JP2002302275A - Supplying device of recording medium, its integrating method, and recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a supplying device of a recording medium, its integrating method, and a recording device easily capable of engaging a supply roller shaft of a supply roller for supplying the recording medium between bearing parts. SOLUTION: The supply roller shaft 24 that is engaged with a supply gear 21 and is journalled rotatably at both ends is constituted so that its length is variable. The length of the supply roller shaft is varied to integrate the supply roller shaft between the bearing parts 26 at a predetermined interval. The distance between the bearing parts is set slightly shorter than the longest length of the supply roller shaft, and the supply roller shaft is temporarily shortened and inserted between the bearing parts. Then, the supply roller shaft is extended, and the supply roller shaft can be easily engaged between the bearing parts without elastically deforming the bearing parts.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a supply apparatus for supplying a recording medium, a method for assembling the recording medium, and a recording apparatus. The present invention relates to a supply device for sequentially supplying, a mounting method for incorporating the supply device between bearing units at a predetermined interval, and a recording apparatus including the supply device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, an ink jet printer, which is one of recording apparatuses, intermittently intermittently sets a print head mounted on a carriage reciprocating in a main scanning direction and a printing paper in a sub scanning direction by a set amount. It is provided with a paper transport means for transporting, configured to move the print head in the main scanning direction while transporting the printing paper in the sub-scanning direction, and discharge ink droplets from the print head to the printing paper to record information. ing.

[0003] New printing paper is stored and set in a tray, and one end thereof is lifted by a hopper and fed by a paper feeding device having a paper feeding roller, a paper feeding roller shaft and the like. Both ends of the paper feed roller shaft are rotatably supported between the bearing portions, and the paper feed roller rotates together with the paper feed roller shaft to draw out and send out the uppermost printing paper.

[0004]

The paper feed roller shaft of the above-mentioned conventional paper feed device has a neck portion, that is, a portion having a small outer diameter, formed near both ends, and the bearing portion has a cutout portion made of plastic. It is formed in an annular shape. When the paper feed roller shaft is assembled between the bearing portions, the neck portion of the paper feed roller shaft is aligned with the cutout portion of the bearing portion and pressed from above, and the bearing portion is once elastically deformed to form the paper feed roller shaft. The neck portion is fitted into the bearing.

As described above, when the bearing portion is made of plastic, it is easily elastically deformed, so that the paper feed roller shaft can be easily incorporated between the bearing portions. However, when the bearing portion is formed of a metal sheet metal frame, it is difficult to elastically deform the bearing portion, so that there is a problem that the above-described mounting method cannot be applied.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a recording medium which can easily fit a supply roller shaft of a supply roller for supplying the recording medium between bearing portions. An object of the present invention is to provide a supply device, a method for assembling the same, and a recording device.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording medium supply apparatus for supplying a recording medium, wherein a supply gear is fitted,
A supply roller shaft rotatably supported at both ends thereof, the supply roller shaft having a variable length, and the supply roller shaft having a variable length. It is characterized in that the shaft is incorporated between bearing portions at predetermined intervals.

[0008] Thus, by making the distance between the bearing portions slightly shorter than the longest length of the supply roller shaft, the supply roller shaft is once contracted and inserted between the bearing portions, and then the supply roller shaft is extended. The supply roller shaft can be easily fitted between the bearing portions without elastically deforming the bearing portions.

In order to achieve the above object, in a recording medium supply apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention, one end of a recording medium stored in a tray is lifted by a hopper and supplied sequentially from the uppermost recording medium. In the apparatus, a supply roller that pulls out and feeds the uppermost recording medium, a supply gear that rotates the supply roller, a hopper drive gear that drives the hopper, and transmission of power from the supply gear to the hopper drive gear And a supply roller shaft in which the supply gear, the clutch and the hopper drive gear are fitted, and both ends of the supply roller shaft are rotatably supported, and the length thereof is variable. A supply roller shaft, and a bearing portion for rotatably supporting both end portions of the supply roller shaft, and changing the length of the supply roller shaft to perform the supply. It is characterized by incorporating over La shaft between the bearing portion of the predetermined distance.

With this arrangement, the distance between the bearing portions can be made slightly shorter than the longest length of the supply roller shaft, particularly in a supply device in which the driving of the hopper disposed in the tray is linked to the rotation of the supply roller. In this way, once the supply roller shaft is contracted and inserted between the bearings, and then the supply roller shaft is extended, the supply roller shaft can be easily fitted between the bearings without elastically deforming the bearings. Can be.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium supply apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the supply roller shaft is openable and closable with respect to the axis of the supply roller shaft. A stopper for limiting the movement of the supply gear in the axial direction, closing the stopper and moving at least the supply gear toward the stopper along the axis of the supply roller shaft, thereby reducing the length of the supply roller shaft. It is characterized by shortening.

Thus, when the supply roller shaft is contracted, the user grips and closes the stopper with a finger, moves the supply gear toward the stopper along the axis of the supply roller shaft, and moves the stopper to the inner peripheral portion of the supply gear. When the supply roller shaft is extended, the user grips the supply gear with his finger and moves it along the axis of the supply roller shaft to the opposite side to the stopper side. , It is possible to improve the efficiency of the expansion and contraction of the supply roller shaft.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the recording medium supply device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the bearing portion is erected on a sheet metal frame. . Thereby, since the strength of the bearing portion can be increased, the reliability of the supply device can be improved.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for assembling a recording medium supply device according to the present invention, wherein one end of a recording medium stored in a tray is lifted by a hopper, and the uppermost recording medium is removed. A method of incorporating a supply device having a supply roller that sequentially pulls out and sends out, a supply gear for rotating the supply roller, a clutch for interrupting transmission of power from the supply gear to a hopper drive gear for driving the hopper, and the hopper A drive gear is sequentially fitted to the supply roller shaft, a stopper provided to be openable and closable with respect to the supply roller shaft is closed, and the supply gear, the clutch and the hopper drive gear are connected to the supply roller shaft. The length of the supply roller shaft is shortened by moving the supply roller shaft along the axis to the stopper side, and the supply roller shaft in this state is moved for a predetermined time. The stopper is opened by moving the supply gear, the clutch, and the hopper drive gear along the axis of the supply roller shaft to the side opposite to the stopper side, and opening the stopper. Is extended, and the supply gear and the stopper are brought into contact with each other to limit the axial movement of the supply gear, thereby completing the assembly.

Thus, the supply roller shaft can be easily fitted between the bearing portions without elastically deforming the bearing portions, so that the assembling efficiency of the supply device can be increased and the cost can be reduced. it can.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus for recording information on a recording medium, comprising the supply device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects. It is characterized by: Thereby, it is possible to provide a recording apparatus having the above-described respective effects.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a configuration example of an ink jet printer as one of the ink jet recording apparatuses according to the embodiment of the present invention, as viewed obliquely from the front. The inkjet printer 100 has a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape, and is configured so that all operations can be performed from one side (hereinafter, referred to as a front side). The paper transport unit 140 and the printing unit 150 shown in FIG. 4 and the like described later of the ink jet printer 100 are covered by a housing 101 having an open front side and a front frame 102 fitted on the front side of the housing 101. ing.

As shown in FIG. 1, the casing 101 is formed by, for example, sheet metal working of a metal plate or by injection molding of plastic. As shown in FIG. 1, the front frame 102 is formed by injection molding of a plastic. Stackers 120 are arranged vertically, an operation panel 130 is arranged beside them, and an arrow b shown above the opening.
An open / close cover 103 that can be opened and closed in the front-rear direction is attached.

As shown in FIG. 2, the tray 110 has a main body 111 for stacking and storing the printing paper before printing and a diagonally upward lifting of the front portion of the printing paper to supply the stacked and stored printing paper one by one. The hopper 112 is provided. As shown in FIG. 2, the main body 111 is made slightly larger than, for example, A4 size printing paper. The main body 111 includes a positioning member 111 a for positioning the printing paper in the width direction of the printing paper disposed therein. It is designed to be positioned at a predetermined position by a lengthwise positioning member not to be stacked and stored.

As shown in FIG. 2, the hopper 112 has a paper supporting portion 112a provided at a front portion inside the main body 111 and a leg portion 112b integrally formed with the paper supporting portion 112a. The front part of the printing paper is lifted obliquely upward by the paper support part 112a that pivots around the end of the leg part 112b by the urging member 112c locked to the part 112b and the inner bottom surface of the main body 111. I have.

This tray 110 is, as shown in FIG.
The printing paper can be supplied in a state where the printing paper is stored in the housing 101 behind the front frame 102, and as shown in FIG. The printing paper can be replenished or replaced. As the printing paper, plain paper, special paper, recommended OH
P-sheets, glossy papers, glossy films, label sheets, postcards made by government, and the like can be used.

As shown in FIG. 3, the stacker 120 holds a receiving tray 121 for receiving and placing printing paper discharged after printing is completed, and a rear end of the receiving tray 121 pulled out forward. Or the cradle 12 pushed backward
1 is provided. Cradle 121
Is made slightly larger than, for example, A4 size printing paper, and is configured to hold the printing paper discharged after printing is completed. The base 122 is fixed in the housing 101, and is configured to support or receive or hold the receiving base 121 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, the operation panel 130 is provided with a power button 131, a reset button 132, a paper ejection button 133, and the like.
1 is electrically connected to a dedicated controller board or the like of the control unit 160 incorporated in the controller 1. This operation panel 13
By operating each of the 0 buttons 131 to 133, etc.,
The inkjet printer 100 can be started, printed, stopped, and the like.

The opening / closing cover 103 is, as shown in FIG.
It is formed in a size that can cover substantially the upper half of the front frame 102 by injection molding of plastic, so that it can be pivotally opened and closed about the lower part by pulling the upper part forward and pushing it backward. It is configured. That is, as shown in FIG. 4, the supporting ribs 103a are formed at two lower portions of the opening / closing cover 103 so as to protrude.
3 a is supported by the front frame 102 as a pivot center of the opening / closing cover 103. Further, locking ribs 103b are formed at upper portions of both side surfaces of the opening / closing cover 103 so as to protrude therefrom. 1
02.

Then, as shown in FIG.
A paper transport unit 140 is disposed above the tray 110 when the cover 03 is opened. Above the paper transport unit 140, a main scanning direction (a carriage 151 to be described later) indicated by an arrow c is shown.
(A scanning direction) is provided. Here, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state where the housing 101, the front frame 102, and the opening / closing cover 103 are removed, and FIG.
FIG. 7 is a front view thereof, FIG. 8 is a side view thereof, and a detailed configuration of the sheet transport unit 140 and the printing unit 150 will be described with reference to FIGS.

The paper transport section 140 transports printing paper to the housing 10.
1 has a function of transporting it from the tray 110 stored in the tray 1 to the stacker 120 pulled out to the front side, and the following members are arranged in order from the rear side to the front side. That is, a first paper guide 141 (see FIGS. 5, 6, and 8) disposed above the tray 110, a paper feed roller 142 (see FIGS. 5, 6, and 8) disposed vertically opposed, and a pad 143a. Pad holder 143 (see FIG. 8) having pad holder 143 (see FIG. 8), second paper guide 144 that supports pad holder 143 (see FIG. 8), and driven rollers 145 (see FIGS. 5 to 8) that are vertically opposed to each other. , A paper feed roller 146 (see FIGS. 5, 6, and 8), a third paper guide 147 (see FIGS. 5 to 8) disposed below the printing unit 150, and a discharge jagged roller 148 that is vertically opposed. (FIGS. 5-8
And a paper discharge roller 149 (see FIGS. 5, 7, and 8).

The printing unit 150 includes a carriage 151 (see FIGS. 5 to 8) movable in the main scanning direction, and a carriage 151.
An ink cartridge 152 (see FIGS. 5 to 8) detachably mounted in the front-rear direction with respect to the carriage 151;
A print head 153 (see FIGS. 7 and 8),
A guide rod 154 (see FIGS. 5 to 8) for guiding the movement of the carriage 151, a flexible wiring board 155 (see FIGS. 5 to 7) for electrically connecting the print head 153 and a dedicated controller board of the control unit 160, and an ink cartridge. Assist means 156 (see FIGS. 5 to 8) for assisting in attaching / detaching 152 to / from carriage 151 is provided. The ink cartridge 152 includes a total of four color tanks, for example, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.
It is configured so that full-color printing is possible.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, a drive motor 171 and a gear mechanism 172 as a transport driving unit 170 for driving the paper transport unit 140 are provided on one side of the paper transport unit 140, and the printing is performed. A drive motor 181 and a belt mechanism 182 as a print driving unit 180 of the unit 150 are disposed on the rear side of the printing unit 150.

The operation of such a configuration will be briefly described. It is assumed that the connection wiring and the connection of the power plug between the inkjet printer 100 and a computer or the like have already been completed. First, in a state shown in FIG. 1, the user pulls a finger on a concave portion provided on the bottom surface of the tray 110 and pulls the finger as shown in FIG. 2.
Pull 10 forward.

Subsequently, after a plurality of printing papers are stored in a stacked state at a predetermined position in the main body 111 of the tray 110, the tray 110 is pushed backward and set. At this time, the front of the printing paper is lifted obliquely upward by the hopper 112, and the front end of the top printing paper contacts the paper feed roller 142.

Next, the user hooks the finger on the concave portion provided on the bottom surface of the stacker 120 and pulls the finger.
As shown in FIG. 3, the stacker 120 is pulled out forward. Then, the user operates the operation panel 130 to put the inkjet printer 100 in a standby state, and inputs a print command from a computer or the like.

Then, as shown in FIG.
The uppermost sheet of printing paper P is guided by the first paper guide 141 and the second paper guide 144 and is drawn forward by the rotation of the paper feed roller 142 in the sub-scanning direction. And the pad 143a, and is sent further forward. Then, the printing paper P is sandwiched between the driven roller 145 and the paper feed roller 146 and is sent further forward.

When the printing paper P reaches the third paper guide 147, the movement of the carriage 151 in the main scanning direction is started. Then, the printing paper P being conveyed in the sub-scanning direction
On the other hand, the print head 153 ejects ink droplets while moving in the main scanning direction, and prints predetermined print information on the printing paper P. At this time, the scanning timing and the ink ejection timing of the print head 153 are controlled by a dedicated controller board or the like of the control unit 160, and high-precision ink dot control, halftone processing, and the like are executed.

Then, the printing paper P is sandwiched between the paper discharge roller 148 and the paper discharge roller 149 and sent further forward, and finally the printing paper P on which printing has been completed is discharged onto the stacker 120. Is done. When the ink in the ink cartridge 152 is exhausted, the open / close cover 103 is opened as shown in FIG.
Is rotated forward as shown by an arrow d in the drawing to separate it from the ink cartridge 152, and as shown in FIG. 10, the ink cartridge 152 is pulled out forward as shown by an arrow e in the drawing.
Replace with a new ink cartridge 152.

As described above, according to the ink jet printer 100, all the steps are performed on the front side from the setting of the printing paper P before printing to the removal of the printing paper P after printing, and further the replacement of the ink cartridge 152. Since the processing can be performed, the operation is quick and easy, the printing efficiency can be improved, and the peripheral devices can be installed on the upper portion of the printer, so that the work space can be effectively used.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a paper feeder which is an embodiment of the recording medium supply apparatus of the present invention applied to the paper transport section 140. The paper feeding device 20 is a feeding device that lifts one end of the printing paper stored in the tray 110 by the hopper 112 and sequentially supplies the printing paper from the top printing paper. The paper feeding gear 21, the hopper driving gear 22, and the clutch 23 The both ends of the paper feed roller shaft 24 of the paper feed roller 142 into which is fitted are rotatably supported between bearing portions 26 formed on the sheet metal frame 25.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a state in which the paper feed roller shaft 24 of the paper feed roller 142 in which the paper feed gear 21, the hopper drive gear 22 and the clutch 23 are fitted is taken out of the bearing portion 26, and FIG. FIG. 14 is an exploded perspective view of the sheet metal frame 25 on which the bearing 26 is formed. As shown in FIG. 12 and FIG.
Is formed in a cylindrical shape having a boss portion having teeth 21a provided therearound, and has a function of transmitting power for rotating the paper feed roller 142. The hopper drive gear 22 includes a clutch support shaft 22a for supporting the clutch 23 on one surface side and a spring hook 22b on which a clutch spring 27 described later is hooked.
, And has a function of transmitting power for driving the hopper 112.

The clutch 23 has an inner peripheral portion provided with a projection 23a which meshes with the teeth 21a of the sheet feeding gear 21, and an outer peripheral portion provided with a spring hook 23b on which a clutch spring 27 is hooked and a trigger lever 28 which will be described later. The stopper 23c and the fulcrum 23d (see FIGS. 24 and 25) into which the clutch support shaft 22a of the hopper drive gear 22 is inserted are formed in an annular shape.
2 has the function of interrupting the transmission of power to And
A feed gear 21, a clutch 23, and a hopper drive gear 22 are fitted to the feed roller shaft 24 in this order. As shown in FIG. 14, the sheet metal frame 25 is manufactured by punching and bending a metal plate.
Bearing portions 26 having 6a are erected at predetermined intervals.

FIG. 15 shows the sheet feeding gear 2 attached to the sheet feeding roller shaft 24.
FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a state before the hopper driving gear 22 is fitted to the paper feed roller shaft 24, and FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a state before the hopper drive gear 22 is fitted to the paper feed roller shaft 24. FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a state in which the clutch 22 is fitted, and FIG. 18 is a perspective view showing a state in which the clutch 23 and the hopper drive gear 22 are locked by a clutch spring 27.

As shown in FIG. 15, the paper feed gear 21 fitted to the paper feed roller shaft 24 can freely rotate around the paper feed roller shaft 24. As shown in FIG.
A cross-shaped groove 22c is formed in the inner peripheral portion on one surface side of the hopper drive gear 22, and a tip end of the feed roller shaft 24 is formed in a cross portion 24a that can be fitted in the groove 22c.
As shown in FIG. 17, the groove 22c is formed by the cross portion 24a.
, And the hopper drive gear 22 rotates together with the paper feed roller shaft 24.

As shown in FIG. 18, the inner peripheral portion of the clutch 23 is supported by a clutch support shaft 22a of the hopper drive gear 22, and a clutch 23b is provided between the spring hook 23b of the clutch 23 and the spring hook 22b of the hopper drive gear 22. A spring 27 is engaged, and the clutch 23 interrupts transmission of power to the hopper drive gear 22 as described later in detail.

A characteristic part of the paper feeding device 20 is that the length of the paper feeding roller shaft 24 to which the paper feeding gear 21, the clutch 23 and the hopper driving gear 22 are fitted is variable. The point is that the length is changed so as to be incorporated between bearing portions 26 formed at predetermined intervals. This point will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 19 is an exploded plan view showing a state in which the sheet feeding gear 21, the hopper driving gear 22 and the clutch 23 are detached from the sheet feeding roller shaft 24 of the sheet feeding roller 142. FIGS. FIG. 2 is a plan view and a perspective view showing a first state and a second state in which a clutch 21, a clutch 23 and a hopper drive gear 22 are fitted to a paper feed roller shaft 24. The paper feed roller shaft 24 is provided with a stopper 24b that can be opened and closed in the direction of arrow a in the drawing with respect to the shaft of the paper feed roller shaft 24. The stopper 24b is formed by making a cut in the axial direction of the feed roller shaft 24 so that one end is a free end and the other end is a fixed end.

As shown in FIG. 20, the stopper 24b abuts on one side of the sheet feeding gear 21 in an open state to limit the movement of the sheet feeding gear 21 in the axial direction (the direction of arrow a in the drawing). As a result, the entire length of the paper feed roller shaft 24 to which the paper feed gear 21, the clutch 23 and the hopper drive gear 22 are fitted is held at the maximum length L, and as shown in FIG. 21, clutch 23 and hopper drive gear 2
2, or at least the feed gear 21
4, the free end of the stopper 24b is inserted into the inner peripheral portion of the feed gear 21 to reduce the overall length of the feed roller shaft 24 by moving the stopper 24b to the stopper 24b side. Can be held.

By setting the distance between the bearing portions 26 slightly shorter than the longest length L of the feed roller shaft 24,
The paper feed roller shaft 24 is once contracted and inserted between the rotation support holes 26a of the bearing portion 26, and then the paper feed roller shaft 24 is extended. It can be easily assembled between the rotation support holes 26a of the bearing portion 26. Further, since the bearing 26 is erected on the sheet metal frame 25, the strength of the bearing 26 can be increased, and the reliability of the supply device 20 can be improved.

The method of assembling in such a configuration will be described with reference to FIGS. First, the user sequentially fits the paper feed gear 21, the clutch 23 and the hopper drive gear 22 locked by the clutch spring 27 on the paper feed roller shaft 24. Then, the stopper 24b is pinched and closed by a finger, and the paper feed gear 21 and the clutch 23 and the hopper drive gear 22 locked by the clutch spring 27 are moved to the stopper 24b side along the axis of the paper feed roller shaft 24, and the stopper 24b is inserted into the inner peripheral portion of the feed gear 21. As a result, as shown in FIG. 22, the sheet feeding roller shaft 24 contracts, so that the sheet feeding roller shaft 24 can be inserted between the rotation support holes 26 a of the bearing 26.

Next, the user grips the sheet feeding gear 21 with a finger and connects the sheet feeding gear 21 with the clutch 23 and the hopper driving gear 22 locked by the clutch spring 27 to the sheet feeding roller shaft 24.
The stopper 24b is moved from the inner peripheral portion of the sheet feeding gear 21 by moving the stopper 24b to the opposite side to the stopper 24b side. As a result, as shown in FIG. 23, the feed roller shaft 24 extends, and the free end of the opened stopper 24b is
1 to limit the axial movement of the feed gear 21, that is, the movement in the shortening direction, so that the feed roller shaft 24 is reliably rotatably supported between the rotation support holes 26 a of the bearing portion 26. Can be. As described above, even if the bearing portion 26 is not elastically deformed, the feed roller shaft 24 can be connected to the bearing portion 26.
Can be easily fitted between the rotation support holes 26a, so that the assembling efficiency of the supply device 20 can be increased,
Cost can be reduced.

The paper feeder 20 incorporated as described above
Will be described with reference to FIGS. 24 and 25. Normally, as shown in FIG. 24, since the trigger lever 28 is locked to the locking portion 23c of the clutch 23,
The first tooth 21a and the projection 23a of the clutch 23 are separated from each other, and the sheet feeding gear 21 idles. And when feeding paper,
As shown in FIG. 25, the rotation of the transmission gear 29a in the direction indicated by the arrow a rotates the trigger lever 28 in the direction indicated by the arrow b via the friction clutch 29b.
8 is disengaged from the engaging portion 23c of the clutch 23, and the tooth 21a of the sheet feeding gear 21 and the projection 23a of the clutch 23 are fitted by the action of the clutch spring 27.

As a result, the rotation of the paper feed gear 21 is transmitted to the hopper drive gear 22 via the rotation fulcrum 23d of the clutch 23 and the clutch support shaft 22a of the hopper drive gear 22, so that the paper is stored in the tray 110. One end of the printing paper is lifted by the hopper 112. Then, the paper feed roller 142 rotates to pull out and send out the uppermost printing paper.

As described above, the present invention has been described with respect to various embodiments. However, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and other embodiments may be included within the scope of the invention described in the claims. It goes without saying that also applies. For example, although a printer has been described as an example of a recording device, the present invention is not limited to this, and is applicable to a recording device such as a facsimile device or a copying device.

[0052]

As described above, according to the recording medium supply apparatus, the assembling method and the recording apparatus according to the present invention,
By keeping the distance between the bearing portions slightly shorter than the longest length of the supply roller shaft, the supply roller shaft is once contracted and inserted between the bearing portions, and then the supply roller shaft is extended,
The supply roller shaft can be easily fitted between the bearing portions without elastically deforming the bearing portions.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a configuration example of an ink jet printer, which is one of the ink jet recording apparatuses according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed obliquely from the front.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state where a tray of the ink jet printer of FIG. 1 is pulled out.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state where a stacker of the ink jet printer of FIG. 1 is pulled out.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which an opening / closing cover of the ink jet printer of FIG. 1 is opened.

5 is a perspective view showing a state in which a housing, a front frame, and an opening / closing cover of the ink jet printer of FIG. 1 are removed.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the ink jet printer of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the ink jet printer of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a side view of the ink jet printer of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a first perspective view showing a procedure for replacing an ink cartridge of the ink jet printer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a second perspective view showing a procedure for replacing an ink cartridge of the ink jet printer of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a sheet feeding device which is an embodiment of the recording medium supply device of the present invention applied to the sheet conveying section of the ink jet printer of FIG. 1;

12 is a perspective view showing a state in which a paper feed roller shaft of the paper feed roller to which the paper feed gear, the hopper drive gear, and the clutch of FIG. 11 are fitted is taken out from a bearing portion.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a sheet metal frame on which the bearing of FIG. 11 is formed.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a state in which a paper feed gear is fitted to the paper feed roller shaft of FIG. 11;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a state before a hopper drive gear is fitted to the paper feed roller shaft of FIG. 11;

17 is a perspective view showing a state in which a hopper driving gear is fitted to the paper feed roller shaft of FIG. 11;

18 is a perspective view showing a state in which the clutch and the hopper drive gear of FIG. 11 are locked by a clutch spring.

19 is an exploded plan view showing a state in which the paper feed gear, the hopper drive gear, and the clutch of FIG. 11 are detached from the paper feed roller shaft of the paper feed roller.

20 is a plan view illustrating a first state in which the sheet feeding gear, the clutch, and the hopper driving gear of FIG. 11 are fitted to a sheet feeding roller shaft.

FIG. 21 is a perspective view illustrating a second state in which the sheet feeding gear, the clutch, and the hopper driving gear of FIG. 11 are fitted to a sheet feeding roller shaft.

FIG. 22 is a first diagram illustrating a method of assembling the sheet feeding device of FIG. 11;

FIG. 23 is a second diagram illustrating a method of assembling the sheet feeding device of FIG. 11;

FIG. 24 is a first diagram for describing an operation example of the sheet feeding device of FIG. 11;

FIG. 25 is a second diagram illustrating an operation example of the sheet feeding device of FIG. 11;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 20 paper feeder 21 paper feed gear 21 a teeth 22 hopper drive gear 22 a clutch support shaft 22 b spring hook 22 c groove 23 clutch 23 a projection 23 b spring hook 23 c locking section 23 d clutch support section 24 paper feed roller shaft 24 a cross section 24 b stopper 25 sheet metal Frame 26 Bearing 26a Rotation support hole 27 Clutch spring 28 Trigger lever 29a Transmission gear 29b Friction clutch 100 Inkjet printer 101 Housing 102 Front frame 103 Opening / closing cover 110 Tray 111 Main body 112 Hopper 120 Stacker 121 Receiving stand 122 Base 130 Operation panel 140 Paper transport section 141 First paper guide 142 Paper feed roller 143 Pad holder 144 Second paper guide 145 Follower roller 146 Paper feed roller 147 Third paper guide 148 La 149 paper discharge roller 150 printing unit 151 the carriage 152 ink cartridge 153 printhead 154 guide bar 155 flexible wiring board 156 assist unit 160 control unit 170 transfer drive 171 driving motor 172 gear mechanism 180 print driver 181 driving motor 182 belt mechanism

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page F term (reference) 3F343 FA02 FB04 FC21 GA01 GB01 GC01 GD01 HA16 HA31 JA03 JA16 KB04 KB05 LA04 LA16 LB08 LD10 LD29

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A supply device for supplying a recording medium, comprising a supply roller shaft fitted with a supply gear, and both ends of which are rotatably supported, the length of which is variable. A supply roller shaft, wherein the length of the supply roller shaft is changed, and the supply roller shaft is incorporated between bearings at predetermined intervals. 2. A supply device which lifts one end of a recording medium accommodated in a tray by a hopper and sequentially supplies the recording medium from the uppermost recording medium, wherein the supply roller pulls out and sends out the uppermost recording medium; A supply gear that rotates a roller, a hopper drive gear that drives the hopper, a clutch that interrupts transmission of power from the supply gear to the hopper drive gear, and the supply gear, the clutch, and the hopper drive gear fit. A supply roller shaft whose both ends are rotatably supported at its both ends, a supply roller shaft whose length is configured to be variable, and both ends of the supply roller shaft are rotatable. A bearing portion for supporting, wherein a length of the supply roller shaft is changed and the supply roller shaft is incorporated between the bearing portions at a predetermined interval. Supply device of the recording medium. 3. A stopper, which is openable and closable with respect to the axis of the supply roller shaft, is provided in contact with the supply gear in an open state to limit axial movement of the supply gear, and the stopper is closed. 3. The recording medium supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the length of the supply roller shaft is reduced by moving at least the supply gear toward the stopper along the axis of the supply roller shaft. . 4. The recording medium supply device according to claim 1, wherein the bearing portion is provided upright on a sheet metal frame. 5. A method of incorporating a supply device having a supply roller that lifts one end of a recording medium stored in a tray by a hopper and sequentially pulls out from the uppermost recording medium and sends out the supply medium, the supply gear rotating the supply roller. And a clutch for intermittently transmitting power from the supply gear to a hopper drive gear for driving the hopper, and the hopper drive gear are sequentially fitted to a supply roller shaft, and opened and closed with respect to the supply roller shaft. Closing the stopper provided so as to reduce the length of the supply roller shaft by moving the supply gear, the clutch and the hopper drive gear toward the stopper along the axis of the supply roller shaft, The supply roller shaft in this state is inserted between bearing portions at predetermined intervals, and the supply gear, the clutch, and the hopper drive gear The stopper is opened by moving the supply roller shaft in a direction opposite to the stopper side along the axis of the supply roller shaft, and the length of the supply roller shaft is extended, and the supply gear and the stopper are brought into contact with each other. A method for assembling a recording medium supply device, wherein the installation is completed by restricting the movement of the supply gear in the axial direction. 6. A recording device for recording information on a recording medium, comprising: the supply device according to claim 1. Description: