JP2002355956A - Tray for carrying recording material - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a tray for carrying a recording material in which the possibility of damaging the lever of a sheet detector is lowered at the time of drawing out the tray, inserted upside down into a sheet feed passage, from the sheet feed passage. SOLUTION: Protective parts 17 for recording material starting end detecting means are formed on the rear surface of a tray 1 for carrying a recording material. The protective parts 17 form an inclining face by a plurality of ribs. The inclining face is formed at the step part of a region where the lever 63 of a sheet detector 63 slides at the time of drawing out the tray 1 inserted upside down. The inclining face is formed at the step part of the ribs formed at the end part of the tray 1. The protective parts 17 are formed substantially point symmetrically at the center of the tray 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a carriage having a recording head and reciprocating in a main scanning direction, a recording material conveying means for conveying a recording material in a sub-scanning direction, and a thin recording material. The present invention relates to a recording material transport tray of a recording apparatus, comprising: means for transporting a mounted recording material transport tray as a recording material, and printing on one surface of the recording material by a recording head.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a thin recording material, for example, a CD is used.
In a recording medium such as -R, information or the like recorded on the medium can be written in a predetermined area on a label surface opposite to the recording surface. As a recording device for printing in this area, International Application No. PCT / JP9
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6/02833 discloses a recording apparatus which mounts the recording material on a recording material transport tray, transports the recording material transport tray, and performs printing. This is a recording material transport tray in which a recording medium such as a CD-R is mounted on a mounting portion formed of a shallow circular groove formed in the center of the surface of the recording material transport tray made of a thin rectangular plate, and the recording medium is mounted. Is transported by a transport roller, and printing is performed on the surface of the recording medium by a recording head.

[0003] A recording material transport tray on which a recording medium such as a CD-R or the like is mounted is manually inserted into the paper feed path in the same manner as a low-flexibility recording material such as thick paper, and a label of the recording medium is inserted. An ink jet recording apparatus capable of performing recording on a surface is already known as a known apparatus. This ink jet recording apparatus includes a carriage having a recording head and reciprocating in a main scanning direction, and a recording material transport unit for transporting a recording material in a sub scanning direction,
The recording is performed on the recording paper fed from the automatic paper feeder. In addition to the normal paper feed path by the automatic paper feeder, a manual paper feed path capable of manually feeding thick paper or the like is provided. In addition, the recording medium carrying tray has a configuration in which recording can be executed in the same manner as thick paper.

[0004]

As described above, when a thin recording material is mounted on the recording material transport tray and printing is performed, the recording material is manually inserted into the paper feed path of the ink jet recording apparatus. However, there is a possibility that the front and back surfaces may be erroneously inserted with their surfaces reversed.

[0005] Incidentally, the ink jet type recording apparatus is provided with a paper detecting device as means for detecting the start and end of the recording material. This paper detecting device has a lever which is provided with a self-return behavior to a standing posture, and which is pivotally supported in a state of protruding into a conveyance path so that it can rotate only in the sub-scanning direction. Generally known. Also,
The recording material transport tray is formed of a resin member such as plastic by injection molding, and the recording material transport tray formed of a thin rectangular plate has a plurality of ribs on the back surface for obtaining sufficient strength and accuracy. Is formed.

For these reasons, as described above, if the recording material transport tray is erroneously inserted into the paper feed path with its front and back surfaces reversed, it is difficult to remove the tray from the paper feed path. The ribs formed on the back surface of the recording material transport tray are caught by the lever of the paper detection device protruding into the transport path, and the force for rotating the lever in the direction opposite to the rotatable direction is applied. There is a possibility that the lever may be damaged by acting on the lever.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and an object of the present invention is to provide a recording material transport tray that has been erroneously inserted into a paper feed path with its front and back surfaces reversed. An object of the present invention is to provide a recording material transport tray in which a lever of a paper detection device is less likely to be damaged when the tray is pulled out from a paper feed path.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a carriage having a recording head and reciprocating in a main scanning direction, and conveying a recording material in a sub-scanning direction. A recording material transporting means to be transported, and a recording material transporting tray on which a thin recording material is mounted, is transported as the recording material, and printing is performed on one surface of the thin recording material by the recording head. Means for transporting the recording material of the recording apparatus, wherein the recording apparatus has a self-return behavior to a standing position, and can rotate only in the sub-scanning direction. A recording material start end detecting means having a lever pivotally supported in a state of protruding into the conveyance path and capable of detecting a start end of the recording material, wherein the recording material conveyance tray comprises the recording material conveyance tray; Into the conveyance path of the recording material conveyance means, After inserting the recording material transport tray from the transport path, the lever is rotated in the direction opposite to the rotatable direction after the recording medium is inserted such that the surface opposite to the recording material mounting surface faces the recording head. A recording material transport tray, comprising a recording material start end detecting means protection portion having a shape capable of being pulled out without being pulled out.

As described above, in the recording material transport tray, the recording material transport tray is provided on the transport path of the recording material transport means, and the surface opposite to the thin plate-like recording material mounting surface has the recording surface. After inserting so that it faces the head, that is, after inserting it with the front and back reversed, when pulling out the recording material transport tray, it is possible to pull out the lever without rotating in the opposite direction to the rotatable direction. Since the recording material starting end detecting means protection portion having a possible shape is provided, it is possible to prevent the lever of the paper detecting device from being damaged when the recording material transport tray is pulled out.

Thus, according to the recording material conveying tray according to the first aspect of the present invention, the recording material transport tray has a shape that allows the lever to be pulled out without rotating in the opposite direction to the rotatable direction. The lever of the paper detection device is damaged when the recording material transport tray that was accidentally inserted into the paper feed path with the front and back sides reversed by the recording material start end detection means protection section is pulled out of the paper feed path. The effect of being able to reduce the risk of being performed is obtained.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the recording material start end detecting means protection unit includes a recording material transport tray which is disposed on a transport path of the recording material transporting means.
After the sheet is inserted such that the surface opposite to the recording material mounting surface facing the recording head faces the recording head, a step in an area where the lever portion slides when the recording material transport tray is pulled out from the transport path. A recording material transport tray characterized in that the recording material transport tray is formed so as to have an inclined surface in a portion.

As described above, the recording material conveying tray is formed of a resin member such as plastic by injection molding, and a plurality of ribs are formed on the back surface to obtain sufficient strength and accuracy. Then, after inserting the recording material transport tray with the front and back surfaces reversed, when pulling out,
There is a possibility that the lever may be caught on the stepped portion by the rib, and the lever may be damaged. Therefore, as described above, when the recording material transport tray is inserted with the front surface and the back surface inverted, when the tray is pulled out, an inclined surface is formed in the step portion of the region where the lever portion slides, so that the lever is not stepped. There is no danger of catching on the part.

According to the recording material transport tray according to the second aspect of the present invention, when the recording material transport tray is inserted with its front surface and back surface reversed, and when the tray is pulled out, the lever portion is pulled out. The function and effect of the invention according to claim 1 of the present application can be obtained by the recording material starting end detection means protection portion having an inclined surface formed at a step portion in a region where the sliding contact occurs.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the recording material start end detecting means protection portion is formed by a plurality of ribs. It is a tray.

As described above, the recording material conveying tray is formed of a resin member such as plastic by injection molding, and a plurality of ribs are formed on the back surface to obtain sufficient strength and accuracy. By forming the recording material starting end detecting means protection portion so that the lever does not catch on the step of the rib, the thickness of the slope portion is increased, whereby the portion is bent or warped at the time of injection molding. There is a fear. Therefore, by forming the recording material start end detecting means protection portion with a plurality of ribs in this way, the recording material start end detection means protection portion can be formed without a partial increase in thickness.

Thus, according to the recording material transporting tray according to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the operation and effect of the first or second aspect of the present invention, the recording material transporting tray is provided. When the injection molding is performed, it is possible to obtain an effect that the possibility that the recording material transport tray is partially bent or warped can be reduced.

[0017] The invention described in claim 4 of the present application provides claims 1 to
3. The recording material start end detecting means protection section according to any one of the items 3, wherein the recording material starting end detecting means protection portion is formed at a point-symmetrical position with a substantially central point of the recording material transport tray as a center of symmetry. This is a recording material transport tray.

According to the recording material transporting tray according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, any one of the first to third aspects of the present invention is provided.
In addition to the functions and effects of the invention described in the paragraph, since the recording material start end detection means protection portion is formed at a point symmetrical position, after inserting the recording material transport tray with the front and back surfaces reversed. In addition, there is an operational effect that the lever of the paper detecting device can be prevented from being damaged at the time of pulling out, regardless of the orientation of the recording material transport tray.

The invention described in claim 5 of the present application is the first to fifth aspects of the present invention.
5. The recording apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a recording material detection unit configured to detect the recording material conveyed by the recording material conveyance unit, wherein the recording material conveyance tray includes the recording material conveyance tray. A recording material transport tray, wherein the tray is formed of a material that is not detected by the material detection means, and has a detection target that can be detected by the recording material detection means on one side.

The material of the tray for transporting the recording material is a material that cannot be detected by the recording material detecting means, and a detected portion detectable by the recording material detecting means is provided on one side of the tray for transporting the recording material. Therefore, the front and back surfaces of the recording material transport tray can be identified by the recording material detecting means. Further, it is possible to prevent printing on the recording material transport tray even when the surface of the recording material transport tray is reversed.

Further, since the material of the recording material transport tray is a material that is not detected by the recording material detecting means, the position of the detected portion in the recording material transport tray is:
It is not necessary to be limited to the end of the recording material transport tray.
Therefore, the effect of increasing the degree of freedom of the position of the detected portion on the recording material transport tray and the position of the recording material detecting means in the recording apparatus can be obtained.

Thus, according to the recording material transport tray according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the first to fourth aspects of the present invention are provided.
In addition to the effects of the invention described in any one of the above,
The effect of being able to prevent printing on the recording material transport tray can be obtained even when the surface of the recording material transport tray is reversed and transported.

[0023] The invention described in claim 6 of the present application relates to claims 1 to
5. The recording material transport tray according to any one of 5, wherein when the thin recording material is mounted, the surface of the thin recording material is placed on the side where the thin recording material is mounted. Has a mounting groove on which the thin recording material can be mounted, so that the mounting groove is smaller than the mounting groove. A recording material transport tray having a shape having a hole for removing a recording material.

According to the recording material transport tray according to the invention of claim 6 of the present application, any one of claims 1 to 5 of the present application.
In addition to the functions and effects of the invention described in the paragraph, by providing the mounting groove with a removing hole smaller in size than the mounting groove, the work of removing the thin recording material from the recording material transport tray becomes easy. The operation and effect are obtained.

The invention described in claim 7 of the present application provides
6. In any one of the above items 6, when the recording material transport tray is manually set at a predetermined position of a recording material transport path of the recording material transport unit, the tray is displayed on the recording material transport tray. The recording material transport tray is characterized in that the set position of the recording material transport tray is adjusted based on the external view of the constituent elements of the recording apparatus.

As described above, the outline drawing of the components of the recording apparatus is displayed on the recording material transport tray, and the components indicated in the outline drawing are set as the target of the set position, and based on the outline drawing of the components. Since the setting position of the recording material transport tray is adjusted, the accurate setting position of the recording material transport tray can be easily visually recognized. In other words, it is possible to easily set the printing apparatus at an accurate setting position by matching the components of the printing apparatus with the outline drawing of the printing apparatus.

Thus, according to the recording material transport tray according to the invention described in claim 7 of the present application, the recording material transporting tray according to the present invention is configured as follows.
In addition to the effects of the invention described in any one of the above,
Since the setting position of the recording material transport tray is adjusted by picture matching based on the outline drawing of the components of the recording device displayed on the recording material transport tray, the recording material transport tray is set in the ink jet recording apparatus. When doing
The operation and effect that it is possible to easily set at the correct setting position can be obtained.

[0028] The invention described in claim 8 of the present application relates to claims 2 to
7. The recording material transport tray according to any one of 7, wherein an interval between a head surface of the recording head and a surface of the recording material transport tray set at a predetermined set position is smaller than a predetermined interval. And a first stopper portion capable of preventing the recording head from scanning over the recording material transport tray by contacting a part of the carriage. This is a recording material transport tray.

As described above, when the distance between the head surface of the recording head and the surface of the recording material transport tray set at a predetermined set position is smaller than the predetermined distance, the carriage comes into contact with the carriage and the main carriage moves. Since the recording material transport tray has the first stopper portion having a shape capable of preventing reciprocation in the scanning direction, the distance between the recording surface of the recording material and the head surface of the recording head (paper gap, It is possible to prevent the recording head from scanning on the recording material transport tray in a state where the PG is not appropriate.

Thus, according to the recording material transport tray according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the second to seventh aspects of the present invention are provided.
In addition to the effects of the invention described in any one of the above,
By having the first stopper portion described above, when printing on a thin recording material mounted on the recording material transport tray, it is possible to perform recording without setting an appropriate PG. The recording material transport tray that can be prevented can cause a decrease in recording quality due to the PG being less than the predetermined interval, or the head surface comes into contact with the surface of the recording material transport tray, and the recording material transport tray This has the effect of reducing the likelihood that ink will adhere to the surface of the recording head and cause stains or damage the head surface of the recording head.

The ninth aspect of the present invention provides the second aspect of the present invention.
8. In any one of 8, the recording material transport tray, when the recording material transport tray is inserted into a transport path of the recording material transport means in a direction different from a predetermined direction,
Regardless of the distance between the head surface of the recording head and the surface of the recording material transport tray, the recording head scans over the recording material transport tray by contacting a part of the carriage. A second stopper portion capable of preventing the recording material transport tray from being brought into contact with the carriage when the recording material transport tray is inserted in a predetermined direction and recording is performed on the label surface of the thin recording material. A recording material transport tray formed in a region.

As described above, when the recording material transport tray is inserted in a direction different from the predetermined direction, that is, when the recording material transport tray is erroneously inserted, the recording head is moved regardless of the PG. By having the second stopper portion capable of preventing the upper side from being scanned, it is possible to prevent the recording from being executed while the recording material transport tray is erroneously inserted.

Thus, according to the recording material transport tray according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the second to eighth aspects of the present invention are provided.
In addition to the effects of the invention described in any one of the above,
When the tray for transporting the recording material is erroneously inserted, it is possible to forcibly interrupt the recording operation.

[0034] The invention described in claim 10 of the present application is directed to claim 1.
10. A configuration in which the recording material transport tray according to any one of items 1 to 9 is transported as the recording material, and printing can be performed on one surface of the thin recording material mounted on the recording material transport tray. Is an ink jet recording apparatus having the following. According to the recording apparatus of the tenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to obtain the operation and effect of the above-described one of the first to ninth aspects of the present invention in the recording apparatus.

[0035]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view showing a main part of an ink jet recording apparatus having a configuration in which a recording material transport tray according to the present invention can be transported as a recording material.

The ink jet type recording apparatus 50 is provided with a carriage 61 which is supported by two carriage guide shafts 51 and moves in the main scanning direction as recording means for executing recording on a recording material. The carriage 61 is provided with a recording head 62 that performs recording by discharging ink onto a recording material. A platen 52 that defines a gap between the head surface of the recording head 62 and the recording material is provided to face the recording head 62. And the carriage 61
In the main scanning direction, and the carriage 61 and the platen 52
The recording head 62 ejects ink onto the recording material while the recording material is intermittently conveyed in the sub-scanning direction Y during the recording, so that recording is performed on the recording material.

The paper feed tray 58 is configured to be able to feed a recording material such as plain paper or photo paper, for example, and an ASF (auto sheet feeder) for automatically feeding the recording material is provided. Is provided. The ASF uses the paper feed tray 58
Is an automatic paper feed mechanism having a paper feed roller 57 provided in the printer and a separation pad (not shown). The paper feed roller 57 is rotationally controlled by a rotational driving force of a stepping motor or the like, and has a substantially D-shaped cross section. Then, due to the rotational driving force of the paper feed roller 57 and the frictional resistance of the separation pad, when a plurality of recording materials placed on the paper feed tray 58 are fed, a plurality of recording materials are fed at once. Without
Automatically feeds one sheet at a time.

The recording material automatically fed by the ASF along the path indicated by the arrow A is recorded by the recording paper transport means disposed downstream of the paper feed roller 57 in the sub-scanning direction Y. The sheet is intermittently conveyed by a predetermined paper feed amount toward the downstream side in the sub-scanning direction Y which is the execution area side.

A transport driving roller 53 and a transport driven roller 54 are provided as recording paper transport means for intermittently transporting the recording material in the sub-scanning direction Y. Transport drive roller 53
The recording material is transported in the sub-scanning direction Y by the rotation of the transport drive roller 53. The transport driven rollers 54 are supported by a plurality of transport driven roller holders 541. The transport driven roller holders 541 are individually urged by the transport drive rollers 53, and the recording material is transported by the transport drive rollers 53. When the recording material is transported, the transport driven roller 54 rotates following the transport of the recording material while contacting the recording material.

The paper feed roller 57 and the transport drive roller 5
3, a paper detector 63 according to a technique known in the prior art is provided. The paper detector 63 has a lever 631 which is provided with a self-return behavior to a standing posture and is pivotally supported in a state of protruding into a recording material conveyance path so as to be rotatable only in the recording paper conveyance direction. The tip of the lever 631 is pressed against the recording material, so that the lever 631 is rotated, whereby the recording material is detected. The paper detector 63 detects the start position and the end position of the recording material fed from the paper feed roller 57, determines a recording area in accordance with the detected positions, and executes recording.

On the other hand, a discharge driving roller 55 and a discharge driven roller 56 are provided as means for discharging the recorded recording material. The paper ejection drive roller 55 is
The rotation is controlled by the rotation driving force of a motor or the like, and the recording material is discharged in the sub-scanning direction Y by the rotation of the discharge driving roller 55. The paper discharge driven roller 56 is a toothed roller that has a plurality of teeth around it, and the tip of each tooth is sharply pointed so as to make point contact with the recording surface of the recording material. The plurality of paper discharge driven rollers 56 are individually urged by the paper discharge drive roller 55, and when the recording material is discharged by the rotation of the paper discharge drive roller 55, the paper discharge contact roller 56 comes into contact with the recording material and Rotates following the paper ejection.

Further, in addition to the above-described ASF sheet feeding path (path indicated by the arrow A), the ink jet type recording apparatus 50 has a recording material with low flexibility such as cardboard or a recording medium according to the present invention. A paper feed path indicated by an arrow B for feeding the recording material transport tray is provided. The ink jet recording apparatus 50 executes recording on the recording material fed from the paper feeding path indicated by the arrow B in the same manner as the recording material fed from the above-described ASF. It has a possible configuration.

Further, when the recording material transport tray 1 is set at the set position, the ink jet type recording apparatus 50 moves the transport driven roller 54 to the transport drive roller 53.
The recording material transport tray 1 is inserted into the paper feed path and set at the set position in a state (release state) away from
After the completion of the alignment to the set position, a release roller release mechanism (not shown) is provided to release the release state and return the transfer driven roller 54 to the state of urging the transfer drive roller 53.

FIG. 2 shows a recording material transport tray according to the present invention. FIG. 2A is a plan view of the surface, FIG. 2B is a side view, and FIG.
It is a front view.

The recording material transport tray 1 is a rectangular thin plate, and is formed of a resin member such as plastic by injection molding. In this embodiment, a sensor (not shown) for detecting a tray for conveying a recording material by an optical sensor mounted on an ink jet recording apparatus is formed of a black resin member that is not detected. The detection unit 11 is made of a member having a high light reflectance, and can be detected by the above-described recording material transport tray detection sensor. Then, the position of the thin recording material mounted on the recording material transport tray can be recognized by detecting the detected portion 11 with the recording material transport tray detecting sensor. It has become.

A circular groove 12 is formed on the surface of the recording material transport tray 1, and a convex portion 13 is formed at a substantially central portion of the circular groove 12. Then, a thin recording material such as a CD-R is mounted in the circular groove 12. Further, a removal hole 14 is formed in the circular groove 12 as shown in the figure, and when the recording material mounted in the circular groove 12 is removed,
The CD-R can be easily removed from the back surface of the recording material transport tray 1 by pushing up the CD-R through the removal hole 14.

On the surface of the recording material transport tray 1,
A first stopper 15 and a second stopper 16 are formed as shown in the drawing. Note that the first stopper portion 15 and the second stopper portion 16 will be described later.

Further, a label 2 is attached to the surface of the recording material transport tray 1. On the label 2, an outline drawing 21, a guide line 22, and an arrow 23 are displayed. The outline drawing 21 schematically shows the outer shapes of the substantially driven transport driven roller 54 and the transport driven roller holder 541. The recording material transport tray 1 is inserted into the paper feed path and set at the set position. It will be a mark when you do. By inserting the recording material transport tray 1 into the paper feed path, and superimposing the outline drawing 21 on the transport driven roller 54 and the transport driven roller holder 541, the tray 1 can be set accurately and easily at the set position. In addition, by adjusting the roller surface of the conveyance driven roller 54 to the guide wire 22, the outer shape 2
1, the transport driven roller 54 and the transport driven roller holder 5
The work of superimposing 41 on the image becomes easier. The arrow 23 indicates the direction in which the recording material transport tray 1 is inserted into the paper feed path, and the direction in which the recording material transport tray 1 is inserted into the paper feed path. It is less likely that the paper will be inserted in the paper feed path in the wrong direction.

Incidentally, the outline drawing 21, the guide line 22, and the arrow 2
3 may be printed directly on the recording material transport tray 1 instead of being displayed by attaching the label 2 as in the embodiment. Further, the guide wire 22 may not be provided, and the outline drawing 21 is not limited to the transport driven roller 54 and the transport driven roller holder 541, and may be any component of the ink jet recording apparatus 50. good. Further, the outline drawing 21 is the outline drawing 2
If it is colored in substantially the same color as the components of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 shown in FIG. 1, it becomes easier to visually recognize.

FIG. 3 shows a recording material transport tray 1 according to the present invention. FIG. 3A is a plan view of the back surface, FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along line CC, and FIG.
(C) is a sectional view taken along line DD.

As shown, a plurality of ribs are formed on the back surface of the recording material transport tray 1 in the vertical and horizontal directions, respectively. The ribs can reduce the warpage and the deflection of the recording material transport tray 1, and can obtain sufficient strength and accuracy.

Further, on the back surface of the recording material transport tray 1, a recording material start end detecting means protection portion 17 is formed. The recording material start end detection means protection unit 17 is
The slope is formed by a plurality of ribs. This slope is
After the recording material transport tray 1 is inserted with its front and back surfaces reversed, when the recording material transport tray 1 is pulled out, it is formed in a stepped portion of a region where the lever 631 of the paper detection device 63 slides. . In this embodiment, the rib is formed at the step of the rib formed at the end of the recording material transport tray 1.

After the recording material transporting tray 1 is inserted with its front and back surfaces reversed by the slope, when the recording material transporting tray 1 is pulled out, the end of the recording material transporting tray 1 is removed. The lever 631 of the paper detecting device 63 is prevented from being caught on the step of the rib formed on the lever 63, and the force for rotating the lever 631 in the direction opposite to the rotatable direction is prevented from acting on the lever 631. This can reduce the risk of occurrence. Further, since the recording material starting end detecting means protection unit 17 is formed at a point-symmetrical position with the substantially central point of the recording material transporting tray 1 as the center of symmetry, the recording material transporting tray 1 Lever 6 regardless of insertion direction
31 can be prevented from being caught on the step.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the recording material conveying tray 1 according to the present invention is inserted from a paper feed path provided behind the ink jet type recording apparatus 50.

In the recording material transport tray 1, a CD-R (symbol M) as a thin recording material is mounted and inserted into the paper feed path in the direction indicated by the arrow B. Are set at predetermined set positions.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a main part of the recording material transport tray 1 according to the present invention inserted from a paper feed path provided behind the ink jet recording apparatus 50.

The recording material transport tray 1 is inserted into a paper feed path in the direction indicated by the arrow B, and rotates a lever 631 of the paper detecting device 63 whose leading end projects into the transport path. Subsequently, the recording material transport tray 1 is pressed against the transport drive roller 53 by the urging force acting on the transport driven roller 54, and
Is rotated in the sub-scanning direction Y, so that it is intermittently conveyed in the sub-scanning direction Y similarly to recording paper such as plain paper. The CD-R mounted on the recording material transport tray 1 is
A recording head 62 mounted on a carriage 61 that reciprocates in the main scanning direction while being intermittently conveyed in the sub-scanning direction Y
The ink is ejected from the printer, and printing is performed on the surface.

When printing on a CD-R, the two carriage guide shafts 51 are moved up and down, and PG, which is the distance between the head surface of the recording head 62 and the recording surface of the recording material, is recorded. A mechanism (not shown) that regulates CD-
The carriage 51 is raised by the thickness of the recording material transport tray 1 so that the distance between the surface of R and the head surface becomes an appropriate PG. Further, in order to prevent the surface of the CD-R from being damaged by the sharp teeth of the discharge driven roller 56, a discharge driven roller release mechanism (not shown) for raising the discharge driven roller 56 is used. The discharge driven roller 56 is set so as not to contact the recording material.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state before the recording material conveying tray 1 according to the present invention is inserted into the paper feed path of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 and is set at a predetermined set position. FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a state after the recording material conveying tray 1 according to the present invention has been inserted into the paper feed path of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 and adjusted to a predetermined set position.

First, as shown in FIG. 6, the recording material transport tray 1 is inserted into the paper feed path in the direction indicated by the arrow 23. Then, the outline drawing 21 and the transport driven roller 54
And the position with respect to the conveyance driven roller holder 541 are confirmed. Subsequently, as shown in FIG.
And the driven roller 54 and the driven roller holder 54
Overlay with 1. By setting the guide wire 22 to coincide with the roller surface of the transport driven roller 54, the recording material transport tray 1 can be easily set at an accurate setting position.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a main portion showing a state where the recording head 62 is in contact with the first stopper portion 15 of the recording material conveying tray 1 according to the present invention.

As described above, when printing on a CD-R, the mechanism (not shown) for moving the two carriage guide shafts 51 up and down moves the surface of the CD-R and the head surface. The carriage 51 is raised by the thickness of the recording material transport tray 1 so that the interval becomes an appropriate PG. However, despite being less than the predetermined PG,
When printing on a CD-R is performed, not only does the recording quality deteriorate, but also ink adheres to the head surface of the recording head 62 and becomes dirty. There is a possibility that the surface of the recording material transport tray 1 comes into contact with the recording material transport tray 1 to stain the recording material transport tray 1 or damage the head surface.

In order to prevent printing from being performed without raising the carriage 51, a first stopper portion 15 is formed on the recording material transport tray 1. When the distance between the surface of the CD-R and the head surface is smaller than a predetermined PG, the side of the recording head 62 abuts against the first stopper portion 15 as shown in FIG. 1 is prevented from being scanned by the recording head 62. If the first stopper portion directly contacts the recording head 62, the recording head 62 may be damaged. Therefore, a wall for protecting the recording head 62 is formed on the carriage 61, and the wall is formed by the first stopper. It can be said that it is a preferable embodiment to make contact with the portion.

Further, in order to prevent the surface of the CD-R from being damaged by the sharp teeth of the discharge driven roller 56, two discharge driven roller release mechanisms for raising the discharge driven roller 56 are provided. Is configured to operate in cooperation with a mechanism for moving the carriage guide shaft 51 up and down, thereby preventing the printing surface of the CD-R from being damaged by the contact of the paper discharge driven roller 56 with the first stopper portion. 15 can also prevent this.

Further, when the recording material transport tray 1 is inserted in a direction different from the predetermined direction, that is, when the recording material transport tray 1 is erroneously inserted, the second stopper portion 16 is irrespective of the PG. Prevents scanning over the recording material transport tray 1. Similarly to the first stopper portion, the side surface of the recording head 62 abuts on the second stopper portion 16 to prevent the recording head 62 from scanning over the recording material transport tray 1. Therefore, the second stopper portion 16 is formed to have a higher height than the first stopper portion 15.

FIG. 9 shows a state in which the recording material starting end protection means 17 of the recording material transport tray 1 according to the present invention is provided with the lever 6.
It is the side view of the principal part which showed the state which 31 contact | abutted.

As described above, the recording material start end detecting means protection section 17 has a slope formed at the step of the rib formed at the end of the recording material transport tray 1. After the recording material transport tray 1 is inserted with its front and back surfaces reversed, when the recording material transport tray 1 is pulled out in the direction indicated by the arrow E, the recording material transport tray 1 is covered by the slope as shown in the figure. The lever 631 of the paper detecting device 63 can be prevented from being caught on the step of the rib formed at the end of the recording material transport tray 1. And, by that, lever 6
It is possible to prevent a force for rotating the lever 31 in a direction opposite to the rotatable direction from acting on the lever 31, and to reduce a possibility that the lever 631 is damaged.

As another embodiment, it is possible to print on the surface of the IC card by forming the mounting groove 12 of the recording material transport tray 1 into a shape in which an IC card can be mounted, for example. In addition to the above-described CD-R and IC card, the shape of the mounting groove 12 is changed so that a thin recording material to be printed can be mounted, so that printing on various recording materials can be performed. It becomes possible.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the invention described in the claims, which are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say,

[0070]

According to the present invention, when a recording material transport tray that has been erroneously inserted into a paper feed path with its front and back surfaces reversed is pulled out of the paper feed path, the lever of the paper detecting device is used. Thus, it is possible to provide a recording material transport tray that is less likely to be damaged.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a main part of an ink jet recording apparatus having a configuration in which a recording material transport tray according to the present invention can be transported as a recording material.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show a recording material transport tray according to the present invention, wherein FIG. 2A is a plan view as viewed from the front, FIG. 2B is a side view, and FIG. (C) is a front view.

FIG. 3 shows a recording material transport tray according to the present invention. FIG. 2A is a plan view of the back surface, and FIG.
FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC, and FIG.
It is a D line sectional view.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which a recording material transport tray according to the present invention is inserted from a paper feed path provided behind an ink jet recording apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a side view showing a main part in a state where the recording material transport tray according to the present invention is inserted from a paper feed path provided at the rear of the ink jet recording apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing a state before a recording material conveying tray according to the present invention is inserted into a paper feed path of an ink jet recording apparatus and is adjusted to a predetermined set position.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a state after the recording material transport tray according to the present invention is inserted into a paper feed path of the ink jet recording apparatus and adjusted to a predetermined set position.

FIG. 8 is a side view of a main part showing a state in which a recording head is in contact with a first stopper portion of the recording material conveying tray according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a main part of the recording material transport tray according to the present invention, showing a state in which a lever is in contact with a recording material start end detection means protection unit.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Recording material transport tray 2 Label 11 Detected part 12 Mounting groove 13 Convex part 14 Removal hole 15 First stopper part 16 Second stopper part 17 Recording material start end detecting means protection part 21 Outline drawing 22 Guide line 23 Arrow 50 Ink jet recording device 51 Carriage guide shaft 52 Platen 53 Transport drive roller 54 Transport driven roller 55 Paper discharge drive roller 56 Paper discharge driven roller 57 Paper feed roller 58 Paper feed tray 61 Carriage 62 Recording head 63 Paper detection device 541 Transport driven Roller holder 631 Lever

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A carriage having a recording head and reciprocating in a main scanning direction, a recording material conveying means for conveying a recording material in a sub-scanning direction, and a recording material conveyance with a thin recording material mounted thereon. Means for transporting a tray for recording as the recording material, and means for printing on one surface of the thin recording material with the recording head, wherein the recording material transport tray of the recording apparatus, The apparatus is provided with a self-return behavior to a standing position, and has a lever pivotally supported so as to protrude into the transport path so as to be able to rotate only in the sub-scanning direction. The recording material transport tray is provided with a recording material start end detecting means capable of detecting the recording material transport end, wherein the recording material transport tray is provided on the transport path of the recording material transporting means, and the thin plate-shaped recording material mounting surface. Insert so that the opposite side faces the recording head. After that, the recording material transport tray has a recording material start end detecting means protection portion having a shape capable of being pulled out from the transport path without rotating the lever in a direction opposite to a rotatable direction, A recording material transport tray, characterized in that: 2. The recording material starting end detecting means protection section according to claim 1, wherein the recording material transport tray is provided on a transport path of the recording material transporting means, and the thin plate-shaped recording material mounting surface is provided with the tray. After being inserted so that the opposite surface faces the recording head, when the recording material transport tray is pulled out from the transport path, the lever portion is formed so as to have an inclined surface at a step portion in a sliding contact area. A tray for conveying a recording material. 3. A recording material transport tray according to claim 1, wherein said recording material start end detecting means protection portion is formed by a plurality of ribs. 4. The method according to claim 1, wherein
The recording material transport tray, wherein the recording material start end detection means protection unit is formed at a point-symmetrical position with a substantially center point of the recording material transport tray as a center of symmetry. . 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein:
The recording apparatus includes a recording material detection unit that detects the recording material conveyed by the recording material conveyance unit, and the recording material conveyance tray is a material that is not detected by the recording material detection unit. A recording material transport tray, which is formed, and has a detection portion on one surface side which can be detected by the recording material detection means. 6. The method according to claim 1, wherein:
The recording material transport tray, when the thin recording material is mounted, the printing surface of the thin recording material is substantially the same plane as the flat surface of the thin recording material mounting side Has a mounting groove in which the thin recording material can be mounted, and the mounting groove has a hole for removing the thin recording material having a size smaller than the mounting groove. Having a shape,
A recording material transport tray, characterized in that: 7. The method according to claim 2, wherein
When manually setting the recording material transport tray at a predetermined position of the recording material transport path of the recording material transport unit,
A recording material transport tray, wherein the set position of the recording material transport tray is adjusted based on the outline drawing of the components of the recording apparatus displayed on the recording material transport tray. 8. The method according to claim 2, wherein
The recording material transport tray is configured such that, when an interval between a head surface of the recording head and a surface of the recording material transport tray set at a predetermined set position is less than a predetermined interval, the carriage is moved to a position other than the predetermined distance. A first stopper portion capable of preventing the recording head from scanning on the recording material transport tray by contacting the recording head with the recording head;
A recording material transport tray, characterized in that: 9. The method according to claim 2, wherein
The recording material transport tray is configured such that when the recording material transport tray is inserted into a transport path of the recording material transport unit in a direction different from a predetermined direction, the head surface of the recording head and the recording surface. Regardless of the distance from the surface of the material transport tray,
A second stopper portion capable of preventing the recording head from scanning over the recording material transport tray by abutting a part of the carriage moves the recording material transport tray in a predetermined direction. A recording material transport tray, which is formed in an area that does not come into contact with the carriage when the recording medium is inserted and performs recording on a label surface of the thin recording material. 10. A thin recording medium which transports the recording material transport tray according to any one of claims 1 to 9 as said recording material, and is mounted on said recording material transport tray. An ink jet recording apparatus having a configuration capable of printing on one surface of a material.