JP2004059180A - Openable/closable type paper discharge stacker and recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce parts cost and assembling cost through reduction of the number of parts of an openable/closable type stacker, to improve design by thinning and reduction of weight, and to secure strength. <P>SOLUTION: This openable/closable type paper discharge stacker 35 is provided with a stacker body 37 provided on a printer body 3 to be openable/closable and an extended stacker 55 provided on the stacker body 37 to extend an action length of the stacker 35. The openable/closable type paper discharge stacker 35 is constituted of two member constituted of the stacker body 37 to be a single body and the extended stacker 55. These two members are used as external appearance constituting members of the openable/closable paper discharge stacker 35. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an openable sheet discharge stacker provided for receiving sheets recorded by a printer main body in a recording apparatus such as an ink jet printer, and a recording apparatus including the same.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art A conventional open / close type discharge stacker has a stacker body that is directly attached to a printer body and rotates at a predetermined angle by two members, and an extended stacker is provided so as to be sandwiched between these two members. It had a three-member configuration.
[0003]
This is due to the specialty of the open / close type stacker that the front surface of the open / close type stacker becomes the external configuration surface when stored and the back side of the openable type stacker when used. This is because a guide rail for preventing the stacker from coming off or a plurality of ribs provided for reinforcement or the like provided for reinforcement are accommodated between the two members constituting the main body of the stacker so as to be invisible from the outside.
[0004]
Further, since the extension stacker is designed on the premise that it is accommodated in the stacker main body when not in use, the width dimension of the extension stacker is generally smaller than the width dimension of the stacker main body.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the configuration of the stacker body with two members increases the number of components, which leads to an increase in component costs and assembly costs, and has been an obstacle in reducing the weight of the open / close type discharge stacker.
[0006]
In addition, in order to accommodate a large number of ribs or the like having a complicated structure, the thickness of the open / close type output stacker is inevitably 11 mm to 20 mm. It made the idea difficult.
[0007]
That is, simplification of the structure of the guide rail or extension stacker such as a retaining structure or a reinforcing rib, reduction of the number, adoption of an alternative structure, and the like have been considered as future subjects.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, an openable / dischargeable stacker according to claim 1 of the present application extends a stacker main body provided to be freely openable and closable with respect to a printer main body, and extends the working length of the stacker provided with respect to the stacker main body. An open / close type discharge stacker including an extension stacker, wherein the open / close type discharge stacker is composed of two members including a single stacker main body and an extension stacker, and these two members are included in the open / close type discharge stacker. It is characterized in that it is an external component.
[0009]
According to the present invention, by making the extension stacker also have a function as an external component, the stacker main body can be configured by a single member unlike the related art. Along with this, the cost of parts and assembly can be reduced by reducing the number of parts, and the thickness and weight can be reduced.
[0010]
Further, in the openable sheet discharge stacker according to claim 2 of the present application, the stacker main body and the extension stacker have substantially the same width dimension in claim 1, and the side end surface itself of the stacker main body is used as a guide rail. The present invention is characterized in that the engaging rib for engaging with the guide rail is formed by bending the side edge of the extension stacker into a U-shape toward the stacker body.
[0011]
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to comprise the slide mechanism of an extension stacker, without providing a guide rail separately, and it contributes to reduction of the number of parts through effective use of parts.
[0012]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided the open / close type discharge stacker according to the first or second aspect, wherein a paper passing rib is provided on a back surface of the extension stacker to assist a smooth transfer of the sheet discharged from the printer body. On the other hand, the surface of the stacker main body is provided with a reinforcing rib provided with a rib groove for engaging with the paper passing rib.
[0013]
According to the present invention, in addition to the function of smoothly transporting the original paper through the ribs, the guide action accompanying the engagement of the ribs with the ribs eliminates the play of the extension stacker and realizes a smooth slide. I do. Further, since the paper passing ribs and the reinforcing ribs also function as structural members, they also contribute to securing the strength of the open / close type discharge stacker.
[0014]
The openable sheet discharge stacker according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the stopper according to any one of the first to third aspects, wherein a stopper for restricting an extension amount of the extension stacker is provided on a rear surface on a base end side of the extension stacker. On the surface of the free end side of the stacker main body, there is provided a locking rib which is locked to the retaining stopper, and the locking rib slides on the side end surface of the retaining stopper. It is characterized in that guide ribs that perform a guiding action by being in contact are connected.
[0015]
According to the present invention, in addition to the function of preventing the retaining stopper from being originally pulled out of the extension stacker or the function of restricting the amount of pull-out, the rattling of the extension stacker is eliminated by the guiding action associated with the sliding contact between the retaining stopper side end face and the guide rib, A smoother slide is realized. Since the guide rib also functions as a structural material, it also contributes to securing the strength of the openable sheet discharge stacker.
[0016]
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an open / close type discharge stacker according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, wherein the stacker main body and the extension stacker are both formed in a curved flat plate shape, and when the stacker is closed. It is characterized by being curved so as to conform to a curved surface on the front surface of the printer body.
[0017]
ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it can contribute to thickness reduction and weight reduction of an openable discharge stacker, and it becomes possible to set it as the openable discharge stacker of the design which became familiar with the shape of a printer main body. In addition, the curved shape ensures the strength.
[0018]
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording apparatus including the openable discharge stacker according to any one of the first to fifth aspects. Thereby, the operation and effect of the inventions according to claims 1 to 5 can be obtained in the recording apparatus.
[0019]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ink-jet printer 1 in a housed state equipped with an openable paper discharge stacker according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the inkjet printer 1.
[0020]
In this specification, “forward” or “downstream” refers to the direction in which the printed paper is discharged from the inkjet printer 1, and “rearward” or “upstream” refers to the opposite direction. Shall be.
[0021]
Also, in this specification, the “front surface” refers to a surface that can be visually recognized when the openable discharge stacker is in a stored state, and the “back surface” refers to a surface that can be visually recognized when the openable discharge stacker is in use. Shall be referred to.
[0022]
The ink jet printer 1 has a schematic configuration in which a paper feed unit 5 is provided at an upper rear portion of a printer main body 3 as an apparatus main body, and a paper discharge unit 7 is provided in front of the printer main body 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the paper supply unit 5 is provided with a paper supply tray 11 capable of stacking a plurality of sheets, and the paper supply tray 11 can be used as needed when the paper to be used is long. Paper support 12 is provided. The paper feed tray 11 is provided with an edge guide 14 that can move in a direction (main scanning direction) orthogonal to the paper feed direction according to the width of the paper to be used.
[0023]
The outermost surface of the paper feed roller 13 provided immediately downstream of the paper feed tray 11 is brought into frictional contact with the uppermost sheet of the paper feed tray 11 so that one sheet of paper is cooperated with the separation pad facing the paper. It is responsible for sending out only the paper. The paper fed from the paper feed tray 11 reaches a paper feed roller 19 composed of a lower paper feed drive roller 15 and an upper paper feed driven roller 17 provided in the printer main body 3, and a printing process is performed by a drive system. The paper is fed to the print head 21 located downstream of the paper feed roller 19 while receiving the precise paper feed operation in.
[0024]
The print head 21 is supported by a carriage 23, and the carriage 23 can reciprocate in the main scanning direction (the width direction of the printer main body 3).
[0025]
A platen 25 is provided at a position facing the print head 21. The platen 25 has a function of supporting the sheet from below when printing is performed on the sheet by the print head 21.
[0026]
The distance between the print head 21 and the platen 25, that is, the paper gap, can be appropriately adjusted according to the thickness of the paper by moving the carriage 23 supporting the print head 21 up and down. In a state where the paper gap is properly adjusted, high-quality printing is performed while the paper smoothly passes over the platen 25. The paper printed by the print head 21 is output to a paper discharge unit. The paper is sequentially discharged by a paper discharge roller 27 provided in the printer 7. The paper discharge roller 27 includes a lower paper discharge drive roller 29 and an upper paper discharge toothed roller 31, and has a mechanism in which the paper is pulled out and discharged by the rotation of the paper discharge drive roller 29.
[0027]
In the present invention, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, in the ink jet printer 1, an opening / closing type discharge stacker 35 provided for receiving a sheet recorded by the printer main body 3 is an object of the present invention.
[0028]
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a disassembled state of the openable discharge stacker of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state where the same is stored, FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state where the same is expanded, and FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the state at the time of use same as the above.
[0029]
The openable paper discharge stacker 35 of the present invention includes a stacker main body 37 constituted by a single component that can be opened and closed with respect to the printer main body 3, and an extension provided slidably with respect to the stacker main body 37 in the paper transport direction. It is configured by including two members with the stacker 55.
The stacker main body 37 is a curved flat plate-shaped member that is curved to conform to the curved surface on the front surface of the printer main body 3.
[0030]
The base end portion 39 of the stacker main body 37 is formed to be somewhat thicker, and a rotating shaft 41 protruding outward is provided on the left and right side end surfaces. Note that the front and back surfaces of the base end portion 39 are exterior configuration surfaces when stored (when the stacker is closed) and when used (when the stacker is opened).
At the distal end of the base end portion 39, a thinner sliding contact portion 43 is provided than the base end portion 39 formed by extending the base end portion 39 and bending at the same curvature.
[0031]
The back surface of the sliding contact portion 43 is a receiving surface for receiving the sheet discharged from the discharge roller 27, and has an appearance configuration surface substantially flush with the back surface of the base end portion 39.
The surface of the sliding contact portion 43 is a sliding contact surface with an extension stacker 55 to be described later, and has a shape recessed in a step shape from the surface of the base end portion 39 by the thickness of the extension stacker 55. Note that the surface of the sliding contact portion 43 is in a position where it cannot be visually recognized in a normal use state, and thus is not an external configuration surface.
[0032]
The width dimension of the sliding contact portion 43 is formed to be slightly smaller than the width dimension of the base end portion 39. Since the side end surface of the sliding contact portion 43 is used as the guide rail 45, the thickness of the engagement rib 57 of the extension stacker 55 to be described later that engages with the guide rail 45 is taken into consideration, and the thickness is reduced by the thickness. It was done.
[0033]
The edge portion on the surface side of the guide rail 45 is cut off in a stepped shape, which also matches the shape of the engagement rib 57 of the extension stacker 55 described later.
[0034]
On the surface of the inner sliding contact portion 43 slightly away from the guide rail 45, two reinforcing ribs 49 provided with a rib groove 47 for engaging with a paper passing rib 59 in an extension stacker 55 described later are provided symmetrically. ing.
[0035]
At the center of the surface of the sliding portion 43, a locking rib 51 is provided at the free end of the sliding contact portion 43 so as to be interposed between the two reinforcing ribs 49. The left and right ends of the locking rib 51 are connected with guide ribs 53 that perform a guiding action by slidingly contacting a side end surface of a retaining stopper 61 of an extension stacker 55 described later.
[0036]
On the other hand, the extension stacker 55 is a flat plate-like member that is curved so as to conform to the curved surface of the front surface of the printer body 3, like the stacker body 37. Incidentally, the total thickness of the open / close type discharge stacker 35 in which the extension stacker 55 and the stacker main body 37 are combined is about 6.5 mm, which is considerably thinner than the conventional thickness of 11 to 20 mm. Have been.
[0037]
The width of the extension stacker 55 is substantially the same as the width of the base end portion 39 of the stacker main body 37, and the length is formed substantially the same as the length of the sliding contact portion 43 of the stacker main body 37. .
[0038]
The side edge portion of the extension stacker 55 is bent in a U-shape on the back surface (stacker main body 37) side, thereby forming an engagement rib 57 for engaging with the guide rail 45 of the stacker main body 37. I have.
On the back side of the extension stacker 55, two paper passing ribs 59 are provided symmetrically with the rib grooves 47 formed on the reinforcing ribs 49 of the stacker main body 37.
[0039]
The cross-sectional shape of the paper passing rib 59 has a somewhat rounded shape at the edge portion, ensuring smooth conveyance of the paper discharged from the paper discharging roller 27, and directly touching and visually recognizing during use. Because it is a part that can be made, consideration is also given to safety and design.
[0040]
At the center of the back surface of the extension stacker 55, a stopper 61 is provided at the center of the rear surface of the extension stacker 55 so as to be engaged with the engagement rib 51 of the stacker body 37 so as to be sandwiched between the two paper passing ribs 59.
The side end surface of the retaining stopper 61 is a sliding contact surface that slides on the inner wall surface of the guide rib 53 as described above.
[0041]
In addition, a finger hook 63 is provided in the center of the free end side of the surface of the extension stacker 55 so as to protrude like an eaves. It has a configuration that can do both.
[0042]
Note that the front surface of the extension stacker 55 is an external configuration surface when stored, and the back surface of the extension stacker 55 is an external configuration surface when pulled out toward the front during use.
[0043]
The open / close type discharge stacker 35 of the present invention has the above-described configuration, and its operation state will be described below.
(I) State when stored (see FIG. 4)
As shown in FIG. 4, the openable / closable paper discharge stacker 35 of the present invention is in a standing posture in which it is lifted upward so as to cover the front surface of the printer main body 3 as shown in FIG.
In this state, only the surface of the base end portion 39 of the stacker main body 37 and the surface of the extension stacker 55 can be visually recognized, and the external configuration surface is provided.
[0044]
(Ii) State at the time of expansion (see FIG. 5)
When the user puts his finger on the finger hook 63 formed on the surface of the extension stacker 55 and pulls it forward, the openable paper discharge stacker 35 rotates about the rotation shaft 41 as a rotation center, and is nearly horizontal. It falls down to the state, and becomes a lying posture.
In this state, only the base end portion 39 of the stacker main body 37 and the back surface of the sliding contact portion 43 can be visually recognized, and it is an external configuration surface.
[0045]
(Iii) State in use (see FIG. 6)
When the finger is further pulled forward while the finger is held on the finger hook 63, only the extension stacker 55 slides forward, and the extension stacker 55 is extended until the stopper 61 comes into contact with the locking rib 51 and is locked.
[0046]
At this time, the extension stacker 55 is guided by the guide rail 45 of the stacker main body 37, and at the same time, is loose due to the engagement between the paper passing rib 59 and the rib groove 47 and the sliding contact between the side end surface of the stopper 61 and the guide rib 53. It is prevented and smooth withdrawal is performed.
In this state, the back surface of the extension stacker 55 can be visually recognized in addition to the base end portion 39 of the stacker main body 37 and the back surface of the sliding contact portion 43, and the external configuration surface is obtained.
[0047]
When the printed paper is discharged from the paper discharge roller 27 in such a state, the leading end of the paper passes through the back surface of the base end portion 39 of the stacker main body 37 and the back surface of the sliding contact portion 43 and further passes through the paper passing rib. 59, the paper is sequentially placed on the openable discharge stacker 35.
[0048]
Although the present invention is configured as described above, it is also possible to change or replace a partial configuration as described below.
For example, it is possible to use a side end surface of the extension stacker 55 as the guide rail 45 and provide an engagement rib 57 for engaging with the guide rail 45 on the stacker main body 37 side. is there.
[0049]
As an alternative to the guide rail 45 and the engagement rib 57, as shown in FIG. 7A, a slot-like guide hole 65 and a guide hole 67 are engraved in the extension stacker 55 and the stacker body 37. Of these, it is possible to form the engaging projection 69 engaging with the guide hole 65 on the surface of the stacker main body 37 and to form the engaging projection 71 engaging with the guide hole 67 on the back surface of the extension stacker 55. However, in this case, it is necessary to consider the design of the head and the amount of protrusion of the engaging projection 69 and the engaging projection 71 that appear in the appearance.
[0050]
In addition, as shown in FIG. 7B, it is also possible to connect the extension stacker 55 and the stacker main body 37 with a hinge 73 so that the extension can be performed by two-stage opening and closing operations. However, in this case, when the extension stacker 55 is in the unfolded state, the tip is bent downward, so that the opening / closing angle needs to be adjusted so that the extension stacker 55 or the stacker body 37 is slightly upward.
[0051]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the openable sheet discharge stacker, which has conventionally been constituted by three members, can be constituted by two members, so that the cost of parts and assembly can be reduced by reducing the number of parts. Further, it is possible to contribute to a reduction in the thickness and weight of the open / close type discharge stacker, and it is possible to apply a more familiar design to the printer body.
[0052]
In addition, by using the side end surface of the stacker body as a guide rail as it is, adopting reinforcing ribs and guide ribs, and applying a curved shape, the strength can be ensured in addition to the improvement in design.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ink jet printer showing a state in which a retractable paper discharge stacker according to the present invention is mounted and stored.
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the inkjet printer.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the openable paper discharge stacker of the present invention is disassembled.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the openable sheet discharge stacker of the present invention is stored.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the openable sheet ejection stacker of the present invention is opened.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the openable sheet discharge stacker of the present invention is used.
FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing another embodiment having a different partial configuration.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Ink jet printer 3 Printer main body 7 Discharge part 19 Paper feed roller 21 Print head 25 Platen 27 Discharge roller 35 Openable discharge stacker 37 Stacker main body 39 Base end 41 Rotating shaft 43 Sliding contact part 45 Guide rail 47 Rib groove 49 Reinforcement rib 51 Locking rib 53 Guide rib 55 Extension stacker 57 Engagement rib 59 Paper passing rib 61 Retaining stopper 63 Finger hook 65 Guide hole 67 Guide hole 69 Engagement protrusion 71 Engagement protrusion 73 Hinge

Claims (6)

An open / close discharge stacker comprising: a stacker main body provided to be freely openable and closable with respect to the printer main body; and an extension stacker provided to the stacker main body to extend the working length of the stacker,
The openable discharge stacker is composed of two members including a single stacker main body and an extension stacker, and these two members are external components of the openable discharge stacker. Output stacker. 2. The extension stacker according to claim 1, wherein the stacker main body and the extension stacker have substantially the same width dimension, the side end surface of the stacker main body itself is used as a guide rail, and an engagement rib engaging with the guide rail is provided at a side edge of the extension stacker. Characterized by being bent into a U-shape on the stacker body side. 3. The paper feed rib according to claim 1, wherein a paper feed rib is provided on a back surface of the extension stacker to assist in smooth transfer of paper discharged from the printer main body, while the paper feed rib is provided on a front surface of the stacker main body. An openable sheet discharge stacker comprising a reinforcing rib provided with a rib groove to be engaged. The stopper according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a stopper for restricting the amount of extension of the extension stacker is provided on the rear surface on the base end side of the extension stacker. Is provided with a locking rib which is locked to the retaining stopper, and a guide rib which guides by slidingly contacting a side end surface of the retaining stopper is connected to the locking rib. Openable paper output stacker. 5. The stacker body and the extension stacker according to claim 1, wherein both the stacker body and the extension stacker are formed into a curved flat plate shape, and are curved so as to conform to the curved surface of the front surface of the printer body when the stacker is closed. Open / close type output stacker. A recording apparatus comprising the open / close type discharge stacker according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

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