JP2002036648A - Device for regulating motion of guide member for material to be recorded in recording apparatus, and recording apparatus with the device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a motion regulating device for a paper guide member whereby the paper guide member can be simply set to a frame without requiring additional parts such as a leaf spring, etc., and the paper guide member once set is regulated not to move in any of forward, backward, upward and downward directions, and an ink jet printer with the device. SOLUTION: The paper guide member 35 for regulating a paper gap is set by this device in a manner to be regulated not to move to the frame 7 of the recording apparatus. A projecting part 55 for engagement is set to at least one end part of the paper guide member 35, and a receiving part 75 for engagement is formed at the frame 7. After inserted into the receiving part 75 from an insertion direction, the projecting part 55 is regulated not to move in a back-forth direction and in an up-down direction by being slid in a slide direction (Y, -Y direction) different from any of the insertion direction, the back- forth direction and the up-down direction.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a device for restricting the movement of a recording material guide member provided opposite a recording head, supporting a recording material from below, and defining a paper gap.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an ink jet printer, for example, maintaining a constant distance between a print head and a sheet as a recording material, that is, a paper gap is one condition for performing high quality printing. Since the paper gap is determined by the relative positional relationship between the head and a platen that is a rib-shaped paper position regulating member that supports the paper from below,
It is important that the paper guide member on which the platen is formed be securely fixed to the frame.

For this reason, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 16, a boss 101 is formed at an end of a paper guide member 100, and the boss 101 is formed.
Is inserted into the opening 105 formed in the frame 103 from above to restrict the movement of the paper guide member 100. However, in the conventional structure, the movement of the boss 101 in the front-rear direction (the X and -X directions in the drawing) is restricted but the movement in the vertical direction is not restricted, so that the paper guide member 100 is biased downward by a leaf spring or the like. The boss 101 is prevented from rising from the opening 105.

[0004] Such a conventional configuration requires additional parts such as a leaf spring and increases the number of assembling steps.
This was one of the causes of the high cost of the product.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to enable a recording guide member to be easily attached to a frame without requiring additional components such as leaf springs, and to provide a recording material guide once attached. It is an object of the present invention to provide a device for restricting the movement of a recording material guide member in which the movement of the member is restricted in any of the front, rear, up and down directions, and a recording device such as an ink jet printer provided with the device.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus, comprising: a recording medium guide member; A device for supporting a recording material guide member that defines a paper gap, which is supported from below, so that movement of the recording device with respect to the frame is regulated, and at least one end of the recording material guide member has An engaging protrusion is provided, and an engaging receiving portion is formed on the frame, and the engaging projecting portion is received in the engaging receiving portion from the insertion direction, and then the insertion direction, the front-rear direction, and It is characterized in that it is configured such that movement in the front-rear direction and in the vertical direction is restricted by sliding in a sliding direction different from any of the vertical directions.

According to the present invention, the engaging projection does not come back in the insertion direction due to the vibration caused by the movement of the carriage or the like, and the movement in the front-rear direction and the vertical direction is restricted. The distance between the paper and the platen, that is, the paper gap is kept constant, and high-quality recording can be realized.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the recording apparatus according to the first aspect, in the movement restricting device of the recording material guide member, the engaging protrusion is formed in a part of the sliding direction. A neck formed in the area, and a head having a cross section larger than the neck formed in the other area in the sliding direction, wherein the engagement receiving portion extends in an insertion direction different from the sliding direction. An entrance portion through which a neck portion can pass and the head portion cannot pass, and an abutment regulation which is connected to the entrance portion and abuts on a peripheral surface of the head portion to regulate movement in the front-rear direction and the vertical direction. And a unit.

According to the present invention, the engagement protrusion is received by the neck moving from the entrance of the engagement receiving portion in the insertion direction. Thereafter, when the engaging protrusion is slid in the sliding direction, the peripheral surface of the head of the engaging protrusion comes into contact with the contact restricting portion of the engaging receiving portion, and within the engaging receiving portion of the engaging protrusion. Is restricted in the front-rear direction and the vertical direction.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus for restricting the movement of the recording material guide member in the recording apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the sliding direction may be the main scanning direction. An engaging projection and an engaging receiving portion are formed. According to the present invention, since the sliding direction is perpendicular to the front-rear direction and the vertical direction, the possibility that the engaging projection slides in the sliding direction after being received in the engagement receiving portion is small.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus for restricting movement of the recording material guide member in the recording apparatus according to the second or third aspect, the engaging projections are formed by two opposed opposing members. An introduction guide surface is provided, and the two introduction guide surfaces are gradually separated from each other from the neck toward the head. According to the present invention,
When the engaging protrusion slides in the sliding direction, at least one of the two introduction guide surfaces smoothly advances while being guided by the contact restricting portion of the engaging receiving portion, and the head of the engaging protrusion is finally moved. Can be easily guided into the engagement receiving portion.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus for restricting movement of the recording material guide member in the recording apparatus according to the fourth aspect, one of the two introduction guide surfaces is connected to the neck by the neck. A flat introduction guide surface formed in a series in parallel to the sliding direction toward the head,
The other of the two introduction guide surfaces is an inclined introduction guide surface formed to be inclined with respect to a sliding direction from the neck toward the head.

According to the present invention, it is possible to guide the engaging projection along the flat introduction guide surface when moving in the insertion direction and when sliding in the sliding direction. In addition, when the engagement protrusion is guided along the flat introduction guide surface when sliding in the sliding direction, the front-back position of the head does not shift during the guidance.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus for restricting movement of the recording material guide member in the recording apparatus according to the fourth or fifth aspect, the engaging projection is provided on the two introduction guide surfaces. In addition to the above, there are provided two opposing regulating surfaces formed in series from the neck toward the head in parallel with the sliding direction. According to the present invention, when the engagement protrusion is slid in the sliding direction, the two regulating surfaces also function to guide the engagement protrusion.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus for restricting movement of a recording material guide member in a recording apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects. At least one auxiliary protrusion extending in the slide direction is formed at a position apart from the engagement protrusion at the end, and the frame has a plurality of auxiliary protrusions corresponding to the number of the auxiliary protrusions. At least an auxiliary projection receiving portion configured to restrict movement in the front-back direction is formed. According to the present invention, since the auxiliary protrusion is received in the auxiliary protrusion receiving portion, the regulation of the movement in the front-rear direction is further strengthened.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus for restricting the movement of the recording material guide member in the recording apparatus according to the seventh aspect, the auxiliary projection has the same configuration as the engagement projection. And the auxiliary projection receiving portion has a configuration similar to that of the engagement receiving portion. According to the present invention, the regulation of the movement in the front-rear direction and the vertical direction is further strengthened, and the consistency of the paper gap is further ensured.

According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, in the device for restricting movement of the recording material guide member in the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the engaging projection is formed in a front-rear direction. It is characterized by being formed wide in the direction. According to the present invention, the movement in the vertical direction can be regulated on the entire wide surface, so that the regulation of the movement in the vertical direction is further strengthened, and the engagement protrusion itself is reinforced.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the apparatus for restricting movement of the recording material guide member in the recording apparatus according to any one of the first to ninth aspects, the engaging projection is further provided. It is characterized by comprising an urging means for urging the inside of the engagement receiving portion. According to the present invention,
The vertical movement of the recording material guide member is more reliably restricted.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus comprising the recording material guide member movement restricting device according to any one of the first to tenth aspects. ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, since a paper gap can be always maintained constant, an inkjet printer which can perform high quality printing can be provided.

[0020]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a printing unit 3 of an ink jet printer 1 which is an example of a recording apparatus to which a movement restricting device for a recording material guide member in a recording apparatus according to the present invention is applied.
It is a perspective view which shows the state of a periphery.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 5 denotes a main frame.
Left and right side frames 7, on both sides of the main frame 5,
9 is formed integrally with the main frame 5. The middle frame 11 is formed integrally with the main frame 5 inside the right side frame 9, and thus the main frame 5, the left and right side frames 7, 9 and the middle frame 11 are formed of a single rigid plate. Are formed integrally by bending.

A drive motor (not shown) is mounted on the right end on the back side of the main frame 5, and a pinion 15 is provided on the output shaft of the drive motor. An endless belt 17 is provided between the pinion 15 and a pinion (not shown) provided on the left end side of the main frame 5.
The carriage 21 on which the ink cartridge 19 is mounted is connected to the endless belt 17. With such a configuration, the endless toothed belt 17 moves left and right by rotating the drive motor, so that the carriage 21 can scan for printing between the left and right side frames 7 and 9. ing. Hereinafter, such movement of the carriage 21 will be referred to as main scanning, and this scanning direction will be referred to as main scanning direction.

Each of the left and right side frames 7, 9 has a vertically extending shaft end support hole 23, and a carriage guide for guiding the carriage 21 when the carriage 21 scans. Both ends of the shaft 25 are supported. Both ends of the carriage guide shaft 25 are shaft end support holes 23.
As shown in FIG. 3, a torsion coil spring 27 is provided on each of the side frames 7 and 9 so that the end of the carriage guide shaft 25 is lower than the shaft end support hole 23 so as not to be displaced. Abutting from the upper side of the end so as to urge it.

A paper feed drive roller 29 is provided between the left side frame 7 and the middle frame 11, and a paper feed driven roller 31 is provided above it. Further, a discharge drive roller 33 is provided downstream of the paper feed drive roller 29 in the paper feed direction. Further, the carriage 21 is provided between the paper feed drive roller 29 and the discharge drive roller 33.
The paper guide member 35 is provided along the scanning region of the.
As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of platens 37 that support the lower surface of the sheet from below when the sheet is conveyed below the carriage 21 during printing are formed on the paper guide member 35.

As shown in FIG. 5, two projections 46 and locking pieces 50 are formed on the right end side of the paper guide member 35. The two protrusions 46 are formed on the middle frame 11
The paper guide member 35 can be inserted into the two receiving holes 47 from the extending direction. Since the upper and lower dimensions of the two projections 46 are set to be equal to the upper and lower dimensions of the receiving hole 47, the right end of the paper guide member 35 moves up and down when the projection 46 is inserted into the receiving hole 47. Is regulated.

Above the two protrusions 46, a locking piece 50 having a vertical spring action extending substantially horizontally outward from the right end of the paper guide member 35 is formed. A locking action portion 52 is formed at the tip of 50.
The locking action portion 52 can be locked in a concave portion 54 formed on the upper side of the right side frame 9. The locking action part 52 has the recess 5
By locking to 4, the movement of the paper guide member 35 to the left is restricted, so that the protrusion 46 is prevented from coming off the receiving hole 47.

Next, the structure on the left end side of the paper guide member 35 to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG. 6. Here, terms indicating various directions used in the present invention will be defined. First, the paper discharge direction of the inkjet printer 1 is defined as “front”, the opposite side is defined as “rear”, and the direction connecting the front and rear is defined as the front-rear direction. The direction connecting the upper and lower sides of the inkjet printer 1 is referred to as the up-down direction.

In order to clarify the following description, directions may be indicated by using X, Y, and Z coordinate axes indicated by three-dimensional coordinate axes shown in the drawing, in addition to the terms of the directions defined above. is there. The + X direction corresponds to the front direction of the printer 1, the + Y direction corresponds to the right direction of the printer, and the + Z direction corresponds to the upward direction of the printer. The front-back direction corresponds to the X and -X directions, the main scanning direction corresponds to the Y and -Y directions, and the vertical direction corresponds to the Z and -Z directions.

As shown in FIG. 6A, at the left end of the paper guide member 35, an engaging protrusion 55 extending in parallel with the Y axis, and an auxiliary protrusion located away from the engaging protrusion 55 rearward. 57 are formed. The engagement projection 55 includes a paper guide member 35.
A neck portion 59 is formed near the base of the head portion, and a head portion 61 having a cross section larger than the XZ plane cross section of the neck portion 59 is formed on the distal end side. In the present embodiment, the upper surface 63 and the lower surface 65 of the engaging projection 55 are flush with the upper and lower surfaces of the paper guide member 35.
Is equivalent to the regulatory aspect. Note that the upper surface 63 and the lower surface 65 of the engaging projection 55 do not necessarily have to be in a flush relationship with the upper and lower surfaces of the paper guide member 35 as long as the upper surface 63 and the lower surface 65 play the role of the regulating surface.

On the rear side of the engagement projection 55, a flat flat introduction guide surface 67 formed in a series from the neck 59 to the head 61 in parallel with the main scanning direction is formed.
On the other hand, on the front side of the engaging projection 55, an inclined introduction guide surface 69 is formed in the boundary region between the neck 59 and the head 61 so as to be inclined from the neck 59 to the head 61 with respect to the main scanning direction. Have been. The two introduction guide surfaces 67 and 69 facing each other are gradually separated from each other from the neck 59 to the head 61. Further, a front surface 71 of the head is formed in front of the head 61. The auxiliary projection 57 has the same rectangular shape in the XZ plane cross section at an arbitrary position, and has guide surfaces 73 formed on the upper, lower, front and rear sides, respectively.

On the other hand, an engagement receiving portion 75 for receiving and supporting the engagement projection 55 is formed on the left side frame 7. The engagement receiving portion 75 is connected to a lower portion (insertion direction) of an inlet portion 77 that can pass through the neck portion 59 of the engaging protrusion 55 but cannot pass through the head portion 61, and is connected to a lower side of the inlet portion 77. The engaging projection 55 has a receiving area 79 formed in a cutout shape having the same size as the XZ plane cross section of the head 61 of the engaging projection 55. The direction in which the entrance 77 extends toward the receiving area 79 is defined as the insertion direction. Around the receiving area 79, when the engaging projection 55 is received in the receiving area 79, the engaging projection 55 comes into contact with the peripheral surface of the head 61 to restrict the movement of the engaging projection 55 in the front-rear direction and the vertical direction. A contact restricting portion 81 is formed.

The auxiliary projection 5 is provided behind the engagement receiving portion 75.
An auxiliary projection receiving portion 83 is formed at a position corresponding to 7. The auxiliary protrusion receiving portion 83 extends vertically in the same width as the width of the auxiliary protrusion 57, and has an auxiliary receiving surface 85 formed in three directions inside thereof.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 has the above-described configuration, and its operation will be described below. FIG. 6B shows the engagement projection 55 and the auxiliary projection 57.
6C shows a state immediately before being received by the engagement receiving portion 75 and the auxiliary projection receiving portion 83, and FIG.
5 shows a state after the engagement protrusion 5 and the auxiliary protrusion 57 are received by the engagement receiving portion 75 and the auxiliary protrusion receiving portion 83.

First, as shown in FIG.
The neck 59 of FIG. 5 faces the entrance 77 of the receiving portion 75 for engagement, and the neck 59 is inserted below the entrance 77 from that position. At the same time, the auxiliary protrusion 57 is also inserted into the auxiliary protrusion receiver 83. When the lower surface of the neck portion 59 contacts the lower surface of the receiving area 79, the paper guide member 35 as shown by the arrow in FIG.
Is slid in the + Y direction (sliding direction) so that the head 61 of the engaging projection 55 fits into the receiving area 79.

At this time, the flat introduction guide surface 67, the inclined introduction guide surface 69, the upper surface 63, and the lower surface 65 of the engagement projection 55.
Are guided to the rear, front and upper and lower contact regulating surfaces 81, respectively, so that the head 61 can be smoothly introduced into the receiving area 79. As the paper guide member 35 slides in the + Y direction, the auxiliary protrusion 57 also moves in the + Y direction within the auxiliary protrusion receiving portion 83, and as shown in an enlarged view in FIG.
Is also received in the receiving hole 47.
Then, the locking action portion 52 on the right end side of the paper guide member 35 is snap-engaged with the concave portion 54, whereby the movement in the Y and -Y directions is restricted.

As shown in FIG. 6 (c), the head 61 of the engaging projection 55 is received in the receiving area 79, and the auxiliary projection 5
7 is received in the auxiliary projection receiving portion 83, the movement of the head 61 in the front-rear direction and the vertical direction is restricted, and the movement of the auxiliary projection 57 in the front-rear and downward directions is restricted. Since the guide member 35 is firmly fixed to the frame, the consistency of the paper gap is maintained.

Next, another embodiment of the paper guide member movement restricting device of the present invention will be described. In addition, among the reference numerals in the drawings showing the following embodiments, members or portions denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 6 perform the same operations as those described in the embodiment of FIG.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 7 is a modification of the form of the auxiliary projection receiving portion 83 in the above embodiment. The auxiliary projection receiving portion 83 in the present embodiment has an arc-shaped guide portion 87 formed on the front side, and an auxiliary receiving surface 85 formed on the lower side and the front side. In such an embodiment, the lower and front guide surfaces 73 of the auxiliary projection 57 are only supported by the lower and front auxiliary receiving surfaces 85, but the vertical direction and Since the movement in the front-rear direction is restricted, the paper gap can be kept sufficiently constant even in such a form.

FIG. 8 shows two engagement projections 55 having the same form as the engagement projections 55 in the embodiment of FIG. 6, and two corresponding engagement projections are provided on the side frame 7 side. The receiving part 75 is formed. In this embodiment as well, the head 61 of each engaging projection 55 is received in the receiving area 79 of each engaging receiving part 75 in the same manner as in the embodiment of FIG. The movement in the vertical direction and the vertical direction is restricted.

Another embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is similar to the embodiment shown in FIG.
In this embodiment, the engaging projection 55 and the auxiliary projection 57 are connected and integrally formed. Therefore, the present embodiment adopts a form in which one engaging projection 55 is formed wide in the front-rear direction. The entrance 77 and the receiving area 79 are also widened in the front-rear direction on the engagement receiving portion 75 side in accordance with the wide shape of the engaging projection 55. Since the engaging projection 55 of the present embodiment is wide in the front-rear direction, the neck 59 does not bend or break even when a strong load acts in the vertical direction or the front-rear direction. It has become.

The embodiment shown in FIGS.
This is a modification of the form of the engaging projection 55 in the embodiment of FIG. In these embodiments, there is no member corresponding to the auxiliary projection 57 in FIG. 6, and only one engagement projection 55 is formed.

The engaging projection 55 of the embodiment shown in FIG.
The neck portion 59 is formed by cutting both sides in the front-rear direction of the base portion with the paper guide member 35, and the neck portion 5 is formed.
An inclined guide surface 69 is formed on both sides in the front-rear direction from 9 to the head 61. In such an embodiment, after the neck 59 is received in the inlet 77, the paper guide member 3
By sliding the head 5 in the + Y direction (sliding direction), the head 61 can be easily inserted into the engagement receiving portion 75 while the two inclined introduction guide surfaces 69 are guided by the contact restricting portions 81 before and after the receiving area 79. Can be inserted.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11, the neck 59 is formed on the side remote from the end of the paper guide member 35, and the head 61 is formed on the side near the end of the paper guide member 35. I have. Two inclined guide surfaces 69 are formed from the neck 59 to the head 61. In such an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11B, after the neck 59 is received in the inlet 77, the paper guide member 3 as shown in FIG.
5 is slid in the −Y direction (sliding direction), thereby inserting the head 61 into the engagement receiving portion 75 while the two inclined introduction guide surfaces 69 are guided by the contact restricting portions 81 before and after the receiving area 79. can do. In the case of the present embodiment, a structure is adopted in which the right end side of the paper guide member 35 is fixed when the paper guide member 35 is slid in the −Y direction.

The embodiment shown in FIG.
5 has two heads 6 on the side near the end and on the side away from the end.
1 is formed, and a neck 59 is formed between the two heads 61. An inclined introduction guide surface 69 is formed between each head 61 and the neck 59. In such an embodiment, after the neck 59 is received by the inlet 77, the paper guide member 35 is moved in either the −Y direction (FIG. 12B) or the + Y direction (FIG. 12C) (sliding direction). ), The head 61 can be inserted into the engagement receiving portion 75. Therefore, since the paper guide member 35 can be fixed by sliding in either the + Y direction or the −Y direction, the degree of freedom in designing the right end structure of the paper guide member 35 is increased.

Next, the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 will be described. In the above embodiment, the neck 5
9 is inserted from the upper part to the lower part in the inlet part 77, but differs from the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 to 15 in that the insertion direction of the neck part 59 is in the front-rear direction (-X direction). .

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, the engaging projection 55 has a neck 59 and a head 61 extending long in the vertical direction. An inclined introduction guide surface 69 is formed from the upper surface of the neck portion 59 to the head portion 61, and the neck portion 59 to the head portion 61 are formed.
A flat introduction guide surface 67 is formed on the lower surface side of. An auxiliary protrusion 57 extends from the paper guide member 35, and the auxiliary protrusion 57 extends vertically in the vertical direction so as to have the same vertical width as the head 61.

On the other hand, an engagement receiving portion 75 and an auxiliary projection receiving portion 83 are formed on the left side frame 7 corresponding to the positions of the engaging projection 55 and the auxiliary projection 57, respectively. The engagement receiving portion 75 has a head 6
1 has a receiving area 79 having the same shape as that of FIG. 1, and an inlet 77 is formed in front of the receiving area 79. The auxiliary projection receiving portion 83 has an auxiliary entrance 87 extending downward from above the side frame 7, and the auxiliary projection receiving portion 83 is formed below the auxiliary entrance 87. An auxiliary receiving surface 85 is formed inside the auxiliary projection receiving portion 83.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 13A, first, the paper guide member 35 is moved downward (-Z direction) so that the auxiliary projection 57 is inserted into the auxiliary entrance 87, and thereafter, As shown in FIG. 13B, the neck 59 and the auxiliary protrusion 57 are provided.
The paper guide member 35 is moved in the -X direction so that the head 61 is received in the receiving area 79 and the auxiliary projection receiving part 83, respectively, and finally the head 61 is received in the receiving area 79 as shown in FIG. The paper guide member 35 is slid in the + Y direction (slide direction) so that the paper guide member 35 can be moved. Thus X,
In order to move the paper guide member 35 three-dimensionally in the Y and Z directions to receive the engagement projection 55 and the auxiliary projection 57 in the engagement receiving portion 75 and the auxiliary projection receiving portion 83, respectively, There is almost no possibility that the portion 55 and the auxiliary projection 57 move in the opposite directions and come off the engagement receiving portion 75 and the auxiliary projection receiving portion 83.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 14, two engagement projections 55 having the same form as the engagement projection 55 in the embodiment shown in FIG. Thus, two engagement receiving portions 75 are formed. Also in such an embodiment, the head 61 of each engagement projection 55 is connected to each engagement receiving portion 75 in the same manner as in the embodiment of FIG.
Of each head 61
Is restricted in the front-rear direction and the vertical direction.

Finally, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, a neck portion 59 is formed by cutting both sides in the vertical direction of the base portion with the paper guide member 35, and from the neck portion 59 to the head 61, both sides in the front-rear direction are formed. An inclined introduction guide surface 69 is formed. In such an embodiment, after the neck portion 59 is received in the entrance portion 77, the paper guide member 35 is slid in the + Y direction (sliding direction) so that the two inclined introduction guide surfaces 69 are located above and below the receiving region 79. The head 61 can be easily inserted into the engagement receiving portion 75 while being guided by the contact regulating portion 81.

In any of the above-mentioned embodiments, in order to completely prevent the engaging projection 55 from being detached from the engaging receiving portion 75 and to prevent the engaging projection 55 from lifting up, FIG. In this manner, one end of the torsion coil spring 43 can be brought into contact with one or both of the auxiliary projection 57 and the engagement projection 55 in a biased state from above.

In each of the above-described embodiments, the present invention is applied to the left end side of the paper guide member 35. However, the same structure can be applied to the right end side or both ends of the paper guide member 35. it can. Further, the numbers of the engaging projections 55 and the auxiliary projections 57 are not limited to those described in the above embodiment.

[0053]

According to the present invention, the engaging projection does not return in the insertion direction due to the vibration caused by the movement of the carriage or the like, and does not come off. Since the movement in the direction is regulated, the distance between the head and the platen, that is, the paper gap is maintained constant, and high quality printing can be realized.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the periphery of a printing section of an ink jet printer to which a movement restricting device for a paper guide member in a recording apparatus of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a front view around a printing unit of the printer.

FIG. 3 is a left side view of the printer.

FIG. 4 is a right side view of the printer.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the right end of the paper guide member and the periphery of a right side frame supporting the paper guide member.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the movement restricting device of the paper guide member of the present invention and its operation.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another embodiment in which the form of the auxiliary protrusion receiving portion in the embodiment of FIG. 6 is changed.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing another embodiment including two engagement projections.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing another embodiment in which the engaging projection and the auxiliary projection are combined into a wide engaging projection in the embodiment of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing another embodiment in which the shape of the engaging projection is changed.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing another embodiment in which the position of the neck is different from that of the embodiment of FIG. 6 and the operation thereof.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing still another embodiment in which the position of the neck is different from that of the embodiment of FIG. 6 and its operation.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing another embodiment in which the insertion direction of the neck portion is changed from the embodiment of FIG. 6, and the operation thereof.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing another embodiment having two engagement projections as a type of the embodiment of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing another embodiment in which the shape of the engaging projection is changed as a type of the embodiment of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a conventional structure for restricting the movement of a paper guide member and its operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink-jet printer 3 Printing part 5 Main frame 7 Left side frame 9 Right side frame 11 Medium frame 29 Paper feed drive roller 33 Discharge drive roller 35 Paper guide member 37 Platen 43 Twisting coil spring 44 Engagement hole 46 Projection 47 Receiving Hole 49 Passing part 50 Locking piece 52 Locking action part 54 Depression 55 Engagement protrusion 57 Auxiliary protrusion 59 Neck 61 Head 63 Upper surface 65 Lower surface 67 Flat introduction guide surface 69 Incline introduction guide surface 71 Head front 73 Guide surface 75 Engagement receiving part 77 Entrance part 79 Reception area 81 Contact restriction part 83 Auxiliary projection receiving part 85 Auxiliary receiving surface 87 Auxiliary entrance

Claims (11)

[Claims] A recording medium guide member for supporting a recording material from below and defining a paper gap so that movement of the recording apparatus with respect to a frame is regulated; An engagement protrusion is provided at at least one end of the recording material guide member, and an engagement receiving portion is formed on the frame, and the engagement protrusion is After being received in the receiving portion from the insertion direction, the insertion direction, the front-rear direction, and the vertical movement are regulated by sliding in a sliding direction different from any of the vertical directions. A movement restricting device for a recording material guide member in a recording apparatus. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the engaging projection comprises:
A neck formed in a partial area in the sliding direction and a head having a cross section larger than the neck formed in another area in the sliding direction. Extends in a different insertion direction, the neck portion is passable, and the head portion is not passable, and the entrance portion is connected to the entrance portion, and is brought into contact with the peripheral surface of the head portion in the front-rear direction and the vertical direction. A movement restricting device for a recording material guide member in a recording device, comprising: a contact restricting portion that restricts movement. 3. A recording material guide according to claim 1, wherein said engaging projection and said engaging receiving portion are formed such that said sliding direction is the main scanning direction. Device for restricting the movement of members. 4. The engagement projection according to claim 2, wherein the engagement projection has two introduction guide surfaces facing each other.
A movement restricting device for a recording material guide member in a recording apparatus, wherein two introduction guide surfaces are gradually separated from each other from the neck toward the head. 5. A flat introduction guide surface according to claim 4, wherein one of said two introduction guide surfaces is a flat introduction guide surface formed in series from said neck toward said head in parallel with said sliding direction. The other of the introduction guide surfaces is an inclined introduction guide surface formed so as to be inclined with respect to the sliding direction from the neck toward the head, and the movement restricting device for the recording material guide member in the recording apparatus. . 6. The engagement projection according to claim 4, wherein the engagement projections are formed in parallel with the slide direction from the neck toward the head in addition to the two introduction guide surfaces. A movement restricting device for a recording material guide member in a recording apparatus, comprising two restricting surfaces. 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein
At least one auxiliary protrusion extending in the sliding direction is formed at an end of the recording material guide member at a position away from the engagement protrusion, and the frame has a number corresponding to the number of the auxiliary protrusions. An apparatus for restricting movement of a recording material guide member in a recording apparatus, further comprising an auxiliary projection receiving portion configured to restrict at least movement of the auxiliary projection in the front-rear direction. 8. The auxiliary projection according to claim 7, wherein the auxiliary projection has the same configuration as the engagement projection, and the auxiliary projection receiver has the same configuration as the engagement reception. A movement restricting device for a recording material guide member in a recording device. 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein
The movement restricting device for a recording material guide member in a recording apparatus, wherein the engaging projection is formed wide in the front-rear direction. 10. A recording material guide in a recording apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: urging means for urging said engaging projection into said engaging receiving portion. Device for restricting the movement of members. 11. A recording apparatus comprising the movement restricting device for a recording material guide member according to any one of claims 1 to 10.