JP2005330021A - Automatic feeding device and recording device provided therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an automatic feeding device capable of securely returning a recorded material separated from a recorded material to be fed by a separation means to a predetermined stacking position. <P>SOLUTION: This automatic feeding device is composed of a right edge guide 804 and a left edge guide 806 for regulating inclination for the direction of return of calling card paper MP pushed and returned toward the predetermined stacking position by a paper return lever 42, and a return guide 821 formed in the right edge guide 804 for guiding the calling card paper MP pushed and returned toward the predetermined stacking position by the paper return lever 42 to the right edge guide 804 and the left edge guide 806. The return guide 821 forms a shape protruding on the uppermost side of the stacked calling card paper MP to guide the calling card paper MP stacked at the predetermined stacking position to the right edge guide 804 from the uppermost side and regulate levitation of the calling card paper MP pushed and returned toward the predetermined stacking position by the paper return lever 42. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording material of a recording apparatus, comprising: a recording execution unit that performs recording on a recording material; and a recording material transport unit that transports the recording material in a predetermined transport direction by a predetermined transport amount. The present invention relates to an automatic feeding device that automatically feeds a recording material toward a recording material conveying means.

  A recording apparatus such as an ink jet printer is generally provided with an automatic feeding apparatus such as a known ASF (auto sheet feeder) that automatically feeds a recording material such as recording paper. Recording materials stacked on a tray, a detachable cassette or the like are fed one by one in order from the highest recording material by this automatic feeding device. Further, in a general automatic feeding device, the recording material below the recording material to be fed is fed in a state where it is dragged and overlapped with the recording material to be fed ( In order to prevent (multiple feeding), separation means such as a known separation pad is provided. The recording material that is dragged and overlapped with the recording material to be fed is separated from the recording material to be fed by this separating means, and only the recording material to be fed is fed. Sent to the route. Further, a general automatic feeder is a known paper return unit for returning another recording material separated from the recording material to be fed by the separating means to a predetermined stacking position of the tray or cassette. A recording material returning means using a lever (paper returning member) or the like is provided. If the other recording material separated from the recording material to be fed by the separating means is in a state in which the tray protrudes from the predetermined stacking position of the cassette or the like in the feeding direction, the next feeding operation is hindered. Therefore, the front end of the recording material in such a state is pushed back to a predetermined stacking position such as a tray or a cassette by swinging a paper return lever (paper return member) or the like in that direction. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-54779 A

  However, depending on the configuration of the tray, cassette, etc. on which the recording materials are stacked, it is separated from the recording material to be fed by the separating means and jumps out from the predetermined stacking position of the tray, cassette, etc. in the feeding direction. When the recording material in the pressed state is pushed back by a paper return lever (paper return member) or the like, the pushed back recording material may be returned to a position shifted from a predetermined stacking position. In general automatic feeding devices, a guide member or the like for positioning a recording material at a predetermined stacking position is provided in a tray, a cassette, or the like, but in particular, the number of recording materials is close to the maximum stackable number. In the stacked state, the recording material returned by the paper return lever or the like may get over the guide member and return to a position greatly deviated from the predetermined stacking position. In recent years, a recording apparatus capable of recording on a recording material made of small cardboard, such as a business card, has appeared. When feeding such a recording material with an automatic feeding device, Separation means because there is a possibility that another recording material dragged by the recording material to be fed will be lifted from a predetermined stacking position because it is highly rigid and difficult to bend and is lightweight. When the recording material separated by the above is returned by a paper return lever or the like, the recording material may jump over the guide member or the like and jump to a position greatly deviated from a predetermined stacking position.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and the problem is to reliably return the recording material separated from the recording material to be fed by the separating means to a predetermined stacking position. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic feeding device that can perform the above.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a recording execution unit that performs recording on a recording material, and a recording material conveyance that conveys the recording material in a predetermined conveyance direction by a predetermined conveyance amount. An automatic feeding device for automatically feeding a recording material of a recording apparatus provided with a means toward the recording material conveying means, wherein the rotation of the rotational driving force source is transmitted and the feeding material rotates in the feeding direction. The feeding roller and a plurality of recording materials stacked at a predetermined stacking position are pushed from the lowest side to the feeding roller, and the uppermost recording material of the stacked recording materials is fed to the feeding roller. The recording material pressing means for pressing the outer peripheral surface of the feeding roller, and the uppermost recording material in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the feeding roller of the recording material pressed by the feeding roller are the feeding When feeding in the feeding direction by the rotation of the roller, only the top recording material is fed to the feeding path. As described above, the separating means for separating the top recording material from the other recording material which is dragged by the top recording material and advances from a predetermined stacking position and is moved in the feeding direction, Recording material returning means for pushing back the recording material separated from the uppermost recording material by the separating means toward the predetermined stacking position, and recording target pushed back toward the predetermined stacking position by the recording material returning means Return direction regulating means for regulating the return direction of the recording material pushed back toward the predetermined stacking position by the recording material returning means so that the material is returned to the predetermined stacking position. Automatic feeding device.

  As described above, the recording material pushed back toward the predetermined stacking position by the recording material returning unit is regulated by the return direction regulating unit so as to be returned to the predetermined stacking position. After being separated from the recording material to be recorded, the recording material pushed back toward the predetermined stacking position by the recording material returning means is returned to a position shifted from the predetermined stacking position, or outside the predetermined stacking position. Can be prevented from jumping out. Therefore, according to the automatic feeding device shown in the first aspect of the present invention, the recording material separated from the recording material to be fed by the separating means can be reliably returned to the predetermined stacking position. The effect that it can be obtained.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect described above, the return direction restricting means restricts the inclination of the recording material that is pushed back toward the predetermined stacking position by the recording material returning means with respect to the return direction. An automatic feeding mechanism comprising: an inclination regulating means for guiding the recording material pushed back toward a predetermined stacking position by the recording material returning means to the inclination regulating means Device.

  The recording material pushed back toward the predetermined stacking position by the recording material returning means is restricted in inclination with respect to the return direction by the inclination restricting means, so that the recording material is returned to a position deviated from the predetermined stacking position, or the predetermined stacking position is reached. Jumping out of the position can be prevented. Further, since the recording material pushed back toward the predetermined stacking position by the recording material returning means is guided by the guiding means to the tilt regulating means, the recording material is returned to the predetermined stacking position by the recording material returning means. Thus, the recording material to be pushed back can be prevented from being pushed out of the tilt regulating means.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect described above, an orthogonal direction reference that defines one end side in a direction orthogonal to the recording material conveyance direction as a reference position in a direction orthogonal to the recording material conveyance direction. The recording material according to the width in the direction orthogonal to the recording material conveyance direction in a state where one end side of the position defining member and the direction orthogonal to the recording material conveyance direction is in contact with the orthogonal direction reference position definition member The recording material is conveyed by an orthogonally moving member disposed so as to be locked at an arbitrary position in the direction orthogonal to the recording material conveyance direction so as to define the other end side in the direction orthogonal to the recording material conveyance direction. Stacking position defining means for defining both end positions in a direction orthogonal to the direction and stacking recording materials to a predetermined stacking position, wherein the tilt regulating means includes the orthogonal direction reference position defining member and the orthogonal direction And the guide means has a predetermined product. An automatic feeding device characterized by having a guide portion for guiding the recording material stacked at the position from the uppermost side of the recording material to the orthogonal direction reference position defining member or the orthogonal direction moving member. It is a feeding device.

  The tilt regulating means moves in the direction orthogonal to the orthogonal direction reference position defining member of the stack position defining means for defining the both end positions in the direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the recording material and stacking the recording materials to a predetermined stacking position. Member. In other words, the recording material pushed back toward the predetermined stacking position by the recording material return means (the direction opposite to the recording material conveyance direction) has one end side in the direction orthogonal to the recording material conveyance direction on the recording material. An orthogonal direction reference position defining member that defines a reference position in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the recording material, and the other end side in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the recording material according to the width in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the recording material The both-end positions in the direction orthogonal to the recording material conveyance direction are regulated by the orthogonal direction moving member that regulates the inclination to the return direction (the direction opposite to the recording material conveyance direction). The guide means for guiding the recording material pushed back toward the predetermined stacking position by the recording material returning means to the tilt regulating means (orthogonal direction reference position defining member and orthogonal direction moving member) is loaded at the predetermined stacking position. It has a guide portion for guiding the recording material that is overlapped from the uppermost side of the recording material to the orthogonal direction reference position defining member or the orthogonal direction moving member. Therefore, the recording material pushed back toward the predetermined stacking position by the recording material returning means is guided by the guide unit to the orthogonal direction reference position defining member or the orthogonal direction moving member. It is guided between the orthogonal direction moving members. Therefore, the recording material pushed back toward the predetermined stacking position by the recording material returning means can be accurately returned to the predetermined stacking position in a state where the inclination with respect to the return direction is reliably regulated.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect described above, the guide means is stacked so as to be able to regulate the lifting of the recording material pushed back toward the predetermined stacking position by the recording material return means. The automatic feeding apparatus is characterized in that the guide portion protruding to the uppermost side of the recording material is formed on the orthogonal direction reference position defining member or the orthogonal direction moving member.
In this way, the guide portion protrudes to the uppermost side of the recording materials stacked so that the lifting of the recording materials pushed back toward the predetermined stacking position by the recording material returning means can be regulated. Therefore, the recording material pushed back toward the predetermined stacking position by the recording material returning means can be prevented from getting over the orthogonal direction reference position defining member or the orthogonal direction moving member and being pushed back to the outside.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect described above, the guide means extends from a separation position by the separation means to an end portion on the downstream side in the feeding direction of the recording material lift regulation area by the guide portion. Is set to be shorter than the length of the recording material in the conveyance direction.

  The recording material that has been dragged by the recording material to be fed and moved in the feeding direction is separated by the separating means without advancing in the feeding direction side from the separation position. In addition, the distance from the separation position to the downstream end of the recording material lift restriction area by the guide in the feeding direction is set to be shorter than the length in the conveyance direction of the recording material. Therefore, the rear end of the recording material separated from the recording material to be fed by the separating means moves from the restricted area of the recording material raised by the guide portion to the feeding direction (conveyance direction) side. Can be prevented. Accordingly, the trailing end of the recording material separated from the recording material to be fed by the separating unit and pushed back toward the predetermined stacking position by the recording material returning unit is controlled to lift the recording material by the guide unit. It can prevent that it remove | deviates from the area | region to the feed direction side.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the third to fifth aspects described above, the stack position defining means defines one end side of the recording material in the transport direction as a reference position in the transport direction. With the conveyance direction reference position defining member and one end side of the recording material in the conveyance direction in contact with the conveyance direction reference position defining member, the recording material in the conveyance direction of the recording material is determined according to the width of the recording material in the conveyance direction. An automatic feeding device having a transport direction moving member arranged to be able to be locked at an arbitrary position in the transport direction so as to define the other end side.
In this way, the recording material that is pushed back toward the predetermined stacking position by the recording material return means by providing the transporting direction reference position defining member and the transporting direction moving member as the stacking position defining means of the recording material. The return position in the transport direction can be more accurately regulated.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the sixth aspect described above, the recording material pressing means pushes a plurality of recording materials stacked at a predetermined stacking position from the lowest level to the feeding roller. A movable body movably disposed so as to move, wherein the orthogonal direction moving member is disposed on the movable body, and the orthogonal direction reference position defining member is substantially the same as a bottom surface of the predetermined stacking position. The automatic feeding device is characterized in that it is disposed in the movable body so as to be rotatable and accommodated so as to form the same surface.

As described above, the orthogonal reference position defining member and the orthogonal moving member defining the both end positions in the direction orthogonal to the transport direction of the recording materials stacked at the predetermined stack position and the both end positions in the transport direction are the predetermined product. Since the plurality of recording materials stacked in the overlapping position are arranged so as to be movable so as to push the recording material from the lowest position to the feeding roller, the movement of the moving object is followed. The stacking position in the direction orthogonal to the recording material conveyance direction can be held at the predetermined stacking position.
Further, the orthogonal direction reference position defining member is disposed in a movable body so as to be rotatable and accommodated so as to form a surface substantially the same as the bottom surface of the predetermined stacking position. When one end side in a direction orthogonal to the material conveyance direction is defined at a different reference position, the recording material can be stacked on the rotational storage position of the orthogonal direction reference position defining member.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to seventh aspects described above, a business card size recording paper can be automatically fed as the recording material. It is an automatic feeding device characterized.

  As described above, the recording material formed of small cardboard such as business card size recording paper has high rigidity and is difficult to bend and is lightweight, so that it is dragged by the recording material to be fed. The recording material of the recording material tends to be lifted from the predetermined stacking position, so that the recording material returned by the recording material returning means moves over the stacking position defining means to a position greatly deviated from the predetermined stacking position. Easy to jump out. Therefore, according to the automatic feeding apparatus shown in the first to seventh aspects of the present invention, a particularly large effect can be obtained in such an automatic feeding apparatus capable of automatically feeding a recording material. it can.

  A ninth aspect of the present invention is a recording apparatus provided with the automatic feeding device according to any one of the first to eighth aspects described above.

  According to the recording apparatus shown in the ninth aspect of the present invention, the function and effect of the invention according to any one of the first to eighth aspects described above can be obtained in the recording apparatus.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ink jet recording apparatus, and FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the ink jet recording apparatus with the main body cover removed. FIG. 3 is a schematic side sectional view of the ink jet recording apparatus. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a control unit that performs various controls of the ink jet recording apparatus.

  First, a schematic configuration of an ink jet recording apparatus 50 as a “recording apparatus” according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The ink jet recording apparatus 50 has a box-like appearance, is formed as large as a video tape recorder, and is configured to be used in a state of being stored in a TV rack or the like. ing. A front cover 2 that can be opened and closed in front is provided in the center of the front surface of the box-shaped main body cover 1, and the recording paper after recording has been performed from the opening portion of the front cover 2 opened to the front. When P is discharged and recording is performed on the label surface of an optical recording disk D such as a DVD, recording from the optical recording disk D mounted on the disk tray 7 is performed from the inside of the ink jet recording apparatus 50. The disc tray 7 is configured to protrude temporarily. Further, the front cover 2 serves as a stacker for stacking recording sheets P discharged after recording is performed with the front cover 2 opened to the front side. A paper feed cassette 8 as a “recording paper storage unit” for stacking the recording papers P is provided below the front cover 2, and recording is performed in the paper feeding cassette 8 while being pulled out to the front side. Paper P can be stacked. Further, an ink cartridge unit 15 is provided on the upper side of the front cover 2, and a plurality of ink cartridges 16 (see FIG. 3) are detachably arranged in the ink cartridge unit 15 side by side in the width direction of the ink jet recording apparatus 50. It is arranged.

  Next, an outline of the internal configuration of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 will be described with reference to FIG. The base of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 includes a lower chassis 13, a main frame 11 extending in the width direction of the main body of the ink jet recording apparatus 50, and a depth direction of the main body of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 disposed on both sides of the main frame 11. The side frame right 12 and the side frame left 14 are parallel to each other. Between the side frame right 12 and the side frame left 14, a carriage guide shaft 51 and a sub-carriage guide shaft 511 are parallel to the main scanning direction X (direction orthogonal to the recording material conveyance direction), and the sub-scanning direction Y It is pivotally supported at a predetermined interval in the (recording material conveyance direction). The carriage guide shaft 51 and the sub-carriage guide shaft 511 are guide shafts for supporting the carriage 61 on which the recording head 62 for ejecting ink onto the recording paper P is mounted so as to be able to reciprocate in the main scanning direction X. 51, the rear portion of the carriage 61 is inserted, and the sub-carriage guide shaft 511 supports the front portion of the carriage 61 from below, thereby the recording head 62 (FIG. 3) mounted on the carriage 61 and the recording head 62. The carriage 61 is supported so as to be able to reciprocate in the main scanning direction X in a state where a distance between the head surface and the recording paper P facing the platen gap (platen gap: hereinafter referred to as “PG”) is defined.

Next, the conveyance path of the recording paper P as the “recording material” and the disc tray 7 will be described with reference to FIGS.
An “automatic feeding device” that automatically feeds recording paper P one by one as a recording material toward a “recording material conveying unit” described later includes a paper feeding cassette 8 and a paper feeding roller 83. A hopper 81 is provided at the bottom of the paper feed cassette 8 on which a plurality of recording papers P are stacked. The hopper 81 is swingably disposed with a shaft 82 as a swing shaft. By pushing up the recording paper P stacked on the hopper 81 from below, recording is performed on a paper feed roller 83 provided on the upper portion. Press the paper P. The paper feed roller 83 has a substantially D shape when viewed from the side, and the outer periphery is formed of a high friction member (for example, a rubber material). When the recording paper P is fed, the uppermost recording paper P in contact with the arc portion of the paper feeding roller 83 is fed in the sub-scanning direction Y by the rotation of the paper feeding roller 83. The “automatic feeding device” is disposed below the paper feed roller 83, and the recording paper P whose surface is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the paper feed roller 83 by the hopper 81 is fed by the drive rotation of the paper feed roller 83. A separation pad (not shown) is provided as a “separation unit” for preventing another recording paper P from being overlapped when being fed in the feeding direction (sub-scanning direction Y). . By feeding the recording paper P while rotating the paper feeding roller 83 with the recording paper P sandwiched between the separation pad and the paper feeding roller 83, the recording paper P to be fed and the other are about to be fed. The recording paper P is separated. Further, the “automatic feeding device” pushes back the recording paper P, which is separated by the separation pad and partially protrudes outside the paper feeding cassette 8 on which the recording paper P is stacked, into the paper feeding cassette 8. In addition, the recording paper P partially protruding outside the paper feed cassette 8 is disposed under the paper feed roller 83 so as to be able to advance into the paper feed path so as to be pushed toward the paper feed cassette 8. And a paper return lever (described later) as a “paper return rocking body”.

  On the downstream side of the paper feed roller 83 in the sub-scanning direction Y, a conveyance drive roller 53 having a high frictional resistance film uniformly applied to the outer peripheral surface, and can be driven to rotate while being pressed and urged by the conveyance drive roller 53. A conveyance driven roller 54 that is pivotally supported by the PF motor 57 as a “conveyance drive motor” that drives the conveyance drive roller 53 and a “rotation” that detects the rotation amount of the conveyance drive roller 53. The rotary encoder 31 as “amount detection means” constitutes a “recording material conveyance means” for conveying the recording paper P or the disk tray 7 in the sub-scanning direction Y by a predetermined conveyance amount. The “recording material conveying means” sandwiches the recording paper P or the disk tray 7 between the conveyance driving roller 53 and the conveyance driven roller 54, and the rotational driving force of the PF motor 57 is transmitted to the pulley 59 via the endless belt 58. The recording paper P or the disc tray 7 is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction Y by the rotation of the conveyance driving roller 53 that is driven and rotated by the rotation of the pulley 59 transmitted through an intermediate gear (not shown). Then, the rotation amount of the PF motor 57 is described later according to the rotation amount of the conveyance drive roller 53 detected by the rotary encoder 31 so that the recording paper P or the disc tray 7 is conveyed by a predetermined conveyance amount. Is controlled by the control unit 100.

  A platen 52 is disposed on the downstream side of the transport driving roller 53 in the sub-scanning direction Y so as to face the head surface of the recording head 62 in the vertical direction. The recording paper P or the disc tray 7 conveyed by the above-mentioned “recording material conveying means” is reciprocated in the main scanning direction X constituting the “recording execution means” while being supported from below by the platen 52. Recording is performed by ejecting ink from the head 62. The “recording execution unit” includes a carriage 61 and a CR motor 63 as a “carriage driving motor” serving as a driving force source for reciprocating the carriage 61. The rotational driving force of the CR motor 63 is illustrated. The rotary motion is converted into a linear reciprocating motion and transmitted to the carriage 61 via a driving force transmission mechanism such as an endless belt. In this embodiment, the recording head 62 is provided at the bottom of the carriage 61, but no ink cartridge is mounted on the carriage 61 that reciprocates in the main scanning direction X, and the ink cartridge unit 15 described above. Ink is supplied to the carriage 61 from a plurality of ink cartridges 16 stored in the cartridge via ink tubes (not shown).

  On the downstream side of the recording head 62 in the sub-scanning direction Y, the rotational driving force of the PF motor 57 is transmitted and rotated to be driven, and the paper driving roller 55 can be driven and rotated while being urged by the paper discharging drive roller 55. A paper discharge driven roller 56 supported on the shaft is disposed. The recording paper P during and after recording is sandwiched between the paper discharge driving roller 55 and the paper discharge driven roller 56, and the rotational driving force of the PF motor 57 is transmitted to the pulley 59 via the endless belt 58. The rotation of 59 is transmitted through an intermediate gear (not shown) and the like, and is discharged from the opening that opens the front panel 2 in the sub-scanning direction Y by the rotation of the discharge driving roller 55 that rotates. A disc tray 7 on which the optical recording disc D can be mounted is disposed above the paper feed cassette 8. The disc tray 7 has a rack 71 (see FIG. 2) formed at the side end thereof, and is arranged so as to be able to move straightly in a substantially horizontal posture by rotation of a pinion gear (not shown) that meshes with the rack 71. ing. Then, after the disk tray 7 is conveyed until the leading end is nipped by the conveyance drive roller 53 and the conveyance driven roller 54 by the rotation of the pinion gear, the conveyance drive roller 53 is rotated in both directions thereafter. It is sent in the sub-scanning direction Y or the reverse feed direction YR. Further, when the optical recording disk D is attached to or detached from the disk tray 7, the optical recording disk D is transported in the sub-scanning direction Y to a position protruding from the opening where the front panel 2 is opened (a position indicated by a virtual line in FIG. 2).

Next, the configuration of the control unit 100 as a “control device” will be described with reference to FIG. 4.
The control unit 100 as a “control device” is connected to a host computer 200 that transmits recording control data to the ink jet recording apparatus 50 so that data can be transmitted and received. The control unit 100 includes a ROM 101, a RAM 102, an interface unit 103, an MPU 104, a DC unit 105, a PF motor driver 106, a CR motor driver 107, and a head driver 108. The MPU 104 and the DC unit 105 include a rotary encoder 31 as a “rotation amount detection unit” that detects the rotation amount of the conveyance drive roller 53, and a linear encoder 32 as a “carriage movement amount detection unit” that detects the movement amount of the carriage 61. , A paper detector 33 for detecting the leading and trailing edges of the conveyed recording paper P, a power supply SW35 for turning on / off the power supply of the ink jet recording apparatus 50, and a tray SW36 for performing a loading / unloading operation of the disc tray 7. Output signal is input.

  The MPU 104 performs arithmetic processing for executing the control program of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 and other necessary arithmetic processing. The ROM 101 stores a control program (firmware) necessary for controlling the ink jet recording apparatus 50, data necessary for processing, and the like. The RAM 102 is used as a primary storage area for various data including recording control data received from the host computer 200 via the work area of the MPU 104 and the interface unit 103. The DC unit 105 is a control circuit for performing speed control of the PF motor 57 and the CR motor 63 that are DC motors. The DC unit 105 determines the speeds of the PF motor 57 and the CR motor 63 based on the control command sent from the MPU 104, the output signal of the rotary encoder 31, the output signal of the linear encoder 32, and the output signal of the paper detector 33. Various calculations for control are performed, and motor control signals based on the calculation results are sent to the PF motor driver 106 and the CR motor driver 107. The PF motor driver 106 drives and controls the PF motor 57 based on the motor control signal from the DC unit 105. In this embodiment, the PF motor 57 meshes with a paper feed roller 83, a conveyance drive roller 53, a paper discharge drive roller 55, and a rack 71 (see FIG. 2) formed on the side end of the disc tray 7. It becomes a rotational driving force source of a pinion gear (not shown) that conveys the tray 7. The CR motor driver 107 drives or controls the CR motor 63 based on a motor control signal from the DC unit 105 to reciprocate the carriage 61 in the main scanning direction, or stop and hold it. The head driver 59 drives and controls the recording head 62 based on a head control signal from the MPU 104.

Next, the configuration of the ink jet recording apparatus 50 will be further described with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an essential part of the ink jet recording apparatus 50, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged side sectional view of the essential part of the ink jet recording apparatus 50.
The transport driven roller 54 is pivotally supported so as to be driven to rotate while being pressed and urged to the transport drive roller 53 by a “paper guide unit” constituted by the transport driven roller holder 22 and the movable guide member 23. The conveyance driven roller holder 22 is pivotally supported so as to be swingable, and the two conveyance driven rollers 54 are axially supported so as to be driven to rotate in the conveyance direction (sub-scanning direction Y) of the recording paper P and the disk tray 7. The conveying drive roller 53 is pressed and biased by the spring force of a torsion coil spring (not shown). A guide roller 231 is pivotally supported on the movable guide member 23 so as to be driven to rotate in the transport direction (sub-scanning direction Y) of the recording paper P and the disk tray 7.

The paper feed roller 83 is formed integrally with the paper feed roller shaft 91, and the rotation of the PF motor 57 is transmitted to rotate the paper feed roller shaft 91 in the feed direction to rotate in the feed direction. The paper feed roller shaft 91 is integrally formed with a paper return lever cam 41 that defines the swing position of the paper return lever 42 as “recording material return means”. The paper return lever 42 is disposed so as to swing so as to be able to advance and retreat from the “automatic feeding device” constituted by the support member 43 to the “feeding path” to the transport driving roller 53. In the paper return lever 42, a separation pad 421 known as “separation means” is provided on a portion that is substantially flush with the “feed path” in a state where the paper return lever 42 swings from the “feed path” to a retreat position. Is arranged. The separation pad 421 rotates the paper feed roller 83 in a state where the recording paper P is sandwiched between the separation pad 421 and the paper feed roller 83, and thereby feeds the recording paper P to be fed and the overlap. The other recording paper P to be fed is separated.
The paper detector 33 as “recording material detecting means” is given a self-returning behavior to a standing posture and can be rotated only in the feeding direction of the recording paper P or the business card paper MP. The lever 331 is pivotally supported so as to protrude into the inside, and the lever 331 is pushed by the recording paper P or the business card paper MP fed from the “automatic feeding device” to swing to a certain swinging position. By moving, the recording paper P or the business card paper MP is detected.

Next, the configuration of the paper feed cassette 8 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 to 13 and FIG.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the paper feed cassette 8. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the paper feed cassette 8 at an angle different from that in FIG. 7, and shows a state where business card paper MP as “recording material” is stacked at a “predetermined stacking position”. .
A plurality of recording papers stacked at “predetermined stacking positions” are provided at the bottom of the recording material storage unit 801 of the paper feed cassette 8 on which the recording papers P and business card papers MP as “recording materials” are stacked. A hopper 81 as a “moving body” arranged so as to be movable so as to push P or business card paper MP from the lowest side to the feeding roller 83 is pivotally supported by swinging shafts 811 to 813 so as to be swingable. It is arranged. The hopper 81 is configured to swing at a predetermined timing according to the rotation position of the paper feed roller 83 by a swing mechanism (not shown).

  At the bottom of the recording material storage unit 801, a “stack” is defined in which the recording paper P or the business card paper MP is stacked at a “predetermined stacking position” by defining both end positions of the recording paper P or the business card paper MP in the main scanning direction X. "Multiple position defining means" is configured. At the bottom of the recording material storage unit 801 as a component of the “stack position defining means”, one end side of the business card paper MP in the main scanning direction X is defined as a reference position in the main scanning direction X. The right edge guide 804 as a member and one end side of the recording paper P or business card paper MP in the main scanning direction X are in contact with the right edge guide 804 in the main scanning direction X of the recording paper P or business card paper MP. Left as an “orthogonal direction moving member” disposed to be able to be locked at an arbitrary position in the main scanning direction X so as to define the other end side in the main scanning direction X of the recording paper P or business card paper MP according to the width. An edge guide 806 is provided. The right edge guide 804 is disposed in the hopper 81 and is disposed in the hopper 81 so as to be rotatable and accommodated so as to form substantially the same surface as the bottom surface of the hopper 81, and swings in the direction indicated by the symbol U. In this state, the one end side of the business card paper MP can be defined as the reference position in the main scanning direction X. The left edge guide 806 is disposed in a slide groove 803 formed in parallel with the main scanning direction X on the hopper 81 so as to be slidable in the slide direction Sx and locked at an arbitrary slide position.

  Further, as a component of the “stacking position defining means”, the recording material storage unit 801 defines a “sub-scanning direction Y reference end” in the sub-scanning direction Y of the recording paper P or business card paper MP. A wall portion 807 as a “scanning direction reference position defining member” is formed, and one end side of the recording paper P or the business card paper MP in the sub-scanning direction Y contacts the wall portion 807 at the bottom of the recording material storage portion 801. In the contacted state, an arbitrary one in the sub-scanning direction Y to define the other end side of the recording paper P or the business card paper MP in the sub-scanning direction Y according to the width in the sub-scanning direction Y of the recording paper P or the business card paper MP. A rear edge guide 805 is arranged as a “sub-scanning direction moving member” arranged so as to be locked at the position. The rear edge guide 805 is disposed in a slide groove 802 formed on the bottom of the recording material storage unit 801 in parallel with the sub-scanning direction Y so as to be slidable in the slide direction Sy and locked at an arbitrary slide position. ing.

  When the business card paper MP is stacked at a “predetermined stacking position” at the bottom of the recording material storage unit 801, the business card paper MP is placed with the right edge guide 804 being swung in the direction indicated by the symbol U. The one end side in the main scanning direction X is placed in contact with the right edge guide 804 and the one end side in the sub scanning direction Y of the business card paper MP is placed in contact with the wall portion 807. Then, the left edge guide 803 is slid to a position where it abuts against the other end side of the business card paper MP in the main scanning direction X, and the rear edge guide 805 is slid to a position where it abuts against the other end side of the business card paper MP in the sub-scanning direction Y. Let As a result, the positions of both ends in the main scanning direction X and both ends in the sub-scanning direction Y of the business card paper MP are defined, and the business card paper MP can be stacked at a “predetermined stacking position” of the business card paper MP. (See FIG. 8).

  FIG. 9 is an enlarged perspective view showing the vicinity of the “predetermined stacking position” of the business card paper MP of the paper feed cassette 8, and FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing an enlarged part thereof. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a state where business card sheets MP are stacked at a “predetermined stacking position” of the paper feed cassette 8, and FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a part of the paper card MP further enlarged. . FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a state in which the business card sheets MP are stacked at the “predetermined stacking position” of the sheet feeding cassette 8.

  The hopper 81 is formed with a bearing portion 814 and a bearing portion 815 for pivotally supporting the right edge guide 804 in a swingable manner. The right edge guide 804 is pivotally supported so that the shaft portion 822 formed integrally with the right edge guide 804 is engaged with the bearing portion 814 and the bearing portion 815 of the hopper 81. The right edge guide 804 is located on the left edge guide 806 side of the bearing portion 815 from the swinging position (FIG. 9) that stands vertically with respect to the hopper 81 depending on the shapes of the bearing portion 814, the bearing portion 815, and the shaft portion 822. Is pivotally supported so as to be able to swing only in the range of the swinging position in which it is stored so as to be substantially flush with the bottom surface of the hopper 81.

The paper feed cassette 8 is provided so that the business card paper MP pushed back toward the “predetermined stacking position” by the paper return lever 42 as the “recording material return means” is returned to the “predetermined stacking position”. It has “return direction restricting means” for restricting the return direction. In this embodiment, the “return direction restricting means” is a right edge guide as “inclination restricting means” that restricts the inclination of the business card paper MP pushed back toward the “predetermined stacking position” by the paper return lever 42 with respect to the return direction. 804 and the left edge guide 806 and the right edge guide as “guide means” for guiding the business card paper MP pushed back toward the “predetermined stacking position” by the paper return lever 42 to the right edge guide 804 and the left edge guide 806. And a return guide 821 as a “guide portion” formed at 804. The return guide 821 as the “guide unit” guides the business card paper MP stacked at the “predetermined stacking position” from the uppermost side to the right edge guide 804, and the paper return lever 42 moves the “predetermined stacking position”. Is formed so as to protrude to the uppermost side of the stacked business card papers MP (see FIGS. 11 to 13) so that the floating of the business card paper MPs pushed back toward the top can be regulated.
A return guide 821 as a “guide unit” may be provided in the left edge guide 806 so that the business card paper MP returned by the paper return lever 42 is guided to the left edge guide 806.

FIG. 18 is a side view of the main part of the “automatic paper feeder” including the paper cassette 8.
In a state where the paper feed cassette 8 is mounted at a predetermined mounting position of the ink jet recording apparatus 50, the return guide 821 formed on the right edge guide 804 provided on the hopper 81 and the paper return lever 42 are provided. The positional relationship with the separation pad 421 is that the distance L1 from the downstream end in the feeding direction (sub-scanning direction Y) of the lifting restriction area L2 of the return guide 821 to the separation position of the separation pad 421 is the feeding of the business card paper MP. The length is set shorter than the length in the direction (length α in the vertical direction). Also, the length L3 from the stacking surface of the business card paper MP of the hopper 81 to the lower end surface of the return guide 821 (the surface on which the business card paper MP is guided) is set according to the maximum stackable number of business card paper MP. The

Next, the “automatic feeding apparatus” according to the present invention will be further described with reference to FIGS. 14 to 17.
FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the paper feed cassette 8 in a state where the business card paper MP is stacked at the “predetermined stacking position”, and shows a state before the business card paper MP is fed. FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the paper feed cassette 8 in a state where the business card paper MP is stacked at the “predetermined stacking position”, and the business card paper MP is being fed by the rotation of the paper feed roller 83. Is shown. FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the paper feed cassette 8 in a state where the business card paper MP is stacked at the “predetermined stacking position”, and immediately after the paper feed roller 83 is rotated almost once and the business card paper MP is fed. This shows the state. FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the paper feed cassette 8 in a state where the business card paper MP is stacked at the “predetermined stacking position”. The paper feed cassette 8 is dragged by the fed business card paper MP to “predetermined stack”. This shows a state where the business card paper MP jumping out from the “overlapping position” in the feeding direction is returned by the swinging of the paper return lever 42.

  In a state where the business card sheets MP are stacked with the right edge guide 804, the left edge guide 806, the rear edge guide 805, and the wall portion 807 defined as “predetermined stacking positions” (FIG. 14), first, the hopper 81 The business card paper MP that swings in the swinging direction indicated by the symbol A and is stacked at the “predetermined stacking position” is pressed and urged against the outer peripheral surface of the paper feed roller 83. Subsequently, the rotation of the PF motor 57 is transmitted and the sheet feeding roller 83 that rotates is rotated in the feeding rotation direction F, so that the uppermost business card sheet MP1 that is in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the sheet feeding roller 83 is fed. Is fed in the direction (sub-scanning direction Y), and is conveyed in the sub-scanning direction Y by the rotation of the conveyance driving roller 53 (FIG. 15). At this time, the business card paper MP2 dragged in the feeding direction by the frictional resistance between the business card papers below the uppermost business card paper MP1 to be fed from the business card paper MP1 to be fed by the separation pad 421. To be separated. The separated business card paper MP2 is in a state of jumping out to the “feeding path” in a state where the leading end is located at the separation position by the separation pad 421 (FIG. 16). As described above, the distance L1 from the downstream end in the feeding direction (sub-scanning direction Y) of the lifting restriction region L2 of the return guide 821 to the separation position of the separation pad 421 is longer than the length of the business card paper MP in the feeding direction. Since it is set to a short length, the rear end of the business card paper MP2 is in a state of being located below the lifting restriction region L2 of the return guide 821.

  Subsequently, the hopper 81 swings in the direction indicated by the symbol RA. At this time, the return card 821 may cause the business card paper MP2 in a state where the leading end is located at the separation position by the separation pad 421 to jump out to the “feed path” to be lifted from the other business card paper MP. Is prevented. Then, as the paper return lever 42 swings in the paper return direction R, the business card paper MP2 whose leading end is located at the separation position of the separation pad 421 is prevented from being lifted by the return guide 821, thereby the right edge guide. 804 and guided by the right edge guide 804 between the right edge guide 804 and the left edge guide 806, so that the inclination with respect to the return direction is restricted to the “predetermined stacking position” (denoted by reference numeral S). (Returned direction) is reliably returned (FIG. 17). Therefore, it is possible to prevent the business card paper MP2 returned by the paper return lever 42 from getting over the right edge guide 804 or the left edge guide 806 and being pushed back to the outside.

  In this way, the business card paper MP separated from the business card paper MP to be fed by the separation pad 421 can be reliably returned to the “predetermined stacking position”.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and they are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

1 is a perspective view of an ink jet recording apparatus. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the ink jet recording apparatus with a main body cover removed. 1 is a schematic side sectional view of an ink jet recording apparatus. It is a block diagram of the control part which performs various controls of an ink jet recording device. It is a principal part perspective view of an inkjet recording device. FIG. 4 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of the ink jet recording apparatus. It is a perspective view of a paper feed cassette. It is a perspective view of a paper feed cassette. It is a perspective view of a paper feed cassette showing an enlarged stacking position of business card paper. It is a perspective view of a paper feed cassette showing an enlarged stacking position of business card paper. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a paper feed cassette showing a state in which business card sheets are stacked. FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a paper feed cassette showing a state in which business card sheets are stacked. It is an enlarged plan view of a paper feed cassette showing a state where business card sheets are stacked. It is a perspective view of a paper feed cassette in a state where business card paper is stacked. This shows a state in which business card paper is being fed by the paper feed roller. The state immediately after the business card paper is fed is shown. It shows a state where the business card paper is returned by the paper return lever. FIG. 4 is a side view of a main part of an “automatic paper feeder” including a paper cassette.

Explanation of symbols

7 Disc tray, 8 Paper feed cassette, 22 Conveyance driven roller holder, 23 Movable guide member, 33 Paper detector, 331 Lever, 41 Paper return lever cam, 42 Paper return lever, 421 Separation pad, 50 Inkjet recording device, 51 Carriage Guide shaft, 52 Platen, 53 Conveyance drive roller, 54 Conveyance driven roller, 55 Discharge drive roller, 56 Discharge driven roller, 57 PF motor, 61 Carriage, 62 Recording head, 63 CR motor, 81 Hopper, 83 Feed roller , 802, 803 Slide groove, 804 Right edge guide, 805 Rear edge guide, 806 Left edge guide, 821 Return guide, 91 Paper feed roller shaft, 101 ROM, 102 RAM, 103 Interface unit, 104 MPU, 105 DC unit, 10 PF motor driver, 107 CR motor driver, 108 a head driver, MP business card sheet, P recording paper, X main scanning direction, Y subscanning direction

Claims (9)

A recording material of a recording apparatus comprising: a recording execution unit that performs recording on a recording material; and a recording material conveyance unit that conveys the recording material in a predetermined conveyance direction by a predetermined conveyance amount. An automatic feeding device for automatically feeding toward a conveying means,
A feed roller that rotates in the feed direction when the rotation of the rotational driving force source is transmitted;
A plurality of recording materials stacked at a predetermined stacking position are pushed from the lowermost side to the feeding roller, and the uppermost recording material of the stacked recording materials is moved to the outer periphery of the feeding roller. A recording material pressing means for pressing the surface;
When the uppermost recording material in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the feeding roller of the recording material pressed against the feeding roller is fed in the feeding direction by the rotation of the feeding roller, the feeding Other recording materials that are dragged by the uppermost recording material and advanced from a predetermined stacking position to move in the feeding direction so that only the uppermost recording material is fed to the feeding path Separating means for separating the top recording material;
A recording material returning means for pushing back the recording material separated from the uppermost recording material by the separating means toward a predetermined stacking position;
The return direction of the recording material pushed back toward the predetermined stacking position by the recording material return means so that the recording material pushed back toward the predetermined stacking position by the recording material return means is returned to the predetermined stacking position. And an automatic feeding device characterized by having a return direction restricting means for restricting. 2. The recording medium returning means according to claim 1, wherein the return direction regulating means regulates the inclination of the recording material that is pushed back toward a predetermined stacking position by the recording material returning means with respect to the returning direction, and the recording material returning means. An automatic feeding apparatus comprising: a guide unit that guides the recording material pushed back toward a predetermined stacking position to the tilt regulating unit. 3. The orthogonal direction reference position defining member that defines one end side in a direction orthogonal to the recording material conveyance direction as a reference position in a direction orthogonal to the recording material conveyance direction, and the recording material conveyance direction. With the one end side in the orthogonal direction in contact with the orthogonal direction reference position defining member, the other end side in the direction orthogonal to the recording material conveyance direction is set according to the width in the direction orthogonal to the recording material conveyance direction. To define both end positions in the direction orthogonal to the recording material conveyance direction, with the orthogonal direction moving member disposed so as to be locked at an arbitrary position in the direction orthogonal to the recording material conveyance direction. Having stacking position defining means for stacking recording materials to a predetermined stacking position;
The tilt restricting means has a configuration including the orthogonal direction reference position defining member and the orthogonal direction moving member,
The guide means has a guide portion for guiding the recording material stacked at a predetermined stacking position from the uppermost side of the recording material to the orthogonal direction reference position defining member or the orthogonal direction moving member. An automatic feeding device characterized by that. 4. The recording apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the guide means protrudes to the uppermost side of the recording materials stacked so as to be able to regulate the lifting of the recording materials pushed back toward the predetermined stacking position by the recording material returning means. An automatic feeding device, wherein a guide portion is formed on the orthogonal direction reference position defining member or the orthogonal direction moving member. 5. The guide unit according to claim 4, wherein a distance from a separation position by the separating unit to a downstream end portion in a feeding direction of a recording material lift regulation region by the guide unit is longer than a length in a conveyance direction of the recording material. An automatic feeding device characterized by being set short. 6. The stacking position defining means according to claim 3, wherein the stacking position defining means includes a transport direction reference position defining member that defines one end side of the recording material in the transport direction as a reference position in the transport direction, and a recording material An arbitrary position in the transport direction to define the other end side of the recording material in the transport direction according to the width of the recording material in the transport direction with one end side in the transport direction in contact with the transport direction reference position defining member And a conveyance direction moving member disposed so as to be latched by the automatic feeding device. 7. The moving body according to claim 6, wherein the recording material pressing means is arranged so as to move a plurality of recording materials stacked at a predetermined stacking position from the lowest level to the feeding roller. The orthogonal direction moving member is disposed on the moving body, and the orthogonal direction reference position defining member is pivoted on the moving body so as to form substantially the same plane as the bottom surface of the predetermined stacking position. An automatic feeding device characterized in that the automatic feeding device is arranged so that it can be stored. The automatic feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the automatic feeding device has a configuration capable of automatically feeding a business card size recording paper as the recording material. A recording apparatus comprising the automatic feeding device according to claim 1.

Images