JP2006205655A - Inkjet recorder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a means whereby miniaturization and thinning of an apparatus can be realized by efficiently arranging constituting members such as a cartridge setting part in the inkjet recorder of a longitudinal installation type which transfers a medium to be recorded in an apparatus housing and records an image to the medium. <P>SOLUTION: The combination machine 1 comprises a printer housing 20 which is like a flat thin box of longitudinal installation type which turns its thickness extension in a longitudinal direction, a transfer mechanism which transfers a sheet of recording paper along a transfer path formed in the printer housing 20, a recording head which is scanned while discharging ink to the recording paper in the transfer path, an ink cartridge which stores the ink to be supplied through a line to the recording head, and the cartridge setting part 6 set at a side face of the printer housing 20 so that the ink cartridge can be pulled out and inserted sideways. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink jet recording apparatus that transports a recording medium in an apparatus housing and records an image on the recording medium.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, what is called a multi-function device (MFD) is known as an ink jet recording apparatus that performs image recording by conveying a recording medium in an apparatus housing. FIG. 7 shows an external configuration of a conventional ink jet recording apparatus. As shown in FIG. 7, an ink jet recording apparatus 90 is provided with a printer unit 91 at the bottom and a scanner unit 92 at the top. The printer unit 91, which is a functional device, is mainly connected to a computer (not shown) and records an image or document on a recording sheet based on image data or document data transmitted from the computer. The unit 92 reads image data of various documents, converts it into image data, and outputs the image data to a computer or the like.

  As shown in the drawing, an opening 93 is formed in the front of the printer unit 91, and a paper feed tray 94 and a paper discharge tray 95 are provided in two upper and lower stages so as to be exposed to the opening 93. Inside the printer unit 91, a laterally substantially U-shaped transport path is formed so that the paper feed tray 94 and the paper discharge tray 95 are continuous, and the inkjet recording head is transported in the transport path. A recording unit that scans in the width direction and ejects ink droplets is provided. By such a printer unit 91, the recording paper accommodated in the paper feed tray 94 is fed to a conveyance path in the printer unit 91 by conveyance means such as a conveyance roller (not shown), and in the conveyance path by the recording unit. After a desired image is recorded, it is discharged to the paper discharge tray 95 and image recording is performed.

  The ink jet recording head is supplied with ink from a separately provided ink cartridge through a tube or the like, and the ink cartridge can be replaced when the ink is consumed by image recording. Yes. Such an ink cartridge is disposed in the apparatus casing on the side of the paper discharge tray 95, and the front panel of the apparatus casing or the scanner unit 92 opens and closes to access the inside of the apparatus casing, and the ink cartridge Cartridge replacement is possible.

  The scanner unit 92 is configured as a so-called flat bed scanner, and a platen glass and an image reading carriage (not shown) are provided below a document cover 96 that is provided as a top plate of the ink jet recording apparatus 90 so as to be freely opened and closed. The image reading carriage is scanned in a predetermined direction to read an image of a document placed on the platen glass.

  An operation panel 97 for performing various operations is provided on the front surface of the ink jet recording apparatus 90, and a slot in which various small memory cards as external recording media can be loaded below the operation panel 97. A portion 98 is provided.

  In the case where the recording paper is held by the paper feed tray 94 or the paper discharge tray 95 in a posture in which the recording surface is almost horizontal like the printer unit 91 of the ink jet recording apparatus 90, the width and the depth are as shown in the figure. A flat and thin box-shaped device housing larger than the thickness (height) is installed horizontally so that the direction in which the thickness extends becomes the horizontal direction. However, since the horizontal installation type ink jet recording apparatus has a large floor area for installation, in order to reduce the installation space, a vertical installation type ink jet recording apparatus is proposed in which the direction in which the thickness of the apparatus casing extends is vertical. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2003-127484 A

  In the ink jet recording apparatus 90, the ink cartridge can be replaced from the front side of the apparatus, and other operations such as an operation panel 97 and a slot unit 98 that are operated by the user are the front of the apparatus. Concentrated on the side. In consideration of the possibility of ink leakage from the cartridge mounting portion on which the ink cartridge is mounted, it is preferable that the cartridge mounting portion is provided near the bottom of the apparatus.

  However, when the ink jet recording apparatus is of a vertical type, there is an advantage that the installation area of the apparatus is reduced, while the cross-sectional area of the apparatus is also reduced, so that it becomes difficult to provide the cartridge mounting portion on the bottom side of the apparatus. It becomes difficult to arrange all the operation members such as the operation panel 97 on the upper surface of the apparatus. Furthermore, when these members are concentrated on the upper surface of the apparatus, there is a problem that the stability of the apparatus is deteriorated. In addition, in the case of a multi-function machine in which an inkjet recording apparatus has a scanner function and the like, if a scanner unit or the like is arranged on the front side of the apparatus, it is difficult to access the inside of the apparatus housing from the front side. In addition, the space where the operation member can be arranged is also reduced. As described above, there is a problem that the space for arranging the ink cartridge, the operation member, and the like becomes smaller as the vertical type ink jet recording apparatus is reduced in size and thickness.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and in a vertically installed ink jet recording apparatus that transports a recording medium in an apparatus housing and records an image on the recording medium, the configuration of a cartridge mounting unit and the like It is an object of the present invention to provide means capable of efficiently arranging members and realizing downsizing and thinning of an apparatus.

  An ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention has a flat and thin box shape, and is installed in a vertically installed apparatus casing having the extending direction of the thickness as a vertical direction, and a conveyance path formed in the apparatus casing. A transport mechanism that transports the recording medium, a recording head that is scanned while ejecting ink onto the recording medium in the transport path, an ink cartridge that stores ink to be supplied to the recording head through a conduit, and the apparatus The side surface of the casing is provided with a cartridge mounting portion provided so that the ink cartridge can be inserted and removed laterally. In the vertically-installed ink jet recording apparatus, by arranging the cartridge mounting portion on the side surface of the apparatus casing, the operability for replacing the ink cartridge can be improved, and the apparatus can be reduced in size and thickness. Moreover, the space for arrange | positioning another operation member in the upper surface and front surface of an apparatus housing | casing is vacant.

  According to the present invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus, the cartridge mounting portion is arranged in a vertical direction so that at least two or more ink cartridges can be mounted. For example, in an inkjet recording apparatus capable of full-color printing with four colors of ink of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black, the apparatus housing is reduced in thickness by arranging cartridge mounting portions for each color in the vertical direction. Can be made thinner.

  According to the present invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus, the cartridge mounting portion is provided on either the right side surface or the left side surface of the apparatus housing. Accordingly, since all the ink cartridges can be replaced from the right side or the left side of the apparatus, the operability is improved.

  According to the present invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus, the cartridge mounting portion is sequentially arranged on the lower side in order of increasing ink color, with the lightest ink color stored in each ink cartridge to be mounted as the uppermost side. It has been done. As a result, even if ink leakage occurs from the upper ink cartridge or the cartridge mounting portion and color is mixed with the ink supplied from the lower ink cartridge, the influence on the recorded image is small.

  According to the present invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus, the cartridge mounting portion is disposed above the recording head. As a result, in the vertical ink jet recording apparatus, it is possible to reduce the size of the apparatus by reducing the width of the apparatus housing.

  According to the present invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus, the cartridge mounting portion is disposed below a media mounting portion for mounting an external recording medium. Thereby, even if ink leakage occurs from the ink cartridge or the cartridge mounting portion, the media mounting portion or the external recording medium is not contaminated.

  According to the present invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus, the cartridge mounting portion and the media mounting portion are disposed on the same side surface of the device casing. Accordingly, the ink cartridge replacement work and the media attachment / detachment work can be performed from one of the right side and the left side of the apparatus, so that the operability is improved.

  According to the present invention, in the ink jet recording apparatus, a scanner unit for reading an image is disposed on the front side of the apparatus housing. Since the space for providing an operation member or the like on the front side of the apparatus is reduced by the scanner unit, the above-described operational effects are remarkably exhibited.

  As described above, according to the ink jet recording apparatus of the present invention, the structural members such as the cartridge mounting portion are efficiently arranged on the side surface of the apparatus housing, thereby realizing the downsizing and thinning of the apparatus and the operability. Can be improved.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings as appropriate.
FIG. 1 shows an external configuration of a multifunction machine 1 (inkjet recording apparatus) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The multifunction machine 1 is a multi-function device (MFD) having a printer unit 2 on the back side and a scanner unit 3 on the front side, and has both a printer function and a scanner function. is there. Although not shown in the present embodiment, the multifunction device 1 may further include a communication unit and have a facsimile function or the like. The multifunction device 1 is mainly connected to a computer (not shown), the printer unit 2 records an image or document on a recording sheet based on the image data or document data transmitted from the computer, and the scanner unit 3 The image data of various documents is read and converted into image data, and the image data is output to a computer or the like. The multifunction device 1 alone is connected to an external device such as a digital camera and output from the digital camera or the like. The recorded image data can be recorded on a recording sheet, or various recording media such as a small memory card can be mounted, and the image data recorded on the recording medium can be recorded on the recording sheet.

  As shown in the figure, the printer casing 20 (apparatus casing) of the multifunction device 1 has a width W and a height T corresponding to a recording sheet having the maximum width capable of image recording, for example, an A4 size recording sheet. The width W and the height T are somewhat larger than the A4 size so that the recording paper can be accommodated and conveyed in the apparatus. On the other hand, the depth D is smaller than both the width W and the height T, and the overall shape of the printer housing 20 is a flat thin box shape. The multifunction machine 1 is a vertical type in which such a printer casing 20 is installed with the direction in which the thickness extends, that is, the longitudinal direction of the side surface of the printer casing 20 as the vertical direction (z-axis direction). . Thus, by making the multi-function device 1 vertical, the down-sizing and thinning of the multi-function device 1 is realized, the floor area for installing the multi-function device 1 is reduced, and the portability is improved.

  A recording paper storage unit 21 (not shown) is formed on the back side of the printer housing 20, and a paper discharge port 22 is opened upward on the upper surface of the printer housing 20. As will be described in detail later, a transport path 23 is formed from the recording paper storage unit 21 to the paper discharge port 22, and an ink jet recording head is placed on the recording paper transported by the transport mechanism 40 along the transport path 23. 24 performs image recording, and the recording paper on which the image has been recorded is discharged upward from the paper discharge port 22.

  An operation panel 4 for operating the multifunction machine 1 is disposed on the upper surface of the printer casing 20 and on the rear side of the paper discharge port 22. The operation panel 4 includes various operation buttons for performing various settings of the multifunction device 1, a liquid crystal display, and the like. The multifunction device 1 is also connected to a computer in response to an operation instruction from the operation panel 4. The operation is also performed by an instruction transmitted from a computer via a printer driver or a scanner driver. The upper surface of the printer casing 20 is inclined downward toward the front side, and the operation panel 4 is also arranged corresponding to the inclination. As a result, the various operation buttons and the display of the operation panel 4 can be viewed and operated from either the front side or the top side, so that the visibility and operation can be performed regardless of whether the multifunction device 1 is installed on the table or on the floor. There is an advantage that it is good.

  Further, on the side surface of the printer housing 20, there is provided a media mounting portion 5 on which various small memory cards as external recording media can be mounted. As shown in FIG. 1, the door can be opened and closed when not in use. Thus, the opening is sealed to prevent foreign matters such as dust from entering. As shown in FIG. 2, when the door of the media mounting unit 5 is opened, the slots 5 a, 5 b, 5 c are exposed on the side surface of the printer housing 20. Thereby, each small memory card can be inserted and removed from the side with respect to each slot 5a, 5b, 5c. In FIG. 2, the door for closing the media mounting portion 5 and the cartridge mounting portion 6 is omitted for convenience of explanation.

  Each of the slots 5a, 5b, and 5c includes, for example, an SD memory card, a compact flash (registered trademark), a smart media (registered trademark), or a small memory card with a different standard called a memory stick (registered trademark) and data The slots 5a, 5b, and 5c corresponding to the three types of small memory cards are arranged in the vertical direction with openings on the side surfaces. The small memory card stores, for example, still image data photographed with a digital camera or moving image data photographed with a digital video camera, and the small memory card is stored in any of the slots 5a, 5b, 5c according to the standard. By mounting the card, the multi-function device 1 can read out image data recorded on the small memory card and record an arbitrary image on a recording sheet by the printer unit 2. Note that the number of slots in the media loading unit 5 can be increased or decreased.

  Furthermore, ink cartridges for each color ink of cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) are loaded on the same side surface of the printer housing 20 as the side surface on which the media mounting unit 5 is provided. As shown in FIG. 1, when the ink cartridge is not replaced, as shown in FIG. 1, the opening is sealed by an openable / closable door. The entry of foreign matter such as dust is prevented. As shown in FIG. 2, when the door (not shown) of the cartridge mounting portion 6 is opened, the openings of the four cartridge mounting portions 6y, 6m, 6c, and 6k are exposed for each ink cartridge. The ink cartridges are exchanged by inserting / removing the ink cartridges from / to the side with respect to the cartridge mounting portions 6y, 6m, 6c, 6k.

  The cartridge mounting portions 6y, 6m, 6c, and 6k are arranged in the vertical direction, and ink cartridges (not shown) that store the lightest yellow ink among the color inks of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. Is the cartridge mounting portion 6y where the ink cartridge is mounted on the uppermost side, and in order of increasing ink color, that is, in order of the cartridge mounting portions 6m, 6c, and 6k in which the ink cartridges storing magenta, cyan, and black inks are mounted. It is arranged in a row on the lower side.

  As described above, in the vertical type multifunction peripheral 1, the cartridge mounting unit 6 is disposed on the side surface of the printer housing 20, and the cartridge mounting units 6y, 6m, 6c, and 6k corresponding to the CMYK color ink cartridges are arranged in the vertical direction. As a result, the operability of exchanging ink cartridges is improved, and the thickness of the printer housing 20 is reduced, so that the multifunction device 1 can be reduced in size and thickness. In addition, a space for arranging other operation members such as the scanner unit 3 and the operation panel 4 on the upper surface and the front surface of the printer housing 20 is vacant. The cartridge mounting portions 6y, 6m, 6c, and 6k are all disposed on the same side surface of the printer casing 20, and the cartridge mounting portions 6y, 6m, 6c, and 6k and the media mounting portion 5 are Since they are arranged on the same side surface of the printer housing 20, all the ink cartridges can be exchanged and the media can be attached and detached on one side of the multifunction device 1, thereby improving the operability of the multifunction device 1. . In the present embodiment, the media mounting unit 5 and the cartridge mounting unit 6 are arranged on the left side surface of the multifunction machine 1, but it is natural that the same effect can be obtained by arranging them all on the right side surface. It is.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a handle 7 formed in a U-shape so as not to interfere with the operation panel 4 lies on the upper surface of the printer housing 20, and is laid down on the upper surface of the printer housing 20. It is provided so as to be able to swing so as to stand up. When the multifunction machine 1 is used, the handle 7 stands up from the upper surface as shown in the figure, and becomes a handle for carrying the device, and when not in use, the handle 7 falls to the upper surface. Thus, the paper discharge port 22 is closed to prevent foreign matters such as dust and dust from entering the apparatus.

  The scanner unit 3 is configured as a so-called flat bed scanner. As shown in the figure, the width and height of the scanner housing 30 of the scanner unit 3 corresponds to a maximum original that can be read, for example, an A4 size original. On the other hand, the thickness (depth) is smaller than both the width and height, and the entire shape of the scanner housing 30 is a flat thin box shape. The reading surface of the scanner unit 3 is configured as one surface of the scanner housing 30 and is opposed to the outer peripheral surface on the front side of the printer housing 20 although not shown in the drawing. Further, the lower end side of the scanner casing 30 is pivotally attached to the printer casing 20, and the upper end side of the scanner casing 30 can be opened and closed to the front side.

  When the scanner unit 3 is not used, as shown in the figure, the thickness direction of the printer casing 20 and the thickness direction of the scanner casing 30 are the same direction, and the outer shape of the entire apparatus is a flat thin box shape. Thus, the apparatus is installed so that the direction in which the thickness of the entire apparatus extends is the vertical direction, and the entire multifunction device 1 is of a vertical installation type. Further, when the scanner unit 3 is used, a gripping unit 31 formed at the upper end of the scanner housing 30 is gripped to tilt the scanner housing 30 to the front side, and a desired platen glass constituting the reading surface is used. The original is positioned and the image of the original is read by an image sensor.

  FIG. 3 shows the internal configuration of the multifunction device 1. As shown in the figure, the printer unit 2 is included in the printer housing 20 so as to include a recording paper storage unit 21, a conveyance path 23, an ink jet recording head 24, a platen 25, an electrical component 26, and a paper discharge stack 27. And a transport mechanism 40 and the like.

  The recording paper storage unit 21 stores recording paper, which is a recording medium, and feeds the recording paper to the transport path 23. The recording paper storage unit 21 stores recording papers of various sizes such as A4 size and below, B5 size, and postcard size. Is possible. Specifically, the recording paper storage unit 21 has a space recessed on the back side of the printer housing 20, and the space includes a partition plate 41 provided inside the printer housing 20, and a printer housing. And a lid 42 that constitutes the back surface of 20. As shown in the figure, the lid 42 is tiltably provided on the back side of the apparatus, and the lid 42 is tilted to open the recording paper storage unit 21 so that a desired recording paper can be loaded. . The plurality of recording papers P stored in the recording paper storage unit 21 are held in a standing posture with the recording surface facing the inside of the apparatus, as shown in the figure.

  As shown in the figure, the lower part of the recording paper storage unit 21 continues to the transport path 23, and the recording paper P held in the recording paper storage unit 21 is separated and transported to the lower part of the partition plate 41 one by one. A paper feed roller 43 for supplying to the path 23 is provided. The sheet feeding roller 43 is rotated by a driving force of a motor (not shown) transmitted by a driving transmission mechanism (not shown) formed by meshing a plurality of gears. On the other hand, a guide 44 for holding the lower end portion of the recording paper P at the paper feed position is disposed below the recording paper storage unit 21 so as to face the paper feed roller 43. The guide 44 is urged toward the paper feed roller 43 by a spring or the like (not shown), and presses the recording paper P against the paper feed roller 43 in a standing posture. Accordingly, when the paper feed roller 43 rotates while being pressed against the recording paper P, the recording paper P is drawn downward by the frictional force with the paper feeding roller 43 and fed to the transport path 23.

  In the present embodiment, the recording paper storage unit 21 is provided in the printer housing 20, but a so-called paper feed cassette provided along the back surface outside the printer housing 20 may be used. At this time, the sheet feeding cassette may feed the recording sheet to the transport path 23 while standing, or the sheet feeding cassette may be slightly inclined during use.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the conveyance path 23 is formed downward from the lower portion of the recording paper storage unit 21, and is reversed near the bottom of the printer housing 20, and then extends upward to be an upper surface of the printer housing 20. To the paper discharge port 22 formed at the top. Accordingly, the recording paper P fed from the recording paper storage unit 21 is transported downward in a standing posture by the transporting path 23, and then reversed so as to make a U-turn to be in a standing posture again and transported upward. Then, the paper is discharged from the paper discharge port 22. In this way, the conveyance path 23 is a U-shaped path along the thickness direction of the printer casing 20, and the recording paper P is conveyed in a standing position, thereby reducing the thickness of the printer casing 20 and the multifunction device. 1 can be reduced in size, and the floor area required for installing the multifunction machine 1 can be reduced. In this embodiment, the paper discharge port 22 is formed on the upper surface of the printer housing 20 and the path of the transport path 23 is U-shaped. However, in the present invention, the path of the transport path is limited to a U-shape. For example, a paper discharge port may be formed on the front surface of the printer housing 20 to form an L-shaped path.

  The conveyance path 23 is composed of an outer guide surface and an inner guide surface that face each other at a predetermined interval, except for a portion where the inkjet recording head 24 and the platen 25 are disposed. Such an outer guide surface and an inner guide surface may be such that, for example, the guide member is appropriately fixed in the printer housing 20, or the outer guide surface may be formed integrally with the printer housing 20. Although not shown in the figure, if the transport roller is appropriately disposed at a location where the transport path 23 is curved, the recording paper P that contacts the guide surface can be transported smoothly.

  Further, as shown in the drawing, an ink jet recording head 24 is provided at the lowermost portion of the U-shaped transport path 23, that is, at a position where the transport path 23 makes a U-turn. The ink jet recording head 24 is arranged on the inner side of the transport path 23 so as to be able to eject ink droplets downward from its lower surface so as to be able to scan in the width direction of the transport path 23, that is, the y-axis direction in FIG. ing. On the other hand, a platen 25 is disposed outside the conveyance path 23 below the ink jet recording head 24.

  The ink jet recording head 24 includes cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (K) supplied from a cartridge such as a tube from an ink cartridge (not shown) installed in the printer casing 20. ), While scanning each color ink, the image is recorded on the recording paper P transported on the platen 25. Although not shown in the drawing, the transport path is disposed inside the transport path 23. 23 is mounted on a scanning carriage that is slidably provided on a guide member extending in the width direction, and the scanning carriage is slid along the guide member by a belt driving mechanism or the like, thereby Scanning is possible with the width direction of 23 as the main scanning direction.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the ink jet recording head 24 has the nozzles 70 for each of the CMYK color inks arranged in the recording sheet conveyance direction so that the ink discharge ports 70a are opened on the lower surface thereof. ing. Note that the pitch and number of the ink ejection openings 70a in the transport direction are appropriately set in consideration of the resolution of the recorded image, and the number of columns of the ink ejection openings 70a according to the number of types of color ink. It is possible to increase or decrease.

  As shown in the figure, a manifold 71 is formed on the upper end side of the nozzle 70 across a plurality of nozzles 70 for each color ink. The manifold 71 includes a supply pipe 72 formed on one end side of the arranged nozzles 70 and a manifold chamber 73 formed over the upper ends of the nozzles 70, and is supplied from the supply pipe 72. The ink is distributed to each nozzle 70 through the manifold chamber 73. A mechanism in which each nozzle 70 discharges ink distributed by the manifold 71 as ink droplets from the ink discharge port 70a is configured, for example, by forming the side wall of the nozzle 70 with a piezoelectric material and ejecting ink droplets by deformation of the piezoelectric material. Alternatively, other known mechanisms can be employed.

  Further, a buffer tank 74 is disposed above the manifold 71. The buffer tank 74 is provided for each color ink of CMYK, like the nozzle 70 and the manifold 71, and the ink supply port from each color ink cartridge 60 y, 60 m, 60 c, 60 k through the sub ink tank 61 and the tube 62. 75 ink is supplied. Once the ink is stored in the buffer tank 74, bubbles generated in the tube 62 and the like can be captured, and bubbles are prevented from entering the nozzle 70. The bubbles trapped in the buffer tank 74 are sucked and removed from the bubble discharge port 76 by a pump mechanism (not shown).

  Further, the buffer tank 74 communicates with the manifold chamber 73 through the supply pipe 72, whereby each color ink supplied from each ink cartridge 60 y, 60 m, 60 c, 60 k passes through the buffer tank 74 and the manifold 71. The flow path is configured so as to flow to the nozzle 70 through. In this manner, the ink jet recording head 24 can discharge each color ink of CMYK as ink droplets from the ink discharge port 70a.

  Each of the ink cartridges 60y, 60m, 60c, and 60k is formed by forming an ink storage chamber and an air chamber (not shown) in a hollow cartridge having a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and to each cartridge mounting portion 6y, 6m, 6c, and 6k. A seal portion 63 made of a rubber-like member such as silicon is provided as a boundary wall between the ink storage chamber and the outside on the side surface which is the back side when the ink is attached.

  The cartridge mounting portions 6y, 6m, 6c, and 6k to which the ink cartridges 60y, 60m, 60c, and 60k are mounted are accommodated in the printer housing 20 (not shown) by the ink cartridges 60y, 60m, 60c, and 60k. Each has a space formed by the partition plate 64 as possible, and one side surface of the space serving as the side surface of the printer housing 20 is open (see FIG. 2).

  On the other hand, hollow ink needles 65 corresponding to the seal portions 63 of the ink cartridges 60y, 60m, 60c, and 60k to be mounted are provided at the back side of the spaces of the cartridge mounting portions 6y, 6m, 6c, and 6k. Each is provided. Each ink needle 65 is provided from the back side of the space toward the opening side so that the tip of the ink needle 65 projects into the space of each cartridge mounting portion 6y, 6m, 6c, 6k. The base end side is connected to the sub ink tank 61 for each ink. The sub ink tank 61 is provided to temporarily hold the color inks supplied from the ink cartridges 60y, 60m, 60c, and 60k, and to catch dust and the like in the ink. The tank 61 and the inkjet recording head 24 are connected to each other by a flexible tube 62.

  When the ink cartridges 60y, 60m, 60c, and 60k are inserted into the spaces of the corresponding cartridge mounting portions 6y, 6m, 6c, and 6k, the side surfaces on the inner side of the ink cartridges 60y, 60m, 60c, and 60k. A seal portion 63 provided on the ink needle 65 abuts on the ink needle 65. Further, when each of the ink cartridges 60y, 60m, 60c, and 60k is pushed in, the ink needle 65 passes through the seal portion 63 and the tip side thereof reaches the ink chamber (not shown) as shown in the figure. As a result, the ink cartridges 60y, 60m, 60c, and 60k are connected to the sub ink tanks 61 via the ink needles 65. Each color ink is supplied from the sub ink tank 61 to the inkjet recording head 24 through each tube 62. The configuration of the ink supply path from the ink jet recording head 24 and each of the ink cartridges 60y, 60m, 60c, and 60k is an example, and in the present invention, these are changed to the configurations of other known ink jet recording heads and ink supply paths. Of course you can.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the platen 25 horizontally supports the recording paper P conveyed through the conveyance path 23 at a predetermined head gap position from the inkjet recording head 24, and the image of the inkjet recording head 24. It has a horizontal plane that supports the recording paper P over the recording range. Although not shown in the drawing, the ink jet recording head 24 ejects ink to the side of the platen 25 outside the image recording range of the ink jet recording head 24 in order to prevent thickening of ink and to remove foreign matters. A waste ink tray for storing the ink and a purge mechanism for sucking and removing foreign matters and bubbles from the inkjet recording head 24 are appropriately provided.

  The transport path 23 is provided with a transport mechanism 40 including a pair of transport rollers 45 and a pressing roller 46, a transport roller 47 and a spur roller 48, a paper discharge roller 49 and a pressing roller 50, and the like.

  The conveyance roller 45 and the pressing roller 46 are provided at positions opposed to the conveyance path 23 on the upstream side of the ink jet recording head 24, respectively, and sandwich the recording paper P before recording being conveyed through the conveyance path 23. Transport onto the platen 25. On the other hand, the transport roller 47 and the spur roller 48 are respectively provided at positions opposed to the transport path 23 on the downstream side of the ink jet recording head 24 and transport the recording paper P that has been recorded in a sandwiched manner. Further, on the downstream side of the conveyance path 23, a paper discharge roller 49 and a pressing roller 50 are provided at positions opposed to the conveyance path 23, respectively, and the recording paper P on which image recording has been performed is held between the recording paper P and the recording paper P. The paper P is conveyed until the leading edge of the paper P protrudes from the paper discharge port 22. Although not shown in the figure, the conveying rollers 45 and 47 and the paper discharge roller 49 are rotated by a driving force transmitted from a motor (not shown).

  The pressing rollers 46 and 50 are urged so as to be pressed against the conveying roller 45 or the paper discharge roller 49 with a predetermined pressing force, and are rotatably provided. When P enters, the recording paper P is retracted by the thickness of the recording paper P, and the recording paper P is sandwiched together with the transport roller 45 or the paper discharge roller 49, and the rotational force of the transport roller 45 or the paper discharge roller 49 is reliably recorded. This is for transmission to the paper P. The spur roller 48 is also provided in the same manner with respect to the transport roller 47. However, since the spur roller 48 is in pressure contact with the recording surface of the recorded recording paper P, the roller surface does not deteriorate the image recorded on the recording paper P. It has become a spur-like irregularity.

  Therefore, the recording paper P fed from the recording paper storage unit 21 to the transport path 23 is nipped by the transport roller 45 and the pressing roller 46 and transported onto the platen 25, and when the recording paper P reaches the platen 25. Then, the sheet is intermittently conveyed on the platen 25 with a predetermined line feed width, and the ink jet recording head 24 is scanned for each line feed, and image recording is performed from the leading end side of the recording paper P. Thereafter, the leading end side of the recording paper P on which image recording has been performed is sandwiched between the conveying roller 47 and the spur roller 48, and the recording paper P is conveyed on the leading end side to the conveying roller 47 and the spur roller 48, and on the rear end side. While being sandwiched between the roller 45 and the pressing roller 46, it is intermittently conveyed with a predetermined line feed width, and image recording is similarly performed by the ink jet recording head 24. When the recording paper P is further conveyed, the trailing edge of the recording paper P passes through the conveying roller 45 and the pressing roller 46, and the nipping by these is released, and the conveying roller 47 and the spur roller 48 have a predetermined line feed width. It is conveyed intermittently and image recording is similarly performed by the inkjet recording head 24. After image recording is performed on a predetermined area of the recording paper P, the transport roller 47 and the paper discharge roller 49 are continuously driven to rotate, and are held by the transport roller 47 and the spur roller 48, and the paper discharge roller 49 and the pressing roller 50. The recording sheet P thus conveyed is conveyed upward along the conveying path 23 in a standing posture, and the leading end thereof protrudes from the paper discharge port 22.

  A paper discharge stack 27 is provided on the downstream side of the paper discharge roller 49 and the pressing roller 50. The paper discharge stack 27 is for storing the recorded recording paper P in a state where a part of the leading end side protrudes from the paper discharge port 22, and is a section provided inside the printer housing 20. The plate 51 forms a space in which a plurality of recording sheets P can be held in a standing posture. As a result, the recording paper P for which image recording has been completed is sequentially stored in the paper discharge stack 27 in a state in which a part on the leading end side is projected from the paper discharge port 22.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, the scanner unit 3 includes an image scanner 33, a guide shaft 34, a scanning carriage 35, and the like so as to be enclosed in a scanner housing 30 and a platen glass 32.

  The platen glass 32 is a transparent member to which an original for image reading is in close contact, and is a rectangular flat plate that is slightly larger than the maximum size of the original for image reading, here the A4 size. As described above, the flat and thin box-shaped scanner housing 30 is also larger than the A4 size, and the platen glass 32 is provided on the surface on the side where the scanner housing 30 faces the outer peripheral surface of the printer housing 20. The reading surface 32 a is configured and a part of the outer peripheral surface of the scanner housing 30 is configured.

  An image scanner 33 is provided in an internal space formed by the scanner housing 30 and the platen glass 32 so as to face the platen glass 32. The image scanner 33 is a so-called CIS (Contact Image Sensor), extends in the vertical direction (z-axis direction in FIG. 1) of the platen glass 32, and can scan in the width direction (y-axis direction in FIG. 1) of the platen glass 32. It has become. Specifically, a scanning carriage 35 is provided on a guide shaft 34 extending in the width direction in the scanner housing 30 so as to be slidable in the axial direction of the guide shaft 34. 33 is mounted. The scanning carriage 35 is slid along the guide shaft 34 by a belt driving mechanism or the like, so that the image scanner 33 can scan in the width direction of the platen glass 32.

  Near the both ends of the lower end portion of the scanner housing 30, shafts 36 are respectively provided with the width direction as an axial direction, and the shaft 36 is supported by a bearing portion (not shown) of the printer housing 20. The scanner housing 30 can be opened and closed to the front side of the printer housing 20 around the shaft 36.

  The configuration of the scanner unit 3 is an example. For example, the image sensor of the scanner unit 3 may be a reduction optical system scanner using a CCD (Charge Coupled Device). Since the focal depth is shallower and the scanner unit 3 is thinned by adopting the CIS, it is preferable to employ these in order to make the multifunction device 1 smaller and thinner.

  As shown in the drawing, the scanner housing 30 of the scanner unit 3 has a reading posture 32a from a closed posture in which a reading surface 32a constituted by a platen glass 32 is closed to the outer peripheral surface on the front side of the printer housing 20. Can be opened and closed in a tilted posture P1 inclined by a predetermined angle from the vertical surface toward the open side, and further in an open posture P2 in which the upper end side of the scanner housing 30 is tilted downward by a predetermined angle from the position where the reading surface 32a becomes a horizontal plane. It has become.

  When the scanner unit 3 is not used, that is, when the multifunction device 1 is not used or when only the printer unit 2 is used, as shown in the figure, the scanner unit 3 is placed in a closed position so that the multifunction device placed vertically is arranged. The space in the thickness direction of 1 can be reduced to save space such as office space. Further, since the reading surface 32a of the platen glass 32 is closed by the outer peripheral surface of the printer housing 20, it is possible to prevent dust and the like from adhering to the reading surface 32a.

  On the other hand, when the scanner unit 3 is used, the scanner housing 30 is opened. Since the scanner housing 30 is disposed on the front side of the printer housing 20, it is necessary to open and close the scanner housing 30. The space is concentrated on the front side of the printer housing 20, that is, on the front side of the multifunction machine 1. Therefore, since a space other than the installation surface is not required on the rear side of the multifunction device 1, the installation space required when installing the multifunction device 1 near a wall or the like can be reduced.

  When the scanner unit 3 is used, the scanner housing 30 is opened in either the tilted posture P1 or the open posture P2 in accordance with the thickness of the document (read medium) from which the image is read, and the image is read. . Whether the scanner housing 30 is in the tilted posture P1 or the open posture P2 is determined by the thickness of the document. When a thin document such as one plain paper is read, the scanner is set in the tilted posture P1, as in a book or booklet. When a thick original or a heavy original is read, the open posture P2 is set. Even when the scanner housing 30 is once in the inclined posture P <b> 1 and the original is positioned on the reading surface 32 a and then in the closed posture, the image reading by the scanner unit 3 is possible.

  When the user grasps the grip portion 31 of the scanner housing 30 and opens the scanner housing 30 from the closed posture shown in the drawing to the front side, the scanner housing 30 is inclined at a predetermined angle at which the inclined posture P1 is obtained. Temporarily fixed. Such a temporary fixing of the scanner housing 30 is, for example, a pin receiving portion that is provided with a pin that is urged so as to protrude and retract in the radial direction on the shaft 36 and that engages with the pin at a predetermined angle with the bearing portion of the printer housing 20. However, other well-known and arbitrary temporary fixing mechanisms can be employed.

  As a result, a gap is formed between the upper end of the scanner housing 30 and the outer peripheral surface of the printer housing 20, so that the user inserts the original document into the gap from above the multi-function device 1. It can be positioned on the inclined reading surface 32a. Since the reading surface 32a is inclined to the open side, that is, the front side, if the user inserts the document into the gap by dropping the leading end of the document diagonally downward from the front side of the multifunction machine 1, Adheres to the reading surface 32a by its own weight.

  Although not shown in the drawing, a stopper is provided at the lower end of the reading surface 32a in the width direction. As described above, the original inserted from the gap is read by the reading surface 32a by its own weight. And the leading edge of the document comes into contact with the stopper, and is fixed at a predetermined position with reference to the lower end of the reading surface 32a. Thus, the user does not need to look through the gap between the scanner housing 30 and the printer housing 20 to position the document, and the document positioning operation is easy. Further, since the original comes into close contact with the reading surface 32a due to its own weight, it is difficult for floating to occur between the reading surface 32a and the original, and the image reading accuracy by the image scanner 33 is improved. By scanning the image scanner 33 in such an inclined posture P1, an image of a thin original is read.

  Further, when the scanner housing 30 is fully opened to the front side, the open posture P2 is obtained. In this open posture P2, a thick original such as a book is placed on the reading surface 32a. Although the thick original is heavy, in the open position P2, the upper end of the scanner housing 30 is in contact with the floor surface. Therefore, even if the thick original is placed on the reading surface 32a, the printer unit of the vertical type is used. 2 does not become unstable. In the open posture P2, since the reading surface 32a is inclined so as to face the front side of the multifunction device 1, it is easy to position the document at a predetermined position on the reading surface 32a from the front side of the multifunction device 1. is there. The image of the thick original is read by scanning the image scanner 33 in such an open posture P2.

  The opening / closing posture of the scanner unit 3 shown in the present embodiment is an example. For example, even if the scanner housing 30 is opened / closed only between the inclined posture P1 and the open posture P2, the closed posture and the open posture are provided. The scanner housing 30 may be opened / closed only by the posture change with the posture P2 so as not to be temporarily fixed in the inclined posture P1.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the control unit 8 using the electrical component 26 of the multifunction machine 1. As shown in the figure, a central processing unit 80 composed of a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and a RAM (Random Access Memory) is connected via a bus 81 and an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) 82. The printer unit 2 and the scanner unit 3 are connected to various sensors and motors, the operation panel 4, the media mounting unit 5 and the like so as to be able to transmit and receive data. The MFP 1 is connected to a computer (PC) 83 in addition to inputs from the operation panel 4, and based on image data and document data transmitted from the computer 83, images and documents are recorded on recording paper. Can be recorded. For this purpose, an interface (I / F) for transmitting and receiving data to and from the computer 83 is also provided.

  When the multifunction device 1 performs image recording from image data recorded on the small memory card 84 attached to the media attachment unit 5, the central processing unit 80 uses the image data recorded on the small memory card 84 as media. The image data is read via the mounting unit 5 and the image data is temporarily stored in the RAM. Next, based on a control program stored in advance in the ROM, the image data temporarily stored in the RAM is displayed as a preview on the liquid crystal display of the operation panel 4. Among the images displayed in the preview, image data of an image selected by the user and instructed image recording is converted into print data, and each motor, recording head, and the like of the printer unit 2 are driven based on the print processing program. Image recording is performed by the printer unit 2. The configuration of the control unit 8 and the control method for reading and printing image data from the small memory card 84 shown in the present embodiment are examples, and the control of the ink jet recording apparatus according to the present invention is included in the present embodiment. Of course, the configuration and the control method of the control unit 8 shown are not limited.

FIG. 6 shows the arrangement of the media mounting unit 5, the cartridge mounting unit 6, the inkjet recording head 24, and the electrical component 26 in the multifunction device 1.
As shown in the figure, the cartridge mounting portion 6 is disposed above the scanning range of the inkjet recording head 24. The width W (see FIG. 1) of the printer housing 20 of the multifunction machine 1 corresponds to the A4 size recording paper, which is the maximum size capable of image recording, and is larger than the A4 size. Further, the scanning range of the inkjet recording head 24 is necessarily larger than the A4 size width. On the other hand, if the cartridge mounting portion 6 is further arranged on the side of the ink jet recording head 24, the width W of the printer housing 20 is a width obtained by adding the width of the cartridge mounting portion 6 to the scanning range of the ink jet recording head 24. Although it must be larger, the width W of the printer housing 20 is set to the minimum width necessary for the operation of the ink jet recording head 24 by arranging the cartridge mounting portion 6 above the scanning range of the ink jet recording head 24. Can be downsized.

The cartridge mounting portion 6 is disposed below the media mounting portion 5. As described above, the ink cartridges 60y, 60m, 60c, and 60k are mounted on the cartridge mounting portions 6y, 6m, 6c, and 6k for each color constituting the cartridge mounting portion 6 (see FIG. 4). When the cartridges 60y, 60m, 60c, and 60k are attached and detached, there is a possibility that some ink leakage may occur. For such ink leakage, in general, an ink absorber is appropriately provided in the cartridge mounting portions 6y, 6m, 6c, and 6k so that the leaked ink does not enter the inside of the printer housing 20 or the like. There is no possibility that an amount of ink leakage that cannot be absorbed by the ink absorber will occur due to an operation error in replacing the ink cartridge. Even if such an accidental ink leakage occurs in the cartridge mounting portion 6, the media mounting portion 5 and the small memory card arranged on the upper side are not contaminated by the ink leaking from the cartridge mounting portion 6. .

  The cartridge mounting portions 6y, 6m, 6c, and 6k for each color are arranged on the uppermost side with the cartridge mounting portion 6y to which the ink cartridge 60y storing the lightest yellow of CMYK is stored, magenta, The ink cartridges 60m, 60c, and 60k of the respective colors are arranged on the lower side in the order of the ink cartridges 60m, 60c, and 60k in the order of increasing ink colors of cyan, black, and ink. Therefore, even if the ink leakage described above occurs, for example, the lightest yellow ink is mixed with magenta, cyan, and black inks darker than yellow supplied from the lower ink cartridges 60m, 60c, and 60k. The effect on the recorded image is small.

  Further, since the cartridge mounting portion 6 is disposed on the side surface of the printer housing 20, the operability of ink cartridge replacement is improved, and the multifunction device 1 is reduced in size and thickness. In particular, when the scanner unit 3 is arranged on the front side of the printer housing 20 as in the multi-function device 1, there is no space for providing the operation panel 4 or the like on the front side of the printer housing 20. If the mounting portion 6 is arranged on the side surface of the printer housing 20, a space for arranging other operation members such as the operation panel 4 on the upper surface or the front surface of the printer housing 20 is freed. Demonstrated.

  In addition, the media mounting unit 5 and the cartridge mounting unit 6 are arranged on the same side surface of the printer casing 20, so that the ink cartridges 60 y, 60 m, 60 c, Since the replacement work of 60k and the attachment / detachment work of the small memory card 84 can be performed, the operability is improved. Further, since the other side of the multi-function device 1, that is, the side surface on which the media mounting portion 5 and the cartridge mounting portion 6 are not provided can be installed along the wall, space saving such as office space is possible. Can be realized.

  Further, since the cartridge mounting portions 6y, 6m, 6c, and 6k for each color of CMYK are concentrated on any one side surface of the printer housing 20, the operability is improved as described above. Further, the cartridge housing portions 6y, 6m, 6c, and 6k are arranged in the longitudinal direction of the printer housing 20, so that the printer housing 20 can be thinned.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a multifunction machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a left side view illustrating an external configuration of the multifunction machine 1. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the internal configuration of the multifunction machine 1. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram for explaining an ink supply path from the ink cartridges 60y, 60m, 60c, and 60k to the inkjet recording head 24. FIG. FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the control unit 8 using the electrical component 26. FIG. 6 is a front view showing the arrangement of the media mounting unit 5, the cartridge mounting unit 6, the inkjet recording head 24, and the like in the multifunction machine 1. FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing an external configuration of a conventional ink jet recording apparatus 90.

Explanation of symbols

1 ... Multifunction machine (inkjet recording device)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 ... Printer part 3 ... Scanner part 5 ... Media mounting part 6, 6y, 6m, 6c, 6k ... Cartridge mounting part 20 ... Printer housing (apparatus housing)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 23 ... Conveyance path 24 ... Inkjet recording head 40 ... Conveyance mechanism 60y, 60m, 60c, 60k ... Ink cartridge 62 ... Tube (pipe)
84 ... Small memory card (external recording media)

Claims (8)

A flat-type device case that is flat and thin and is installed with the direction in which the thickness extends as the vertical direction;
A transport mechanism for transporting a recording medium along a transport path formed in the apparatus housing;
A recording head that is scanned while ejecting ink onto a recording medium in the conveyance path;
An ink cartridge for storing ink to be supplied to the recording head through a conduit;
An ink jet recording apparatus comprising a cartridge mounting portion provided on a side surface of the apparatus casing so that the ink cartridge can be inserted and removed laterally.   2. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge mounting portion is arranged in a longitudinal direction so that ink cartridges of at least two colors can be respectively mounted.   The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge mounting portion is provided on either the right side surface or the left side surface of the apparatus housing.   4. The cartridge mounting unit according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the cartridge mounting portion is arranged in order of increasing ink color, with the lightest ink color stored in each ink cartridge to be mounted as the uppermost side. Inkjet recording apparatus.   The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge mounting portion is disposed above the recording head.   6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cartridge mounting portion is disposed below a media mounting portion for mounting an external recording medium.   The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the cartridge mounting unit and the media mounting unit are arranged on the same side surface of the apparatus casing. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a scanner unit for reading an image is disposed on a front side of the apparatus casing.

Images