's paper direction B sees of wherein auxiliary row's paper disc 35 is arranged on the high position of the upstream portion of seeing along equidirectional B than auxiliary row's paper disc 35.This lateral attitude of auxiliary row's paper disc 35 keeps in abutting connection with contacting with the part of auxiliary supports 33 by it, and this part is positioned at and grips the upstream end that hole 42 is seen along paper supply direction A.In this case, auxiliary row's paper disc 35 protrude upward along the downstream part that row's paper direction B sees to row paper disc 10b height level about equally.Because this lateral attitude of auxiliary row's paper disc 35, so the row's paper disc 10b from being arranged on sheet feed cassette 3 tops of paper P can very stably be supported by auxiliary row's paper disc 35 along the downstream end portion of seeing along row's paper direction B that outward direction stretches out.In addition, because keep the lateral attitude of this auxiliary row's paper disc 35, so any additional structure that is used to keep this lateral attitude needn't be set by the part of utilizing being positioned at of auxiliary supports 33 to grip the upstream end of seeing along paper supply direction A in hole 42.At auxiliary row's paper disc 35 along downstream end place that row's paper direction B sees away from pivot axis 38 (Fig. 5,7A and 7B), be formed with recessed portion 46 as shown in Figure 6A and 6B, this recessed portion 46 makes the user can be easy to pick up auxiliary row's paper disc 35 so that should be arranged on the dish extended position by the row's of assisting paper disc 35 by the pivoting action around axis 38.

This sheet feed cassette 3 comprises anti-flexed portion, is used for preventing to be placed on paper P on the base plate 31 in the downward deflection in first holding portion, 34 places when auxiliary row's paper disc 35 is in the dish extended position.Here, as anti-flexed portion, with the same as shown in the 8A, on the bottom surface of first holding portion 34, be formed with two first projectioies 36,36 that protrude upward and extend along paper supply direction A as Fig. 5,6A.Each first projection 36 is used for increasing the rigidity of this auxiliary supports 33 also as the strengthening rib in auxiliary supports 33.These two or a pair of first projection 36 are arranged side by side in first holding portion 34 along the Width of first holding portion 34 bottom surface is along downstream portion office that paper supply direction A sees.But the number of first projection 36 is not limited to two, prevents these paper P deflection but a plurality of first projectioies 36 preferably are set simultaneously so that stably support these paper P.

Should have the elongated hole 37 that therefrom runs through formation by auxiliary row's paper disc 35.When auxiliary row's paper disc 35 was arranged on dish accommodated position place, above-mentioned first projection 36 engaged or fits loosely in wherein with respective elongated hole 37.During auxiliary row's paper disc 35 was contained in first holding portion 34, each first projection 36 in these first projectioies 36 was stretched out from cooresponding elongated hole 37 in the top a little, as Fig. 6 B with the same as shown in the 7B.In other words, in the state that auxiliary row's paper disc 35 folds, the height of auxiliary row's paper disc 35 is lower than the height of first projection 36, has reduced the space that auxiliary row's paper disc 35 occupies on the short transverse of sheet feed cassette 3 thus.In addition, because first projection 36 bottom surface that is formed on first holding portion 34 is along downstream portion office that paper supply direction A sees as mentioned above, can coil 35 with this and be arranged in 38 minutes so pass elongated hole 37 that the thickness of auxiliary row's paper disc 35 forms, avoid the rigidity of auxiliary row's paper disc 35 to reduce thus around the pivot axis that pivot.In addition, each elongated hole 37 has the relative long narrow shape that is used for cooresponding first projection, 36 joints, can reduce to be used for total boring area of elongated hole 37 thus, has prevented that thus the rigidity of auxiliary row's paper disc 35 from reducing.

Auxiliary supports 33 has rectangular shape in planar view, and base plate 31 is formed with second holding portion 39, this second holding portion 39 is arranged to keeping slidably the side edge portions along paper supply direction A of auxiliary supports 33, and this second holding portion 39 is arranged to hold therein auxiliary supports 33, as at Fig. 5,6A with the same as shown in the 8A.This auxiliary supports 33 forms and makes its upper surface flush with its side edge portions or contour.The auxiliary supports 33 of Xing Chenging is installed on second holding portion 39 like this, make the side edge portions of auxiliary supports 33 be coupled in the corresponding chute 40, these chutes 40 are formed in the part on the respective inside surface that defines second holding portion 39 of base plate 31, and this auxiliary supports 33 can be contained in the structure of simple economy in second holding portion 39 thus.Therefore, the height level of the upper surface of auxiliary supports 33 is lower than the height level of the upper surface of base plate 31 slightly.

In above-mentioned layout, auxiliary supports 33 slides so that stretch out or pull out from second holding portion 39, thus this sheet feed cassette 3 relatively large recording paper of bearing length size thereon.And, being arranged under the situation of dish extended position in the state that auxiliary supports 33 stretches at auxiliary row's paper disc 35, auxiliary supports 33 and auxiliary row's paper disc 35 are cooperated with each other with the bigger recording paper of bearing length size.In this respect, there are not stretching, extension and auxiliary row's paper disc 35 to be arranged under the situation of Pan Rongnaweizhichu entire image recording unit 1 obvious compact dimensions at auxiliary supports 33.But in present image recording unit 1, can set the specification of the recording paper of institute's actual treatment bigger, improve the practicality of this equipment 1 thus.

Sheet feed cassette 3 also comprises second projection 41,41 on the auxiliary supports 33 of being arranged on as another anti-flexed portion.More particularly, each second projection 41 in these second projectioies 41 is arranged on the outside position of the Width along first holding portion 34 that is positioned at first holding portion 34 of auxiliary supports 33, and the Width of first holding portion 34 is vertical with paper supply direction A.Each second projection 41 protrudes upward and extends along paper supply direction A.Each second projection 41 upper surface of the base plate 31 of the upper surface of surface and each first projection 36 and sheet feed cassette 3 thereon is substantially flush.Strictly speaking, the same shown in Fig. 7 A, in the state that auxiliary supports 33 stretches, the upper surface of the upper surface of each first projection 36 and each second projection 41 is substantially flush at its upper surface along downstream portion office that paper supply direction A sees and base plate 31, makes auxiliary supports 33 along the oblique a little lower slider of paper supply direction A because chute 40 forms.On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 7 B, in auxiliary supports 33 was contained in state in second holding portion 39, the upper surface of each second projection 41 was substantially flush at its upper surface along upstream portion office that paper supply direction A sees and base plate 31.Therefore, even when auxiliary supports 33 is contained in second holding portion 39, because these second projectioies 41, so the paper P that is placed on the base plate 31 can not supported under the situation of auxiliary supports 33 downward deflections.

The size (length) that second projection 41 is measured along paper supply direction A is greater than the size of first projection 36.The second relatively large projection of measuring along paper supply direction A 41 of length has improved the stability that supports these paper P effectively.As mentioned above, in order to prevent to cause the rigidity of auxiliary row's paper disc 35 to descend with first projection, 36 elongated hole that engage 37 respectively, on the determining of the length of first projection 36, exist and limit owing in auxiliary row's paper disc 35, being formed with.In this respect, by increasing the length of second projection 41, can prevent the deflection of paper P more reliably.Though two (a pair of) second projection 41 is set in this arrangement so that first projection 36 is clipped in therebetween, the number of second projection 41 is not limited to two.

In planar view, first and second projectioies 36,41 are positioned at the otch 43 of row's paper disc 10b at them along the end of the respective downstream at least place that paper supply direction A sees, and their corresponding height dimension reduces gradually towards corresponding downstream end, thereby the corresponding taper or the structure of cutting sth. askew are provided.That is to say that each first projection 36 is provided with tapering part 36a, and each second projection 41 is provided with tapering part 41a, as Fig. 5,6A with the same as shown in the 7A.It is owing to following reason that these tapering parts 36a, 41a are set: less relatively for example under the situation of postcard specification in the paper P size that is adopted, the downstream end portion that paper P sees along row's paper direction B can be passed otch 43 from row's paper disc 10b and 31 be hung towards the bottom surface downwards.In this case, if first and second projectioies 36,41 do not have corresponding tapering part 36a, 41a, then sagging paper P may run into stumbling along bight, downstream that paper supply direction A sees or by these bights of corresponding first and second projectioies 36,41 at it along the downstream end office that row's paper direction B sees, thereby has hindered paper P correctly to discharge.These tapering parts 36a, 41a avoid this mal of paper P to discharge effectively.

In the sheet feed cassette 3 that constitutes as mentioned above, folded in order to hold along the paper P of the relatively large for example document paper of the length dimension specification of paper supply direction A, the user at first grips hole 42 gripping auxiliary supports 33 by utilizing along the upstream end portion place that paper supply direction A sees at auxiliary supports 33, thereby second holding portion 39 of auxiliary supports 33 from be formed on diapire 31 pulled out, then its finger is placed in the recessed portion 46 that is formed in the auxiliary supports 33, leaves first holding portion 34 thereby auxiliary row's paper disc 35 is pivoted.Like this, the row's of assisting paper disc 35 is arranged on the dish extended position of its maintenance lateral attitude shown in Fig. 5,6A and the 7A.

Subsequently, according to the appropriate command of image recording, be layered in more than of paper P on the base plate 31 of sheet feed cassette 3 separately and along paper supply direction A via comprising that being roughly U-shaped turns to the paper supply passage 9 of channel part to supply with towards recording section 7.The paper P that supplies with from recording section 7 discharges along row's paper direction B from row's paper part 10 and therefore on the row of the being stacked on paper disc 10b then.

Here, because paper P has bigger length dimension along paper supply direction A, so the tail end of paper P (along the upstream extremity of row's paper direction B) remove with exit roller 28 when contact, the front end of paper P (along the downstream end of arranging paper direction B) arrived make this front end along outward direction from arranging the position that paper disc 10b stretches out.In this case, as shown in Figure 1, the front end that stretches out from row's paper disc 35 of paper P can be supported by auxiliary row's paper disc 35, and not deflection downwards, because auxiliary row's paper disc 35 along row's paper direction B with its from as sheet feed stacker and be positioned at the relative downstream part of the nearer upstream portion of a part of sheet feed cassette 3 below row's paper disc 10b and protrude upward, promptly reach and arrange the height level height level about equally of paper disc 10b.In other words, the auxiliary row's paper disc 35 that is arranged on the dish extended position keeps wherein its lateral attitude of stretching out obliquely along the downstream part of row's paper direction B, thereby discharges and the paper P that stretches out from row's paper disc 10b along row's paper direction B at the front end of paper can both support by row paper disc 10b and auxiliary row's paper disc 35 from row's paper part 10.In this case, paper P upwards rises along the auxiliary sloping portion of arranging paper disc 35 along the front end (downstream end) that row's paper direction B sees.Therefore, one meets a paper P who discharges from row's paper part 10 and can pile up in order and very stably.Therefore, current layout do not have owing to paper P from the sagging danger that causes the ordering of stack paper P mal of row's paper disc 10b.

Simultaneously, during will the row's of assisting paper disc 35 being arranged on the dish extended position, the recessed surface of first holding portion 34 is exposed to bottom surface 31, and the upper surface of auxiliary supports 33 is positioned at the height and position place that is lower than bottom surface 31.But in current sheet feed cassette 3, because first projection, 36 and second projection 41 forms to extend upward and makes the respective upper surfaces of first and second projectioies 36,41 and bottom surface 31 substantially flush, so paper P is supported when keeping its flatness and at the upper surface of first and second projectioies 36,41 shown in Fig. 8 A contiguously.Therefore, can prevent that paper P from hanging down on the upper surface of the inboard of first holding portion 34 and auxiliary supports 33 and towards they deflections.

If first and second projectioies 36,41 are not set, then as shown in Fig. 8 B, paper P hangs down on the upper surface of the inboard of first holding portion 34 and auxiliary supports 33 and towards they deflections.Therefore, the relative long period is contained in the paper P maintenance deflection in the sheet feed cassette 3.In this case, plurality of sheets of paper is opened P and may once be supplied and be not separated from each other by paper feed 6, and perhaps this paper P may fold during supplying with along paper supply passage 9 or blocked.In addition, if paper P is fed into recording section 7 when it keeps deflection, the lip-deep part of paper P be in header record 4 and the surface of the paper P that will write down between apart from aspect may produce difference, thereby especially at header record 4 as in the current layout, recording quality is caused negative effect undesirablely under the situation of ink jet type.

Under situation about paper P such as A4 specification, letter paper specification, postcard specification being contained in stacked state in the sheet feed cassette 3, bracket panel 35 is contained in first holding portion 34 and auxiliary supports 33 is contained in second holding portion 39.In case of necessity, be arranged under the situation of dish extended position at auxiliary row's paper disc 35, auxiliary supports 33 can be contained in second holding portion 39.Optionally, be arranged under the situation of Pan Rongnaweizhichu at auxiliary row's paper disc 35, auxiliary supports 33 can extend from second holding portion 39.The position of the position of auxiliary supports 33 and auxiliary row's paper disc 35 can be according to suitable combination setting.

In above-mentioned current sheet feed cassette 3, auxiliary row's paper disc 35 is arranged on the auxiliary supports 33.Be not equipped with under the situation of auxiliary supports 33 at the same as shown in Figure 9 sheet feed cassette 3, auxiliary row's paper disc 35 can be directly installed on the base plate 31 of sheet feed cassette 3.In Fig. 9, will be used for identifying corresponding components with the Reference numeral that employed Reference numeral is identical in the explanation of the sheet feed cassette of Fig. 4-8.

In above-mentioned current sheet feed cassette 3, auxiliary row's paper disc 35 moves between dish accommodated position and dish extended position pivotly.Auxiliary row's paper disc 35 can be arranged to slidably move.In this case, replace elongated hole 37, auxiliary row's paper disc 35 is formed with thin narrow groove, is used for engaging with first projection 36.

In current images recording unit 1, a sheet feed cassette 3 as sheet feed stacker only has been installed.Be arranged to adopt at image recorder 1 under the situation of a plurality of sheet feed cassettes of installing according to stacked mode mutually, as mentioned above the current sheet feed cassette 3 of Gou Chenging can install as in described a plurality of sheet feed cassettes from arranging the nearest sheet feed cassette in the top of paper part.

Next with reference to Fig. 2,11-13 and 15-17 to paper feed 6 be used for being accompanied by and be installed to sheet feed cassette 3 on the equipment 1 and remove sheet feed cassette 3 in the slave unit 1 and the structure that makes paper feed 6 rise and descend describes.As mentioned above, in this paper feed 6, by synthetic resin form with the framed structure be the roller hold-down arm 6a of form in its lower end or the free end office supporting paper feed roller 6b rotationally, the outermost layer of paper feed roller 6b by the material with great friction coefficient for example elastomeric material form.Roller hold-down arm 6a in the top or the close end office supporting also the end of the axle drive shaft 53 that forms by synthetic resin rotationally.Paper feed roller 6b is arranged through by being the gear drive 6c of form the rotatablely moving of axle drive shaft 53 of transmitting and rotating along predetermined direction to be arranged on gear in the roller hold-down arm 6a.This gear drive 6c comprises: with the gear of axle drive shaft 53 rotations; Planetary wheel, this planetary wheel be by the end portion supports that is installed in rotation on the load bearing arm on the axle drive shaft 53, and with the described gear mesh that rotates with axle drive shaft 53; And a plurality of (being three in this embodiment) intermediate gear, be used for planetary rotatablely moving passed to the described gear that rotates with paper feed roller 6b.

As at Figure 11 with the same as shown in 14, main frame 21 has a pair of axle bearing wall 54,54, this vertically extends and parallel with sidewall 21a from diapire 21b axle bearing wall 54,54.A sidewall 21a among axle bearing wall 54 and two the sidewall 21a has corresponding axis hole 54a, pass these axis holes 54a (in Figure 14, only demonstrating one of them the axis hole 54a that is formed in one of them axle bearing wall 54) by the axle drive shaft 53 of unshowned drive motor according to inserting with respect to the mode that axle bearing wall 54 and this sidewall 21a freely rotate.The above-mentioned end of axle drive shaft 53 extends through the proximal part of roller supporting walls 6a, makes the parallel axes of gear of the axis of axle drive shaft 53 and gear drive 6c.Owing to be formed with axle bearing wall 54, so roller hold-down arm 6a extends through hole 55 (Figure 15 A), the diapire 21b that this hole 55 is passed between two axle bearing walls 54 forms.Therefore, roller hold-down arm 6a and axle drive shaft 53 are supported by that axis hole 54a to axle bearing wall 54, make roller hold-down arm 6a to pivot around the pivot center of axle drive shaft 53, and make axle drive shaft 53 to rotate with respect to axle bearing wall 54.Roller hold-down arm 6a makes roller hold-down arm 6a remain on usually in the downward attitude by suitable bias unit torsion spring biased downward for example, and the free end portion that being used for of its central roll hold-down arm 6a supported paper feed roller 6b is positioned at the position that is lower than its proximal part.

Then will move up and down to the automatic pivot of roller hold-down arm 6a when removing sheet feed cassette 3 in the bottom that sheet feed cassette 3 is installed to shell 2 and from the bottom of shell 2 and paper feed roller 6b makes roller hold-down arm 6a and paper feed roller 6b divide the structure of the upper end retraction of cardboard 8 to describe from the inclination as sheet feed cassette 3 end walls.Current images recording unit 1 is equipped with and is used for that roller hold-down arm 6a and paper feed roller 6b are risen and the connecting rod mechanism 56 of decline.This connecting rod mechanism 56 comprises: first connecting rod member 61, this first connecting rod member 61 by the suitable part in the shell 2 of this equipment 1 for example the rear wall 21c that vertically extends of the diapire 21b from the back side that is positioned at main frame 21 support, make first connecting rod member 61 to pivot up and down around primary shaft 62, as at Figure 11,12 with the same as shown in the 14-17; And second connecting rod member 63, this second connecting rod member 63 be pivotably connected to by second 64 at the one end thereof place roller hold-down arm 6a near the top of a sidepiece its proximal part, and be pivotably connected on the first connecting rod member 61 by third axle 65 at its another place, end.In this arrangement, second connecting rod member 63 is arranged to parallel with the outside face of the above-mentioned sidepiece of roller hold-down arm 6a, and first connecting rod member 61 is arranged to parallel with the outside face of second connecting rod member 63.With the same as shown in 16, primary shaft 62 is by supporting to the carriage 66 on the rear wall 21c by screw retention, so that prevent owing to being formed with the rigidity variation that the guide groove 67b that will describe causes rear wall 21c as Figure 15 A, 15B.Carriage 66 is formed with the guide groove 67a that opens downwards.The guide groove 67a of carriage 66 and the guide groove 67b of rear wall 21c aim at when carriage 66 is fixed on the rear wall 21c mutually, are formed for the leader to first connecting rod member 61 channeling conducts that pivot up and down around primary shaft 62 thus.The guide groove 67b of rear wall 21c forms and extends to diapire 21b.

In aforementioned link mechanism 56, be provided with cam follower surface 69, this cam follower surface 69 is arranged to the upper end moving contact as the end wall of sheet feed cassette 3 with minute cardboard 8 that tilts.Cam follower surface 69 mainly is formed on the lower surface of first connecting rod member 61.When in the shell 2 that sheet feed cassette 3 is installed to equipment 1 and from shell 2, sheet feed cassette 3 being removed, first connecting rod member 61 is mainly in cam follower surface 69 places and the upper end moving contact that divides cardboard 8, thereby paper feed roller 6b and roller hold-down arm 6a can bounce back above sheet feed cassette 3.More particularly, the same shown in Figure 15 A, cam follower surface 69 has warp architecture, and this warp architecture is outstanding downwards and comprise five sections 69e of first section 69a to the.Four sections 69d of first section 69a to the are according to the order towards another end of the close roller hold-down arm 6a of this first connecting rod member 61 is formed on the lower surface of first connecting rod member 61 continuously from an end of the close primary shaft 62 of first connecting rod member 61.The 5th section 69e is formed on the lower surface of roller hold-down arm 6a.The connecting portion office of cam follower surface 69 between second section 69b and the 3rd section 69c is converx.

The major part of roller hold-down arm 6a that has upwards pivoted in the installation of sheet feed cassette 3 with when removing and paper feed roller 6b is passed the hole 55 that is formed among the diapire 21b and is contained in the space above the diapire 21b in the state in main frame 21 therein, and connecting rod mechanism 56 is arranged to parallel with diapire 21b.It is to be noted, tilt to divide the height level of the upper end of cardboard 8 to be higher than the maximum height level that stacker that can be contained in the sheet feed cassette 3 is opened P.

Next will describe being used to be accompanied by sheet feed cassette 3 bounces back roller hold-down arm 6a and paper feed roller 6b with respect to the Assembly ﹠Disassembly of equipment 1 by connecting rod mechanism 56 above sheet feed cassette 3 retraction operation.According to said structure, paper feed roller 6b keep be layered in the sheet feed cassette 3 that is arranged in the shell 2 on one of the top of paper P in abutting connection with contacting or under situation about being contained in without any paper P in the sheet feed cassette 3, contacting with base plate 31 adjacency of sheet feed cassette 3, and the connecting rod mechanism 56 that comprises first connecting rod member 61 is positioned at the upstream end that the branch cardboard 8 of sheet feed cassette 3 is seen along paper supply direction A, as shown in Figure 17 A.Below will the situation that not have paper P to be contained in the sheet feed cassette 3 be described.In the state shown in Figure 17 A, be arranged on downwards on the cooresponding position of seeing with the short transverse along this paper feed roller 6b of the side of paper feed roller 6b of roughly centre portion with a plurality of parts of the lower surface of third and fourth section cooresponding first connecting rod member 61 of 69c, 69d of cam follower surface 69.

In the process of from the open front 2a of shell 2, sheet feed cassette 3 being extracted out or pulling out, first section 69a or second section 69b at first divides cardboard 8 with inclination upper end moving contact on the lower surface that is arranged on first connecting rod member 61 of cam follower surface 69, thereby first connecting rod member 61 is upwards pushed away, and that is to say that first connecting rod member 61 pivots around primary shaft 62 cws.Because second connecting rod member 63 is connected on the first connecting rod member 61 pivotly by third axle 65, so second connecting rod member 63 pivots around second 64 conter clockwise and roller hold-down arm 6a pivots along the direction conter clockwise that makes progress a little around axle drive shaft 53, as shown in Figure 17 B.When open front 2a pulls out sheet feed cassette 3, in the subsequent stage of second section 69b on the lower surface that is arranged on first connecting rod member 61 of cam follower surface 69 and the 3rd section 69c and the upper end moving contact that divides cardboard 8 therein, second connecting rod member 63 and roller hold-down arm 6a upwards are switched to the height and position place of the upper end that is higher than branch cardboard 8 greatly, roller hold-down arm 6a and paper feed roller 6b can be at the upper end of minute cardboard 8 retractions thus, as shown in Figure 17 C.

Afterwards, when sheet feed cassette 3 is further pulled out, the upper end that the paper feed roller 6b that is supported by the fore-end (free end portion) of roller hold-down arm 6a crosses branch cardboard 8, and first to fourth section 69a-69d on the lower surface that is arranged on first connecting rod member 61 of cam follower surface 69 separates with the upper end of dividing cardboard 8 or therefrom removes, simultaneously the 5th section 69e on the lower surface that is arranged on roller hold-down arm 6a of cam follower surface 69 and the upper end moving contact that divides cardboard 8, as at Figure 17 D with the same as shown in the 17E.In this state, the major part of roller hold-down arm 6a, paper feed roller 6b and connecting rod mechanism 56 is contained in the space that is arranged in diapire 21b top by the hole 55 that is formed among the diapire 21b, promptly is contained in the main frame 21.Therefore, can under the situation of the height dimension in the space between diapire 21b that does not increase at main frame 21 and the sheet feed cassette 3, guarantee that the pivot of roller hold-down arm 6a and paper feed roller 6b moves up and down.

Subsequently, when sheet feed cassette 3 is further pulled out, the proximal part of the close axle drive shaft 53 of roller hold-down arm 6a is in its lower surface place and the upper end moving contact that divides cardboard 8, and the most position of roller hold-down arm 6a and connecting rod mechanism 56 is away from the branch cardboard 8 as the end wall of sheet feed cassette 3, as shown in Figure 17 F.Then, when whole roller hold-down arm 6a crosses the upper end of branch cardboard 8 fully, usually the roller hold-down arm 6a by unshowned biasing member biased downward gets back to its original downward attitude, the free end portion that being used for of its central roll hold-down arm 6a supported paper feed roller 6b is positioned at the position that is lower than its proximal part, as shown in Figure 17 G.

Simultaneously, in the time of in the open front 2a that sheet feed cassette 3 is advanced or is inserted into shell 2, promptly carry out above-mentioned retraction operation from Figure 17 G to Figure 17 A according to opposite order.In brief, sheet feed cassette 3 is being advanced among the open front 2a, at first the upper end by minute cardboard 8 pushes away on roller hold-down arm 6a at the lower surface place of roller hold-down arm 6a.Make paper feed roller 6b after the upper end retraction of minute cardboard 8 in the upper end moving contact by cam follower surface 69 and branch cardboard 8, roller hold-down arm 6a turns back to above-mentioned its original downward attitude.Under paper P was contained in situation in the sheet feed cassette 3, paper feed roller 6b abutted against on one of the top of these paper P.

In above-mentioned layout, the end wall of sheet feed cassette 3 divides cardboard 8 to be equipped with the separation part that is used at its leading edge place one of these paper P being connect a separation as dividing cardboard 8.Therefore, the structure of the operator link mechanism 56 that current layout has been guaranteed to simplify, and any additional structure that is specifically designed to this connecting rod mechanism 56 of operation needn't be set.

To improve embodiment to some that make structure that roller hold-down arm 6a and paper feed roller 6b bounce back above sheet feed cassette 3 below describes.

Improve embodiment below with reference to Figure 18 A-18G to first and describe, wherein be used for identifying corresponding components, and it describes omission in detail with the Reference numeral that employed Reference numeral is identical in the described layout shown in Figure 17 A-17G.Embodiment is with identical in the described layout shown in Figure 17 A-17G in this first improvement, just be provided with retainer 70, be used for stipulating or the bottom position of definite connecting rod mechanism 56 and the therefore bottom position of regulation or definite roller hold-down arm 6a and paper feed roller 6b, i.e. lower limit in the height and position in the pivot of these parts moves downward.This retainer 70 for example is made of the L shaped member that falls on rear wall 21c that is fixed to main frame 21 or the carriage 66, and is formed by metal or synthetic resin.This retainer 70 is arranged and is used for: the state that separates fully or separate at wherein those parts 56 shown in Figure 18 G, 6a, 6b and sheet feed cassette 3, the preventing that connecting rod mechanism 56, roller hold-down arm 6a and paper feed roller 6b pivot from moving downward and be lower than lower limit in abutting connection with contacting of the part by first connecting rod member 61 and retainer 70.This retainer 70 can be arranged to contact with the proximal end in abutment of roller hold-down arm 6a.

Then the retraction structure according to the second improvement embodiment is described with reference to Figure 19 A-19G.In this second improvement embodiment, be used for identifying corresponding components with the Reference numeral that employed Reference numeral is identical in the described layout shown in Figure 17 A-17G, and do not provide its detailed description.Represent with " 156 " substantially in Figure 19 A according to this second connecting rod mechanism that improves embodiment.This connecting rod mechanism 156 comprises by the main connecting rod member 71 that supports of the rear wall 21c of main frame 21 for example of the suitable part in the shell 2 of equipment 1, makes main connecting rod member 71 to pivot up and down around primary shaft 62.Main connecting rod member 71 is connected according to the mode that can pivot up and down by bindiny mechanism with roller hold-down arm 6a.This bindiny mechanism comprises: straight substantially leader 73, this leader 73 are formed on the side of roller hold-down arm 6a so that extend along its longitudinal direction (that is paper supply direction A); And sell 74, this pin 74 is arranged on the inside face of main connecting rod member 71 at its front end place away from primary shaft 62, and is arranged to movably engage with leader 73.As in the layout as described in as shown in Figure 17 A-17G, link component 71 can be supported by carriage 66 around the primary shaft 62 that pivots.Identical with aforementioned link mechanism 56, this second connecting rod mechanism 156 that improves embodiment has cam follower surface 69, and this cam follower surface 69 is arranged to the upper end moving contact with the branch cardboard 8 of sheet feed cassette 3.This cam follower surface 69 comprises first to fourth section 69a-69d on the lower surface that is formed on main connecting rod member 71 and is formed on the 5th section 69e on the lower surface of roller hold-down arm 6a.The connecting portion office of this cam follower surface 69 between second section 69b and the 3rd section 69c is convex.This leader 73 can be groove or the through hole in the side that is formed on roller hold-down arm 6a.

In this second improvement embodiment, paper feed roller 6b also keep with sheet feed cassette 3 in being arranged on shell 2 on quires the top paper P in abutting connection with contact or under situation about being contained in without any paper P in the sheet feed cassette 3 with base plate 31 in abutting connection with contacting, and the connecting rod mechanism 156 that comprises main connecting rod member 71 is positioned at the upstream end that the branch cardboard 8 of sheet feed cassette 3 is seen along paper supply direction A, as shown in Figure 19 A.

The process that the open front 2a from shell 2 extracts sheet feed cassette 3 or pull out out, first section 69a on the lower surface that is arranged on main connecting rod member 71 of cam follower surface 69 or second section 69b at first with the upper end moving contact of minute cardboard 8, thereby main connecting rod member 71 is upwards pushed away, and that is to say that main connecting rod member 71 pivots around primary shaft 62 cws.In this case, because main connecting rod member 71 by bindiny mechanism (promptly, pin 74 that is bonded with each other and leader 73) be connected pivotly with roller hold-down arm 6a, so roller hold-down arm 6a pivot along the direction conter clockwise that makes progress a little around axle drive shaft 53, as shown in Figure 19 B.When open front 2a pulls out sheet feed cassette 3, in the subsequent stage of second section 69b on the lower surface that is arranged on main connecting rod member 71 of cam follower surface 69 and the 3rd section 69c and the upper end moving contact that divides cardboard 8 therein, because the engagement movement of pin 74 and leader 73, so roller hold-down arm 6a upwards is switched to the height and position place of the upper end that is higher than branch cardboard 8 greatly, roller hold-down arm 6a and paper feed roller 6b can be at the upper end of minute cardboard 8 retractions thus, as shown in Figure 19 C.

Afterwards, when sheet feed cassette 3 is further pulled out, the upper end that the paper feed roller 6b that is supported by the fore-end (free end portion) of roller hold-down arm 6a crosses branch cardboard 8, and the 4th section 69d on the lower surface that is arranged on main connecting rod member 71 of cam follower surface 69 separates with the upper end of dividing cardboard 8 or therefrom removes, simultaneously the 5th section 69e on the lower surface that is arranged on roller hold-down arm 6a of cam follower surface 69 and the upper end moving contact that divides cardboard 8 are as shown in Figure 19 E.In this state, the major part of roller hold-down arm 6a, paper feed roller 6b and main connecting rod member 71 is contained in the space that is arranged in diapire 21b top by the hole 55 that is formed among the diapire 21b, promptly is contained in the main frame 21.Therefore, can under the situation of the height dimension in the space between diapire 21b that does not increase at main frame 21 and the sheet feed cassette 3, guarantee that the pivot of roller hold-down arm 6a and paper feed roller 6b moves up and down.

Subsequently, when sheet feed cassette 3 is further pulled out, the proximal part of the close axle drive shaft 53 of roller hold-down arm 6a is in its lower surface place and the upper end moving contact that divides cardboard 8, and the most position of roller hold-down arm 6a is away from the branch cardboard 8 as the end wall of sheet feed cassette 3, as shown in Figure 19 F.Then, when whole roller hold-down arm 6a crosses the upper end of branch cardboard 8 fully, usually the roller hold-down arm 6a by unshowned biasing member biased downward gets back to its original downward attitude, the free end portion that being used for of its central roll hold-down arm 6a supported paper feed roller 6b is positioned at the position that is lower than its proximal part, as shown in Figure 19 G.By suitably determining length and the position of leader 73 with respect to pin 74, be arranged on the place, an end that the pin of the lower end (front end) of main connecting rod member 71 locating 74 is positioned at the leader 73 of roller hold-down arm 6a, and anti-thus shotpin 74 prevents thus that with respect to leader 73 motions roller hold-down arm 6a from further pivoting downwards.Therefore, comprise that the bindiny mechanism of pin 74 and leader 73 is also with the retainer that acts on regulation roller hold-down arm 6a and the extreme lower position of paper feed roller 6b in its pivot moves downward.

Simultaneously, in the time of in the open front 2a that sheet feed cassette 3 is advanced or is inserted into shell 2, promptly carry out above-mentioned retraction operation according to opposite order from Figure 19 G to Figure 19 A, roller hold-down arm 6a and paper feed roller 6b can be at the upper end retractions of minute cardboard 8 thus, therefore motion is advanced in the sheet feed cassette 3, as shown in Figure 19 A.

Next with reference to Figure 20 A-20G the retraction structure according to the 3rd improvement embodiment is described.Improve among the embodiment the 3rd, be used for identifying corresponding components with the Reference numeral that employed Reference numeral is identical in the described second improvement embodiment, and it describes omission in detail.Improve among the embodiment the 3rd, connecting rod mechanism 156 comprises main connecting rod member 71 and the bindiny mechanism that main connecting rod member 71 and roller hold-down arm 6a is linked together according to the mode that can pivot up and down.Comprise according to the 3rd this bindiny mechanism that improves embodiment: pin 75, this pin 75 is formed on the side of roller hold-down arm 6a according to outwardly directed mode; And arc leader 76 for example passes the through hole that main connecting rod member 71 forms, and makes pin 75 be engaged in this through hole.Improve among the embodiment the 3rd, owing to leader 76 must be formed in the main connecting rod member 71 on the scope that roller hold-down arm 6a pivots up and down around axle drive shaft 53, so the width dimensions that main connecting rod member 71 is measured along vertical direction is bigger.From design essentiality aspect, leader 76 can have the Any shape in straight shape and bending (arc) shape.Because by bindiny mechanism and main connecting rod member 71 make roller hold-down arm 6a and paper feed roller 6b the operation of the upper end retraction of minute cardboard 8 with improve roughly the same described in the embodiment described second, and can be easy to understand, so do not provide detailed description with reference to Figure 20 A-20G.

As described in second improve among the embodiment equally, improve among the embodiment the 3rd, can be by suitably the extreme lower position of regulation roller hold-down arm 6a in pivot moves downward be come in the length and the position of definite leader 76.Therefore, comprise that the bindiny mechanism of pin 75 and leader 76 is also as aforesaid retainer.

Improve among the embodiment in the described layout shown in Figure 17 A-17G and above-mentioned first to the 3rd, it is adjacent with the side of roller hold-down arm 6a that each member in first connecting rod member 61, second connecting rod member 63 and the main connecting rod member 71 is arranged to.Therefore, the traditional arrangement of side plate cooperation that is arranged to be layered in being positioned at of sheet feed cassette the Width opposed end outside of the paper P on the sheet feed cassette with connecting rod mechanism is compared, and connecting rod mechanism 56,156 sizes are obviously compact and simple in structure.It is to be noted that first connecting rod member 61, main connecting rod member 71 and roller hold-down arm 6a can be formed by in synthetic resin and the metallic material any.Constitute this cam follower surface 69 by the lower surface that comprises those members 61,71,6a, thereby compare with the traditional arrangement that cam follower surface is formed on the upper surface of every block of side plate of sheet feed cassette, whole cam follower surface 69 has the area that reduces.In addition, owing to be provided with the retainer of having stipulated roller hold-down arm 6a and first connecting rod member 61 or the lower limit of main connecting rod member 71 in pivot moves downward, so can prevent that especially paper feed roller 6b that the fore-end by roller hold-down arm 6a supports is for example owing to collide with the bottom of shell 2 and strain to occur in the state of in slave unit 1, sheet feed cassette being extracted out.

Improve among the embodiment the second and the 3rd, connecting rod mechanism 156 is made of single main connecting rod member 71 and bindiny mechanism, guarantees designs simplification thus and easily connecting rod mechanism is installed on the equipment 1.In addition, be arranged on those and improve bindiny mechanism in embodiments, and leader 73,76 is formed in another member of main connecting rod member 71 and roller hold-down arm 6a by on the member that is arranged among main connecting rod member 71 and the roller hold-down arm 6a.Therefore, this bindiny mechanism is simple in structure.

Improve among the embodiment in layout shown in Figure 17 A-17G and above-mentioned first to the 3rd, on the upper end of minute cardboard 8, can be provided with as at the roller for example of the rolling body 77 as shown in Figure 15 A, be used to guarantee smooth sliding contact between the upper end of minute cardboard 8 and the cam follower surface 69 that constitutes by the lower surface that comprises first connecting rod member 61, main connecting rod member 71 and roller hold-down arm 6a, and be used to prevent cam follower surface 69 because wearing and tearing, collision etc. are impaired.On the other hand, on the part of the upper end that may at first run into branch cardboard 8 of the lower surface of each member of first connecting rod member 61, main connecting rod member 71 and roller hold-down arm 6a, can be provided with this rotation roll body.This rotation roll body of She Zhiing prevents that effectively these parts slide mutually when sheet feed cassette 3 is installed and removed with respect to equipment 1 as mentioned above, specifically prevents cam follower surface wearing and tearing or impaired when guaranteeing roller hold-down arm 6a and paper feed roller 6b steady pivot downward and upward movement.In addition, the cam follower surface 69 that constitutes by the lower surface that comprises first connecting rod member 61, main connecting rod member 71 and roller hold-down arm 6a forms curved surface, this curved surface reposefully with upper surface or leading edge (in the downstream end of seeing along the paper supply direction A) moving contact of the paper P that is carrying.Therefore, this cam follower surface 69 is also used the paper guide that acts on every paper P of guiding, thereby allows to carry reposefully the paper P in the sheet feed cassette 3 that is contained on the equipment of being arranged at 1.

Therein on the whole surface of paper P in the so-called boundless printing of print image, the leading edge of the paper P that provides from sheet feed cassette 3 (downstream end of seeing along paper supply direction A) is at first detected by the sensor (not shown) on the downside that is arranged on the balladeur train 5 of header record 4 on the downstream of paper supply direction A.Afterwards, once with paper P towards sending back to along the upstream side of paper supply direction A, make the above-mentioned leading edge of paper P be arranged on header record 4 along upstream extremity place that paper supply direction A sees.Then, begin to print operation.In this case, when the tail end of the paper P that sends back to towards upstream side (upstream extremity of seeing along paper supply direction A) when turning to paper supply passage 9 to turn back to the sheet feed cassette 3 from U-shaped, the tail end of paper P can be interfered with the separation of minute cardboard 8 part or upper end or the leading edge that is layered in the paper P on the sheet feed cassette 3, thereby causes the paper P distortion of sending back to from paper supply passage 9 undesirablely or this paper P is being out of order towards sheet feed cassette 3 loopback preset distances.

In order to solve described just now problem, the same as shown in Figure 21, limit defining on the upstream extremity of (seeing) of radially outer that U-shaped turns to paper supply passage 9 of member 60 at the first paper supply passage and can be provided with for example roller of rolling body 79 along the direction of the supply.At this upstream extremity place, this member 60 is adjacent with the upper end of dividing cardboard 8.In addition, the first paper supply passage surface that limits the upstream extremity of member 60 can turn to the inner radial skew of paper supply passage 9 towards U-shaped.For example, the first paper supply passage limits member 60 can be formed with projection 80, and this projection 80 turns to the inner radial of paper supply passage 9 outstanding from the surface that the first paper supply passage limits the upstream extremity of member 60 to U-shaped, as shown in Figure 22 A.And the upper end of branch cardboard 8 that can scraping sheet feed cassette 3 to be forming indenture 81, as shown in Figure 22 B.Owing to be formed with indenture 81, be formed with a part (in Figure 22 B, representing) on the upstream side that indenture 81 is seen along the direction of the supply by " 82 ".This indenture 81 is formed with an inclination angle, and this inclination angle is specified to and makes the resulting structure in the upper end with minute cardboard 8 of indenture 81 prevent to interfere with separation part of dividing cardboard 8 or stacked paper P towards the paper P of sheet feed cassette 3 loopbacks.

In rolling body 79, projection 80 and the part 82 each limits the surface of paper supply passage 9 and divides the straight line of dip plane of cardboard 8 or outstanding a little towards paper supply passage 9 from the external part of the separation pawl 8a of minute cardboard 8 from the part that is being connected the first paper supply passage and limits member 60.

Above-mentioned retraction structure is equally applicable to wherein, and image recorder 1 is arranged to adopt a plurality of situations of stacked sheet feed cassette mutually.

Should be understood that, the utility model is not limited to these details of described embodiment, but can adopt conspicuous for those of ordinary skills various variations and modification to implement not breaking away under the situation of the spirit and scope of the present utility model defined in the claims.

Claims (15)

1. sheet feed cassette, this sheet feed cassette is used for image recorder, and can hold one and foldedly will it is characterized in that this sheet feed cassette comprises along the recording paper of paper supply direction supply:

Base plate;

Row's paper disc, this row paper disc is provided with according to the mode that covering partly is placed on the upstream portion at least that the recording paper on the base plate sees along the paper supply direction;

First holding portion, this first holding portion are positioned near the upstream end portion that base plate sees along the paper supply direction, have the concave shape of upwards opening;

Auxiliary row's paper disc, this auxiliary row's paper disc can selectively be arranged on between the upper/lower positions: the dish accommodated position is contained in first holding portion at the auxiliary row of this Pan Rongnaweizhichu paper disc; And the dish extended position, be provided with fartherly at the auxiliary row of this dish extended position paper disc along the upstream end portion of row's paper direction ratio base plate, it is opposite with the paper supply direction wherein to arrange the paper direction; And

At least one projection, described at least one projection is arranged on first holding portion and/or near it.

2. image recorder, comprising: paper-supply section, this paper-supply section are located at the upstream end of the paper supply direction of the paper supply passage that is substantially the U-shaped shape; Image recording section, this image recording section is at the downstream part of the paper supply direction of paper supply passage; With row's paper part, this row paper partly is arranged on the paper-supply section top, and at the downstream part of row's paper direction of image recording section, and it is opposite with the paper supply direction to arrange the paper direction, it is characterized in that this image recorder comprises:

Sheet feed stacker, this sheet feed stacker is arranged in the paper-supply section;

Row's paper disc, this row paper disc is arranged on the sheet feed stacker according to the mode that covering partly is contained in the upstream portion at least that the folded recording paper in the sheet feed stacker sees along the paper supply direction;

First holding portion, this first holding portion are arranged near the upstream end portion that sheet feed stacker sees along the paper supply direction, have the concave shape of upwards opening;

Auxiliary row's paper disc, this auxiliary row's paper disc can selectively be arranged on between the upper/lower positions: the dish accommodated position is contained in first holding portion at the auxiliary row of this Pan Rongnaweizhichu paper disc; And the dish extended position, be provided with fartherly at the auxiliary row of this dish extended position paper disc along the upstream end portion of arranging paper direction ratio sheet feed stacker; And

At least one projection, described at least one projection is arranged on first holding portion and/or near it.

3. image recorder as claimed in claim 2 is characterized in that, described at least one projection comprises at least one first projection, and described first projection is arranged on the bottom surface of first holding portion, protrudes upward and extends along the paper supply direction.

4. image recorder as claimed in claim 3, it is characterized in that, auxiliary row's paper disc has at least one elongated hole, described at least one elongated hole is set to pass auxiliary row's paper disc, and be arranged under the state of Pan Rongnaweizhichu at auxiliary row's paper disc, described at least one first projection engages with described at least one elongated hole.

5. image recorder as claimed in claim 3 is characterized in that, described at least one first projection is arranged on the downstream position of seeing along the paper supply direction on the bottom surface of first holding portion.

6. image recorder as claimed in claim 3 is characterized in that, described at least one first projection upper surface of the base plate of surface and sheet feed stacker thereon is substantially flush.

7. as the described image recorder of arbitrary claim among the claim 2-6, it is characterized in that the pivotal axis of auxiliary row's paper disc is arranged on first holding portion along upstream extremity place that the paper supply direction is seen.

8. as the described image recorder of arbitrary claim among the claim 2-6, it is characterized in that, auxiliary row's paper disc is obliquely installed in the dish extended position, the downstream part along row's paper direction is seen of wherein auxiliary row's paper disc be arranged on than auxiliary row's paper disc along the high position of upstream portion that row's paper direction is seen.

9. as the described image recorder of arbitrary claim among the claim 2-6, it is characterized in that, described image recorder comprises auxiliary supports, this auxiliary supports has and is substantially tabular shape, and be arranged on the upstream end portion that sheet feed stacker is seen along the paper supply direction, this auxiliary supports can slide towards the downstream on row's paper direction from the upstream end portion of sheet feed stacker, and

Auxiliary row's paper disc is installed on the auxiliary supports, and first holding portion is arranged in auxiliary supports.

10. image recorder as claimed in claim 9, it is characterized in that, auxiliary supports has the gripping hole, auxiliary supports along being positioned at of seeing of paper supply direction than first holding portion more the place, end of the upstream end thickness that passes auxiliary supports this gripping hole is set.

11. image recorder as claimed in claim 9 is characterized in that,

The pivotal axis of described auxiliary row's paper disc is arranged on first holding portion along the upstream extremity place that the paper supply direction is seen,

Wherein auxiliary row's paper disc is obliquely installed in the dish extended position, the downstream part along row's paper direction is seen of wherein auxiliary row's paper disc be arranged on than auxiliary row's paper disc along the high position of upstream portion that row's paper direction is seen, and

Auxiliary row's paper disc keeps in abutting connection with contacting with the part of auxiliary supports by auxiliary row's paper disc in this inclination of dish extended position, and this part of described auxiliary supports is positioned at and grips the upstream end that the hole is seen along the paper supply direction.

12. image recorder as claimed in claim 9 is characterized in that,

Auxiliary supports has the shape that is substantially rectangle overlooking on the direction, and

Wherein sheet feed stacker has base plate, and second holding portion is set in this base plate, and this second holding portion is keeping the side edge portions along the paper supply direction of auxiliary supports slidably, and holds auxiliary supports in this second holding portion.

13. image recorder as claimed in claim 12 is characterized in that,

Described at least one projection comprises at least one second projection that is arranged on the auxiliary supports, the direction along vertical with the paper supply direction that each second projection in described at least one second projection is arranged on auxiliary supports is seen and is positioned at the exterior position of first holding portion, protrude upward and extend along the paper supply direction, and

Wherein said at least one second projection upper surface of the base plate of surface and sheet feed stacker thereon is substantially flush.

14. image recorder as claimed in claim 13 is characterized in that, described at least one projection comprises at least one first projection, and described first projection is arranged on the bottom surface of first holding portion, and protrudes upward and extend along the paper supply direction, and

The size that the size that wherein said at least one second projection goes out along the paper supply directional survey goes out along the paper supply directional survey greater than described at least one first projection.

15. image recorder as claimed in claim 12 is characterized in that,

Described at least one projection comprises at least one first projection, and described first projection is arranged on the bottom surface of first holding portion, and protrudes upward and extend along the paper supply direction,

Wherein arrange paper disc and have otch, the thickness that passes row's paper disc in the downstream end office along row's paper direction is seen of row's paper disc is provided with this otch, and

Wherein overlook on the direction, described at least one first projection and described at least one second projection are positioned at described otch at them along the end of the respective downstream at least place that the paper supply direction is seen, and their corresponding height dimension reduces gradually towards described respective downstream end, thereby corresponding pyramidal structure is provided.

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