JP2009001365A - Feeder, and recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a feeder capable of stabilizing one of a loading part and a feeding roller capable of moving to or away from each other at a predetermined position under a condition that the distance between the loading part and the feeding roller becomes long. <P>SOLUTION: This feeder comprises a loading part 145 for loading a recorded medium, a feeding roller 220 for feeding the loaded recorded medium, and energization means (280, 290) for energizing one of the loading part and the feeding roller for changing a distance between the loading part and the feeding roller. The energization means are configured to switch an energizing direction using the predetermined distance between the loading part 145 and the feeding roller 220 as a boundary. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention changes a distance between a placement portion on which a recording medium is placed, a feeding roller that feeds the placed recording medium, and the placement portion and the feeding roller. Therefore, the present invention relates to a feeding device provided with the placing portion and a biasing means for biasing one of the feeding rollers, and a recording device provided with the feeding device.

  In the present application, the liquid ejecting apparatus refers to an ink jet recording apparatus, a copying machine, a facsimile, or the like that performs recording on a recording material by ejecting ink from a recording head as a liquid ejecting head to a recording material such as recording paper. In addition to the recording apparatus, instead of ink, a liquid corresponding to a specific application is ejected from the liquid ejecting head corresponding to the recording head to the ejected material corresponding to the recording material, and the liquid is ejected to the ejected material. Used to include the device to be attached.

In addition to the recording head described above, the liquid ejecting head includes a color material ejecting head used for manufacturing a color filter such as a liquid crystal display, and an electrode material used for electrode formation such as an organic EL display and a surface emitting display (FED) Examples thereof include a conductive paste) ejection head, a bio-organic matter ejection head used for biochip manufacturing, and a sample ejection head that ejects a sample as a precision pipette.
The recording apparatus includes types such as an ink jet printer, a wire dot printer, a laser printer, a line printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile.

  Conventionally, a feeding device includes a feeding roller, a hopper on which a sheet can be placed, and an urging unit that moves the hopper (for example, Patent Document 1). The hopper is provided so as to be movable toward and away from the feeding roller with the upper side of the hopper as a fulcrum. Further, the urging means is configured to move the hopper in a direction approaching the feeding roller by an urging force of a spring. A state in which the hopper moves close to the feeding roller is a so-called hopper up state.

  Further, when the paper feeding is completed, the feeding device is configured to move the hopper in a direction away from the feeding roller against the urging force of the urging means. It was. A state where the hopper moves away from the feeding roller is a so-called hopper down state.

However, since the hopper is brought into the hopper down state against the urging force of the urging means, the urging force acts greatly on other members in the hopper down state. Therefore, there is a possibility that the other members are so-called creep-deformed.
Therefore, it is conceivable that when the hopper is down, one end of a torsion coil spring which is an example of the urging means is moved to simply reduce the urging force of the urging means in the hopper down state.
JP 2006-306616 A

  However, simply reducing the urging force of the urging means in the hopper down state may cause the other end side of the torsion coil spring to become unstable in the hopper down state. When the feeding device is shaken, the other end side of the torsion coil spring may move while generating noise and noise.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a situation, and the problem is that the above-described placement portion that can move toward and away from the placement portion and the feeding roller in a state where the distance between the placement portion and the feeding roller is increased, and Another object of the present invention is to provide a feeding device that can urge one of the feeding rollers to be stabilized at a predetermined position, and a recording device including the feeding device.

  In order to achieve the above object, a feeding device according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a placement unit on which a recording medium is placed, a feeding roller that feeds the placed recording medium, Biasing means for biasing one of the placement section and the feeding roller to change the distance between the placement section and the feeding roller, and the biasing means includes the placement section described above. It is the structure which switches the urging | biasing direction on the boundary of the predetermined distance between a part and the said feeding roller.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the biasing means is configured to switch the biasing direction with a predetermined distance between the placement unit and the feeding roller as a boundary. Therefore, in a state where the distance between the placement unit and the feeding roller is longer than the predetermined distance, the urging means moves one of the placement unit and the feeding roller that can move toward and away from each other. It is possible to urge and stabilize it at a predetermined position.

  For example, in the so-called hopper down state in which the placement unit is moved away from the feed roller when the placement unit is movable toward and away from the feed roller, the urging means Can urge the mounting portion in a more separated direction. Therefore, the feeding device can stabilize the position of the mounting portion in the hopper down state. That is, in the hopper down state, even if the feeding device is shaken, there is no possibility that the placement unit moves with the pattern.

  In addition, in the state where the distance between the placement unit and the feeding roller is longer than the predetermined distance, the urging unit is capable of moving toward and away from the urging unit by reducing the urging force. One of the placing portion and the feeding roller can be biased. Therefore, the feeding device can reduce so-called creep deformation, which is deformation of each member caused by a large urging force in the elongated state.

A feeding device according to a second aspect of the present invention includes a placement unit on which a recording medium is placed, a feeding roller that feeds the placed recording medium, the placement unit, and the feeding unit Biasing means for biasing one of the placement portion and the feeding roller in order to change the distance between the rollers, and the biasing means includes the placement portion, the feeding roller, When the distance between the two is shorter than the predetermined distance, the distance is urged in the approaching direction, and when the distance between the placement unit and the feeding roller is longer than the predetermined distance, the distance is separated. It is the structure biased to.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the distance between the placing portion and the feeding roller is shorter than a predetermined distance, the urging means urges the distance toward the front, When the distance between the placing portion and the feeding roller is longer than the predetermined distance, the distance is biased in a direction away from the predetermined distance. Therefore, the same effect as the first aspect can be obtained.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the placing portion and the feeding device in the state where the recording medium placed at the maximum distance is urged by the urging means in the predetermined distance. It is longer than the distance between the rollers, and the distance between the placement portion and the feeding roller is shorter than the distance in the most separated state.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the same effects as those of the first or second aspect, the predetermined distance is a state in which the recording medium placed at maximum is urged by the urging means. In this configuration, the distance between the placement section and the feeding roller is longer than the distance, and the distance between the placement section and the feeding roller is shorter than the distance in the most separated state. Therefore, the direction in which the urging means is urged stably can be switched regardless of the number of recording media placed on the placement section.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the biasing means is connected to the movable portion of the placement portion and the feeding roller, and the torsion coil spring One end is engaged with an action portion capable of pressing one of the placement portion and the feeding roller, and the other end of the torsion coil spring is engaged with a slide cam sliding on the feeding base portion. It is characterized by being.
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the same function and effect as in any one of the first to third aspects, the biasing means is configured to move the placement portion and the feeding roller. And one end of the torsion coil spring engages with the acting portion capable of pressing one of the placement portion and the feeding roller, and the other end of the torsion coil spring slides on the feeding base portion. It is the structure engaged with a slide cam. Therefore, the feeding device stabilizes the movable position of the placement unit and the feed roller in a state where the distance between the placement unit and the feed roller is longer than the predetermined distance. Can be made. In other words, even if the feeding device is shaken, there is no possibility that one of the placement unit and the feeding roller that can be moved moves with the pattern.
Further, the urging direction of the urging means can be switched by sliding the slide cam. That is, with this configuration, the urging direction of the urging means can be easily switched.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect, when the biasing means biases the approaching direction, the other end of the torsion coil spring causes the slide cam to slide in the sliding direction. Thus, the structure is characterized in that it is biased in a direction substantially orthogonal to each other.
Here, “substantially orthogonal” means that the slide cam in contact with the other end of the torsion coil spring receives a reaction force from the torsion coil spring when the distance is shorter than the predetermined distance. Even so, it means that the urging direction of the reaction force and the sliding direction of the slide cam intersect so that the slide cam does not slide due to the reaction force.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the same effect as the fourth aspect, when the urging means is urging in the approaching direction, the other end of the torsion coil spring is The slide cam is biased in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction. Therefore, the slide cam can prevent the reaction force from the torsion coil spring from being transmitted to other members. As a result, the feeding device can reduce the possibility of other members creeping when the urging means is urging in the approaching movement direction.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect, when the biasing means is biased in the approaching direction, the slide cam is connected to the other end of the torsion coil spring and the feeding base portion. It is the structure clamped by these.
According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the same effect as the fourth aspect, when the urging means is urging in the approaching direction, the slide cam is the torsion coil spring. The structure is sandwiched between the other end and the feeding base portion. That is, the slide cam can prevent the reaction force from the torsion coil spring from being transmitted to other members. As a result, the feeding device can obtain the same effects as those of the fifth aspect.

A feeding device according to a seventh aspect of the present invention includes a placement unit on which a recording medium is placed, a feeding roller that feeds the placed recording medium, and a portion that contacts the placement unit A hopper lever formed in a J-shape from a rotation fulcrum to a rotation fulcrum, and biasing means for biasing the placement unit in order to change the distance between the placement unit and the feeding roller, It is characterized by having.
According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, the feeding device has a hopper lever formed in a J-shape from a position in contact with the mounting portion to a rotation fulcrum, in order to change the distance. An urging means for urging the writing unit is provided. Therefore, when the hopper lever has a “J” shape, the feeding device can be reduced in size as compared with a case where the hopper lever has no “J” shape.
Further, when the hopper lever has a “J” shape, the number of recording media placed on the placement unit is larger and smaller than when the hopper lever is not “J”. It is possible to reduce a difference in the urging direction of the urging means when the hopper is raised. As a result, the feeding device can stabilize feeding of the recording medium.

A recording apparatus according to an eighth aspect of the present invention includes a feeding unit that feeds a mounted recording medium, and a recording unit that performs recording on the recording medium fed from the feeding unit by a recording head. And the feeding unit includes the feeding device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects.
According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, the feeding unit of the recording apparatus includes the feeding device according to any one of the first to seventh aspects. Therefore, in the recording apparatus, it is possible to obtain the same operational effects as in any one of the first to seventh aspects.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing an outline of a recording apparatus which is an example of a liquid ejecting apparatus according to the invention. FIG. 2 is an overall plan view showing an outline of the recording apparatus according to the present invention.

  On the back side of the main body of the recording apparatus 100, a cassette section 300 of a mounting section 145 on which paper P as a recording medium is placed and stacked is loaded in the recording apparatus main body 101. Inside the cassette unit 300, a cassette hopper 301 (see FIGS. 3 to 8) is movable toward and away from a later-described feeding roller 220 (see FIGS. 4 to 8) of the feeding unit 144. Is provided. Specifically, the cassette hopper 301 extends in the width direction X of the paper P to be placed, and swings around a first joint (not shown) provided above the cassette hopper 301 as a fulcrum. Is provided.

  The sheet P placed on the top of the cassette hopper 301 (see FIGS. 3 to 8) with respect to the feeding roller 220 (see FIGS. 4 to 8) is transported downstream in the transport direction by the feeding unit 144. Is fed to the recording unit side. Specifically, the loaded paper P is fed to a pair of conveyance rollers (not shown) downstream in the conveyance direction by a feeding roller 220 (see FIGS. 4 to 8) driven by the feeding motor 104. Are sent. The paper P fed to a pair of conveyance rollers (not shown) is further transferred to a recording unit 143 on the downstream side in the conveyance direction by a conveyance roller pair (not shown) driven by a conveyance motor (not shown). Be transported.

  The recording unit 143 includes a platen 105 that supports the paper P from below and a carriage 107 that is provided so as to face the platen 105. Among them, the carriage 107 is driven by the carriage motor 102 while being guided by a carriage guide shaft (not shown) extending in the main scanning direction which is the width direction X of the paper P to be conveyed. Further, a recording head 106 that discharges ink toward the paper P is provided on the bottom surface of the carriage 107. The paper P recorded by the recording unit 143 is further conveyed downstream, and is discharged from the front side of the recording apparatus 100 by a paper discharge roller (not shown).

  Further, an ink cartridge (not shown) is loaded below the main body of the recording apparatus 100, and ink is supplied to an ink supply path (not shown) via an ink supply needle (not shown). Further, the ink is supplied to the recording head 106 of the carriage 107 via the ink supply tube 110. When the recording head 106 is flushed and cleaned, ink is ejected and sucked in the ink suction device 200 that is provided on the first digit side and maintains the ejection characteristics of the recording unit 143. The ink suction device 200 includes a cap unit 204, and is configured to seal the recording head 106 by moving the cap unit 204 in the vertical direction.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged rear perspective view showing a main part of the feeding unit according to the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 3, the feeding unit 144 of the recording apparatus 100 includes a feeding motor 104 as a power source, a power transmission unit 260, a first torsion coil spring 280, a hopper 295, and a cassette unit 300. Have. Among these, the power transmission means 260 is provided so that the power of the drive motor 261 can be transmitted to the slide cam 270.

The power transmission means 260 includes a composite gear 262, a first gear 263, a second gear 264, a third gear 265, a pinion 266, and a rack 271 provided on the slide cam 270. When the drive motor 261 starts to rotate, the power of the drive motor 261 is transmitted to the composite gear 262, and the power of the composite gear 262 is transmitted to the first gear 263. The power is transmitted to the rack 271 via the second gear 264, the third gear 265, and the pinion 266. Therefore, the slide cam 270 can slide.
When the drive motor 261 rotates forward, the slide cam 270 slides toward the front side of FIG. 3, which is behind the feeding unit 144, and slides toward the back side of FIG. 3 when reversed. Has been.

  On the back surface of the cassette unit 300, a cassette hopper 301 that can be swung with the upper part of the cassette unit 300 as a fulcrum is provided. A hopper opening 302 through which the hopper 295 can be inserted is provided below the cassette hopper 301. The hopper 295 is rotatably connected to a connecting portion 292 (see FIG. 4) at the tip of a hopper lever 290 having a side view “J” shape that rotates around a lever rotation shaft 291 as a fulcrum.

The lever rotation shaft 291 is provided with a first torsion coil spring 280. The first end 281 of the first torsion coil spring 280 is engaged with the first engagement portion 293 and the second engagement portion 294 of the hopper lever 290. On the other hand, the second end portion 282 of the first torsion coil spring 280 is connected to the third engaging portion 272 (see FIGS. 4 to 7) and the fourth engaging portion 273 (see FIGS. 4 to 7) of the slide cam 270. It is provided so that engagement is possible.
Next, the operation of the slide cam and the like when the hopper is raised and lowered is described.

[Hopper up state]
4 and 5 are side cross-sectional views showing the hopper-up state of the feeding unit according to the present invention. Among these, FIG. 4 shows a case where the number of sheets placed on the cassette portion is Max. FIG. 5 shows a case where the number of sheets placed on the cassette unit is one, which is Min.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the feeding unit 144 includes a base unit 210, a feeding roller 220 described later, a preliminary separation spring 230, a paper detection lever 231, and a retard roller 240. .

  The base portion 210 is provided with a slide surface 211 for guiding the slide cam 270 to slide. The slide cam 270 is located on the rear side (right side in the drawing) of the recording apparatus in the movement range in the drawing. At this time, the third engagement portion 272 of the slide cam 270 is engaged with the second end portion 282 so as to press the second end portion 282 of the first torsion coil spring 280 counterclockwise. Therefore, the first torsion coil spring 280 is configured to rotate the hopper lever 290 through the engagement between the first end 281 and the first engagement portion 293 of the hopper lever 290, and the counterclockwise direction in FIG. Can be energized. As a result, the hopper 295 is brought into a hopper up state in which the hopper 295 is moved closer to the feeding roller 220.

  Further, the hopper 295 is rotatably connected at a connecting portion 292 on the distal end side of the hopper lever 290. Accordingly, in a so-called hopper-up state in which the hopper 295 moves closer to the feeding roller 220, the hopper 295 can be displaced with respect to the feeding roller 220. As a result, the hopper 295 can press the paper P toward the feeding roller 220. That is, regardless of the number of sheets P, the hopper 295 can reliably press the sheet P toward the feeding roller 220. As a result, the feeding unit 144 can stabilize the feeding of the paper P.

  Furthermore, a cork material 296 that is an example of a high friction member is provided on the side of the hopper 295 that contacts the paper P. Therefore, even when the number of sheets P placed in the cassette portion is small, the posture of the sheet P can be stabilized, and it is possible to reduce the snow collapse of the sheet P into the transport path. As a result, the feeding unit 144 can stabilize the feeding of the paper P.

  The feeding roller 220 is rotated by the power of the feeding motor 104 so as to be able to feed the paper P placed in the cassette unit. Further, the preliminary separation spring 230 is in contact with the leading edge of the paper P when the paper P placed in the cassette is picked up by the clockwise rotation roller 220, with respect to the feeding roller 220. It is provided so that only the upper sheet P is fed. Furthermore, the preliminary separation spring 230 is configured to be able to bend so as to retract toward the retard roller depending on the thickness of the paper P. Therefore, there is no possibility that the back side of the paper P is damaged when the thick paper P is fed.

  The retard roller 240, which is an example of the separation unit, is provided so as to be able to circumscribe the feeding roller 220. Specifically, a roller rotation shaft 241 that is a rotation fulcrum of the retard roller 240 is held by a pair of groove portions 214 and 214 provided in the base portion 210 so as to be movable toward and away from the feeding roller 220. Yes. Further, both sides of the roller rotation shaft 241 are engaged with third end portions 251 and 251 of a pair of second torsion coil springs 250 and 250 provided on the base portion 210. On the other hand, the fourth end portions 252 and 252 of the pair of second torsion coil springs 250 and 250 have base portions so that the third end portions 251 and 251 generate a biasing force to the roller rotation shaft 241 toward the feeding roller. 210 is locked.

  Since both sides of the roller rotation shaft 241 are urged toward the feeding roller, the retard roller 240 can reliably contact the feeding roller 220 with a good posture. In addition, the retard roller 240 is configured to rotate by a predetermined load or more. Further, when the friction coefficient between the feeding roller 220 and the paper P is μ1, the friction coefficient between the paper P and the paper P is μ2, and the friction coefficient between the paper P and the retard roller 240 is μ3, μ1> μ3> μ2. The relationship is established.

Accordingly, when the preliminary separation by the preliminary separation spring 230 is not sufficient, a plurality of sheets P are sent to the position of the retard roller 240, but only the uppermost sheet P is fed to the feeding roller 220 by the above relationship. It can be sent downstream in the feed direction. Then, other excess paper P below the next level can be held by the retard roller 240.
The feeding unit 144 can return the excess paper P into the cassette unit by rotating the feeding roller 220 counterclockwise at the end of JOB.

  The uppermost sheet P that has passed through the retard roller 240 is further fed downstream in the feeding direction by the feeding roller 220. At this time, the paper P is guided while being guided by the guide surface portion 213 provided in the base portion 210 and is fed while pushing down the paper detection lever 231. When the paper detection lever 231 falls, a sensor (not shown) is turned on, and the recording apparatus 100 can recognize the passage of the leading edge of the paper P. Then, the recording head is further sent to the recording unit 143 on the downstream side in the feeding direction, and recording is performed by the recording head 106 as described above.

  The hopper lever 290 of the present embodiment is formed in a “J” shape as viewed from the side. Accordingly, the position of the lever rotation shaft 291 can be provided by avoiding the contact portion 215 provided in the base portion 210 and positioning the cassette portion 300. That is, the distance from the lever rotation shaft 291 to the feeding roller 220 is the distance from the hopper 295 to the feeding roller 220 in the hopper up when Max sheets, and the distance from the hopper 295 to the feeding roller 220 in Min sheets. The position of the lever rotation shaft 291 can be provided so as to be between the distances.

As a result, the hopper lever 290 having a “J” shape as viewed from the side can reduce the size of the feeding unit 144 as compared with the case where the hopper lever 290 is formed in an I shape or an L shape.
Further, the hopper lever 290 having a “J” shape as viewed from the side has a biasing direction of the hopper 295 in the case of Max sheets and Min sheets shown in FIGS. Can be reduced. As a result, the feeding unit 144 can further stabilize the feeding of the paper P.

In the hopper-up state, the direction of the force (reaction force) that the third engagement portion 272 of the slide cam 270 receives from the second end 282 of the first torsion coil spring 280 is the sliding direction of the slide cam 270. And substantially orthogonal to each other.
Here, “substantially orthogonal” means an inclination in a range in which the magnitude of the component force in the sliding direction of the reaction force is smaller than the magnitude of the frictional force generated between the slide cam 270 and the slide surface 211. Is substantially orthogonal to the extent to allow

In other words, in a state where the hopper is raised, the feeding unit 144 is configured such that the slide cam 270 receives the reaction force.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent the reaction force from being transmitted to other members such as power transmission means in the hopper-up state. As a result, there is no risk of other members creeping.

[State when hopper goes down]
FIG. 6 is a side sectional view showing a state when the hopper down of the feeding unit according to the present invention is performed.
As shown in FIG. 6, when the feeding of the paper P is finished, the drive motor 261 rotates reversely, so that the slide cam 270 gradually slides to the left in the drawing, which is the front of the recording apparatus 100.
At this time, the third engaging portion 272 of the slider cam is moved away from the second end 282 after gradually rotating the second end 282 of the first torsion coil spring 280 clockwise. Along with this, the force with which the first torsion coil spring 280 biases the hopper lever 290 counterclockwise gradually decreases to zero. That is, the urging force acting on the hopper 295 in the hopper up state becomes zero.

  When the slider cam further slides to the left in the drawing, the fourth engaging portion 273 comes into contact with the second end portion 282 and rotates the first torsion coil spring 280 in the clockwise direction. At this time, the hopper lever 290 is also rotated clockwise by the engagement between the first end 281 of the first torsion coil spring 280 and the second engagement portion 294 of the hopper lever 290. As a result, the hopper 295 starts to move away from the feed roller 220.

[Hopper down state]
FIG. 7 is a side sectional view showing a state in which the feeding unit according to the present invention is hopper down. FIG. 8 is a side sectional view showing the position of the hopper in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, when the slide cam 270 slides further to the left than the position shown in FIG. 6, the hopper lever 290 rotates further clockwise from the position shown in FIG.
Then, as shown in FIG. 8, the hopper 295 comes into contact with a restriction portion 212 provided on the base portion 210.

  From this state, the slide cam 270 further slides slightly to the left in FIG. 7 and stops. That is, after the first end portion 281 of the first coil spring is stopped, the second end portion 282 further slightly rotates clockwise. At this time, the hopper 295 connected to the tip of the hopper lever 290 comes into a state of being pressed against the restricting portion 212 after contacting the restricting portion 212. In other words, in the hopper up state and the hopper down state, the urging direction of the first torsion coil spring 280 acting on the hopper lever 290 has a reverse relationship. Therefore, the feeding unit 144 can accurately determine the position of the hopper 295 by the urging force of the restricting unit 212 and the first torsion coil spring 280 in the hopper down state.

As a result, when the cassette unit 300 is detached from the recording apparatus main body 101 and attached to the recording apparatus main body 101 in the hopper down state, there is no possibility that the cassette unit 300 is caught by the hopper 295.
Further, in the hopper down state, the urging force of the first torsion coil spring 280 can be made minute. Therefore, even when left in the hopper down state, there is almost no possibility of so-called creep deformation in which other members are deformed by the urging force of the first torsion coil spring 280.
Furthermore, when the recording apparatus 100 is carried and moved in the hopper down state, there is no possibility that the hopper 295 moves while generating noise in the patter and the feeding unit due to the vibration of carrying.

  In this embodiment, the hopper 295 and the cassette hopper 301 are not connected to each other. However, the hopper 295 and the cassette hopper 301 may be connected to each other through a connecting portion. In such a case, in the hopper down state, it is possible to prevent the cassette hopper 301 from pattering as well as the patter of the hopper 295. As a result, in the hopper down state, noise when the recording apparatus 100 is carried can be almost eliminated.

[When hopper up]
When the drive motor 261 rotates forward from the state shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the slide cam 270 slides to the right. Then, the fourth engagement portion 273 of the slide cam 270 is separated from the second end portion 282 of the first torsion coil spring 280. Therefore, the urging force in the clockwise direction of the first torsion coil spring 280 is zero. That is, the hopper 295 is released from the state of being pressed against the restricting portion 212.

  When the slide cam 270 further moves to the right side, the third engagement portion 272 of the slide cam 270 comes into contact with the second end 282 of the first torsion coil spring 280. Thereafter, the third engagement portion 272 rotates the first torsion coil spring 280, the hopper lever 290, and the hopper 295 in the counterclockwise direction with the lever rotation shaft 291 as a fulcrum through the second end portion 282. That is, hopper up starts. Accordingly, the paper P in the cassette unit is pushed by the hopper 295 and moves to the feeding roller side.

  Thereafter, when the slide cam 270 further moves to the right side, the uppermost sheet P on the feeding roller side in the cassette unit comes into contact with the feeding roller 220. Along with this, the first end 281 of the first torsion coil spring 280 stops. When the slide cam 270 further moves to the right side, the third engaging portion 272 gradually rotates the second end portion 282 in the counterclockwise direction. Therefore, the biasing force of the first torsion coil spring 280 that rotates the hopper lever 290 counterclockwise is generated and gradually increases.

As a result, the collision noise when the paper P and the hopper 295 come into contact with the feeding roller 220 when the hopper is raised can be made very small as compared with the conventional configuration in which the urging force does not increase gradually. . Thereafter, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, when the slide cam 270 moves by a predetermined distance, the drive motor 261 stops and the slide cam 270 stops predetermined. At this time, the position of the hopper 295 differs according to the number of sheets P in the cassette section, as shown in FIGS.
The drive motor 261 may be common with the feeding motor 104.

  A feeding unit 144 serving as a feeding device according to the present exemplary embodiment includes a cassette hopper 301 and a hopper 295 serving as a placing unit 145 on which a sheet P, which is an example of a recording medium, is placed, and the placed sheet P. Energizing one of the cassette hopper 301, the hopper 295, and the feeding roller 220 to change the distance between the feeding roller 220 that feeds the cassette hopper 301 and the hopper 295 and the feeding roller 220. A first torsion coil spring 280 and a hopper lever 290 as urging means, and the first torsion coil spring 280 and the hopper lever 290 move one of the cassette hopper 301 and the hopper 295 and the feeding roller 220 closer to the other. In this case, the urging direction is switched from the separating direction to the approaching direction, and the cassette hopper 301 and the hopper 29 are switched. If, when one of the feeding roller 220 is moved away from the other, characterized in that it is configured to switch the direction for urging the direction away from the direction approaching.

Further, the first torsion coil spring 280 and the hopper lever 290 as the biasing means of the present embodiment are attached with a predetermined distance between the cassette hopper 301 and the hopper 295 as the placing portion 145 and the feeding roller 220 as a boundary. It is the structure which switches the direction to urge.
Here, the “predetermined distance” is longer than the distance between the hopper 295 and the feeding roller 220 when the hopper is up in Max sheets, and between the hopper 295 and the feeding roller 220 when the hopper is down. This is a distance shorter than the distance.

  Further, the feeding unit 144 of the present embodiment includes a cassette hopper 301 and a hopper 295 on which the paper P is placed, a feeding roller 220 that feeds the placed paper P, a cassette hopper 301 and a hopper 295, A cassette hopper 301 and a hopper 295 for changing the distance from the feeding roller 220; and a first torsion coil spring 280 and a hopper lever 290 that urge one of the feeding roller 220; When the distance between the cassette hopper 301 and the hopper 295 and the feeding roller 220 is shorter than a predetermined distance, the coil spring 280 and the hopper lever 290 are urged in the direction in which the distance approaches, and the cassette hopper 301 and the hopper lever 290 are fed with the cassette hopper 301 and the hopper 295. When the distance to the feed roller 220 is longer than the predetermined distance, the distance is urged away from the feed roller 220. Characterized in that it is a formed.

Still further, the hopper lever 290 as an urging means of the present embodiment is characterized in that it is configured to be connected to one of the cassette hopper 301 and the hopper 295 that can move the feeding roller 220.
Further, in the biasing means of the present embodiment, the first end 281 that is one end of the first torsion coil spring 280 that is a torsion coil spring presses one of the cassette hopper 301, the hopper 295, and the feeding roller 220. A slide cam that engages with a hopper lever 290 as a possible action portion and the second end portion 282 that is the other end of the first torsion coil spring 280 slides on the slide surface 211 of the base portion 210 that is a feeding base portion. It is the structure engaged with 270, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the first torsion coil spring 280 and the hopper lever 290 are biased in the approaching direction, the second end 282 of the first torsion coil spring 280 causes the slide cam 270 to slide in the sliding direction. It is the structure which urges | biases to the direction substantially orthogonal with respect to.
In the present embodiment, when the first torsion coil spring 280 and the hopper lever 290 are biased in the approaching direction, the slide cam 270 has the second end 282 and the base portion 210 of the first torsion coil spring 280. It is the structure clamped by the slide surface 211 of this.

Further, the feeding unit 144 of the present embodiment includes a cassette hopper 301 and a hopper 295 on which the paper P is placed, a feeding roller 220 that feeds the placed paper P, a cassette hopper 301 and a hopper 295, A hopper lever 290 formed in a J-shape is formed from a contact point to a lever rotation shaft 291 that is a rotation fulcrum, and the cassette hopper 301 and the cassette hopper 295 for changing the distance between the hopper 295 and the feeding roller 220. And urging means (280, 290) for urging the hopper 301 and the hopper 295.
The recording apparatus 100 of the present embodiment includes a feeding unit 144 that feeds the placed paper P, a recording unit 143 that performs recording on the paper P fed from the feeding unit 144 by the recording head 106, and It is characterized by having.

[Other Embodiments]
9 and 10 are side sectional views showing a feeding unit according to another embodiment. Of these, FIG. 9 shows a hopper-up state. On the other hand, FIG. 10 shows a state where the hopper is down.
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the feeding unit 400 according to another embodiment includes a base body 409, a feeding roller 401, a side-view “L” -shaped hopper lever 410, and a hopper 414. is doing.

  Among these, the hopper lever 410 is provided so as to rotate about the lever rotation shaft 408 as a fulcrum. Specifically, the hopper lever 410 is urged counterclockwise in the figure by a hopper spring (not shown). The hopper lever 410 has a cam follower 407. The cam follower 407 receives force from the cam portion 405 when the cam portion 405 rotates counterclockwise, and the hopper lever 410 rotates clockwise. This is so-called hopper down.

Further, when the cam portion 405 further rotates counterclockwise, the engagement between the cam portion 405 and the cam follower 407 is released. Accordingly, the hopper lever 410 rotates counterclockwise by the biasing force of a hopper spring (not shown). This is so-called hopper up.
Furthermore, a posture stabilizing portion 413 formed in a bowl shape is formed on the tip side of the hopper lever 410. The hopper 414 having the cork material 415 is urged toward the posture stabilizing portion by the posture stabilizing spring 411. Therefore, the hopper 414 can follow the posture of the posture stabilizing unit 413 when no other force is applied. That is, when the hopper 414 is in contact with the paper P, the hopper 414 can follow the posture of the paper P. As a result, the hopper 414 can urge the sheet P against the feeding roller 401 with a good posture.

  On the downstream side of the hopper 414 in the feeding direction, a moving unit 406 that faces the feeding roller 401 in the width direction X of the paper P is provided. The moving unit 406 is provided so as to be movable toward and away from the feeding roller 401 by a predetermined distance, and is urged in a direction approaching the feeding roller 401 by a spring (not shown). When the feeding roller 401 rotates in the clockwise direction in the hopper-up state, the paper P is sent downstream in the feeding direction. At this time, the leading edge of the paper P comes into contact with the moving unit 406, and preliminary separation is performed by the moving unit 406.

The leading edge of the sheet P that has passed through the moving unit 406 is abutted against a bank separating unit 404 that is an example of the main separating unit provided on the downstream side of the moving unit 406 in the feeding direction. Therefore, even if the preliminary separation is not sufficient, the feeding unit 400 reliably separates only the uppermost sheet P from the subsequent sheets P with respect to the feeding roller 401 by the bank separating unit 404. Only the uppermost sheet P can be fed. The uppermost sheet P is sent to the recording unit 143 on the downstream side in the feeding direction while being guided by the guide surface unit 403 provided on the base unit 409.
Further, the excess paper P after the next separated by the bank separating unit 404 and the moving unit 406 is configured to be pushed back into the cassette unit by a pair of return levers 402 and 402.

  As shown in FIG. 10, when the cam portion 405 rotates counterclockwise from the state shown in FIG. 9 and the hopper lever 410 rotates clockwise from the state shown in FIG. 9, the hopper 414 is provided on the base portion 409. It comes into contact with the restricting portion 412. When the hopper lever 410 further turns clockwise, the hopper 414 is pressed against the restricting portion 412 and is separated from the posture stabilizing portion 413 of the hopper lever 410. At this time, the hopper 414 is separated from the posture stabilizing portion 413 against the biasing force of the posture stabilizing spring 411 and is pressed against the restricting portion 412 by the biasing force of the posture stabilizing spring 411. That is, in the hopper down state, a biasing force acting in a direction away from the feeding roller 401 acts on the hopper 414.

Therefore, the position and posture of the hopper 414 are regulated by the regulation unit 412. As a result, in the hopper down state, the position and orientation of the hopper 414 can be determined with high accuracy. When the cassette unit 300 is detached from the recording apparatus main body 101 and attached to the recording apparatus main body 101, there is no possibility that the cassette unit 300 and the cassette hopper 301 are caught by the hopper 414.
Further, with the above configuration, the position of the hopper 414 in the hopper down state is not affected by the component tolerance of the hopper lever 410.
Furthermore, in the hopper down state, the hopper 414 is pressed against the restricting portion 412, so that the hopper 414 can be prevented from wobbling. This is very effective when the engagement between the hopper 414 and the hopper lever 410 is not strong.

  The feeding unit 400 according to another embodiment includes a hopper 414 serving as a placing unit 145 on which the paper P is placed, a feeding roller 401 that feeds the placed paper P, a hopper 414, and a feeding roller. The hopper spring as an urging means for urging one of the hopper 414 and the feeding roller 401 in order to change the distance between the hopper 401, the posture stabilization spring 411 and the hopper lever 410, and the urging means When one of the hopper 414 and the feeding roller 401 moves closer to the other, the direction of biasing from the separating direction to the approaching direction is switched, and when one of the hopper 414 and the feeding roller 401 moves away from the other, It is the structure which switches the direction urged | biased in the direction away from the approaching direction, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

Further, the hopper spring, the posture stabilization spring 411, and the hopper lever 410 as urging means of other embodiments are urged with a predetermined distance between the hopper 414 as the placing portion 145 and the feeding roller 401 as a boundary. It is the structure which switches the direction to perform.
Here, the “predetermined distance” is longer than the distance between the hopper 414 and the feeding roller 401 when the hopper is up in Max sheets, and between the hopper 414 and the feeding roller 401 when the hopper is down. This is a distance shorter than the distance.

In the above embodiment, the hopper is movably provided and the distance between the hopper and the feed roller is changed. However, the feed roller side may be movably provided. Of course.
Further, 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 these are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

1 is an overall perspective view showing an outline of a recording apparatus according to the present invention. 1 is an overall plan view showing an outline of a recording apparatus according to the present invention. The principal part expansion rear perspective view which shows the feeding part which concerns on this invention. The sectional side view (Max sheets) which shows the hopper up state of the feeding part concerning the present invention. The sectional side view (Min sheets) which shows the state where the hopper up of the feeding part concerning the present invention was carried out. The sectional side view which shows the state at the time of the hopper down of the feeding part which concerns on this invention. The side sectional view showing the state where the hopper down of the feeding part concerning the present invention was carried out. FIG. 8 is a side sectional view showing the position of the hopper in FIG. 7. The side sectional view showing the state where the hopper up of the feeding part concerning other embodiments was carried out. The side sectional view showing the state where the hopper down of the feeding part concerning other embodiments was carried out.

Explanation of symbols

100 recording apparatus, 101 recording apparatus main body, 102 carriage motor,
104 feeding motor, 105 platen, 106 recording head, 107 carriage,
110 Ink supply tube, 143 recording unit, 144 feeding unit, 145 mounting unit,
200 Ink Suction Device, 204 Cap Part, 210 Base Part, 211 Slide Surface,
212 restriction part, 213 guide surface part, 214 groove part, 215 degree contact part,
220 feeding roller, 230 preliminary separating spring, 231 paper detection lever,
240 retard roller, 241 roller rotation shaft, 250 second torsion coil spring,
251 third end, 252 fourth end, 260 power transmission means, 261 drive motor,
262 compound gear, 263 first gear, 264 second gear, 265 third gear,
266 pinion, 270 slide cam, 271 rack, 272 third engaging portion,
273 Fourth engagement portion, 280 First torsion coil spring, 281 First end portion,
282 second end, 290 hopper lever, 291 lever pivot, 292 connection,
293 first engaging portion, 294 second engaging portion, 295 hopper, 296 cork material,
300 cassette section, 301 cassette hopper, 302 hopper opening,
400 (of other embodiments), feeding section, 401 feeding roller, 402 return lever,
403 Guide surface portion, 404 Bank separation portion, 405 Cam portion, 406 Moving portion,
407 cam follower, 408 lever rotation shaft, 409 base portion,
410 hopper lever, 411 posture stabilizing spring, 412 regulating portion, 413 posture stabilizing portion,
414 Hopper, 415 Cork material, P paper, X paper width direction

Claims (8)

A placement unit on which a recording medium is placed; and
A feeding roller for feeding the recording medium placed thereon;
Urging means for urging one of the placement unit and the feed roller to change the distance between the placement unit and the feed roller;
The feeding device is configured to switch a biasing direction with a predetermined distance between the placement unit and the feeding roller as a boundary. A placement unit on which a recording medium is placed; and
A feeding roller for feeding the recording medium placed thereon;
Urging means for urging one of the placement unit and the feed roller to change the distance between the placement unit and the feed roller;
The biasing means is
When the distance between the mounting portion and the feeding roller is shorter than a predetermined distance, the distance is biased in the approaching direction,
A feeding device having a configuration in which, when a distance between the placement unit and the feeding roller is longer than the predetermined distance, the distance is biased in a separating direction.   3. The feeding device according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance is between the feeding unit and the feeding roller in a state in which the recording medium placed at maximum is urged by the urging unit. A feeding device having a structure that is longer than the distance and shorter than the distance in a state in which the distance between the placing portion and the feeding roller is the farthest away. The feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the biasing means is
Connected to the movable portion of the placing portion and the feeding roller,
One end of the torsion coil spring engages with the acting portion capable of pressing one of the placement portion and the feeding roller,
A feeding device having a configuration in which the other end of the torsion coil spring is engaged with a slide cam that slides on a feeding base portion. The feeding device according to claim 4, wherein when the biasing means biases in the approaching direction,
The other end of the torsion coil spring is a feeding device configured to bias the slide cam in a direction substantially orthogonal to the sliding direction. The feeding device according to claim 4, wherein when the biasing means biases in the approaching direction,
The feeding device is configured such that the slide cam is sandwiched between the other end of the torsion coil spring and the feeding base portion. A placement unit on which a recording medium is placed; and
A feeding roller for feeding the recording medium placed thereon;
It has a hopper lever formed in a J-shape from the place where it comes into contact with the placement section to the pivot point, and the placement section is attached to change the distance between the placement section and the feeding roller. And a biasing means for biasing. A feeding section for feeding the recording medium placed thereon;
A recording unit that performs recording on a recording medium fed from the feeding unit by a recording head,
The recording apparatus provided with the feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the feeding unit.

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