JP2002060111A - Ink jet printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an ink jet printer capable of appropriately stabilizing recording media of plural different sizes and stacking the recording media in correct positions without causing a skew. SOLUTION: A discharge part paper guide is provided with a plurality o ribs 11a-15a, 11b-15b for guiding and curving the recording media. A plurality of ribs are formed to be higher in the height position of width direction end parts than in the height position of a width direction middle part to each of the width direction length of plural kinds of recording media d, e, f.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an ink jet printer, and more particularly to an ink jet printer having a paper ejection mechanism with a paper guide.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a method of discharging a recording medium (for example, printing paper) in an ink-jet printer, a recording medium is curved in a direction perpendicular to a conveying direction (that is, a main scanning direction) in order to improve printing performance. Some recording media are stacked on a discharge tray when the rear end of the medium is released from being pinched by a discharge roller and a star roller.
The curving of the recording medium in this way to prevent the tip from sagging is referred to herein as “coping”. By performing the waving, the recording medium is stacked on the top of the paper discharge tray and the ink is not dried and conveyed and stacked while the leading end of the conveyed recording medium slides. While the medium is being conveyed, the ink on the recording medium stacked on the top of the discharge tray also dries, so that desired printing performance can be obtained.

FIG. 4 shows a configuration for performing this stiffening.
There is a paper guide of the paper discharge section shown in FIG. The paper discharge unit paper guide 50 is provided with a plurality of ribs 51 to 58 arranged in the width direction. The height of each of the plurality of ribs 51 to 58 is the maximum allowable size of the recording medium a indicated by a solid line in the drawing.
Is conveyed, the recording medium a is set to be concavely curved about the center line of the paper guide 50. That is, the rib is formed so that the height of the rib gradually increases toward the both sides from the center of symmetry of the center line of the paper guide 50.

According to this paper guide, when the recording medium a of the maximum size is conveyed, one end in a direction perpendicular to the conveying direction of the recording medium and along the main scanning direction (hereinafter referred to as a width direction) is a reference wall. It is struck against 59 and the squatting is performed correctly. The recording medium a does not come into contact with the recording medium stacked on the paper discharge tray during conveyance,
When the holding of the rear end of the recording medium a by the discharge roller and the star roller is released, the recording medium a is stacked on the discharge tray.

A transport roller for transporting a recording medium in cooperation with a star roller is provided upstream of the plurality of ribs of the paper discharge paper guide in the transport path. The transport roller is
A plurality of them are arranged at regular intervals along the width direction. When the recording medium a having the maximum allowable size is discharged, the conveyance force applied to the right and left portions with respect to the center in the width direction of the recording medium is the same, so that the recording medium is conveyed in a desired conveyance direction and the discharge tray Are stacked in the proper position.

[0006]

In the conventional paper guide shown in FIG. 4, the recording medium to be printed has a size different from the maximum size (a recording medium b indicated by a dashed line or a two-point difference). In the case of the recording medium c) indicated by a line, when one end in the width direction of the recording medium is conveyed by abutting against the reference wall 59, the center of the width direction of each recording medium is shifted from the center line of the paper guide. Exists. Accordingly, the height position of the middle portion in the width direction of the recording medium is located between the height positions of the one end and the other end abutting on the reference wall 59, so that the waist is incomplete and the tip hangs down. As a result, the recording medium is conveyed and stacked while the leading end of the conveyed recording medium slides on the recording medium which is stacked on the top of the paper discharge tray and on which the ink is not dried.

In the conventional transport roller provided on the upstream side of the transport path of the plurality of ribs of the discharge paper guide, the recording medium to be printed has a size different from the maximum size (the recording medium indicated by a one-dot line in the drawing). In the case of the medium b or the recording medium c) indicated by the two-dot line, when one end in the width direction of the recording medium is conveyed by abutting the reference wall 59, the right and left sides with respect to the center in the width direction of the recording medium are moved. Skew (skew) in which the conveyance force applied to the recording medium is unbalanced, and the conveyance direction of the recording medium is conveyed at a certain angle with respect to the desired conveyance direction.
Occurs. When the skew occurs, the recording medium is not stacked at a correct position on the paper discharge tray, or is pressed against the reference wall, causing a paper jam, or the inconvenience due to incomplete seating.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, and enables proper stiffening of recording media of a plurality of sizes, so that the recording media can be properly positioned without skew. An object of the present invention is to provide an inkjet printer on which recording media are stacked.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, an ink jet printer according to the present invention comprises an ejection mechanism for guiding and conveying a printed recording medium to an ejection tray. For each of a plurality of types of recording media having different lengths in the width direction, a plurality of guides are arranged such that the height position of the width direction end is higher than the height position of the width direction intermediate portion of the conveyed recording medium. Characterized in that it has a guide bending member. With the above configuration, the recording medium is curved in the width direction and the stiffening is performed regardless of the width of the recording medium.

[0010] Among the plurality of guide bending members, the guide bending member that comes into contact with the vicinity of the end that comes into contact with the reference position of the recording medium has the maximum height, and the guide bending member at the end opposite to the end of the recording member. The guide bending member that comes into contact with the vicinity may have the largest height among the guide bending members existing between the height position of the recording medium and the lowest position.

[0011] The reference position is a position serving as a reference when the recording member is conveyed. With the above configuration, the vicinity of both ends in the width direction of the recording member can be lifted upward with respect to a predetermined position in the middle, so that the recording medium is curved so as to protrude downward. You can do squatting. Among the plurality of guide bending members, the guide bending member that comes into contact with the vicinity of the end opposite to the reference position of the recording medium is higher than the adjacent guide bending member.

By providing a guide bending member that is in contact with the vicinity of an end portion of the recording medium opposite to the reference position so as to be higher than an adjacent guide bending member, the other end of the recording medium is bent upward. , Squatting is performed. When the plurality of guide bending members are formed of ribs, the recording medium can be bent and stiffened with a simple configuration. In addition, a plurality of ribs may be arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the maximum allowable recording medium width, and the ribs having a symmetrical positional relationship may have the same height.

Each of the plurality of guide bending members has five guide bending members between the center of the maximum allowable recording medium width and both ends in the width direction of the recording medium, and has an end located farther from the reference position of the recording medium. May be a second guide bending member in the width direction end direction from the center or a guide bending member located farthest from the reference position. With this configuration, at least three types of recording media, that is, A4 size, B5 size, and postcard size, are curved, and stiffening is performed.

A paper discharge mechanism for guiding and transporting a recording medium to a paper discharge tray is provided corresponding to each of the lengths of a plurality of types of recording media in the width direction, and the recording medium is skewed in a predetermined transport direction. It is preferable to have a plurality of transport members that transport so as to prevent the occurrence of such a situation. Since the recording medium is conveyed so as to prevent the recording medium from skewing in a predetermined conveying direction, the recording medium is stacked at an appropriate position on the paper discharge tray.

[0015] The ink jet printer according to the present invention comprises:
Further, in an ink jet printer having a paper discharge mechanism for guiding and transporting a printed recording medium to a paper discharge tray, the paper discharge mechanism includes a plurality of types of recording media corresponding to respective widthwise lengths of the plurality of types of recording media. It is characterized in that it has a plurality of conveying members arranged so that the conveying force applied in the width direction of each recording medium is substantially the same.

Since the conveying force applied in the width direction of the recording medium is substantially the same, the recording medium is conveyed without skewing in a predetermined conveying direction. If, for example, a roller is used as the plurality of conveying members, a constant conveying force to the recording medium in the conveying direction can be applied. The conveying member can be composed of two conveying rollers provided on the reference position side with respect to the center of the allowable maximum recording medium width and one provided on the opposite side. With this configuration, regardless of the width of the recording medium in the width direction of the recording medium, there is no large difference in the conveyance force between the right side and the left side with respect to the center in the width direction of the recording medium.
No transport failure such as skew occurs.

An ink jet printer according to the present invention comprises:
Further, in an ink jet printer having a paper discharge mechanism for guiding and transporting a printed recording medium to a paper discharge tray, the paper discharge mechanism is provided corresponding to each of the widths of a plurality of types of recording media, and the recording is performed. A plurality of transport members for transporting the medium so as to prevent the medium from skewing with respect to a predetermined transport direction, and a plurality of types of recording media having different lengths in the width direction provided downstream of the plurality of transport members in the transport direction. For each of them, there is provided a plurality of guide bending members for guiding the recording medium to be conveyed by setting the height position of the widthwise intermediate portion lower than the height position of the widthwise end portion.

A plurality of guide bending members for guiding and bending a plurality of types of recording media; and a plurality of transport members for transporting the recording medium so as to prevent the recording medium from being transported at a certain angle with respect to a predetermined transport direction. Therefore, the skew does not occur and more appropriate stiffening can be performed, so that the recording media are stacked at the correct position on the paper discharge tray. Among the plurality of guide bending members, the guide bending member that contacts the vicinity of the end opposite to the end that contacts the reference position of the recording medium is the position where the height position of the guide bending member and the recording medium is the lowest. Is the largest height among the guide bending members existing between the two.

The recording medium is conveyed in the conveying direction by the conveying member, and the vicinity of one end of the recording medium contacted by the guide bending member, the vicinity of the other end contacted by the guide bending member, and the height of the other end of the recording medium. Since the recording medium is curved so as to protrude downward at the position where the position is most different, the stiffening can be performed.

Each of the plurality of guide bending members includes five ribs provided between the center of the maximum allowable width of the recording medium and both ends in the width direction of the recording medium, and is provided at an end farther from the reference position of the recording medium. The contacting guide bending member may be a second rib in the width direction end direction from the center or a rib located farthest from the reference position. With the above-described configuration, the recording medium having any width (at least the A4 size, the B5 size, and the postcard size) is bent and the stiffening is performed.

The plurality of transport members are arranged such that the transport in the width direction of each of the plurality of types of recording media is substantially the same. Since the conveying force applied in the width direction of the recording medium is substantially the same, the recording medium is conveyed to the guide curved member without skewing in a predetermined conveying direction. The plurality of transport members are located at the reference position side with respect to the center of the maximum allowable recording medium width.
And one transport roller provided on the opposite side. According to the above configuration, the transport roller is disposed at any position regardless of the width in the width direction of the recording medium. And the paper is transported downstream of the transport path.

[0022]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating a paper guide of a paper discharge unit of an ink jet printer according to the present invention. The paper guide 10 is provided in a paper discharge unit of the ink jet printer, and discharges the recording medium to a paper discharge tray so as not to cause skew, and attaches the recording medium. When the recording medium is conveyed from the upstream in the recording medium conveyance direction to the paper discharge unit paper guide 10, first, a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the recording medium (hereinafter, referred to as a width direction).
Are guided so that one end thereof abuts a reference wall 19 as a reference position provided on a frame or the like of an ink jet printer. Next, the recording medium is conveyed to the downstream side of the conveyance path while being narrowed by a plurality of conveyance rollers 16, 17, and 18 arranged in the width direction and a driven roller (for example, a star roller) not shown. Thereafter, the recording media are arranged side by side in the width direction, and the plurality of ribs 11a to 15a having different heights are provided.
11b to 15b, the recording medium is curved and stiffened by being guided to slide on the recording medium, and at the time when the nipping of the conveyance roller and the driven roller is released, the recording medium is placed on the paper discharge tray. To be stacked.

Next, with reference to FIG. 2, a description will be given of the configuration of the ribs and the arrangement of the recording media (d, e, f) having different dimensions. FIG. 2 is a front view schematically showing a state of stiffening and a main part in each size of the recording medium when the paper guide of the discharge unit is viewed from the downstream side in the transport direction. Rib 11a
Paper guides 10 to 15a, 11b to 15b
Are formed integrally with each other, and are formed symmetrically with respect to a center line located at the center in the width direction of the transport area and at different heights. In the illustrated example, ten ribs are formed. In the illustrated example, the first ribs 11a, 1a
1b, second ribs 12a, 12b, third ribs 13a, 13
b, fourth ribs 14a, 14b, fifth ribs 15a, 15b
As described above, the heights of the ribs that are symmetrical with respect to the center line of the paper discharge unit paper guide 10 are the same, but need not necessarily be the same.

First, the stiffening of the recording medium d having the maximum allowable width (for example, A4 size) used in the ink jet printer applied to the present invention will be described. One end of the recording medium d is in contact with the reference wall 19, and the recording medium d is in contact with or located above the tops of all the ribs 11a to 15a and 11b to 15b. In this state, the recording medium d is arranged symmetrically with respect to the center of the paper guide 10 in the width direction of the paper discharge section, and the portion intersecting the center line has the lowest height position, and both ends in the width direction have the highest height. The position is higher. Therefore, the recording medium d contacts at least the fifth ribs 15a and 15b closest to the center line and the lowest among all the ribs, and the first ribs 11a and 11b closest to both ends and the highest among all the ribs. Then, it is curved in a concave shape that is convex downward, and stiffening is performed. At this time, the height of the rib 11b which is closest to the end of the recording medium d opposite to the reference wall 19 and is in contact with the recording medium d is arranged between the position of the rib and the position where the height is the lowest. The rib is formed so as to be the highest among the ribs, and is formed so as to be higher than the height of a rib adjacent to the rib. Therefore, the height position of the recording medium d near the end opposite to the reference wall 19 is higher than the intermediate portion, and the stiffening is performed.

Next, the attachment of the recording medium e having an intermediate width (for example, B5 size) will be described. Recording medium e
One end of the recording medium e is in contact with the reference wall 19, and the recording medium e is present at least at the top of the rib except for the first rib near the other end of the recording medium e. In this state, the portion where the height position of the recording medium e is the lowest is near the center line of the paper guide 10, and at least one end is in contact with the first rib 11a, and the other end is near the fourth rib. 14b. The height of the fourth rib 14b closest to the other end of the recording medium e and in contact with the recording medium e is the height of the rib (fifth rib) disposed between the position of the fourth rib and the position of the lowest height. 15b), it is formed to be the highest, and further to be higher than the heights of the adjacent third and fifth ribs. For this reason, the height position near the other end of the recording medium e is higher than the intermediate portion, and the stiffening is performed.

Finally, the stiffening of the recording medium f having a narrow width (for example, a postcard size) will be described. This recording medium f
Is located between the reference wall 19 and the center line of the paper guide 10 at its discharge end, one end of which is in contact with the reference wall 19 and contacts or abuts on the tops of the ribs 11a to 15a on the right side with respect to the center line. The recording medium f is located upward.

In this state, the portion where the height position of the recording medium f is the lowest is between the second rib 12a and the third rib 13a, and at least one end is in contact with the first rib 11a and the other end is in contact with the first rib 11a. The vicinity contacts the fourth rib 14a. Fourth rib 1 closest to the other end of the recording medium f and in contact with the recording medium f
The height of 4a is formed to be the highest among the ribs (third ribs 13a) arranged between the position of the fourth rib and the position with the lowest height, and the third and fourth ribs are further adjacent to each other. It is formed to be higher than the height of the fifth rib. For this reason, the height position near the other end of the recording medium f is higher than the middle portion, and the stiffening is performed.

As described above, the height of the rib which is closest to the other end of the recording medium (the end of the recording medium on the side opposite to the reference wall 19), regardless of the width of the recording medium in any width, is in contact with the recording medium. Is formed so as to be the highest among the ribs arranged between the position of the rib and the position where the height of the recording medium is the lowest, and the height is higher than the height of the adjacent rib. Formed. Therefore, the height position in the vicinity of the other end of the recording medium is higher than the middle portion, and the stiffening is performed.

Next, the configuration of the transport roller and the transport of the recording medium will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 shows transport rollers 16, 17, and
FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing an arrangement of recording media d, e, and f shown in FIG. Here, the ribs shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are not shown in order to emphasize only the arrangement positions of the transport rollers.

In the example shown, three transport rollers are provided. The first transport roller 16 and the second transport roller 17 are provided between the center line of the paper guide 10 and the reference wall 19, and the third transport roller 18 is positioned with respect to the center line of the paper guide 10. It is provided on the left side in the figure and within a simple area where the recording medium e is transported. The pressure of each transport roller against the recording medium is provided so as to be equal.

First, the conveyance of the narrow recording medium f will be described. The recording medium f is located between the reference wall 19 and the center line of the paper discharge unit paper guide 10, and has one end at the reference wall 1.
When it is transported from the upstream side in the transport direction in a state in which it is in contact with 9, it is transported while being held between the first and second transport rollers 16 and 17 and the corresponding star roller. Since the first transport roller 16 and the second transport roller 17 are arranged at substantially symmetrical positions with respect to the center in the width direction of the recording medium f, the right and left transport forces with respect to the center in the width direction of the recording medium f. The recording medium f is stacked at a predetermined position on the paper discharge tray without causing a difference between the recording media f and the skew during conveyance.

Next, the conveyance of the recording medium e having an intermediate width will be described. One end of the recording medium e has a reference wall 19.
When transported from the upstream side in the transport direction in a state where it is in contact with
The sheet is conveyed while being held between the first to third conveying rollers 16 to 18 and the corresponding star rollers. Second transport roller 1
Reference numeral 7 is disposed near the center of the recording medium in the width direction, and the first and third transport rollers 16 and 18 are disposed at positions substantially symmetric with respect to the center in the recording medium width direction. Therefore, with the arrangement of the conveying rollers 16 to 18, the recording medium e has no difference in conveying force between the right side and the left side with respect to the center in the width direction, no skew occurs during conveyance, and the correct position of the paper discharge tray. The recording medium e is stacked.

Finally, the conveyance of the recording medium d having the maximum allowable width used in the ink jet printer of the present invention will be described. When the recording medium d is conveyed from the upstream side in the conveying direction in a state where one end of the recording medium d is in contact with the reference wall 19, the recording medium d is held between the first to third conveying rollers 16 to 18 and the corresponding star rollers. While being transported. The conveying rollers are arranged asymmetrically with respect to the center line of the paper guide 10 in the width direction of the recording medium d.
The difference between the transport force of the first and second transport rollers 16 and 17 on the right side of the figure with respect to the center line of 0 and the transport force of the third transport roller 18 on the left side of the figure does not cause inconvenience such as skew. Turned out to be less. As described above, the arrangement position of the conveying roller shown in FIG. 3 is not so large because the conveying force on the right side and the conveying force on the left side with respect to the center in the width direction of the recording medium do not greatly differ regardless of the width of the recording medium. There is no occurrence of transport failure.

As described above, skew does not occur due to the plurality of ribs having different heights and the transport rollers arranged so that the right and left transport forces are substantially the same with respect to the center of the recording medium in the width direction. As more appropriate waist can be made,
Recording media are stacked at desired positions.

[0035]

According to the present invention, appropriate stiffening can be performed on recording media of different sizes, and print rubbing due to contact with a recording medium printed immediately before can be prevented. Further, recording media can be stacked at a correct position without skew.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a paper guide of a paper discharge unit of an ink jet printer according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view schematically showing a state of stiffening and a main part in a size of each recording medium when viewing a paper guide of a paper discharge unit from a downstream side in a transport direction.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing an arrangement of conveying rollers provided on a paper guide of a paper discharge unit and an arrangement of a recording medium.

FIG. 4 is a front view showing a conventional paper guide of a paper discharge unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: paper guide for paper discharge unit, 11a to 15a, 11b
15b: ribs, 16-18: transport rollers, 19: reference wall, 50: paper guide for paper discharge section, 51-58: ribs
59 ... Reference wall

 ────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Atsushi Ueda 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka F-term (in reference) 2C056 HA28 3F049 AA02 CA03 DA11 LA07 LB03 3F053 HA06 HB12 LA07 LB03 3F101 FB12 FC05 FC11 FC18 FD02 LA07 LB03 3F102 AA11 AB01 BA02 BB04 EA03

Claims (11)

[Claims] 1. A printing medium after printing is guided to a paper output tray.
In an ink jet printer having a paper discharging mechanism for transporting, the paper discharging mechanism is configured such that, for each of a plurality of types of recording media having different widths in the width direction, the width is greater than a height position of a middle portion in the width direction of the recording medium being transported. An ink jet printer comprising: a plurality of guide bending members for guiding a height of a direction end portion to be higher. 2. The ink-jet printer according to claim 1, wherein, among the plurality of guide bending members, a guide bending member that contacts the vicinity of an end portion that contacts a reference position of a recording medium has a maximum height. The guide bending member contacting the vicinity of the end opposite to the end of the member has a maximum height among the guide bending members existing between the height position of the recording medium and the lowest position. Characteristic inkjet printer. 3. The ink jet printer according to claim 2, wherein a guide bending member of the plurality of guide bending members that contacts the vicinity of the opposite end of the recording medium is higher than an adjacent guide bending member. Inkjet printer. 4. The ink jet printer according to claim 3, wherein each of the plurality of guide bending members has five guide bending members between a center of a maximum allowable width of the recording medium and both ends in the width direction of the recording medium. A guide bending member that contacts an end portion of the recording medium that is farther from the reference position, wherein the guide bending member is a second guide bending member or a guide bending member that is located farthest from the reference position in the width direction end direction from the center; An ink jet printer, characterized in that: 5. A recording medium after printing is guided to a paper discharge tray.
In the ink jet printer having a paper discharge mechanism for transporting, the paper discharge mechanism has a transport force applied to each of the plurality of types of recording media in the width direction corresponding to each of the widths of the plurality of types of recording media. An inkjet printer comprising a plurality of transport members arranged to be substantially the same. 6. The ink jet printer according to claim 5, wherein the conveying member includes two conveying rollers provided on a reference position side with respect to the center of the maximum allowable recording medium width and one provided on the opposite side. An inkjet printer characterized by the following. 7. A recording medium after printing is guided to a discharge tray.
In an ink jet printer having a paper discharge mechanism for transporting, the paper discharge mechanism is provided corresponding to each of a plurality of types of recording media in the width direction, and the recording medium is skewed with respect to a predetermined transport direction. A plurality of transport members for transporting so as to prevent that, provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the plurality of transport members, for each of a plurality of types of recording media having different width lengths, An ink jet printer comprising: a plurality of guide bending members for guiding the height position of the width direction intermediate portion to be lower than the height position of the width direction end portion. 8. The ink-jet printer according to claim 7, wherein, among the plurality of guide bending members, the guide bending member that contacts the vicinity of the end opposite to the end that contacts the reference position of the recording medium is: An ink jet printer having the largest height among the guide bending members existing between the guide bending member and the position where the height of the recording medium is the lowest. 9. The ink jet printer according to claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of guide bending members comprises five ribs provided between the center of the allowable maximum recording medium width and both ends in the width direction of the recording medium. The guide bending member that contacts an end of the recording medium that is farther from the reference position is a second rib in the width direction end direction from the center or a rib that is positioned farthest from the reference position. And an inkjet printer. 10. The inkjet printer according to claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein the plurality of transport members are arranged such that transport of the plurality of types of recording media in the width direction is substantially the same. An ink jet printer, characterized in that: 11. The ink-jet printer according to claim 7, wherein two of the plurality of transport members are provided on a reference position side with respect to a center of a maximum allowable recording medium width, and one is provided on an opposite side thereof. An ink jet printer comprising a conveying roller.