JP2005119096A - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing device which can accommodate a paper supply tray and a paper discharge tray in an enclosure from one surface side. <P>SOLUTION: The paper supply tray 12 and the paper discharge tray 13 are positioned in the same direction to the enclosure A under such a state that a printer 1 is usable. At a connection part among the paper supply tray 12, the paper discharge tray 13 and the enclosure A, a paper supply tray rotary hinge 19 and a paper discharge tray rotary hinge 20 are formed respectively and the paper supply tray 12 and the paper discharge tray 13 rotate on the hinges 19 and 20 in an arrow YD direction and an arrow YE direction respectively. As a result of the rotation, the paper discharge tray 13 is accommodated inside the enclosure A, while the paper supply tray 12 serves as a lid for keeping the interior of the enclosure A airtight. In this case, an operating part 11 is concealed to the outside by the paper supply tray 12. The printer 1 with a small occupancy space is realized by accommodating both paper supply tray 12 and paper discharge tray 13 in the same surface direction to the enclosure A. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, and more particularly to a printing apparatus that can store a paper feeding unit and a paper discharge unit inside a casing.

  In recent years, various OA devices such as color printers have been actively introduced in offices and the like, and play an extremely important role in improving the efficiency of office processing. Normally, a printer apparatus is provided with a paper feed tray for stacking unprinted sheets near the paper feed opening, and a paper discharge tray for stacking printed sheets near the paper discharge opening. There are many cases. For example, there is a printer apparatus in which a paper feed port and a paper discharge port are provided on one surface side of a housing. In such a printer device, the paper feed tray and the paper discharge tray protrude from one surface side of the housing, and when installing the printer device, in addition to the installation space of the housing, A space corresponding to the protrusion of the paper tray is required.

In addition, there is a printer apparatus in which a paper feed port and a paper discharge port are provided on the front side and the back side instead of one side of the housing. In such a printer device, since the paper feed tray and the paper discharge tray protrude to the front side and the rear side of the housing, a large installation space is required compared to the printer device that protrudes only to one side of the housing. Necessary. Therefore, in a printer apparatus having a paper feed opening and a paper discharge opening on the front and back of the apparatus main body, when the apparatus is not used, a paper feed tray and a paper discharge tray that protrude from the front and back of the printer apparatus are provided. Has been conceived (for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 08-169618

  However, as described above, in the printer apparatus having a configuration capable of storing the paper feed tray and the paper discharge tray protruding to the front side and the back side of the housing, it is possible to reduce the installation space for the storage. However, at the time of printing, in addition to the installation space for the main body, it is necessary to secure a space for the paper feed tray and the paper discharge tray to protrude from the front and back of the apparatus.

  On the other hand, as described above, in the printer device having a structure in which the paper feed tray and the paper discharge tray protrude from one surface side, the space corresponding to the protrusion of the tray only on one surface side in addition to the space of the housing. Should be secured. However, since the paper feed tray and the paper discharge tray always protrude from the housing, the same installation space is required even when the printer device is not used.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to realize a printing apparatus that can store a paper feed tray and a paper discharge tray in the housing from the same surface side of the housing.

In order to achieve the above object, a printing apparatus according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes:
A housing,
A printing unit that is provided inside the housing and prints a predetermined image on a sheet;
A first tray disposed on one side of the housing for stacking unprinted sheets;
A second tray disposed on the one side surface of the housing for stacking printed sheets;
The sheet is taken out from the first tray disposed in a predetermined position and transported to the printing unit, and the sheet printed by the printing unit is disposed in the second position. A transport mechanism for transporting to the tray,
A first hinge mechanism that supports the first tray movably between a first use position where the transport mechanism can take out a sheet from the first tray and a first retracted position;
A second hinge that supports the second tray so that the transport mechanism can move between a second use position where a printed sheet can be carried out to the first tray and a second retracted position. Mechanism,
It is characterized by providing.

  According to this configuration, the two trays both move to the retracted position, so that when the printing apparatus is not used, it can be installed in a narrower space. Further, since the two trays exist on the same surface side of the housing, it is only necessary to have a space where the tray can be extended only in the direction of the surface on one side of the housing.

The housing includes a predetermined storage portion formed toward the inside with a predetermined range on one side as an entrance,
The first evacuation position is a position that closes the entrance of the storage unit,
The second retracted position may be a predetermined position inside the storage unit.

  According to this configuration, since the two trays can be housed inside the housing, only the installation space for the housing needs to be secured when the apparatus is not used.

The storage unit has an entrance area and a depth of a predetermined size capable of storing the entire second tray,
The first tray may be located outside the paper discharge tray with respect to the housing and have an area of a predetermined size capable of closing the entire entrance of the storage unit.

  According to this configuration, since the inside of the housing is kept in a confidential state by the paper feed tray, the inside of the housing including the printing unit can be protected.

The side surface of the housing has a recess recessed from the surface by at least the thickness of the first tray;
The first tray may be stored in the recess without protruding from the housing when closing the entrance of the storage unit.

  According to this configuration, both the paper feed tray and the paper discharge tray can be stored within the housing size.

The first tray has a plurality of fences for sandwiching and aligning printed sheets protruding on a stacking surface on which unprinted sheets are stacked,
The fence is formed in a predetermined position and shape that can be stored in the storage unit when the first tray closes the entrance of the storage unit.
The printing unit may be formed in a predetermined position and shape that does not contact the fence.

  According to this configuration, the user can store the paper feed tray and the paper discharge tray in the housing without performing complicated operations such as adjusting the position of the fence.

It further comprises an operation unit for inputting various setting information of the device,
The operation unit may be provided on the side surface of the housing, and may be concealed from the outside by the first tray as the entrance of the storage unit is closed by the first tray. Good.

  According to this configuration, since the operation unit cannot be operated in the state in which the tray is stored, an erroneous operation of the apparatus can be prevented.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a printing apparatus that can store both a paper feed tray and a paper discharge tray in the casing from the same side.

  A printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, taking an inkjet printer as an example.

  As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 1, the printer 1 according to the present embodiment includes a housing A, an operation unit 11, a paper feed tray 12, a paper discharge tray 13, and an inner cover 14. Further, as shown in a perspective view in which the paper discharge tray 13 and the inner cover 14 are omitted in FIG. 2, an end fence 15 and a side fence 16 are provided inside the inner cover 14 on the surface portion of the paper feed tray 12. An ink set unit 17 is provided, and a predetermined ink cartridge 18 is set in the ink set unit 17. The paper discharge tray 13 and the inner cover 14 are formed so as to be folded and stored in the housing A by a mechanism described later. The paper feed tray 12 is folded by a mechanism to be described later and functions as a lid when the paper discharge tray 13 and the inner cover 14 are stored.

  The operation unit 11 includes an online / offline switch button, a paper discharge button, and the like. The operation unit 11 is exposed on the surface of the casing A as illustrated in a state where the paper feed tray 12, the paper discharge tray 13, and the inner cover 14 are not stored (hereinafter referred to as a non-storage state). When the tray 12, the paper discharge tray 13, and the inner cover 14 are stored (hereinafter referred to as a stored state), the structure is hidden inside the housing A by a mechanism described later.

  The paper feed tray 12 is a tray for setting unprinted print paper. As described above, the paper feed tray 12 includes the end fence 15 and the side fence 16 on the surface thereof, and the direction of the print paper at the time of paper feed. And regulate the position. As shown in FIG. 1, the sheet feeding tray 12 has a structure that projects forward of the casing A in the non-contained state, and has a certain angle with the casing A by an adapter (not shown). It is configured as follows. Further, in the housed state, the paper feed tray 12 is folded by a mechanism that will be described later, and serves as an exterior cover that protects the inside of the housing A (mainly the ink setting unit 17 and the ink cartridge 18).

  The paper discharge tray 13 is a tray that receives the printed paper after printing, has a sufficient strength and area for stacking a plurality of sheets, and has a structure that can be expanded and contracted within a predetermined range. ing. As shown in FIG. 1, the paper discharge tray 13 extends in front of the casing A (in the direction of the arrow YA in FIG. 2) in the non-contained state. A predetermined angle with the casing A is supported and is maintained. Further, the paper discharge tray 13 is formed so as to be folded by a mechanism to be described later and stored inside the housing A in the housed state.

  The inner cover 14 is a cover for protecting the ink setting unit 17 and the ink cartridge 18 and is made of a translucent plastic material or the like. The inner cover 14 has a structure that can be opened and closed by rotating around a certain axis by a mechanism described later.

  The end fence 15 is for aligning the printing paper in the vertical direction (paper feeding direction), and is provided on the surface of the paper feeding tray 12 as described above. The end fence 15 is movably formed so as to slide on the paper feed tray 12 in the direction of arrow YA in FIG.

  The side fence 16 is for restraining the printing paper in the lateral direction (a direction perpendicular to the paper feeding direction), and is provided on the surface of the paper feeding tray 12 as described above. The side fence 16 is movably formed so as to slide on the paper feed tray 12 in the direction of arrow YB in FIG.

  The ink setting section 17 is a setting section in which the ink cartridge 18 is set, and has a plurality of ink cartridge insertion sections sorted for each ink color. The ink setting unit 17 operates as a recording device for performing printing on a predetermined printing paper using the ink of the set ink cartridge 18. When changing the printer 1 from the non-contained state to the accommodated state, the ink setting unit 17 is predetermined with respect to the vertical direction so as not to be damaged due to contact with the uneven shape on the surface of the end fence 15 or the discharge tray 13. It has a shape inclined at an angle of.

  The ink cartridge 18 is a cartridge that stores ink of a predetermined color, and is used by being set at a predetermined position of the ink setting unit 17. The ink cartridge 18 is composed of two types, a color ink cartridge containing three colors of yellow, magenta, and cyan, and a black ink cartridge. Each ink cartridge 18 is inserted into a separate cartridge holder and supplies ink of each color to the inkjet head. .

  Next, the storage mechanism of the printer 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5. FIG. First, a cross-sectional view of the printer 1 in a non-storage state is shown in FIG. As shown in the drawing, the paper feed tray 12 has a paper feed tray rotation hinge 19 in the vicinity of the joint with the housing A. Similarly, the paper discharge tray 13 has a paper discharge tray rotation hinge 20 near the junction with the housing A, and the inner cover 14 has an inner cover rotation hinge 21 near the junction with the housing A. ing. Further, a gap between the paper feed tray rotation hinge 19 and the paper discharge tray rotation hinge 20 serves as a paper feed port 22 for feeding print paper set in the paper feed tray 12 into the inside of the casing A. . Similarly, a gap between the paper discharge tray rotation hinge 20 and the inner cover rotation hinge 21 serves as a paper discharge port 23 for discharging the printed printing paper to the outside of the housing A. A conveyance roller 24, a pressure roller 25, and a paper discharge roller 26 are provided in the back of the paper supply port 22 and the paper discharge port 23, and the printing paper that has entered from the paper supply port 22 is conveyed to the ink setting unit 17 that is the printing position. Then, the printed printing paper is discharged from the paper discharge outlet 23.

  The paper feed tray rotation hinge 19, the paper discharge tray rotation hinge 20, and the inner cover rotation hinge 21 are respectively connected to the paper feed tray 12 when the printer 1 is stored (when the printer 1 changes from the non-storage state to the storage state). The paper tray 13 and the inner cover 14 serve as a rotation shaft when the paper tray 13 and the inner cover 14 are rotated and stored. The paper feed tray 12 is centered on the paper feed tray rotation hinge 19 in the direction of arrow YD, the paper discharge tray 13 is centered on the paper discharge tray rotation hinge 20 in the direction of arrow YE, and the inner cover 14 is connected to the inner cover rotation hinge 21. It rotates in the direction of arrow YF as the center. The paper feed tray rotation hinge 19 has an inner hinge structure as shown in FIG. 4A. As shown in FIG. It is formed so as to be connected without a step. Further, the paper feed port 22 and the paper discharge port 23 have a sufficient width for the printing paper to pass through.

  The conveyance roller 24, the pressure roller 25, and the paper discharge roller 26 are drive rollers that are driven by a motor (not shown) controlled by a controller (not shown). The conveyance roller 24 conveys the printing paper, the pressure roller 25 holds the printing paper to be conveyed, and the paper discharge roller 26 conveys the printed printing paper and discharges it from the paper discharge port 23.

  When the printer 1 is stored, the paper feed tray 12, the paper discharge tray 13, and the inner cover 14 are stored in the housing A. As described above, the paper feed tray 12 rotates around the paper feed tray rotation hinge 19 and is stored in the housing A. The paper discharge tray 13 rotates around the paper discharge tray rotation hinge 20 and is stored in the housing A. Similarly, the inner cover 14 rotates around the inner cover rotating hinge 21 and is stored in the housing A.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the printer 1 when stored. As shown in the figure, the paper discharge tray 13 and the inner cover 14 are housed inside the casing A, and the paper feed tray 12 covers them from the outside, so that it functions like a cover for the storage port.

  In order to avoid contact with the end fence 15 protruding on the paper feed tray 12 as indicated by B in the figure, the ink setting unit 17 is arranged in the vertical direction as indicated by C in the figure as described above. It has a slanted shape. In addition, since the ink setting portion 17 has an obliquely inclined shape as described above, the outer side of the casing A is not affected even when the discharge tray 13 has an uneven slope shape. It has a structure.

  The side fence 16 is disposed near the paper feed tray rotation hinge 19. Further, the side fence 16 has a width narrower than that of the paper feed port 22. Therefore, when the paper feed tray rotation hinge 19 is rotated and the paper feed tray 12 is stored, the side fence 16 fits in the width of the paper feed port 22 as shown by D in the figure and is in contact with other internal structures. do not do. Accordingly, the user can store the printer 1 without taking care such that the side fence 16 does not collide with other internal structures during storage.

  Further, as described above, the paper feed tray rotation hinge 19 and the paper discharge tray rotation hinge 20 have an inner hinge structure that cannot be seen from the outside of the housing. Further, as described above, since the operation unit 11 is concealed by the paper feed tray 12, an extra uneven shape is not exposed to the outside of the casing A in the housed state, and an apparently clean configuration is realized. .

  Further, since the paper feed tray 12 and the paper discharge tray 13 are provided on the same surface side of the casing A, the storage directions are the same. Therefore, the printer 1 is arranged without considering the position on the back surface side. It becomes possible to do.

  As described above, according to the above configuration, the printer 1 in which the paper feed tray 12 and the paper discharge tray 13 can be stored from the same surface side of the housing A can be realized. As a result, the depth (width in the paper feeding direction and paper ejection direction) of the printer 1 in the housed state is significantly narrower than that of the conventional printer, so the printer 1 is installed on a shelf or desk with a narrow depth. It becomes possible.

  Further, since the operation unit 11, the paper feed tray 12, the paper discharge tray 13, and the like are not exposed on the surface of the casing A in the stored state, the printer 1 can be seen by people other than the office (in restaurants and service shops). Etc.) can also be installed without causing a sense of incongruity with the surroundings.

  Further, when the operation unit 11 is hidden inside the housing A in the storage state, it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation / malfunction such as accidentally pressing a key of the operation unit 11 even though the printer 1 is not intended to be used. it can. Furthermore, since the power cannot be turned on by operating the operation unit 11 in the storage state, it is possible to prevent an erroneous operation such as starting printing while the paper discharge tray 12 is stored.

  When the printer 1 is stored, the interior of the housing A is triple protected by the inner cover 14, the paper discharge tray 13, and the paper feed tray 12. For this reason, it is possible to prevent dust, dust, and the like from entering the housing A, and it is possible to prevent ink from drying in the ink setting unit 17 by the internal sealing effect.

  The present invention is not limited to that described in the above embodiment, and various modifications and applications are possible.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the printer 1 is of a printing system using an ink cartridge, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a toner cartridge or an ink ribbon may be used.

  Further, the position of the operation unit 11 is not limited to the one illustrated in the above embodiment, and any position may be used as long as it is concealed by the paper feed tray 12 in the stored state. Further, the shapes of the end fence 15 and the side fence 16 are not limited to those in the above-described embodiment, and may be any shape that does not come into contact with other parts inside the housing A and does not interfere with the inside when stored.

  In the above embodiment, the inner cover 14 rotates around the inner cover rotating hinge 21 and is housed in the housing A in the same manner as the paper feed tray 12 and the paper discharge tray 13. It is not limited. Unlike the paper feed tray 12 and the paper discharge tray 13, the inner cover 14 does not need to be present in the apparatus when the printer 1 is used. For example, the ink cover 17 (and the ink cartridge 18) It may be a cover that removably protects.

  In the above embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a printer apparatus has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can also be applied to, for example, a copying machine or a facsimile.

1 is a perspective view of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. The paper discharge tray and the inner cover in the perspective view of FIG. 1 are omitted, and the internal structure of the printer is described. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the printer in an unstored state. It is a figure for demonstrating an inner hinge mechanism. It is sectional drawing of the printer in a stowed state.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printer 11 Operation part 12 Paper feed tray 13 Paper discharge tray 14 Inner cover 15 End fence 16 Side fence 17 Ink set part 18 Ink cartridge 19 Paper feed tray rotation hinge 20 Paper discharge tray rotation hinge 21 Inner cover rotation hinge 22 Paper feed opening 23 Paper discharge port 24 Transport roller 25 Pressure roller 26 Paper discharge roller

Claims (6)

A housing,
A printing unit that is provided inside the housing and prints a predetermined image on a sheet;
A first tray disposed on one side of the housing for stacking unprinted sheets;
A second tray disposed on the one side surface of the housing for stacking printed sheets;
The sheet is taken out from the first tray disposed in a predetermined position and transported to the printing unit, and the sheet printed by the printing unit is disposed in the second position. A transport mechanism for transporting to the tray,
The first tray includes a first use position at which the transport mechanism can take out a sheet from the first tray, and a first retraction position with a small occupied space in the horizontal direction of the first tray. A first hinge mechanism that is movably supported between;
The second tray has a second use position where the transport mechanism can carry out printed sheets to the first tray, and a second retreat position with a small occupied space in the horizontal direction of the second tray. A second hinge mechanism that is movably supported between
A printing apparatus comprising: The housing includes a predetermined storage portion formed toward the inside with a predetermined range on one side as an entrance,
The first evacuation position is a position that closes the entrance of the storage unit,
The second retracted position is a predetermined position inside the storage unit.
The printing apparatus according to claim 1. The storage unit has an entrance area and a depth of a predetermined size capable of storing the entire second tray,
The first tray is located outside the paper discharge tray with respect to the housing, and has an area of a predetermined size capable of closing the entire entrance of the storage unit.
The printing apparatus according to claim 2. The side surface of the housing has a recess recessed from the surface by at least the thickness of the first tray;
The first tray is stored in the recess without protruding from the housing when closing the inlet of the storage unit.
The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the printing apparatus is a printer. The first tray has a plurality of fences for sandwiching and aligning printed sheets protruding on a stacking surface on which unprinted sheets are stacked,
When the first tray closes the entrance of the storage unit, the fence is formed in a predetermined position and shape that can be stored in the storage unit,
The printing unit is formed in a predetermined position and shape that does not contact the fence,
The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the printing apparatus is a printer. It further comprises an operation unit for inputting various setting information of the device,
The operation unit is provided on the side surface of the housing, and is hidden from the outside by the first tray as the entrance of the storage unit is closed by the first tray.
The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the printing apparatus is a printer.

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