JP2003128267A - Image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain an image recording device which can record high-quality images and reduce work burden of users by securely aligning recording sheets in the width direction. SOLUTION: A guide body 68 is mounted to a side wall 66 of a paper-feeding tray 24. The shape and elasticity of the guide body 68 are determined so that both for recording sheets of the minimum width and the maximum width of the recording sheets assumed to be used for image recording by this ink-jet recording device 12, the width direction edges of a recording sheet 20 is pressed and the recording sheet 20 can be aligned in the width direction. A user can align recording sheets in the width direction only by setting the recording sheets in the paper-feeding tray, and deterioration in image quality caused by misalignment can be prevented. As the user does not have to move the guide body 68, work burden is reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus, and more particularly to an image recording apparatus that conveys a recording sheet and records an image on the surface thereof.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in an ink jet recording apparatus, a recording sheet (recording sheet) is conveyed in a fixed direction, and ink droplets corresponding to image information are ejected onto the recording sheet.
Image recording is performed. That is, the operation of ejecting ink droplets (main scanning) while moving the inkjet recording head in the direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the recording sheet and the conveying of the recording sheet (sub-scanning) are repeated alternately, and The image is recorded. Therefore, in order to record a high-quality image, it is preferable to maintain each of the recording papers at a predetermined position in the width direction (direction orthogonal to the transport direction) to prevent misalignment in the width direction and skew feeding. .

For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 7-206169 describes an automatic paper feeder in which a side guide that regulates a side edge of a recording sheet is provided with an elastic portion and a convex portion having a taper portion. There is. The side guides are movable in the width direction of the recording sheet, and the user moves the side guides according to the width of the recording sheet so that the side guides can be used for recording sheets having different widths.

Further, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-34529 discloses that
A paper feed cassette having a thin piece of synthetic resin provided with a fixed piece fixed to the recording sheet guide surface on one side and a flexible piece elastically bent toward the guide surface on the other side. Is listed.

By the way, among the recording sheets, as shown in Table 1, some recording sheets are not the same in size, and some are very similar in size.

[0006]

[Table 1]

For example, the width of A6 size (short side 105m
m) and a postcard size width (100 mm in width) having a difference of only a few mm and almost the same, the user corresponds the side guide to the side edge of the recording sheet. When moving from one position to another, this moving distance is as small as a few mm, so the operation is rather troublesome or difficult than when moving a long distance. Even if the side guide position is slightly deviated, an image may not be recorded at a desired position on the recording sheet, or there may be a problem such as a skew phenomenon in which the recording sheet is bent and guided to the recording area. .

[0008]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In consideration of the above facts, the present invention can record a high-quality image by reliably aligning the recording sheets in the width direction and can reduce the work load on the user. The purpose of the present invention is to obtain an excellent image recording device.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image recording means capable of recording an image on a recording sheet in an image recording area, and a recording sheet which conveys the recording sheet and supplies it to the image recording area. The recording sheet supply means is fixed to at least one end side orthogonal to the conveying direction of the recording sheet, and contacts one end edge in the width direction of the assumed minimum width recording sheet. Shape and
The recording sheet guide member is elastically deformable between the recording sheet having a maximum width assumed and a shape in contact with one widthwise edge of the recording sheet.

That is, in this image recording apparatus, the image recording means records an image on the recording sheet supplied to the image recording area by the recording sheet supply means.

The recording sheet feeding means has a recording sheet guide member fixed to at least one end side orthogonal to the conveying direction of the recording sheet, and the recording sheet guide member has a minimum width assumed. The shape is elastically deformable between a shape in contact with one end edge in the width direction of the recording sheet and a shape in contact with one end edge in the width direction of the assumed maximum width recording sheet. Therefore, with respect to the recording sheet having the maximum width, the recording sheet guide member is relatively deformed and contacts one end of the recording sheet in the width direction, and the elastic reaction force applies the recording sheet in the width direction. Force to align. On the other hand, for the minimum width recording sheet, the recording sheet guide member has a shape that is closest to the natural state. Energize and align. Of course, the recording sheet guide member is elastically deformed even for a recording sheet having a width between the maximum width and the minimum width, and the elastic reaction force urges the recording sheet in the width direction to align the positions. The recording sheet can be surely aligned in the width direction only by disposing or stacking the recording sheet so that one edge in the width direction contacts the recording sheet guide member, and it is necessary to move the recording sheet guide member. Since it does not exist, the work load on the user is reduced.

Further, the recording sheet will not be displaced in the width direction due to a slight change in the position of the recording sheet guide member, and the occurrence of troubles in image recording can be prevented. Furthermore, since the recording sheet is not guided to the recording area by being bent, displaced or slanted in the width direction, it is possible to prevent a conveyance trouble from occurring.

In the invention described in claim 1, claim 2
The recording sheet guide member may be fixed also to the other end portion side orthogonal to the recording sheet conveyance direction as described in (4). A rigid member that is fixed only to one end side orthogonal to the conveying direction of the recording sheet, and has a rigid member that maintains a constant position in the width direction of the recording sheet on the other end side orthogonal to the conveying direction of the recording sheet. It may be fixed. Claim 2
In the configuration described in (1), so-called center registration is performed (recording sheets are urged from both sides in the width direction and the positions are aligned with respect to the center in the width direction). In the configuration according to claim 3,
This is so-called side registration alignment (recording sheets are biased from one side in the width direction and aligned with the other edge as a reference).

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the recording sheet guide member is formed with a taper portion for guiding the recording sheets to a predetermined stacking position.

Therefore, when the user sets the recording sheet at the predetermined position, the recording sheet is guided to the predetermined position by the taper portion, so that the setting of the recording sheet becomes easier.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the recording sheets are arranged at both ends in the width direction, and the displacement of the recording sheet in the thickness direction is within a certain range. And a limiting member for limiting to.

That is, the displacement of the recording sheet in the thickness direction (for example, floating of the recording sheet) by the limiting member.
By limiting the range to a certain range, the distance between the recording sheet and the image recording means can also be limited to a certain range. As a result, it becomes possible to record a high quality image.

In the inventions described in claims 1 to 5, the width of the recording sheet to be image-recorded is not particularly limited. For example, the maximum width is so-called A6.
The width of the size (105 mm in the width direction), the minimum width is
The width of the postcard size (short side 100 mm) can be mentioned. Also, the type of recording sheet is not particularly limited as long as it can record an image, and for example, paper such as so-called high-quality paper or resin film such as so-called OHP sheet can be applied as the recording sheet.

[0019]

1 to 4 show an inkjet recording apparatus 12 which is an image recording apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The ink jet recording apparatus 12 includes a recording apparatus body 14 capable of recording an image on a recording sheet 20 (see FIGS. 3, 6 and 7) in a predetermined recording area 22 (shown in FIG. 4). A recording paper supply device 16 for supplying the recording paper 20 to the recording region 22 and a recording paper discharge device 18 for discharging the recording paper from the recording region 22.

The recording paper supply device 16 has a paper feed tray 24 on which the recording paper 20 can be stacked in the thickness direction. The highest one of the recording papers 20 stacked in the paper feed tray 24
The sheet is conveyed in the direction of arrow A by the pickup roller 26 and moves toward the recording area 22. Hereinafter, when simply referred to as “conveyance direction”, it means the conveyance direction of the recording paper 20, and is indicated by an arrow A in the drawing. Further, when the term “width direction” is simply used, the recording paper 2 orthogonal to this conveyance direction is used.
The width direction of 0 is indicated by an arrow W in the drawing.

The paper feed tray 24 and the supply roller 4 described later.
Between 0, the bottom plate 62 is arranged and is urged upward by a spring (not shown). As a result, the recording sheet 20 on the bottom plate 62 is pressed against the pickup roller 26 with a substantially constant pressure and is reliably conveyed.

The paper feed tray 24 is formed in a substantially flat plate shape,
It has a support plate 64 that supports the recording sheet 20, and side walls 66 that extend upward from both widthwise ends of the support plate 64. The distance between the side walls 66 is equal to that of the ink jet recording apparatus 1.
It is set to be slightly wider than the width of the recording paper 20 having the maximum width among the recording papers 20 targeted for image recording in No. 2.

The recording paper which is the object of image recording in the ink jet recording apparatus 12 of the present embodiment is one of various papers of a predetermined size.
It is a plurality of types of recording paper whose width sizes are similar to each other. As can be seen from Table 1 above, for example, the length (100 mm) of the short side method of the recording paper of the postcard size and A6
The size of the recording paper of the size in the widthwise direction (105 mm) is only 5 mm. Therefore, as an example, the length in the lateral direction of the A6 size recording paper can be set to the above-mentioned "maximum width", and the length of the postcard size recording paper in the lateral direction can be set to the "minimum width". Then, all the recording papers 20 having a width between the “maximum width” and the “minimum width” are targets for image recording in the inkjet recording device 12 of the present embodiment.

On the side wall 66, one or a plurality of guide bodies 68 (two in one side wall 66, four in total) are attached to the inner surface in the width direction. As shown in detail in FIG. 5, the guide body 68 is formed by bending an elastic plate material such as resin or metal into an arc shape. One end 68A of the guide body 68 (an end portion on the upstream side in the transport direction in the example shown in FIG. 5) is fixed to the side wall 66, but the other end 68B is in contact with (or separated from) the side wall 66 without being fixed. Further, the intermediate portion 68C is separated from the side wall 66.

The shape and elasticity of the guide body 68 are the same as those of the recording paper 20 of the smallest width among the recording papers 20 for which image recording is supposed by the ink jet recording apparatus 12.
Even if the recording paper 20 has the maximum width, it is determined that the recording paper 20 can be aligned in the width direction by pressing the widthwise edge of the recording paper 20. That is, when the recording paper 20 having the minimum width is set, the guide body 68 is pushed by the widthwise end edge of the recording paper 20 and elastically deforms, and the reaction force urges the recording paper 20 in the widthwise position. In order to be aligned, the interval (inner dimension) in a natural state between the guide bodies 68 facing each other is set to be smaller than the minimum width of the recording paper 20 described above. Further, even when the recording paper 20 of the maximum width is set in the paper feed tray 24,
The guide body 68 elastically deforms without exceeding the elastic limit,
The elasticity is determined so that the reaction force biases the recording paper 20 in the width direction so that the recording paper 20 can be aligned. in addition,
Regardless of the width of the recording paper 20 set, an excessive elastic reaction force is applied to the recording paper 20 to cause the recording paper 20 to set.
The elasticity of the guide body 68 is determined so that the guide body 68 is not deformed, wrinkled, or damaged.

The methods of aligning the recording paper 20 in the width direction generally include center registration alignment and side registration alignment. That is, the center cash register arrangement is shown in FIG.
As shown in (A), it refers to a method in which the center (center) in the width direction of each recording paper 20 is used as a reference and the center is aligned on all recording papers 20. Therefore, depending on the position of the recording paper 20, it may be moved to the right or left. On the other hand, the side registration is a method of aligning one side edge of each recording sheet 20 in the width direction as a reference and aligning this side on all the recording sheets 20. Therefore, the recording paper 20 is moved in one preset direction (rightward or leftward).

Therefore, assuming that the maximum width of the recording paper 20 is W1 and the minimum width thereof is W2, the deformation amount of the guide body 68 is (W1-W2) / 2 or more when the center registration is aligned. Need to be On the other hand, in the case of side registration, the deformation amount of the guide body 68 is (W1
-W2) or more must be secured.
Further, in the case of center registration alignment, it is preferable to set at least the elasticity of the guide bodies 68 facing each other to be equal.

In this embodiment, since the case of center registration is illustrated, the guide bodies 68 are arranged on both sides in the width direction. In the case of side registration, the guide body 68 is attached only to one side wall 66,
By the elastic reaction force of 8, the recording paper 2 is moved toward the other side wall 66.
It can be configured to press 0. In this configuration, the other side wall 66 (the side wall 66 to which the guide body 68 is not attached) serves as the "rigid member" in the present invention. Needless to say, a plate member having rigidity may be fixed to a predetermined position on the inner side of the other side wall 66 in the width direction, and the plate member may be a "rigid member" in the present invention.

As can be seen from FIGS. 5, 8 and 9, a recess 70 is formed in the upper surface of the support plate 64 corresponding to the region where the guide body 68 moves due to deformation. The guide body 68 is arranged such that the vicinity of the lower end thereof enters the recess 70, and there is no gap between the upper surface of the support plate 64 and the lower end of the guide body 68 in the direction along the surface of the recording paper 20. It is like this. Therefore, the recording sheets 20 stacked on the support plate 64 are prevented from slipping between the supporting plate 64 and the guide body 68, and all the stacked recording sheets 20 are surely pressed in the width direction. Can be aligned. Of course, depending on the relationship with the thickness of the recording paper 20 and the like, even if the vicinity of the lower end of the guide body 68 does not enter such a recess 70, the recording paper 20 is supported by the support plate 64.
There is no possibility of slipping between the guide body 68 and the guide body 68. In this case, it is not necessary to form the recess 70.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the recording apparatus main body 1
4 has a frame member 28 formed in a substantially frame shape. A carriage 30 is attached to the frame member 28 so as to be movable in the width direction. In addition, the carriage 3
An ink jet recording head 32 is mounted at 0, and is fixed at a predetermined mounting position, and its ink ejection port faces the upper surface of the recording paper 20 in the recording area 22. The inkjet recording head 32 moves in the width direction (arrow W direction) of the recording paper 20 integrally with the carriage 30 while ejecting ink droplets according to image information, and performs so-called main scanning.

A platen 34 is fixed at a position corresponding to the recording area 22 (an area where the ink ejection surface moves according to the main scanning range of the ink jet recording head 32). By positioning the recording paper 20 on the platen 34, the recording paper 20 is supported from the lower surface (back surface) side.

As shown in detail in FIG. 5, the frame member 2
8 through the attachment member 38, the floating prevention guide 3
6 is attached. The floating prevention guide 36 is formed so as to surround both sides in the width direction of the platen 34, and faces the recording paper 20 from the upper side and the edge side in the width direction. Therefore, the platen 34 and the floating prevention guide 36 limit the movement of the recording paper 20 in the thickness direction (vertical direction), and ensure the flatness of the recording paper 20 during image recording. In addition, the floating prevention guide 36 causes the recording paper 20
The movement in the width direction of is also restricted. As a result, the posture of the recording sheet 20 in the recording area 22 is stabilized.

Particularly, as in the present embodiment, in an ink jet type image recording apparatus for recording an image by depositing ink droplets on the recording paper 20, the type of recording paper 20, the environment at the time of image recording, the amount of adhered ink. Depending on the recording paper 2
If the floating of the platen 34 of 0 becomes remarkable, the image quality may be deteriorated. Therefore, as in the present embodiment, at least in the recording area 22, the recording paper 20 is
It is preferable to stabilize the posture.

The recording area 22 is provided on the upstream side of the platen 34.
The supply roller 40 is arranged adjacent to the above, and so as to be stretched over the frame member 28. Further, a shaft (not shown) is arranged above the supply roller 40, and the supply facing roller 42 is attached to this shaft.

The supply roller 40 is formed longer than the width of the recording paper 20 and contacts the recording paper 20 from the lower surface side. On the other hand, a plurality of (four in the present embodiment) supply counter rollers 42 are arranged along the width direction of the supply roller 40, and contact the recording paper 20 from the upper surface side. The recording paper 20 is nipped by the supply roller 40 and the supply opposing roller 42, and the supply roller 40 rotates in this nip state to convey the recording paper 20 and supply it to the recording area 22.

The recording area 22 is provided on the downstream side of the platen 34.
The discharge roller 44 is arranged adjacent to the frame member 28 so as to span the frame member 28. Further, a shaft (not shown) is arranged above the discharge roller 44, and a discharge counter roller 46 is attached to this shaft.

The discharge roller 44 is also similar to the supply roller 40.
It is formed to be longer than the width of the recording paper 20, and contacts the recording paper 20 from the lower surface side. On the other hand, the discharge facing rollers 46 are respectively arranged near the end portions in the width direction of the recording paper 20, and contact the recording paper 20 from the upper surface side. The recording paper 20 is nipped by the discharge roller 44 and the discharge counter roller 46. Then, the discharge roller 44 rotates in the nip state to convey the recording paper 20, and the recording area 2
Discharge from 2. The discharge facing rollers 46 come into contact with a portion near both ends in the width direction of the recording paper 20, that is, a portion set in advance so that ink does not adhere even when an image is recorded by the inkjet recording head 32. . Therefore, the ink that is not completely dried is not transferred to the discharge facing roller 46, and the image quality is not deteriorated due to the retransfer of the ink to the recording paper 20.

A drive motor 48 is arranged between the supply roller 40 and the discharge roller 44. The driving force of the drive motor 48 is transmitted from the output gear 50 of the drive motor 48 to the two idler gears 52 and 54, and further to the input gears 56 and 58 coaxially fixed to the supply roller 40 and the discharge roller 44, respectively. Transmitted. This allows
The supply roller 40 and the discharge roller 44 rotate.

A discharge tray 60 is attached on the downstream side of the recording apparatus main body 14 in the conveying direction, and the recording paper 20 on which an image is recorded is discharged onto the discharge tray 60.

The parameters of the above-mentioned members for conveying the recording paper 20 are the number of stacks of the recording paper 20 determined by the specifications of the ink jet recording apparatus 12,
It is determined so as to satisfy the noise components such as the type of recording paper 20 and the assumed environment (temperature / humidity).

Next, the operation of the ink jet recording apparatus 12 of this embodiment will be described.

To record an image on the recording paper 20, the user of the ink jet recording apparatus 12 first sets the recording paper 20 in the paper feed tray 24. Here, when setting the recording paper 20 having the maximum width (W1), as shown in FIG. 8, the recording paper 20 is set by pushing each of the guide bodies 68 outward in the width direction. The guide body 68 is pushed by the widthwise edge of the recording paper 20 and elastically deforms, and the reaction force aligns the recording paper 20 in the widthwise direction. In the present embodiment, since the case of center registration alignment is illustrated, the recording paper 20 is moved to the right or left according to each set position. In particular, by setting the elasticity of the guide bodies 68 facing each other to be equal, the guide bodies 68 can be uniformly aligned in the center without being biased to one side in the width direction.

Similarly, when setting the recording paper 20 having the minimum width (W2), the recording paper 20 is set by pushing each of the guide bodies 68 outward in the width direction as shown in FIG. The guide body 68 is pushed by the widthwise edge of the recording paper 20 and elastically deforms, and the reaction force thereof causes the recording paper 20 to move.
Align in the width direction. At this time, the amount of deformation of the guide body 68 is smaller than that when the recording paper 20 having the maximum width is set, so that the resistance received by the user when setting the guide body 68 is small and the guide body 68 can be easily set.

Regarding the recording paper 20 having an intermediate width between the maximum width (W1) and the minimum width (W2), the guide body 68 is pushed by the widthwise end edge of the recording paper 20 and elastically deforms at the time of setting. The recording paper 20 is aligned in the width direction by the reaction force.

Further, in order to ensure that the recording sheet 20 can be supplied to the recording area 22, the user can convey the recording sheet 20 in the conveying direction until the leading edge of the recording sheet 20 reaches at least between the pickup roller 26 and the bottom plate 62. Push into. With the above, the setting of the recording paper 20 is completed.

The side registration is different from the center registration in that the recording paper 20 is pressed to one side in the width direction, but the setting method is substantially the same.

As described above, in the ink jet recording apparatus 12 of the present embodiment, the recording paper 2 having the maximum width which is supposed to record an image by the ink jet recording apparatus 12 is used.
Whether the recording paper 20 has a width of 0, the minimum width, or the recording paper 20 having an intermediate width therebetween, only by setting the recording paper 20 in the paper feed tray 24, the recording paper 20 is aligned at a predetermined position in the width direction. . Since it is not necessary to move the guide body 68 as in the conventional case, the work load on the user is reduced. Further, since the guide body 68 is fixed to the side wall 66 and the position in the width direction does not change, the recording paper 20 does not inadvertently shift in the width direction.

At the time of image recording, first of all the recording papers 20 stacked on the paper feed tray 24, the uppermost recording paper 20 is recorded.
Is conveyed in the direction of arrow A by the pickup roller 26. Next, the recording paper 20 is nipped between the supply roller 40 and the supply opposing roller 42 from the leading end side thereof, and is further conveyed by the rotation of the supply roller 40. Since the recording paper 20 is aligned at a predetermined position in the width direction by the guide body 68, when the recording paper 20 is bent,
Alternatively, it is not conveyed in a state of being shifted or inclined in the width direction, and occurrence of a conveyance trouble is prevented.

When the recording paper 20 reaches the recording area 22, the conveyance of the recording paper 20 is once stopped. Then, the carriage 30 moves in the width direction (direction of arrow W), and in synchronization with this, the inkjet recording head 32 ejects ink droplets corresponding to image information from the ink ejection ports (not shown) to the recording paper 20.
Is ejected onto the upper surface of, and so-called main scanning is performed. When the main scanning for one line is completed, the supply roller 40 rotates so that the recording paper 20 is conveyed by the same amount as the line width (length in the conveying direction) of one line. As a result, the recording paper 20
Are transported and so-called sub-scanning is performed.

In this way, the main scanning and the sub-scanning are alternately repeated to record a desired image on the upper surface of the recording paper 20. Since the recording paper 20 is aligned with the predetermined position in the width direction by the guide body 68, the image quality is not deteriorated due to the positional deviation in the width direction, and a high quality image can be recorded.

Further, in the ink jet recording apparatus 12 of this embodiment, the recording paper 2 is guided by the floating prevention guide 36.
The movement of 0 in the thickness direction (vertical direction) is restricted to ensure the flatness of the recording paper 20 during image recording. For this reason,
Since the distance between the ink ejection port of the inkjet recording head 32 and the recording paper 20 can be kept constant, it is possible to record a high quality image.

The cutting width and the minimum width of the recording sheet (recording paper 20) on which an image is to be recorded by the image recording apparatus (inkjet recording device 12) of the present invention is the size of the paper feed tray 24. Various settings can be made according to the elasticity and position of the guide body 68. For example,
As you can see from Table 1, postcards (4 x 6 inches)
Recording paper commonly referred to as "Envelope (Western-style No. 4)"
And, the difference in length in the lateral direction is only 3 mm. Therefore, it is needless to say that the same guide body 68 as described above can be applied, but the guide body 68 having a smaller deformation amount than this can also be applied.

Further, for example, the difference in length in the lateral direction between the envelope (Western European No. 6) and the envelope (C6) is 16 mm.
Therefore, as the guide body 68, it is possible to apply as long as it can secure a deformation amount of at least 8 mm in the case of center registration alignment and can secure a deformation amount of 16 mm in the case of side registration alignment.

Further, focusing on the length of each recording sheet in the longitudinal direction, the guide body 68 having a smaller deformation amount can be applied. For example, the difference in length between the postcard-sized recording paper and the A6 size recording paper in the longitudinal direction is only 0.5 mm. Therefore, a guide body 68 that can secure a deformation amount of at least 0.25 mm in the case of center registration alignment and 0.5 mm in the case of side registration alignment is sufficient. In this case, the respective recording papers 20 are set on the paper feed tray 64 so that the short side direction thereof coincides with the conveying direction.

The structure of the recording sheet guide member of the present invention is not necessarily limited to the structure of the guide body 68 described above. That is, both the assumed minimum width recording paper 20 and the maximum width recording paper 20 are elastically deformed by the widthwise edges of the recording paper 20 and the reaction force is applied to the recording paper 20 to cause the recording paper 20 to move in the width direction. There is no particular limitation as long as it can be aligned. For example, it is possible to adopt the configurations of the respective embodiments shown below. Note that, in these, since the overall configuration of the inkjet recording apparatus is the same, description thereof will be omitted. Further, the same components and members as those in the first embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 10 shows a guide body 72 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the first embodiment, the guide body 72 is formed by bending a plate material having elasticity such as resin or metal at a predetermined position, and has a fixing portion 72A, a contact portion 72B, and a taper portion 72C. The guide body 72 is fixed to the side wall 66 by the fixing portion 72A. In this state, when the contact portion 72B is pushed from the recording paper 20, the guide body 72 is elastically deformed and the reaction force is applied to the recording paper 20. The guide body 72 can be elastically deformed to apply a reaction force to the recording paper 20 having the maximum width as shown in FIG. 11 and the recording paper 20 having the minimum width as shown in FIG. As described above, the shape and position are determined.

Further, in the guide body 72 of the second embodiment,
A taper portion 72C is formed on the upper portion of the contact portion 72B and is inclined toward the center (width direction) in the width direction as it goes downward, and the recording paper 20 is directed downward from above (see arrow S1 in FIGS. 11 and 12). ) When set on the paper feed tray 24, the recording paper 20 is guided to the center in the width direction by the taper portion 72C. Therefore, the recording paper 20 can be easily set.

FIG. 13 shows a guide body 74 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Similar to the first embodiment, the guide body 74 is also formed by bending a plate material having elasticity such as resin or metal at a predetermined position, and has one end 74 thereof.
A is fixed to the side wall 66. The other end 7 of the guide body 74
4B contacts (or separates) without being fixed to the side wall 66
Further, the obtuse-angled intermediate portion 74C is separated from the side wall 66.

When the intermediate portion 74C is pushed from the set recording paper 20, it is elastically deformed and the reaction force is applied to the recording paper 20. The guide body 72 can be elastically deformed to apply a reaction force to the recording paper 20 having the maximum width as shown in FIG. 14 and the recording paper 20 having the minimum width as shown in FIG. As described above, the shape and position are determined.

Further, in the guide body 74 of the third embodiment,
Since the intermediate portion 74C is bent, a taper portion 74D is formed which inclines toward the center in the width direction as it goes downstream in the transport direction. Recording paper 20
When the sheet is set in the sheet feeding tray 24 from the upstream side to the downstream side (see arrow S2) in the transport direction, the taper portion 74D is formed.
Since the recording paper 20 is guided to the center in the width direction by the above, the recording paper 20 can be easily set.

FIG. 16 shows a guide body 76 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. This guide body 76 is provided on the side wall 6
It has a contact plate 78 arranged in parallel with 6. From the contact plate 78, one or a plurality of guide pins 80 (two upper and lower sides for one contact plate 78 in the present embodiment) are projected toward the side wall 66, and a guide hole 82 formed in the side wall 66. Has been inserted into. In this way, the guide pin 80 is connected to the guide hole 8
By being guided in the inside 2, the contact plate 78 slides in the longitudinal direction of the guide pin 80 while maintaining the parallel state with the side wall 66.

An enlarged diameter portion 80A having a diameter larger than that of the guide hole 82 is formed at the tip of the guide pin 80, and the amount of movement of the contact plate 78 toward the center in the width direction is limited to a certain range.
The guide pin 80 is prevented from coming out of the guide hole 82 carelessly.

A compression coil spring 84 is attached to each of the guide pins 80 between the side wall 66 and the contact plate 78, and presses the contact plate 78 toward the center in the width direction.

In the fourth embodiment having such a structure, when the contact plate 78 is pushed from the set recording paper 20, the compression coil spring 84 is elastically deformed, and the reaction force is recorded via the contact plate 78. It acts on the paper 20. The compression coil spring 84 elastically deforms and applies a reaction force to the recording paper 20 having the maximum width as shown in FIG. 17 and the recording paper 20 having the minimum width as shown in FIG. The shape and position of each member are determined so that it can be performed.

The contact plate 7 is also used in the fourth embodiment.
8 may be formed with the same tapered portion as in the second and third embodiments.

Also, in the guide body 68 of the first embodiment shown in FIG. 5, since the intermediate portion is formed to be curved, a taper portion is substantially formed, and the guide body 68 is upstream in the carrying direction. When the recording paper 20 is set from the side to the downstream side, the recording paper 20 can be guided to the center in the width direction.

In each of the above embodiments, an inkjet recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording sheet (recording paper) by an inkjet method has been described as an example of the image recording apparatus of the present invention. The recording device is not limited to such an inkjet type. For example, an electrophotographic system may be used, and in this case, the recording device main body having a structure corresponding to the electrophotographic system may be adopted.

[0069]

According to the present invention having the above-described structure, it is possible to record a high quality image and to reduce the user's work load by surely aligning the recording sheets in the width direction.

[Brief description of drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the image recording apparatus of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the image recording apparatus of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the image recording apparatus of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a paper feed tray of the image recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

6A and 6B are explanatory views for explaining the widthwise alignment of recording sheets to be image-recorded by the image recording apparatus of the present invention, where FIG. 6A is center registration alignment and FIG. 6B is side registration alignment.

FIG. 7 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a recording area of the image recording apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention broken in the width direction.

FIG. 8 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a state in which recording paper having a maximum width is set in a paper feeding tray of the image recording apparatus according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a state in which the recording paper of the minimum width is set in the paper feed tray of the image recording apparatus of the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a paper feed tray of the image recording apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a state in which a recording sheet having the maximum width is set in a sheet feeding tray of the image recording apparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a state in which a recording sheet having a minimum width is set in a sheet feeding tray of the image recording apparatus according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a paper feed tray of an image recording apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a state in which recording paper of maximum width is set in a paper feed tray of the image recording apparatus according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a state in which a recording sheet having a minimum width is set in a sheet feeding tray of the image recording apparatus according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a paper feed tray of an image recording apparatus according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a state in which recording paper having the maximum width is set in a paper feed tray of the image recording apparatus according to the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a partially enlarged perspective view showing a state in which a recording sheet having a minimum width is set in a sheet feeding tray of the image recording apparatus according to the fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

12 Inkjet recording device (image recording device) 14 Recording device main body (recording means) 16 Recording Sheet Supply Device (Recording Sheet Supply Unit) 18 Recording paper ejection device (recording sheet ejection means) 20 Recording paper (recording sheet) 22 recording area 24 paper trays 36 Lifting prevention guide (restriction member) 68 Guide body (recording sheet guide member) 72 guide body (recording sheet guide member) 72C taper part 74 Guide body (recording sheet guide member) 74D taper part 76 Guide body (recording sheet guide member)

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A recording sheet supply unit, comprising: an image recording unit capable of recording an image on a recording sheet in an image recording region; and a recording sheet supply unit that conveys the recording sheet and supplies it to the image recording region. Is fixed to at least one end side orthogonal to the conveying direction of the recording sheet, and has a shape that comes into contact with one end edge in the width direction of the recording sheet having the minimum width, and the width of the recording sheet having the maximum width. An image recording apparatus, comprising: a recording sheet guide member that is elastically deformable between the recording sheet guide member and a shape that contacts one edge in the direction. 2. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording sheet guide member is fixed to both end portions of the recording sheet which are orthogonal to the conveying direction of the recording sheet. 3. The recording sheet guide member is fixed only to one end side orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording sheet, and the recording sheet guide member is fixed to the other end side orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording sheet. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a rigid member that maintains a constant position in the width direction is fixed. 4. The taper portion for guiding the recording sheet to a predetermined stacking position is formed on the recording sheet guide member.
The image recording device according to any one of 1. 5. The limiting member which is arranged at both ends of the recording sheet in the width direction and limits the displacement of the recording sheet in the thickness direction within a certain range. The image recording device described in 1.