JP2001206561A - Sheet support tray and recorder furnished with sheet support tray - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent generation of chattering sound as a tray resonates with vibration of a motor of a device main body. SOLUTION: This is a sheet support tray constituting a characteristic feature of having a tray supported free to slide on a sliding surface formed on a device main body and a clearance forming member to form a clearance between the aforementioned tray and the aforementioned sliding surface by making contact with the aforementioned tray in a storing state of the aforementioned tray so as to selectively take the two states of the using state free to support the whole sheet or a sheet partially and the storing state.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a recording apparatus for recording on a recording sheet in accordance with image information, such as a printer, a facsimile, a copying machine, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a recording apparatus such as an ink jet apparatus has a discharge tray which is a sheet support (auxiliary) member for preventing a recording sheet discharged from a printer from falling off from the apparatus main body. In many cases, the above-mentioned paper discharge tray is slidably mounted on a rail provided on a base member, and is usually housed in the apparatus main body. There was something.

As described above, in the paper discharge tray which is used by being pulled out from the apparatus main body, the lower part of the paper discharge tray and the upper surface of the rail are in a state in which the paper discharge tray is placed on the rail surface even during storage. Most of them are in contact.

[0004]

However, in the conventional example described above, for example, vibrations of a motor, particularly a pulse motor, which may be generated during a printing operation, may transmit the base member and the rail to resonate the discharge tray. The larger the area of the portion where the discharge tray is in contact with the rail, the more noticeable it is often seen. However, the above-mentioned resonance of the discharge tray may cause chattering sound and give the user discomfort.

An object of the present invention is to prevent chattering noise due to the resonance of the tray.

[0006]

According to the structure of the present invention for solving the above-mentioned problems, the present invention selectively takes two states: a use state in which the entire sheet or the sheet can be partially supported, and a storage state. A tray slidably supported on a sliding surface formed on the apparatus main body so that the tray can be in contact with the tray in a stored state of the tray and between the tray and the sliding surface. And a gap forming member for forming a gap.

With the above configuration, when the tray is in the housed state, the tray is prevented from making surface contact with the sliding surface,
Since the tray is resonated through the sliding surface because it is supported by a plurality of point contacts or contacts with a small area, the transmission of vibration energy during operation of the apparatus main body that generates chatter sound (vibration sound) is diffused, and the chatter described above is performed. It is possible to realize prevention or reduction of sound generation.

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS (First Embodiment) Next, a first embodiment of a recording apparatus to which the above-mentioned means is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. This embodiment will be described using a serial type ink jet recording apparatus, and a recording apparatus using a detachable disposable type ink jet recording head and an ink tank as a recording head as recording means used in the recording apparatus will be described. I do.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a recording apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a right sectional view of recording paper of the recording apparatus.

First, the basic configuration of a recording apparatus will be described with reference to FIGS. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes a base (bottom case), which together with the main case 102 constitutes a housing and a chassis of the recording apparatus main body.

Reference numeral 101a denotes a paper remaining amount display window, which displays the remaining amount of recording paper loaded on the paper cassette 103.

Reference numeral 102a denotes a selection switch, which is a device (computer or STB) for sending data to the recording apparatus.
Etc.), two types of modes "A / B" can be selected.

A recording paper discharge section 102b after recording is provided above the paper feed cassette 103 containing the recording paper, and a discharge tray is provided at the recording paper discharge section so as to extend in the discharge direction. The recording paper is discharged along the three ribs 102c (three) and 102d (two), and the recording paper discharged thereafter is stocked on the previously discharged recording paper. .

Reference numeral 201 in FIG. 2 denotes a base member of the sheet cassette 103, which is detachably attached to the main body of the recording apparatus, and stores a plurality of sheets of recording paper separated and supplied one by one by a sheet feeding mechanism described later.

An operation panel 104 includes a power switch 104a, a reset switch 104b, and a power display 10.
4d, data transfer display 104e, error display 104
f, and a remaining ink display for displaying the remaining ink amount for each of the black ink and the color ink is provided, two 104c are provided for displaying the remaining ink amount for the black ink, and 104g are provided for displaying the remaining ink amount for the color ink. Are provided, and each color has a three-stage display mode of “non-lighting”, “lighting only one”, and “lighting two” corresponding to the amount of ink used, and expresses the remaining amount of ink. In the case where there are two types of tank capacities, the meaning of the display is made different depending on the respective capacities.

In the ink remaining amount detecting method according to the present embodiment, the total number of dots ejected by the recording operation or the recovery operation is counted for each of the color ink and the black ink, and the preset total ink capacity value ( (Total number of dots).

In the main case 102, a dot count reset key (not shown) for resetting the dot count described above is provided at a position where the access cover 106 is opened, one for each color / black (total). 2) is provided, when the ink tank is replaced and a new tank is used, the counter is reset by pressing the SW corresponding to the replaced tank. Turn off the light.

Reference numeral 105 denotes a paper discharge cover which covers the above-described recording paper discharge section 102b in which the recording paper 111 discharged from the printer is stocked, and is detachably attached to the main case 102. Most of the area on the upper surface of the cover is substantially flat, and is configured to be substantially flush with the upper surfaces of the main case and other components.

A plurality of ribs are provided on the back surface of the paper discharge cover 105 in the paper transport direction. When the discharged recording paper curls upward, the ribs guide the transport of the recording paper. .

Reference numeral 106 denotes an access cover. When a disposable type recording head cartridge or ink tank in this embodiment is newly attached or replaced, the access cover 106 is unlocked by the access cover lock 107 and the access cover 106 is opened. To perform the replacement work.

The lever 106a is provided on the 106. When the access cover is opened, the lever of the cover switch 501 is turned on by turning the lever of the cover switch 501 via the cover arm 500 rotatably attached to the printer unit. Thus, the open state of the access cover is recognized. When the cover switch 501 detects that the cover has been opened, the carrier is automatically moved to the cartridge replacement position after a lapse of a specified time, and when the close of the access cover is detected by the above-described means, the specified position ( A sequence for automatically moving the carrier to the home position or the recovery operation position) is provided.

Reference numeral 108 denotes a manual feed cover. When a recording operation is performed on a sheet not conveyed from a paper feed cassette such as an envelope or a postcard, the manual feed cover 108 is opened to expose the manual feed port 102e of the main case. Then, the paper is inserted into the recording position from the manual paper feed port.

In this case, the recording paper to be manually fed is supported from below by a plurality of ribs provided on the back surface of the manual feed tray and guided to the paper feed port. Reference numeral 108a denotes a manual feed sub-tray, which is stored in a folded state when the manual feed tray is closed, and is held to assist the length of the manual feed tray when the manual feed tray is open, thereby supporting paper insertion.

Reference numeral 114 denotes a sheet passing guide, which is a member constituting a recording sheet conveyance path described later, and is attached to the printer unit 600.

Reference numeral 502 denotes a flapper, which is a paper passing guide 11.
4, which rotatably attaches to a sheet insertion portion of the printer unit 600 during manual sheet feeding described later. (Fig. 2)

Reference numeral 109 denotes a U-turn cover,
9b rotatably supports the apparatus main body, and is held in a closed state by a latch 109d. When the recording paper is jammed in the recording paper transport path for some reason (at the time of a jam), the U-turn cover 109 is opened by pulling the grip 109c. Used to remove jammed recording paper.

Reference numeral 110 denotes a paper discharge tray for receiving the recording paper discharged from the printer unit.
2b is a paper support (auxiliary) member for preventing the recording paper from falling off from the apparatus main body (in the foreground) when the paper is discharged to the apparatus main body 2b, and is usually stored in the apparatus main body. It is pulled out from the main body and used.

Next, a description will be given of a recording sheet conveyance path by a paper feed cassette.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 111 denotes a stacked recording sheet (recording paper), which is mounted at a specified position of the paper feed cassette 103, and
Below, a pressure plate 202, which is a member for holding the recording sheet in the upward direction, is rotatably attached to the paper feed cassette, and is urged upward by a pressure plate spring 203 composed of a pair of coil springs.

A pair of separation claws 208 are installed near the paper outlet of the paper cassette so as to cover the uppermost corner of the stacked recording sheets.

Reference numeral 112 denotes an ASF (Auto Sheet Feed) unit, which plays a role of separating and transporting the uppermost one of the recording sheets stacked in the sheet cassette to the printer unit 600.

In the ASF unit 112, 112e
Reference numeral denotes a paper feed roller, which separates and conveys only the uppermost recording sheet of the stacked recording sheets 111.

The guide surfaces 112a and 112b constitute a paper feed path. The guide ribs 109a and the paper feed guide 11 constitute a paper feed path installed on the U-turn cover 109.
4 constitutes a paper feed path.

The above-mentioned path takes a substantially U-turn path, and the sheet is conveyed in the direction of being removed from the cassette and conveyed away from the printer unit, but is formed by the guide surface and the guide rib. The transport direction is turned by approximately 180 degrees with a smooth curvature by the substantially U-turn-shaped paper feed path, and the recording sheet is transported toward the recording start position in the printer unit.

The sheet conveying path ahead of the U-turn path is constituted by a guide surface 114a provided on the sheet passing guide 114 and a platen 622, and guides the sheet to a sheet feed roller constituting a sheet conveying means.

In the ASF unit 112, 112d
Denotes a U-turn roller, and a pinch roller 113 rotatably attached to the base is urged by a U-turn roller 112d by an appropriate spring force.
The recording sheet is rotated by the rotation of 12d, and the recording sheet is nipped and conveyed.

The recording sheet 111 is stored in the sheet cassette 103.
Are loaded into the main body of the recording apparatus, and AS
The sheet feeding roller 112e installed in the F unit 112 is rotated counterclockwise in the figure according to a preset sequence (hereinafter referred to as “CCW rotation”), so that the sheet is positioned on the uppermost surface of the stacked sheets. At the same time, only one recording sheet is separated by the separation claw 208 installed in the sheet feeding cassette 103, and sheet conveyance is started at the same time.

The recording sheet 111 separated from the paper feed cassette 103 is further conveyed by the above-mentioned paper feed roller, and when it reaches the U-turn roller 112d, is conveyed by the above-mentioned U-turn roller 112d and pinch roller 113 to be pinched. The recording sheet 11 via the U-turn sheet feeding path
1 is conveyed to a paper feed roller 620 rotatably attached to the printer unit 600.

At this time, the flapper 502 is flipped up by the recording sheet to open the recording sheet conveyance path.

A pinch roller 625 rotatably attached to the printer unit 600 is urged by a paper feed roller 620 by an appropriate spring force.
The recording sheet that rotates following the rotation of 0 and reaches the paper feed roller 620 nips and conveys it.

Reference numeral 626 denotes a paper discharge roller (2
Row), a plurality of spurs 628 rotatably attached to the printer unit 600 are urged toward the respective discharge rollers 626 by an appropriate spring force.
The recording sheet is rotated by the rotation of 26, and conveys the recording sheet.

The recording sheet 111 conveyed by the paper feed roller 620 is further conveyed in the direction of arrow E in FIG. 2 by the paper discharge roller 626, and finally, the ribs 102c and 102d serving as the paper discharge receiving ribs. Are discharged along the top of the sheet, and the sequentially discharged sheets are stocked on the previously discharged sheet.

Reference numeral 629 denotes a paper sensor as a sheet sensor, which is used as a means for detecting the position of the leading end of the recording sheet and has a rotatable lever. 112
The arrival of the recording sheet 111 is detected by being rotated and pulled up by the leading end of the recording sheet 111 conveyed by d.

After the sheet is detected by the sensor,
The recording sheet 111 is set at a recording start position by conveying the recording sheet 111 by a specified amount.

Reference numeral 604 denotes a carrier on which a recording head cartridge 601 is removably mounted. The recording head cartridge 601 has a replaceable color ink tank 6.
03a and the black ink tank 603b are mounted,
The carrier 604 is held by a guide shaft 606 and a guide rail 607, and is configured to be able to reciprocate in the main scanning direction.

In the case of manual feed, the manual feed cover 108 is opened, and a recording sheet is inserted through the manual feed slot 102e.
The sheet feed roller 6 passes through a sheet path (504) constituted by the guide surface 114a provided on the sheet passing guide 114 and the rib 622b provided on the platen 622.
20 until the leading edge of the sheet abuts.

At this time, the flapper 502 is grounded by its own weight to a predetermined position on the platen, and supports the insertion of the recording sheet from below.

When the sheet collides with the paper feed roller 620, the paper sensor 629 installed in front of the paper feed roller 620 is turned on to detect that a recording sheet has been inserted. Roller 6
After the recording sheet is conveyed by a predetermined amount by driving the recording sheet 20 by a predetermined amount, the paper feed roller 620 is rotated in the reverse direction to convey the recording sheet in the reverse direction (upstream direction) and set the recording sheet at the printing start position.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the internal components in a state where the upper casing such as the main case 102 is removed. Here, the printer unit and the ASF unit (not shown) incorporated in the base 101 are actually removed.

On the lower surface of the center of the base 101, a recording sheet 1 is provided.
11 is provided with a space for mounting a sheet cassette 103 loaded with the sheet cassette 11.
Is formed by a surface 101b that covers the upper surface of the light emitting device.

The main board 302 for controlling the printer is similarly mounted on the metal component PWB chassis 303 with the mounting surface covered with the metal component PWB guard 304.
It is fixed to the base 101.

The PWB guard 304 is a PWB chassis 303
And the main substrate 302
It has a shielding effect of suppressing noise emitted by the device.

Main board 302 and cable (not shown)
Is fixed to the base 101 with the mounting surface thereof facing the front of the apparatus main body 100.

A lock nut 306 having a female screw is press-fitted into the rear portion of the base 101 so that the main case 10
By being fastened with 2 and a screw, the engagement of both is strengthened.

A plurality of guide ribs 1 provided on the base 101
01g and a plurality of guide ribs 109a similarly provided on the U-turn cover 109 form a path. The two guide ribs 101g and 109a correspond to the recording sheet 111.
Since the recording sheets 111 are alternately arranged in a direction orthogonal to the traveling direction of the recording sheet 111, the recording sheet 111 is transferred between the two parts without being caught, thereby enabling smooth conveyance.

The pinch roller 113 is freely rotatable with respect to a pinch roller shaft 305 which is a close contact spring. Since the shaft itself is a spring, the pinch roller 113 always presses the U-turn roller 112d under an appropriate pressure (see FIG. 2). And stable conveyance of the recording sheet 111 is realized.

On both sides of the cassette 201 mounting portion, a cassette supporting surface 1 for supporting the rail 201d of the cassette 201 is provided.
01q is provided.

Further, a tapered surface 101r is formed at the tip of the cassette support surface 101q so that the cassette 201 can be easily inserted.

As shown in FIG. 3, a cassette side retainer 307 for preventing the paper feed cassette 103 from dropping off and urging it to the printing reference is incorporated in the base 101.

Here, the discharge tray 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.
10 will be described in detail.

In FIGS. 2 to 4, the discharge tray 110
Is mounted on two rails 101o provided on the base, and a pair of sliding ribs 110d are provided on the back side of the paper discharge tray in correspondence with the rails, and a slide formed on the rail is provided. The rail 101o supports the movement of the paper discharge tray 110 in the front-rear direction with the sliding rib slidably contacting the moving surface.

The upper and lower limits of the sheet discharge tray 110 are regulated with a specified gap by the rail and a plurality of ribs 102h provided on the back side of the main case 102.

The discharge tray is regulated in the left-right direction by two pairs of ribs 110c provided on the back surface of the discharge tray 101 at positions corresponding to the rails 101o.

In FIGS. 2 and 5, the paper discharge tray is in a pulled-out state, and an appropriate click generated when the groove 101p formed on the main body side and the claw 110a formed on the paper discharge tray 110 are engaged. It is fixed by force and has the function of receiving the leading edge of the discharged recording paper.

When the paper discharge tray 110 is stored, the projection 110b (see FIG. 3) of the paper discharge tray 110 engages with the latch 102i attached to the main case 102 and is fixed.

The user once pushes the front surface of the paper discharge tray 110 to release the engagement with the latch, and pulls out the paper discharge tray 110 to a predetermined position (the position in FIG. 2).

When the front surface of the sheet discharge tray is pushed to store the sheet discharge tray from the state shown in FIG. 5, the sheet discharge tray 110 moves along the rail 101o in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 6 as shown in FIG. I do.

Here, a pair of receiving ribs 101z (or projections) as gap forming members are provided at positions corresponding to the storage portion of the paper discharge tray of the base 101, and a pair of receiving ribs 101z is provided in front of the receiving rib 101z. A slope portion 101s is provided and is connected to the flat portion 101t, and the flat portion 101t of the receiving rib 101z is set to be at least higher than the height at the corresponding position of the rail 101o.

When the discharge tray is further pushed in the direction of the arrow in the figure from the state of FIG. 6, the rear end 110e of the discharge tray
Contact the slope 101s of the receiving rib 101z described above, the rear end 101e rises along the slope, and the flat portion 10e
When it reaches 1t, the rear end of the paper discharge tray is lifted up as shown in FIG.
Is lifted in a counterclockwise direction with a fulcrum 101oa, which is the corner of the uppermost surface of the rail 101o. Except for the part, it is fixed in a state of being floated from the rail 101o by the gap l.

In this state, the discharge tray is held in a state where it is supported by a total of four points of a pair of fulcrums and a pair of receiving ribs.

During the operation of the printer, a pulse motor is used as a driving source for driving a roller for conveying a sheet and scanning a recording head.

When the discharge tray is housed in the main body, the vibration of the pulse motor during the operation of the printer is transmitted through the base and the rail by receiving the lower portion of the discharge tray on the rail surface, and the discharge tray is passed through the rail surface. May be resonated and generate chattering sound (vibration sound). By supporting this with a plurality of "points" instead of surfaces (or lines), the transmission of vibration energy is diffused, and the aforementioned chattering sound generation Prevention or reduction can be realized.

(Second Embodiment) In the first embodiment, an example is shown in which the paper discharge tray is supported at four points.
However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may have two or three support points or more support points.

In the above embodiment, the discharged recording paper is supported by the recording paper discharge section 102b of the apparatus main body, and the tray is an auxiliary paper for partially supporting the recording paper having a size protruding from the recording paper discharge section 102b. It was something. However, the present invention is not limited to such a type, and the present invention can be applied to a tray that entirely supports the discharged recording paper.

[0075]

As described above, according to the present invention, when the tray is in the housed state, the tray is prevented from making surface contact with the sliding surface, and is supported by a plurality of point contacts or contacts with a small area. Therefore, it is possible to resonate the tray through the sliding surface, diffuse the transmission of vibration energy during operation of the device body that generates chattering sound (vibration sound), and prevent or reduce the above-mentioned chattering noise generation. It is.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the recording apparatus according to the embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view around a base according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the paper discharge tray according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a basic operation of the paper discharge tray according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of a basic operation of the discharge tray according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a basic operation of the paper discharge tray according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 100 apparatus main body 101 base (bottom case) 102 main case 103 paper feed cassette 104 operation panel 105 discharge cover 106 access cover 107 access cover lock 108 manual feed tray 109 U-turn cover 110 discharge tray 110 discharge tray 111 recording paper 112 ASF Unit 113 U-turn pinch roller 114 Paper feed guide 500 Cover arm 501 Cover SW

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A sliding surface formed on an apparatus main body so that an entire sheet or a use state in which a sheet can be partially supported and a stored state can be selectively selected. A sheet support, comprising: a tray slidably supported; and a gap forming member that contacts the tray when the tray is stored to form a gap between the tray and the sliding surface. tray. 2. The sheet supporting tray according to claim 1, wherein the gap forming member includes at least one protrusion formed on the apparatus main body. 3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the sliding surface is formed on one or more rails provided on the apparatus main body.
A sheet support tray according to item 1. 4. The sheet supporting tray according to claim 2, wherein the projection lifts an end in a direction in which the tray is moved to accommodate the tray when the tray is accommodated. 5. The tray according to claim 4, wherein the tray is stored, and one end is supported by the protrusion and the other end is supported by an end of the sliding surface. Sheet support tray. 6. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion includes one or a plurality of ribs formed on the apparatus main body.
The sheet support tray according to any one of the above. 7. The sheet support according to claim 1, further comprising a recording unit that records an image on a sheet, and a discharge unit that discharges the sheet onto the tray. A recording device with a tray. 8. The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said recording apparatus has a pulse motor as a driving source.