JP2013001005A - Image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a structure capable of preventing erroneous insertion of a tray, even while a tray guide supporting a tray mounting a high rigid recording medium is constituted movable.SOLUTION: The image recording device includes: a conveyance path on which a medium tray having a recording medium placed is conveyed; an upper guide member 92, partitioning an upper side of a body opening 13 from which the medium tray is inserted into the conveyance path; a tray guide 72 including guide plates 75, 76, provided below the upper guide member 92 facing the upper guide member 92, capable of moving to a first position (Fig.7(B)) which supports the medium tray so as to be movable into the conveyance path 65 and capable of moving to a second position (Fig.7(A)) retracted from the first position to an upper side, and vertically provided upward from an upper surface 74A of the medium tray and guide both ends of the medium tray; and a first projection portion 101 which is projected from the upper guide member 92 downward, and abuts the medium tray 71 which enters between the guide plates 75, 76 and the upper guide member 92.

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium having high rigidity such as an optical disk.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an image recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium based on an input signal is known. As an image recording method of such an image recording apparatus, for example, there are an ink jet recording method and an electrophotographic method.

  As a recording medium on which image recording is performed in the above-described image recording apparatus, a recording medium having high rigidity such as an optical disk has been proposed in addition to recording paper. Generally, when recording an image on a recording medium having high rigidity such as an optical disk, the recording medium is set on a dedicated tray. The tray is supported by a tray guide provided in the image recording apparatus, is inserted from an insertion port, and is conveyed through the image recording apparatus.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a recording apparatus including a tray guide having a tray support surface that supports a tray. The tray guide is displaceable to a support position that is a first position where the tray can be guided from the tray support surface to the paper transport path and a retreat position that is a second position where the tray is retracted from the paper transport path. In the recording apparatus, the tray guide is displaced to the retracted position when recording an image on a sheet, and the tray guide is displaced to the support position when recording an image on a recording medium such as an optical disk.

JP 2006-88654 A

  As shown in FIG. 2 of Patent Document 1, the tray guide moves in the vertical direction, thereby supporting the support position (indicated by the phantom line in FIG. 2) and the retracted position (indicated by the solid line in FIG. 2). Is displaced. Therefore, when the tray guide is positioned at the support position, a gap is generated between the tray guide and the frame of the recording apparatus that partitions the insertion slot. In the recording apparatus having such a configuration, when the user inserts the tray from the insertion port so that the tray guide supports the tray, the tray is inserted from the gap to the back side of the apparatus and is not correctly supported by the tray support surface. There was a fear. That is, there is a possibility that the tray is erroneously inserted from the insertion port. Then, if the misinserted tray hits the frame of the recording apparatus, the recording apparatus may be broken or the recording medium supported by the tray may be damaged.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to erroneously insert a tray while a tray guide capable of supporting a tray on which a recording medium with high rigidity is placed is movable. It is an object of the present invention to provide an image recording apparatus that can prevent the above-described problem.

  (1) An image recording apparatus of the present invention includes a tray on which a first recording medium is placed, a transport path for transporting the tray, and a ceiling that defines an upper side of an insertion port of the tray into the transport path. A first position on the lower side of the top plate that is opposed to the top plate, supports the tray so as to enter the transport path, and is above the first position and above the first position. A tray guide having a pair of side guides which are movable up to a second position retracted from the conveyance path and which are erected upward from a support surface of the tray and guide both ends in the width direction of the tray; A first protrusion that protrudes downward and contacts the tray that has entered between the upper end of the side guide and the top plate.

  According to this configuration, when the tray is supported by the tray guide at the first position, even if the tray is inserted into the gap formed between the tray guide and the top plate, the tray is in contact with the first convex portion. No further insertion into the back of the device to contact.

  (2) The distance between the upper end of the side guide and the protruding tip of the first convex portion is smaller than the thickness of the tray.

  According to this configuration, when the tray is supported by the tray guide at the first position, the upper end of the side guide and the first convex portion can be inserted into the gap formed between the tray guide and the top plate. Since the distance from the projecting tip is smaller than the thickness of the tray, the tray is not inserted into the back side of the apparatus.

  (3) The first convex portion has a first inclined surface that is inclined obliquely downward along the insertion direction on the upstream surface in the insertion direction of the tray.

  According to this configuration, the first inclined surface can guide the tray in contact with the first convex portion to the tray guide located on the lower side.

  (4) The image recording apparatus of the present invention is erected upward from the tray guide to the upper side of the side guide, and obliquely downward along the insertion direction on the upstream surface in the insertion direction of the tray. And a second convex portion having a second inclined surface inclined to the surface. The first convex part comes into contact with the tray that has entered between the upper end of the second convex part and the top plate.

  According to the present configuration, the gap formed between the tray guide and the top plate can be narrowed by having the second convex portion. In addition, the second inclined surface can guide the tray in contact with the second convex portion to the tray guide located on the lower side.

  (5) The projecting tip of the first convex portion is positioned below the standing tip of the second convex portion when the tray guide is in the first position.

  According to this configuration, the tray can be prevented from entering the gap between the tray guide and the top plate.

  (6) The first convex portion is provided at a position that does not face the first recording medium placed on the tray supported by the tray guide.

  According to this configuration, the possibility that the first recording medium placed on the upper surface of the tray supported by the tray guide comes into contact with the first convex portion can be reduced. Thereby, the possibility of damage to the first recording medium can be reduced.

  (7) In the image recording apparatus of the present invention, the tray guide is moved from the second position to the third position where the upstream side in the insertion direction is turned to the conveyance path side with the downstream side in the insertion direction as an axis. 1 tray and the downstream side of the tray guide in the insertion direction are moved to the transport path side than in the third position, and the tray guide is moved to the upstream side in the insertion direction. And a second means for moving the guide to the first position.

  According to this configuration, the tray guide at the first position is positioned upstream from the second position in the insertion direction by the second means. That is, the tray guide at the first position is close to the user who inserts the tray. Thereby, the 2nd convex part standingly arranged from the tray guide turns into a position near the user who inserts a tray. The user can insert the tray while looking at the second convex portion. As a result, the possibility of erroneous insertion of the tray can be reduced.

  (8) The tray guide has an opening at a position facing the first convex portion when the tray guide is in the second position. The first convex portion is inserted into the opening when the tray guide is in the second position.

  According to this configuration, since the first convex portion is inserted into the opening, an increase in the height of the image recording apparatus can be prevented.

  (9) The image recording apparatus of the present invention is provided in the conveyance path, and conveys the sheet-like second recording medium in a conveyance direction opposite to the insertion direction and discharges it from the insertion port. A section. The first convex portion protrudes below the tray guide through the opening when the tray guide is in the second position. A third inclined surface that is inclined obliquely downward along the transport direction is provided on the upstream surface of the transport direction.

  The second recording medium transported along the transport path may stick to the lower surface of the tray guide at the second position located above the transport path due to static electricity or the like. According to this configuration, even if the second recording medium sticks to the lower surface of the tray guide, the second recording medium is conveyed along the third inclined surface of the first convex portion protruding from the lower surface of the tray guide. By doing so, it is separated from the lower surface of the tray guide. As a result, the second recording medium can be appropriately discharged from the insertion port.

  According to the present invention, the tray that is about to be inserted into the gap formed between the tray guide and the top plate is not inserted further into the apparatus because it comes into contact with the first convex portion. Therefore, according to the present invention, erroneous insertion of the tray can be prevented.

1 is an external perspective view of a multifunction machine 10. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing an internal structure of a printer unit 11. FIG. 3 is an external perspective view of a media tray 71. FIG. 2A and 2B are external perspective views of the tray guide 72 and its peripheral part. FIG. 2A shows the state of the tray guide 72 in the second position, and FIG. 3B shows the state of the tray guide 72 in the third position. (C) shows the state of the tray guide 72 in the first position. FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the left guide member 91 as viewed from the left side, in which (A) shows the state of the tray guide 72 in the second position, and (B) shows the tray guide 72; The state of the third position is shown, and (C) shows the state of the tray guide 72 in the first position. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the main body opening 13 and the tray guide 72 and the peripheral portion thereof as viewed obliquely from above, in which (A) shows the state of the tray guide 72 in the second position, and (B) shows the tray guide 72. Shows the state of the first position. FIG. 6 is a front view showing the main body opening 13, the tray guide 72, and the peripheral portion thereof, (A) shows the state of the tray guide 72 in the second position, and (B) shows the tray guide 72 in the first position. The state of is shown. It is the perspective view which looked at the main-body opening 13, the tray guide 72, and its peripheral part from diagonally downward. It is the perspective view which looked at the main-body opening 13, the tray guide 72, and its peripheral part from diagonally left front. It is a figure which shows typically the 1st convex part 101, the 2nd convex part 104, and the media tray 71, (A) is AA sectional drawing of FIG.7 (B), (B) is FIG. FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 7B, FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in FIG. (E) is CC sectional drawing of FIG. 7 (A).

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. The embodiment described below is merely an example of the present invention, and it is needless to say that the embodiment of the present invention can be changed as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present invention. Further, in the following description, the progression from the start point to the end point in consideration of the arrow in the vector is expressed as “direction”, and the traffic on the line connecting the start point and the end point without considering the arrow in the vector is referred to as “direction”. Expressed. In the following description, the vertical direction 7 is defined with reference to the state in which the multifunction machine 10 is installed (the state shown in FIG. 1), and the side on which the main body opening 13 is provided is the front side (front side). A front-rear direction 8 is defined, and a left-right direction 9 is defined when the multifunction machine 10 is viewed from the front side (front side).

[Multifunction machine 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, a multifunction machine 10 which is an example of an image recording apparatus of the present invention is generally formed in a thin rectangular parallelepiped, and is provided with an ink jet recording type printer unit 11 at a lower part. The multifunction machine 10 has various functions such as a facsimile function and a print function. The presence or absence of functions other than the print function is arbitrary. In the present embodiment, the multifunction machine 10 has only a single-sided image recording function as a print function. However, the multifunction machine 10 may have a double-sided image recording function.

  The printer unit 11 includes a housing 14 having a main body opening 13 (an example of an insertion port of the present invention) formed on the front surface, and a paper feed tray 20 and a paper discharge tray 21 (see FIG. 2) from the main body opening 13. Can be inserted and removed in the front-rear direction. The sheet feed tray 20 accommodates sheet-like recording media of various sizes, and in the present embodiment, recording paper 17 (an example of the second recording medium of the present invention, see FIG. 2). The paper discharge tray 21 is supported by the paper feed tray 20 and disposed above the paper feed tray 20.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the printer unit 11 includes a paper feeding unit 15 that feeds the recording paper 17 from the paper feeding tray 20, and an ink jet recording method recording that records an image by ejecting ink droplets onto the recording paper 17. Part 24 and the like. The recording unit 24 is not limited to the ink jet method, and various recording methods such as an electrophotographic method can be applied.

  The printer unit 11 records an image on the recording paper 17 based on print data received from an external device. The multifunction machine 10 has a function of recording an image by the recording unit 24 on the surface of a recording medium such as a CD-ROM or a DVD-ROM (an example of the first recording medium of the present invention, not shown). This function will be described later.

[Paper Feeder 15]
As shown in FIG. 2, the paper feed unit 15 is provided on the upper side of the paper feed tray 20. The paper feed unit 15 includes a paper feed roller 25, a paper feed arm 26, and a drive transmission mechanism 27. The paper feed roller 25 is pivotally supported at the front end portion of the paper feed arm 26. The paper feed arm 26 rotates about the shaft 28 in the direction of the arrow 29. As a result, the paper feed roller 25 can contact and separate from the paper feed tray 20. The sheet feeding roller 25 is rotated by a driving force transmitted from a sheet feeding motor (not shown) by a drive transmission mechanism 27 in which a plurality of gears are engaged. The paper feed roller 25 separates the recording paper 17 stacked on the paper feed tray 20 one by one and supplies it to the transport path 65.

[Conveyance path 65]
The conveyance path 65 (an example of the conveyance path of the present invention) is bent from the upper side of the separation inclined plate 22 provided on the sheet feeding tray 20 to the front side of the multifunction machine 10, and each pair of rollers 58 and 59 described later. Is passed through the nipping position and is connected to the main body opening 13 (specifically, the paper discharge tray 21 inserted into the main body opening 13).

  The recording paper 17 is guided along the conveyance path 65 in the conveyance direction (the direction indicated by a one-dot chain line with an arrow in FIG. 2 corresponding to the conveyance direction of the present invention). That is, the recording paper 17 fed from the paper feed tray 20 is guided to make a U-turn from the lower side to the upper side through the conveyance path 65 and reaches the recording unit 24. The recording paper 17 is discharged to the paper discharge tray 21 after an image is recorded by the recording unit 24. The conveyance path 65 is partitioned by an outer guide member 18 and an inner guide member 19 that face each other with a predetermined interval.

[Recording unit 24]
The recording unit 24 includes a carriage 40 that mounts the recording head 38 and reciprocates in the left-right direction 9 (direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2). Ink is supplied to the recording head 38 from an ink cartridge (not shown). The recording head 38 ejects ink as fine ink droplets from a nozzle 39 provided on the lower surface. As the carriage 40 reciprocates, the recording head 38 is scanned with respect to the recording paper 17, and the recording paper 17 is conveyed on a platen 42 provided below the recording unit 24 and facing the recording unit 24. An image is recorded.

[First roller pair 58 and second roller pair 59]
A first roller pair 58 including a first transport roller 60 and a pinch roller 61 is provided on the transport path 65 upstream of the recording unit 24 in the transport direction. The first conveyance roller 60 is provided on the upper side of the conveyance path 65, and the pinch roller 61 is provided on the lower side of the conveyance path 65. The pinch roller 61 is pressed against the roller surface of the first conveying roller 60 by an elastic member (not shown) such as a spring. The first roller pair 58 holds the conveyed recording paper 17 and conveys it onto the platen 42 along the conveyance path 65.

  A second roller pair 59 (an example of the conveyance unit of the present invention) including a second conveyance roller 62 and a spur 63 is provided on the conveyance path 65 on the downstream side of the recording unit 24 in the conveyance direction. The second conveyance roller 62 is provided below the conveyance path 65, and the spur 63 is provided above the conveyance path 65. The spur 63 is pressed against the roller surface of the second transport roller 62 by an elastic member (not shown) such as a spring. The second roller pair 59 pinches the recording sheet 17 conveyed from the recording unit 24 and conveys the recording sheet 17 along the conveying path 65 to the downstream side in the conveying direction. As a result, the recording paper 17 is discharged to the paper discharge tray 21.

  The first transport roller 60 and the second transport roller 62 are rotated by a rotational driving force transmitted from a transport motor (not shown) via a drive transmission mechanism (not shown). The drive transmission mechanism is composed of a planetary gear or the like, and the recording paper 17 and a media tray (to be described later) when the conveying motor is rotated in one of normal rotation and reverse rotation (in this embodiment, normal rotation). 71 is transported in the transport direction, and the recording paper 17 and the media tray 71 are transported in the direction opposite to the transport direction when the transport motor is rotated in the other direction (reverse rotation in this embodiment). Let

[Change in posture of first roller pair 58, second roller pair 59, and platen 42]
The first roller pair 58 and the second roller pair 59 can be changed in posture between a contact posture in which the pair of rollers are in contact with each other and a separation posture in which the pair of rollers are separated from each other. When the first roller pair 58 and the second roller pair 59 are in contact with each other, the recording paper 17 can be held, and the recording paper 17 is transported along the transport path 65. On the other hand, when the first roller pair 58 and the second roller pair 59 are separated, the distance between the pair of rollers of each roller pair is an appropriate distance for sandwiching the media tray 71. Therefore, the first roller pair 58 and the second roller pair 59 can sandwich the media tray 71 when in the separated posture, and transport the media tray 71 along the transport path 65. In this embodiment, the pinch roller 61 and the second transport roller 62 which are lower rollers of the first roller pair 58 and the second roller pair 59 move downward, so that the first roller pair 58 and the second roller The pair 59 is changed in posture from the contact posture to the separated posture.

  The platen 42 can also move downward. When the platen 42 is not moved downward, the interval between the platen 42 and the recording unit 24 is an interval at which the recording paper 17 can pass below the recording unit 24. On the other hand, when the platen 42 moves downward, the interval is an interval at which the media tray 71 can pass below the recording unit 24.

  The downward movement of the pinch roller 61, the second conveyance roller 62, and the platen 42 is, for example, the eccentric cam 150 and the support member 147 provided below each of the pinch roller 61, the second conveyance roller 62, and the platen 42. Executed by. The eccentric cam 150 is rotatably supported by a frame (not shown) constituting the housing 14 of the multifunction machine 10 with the left-right direction 9 as an axial direction. The eccentric cam 150 is a disk whose diameter from the shaft 148 changes periodically.

  The support member 147 is supported so as to be placed on the eccentric cam 150. The pinch roller 61 and the second conveyance roller 62 are rotatably supported by the support member 147. The platen 42 is supported by the support member 147.

  In the present embodiment, the eccentric cam 150 is rotated by driving transmission from a motor (not shown). When the eccentric cam 150 is rotated, its peripheral surface is slid with respect to the support member 147. Since the diameter from the shaft 148 periodically changes on the peripheral surface of the eccentric cam 150, the support member 147 moves in the vertical direction 7 due to this change. The pinch roller 61, the second transport roller 62, and the platen 42 are moved in the vertical direction 7 by the movement of the support member 147 in the vertical direction 7. In FIG. 2, the state in which the support member 147 is moved upward is indicated by a solid line, and the state in which the support member 147 is moved downward is indicated by a broken line.

[Media tray 71]
As described above, the multifunction machine 10 has a function of recording an image on the surface of a recording medium. When an image is recorded on a recording medium, the recording medium is placed on a media tray 71 (an example of the tray of the present invention). As shown in FIG. 3, the media tray 71 is a thin plate-shaped resin plate. On the upper surface 71 </ b> A of the media tray 71, there is provided a media placement unit 70 that is a circular recess and on which a recording medium is placed.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the media tray 71 is placed on a later-described tray guide 72 (an example of the tray guide of the present invention) provided in the main body opening 13, and is opposite to the transport direction along the transport path 65. It is inserted in the direction, that is, the direction of the arrow 73 (corresponding to the insertion direction of the present invention). That is, the media tray 71 is inserted from the main body opening 13. As a result, the media tray 71 is sandwiched between the second roller pair 59 in which the interval between the rollers is increased as described above, and can pass through the conveyance path 65. The recording unit 24 ejects ink droplets onto a recording medium placed on the media tray 71 that passes immediately below, in the same manner as the recording paper 17. Thereby, an image is recorded on the recording medium.

[Tray guide 72]
As shown in FIG. 2, a tray guide 72 is provided on the front side of the most downstream end in the transport direction in the transport path 65. As shown in FIG. 4, the tray guide 72 is a substantially thin flat plate member. In FIG. 4, the front end portion 81 (see FIGS. 5 and 6) of the tray guide 72 is omitted.

  The tray guide 72 is erected upward from the upper surface 74A of the bottom plate 74 at both ends in the left-right direction 9 of the bottom plate 74 on which the media tray 71 is placed, and along the direction in which the media tray 71 is inserted. The arranged right guide plate 75 and left guide plate 76 (an example of a pair of side guides of the present invention), and two shaft rods (first shaft rod 77) protruding rightward from the right end portion of the bottom plate 74 in the left-right direction 9. And a second shaft rod 78) and two shaft rods (a third shaft rod 79 and a fourth shaft rod 80) protruding leftward from the left end portion of the bottom plate 74 in the left-right direction 9 are provided.

  A media tray 71 is placed on the upper surface 74A of the bottom plate 74 (corresponding to the support surface of the present invention). The distance between the left side surface of the right guide plate 75 and the right side surface of the left guide plate 76 is the same as or slightly larger than the length of the media tray 71 in the width direction (the left-right direction 9). Accordingly, when the media tray 71 is inserted from the main body opening 13 while being placed on the bottom plate 74, the media tray 71 does not shift in the left-right direction 9. That is, the media tray 71 is placed on the upper surface of the bottom plate 74 while both ends in the left-right direction 9 are guided by the right guide plate 75 and the left guide plate 76.

  The first shaft rod 77 and the third shaft rod 79 are provided at positions close to the front end of the bottom plate 74. The first shaft rod 77 and the third shaft rod 79 are arranged on the same line in the left-right direction 9. The second shaft rod 78 and the fourth shaft rod 80 are provided at positions close to the rear end of the bottom plate 74. The second shaft rod 78 and the fourth shaft rod 80 are arranged on the same line in the left-right direction 9.

  In the printer unit 11, a right guide member 90 is disposed at a position facing the right end of the tray guide 72. In the printer unit 11, a left guide member 91 is disposed at a position facing the left end of the tray guide 72. In the printer unit 11, an upper guide member 92 (see FIG. 6, an example of the top plate of the present invention) is disposed on the upper side of the tray guide 72 so as to face the tray guide 72. In FIG. 4, the upper guide member 92 is omitted. As shown in FIG. 6, the upper guide member 92 defines the upper side of the main body opening 13.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a front long hole 93 is provided at a position facing the first shaft rod 77 in the right guide member 90 and a position facing the third shaft rod 79 in the left guide member 91. A rear long hole 94 is provided in a position facing the second shaft rod 78 in the right guide member 90 and a position facing the fourth shaft rod 80 in the left guide member 91. In FIG. 5, the front long hole 93 and the rear long hole 94 of the right guide member 90 are omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the front long hole 93 is formed by the first shaft rod 77 and the third shaft rod when the tray guide 72 rotates about the second shaft rod 78 and the fourth shaft rod 80. A first elongated hole 151 extending along the rotation path 79 and a second elongated hole 152 extending forward from the lower end of the first elongated hole 151 are formed continuously. The first long hole 151 is an arc-shaped long hole. The circular arc is a circular arc that is continuous between the upper end portion 107 and the lower end portion 108 in a circle centered on the rotation axis of the tray guide 72 (the second axial rod 78 and the fourth axial rod 80). The second long hole 152 is a linear long hole that is continuous along the front-rear direction 8 between the lower end portion 108 and the front end portion 109. The rear long hole 94 has a straight third long hole 153 extending substantially obliquely downward from the rear to the front with the rear upper end 110 as one end, and forward from the other end of the third long hole 153. A straight short hole 154 extending continuously to the front lower end 111 is continuously formed.

  A first shaft rod 77 and a third shaft rod 79 are passed through the front long hole 93, and a second shaft rod 78 and a fourth shaft rod 80 are passed through the rear long hole 94. Accordingly, the tray guide 72 is supported at the right end portion by the right guide member 90 and at the left end portion by the left guide member 91.

[Movement of tray guide 72]
The shaft rods 77 to 80 are movable along the long holes 93 and 94. Thereby, the tray guide 72 can be moved to different positions depending on the positions of the long holes 93 and 94 of the shaft rods 77 to 80. The tray guide 72 in the present invention is a first position that supports the media tray 71 so as to be able to enter the transport path 65 (see the broken line in FIG. 2, see FIGS. 4C and 5C), and corresponds to the first position in the present invention. ), The recording paper 17 can be transported in the transport path 65 and is a position above and behind the first position and retracted from the transport path 65 (solid line in FIG. 2, FIG. 4A and FIG. 4). 5A, which corresponds to the second position of the present invention), the second shaft rod 78 and the fourth shaft rod 80 provided on the downstream side of the tray guide 72 in the direction of the arrow 73 (see FIG. 2). As shown in FIG. 2, a third position where the upstream side (front side) in the direction of the arrow 73 is rotated to the conveyance path 65 side (downside) (see the dashed line in FIG. 2, FIGS. 4B and 5B). , Corresponding to the third position of the present invention).

  As shown in FIGS. 4C and 5C, the first position is a position where the upper surface 74 </ b> A of the bottom plate 74 is along the front-rear direction 8. Further, as indicated by a solid line in FIG. 2, in the first position, the height of the upper surface 74A of the bottom plate 74 in the vertical direction 7 is substantially the same as the conveyance path 65 extending from the back side to the front side of the apparatus. It is the same height. When the tray guide 72 is in the first position, the first shaft rod 77 and the third shaft rod 79 are located at the front end portion 109 of the front long hole 93, and the second shaft rod 78 and the fourth shaft rod 80 are It is located at the front lower end 111 of the rear elongated hole 94. As described above, the media tray 71 placed on the tray guide 72 at the first position can enter the transport path 65 by being transported in the direction opposite to the transport direction of the recording paper 17.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 5A, the second position is a position where the upper surface 74A of the bottom plate 74 is along the front-rear direction 8 in the same manner as the first position. However, as indicated by a broken line in FIG. 2, in the second position, the height of the upper surface 74A of the bottom plate 74 in the vertical direction 7 is higher than the conveyance path 65 extending from the back side to the front side of the apparatus. high. Further, the position of the tray guide 72 in the second position in the front-rear direction 8 is behind the tray guide 72 in the first position. When the tray guide 72 is in the second position, the first shaft rod 77 and the third shaft rod 79 are positioned at the upper end portion 107 of the front long hole 93, and the second shaft rod 78 and the fourth shaft rod 80 are It is located at the rear upper end 110 of the rear elongated hole 94.

  As shown in FIGS. 4B and 5B, and as indicated by the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 2, the tray guide 72 in the third position is inclined obliquely downward from the rear to the front. When the tray guide 72 is in the third position, the first shaft rod 77 and the third shaft rod 79 are positioned at the lower end portion 108 of the front elongated hole 93, and the second shaft rod 78 and the fourth shaft rod 80 are disposed on the rear side. It is located at the rear upper end 110 of the long hole 94.

  The tray guide 72 is changed from the second position to the third position as follows. When the user of the multifunction machine 10 pushes the front end 81 of the tray guide 72 in the second position downward, the tray guide 72 rotates about the second shaft rod 78 and the fourth shaft rod 80 as axes. That is, the first shaft rod 77 and the third shaft rod 79 move from the upper end portion 107 to the lower end portion 108 along the first long hole 151. As a result, the tray guide 72 is in the third position. From the above, the components used for moving the tray guide 72 from the second position to the third position, that is, the shaft rods 77 to 80, and the first long hole 151 of the front long hole 93 are the present invention. It is an example of a 1st means.

  The tray guide 72 is changed from the third position to the first position as follows. When the user of the multifunction machine 10 grabs the front end 81 of the tray guide 72 at the third position and pulls it forward, the tray guide 72 moves. That is, the first shaft rod 77 and the third shaft rod 79 move from the lower end portion 108 to the front end portion 109 along the second long hole 152. At the same time, the second shaft rod 78 and the fourth shaft rod 80 move from the rear upper end portion 110 to the front lower end portion 111 along the rear long hole 94. As a result, the downstream side of the arrow 73 (see FIG. 2) of the tray guide 72 is moved to the lower side, that is, the conveyance path 65 side than at the third position. Further, the tray guide 72 is moved to the front side, that is, the upstream side in the insertion direction, compared to the third position. As a result, the tray guide 72 is in the first position. As described above, the components used for moving the tray guide 72 from the third position to the first position, that is, the shaft rods 77 to 80, the second long hole 152 of the front long hole 93, and the rear long hole. 94 is an example of the second means of the present invention.

  In the above description, the case where the tray guide 72 moves from the second position to the first position via the third position has been described, but the tray guide 72 performs the reverse operation to the above, It can be moved from the first position to the second position via the third position.

[First convex portion 101]
As shown in FIGS. 7 to 10, a first convex portion 101 (an example of the first convex portion of the present invention) that protrudes downward is formed on the lower surface of the upper guide member 92. In this embodiment, the 1st convex part 101 is provided in two places.

  As shown in FIG. 7B, the position of the first convex portion 101 on the right side in the left-right direction 9 is slightly to the left of the right guide plate 75, and the position of the first convex portion 101 on the left side in the left-right direction 9 Is slightly to the right of the left guide plate 76. Further, in a state where the media tray 71 is supported by the tray guide 72, the first convex portion 101 on the right side is positioned on the right side of the media placing portion 70, and the first convex portion 101 on the left side is located on the media placing portion 70. Is also on the left. In other words, the first convex portion 101 is provided at a position that does not face the recording medium placed on the media tray 71 supported by the tray guide 72. The position of the first convex portion 101 is preferably a position that does not face the recording medium, but may be a position that faces the recording medium.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the position of the first protrusion 101 in the front-rear direction 8 is near the front end of the upper guide member 92. That is, the first convex portion 101 is provided in the vicinity of the edge portion of the main body opening 13.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the tray guide 72 has an opening 102 (corresponding to the opening of the present invention) at a position corresponding to the first convex portion 101 when the tray guide 72 is in the second position. . The length of the opening 102 in the front-rear direction 8 is longer than the length of the first protrusion 101 in the front-rear direction 8. The length of the opening 102 in the left-right direction 9 is longer than the length of the first convex portion 101 in the left-right direction 9. Accordingly, the first convex portion 101 can be inserted into the opening 102 when the tray guide 72 is in the second position.

  In the present embodiment, the length of the first convex portion 101 in the vertical direction 7 is longer than the thickness of the tray guide 72. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 7A, the first convex portion 101 penetrates the opening 102 and protrudes below the tray guide 72 when the tray guide 72 is in the second position. The length of the first convex portion 101 in the vertical direction 7 may be equal to or less than the thickness of the tray guide 72. In this case, the first convex portion 101 is inserted into the opening 102 but does not protrude below the tray guide 72.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10A, the rear side surface 103 (corresponding to the third inclined surface of the present invention) of the first convex portion 101 is directed from the front to the rear. It is inclined diagonally upward. In other words, the 1st convex part 101 has the rear side surface 103 which inclines diagonally downward along the conveyance direction in the upstream surface of conveyance direction.

[Second convex portion 104]
As shown in FIGS. 7, 9, and 10, the second convex portion 104 (an example of the second convex portion of the present invention) is formed at the front end portions of the right guide plate 75 and the left guide plate 76 of the tray guide 72. Is formed.

  The second convex portion 104 is erected upward from the guide plates 75 and 76. That is, the second convex portion 104 is erected upward from the tray guide 72 to the upper side of the guide plates 75 and 76.

  The second convex portion 104 is formed at the left end portion of the right guide plate 75 and the right end portion of the left guide plate 76. Accordingly, when the media tray 71 is placed on the tray guide 72 and inserted in the direction of the arrow 73, the media tray 71 can come into contact with the second convex portion 104.

  As described above, the first convex portion 101 is formed in the vicinity of the front end of the upper guide member 92, and the second convex portion 104 is formed at the front end portions of the guide plates 75 and 76. In the present embodiment, the tray guide 72 including the guide plates 75 and 76 has a leading end substantially positioned with a leading end of the upper guide member 92 when in the second position (see FIG. 6A). When in the position, the tip is positioned in front of the tip of the upper guide member 92 (see FIG. 6B). Therefore, in the present embodiment, the second convex portion 104 is positioned in front of the first convex portion 101 when the tray guide 72 is in the first position.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the height of the 2nd convex part 104 is comprised by the height which satisfy | fills the following conditions. That is, as shown in FIG. 7B, the protruding tip 101B of the first convex portion 101 is below the standing tip 104B of the second convex portion 104 when the tray guide 72 is in the first position. To position.

  When the following condition is satisfied, the protruding tip 101B of the first convex portion 101 is positioned above the standing tip 104B of the second convex portion 104 when the tray guide 72 is in the first position. Also good. The condition is that the distance between the standing tip 104B of the second convex portion 104 and the protruding tip 101B of the first convex portion 101 is smaller than the thickness d2 of the media tray 71 (see FIG. 3).

  9 and 10B, the inner side of the front side surface of the second convex portion 104 (the left side of the second convex portion 104 formed on the right guide plate 75 and the left guide plate 76). On the right side of the second convex portion 104, an inclined surface 105 (corresponding to the second inclined surface of the present invention) that is inclined obliquely downward as it goes from the front to the rear is formed. In other words, the second convex portion 104 has the inclined surface 105 inclined obliquely downward along the insertion direction on the upstream surface of the insertion direction of the media tray 71 (direction of the arrow 73). 10B is a BB cross-sectional view of FIG. 7B, but FIG. 10B shows the right guide plate 75 and the position of the right guide plate 75 at a position other than the BB cross-section of FIG. Two convex portions 104 are indicated by broken lines.

[Abutting of Media Tray 71 with First Convex 101 and Second Convex 104]
When the media tray 71 is placed on the upper surface 74A of the bottom plate 74 of the tray guide 72 while both ends are guided by the right guide plate 75 and the left guide plate 76, the media tray 71 is shown in FIG. 7B and FIG. ) In the position indicated by the solid line.

  On the other hand, when the media tray 71 is inserted from the main body opening 13 without being guided by the right guide plate 75 and the left guide plate 76, the media tray 71 is shown in FIG. 7B and FIG. As indicated by the dotted line, it is located above the case where it is placed on the upper surface 74A. As shown in FIGS. 7B and 10B, in the state indicated by the two-dot chain line, the media tray 71 is positioned between the right guide plate 75 and the left guide plate 76 and the upper guide member 92. Has entered. Specifically, in the state indicated by the two-dot chain line, the media tray 71 enters between the standing tip 104 </ b> B of the second convex portion 104 and the upper guide member 92. At this time, as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 10A, the leading end of the media tray 71 in the insertion direction comes into contact with the front surface 101 </ b> A of the first convex portion 101.

  Further, when the media tray 71 is inserted into the main body opening 13 without being guided by the right guide plate 75 and the left guide plate 76, the media tray 71 is indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIGS. 7B and 10B. In some cases, the inclined surface 105 of the second convex portion 104 may come into contact. When the media tray 71 is further inserted in this state, the media tray 71 is guided to the upper surface 74A of the bottom plate 74 along the inclined surface 105 as indicated by an arrow 106 in FIG.

[Recording images on recording media]
Hereinafter, a procedure in which the media tray 71 is inserted into the multifunction machine 10 and an image is recorded on the recording medium 69 placed on the media tray 71 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, when the tray guide 72 is moved from the second position to the first position via the third position by the user's operation, the eccentric cam 150 is rotated, and the second conveying roller 62 and the platen are moved. 42 is moved downward. That is, the state of the second transport roller 62 and the platen 42 changes from the state indicated by the solid line in FIG. 2 to the state indicated by the broken line. The user sets the media tray 71 on which the recording medium is placed so as to be supported by the tray guide 72. The media tray 71 is set on the tray guide 72 in a state where the tip on the insertion side to the multifunction machine 10 is in contact with the second roller pair 59.

  Thereafter, when an image recording on a recording medium is instructed by operating the operation panel 16 (see FIG. 1), the first transport roller 60 and the second transport roller 62 are driven in reverse. Thereby, the media tray 71 is conveyed backward by the second roller pair 59. The transported media tray 71 passes below the recording unit 24 and is sandwiched between the first roller pair 58.

  Thereafter, the media tray 71 sandwiched between the two roller pairs 58 and 59 is further conveyed rearward to a position where the recording medium is located behind the recording unit 24. In this state, the rotation directions of the first conveyance roller 60 and the second conveyance roller 62 are switched from reverse rotation to normal rotation. Accordingly, the media tray 71 is conveyed forward, and the recording medium placed on the media tray 71 passes below the recording unit 24. At this time, ink droplets are ejected from the nozzles 39 to the recording medium being conveyed. As a result, an image is recorded on the surface of the recording medium. Thereafter, the media tray 71 is discharged from the main body opening 13 to the outside of the multifunction machine 10.

[Effect of the embodiment]
According to the present embodiment, when the media tray 71 is inserted into the gap formed between the tray guide 72 and the upper guide member 92 when supported by the tray guide 72 at the first position, the media Since the tray 71 is in contact with the first convex portion 101, the tray 71 is not inserted further into the back side of the multifunction machine 10. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, erroneous insertion of the media tray 71 can be prevented.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, by having the second convex portion 104, the gap that can be formed between the tray guide 72 and the upper guide member 92 can be narrowed. Further, the media tray 71 in contact with the second convex portion 104 can be guided to the tray guide 72 located on the lower side by the inclined surface 105 of the second convex portion 104.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the protruding tip 101B of the first convex portion 101 is positioned below the standing tip 104B of the second convex portion 104, and therefore, between the tray guide 72 and the upper guide member 92. It is possible to prevent the media tray 71 from entering the gap.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the first convex portion 101 is provided at a position not facing the recording medium placed on the media tray 71 supported by the tray guide 72. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the recording medium placed on the upper surface of the media tray 71 supported by the tray guide 72 comes into contact with the first convex portion 101. Thereby, the possibility of damage to the recording medium can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the tray guide 72 at the first position is positioned upstream of the second position in the insertion direction by the second means. That is, the tray guide 72 at the first position is close to the user who inserts the media tray 71. As a result, the second convex portion 104 erected from the tray guide 72 is positioned close to the user who inserts the media tray 71. The user can insert the media tray 71 while looking at the second convex portion 104. As a result, the possibility of erroneous insertion of the media tray 71 can be reduced.

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, since the first convex portion 101 is inserted into the opening 102 formed in the tray guide 72, an increase in the height of the multifunction device 10 can be prevented.

  The recording paper 17 conveyed along the conveyance path 65 may stick to the lower surface of the tray guide 72 at the second position located above the conveyance path 65 due to static electricity or the like. According to the present embodiment, even when the recording paper 17 sticks to the lower surface of the tray guide 72, the recording paper 17 protrudes from the lower surface of the tray guide 72 as shown in FIG. By being conveyed along the rear side surface 103 of the unit 101, the unit is separated from the lower surface of the tray guide 72. As a result, the recording paper 17 can be appropriately discharged from the main body opening 13.

[Modification 1]
The tray guide 72 may not be formed with the second convex portion 104. In the first modification, the distance d1 (see FIG. 10D) between the upper ends of the right guide plate 75 and the left guide plate 76 and the protruding tip of the first convex portion 101 is the thickness d2 of the media tray 71 (see FIG. 3). ) Is made smaller.

  According to the first modification, when the media tray 71 is supported by the tray guide 72 at the first position, the right guide may be inserted into the gap formed between the tray guide 72 and the upper guide member 92. Since the distance d1 between the upper ends of the plate 75 and the left guide plate 76 and the protruding tip of the first convex portion 101 is smaller than the thickness d2 of the media tray 71, the media tray 71 is not inserted into the back side of the multifunction machine 10.

[Modification 2]
In the above-described embodiment, when the inclined surface 105 is not formed on the second convex portion 104 or when the second convex portion 104 is not provided as in the first modification, as shown in FIG. The front side surface 112 (corresponding to the first inclined surface of the present invention) of the first convex portion 101 may be inclined obliquely downward from the front to the rear. In other words, the first convex portion 101 has a front side surface 112 that is inclined obliquely downward along the insertion direction on the upstream surface in the insertion direction of the media tray 71.

  According to the second modification, the media tray 71 in contact with the first convex portion 101 is positioned on the lower side by the front side surface 112 of the first convex portion 101 as indicated by the arrow 113 in FIG. Can be guided to the tray guide 72.

[Modification 3]
In the above-described embodiment, the tray guide 72 has moved through the third position when moving between the first position and the second position. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the tray guide 72 at the first position is located in front of the tray guide 72 at the second position. However, if the media tray can be moved to the first position where the media tray is allowed to enter the conveyance path 65 and the second position above the first position and retracted from the conveyance path 65, the tray guide 72 moves. The configuration for doing this is not limited to the configuration described in the above embodiment.

  For example, the tray guide 72 at the second position may be positioned directly above the tray guide 72 at the first position. That is, the tray guide 72 may move between the first position and the second position without moving through the third position by moving along the vertical direction 7.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... MFP 17 ... Recording paper 59 ... Second roller pair 65 ... Conveying path 71 ... Media tray 72 ... Tray guide 92 ... Upper guide member 101 ... First 1 convex part 102 ... opening 103 ... rear side surface 104 ... second convex part 105 ... inclined surface 112 ... front side surface

Claims (9)

A tray on which the first recording medium is placed;
A transport path through which the tray is transported;
A top plate that divides the upper side of the insertion port into the transport path of the tray;
A first position that is provided on the lower side of the top plate so as to face the top plate, supports the tray so as to be able to enter the transport path, and is located above the first position and from the transport path. A tray guide having a pair of side guides that can be moved to the retracted second position and is erected upward from a support surface of the tray and guides both ends of the tray in the width direction;
An image recording apparatus comprising: a first convex portion protruding downward from the top plate and contacting the tray that has entered between the upper end of the side guide and the top plate.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a distance between an upper end of the side guide and a protruding tip of the first convex portion is smaller than a thickness of the tray.   3. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first convex portion has a first inclined surface that is inclined obliquely downward along the insertion direction on an upstream surface in the insertion direction of the tray. A second inclined surface that is erected upward from the tray guide to above the side guide and has a second inclined surface that is inclined obliquely downward along the insertion direction on the upstream surface in the insertion direction of the tray; Further comprising a convex part,
The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first protrusion comes into contact with the tray that has entered between the upper end of the second protrusion and the top plate.   5. The image recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the protruding front end of the first convex portion is positioned below the standing front end of the second convex portion when the tray guide is in the first position.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first convex portion is provided at a position not facing the first recording medium placed on the tray supported by the tray guide. First means for moving the tray guide from the second position to a third position in which the upstream side in the insertion direction is turned to the conveyance path side with the downstream side in the insertion direction as an axis;
By moving the downstream side of the tray guide in the insertion direction to the transport path side than at the third position, and moving the tray guide to the upstream side in the insertion direction, the tray guide is moved to the first side. The image recording apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 6, further comprising a second means for moving to one position. The tray guide has an opening at a position facing the first convex portion when the tray guide is in the second position.
The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first protrusion is inserted into the opening when the tray guide is in the second position. A transport unit that is provided in the transport path, transports the sheet-like second recording medium in a transport direction opposite to the insertion direction, and discharges the second recording medium from the insertion port;
The first convex portion is
In the state where the tray guide is in the second position, the tray guide passes through the opening and protrudes below the tray guide,
The image recording apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising a third inclined surface that is inclined obliquely downward along the conveyance direction on an upstream surface in the conveyance direction.

Images