JP2012111631A - Recording medium guide device, feeder, and recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the following problems that, if a means for fixing the position of an edge guide in the width direction is installed, a recording medium guide device is made large in size, and also a recording medium loaded on the recording medium guide device is inclined in the feeding direction.SOLUTION: A recording medium guide device includes: a recording medium loading part including a first sliding surface and a second sliding surface arranged in parallel to the first sliding surface, and configured to load a sheet on the recording medium loading part; a moving part 2 that moves in the width direction D1 of the sheet; and an edge guide 3 provided on the moving part 2, and configured to regulate the end of the sheet in the width direction D1 of the sheet. The moving part 2 includes: a contact part 20 that slidably comes into contact with the first sliding surface from the feeding direction D2; and a plate-like contact member 21 and a coil spring 5 that slidably come into contact with the second sliding surface from the feeding direction D2 in the position of the contact part 20 in the width direction D1 of the sheet, and function as energizing parts to energize the second sliding surface in the feeding direction D2.

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording medium guide device, a feeding device, and a recording device.

In a recording apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, or a facsimile, the position of the edge in the width direction of the paper is regulated by a recording medium guide device provided with an edge guide that is movable in the width direction of the recording medium such as paper. Paper is supplied to the recording device. The user moves the edge guide in the width direction of the paper according to the size of the paper to fix the position in the width direction of the paper.
For example, in Patent Document 1, a notch row is provided on the surface of a recording material placing surface portion on which sheets are stacked, and a locking protrusion that locks the notch to realize a fixed state is provided, thereby providing a width direction of the edge guide. A method of fixing the position is disclosed.

JP 2008-63143 A

  However, in the method of Patent Document 1, an operation unit including a swing knob must be provided in order to switch between a state where the notch and the locking protrusion are engaged and a state where the notch is released. For this reason, the length in the width direction of the paper and the thickness direction of the paper in the recording medium guide device are increased. As described above, when the means for fixing the position of the edge guide in the width direction of the sheet is provided, there is a problem that the recording medium guide device is increased in size. In the method of Patent Document 1, when the user moves the edge guide in the paper width direction, the edge guide may be inclined with respect to the feeding direction orthogonal to the paper width direction. Therefore, there is a problem that the sheets stacked on the recording medium guide device are inclined with respect to the feeding direction.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

  Application Example 1 A first sliding surface that extends in the width direction of a recording medium to be recorded and has a surface formed on the feeding direction side orthogonal to the width direction, and parallel to the first sliding surface A recording medium stacking section on which the recording medium is stacked, and a moving section that moves in the width direction in the recording medium stacking section. And an edge guide that is provided in the moving unit and regulates an end of the recording medium in the width direction, and the moving unit is slidable on the first sliding surface. Abutting portion that abuts from the direction, and abutting from the feeding direction so as to be slidable on the second sliding surface at a position of the abutting portion in the width direction, and the second sliding surface is A recording medium guide apparatus comprising: an urging unit that urges the sheet in a feeding direction.

  According to this configuration, the moving portion includes the second sliding portion at the position of the abutting portion that abuts on the first sliding surface from the feeding direction so as to be slidable and the abutting portion in the width direction of the recording medium. And an urging portion that slidably contacts the moving surface from the feeding direction and urges the second sliding surface in the feeding direction. Thereby, the position of the moving part with respect to the recording medium stacking part in the width direction of the recording medium can be fixed. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide an engaging part as a means for fixing the moving part to the recording medium stacking part and to provide an operation part for switching the engaged state and the non-engaged state in the engaging part. Therefore, when the means for fixing the position of the edge guide in the width direction of the recording medium is provided, it is possible to prevent the recording medium guide device from becoming large.

  Further, since the urging unit urges the second sliding surface of the recording medium stacking unit from the feeding direction, when the user manually moves the edge guide in the width direction of the recording medium, the feeding direction The inclination angle of the edge guide with respect to can be reduced. Thereby, it can suppress that a recording medium inclines with respect to a feed direction.

  Application Example 2 In the recording medium guide device, the contact portion and the biasing portion are provided inside the edge guide.

  Thereby, the length of the recording medium guide device in the width direction of the recording medium can be shortened.

  Application Example 3 In the recording medium guide device, the contact portion is provided on an upstream side of a center position of the edge guide in the feeding direction.

  According to this configuration, the distance from the position where the user has the edge guide to the contact portion can be reduced in the feeding direction. Therefore, when the user has a position on the upstream side of the center position in the feeding direction of the edge guide, the rotational moment for rotating the moving part is reduced, so the inclination angle of the edge guide with respect to the feeding direction is reduced. Can be small.

  Application Example 4 In the recording medium guide device, the urging unit urges in a direction opposite to the feeding direction.

  Due to the weight of the moving part and the direction of the force when the user operates the moving part, the abutting part provided in the moving part acts on the first sliding surface in the feeding direction. And abuts against the first sliding surface. Therefore, if the urging portion provided in the moving portion urges the second sliding surface from the direction opposite to the feeding direction, the gap between the contact portion and the first sliding surface is reduced. Since no gap is generated, the inclination angle of the edge guide with respect to the feeding direction can be reduced.

  Application Example 5 A feeding device including the recording medium guide device.

  Application Example 6 A recording apparatus including a recording unit that records characters and images and the feeding device.

1 is an external perspective view of an ink jet printer. The external appearance perspective view of a feeding apparatus. The front view of a recording-medium guide apparatus. FIG. 4 is a partial external perspective view of a recording medium stacking unit. The external appearance perspective view of a moving part. Sectional drawing of an edge guide and a recording medium loading part. Sectional drawing of a moving main-body part and a recording-medium loading part. The figure which equipped the edge guide with the plate-shaped spring as one member which comprises an urging | biasing part. (A) The schematic diagram which has arrange | positioned the 1st sliding surface in this embodiment, the 2nd sliding surface, the contact part, and the urging | biasing part, (b) is a 1st sliding surface and 2nd sliding. The schematic diagram which has arrange | positioned the 1st sliding surface, the 2nd sliding surface, the contact part, and the urging | biasing part so that a moving surface may be extended.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(Embodiment)
FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an ink jet printer (hereinafter referred to as a printer) 100 as a recording apparatus in the present embodiment. In the printer 100, the recording medium guide device 1 is provided on the side walls 34 and 35. The recording medium guide device 1 includes a recording medium stacking unit 6 that stacks sheets P as recording media, and a moving unit 2 that can move in the sheet width direction (hereinafter referred to as the width direction) D1 with respect to the recording medium stacking unit 6. Consists of including.

  The moving unit 2 is provided with an edge guide 3, and the position of the left end of the sheet P in the drawing is regulated by the position of the edge guide 3 in the width direction D <b> 1. The right end of the sheet P in the drawing is regulated by the side wall surface 35 a of the side wall 35.

  The paper P moves from the recording medium stacking unit 6 in the feeding direction D2 orthogonal to the width direction D1, and is supplied into the housing 40 from the feeding opening 47 of the printer 100.

  A recording unit is provided on the downstream side of the recording medium guide device 1 in the feeding direction D2. The recording unit is provided at a carriage moving unit that moves the carriage 44 in the width direction D1, a sheet conveyance unit (not shown) that conveys the sheet P along the conveyance path, and a lower part of the carriage 44 in the drawing, and ejects ink. A recording head (not shown), a carriage moving unit, a sheet conveying unit, and a control unit (not shown) for controlling the recording head are configured.

  The carriage moving unit includes a guide shaft 43 that guides the carriage 44 on which the ink cartridge 41 is mounted in the width direction D1, a belt 42 that is fixed to the carriage 44, and a carriage drive motor (not shown) that rotationally drives the belt 42. Composed.

  The paper transport unit includes a transport roller (not shown) that transports the paper P, and a paper feed motor (not shown) that rotationally drives the transport roller. The paper transport unit transports the paper P fed from the recording medium stacking unit 6 along the transport path.

  The recording unit ejects ink from the recording head and records characters and images on the sheet P while moving the carriage 44 in the width direction D1 by the carriage moving unit with respect to the sheet P conveyed by the sheet conveying unit. The paper P on which characters and images are recorded is discharged from the paper discharge opening 45 to the paper tray 46.

  FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the feeding device 110 according to the present embodiment. The feeding device 110 includes a recording medium guide device 1, a feeding roller 31 that rotates integrally with the shaft 30, a conveyance path constituting member 32 that forms a conveyance path for the paper P between the feeding roller 31, and a frame. 33.

  The recording medium stacking unit 6 in the recording medium guide device 1 is pivotally supported by side walls 34 and 35 located on both sides of the frame 33 so that power from a drive source (not shown) is transmitted to the recording medium. It swings between a hopper up in which the stacking surface 9 of the stacking unit 6 comes close to the feeding roller 31 and a hopper down in which the stacking surface 9 gets away from the feeding roller 31. The paper P is pressed against the feeding roller 31 in the hopper up state, and the paper P is fed by rotating the feeding roller 31 in the pressed state.

  FIG. 3 is a front view of the recording medium guide device 1. 4 is an external perspective view of a part of the recording medium stacking unit 6 as viewed from the back side of FIG. A first sliding surface 7 extending in the width direction D1 is formed at the upstream end portion in the feeding direction D2 of the recording medium stacking portion 6 of FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the direction in which the surface of the first sliding surface 7 faces is the upstream direction in the feeding direction D2. That is, the first sliding surface 7 is formed on the upstream side in the feeding direction D2.

  The recording medium stacking unit 6 is provided with an opening 11 extending in the width direction D1. A second sliding surface 8 extending in the width direction D1 is formed on the upstream side of the opening 11 in the feeding direction D2. The second sliding surface 8 is provided in parallel with the first sliding surface 7.

  The direction in which the surface of the second sliding surface 8 faces is the downstream direction in the feeding direction D2. That is, the second sliding surface 8 is formed on the downstream side in the feeding direction D2.

  The upper end and the lower end of the drawing 11 on the back side of the opening 11 in FIG. 3 are partially connected by a plurality of connecting portions 10. As shown in FIG. 4, the connecting portion 10 is provided on surfaces 11 a and 11 b that are in contact with the opening 11 and have surfaces formed on the back side of the drawing in FIG. 3. Therefore, the second sliding surface 8 is formed so as to extend in the width direction D <b> 1 without being blocked by the connecting portion 10.

  3 is provided with an opening 15 extending in the width direction D1. A third sliding surface 12 that protrudes downstream in the feeding direction D2 and extends in the width direction D1 is formed on the upstream surface of the opening 15 in FIG. 4 in the feeding direction D2.

  The upper end and the lower end of the drawing 15 on the back side of the opening 15 in FIG. 3 are partially connected by a plurality of connecting portions 14. As shown in FIG. 4, the connecting portion 14 is provided on surfaces 15 a and 15 b that are in contact with the opening 15 and have surfaces formed on the back side of the drawing in FIG. 3. Therefore, the third sliding surface 12 is formed so as to extend in the width direction D <b> 1 without being blocked by the connecting portion 14.

  The moving unit 2 in FIG. 3 includes a moving main body 4 and an edge guide 3. The restriction surface 13 of the edge guide 3 restricts the left end of the sheet P of FIG.

  The shaft portions 16 and 18 are respectively supported by bearing portions (not shown) provided on the side walls 34 and 35 in FIG. The locking part 17 engages with a locked part (not shown) for swinging in a hopper up and hopper down state with the shaft parts 16 and 18 as rotational axes.

  The stacking surface 4a of the moving main body 4 in FIG. 3 and the stacking surface 9 of the recording medium stacking unit 6 are provided so that the height in the thickness direction of the paper P is substantially the same. Thus, when the moving unit 2 is at an arbitrary position in the width direction D1, the height in the thickness direction of the sheets P stacked on the recording medium guide device 1 can be made substantially the same on the entire surface of the sheets P. it can.

  5 is an external perspective view of the moving unit 2 removed from the recording medium stacking unit 6 as seen from the back side of FIG. An L-shaped engaging portion 22 extending in the width direction D1 is provided on the back surface 4b of the moving main body portion 4 in FIG. The L-shaped engagement portion 22 and the back surface 4b form a groove portion 23 that opens downward in the drawing and extends in the width direction D1.

  An L-shaped engagement portion 24 extending in the width direction D1 is provided on the back surface 4b of the movable main body portion 4 in FIG. The L-shaped engaging portion 24 and the back surface 4b form a groove portion 25 that opens in the upper direction of the drawing and extends in the width direction D1.

  The edge guide 3 in FIG. 5 is provided with a contact portion 20. The contact portion 20 is formed with a contact surface 20a whose surface is directed downstream in the feeding direction D2.

  The position of the contact surface 20a in the contact part 20 is provided on the upstream side from the center position F in the length E of the edge guide 3 in the feeding direction D2.

  The edge guide 3 is provided with a plate-like contact member 21 at the position of the contact portion 20 in the width direction D1. The plate-like contact member 21 is formed with a contact surface 21a whose surface faces the upstream side in the feeding direction D2. The contact surface 20a and the contact surface 21a are provided to face each other in the feeding direction D2.

  One end of the plate contact member 21 is fixed to the edge guide 3. The other end of the plate-like contact member 21 is fixed to one end of a coil spring 5 that is an elastic member. The other end of the coil spring 5 is fixed to the edge guide 3.

  The coil spring 5 biases the plate-like contact member 21 in a biasing direction C1 that is opposite to the feeding direction D2. Due to the urging force of the coil spring 5, the plate-like contact member 21 is bent in the urging direction C1, and the distance in the feeding direction D2 between the contact surface 20a and the contact surface 21a is shortened.

  When the user tries to move the moving unit 2 in the width direction D1 while holding the edge guide 3 in his / her hand, the user often psychologically tries to hold the upstream portion of the edge guide 3 in the feeding direction D2. it is conceivable that. Therefore, the edge guide 3 of the printer 100 is provided with a handle portion 27 that protrudes long in the thickness direction of the paper P at a position upstream from the center position F in the length E of the edge guide 3 in the feeding direction D2. It is done.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the edge guide 3 and the recording medium stacking unit 6 in the cross-section AA shown in FIG. A contact surface 20a (see FIG. 5) provided on the contact portion 20 of the edge guide 3 is slidable in the width direction D1 with the first sliding surface 7 (see FIG. 4) of the recording medium stacking portion 6. Abuts from the upstream side in the feeding direction D2.

  The contact surface 21a (see FIG. 5) provided on the plate-shaped contact member 21 of the edge guide 3 in FIG. 6 is in the width direction D1 with the second sliding surface 8 (see FIG. 4) of the recording medium stacking unit 6. Slidably from the downstream side in the feeding direction D2.

  The urging portion constituted by the coil spring 5 and the plate-like contact member 21 urges the second sliding surface 8 in the urging direction C1 at the position of the abutting portion 20 in the width direction D1. Thereby, the position of the moving unit 2 in the width direction D1 with respect to the recording medium stacking unit 6 is fixed.

  The contact surface 26 (see FIG. 5) below the drawing of the edge guide 3 in FIG. 6 slides in the width direction D1 with the sliding surface 19 (see FIG. 3) formed below the drawing of the recording medium stacking portion 6. Abuts as possible.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the moving main body 4 and the recording medium stacking unit 6 in the cross section taken along the line BB shown in FIG. A groove portion 23 (see FIG. 5) formed by the L-shaped engaging portion 22 of the moving main body portion 4 slides in the width direction D1 with the first sliding surface 7 (see FIG. 4) of the recording medium stacking portion 6. Abuts as possible.

  A groove 25 (see FIG. 5) formed by the L-shaped engaging portion 24 of the moving main body 4 slides in the width direction D1 with the third sliding surface 12 (see FIG. 4) of the recording medium stacking portion 6. Abuts as possible.

  As described above, the recording medium guide device 1 of the present embodiment described above extends in the width direction D1 of FIGS. 3 and 4 and has a first sliding surface formed on the feeding direction D2 side orthogonal to the width direction D1. 7 and a recording medium stacking unit 6 on which sheets P are stacked, the second sliding surface 8 being parallel to the first sliding surface 7 and having a surface formed on the feeding direction D2 side, The moving unit 2 in FIG. 5 includes a moving unit 2 that moves in the width direction D1 in the recording medium stacking unit 6 and an edge guide 3 that is provided in the moving unit 2 and regulates the end of the paper P in the width direction D1. The first sliding surface 7 is slidable on the second sliding surface 8 at the position of the contacting portion 20 that is slidable from the feeding direction D2 and the contacting portion 20 in the width direction D1. A plate-like abutting member 21 and a coil spring 5 as an urging portion that abuts in the feeding direction D2 and urges the second sliding surface 8 in the feeding direction D2, Provided.

  According to this configuration, the width of the moving unit 2 with respect to the recording medium stacking unit 6 can be provided as means for fixing the moving unit 2 to the recording medium stacking unit 6 without providing engaging portions such as notches and locking protrusions. The position in the direction D1 can be fixed. Therefore, there is no need to provide an operation unit for switching between the engaged state and the non-engaged state in the engaging portion. Therefore, when the means for fixing the position of the edge guide in the width direction D1 is provided, it is possible to suppress an increase in the size of the recording medium guide device.

  Further, since the urging unit urges the second sliding surface 8 of the recording medium stacking unit 6 from the feeding direction D2, when the user manually moves the edge guide 3 in the width direction D1, the feeding unit The inclination angle of the edge guide 3 with respect to the feeding direction D2 can be reduced. Thereby, it can suppress that the paper P inclines with respect to the feed direction D2.

  The edge guide 3 includes an abutting portion 20 and an urging portion constituted by the plate-like abutting member 21 and the coil spring 5.

  Thereby, the length of the width direction D1 of the recording medium guide apparatus 1 can be shortened.

  Further, as described above, the edge guide 3 in FIG. 5 protrudes long in the thickness direction of the paper P at a position upstream of the center position F in the length E of the edge guide 3 in the feeding direction D2. A handle portion 27 is provided, and the contact surface 20a of the contact portion 20 is provided on the upstream side of the center position F in the feeding direction D2 of the edge guide 3.

  According to this configuration, the distance from the position where the user has the handle portion 27 of the edge guide 3 to the contact surface 20a of the contact portion 20 can be reduced in the feeding direction D2. Therefore, when the user holds the handle portion 27, the moving portion 2 is positioned at a position where the abutting surface 20 a and the first sliding surface 7 abut in the surface direction of the loading surface 9 of the recording medium loading portion 6. Since the rotational moment to be rotated as a fulcrum is reduced, the inclination angle of the edge guide 3 with respect to the feeding direction D2 can be reduced.

  The urging unit urges in the urging direction C1, which is the direction opposite to the feeding direction D2.

  A force acts on the first sliding surface 7 in the feeding direction D <b> 2 on the contact surface 20 a of the contact portion 20 provided on the moving portion 2 due to its own weight. In many cases, the contact surface 20 a acts on the first sliding surface 7 in the feeding direction D <b> 2 depending on the direction of the force when the user operates the moving unit 2. Therefore, the contact surface 20 a of the contact portion 20 contacts the first sliding surface 7.

  Therefore, if the urging unit provided in the moving unit 3 urges the second sliding surface 8 from the direction opposite to the feeding direction D2, the contact unit 20 and the first sliding surface are provided. 7 and between the plate-like contact member 21 and the second sliding surface 8, there is no gap, so that the inclination angle of the edge guide 3 with respect to the feeding direction D <b> 2 can be reduced.

  In the present embodiment, the first sliding surface 7 and the second sliding surface 8 are provided side by side in parallel, but the second sliding surface 8 is provided with respect to the first sliding surface 7. The first sliding surface 7 and the second sliding surface 8 may be provided so as to be inclined and arranged substantially in parallel.

  By doing so, the distance in the feeding direction D2 between the contact surface 20a of the contact portion 20 and the contact surface 21a of the plate-like contact member 21 as the moving portion 2 moves in the width direction D1. By changing, the urging force by the urging unit can be changed.

  In the present embodiment, the urging portion is configured by the plate-like contact member 21 and the coil spring 5, but the urging portion may be configured by one member. FIG. 8 is a view in which the edge guide 3 is provided with a plate spring 50 as one member constituting the urging portion.

  8 abuts on the first sliding surface 7 extending in the width direction D1 so as to be slidable in the width direction D1. The plate spring 50 abuts against the second sliding surface 8 extending in the width direction D1 so as to be slidable in the width direction D1, and urges it in the urging direction C1. Thereby, an increase in manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the edge guide 3 includes the abutting portion 20 and the urging portion constituted by the plate-like abutting member 21 and the coil spring 5, but the urging portion is the moving main body portion of FIG. 4 may be provided. Thereby, since the length of the edge guide 3 in the width direction D1 can be shortened, the length of the recording medium guide device in the width direction D1 can be shortened.

  In the present embodiment, in order to fix the position of the moving part 2 in the width direction D1, the first sliding surface 7 and the second sliding surface 8 are sandwiched between the contact part 20 and the biasing part. Although biased, the first sliding surface and the second sliding surface may be biased so as to spread.

  FIG. 9A is a schematic diagram in which the first sliding surface 7, the second sliding surface 8, the contact portion 20, and the urging portion 28 in this embodiment are arranged. As described in the present embodiment, the abutting portion 20 is arranged on the upstream side of the first sliding surface 7 in the feeding direction D2, and the urging portion 28 configured by the plate-like abutting member 21 and the coil spring 5 is used. Is disposed downstream of the second sliding surface 8 in the feeding direction D2.

  The urging portion 28 urges the second sliding surface 8 in the urging direction C1, which is the direction opposite to the feeding direction D2, and the abutting portion 20 and the urging portion 28 cause the first sliding surface. The surface 7 and the second sliding surface 8 are urged so as to be sandwiched in the feeding direction D2.

  In FIG. 9B, the contact portion 53 is disposed on the downstream side of the first sliding surface 51 in the feeding direction D2, and the urging portion 54 is located upstream of the second sliding surface 52 in the feeding direction D2. The second sliding surface 52 is biased in the biasing direction C2 that is the feeding direction D2 by the biasing portion 54, and the first sliding is caused by the contact portion 53 and the biasing portion 54. The surface 51 and the second sliding surface 52 are urged so as to expand in the feeding direction D2.

  In this embodiment, the case where the paper P as a recording medium is mounted on the recording medium guide device 1 has been described. .

  The feeding apparatus described in this embodiment may be provided in a recording apparatus such as a printer using an electrophotographic system. Alternatively, the feeding device of this embodiment may be provided in a copying machine, a facsimile, or the like as a recording device.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Recording medium guide apparatus, 2 ... Moving part, 3 ... Edge guide, 5 ... Coil spring, 6 ... Recording medium loading part, 7 ... 1st sliding surface, 8 ... 2nd sliding surface, 20, 53 ... Contact part, 21 ... Plate-like contact member, 28, 54 ... Biasing part, 50 ... Plate spring, 51 ... First sliding surface, 52 ... Second sliding surface, 100 ... Inkjet printer, 110 ... feeding device, D1 ... paper width direction, D2 ... feeding direction, P ... paper.

Claims (6)

A first sliding surface extending in a width direction of a recording medium to be recorded and having a surface formed on a feeding direction side orthogonal to the width direction, and arranged in parallel with the first sliding surface; A second sliding surface having a surface formed on the direction side, and a recording medium stacking unit for stacking the recording medium;
A moving unit that moves in the width direction in the recording medium stacking unit;
An edge guide that is provided in the moving unit and regulates an end of the recording medium in the width direction;
The moving portion includes a contact portion that comes into contact with the first sliding surface so as to be slidable from the feeding direction, and a position of the contact portion in the width direction, and the second sliding surface. A recording medium guide device comprising: an urging portion that slidably abuts from the feeding direction and urges the second sliding surface in the feeding direction. The recording medium guide device according to claim 1,
A recording medium guide device, wherein the contact portion and the biasing portion are provided inside the edge guide. The recording medium guide device according to claim 2,
The recording medium guide device according to claim 1, wherein the contact portion is provided upstream of a center position of the edge guide in the feeding direction. The recording medium guide device according to claim 2 or 3,
The recording medium guide device, wherein the urging unit urges in a direction opposite to the feeding direction.   A feeding device comprising the recording medium guide device according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A recording unit for recording characters and images;
A recording apparatus comprising the feeding device according to claim 5.

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