JP2000143035A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To accurately perform initial setting or the like of even a different kind of recorded medium with simple operation by changing the abutting pressure of a follower rotor to a carrier rotor when the recorded medium is conveyed being held between the carrier rotor and the follower rotor. SOLUTION: When a recording sheet is fed to a nip part between a carrier roller 19 and a pinch roller 20, a pinch roller guide 21 and the roller 20 are rotated in the direction of an arrow mark (a) around a shaft part 21a by the abutting engagement of one end of an operating lever 17 with one end of the guide 21, and the roller 20 is held in the spaced state from the roller 19. A clearance large enough for the recording sheet to pass through is therefore formed between the rollers 19, 20, when the recording sheet enters the nip part, so that no load is applied at the nip part, and the recording sheet can pass through the nip part without a slip. This effect can be exercised regardless of the thickness and kind of the recording sheet, so that operation can be simplified. This action can be automated with a sensor 38 for detecting the tip of the recording sheet.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, and the like, and more particularly to a recording apparatus capable of recording an image by conveying a recording medium such as an envelope or cardboard in addition to plain paper. It concerns the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, after the recording sheet P placed on the pressure plate 51 is fed out by the feed roller 52, the conveyance roller 53 and the pinch roller pressed against the conveyance roller 53 are pressed.
After being nipped and conveyed by the recording head 55 and an image is recorded by the recording head 55, it is nipped by the discharge roller 56 and a spur 57 pressed against the discharge roller 56 and discharged out of the apparatus.

A pair of rollers 53 and 54 formed by a transport roller 53 and a pinch roller 54 guide the recording sheet P to the recording head 55 immediately before the recording head 55, so that the cueing amount of the recording sheet P and the accuracy of registration are ensured. For example, as disclosed in JP-A-6-56297, as shown in FIG. 8, a transport roller 53 and a pinch roller are provided.
By providing a convex portion 58a at a position facing the transport roller 53 of the pinch roller guide 58 on the upstream side in the transport direction of the recording sheet P with respect to the nip portion with 54, the leading end of the recording sheet P is arranged along the convex portion 58a. The recording sheet P is guided to the nip portion between the transport roller 53 and the pinch roller 54 to improve the biting of the pair of rollers 53 and 54 and to have a plurality of feeding modes depending on the type of the recording sheet P, thereby making the recording sheet P Some have improved the amount of cueing and registration accuracy.

[0004]

However, even in the configuration of the above-described conventional example, the transport roller 53 and the pinch roller 54 are not provided.
In the nip portion, the recording sheet P slips, and the slip amount is not stable, so that it is difficult to adjust the cue amount in the feeding mode. Roller pair 5 especially for envelopes and cardboard
In some cases, 3, 54 could not bite into the nip.

In addition, since the feed mode is switched by a user operation, if the user forgets the operation, there is a problem that the cueing amount and registration adjustment corresponding to the fed recording sheet P cannot be performed.

[0006] The present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus which is easy to operate and can accurately perform cueing and registration even for recording media of different types.

[0007]

A typical configuration according to the present invention for achieving the above object is a feeding means for feeding a recording medium, and a conveying direction of the recording medium rather than the feeding means. In a recording apparatus having a transport unit disposed on the downstream side and a recording unit that records an image on a recording medium transported by the transport unit, the transport unit includes a transport rotating body that transports the recording medium, A driven rotator that is driven to contact the transport rotator; a contact unit that causes the driven rotator to contact the transport rotator at a predetermined pressure; and a pressure adjustment that changes a pressure by the contact unit. Means for changing the contact pressure of the driven rotating body against the transport rotating body when the recording medium is sandwiched and transported between the transport rotating body and the driven rotating body. Device.

According to the above construction, when the recording medium is sandwiched between the transport rotary member and the driven rotary member and transported, the contact pressure of the driven rotary member with respect to the transport rotary member is changed so that an envelope, a cardboard or the like is changed. Even when recording media of different types are used, the driven rotator and the transport rotator can be properly engaged in the nip portion, and cueing and registration can be accurately performed.

Further, when the leading end of the recording medium fed by the feeding means enters a nip portion between the conveyed rotating body and the driven rotating body, the driven rotating body by the contact means by the pressure adjusting means. And the driven rotator is brought into contact with the transport rotator after the leading end of the recording medium has passed through the nip between the transport rotator and the driven rotator. When the recording medium is fed to the transport rotary body by the feeding means, the pressure of the driven rotary body against the transport rotary body is reduced at the nip portion between the transport rotary body and the driven rotary body. Therefore, the leading end of the recording medium can pass through the nip without slipping. Further, after the leading end of the recording medium has passed through the nip portion, the recording medium is further fed by a predetermined amount by the feeding means, and then the driven rotator is brought into contact with the transport rotator to thereby engage the recording medium. Defects can be prevented,
Cueing and registration can be performed with high accuracy.

Further, when the leading end of the recording medium fed by the feeding means enters a nip portion between the transport rotary body and the driven rotary body, the driven rotation by the contact means by the pressure adjusting means. The gap between the transport rotator and the driven rotator is released by releasing the pressure of the body against the transport rotator, and a gap is formed between the transport rotator and the driven rotator so that the recording medium passes therethrough. When the driven rotator is configured to contact the transport rotator after passing through the nip portion with the rotator, when the recording medium is sent to the transport rotator by the feeding unit, Since there is a gap in the nip between the transport rotator and the driven rotator to allow the recording medium to pass through, the leading end of the recording medium can pass through the nip without slipping. Further, after the leading end of the recording medium has passed through the nip portion, the recording medium is further fed by a predetermined amount by the feeding means, and then the driven rotator is brought into contact with the transport rotator to thereby engage the recording medium. Failure can be prevented, and cueing and registration can be performed with high accuracy.

[0011]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention applied to an ink jet recording apparatus as an example of a recording apparatus according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the configuration of a recording apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional explanatory view showing the configuration of the recording apparatus according to the present invention, FIG. FIG. 5 is an explanatory cross-sectional view illustrating the configuration of the transport unit.

First, the configuration of a recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described. The recording device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a recording device integrated with an automatic feeding device, and feeds a recording sheet P such as paper such as plain paper, cardboard, envelope, or synthetic resin as a recording medium. Unit 1, a conveying unit 2 for conveying the recording sheet P fed by the feeding unit 1, and an ink tank integrated type recording head which is conveyed by the conveying unit 2 and serves as a recording unit
The recording sheet P has an ejection section 3 for ejecting the recording sheet P on which an image has been recorded outside the apparatus.

The feeding section 1 is attached to the main body of the apparatus. A recording sheet P, which is inclined and set on the pressure plate 4, is conveyed in the conveying section 2 in the horizontal direction and an image is recorded by the recording head 26. Thereafter, the sheet is discharged horizontally by the discharge unit 3.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the feeding section 1 includes a feeding roller 5 serving as feeding means, a separating claw 6, a movable side guide 7, a base 8, a pressure plate 4, a pressure plate spring 9, a driving gear. 10-16
And a pinch roller 20 by a pinch roller spring 22 described later.
Lever 17, pinch roller 20, and transport roller 19 serving as pressure adjusting means for changing the pressure contact force of transport roller 19 with respect to transport roller 19.
And a guide member 37 for guiding the recording sheet P to the nip portion.

A feeding roller 5 and a driving gear 10 to
16 are rotatably mounted which rotate synchronously with each other. Further, a release cam 18 is provided integrally with the drive gear 16, and as shown in FIG.
And presses down the pressure plate 4.

The pressure plate 4 and the separation claw 6 are attached to the base 8, and the movable side guide 7 is movable in a direction perpendicular to the recording sheet P conveyance direction (hereinafter referred to as “main scanning direction”). Attached to.

The pressure plate spring 9 is engaged with and fixed to the pressure plate 4. The elastic force of the pressure plate spring 9 urges the pressure plate 4 toward the feed roller 5. The operation lever 17 is rotatably attached to the base 8.

The transport section 2 is located downstream of the feed roller 5 in the transport direction of the recording sheet P (hereinafter simply referred to as “downstream side”).
A transport roller 19 serving as a transport rotator constituting transport means disposed in the apparatus, a pinch roller 20 serving as a driven rotator abutting on and following the transport roller 19, and a pinch roller guide rotatably supporting the pinch roller 20 21, a pinch roller spring 22 serving as a contact means for engaging one end of the pinch roller guide 21 and bringing the pinch roller 20 into contact with the transport roller 19 at a predetermined pressure, and a pinch engaging with the pinch roller guide 21. It has a pinch roller cover 23 with which the other end of the roller spring 22 is engaged, a chassis 24 and the like.

FIG. 4 shows that the recording sheet P is a transport roller.
19 shows the state of the transport unit 2 immediately before feeding, and FIG. 5 shows the state of the transport unit 2 after the cueing of the recording sheet P is completed. The transport roller 19 is rotatably mounted on the chassis 24, and the pinch roller guide 21 has a shaft 21 with respect to the chassis 24.
a so as to be rotatable.

The pinch roller 20 comes into contact with the transport roller 19,
It is rotatably attached to the pinch roller guide 21. The pinch roller cover 23 is fixed to the chassis 24. Then, the pinch roller 20 is moved by the pinch roller spring 22 engaged with the pinch roller cover
Has been energized.

The recording unit provided in the transport unit 2 is a platen 2
5. The recording head 26, the carriage 27, the carriage shaft 28, the rail 29, the timing belt 30, the carriage motor 31, the pulley 32, and the like.

The platen 25 and the carriage motor 31 are attached to and fixed to the chassis 24, and the pulley 32 is
It is rotatably attached to 24. The carriage shaft 28 and the rail 29 are attached to the chassis 24 so as to be parallel to the main scanning direction. The guide member 37 of the feeding unit 1 is also attached to the chassis 24.

The carriage 27 comprises a carriage shaft 28 and a rail 29
And can be moved in the main scanning direction along the carriage shaft 28 and the rail 29. The carriage 27 is engaged with the timing belt 30, and the drive of the carriage motor 31 is transmitted via the timing belt 30 and the pulley 32, so that the carriage 27 moves in the main scanning direction.

A recording head 26 integrally provided with an ink tank is mounted on a carriage 27, and the recording head 26 is arranged so that a head portion thereof faces the platen 25.

The recording head 26 serving as a recording means is for recording an ink image on the recording sheet P conveyed while being held between the conveying roller 19 and the pinch roller 20 serving as the conveying means. As recording means in this apparatus, a recording head 26
An ink jet recording system is used in which ink is ejected from the ink to perform recording. That is, the recording head has a fine liquid discharge port (orifice), a liquid path, an energy action section provided in a part of the liquid path, and an energy generation section for generating droplet forming energy to act on the liquid in the action section. Means.

As an energy generating means for generating such energy, a recording method using an electromechanical transducer such as a piezo element, an electromagnetic wave such as a laser is irradiated to generate heat, and a droplet is discharged by the action of the heat. There are a recording method using an energy generating means, and a recording method using an energy generating means for discharging a liquid by heating a liquid by an electrothermal converter such as a heating element having a heating resistor.

Among them, a recording head used in an ink jet recording method for discharging a liquid by thermal energy has a liquid discharge port (orifice) for discharging a recording droplet to form a discharge droplet at a high density. Since they can be arranged, high-resolution recording can be performed.

Among them, a recording head using an electrothermal transducer as an energy generating means can be easily made compact, and has recently achieved remarkable progress in technology in the semiconductor field and remarkable improvement in IC technology and micromachining technology. This is advantageous because the advantages can be fully utilized, high-density mounting is easy, and the manufacturing cost is low.

In the above-described embodiment, the ink jet recording system is used as the recording means. However, a current is applied to the electrothermal transducer according to a recording signal, and a film generated in the ink by the thermal energy applied by the electrothermal transducer. It is further preferable that the recording is performed by discharging the ink from the discharge port by the growth and shrinkage of the bubble generated in the ink by utilizing the boiling.

Regarding the representative structure and principle, it is preferable to use the basic principle disclosed in, for example, US Pat. Nos. 4,723,129 and 4,740,796.

The discharge unit 3 is a recording sheet P on which an image is recorded.
And a spur 34 which is pressed against the discharge roller 33 to assist the discharge of the recording sheet P. A transmission roller 35 is provided between the discharge roller 33 and the conveyance roller 19, and the conveyance roller 19, the transmission roller 35, and the spur 34 are rotatably attached to the chassis 24.

The transmission roller 35 is composed of a discharge roller 33 and a transport roller.
Synchronized with the transfer roller 19 via the transfer roller 35
Is transmitted to the discharge roller 33.

Next, the operation of feeding the recording sheet P will be described in detail. Since the release cam 18 normally presses down the pressure plate 4 as shown in FIGS.
Is separated from the feeding roller 5. The drive gears 10 to 16 are driven by a motor (not shown) with the recording sheet P set on the pressure plate 4, and the driving force is transmitted to the feed roller 5 and the release cam 18.

With the rotation of the drive gear 16, the release cam 18
Is separated from the pressure plate 4, the pressure plate 4 rises due to the extension force of the pressure plate spring 9, the feeding roller 5 and the recording sheet P come into contact with each other, and the recording sheet P is picked up by the rotation of the feeding roller 5, and the recording is performed. The sheets P are separated one by one by a separation claw 6 that engages with the leading end of the sheet P. The separated recording sheet P is guided by the guide member 37 and sent to the transport unit 2.

When the feed roller 5 makes one rotation, the release cam 18 pushes down the pressure plate 4 again to release the feed roller 5, and the drive of the feed roller 5 is interrupted. Hold.

The recording sheet P sent to the transport unit 2 is guided by the platen 25 and the lower surface of the pinch roller guide 21 and is sent to a nip portion between the transport roller 19 and the pinch roller 20. At this time, the pinch roller guide 21 and the pinch roller 20
As shown in FIG. 4, one end of the operation lever 17 is brought into contact with one end of the pinch roller guide 21 so that the shaft portion 21a is formed.
The pinch roller 20 is rotated in the direction of arrow a in FIG.

Therefore, when the recording sheet P fed by the feed roller 5 enters the nip portion between the feed roller 19 and the pinch roller 20, the feed roller 19 and the pinch roller 20
In order to form a gap between the transport roller 19 and the pinch roller 20, a load is not applied at the nip portion between the transport roller 19 and the pinch roller 20, and the recording sheet P does not slip and the transport roller 19 and the pinch roller You can pass through the 20 nip.

Even if there is no gap between the transport roller 19 and the pinch roller 20, the same effect can be obtained by reducing the contact pressure between the transport roller 19 and the pinch roller 20.

Since this effect can be exerted regardless of the thickness and type of the recording sheet P, there is no need for the user to specify the feeding mode depending on the type of the recording sheet P as in the above-described conventional example, and the operation can be made easier. You can do it.

When the recording sheet P is further fed by the feeding roller 5 and the leading end of the recording sheet P passes a nip portion between the conveying roller 19 and the pinch roller 20 by a predetermined amount, the feeding roller 5 stops once. When the user operates the operating lever 17 in the direction of arrow b in FIG. 5, the end of the operating lever 17 is disengaged from the pinch roller guide 21 and the pinch roller guide 21 causes the shaft portion 21a to move by the extension force of the pinch roller spring 22. The pinch roller 20 is pressed against the conveyance roller 19 via the recording sheet P by pivoting about the center in the direction of arrow c in FIG. 5, thereby completing the cueing of the recording sheet P.

According to the above configuration, the operating pressure of the pinch roller 20 against the transport roller 19 is reduced by operating the operating lever 17 while the recording sheet P is nipped and transported by the transport roller 19 and the pinch roller 20. It can be changed.

The LF (line feed) motor 36
As a result, a rotational driving force is applied to the transport roller 19, and the recording sheet P is transported on the platen 25 by the cooperation of the transport roller 19 and the pinch roller 20. At this time, the carriage 27 on which the recording head 26 is mounted moves in the main scanning direction, and the recording head 26
An image based on predetermined image information is recorded on the recording sheet P by ink projecting from the recording sheet P.

The recording sheet P recorded on the platen 25 is sent to the discharge section 3 provided on the downstream side of the platen 25 by cooperation of the transport roller 19 and the pinch roller 20. The recording sheet P sent to the discharge section 3 is sent to the nip portion between the discharge roller 33 and the spur 34, which rotates in synchronization with the transport roller 19, by the transmission roller 35, and is sequentially rotated by the cooperation of the discharge roller 33 and the spur 34. It is discharged outside.

The form of the above-described ink jet recording apparatus is not only used as an image output terminal of an information processing apparatus such as a computer, but also a copying apparatus combined with a reader or the like, and further a facsimile apparatus having a transmission / reception function. May be used.

Although an example in which an ink jet recording method is used as the above-described recording means has been described, the present invention does not need to limit the recording method to the ink jet recording method. Can be applied to an impact recording method such as a wire dot recording method or other recording methods. It is not necessary to limit to the serial recording method, and a so-called line recording method may be used.

Next, a second embodiment of the recording apparatus according to the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment, a sensor serving as detecting means for detecting the end of the recording sheet P near the feed roller 5 in the nip portion between the transport roller 19 and the pinch roller 20
38 can be arranged to automate the operation performed by the user in the first embodiment (see FIGS. 2, 4, and 5).

The operation at that time will be described. At the start of feeding, the pinch roller 20 is in pressure contact with the transport roller 19 (the state shown in FIG. 5). When the sensor 38 detects the leading end of the recording sheet P sent to the transport unit 2, the operating lever 17 is moved in the direction opposite to the arrow b in FIG. 5 by a moving means (not shown). As a result, the pinch roller 20 is transported. The pressure in contact with the roller 19 is released or reduced.

The feed roller 5 conveys the recording sheet P by a predetermined amount after the sensor 38 detects the front end of the recording sheet P, and the front end of the recording sheet P has passed the nip portion between the conveying roller 19 and the pinch roller 20. The operating lever 17 is moved in the direction of arrow b in FIG.
Is returned to the position at the start of feeding.

Then, the pinch roller 20 is
And the recording sheet P is pressed against the recording sheet P at the same pressure as that at the start of feeding.

In the above configuration and operation, the contact pressure of the pinch roller 20 with respect to the transport roller 19 can be changed while the recording sheet P is being nipped and transported by the transport roller 19 and the pinch roller 20. . After the cueing of the recording sheet P is completed, the configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the same effect can be obtained.

[0051]

Since the recording apparatus according to the present invention has the above-described configuration and operation, the transport of the driven rotary member is performed only when the leading end of the recording medium passes through the nip portion between the transport rotary member and the driven rotary member. In order to perform a feeding operation of reducing or canceling the contact pressure against the rotating body, the recording medium is prevented from slipping at the nip portion, and the cueing failure of the recording medium and the jamming in the nip portion are prevented. I can do it.

Further, since there is no need to switch the feeding mode as in the above-described conventional example, a feeding sequence is not necessary, and feeding failure due to a user operation error can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory sectional view showing a configuration of a recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory sectional view illustrating a configuration of a feeding unit.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a transport unit.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory cross-sectional view illustrating a configuration of a transport unit.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a conventional example.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a conventional example.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... feeding part, 2 ... conveyance part, 3 ... discharge part, 4 ... pressure plate, 5 ...
Feeding roller, 6: separation claw, 7: movable side guide, 8:
Base, 9: pressure plate spring, 10-16: drive gear, 17: operating lever, 18: release cam, 19: transport roller, 20: pinch roller, 21: pinch roller guide, 21a: shaft, 22: pinch roller spring , 23 ... pinch roller cover, 24 ... chassis, 25 ... platen, 26 ... recording head, 27 ... carriage,
28 ... carriage shaft, 29 ... rail, 30 ... timing belt, 31 ... carriage motor, 32 ... pulley, 33 ... discharge roller, 34 ... spur, 35 ... transmission roller, 36 ... LF motor, 37 ...
Guide member, 38: Sensor, P: Recording sheet

Claims (6)

[Claims] A feeder configured to feed a recording medium; a transporter disposed downstream of the feeder in a transport direction of the recording medium; and a recording medium transported by the transporter. In a recording apparatus having a recording unit that records an image, the transport unit includes: a transport rotator that transports a recording medium; a driven rotator that abuts on and is driven by the transport rotator; A contact unit that makes contact with the transport rotator at a predetermined pressure; and a pressure adjustment unit that changes the pressure by the contact unit. A recording medium is provided on the transport rotator and the driven rotator. Wherein the contacting pressure of the driven rotator against the transport rotator is changed when the nip is conveyed. 2. The pressure adjusting means reduces the pressure of the driven rotating body against the transport rotating body by the contact means when the leading end of the recording medium enters the nip between the transport rotating body and the driven rotating body. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driven rotator is brought into contact with the transport rotator after the leading end of the recording medium passes through a nip portion between the transport rotator and the driven rotator. Recording device. 3. When the leading end of the recording medium fed by the feeding means enters a nip portion between the transport rotating body and the driven rotating body, the pressure adjusting means causes the abutment by the contact means. Release the pressure of the driven rotator against the transport rotator to form a gap between the transport rotator and the driven rotator just enough for a recording medium to pass therethrough, and the leading end of the recording medium is in contact with the transport rotator. 2. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driven rotator is brought into contact with the transport rotator after passing through a nip portion between the driven rotator and the driven rotator. 4. A recording medium according to claim 1, further comprising a detecting means for detecting a leading end of a recording medium between said feeding means and a nip between said transport rotary member and said driven rotary member. The recording device according to claim 1. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording means of the recording apparatus is configured by an ink jet recording method of performing recording by discharging ink according to a signal. 6. The recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the recording unit of the recording apparatus discharges the ink from the discharge port by using a film boiling generated in the ink by the thermal energy applied by the electrothermal transducer. The recording device according to any one of the preceding claims.