JP2013208851A - Recording apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent turnover of an apparatus that records an image on a recording medium.SOLUTION: A printer includes: a detection means that detects whether an additional unit has been attached to an apparatus body; a detection means that detects whether a stabilizer is attached to a lower portion of the apparatus body or a lower portion of an additional paper feed unit attached to the apparatus body; and a body control section that controls guides and a transport mechanism so as to transport a paper sheet upward from below. When one or more additional units are attached and no stabilizer is attached, the body control section sets at least one of feed conditions and ejection conditions for preventing the center of gravity of the printer from shifting upward from below, and conveys a recording medium in accordance with the conditions.

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording apparatus that records an image on a recording medium.

  Patent Document 1 describes a recording apparatus in which a plurality of option feeders (detachable units) are attached to the lower part of the apparatus main body in a state of overlapping the apparatus main body in the vertical direction. In this recording apparatus, the recording medium is conveyed from below to above.

JP 2004-59278 A

  In the recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1, when a plurality of attachment / detachment units are attached to the apparatus main body, the center of gravity of the entire recording apparatus including the plurality of attachment / detachment units is increased. As described above, when the center of gravity of the entire recording apparatus is increased, the entire recording apparatus is more likely to fall than when the center of gravity is low.

  The present inventor examined mounting a detachable support member for suppressing the overturn of the recording apparatus on the lower part of the apparatus main body or the lower part of the detachable unit mounted on the lower part of the apparatus main body. I found the problem.

  Since the support member is detachable, a recording apparatus in which one or more attachment / detachment units are attached may be used without the support member being attached to the recording apparatus. In this case, when the center of gravity of the entire recording apparatus is significantly increased as the recording medium is conveyed, the recording apparatus is likely to fall down.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a recording apparatus capable of suppressing the overturn of the apparatus even when a support member is not attached.

  The recording apparatus according to the present invention includes one or more detachable units each including a mounting unit on which a recording medium is mounted, and a first transport mechanism that transports the recording medium from or toward the mounting unit. Detachable to the upper and / or lower part of the apparatus main body so that at least a part thereof overlaps with the apparatus main body along the vertical direction, and overlaps with the apparatus main body along the vertical direction. The one or more detachable units mounted on the lower part of the apparatus main body or the lower part of the apparatus main body with a support member that supports the apparatus main body partly positioned outside the apparatus main body with respect to the orthogonal direction A recording unit detachably attached to a lower portion of the recording medium, a recording unit that records an image on a recording medium, a storage unit that is disposed below the recording unit, and that stores the recording medium, and above the recording unit Placed and marked A discharge unit from which a medium is discharged and a recording medium conveyed from the placement unit or the storage unit are conveyed toward the recording unit, or from the recording unit to the discharge unit or the placement unit. A second transport mechanism for transporting a recording medium; detachable unit detection means for detecting whether or not the one or more detachable units are attached to the apparatus main body; and the support member is a lower part of the apparatus main body, or the apparatus main body. Supporting member detecting means for detecting whether or not the one or more detachable units mounted on the recording medium are mounted on the printer, and the first transport mechanism and the second transport so as to transport the recording medium from below to above. Control means for controlling at least one of the mechanisms. When the one or more attachment / detachment units are attached, the control means detects that the attachment / detachment unit detection means detects that the support member is not attached. At least one of a feeding condition and a discharging condition for suppressing the center of gravity of the entire apparatus including the one or more attached / detached units from moving from below to above is set, and the recording medium is conveyed under the condition. .

  According to the recording apparatus of the present invention, when the support member is not attached, the center of gravity of the entire apparatus is restrained from moving from below to above as the recording medium is conveyed. In other words, the recording medium is conveyed so that the center of gravity of the entire recording apparatus is kept low. For this reason, it is possible to suppress the overturn of the apparatus.

1 is a schematic side view showing an internal structure of an ink jet printer according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a principal part enlarged view of the apparatus main body shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the ink jet printer illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a figure which shows the electrical constitution of the apparatus main body shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the additional paper feeding unit illustrated in FIG. 1. It is a flowchart explaining the recording operation of the inkjet printer shown in FIG. (A) is a flowchart of the apparatus-side identifier association process shown in FIG. 6, and (b) is a flowchart of the unit-side identifier association process shown in FIG. It is a flowchart explaining recording operation | movement of the inkjet printer by 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic side view which shows the internal structure of the inkjet printer by 3rd Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an electrical configuration of the ink jet printer shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an electrical configuration of the additional paper discharge unit illustrated in FIG. 9. It is a flowchart explaining the recording operation of the inkjet printer shown in FIG. It is a flowchart explaining recording operation | movement of the inkjet printer by 4th Embodiment of this invention.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, with reference to FIGS. 1-3, the whole structure of the inkjet printer 100 which is 1st Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer 100 includes an apparatus main body 101 that forms an image on paper P, and three additional paper feeding units 80 that are configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body 101. These additional paper feed units 80 are connected in three stages in series along the vertical direction at the lower part of the apparatus main body 101, and are configured to be able to feed paper P to the apparatus main body 101.

  The apparatus main body 101 will be described with reference to FIG. The apparatus main body 101 has a rectangular parallelepiped casing 101a. A main body discharge unit 4 is provided on the top of the casing 101a. A main body control unit 150 that controls each unit of the apparatus main body 101, a head 1, a transport mechanism 40, sensors 7, 8 and a main body paper feed tray (accommodating unit) 10 are arranged in the internal space of the housing 101a. . Further, a sheet conveyance path through which the sheet P is conveyed from the main body paper feed tray 10 toward the main body paper discharge unit 4 is formed in the housing 101a. In the apparatus main body 101, the main body paper feed tray 10, the head 1, and the main body paper discharge unit 4 are arranged in order from the lower side in the vertical direction. Thereby, in the apparatus main body 101, the recording medium is conveyed from the lower side to the upper side. A direction from the main body paper feed tray 10 toward the main body paper discharge unit 4 in the paper transport path is referred to as a recording medium transport direction.

  A paper discharge connector 103 is provided on the top plate of the housing 101a. As shown in FIG. 3, the paper discharge connector 103 is connected to the main body control unit 150 via connection lines 205 a, 206, and 207. Each of the connection lines 206 and 207 is a signal line that mutually connects the paper discharge connector 103, a paper feed connector 105, which will be described later, and the main body control unit 150. A second discharge connector 98 of an additional discharge unit 90 (see FIG. 9), which will be described later, connected to the upper portion of the apparatus main body 101 is connected to the discharge connector 103, so that the main body control unit 150 and the second discharge connector 98 are added. A paper discharge control unit 180 (see FIG. 11) (described later) of the paper discharge unit 90 is communicably connected. In the printer 100 of the present embodiment, the additional paper discharge unit 90 is not attached. Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a paper discharge port 107 through which the paper P discharged to the additional paper discharge unit 90 passes is formed on the top plate of the housing 101a.

  A hole 104 and a paper feed connector 105 are provided on the bottom plate of the housing 101a. A mounting sensor 78 (see FIG. 3) is provided in the hole 104. The mounting sensor 78 is connected to the main body control unit 150. The mounting sensor 78 is a transmissive sensor. When a projection 195 of a stabilizer 190 described later enters the hole 104, the mounting sensor 78 detects the projection 195 and outputs a detection signal to the main body control unit 150. This makes it possible to detect whether the stabilizer 190 is attached to the lower part of the apparatus main body 101. The wearing sensor 78 is not limited to a transmissive sensor. For example, the mounting sensor 78 may be a reflective sensor. The mounting sensor 78 may be a mechanical switch. In this case, when the projection 195 enters the hole 104, the switch is pressed, and the mounting sensor 78 outputs a detection signal. Further, the mounting sensor 78 may be a continuity sensor. In this case, when the contact provided on the protrusion 195 and the contact provided in the hole 104 come into contact and become conductive, the mounting sensor 78 outputs a detection signal.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the paper feed connector 105 is connected to the main body control unit 150 via connection lines 205 b, 206, and 207. By connecting the second sheet feeding connector 87 of the additional sheet feeding unit 80 to the sheet feeding connector 105, the main body control unit 150 and the sheet feeding control unit 170 of the additional sheet feeding unit 80 are communicably connected. Is done. As shown in FIG. 1, a sheet feeding port 106 through which the sheet P fed from the additional sheet feeding unit 80 passes is formed on the bottom plate of the housing 101 a.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the connection line 205a is a signal line for connecting only the paper discharge connector 103 and the main body control unit 150, and is a signal line for transmitting connection confirmation data described later. The connection line 205b is a signal line for connecting only the paper feed connector 105 and the main body control unit 150, and is a signal line for transmitting connection confirmation data described later. A connection line 206 is a signal line for receiving response data and unit data, which will be described later, from the additional paper feed unit 80 and the additional paper discharge unit 90. A connection line 207 is a signal line for the apparatus main body 101 to transmit command data to be described later to the additional paper supply unit 80 and the additional paper discharge unit 90. The command data is data for causing the additional paper feeding unit 80 and the additional paper discharge unit 90 to perform a specific processing operation. The specific processing operation is, for example, data including a predetermined feeding condition or a predetermined discharge condition and a conveyance speed, and is data for conveying the paper P in the additional paper supply unit 80 or the additional paper discharge unit 90. is there. The unit data is data transmitted from the additional paper feeding unit 80 and the additional paper discharge unit 90 to the apparatus main body 101 other than response data.

  The head 1 is a line head having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape elongated in the main scanning direction (described later). Black ink is ejected from the head 1. The head 1 is supported by the housing 101 a via the head holder 5. The head holder 5 holds the head 1 so that a predetermined gap suitable for recording is formed between the head 1 and the platen 6. A plurality of ejection openings for ejecting ink are opened on the lower surface (ejection surface 1 a) of the head 1.

  The main body paper feed tray 10 is detachable from the housing 101a. A plurality of paper sheets P can be stored in the main body paper feed tray 10.

  The transport mechanism (second transport mechanism) 40 includes two guide portions 9 a and 9 b that guide the paper P, the platen 6, and the paper feed roller 12. The platen 6 is a flat plate member and is disposed at a position facing the ejection surface 1 a of the head 1. The paper feed roller 12 sends out the uppermost paper P in the main body paper feed tray 10.

  The two guide portions 9a and 9b are arranged with the platen 6 interposed therebetween in the transport direction. The guide portion 9a on the upstream side in the transport direction includes three guides 13a to 13c and two feed roller pairs 14 and 15. The two feed roller pairs 14 and 15 are arranged at appropriate intervals along the conveyance direction of the paper P. The guide 13a extends from the paper feed port 106 to the pair of feed rollers 14, and constitutes a transport path between them. The guide 13b extends from the main body sheet feeding tray 10 to a middle portion of the guide 13a, and constitutes a conveyance path between them. The guide 13c extends from the feed roller pair 14 to the feed roller pair 15 in the vicinity of the platen 6, and constitutes a conveyance path between them. With this configuration, the guide unit 9 a conveys the paper P from the main body paper feed tray 10 and the paper P from the additional paper feed unit 80 toward the platen 6.

  The guide portion 9b on the downstream side in the transport direction includes three guides 19a to 19c, three feed roller pairs 16 to 18, and a switching mechanism 20. The three feed roller pairs 16 to 18 are arranged at appropriate intervals along the transport direction of the paper P. The guide 19a extends from the feed roller pair 16 to the feed roller pair 17, and constitutes a transport path between them. The guide 19b extends from the pair of feed rollers 17 to the paper discharge port 107, and constitutes a conveyance path between them. The guide 19c extends from an intermediate portion of the guide 19b to the feed roller pair 18 and constitutes a conveyance path between them.

  The switching mechanism 20 is disposed at a connection portion between the guides 19b and 19c, and switches the transport path of the paper P. The switching mechanism 20 includes a swing member 20a that swings between a first position (position shown in FIG. 2A) and a second position (position shown in FIG. 2B). And a drive unit 20b (see FIG. 3) for driving the member 20a. In the switching mechanism 20, the drive unit 20 b is controlled by the main body control unit 150, and when the paper P is discharged to the paper discharge unit 4, the swing member 20 a is disposed at the first position, and the paper P is transferred to the additional paper discharge unit 90. When discharging, the swinging member 20a is disposed at the second position. With this configuration, the guide unit 9 b conveys the paper P after image formation toward the paper discharge unit 4 and the additional paper discharge unit 90.

  Here, the sub-scanning direction is a direction parallel and horizontal to the transport direction in which the paper P is transported by the feed roller pairs 15 and 16, and the main scanning direction is a direction parallel to the horizontal plane and orthogonal to the sub-scanning direction. It is.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the paper discharge unit 4 is constituted by a concave portion formed on the top plate of the housing 101a. A support plate 4 a that supports the discharged paper P is provided at the bottom of the concave portion (paper discharge portion) 4. The support plate 4a is connected to the top plate of the housing 101a via a shaft 4b, and is between an upper limit position (position shown in FIG. 2 (a)) and a lower limit position (position shown in FIG. 2 (b)). It is comprised so that rotation is possible. The upper limit position is a position where the upstream end (tip) in the transport direction of the support plate 4a is located at the uppermost position, and the angle formed by the support plate 4a and the bottom surface of the recess 4 is a predetermined angle. At this time, the tip of the support plate 4a and the recess formed on the side surface (right side in FIG. 2) of the recess 4 are engaged, and the upward movement of the tip of the support plate 4a is restricted. The lower limit position is a position where the tip of the support plate 4a is located at the lowest position, and the angle formed by the support plate 4a and the bottom surface of the recess 4 is smaller than that at the upper limit position. In the lower limit position, a spring 4c described later is in a most compressed state. A spring 4c is disposed between the support plate 4a and the bottom surface of the recess 4 to urge the support plate 4a upward. That is, as the number of sheets P supported by the support plate 4a increases, that is, as the weight on the support plate 4a increases, the spring 4c contracts and the support plate 4a moves to the lower limit position.

  The sensor 8 is a proximity sensor and is fixed to the bottom of the recess 4. The sensor 8 detects the tip of the support plate 4a when the support plate 4a is between the upper limit position and the lower limit position and is slightly below the lower limit position, and outputs a detection signal to the main body control unit 150. Accordingly, the main body control unit 150 can determine whether or not the paper P discharged to the paper discharge unit 4 has reached a predetermined amount based on the detection signal. Here, the predetermined amount is an amount slightly smaller than the maximum amount of paper that can be stored in the paper discharge unit 4. The predetermined amount is set to such an amount that the fall of the apparatus main body 101 can be reduced even when the apparatus main body 101 is used without attaching the stabilizer 190 to the apparatus main body 101. The predetermined amount is not limited to a slightly smaller amount than the maximum amount of paper P that can be accommodated in the paper discharge unit 4, and may be half or one third of the maximum capacity. The sensor 8 is not limited to a proximity sensor. For example, a sensor that contacts the uppermost sheet P stacked on the support plate 4a and swings according to the amount of the sheet P on the support plate 4a and detects the amount of rotation of the lever. Good. Moreover, the sensor which detects the rotation amount of the support plate 4a may be sufficient.

  The sensor 7 is a displacement sensor and is fixed to the upper part of the main body paper feed tray 10. The sensor 7 detects the height of the paper P stored in the main body paper feed tray 10, and outputs a detection signal to the main body control unit 150. Accordingly, the main body control unit 150 can determine the number of sheets P in the main body paper feed tray 10 based on the detection signal. That is, the main body control unit 150 can determine the presence / absence and quantity of the paper P in the main body paper feed tray 10 based on the detection signal of the sensor 7. The sensor 7 is not limited to a displacement sensor. For example, a plate on which the paper P is stacked and a mechanism for swinging the plate may be further provided, and the quantity of the paper P in the main body paper feed tray 10 may be calculated from the rotation amount of the plate.

  The apparatus main body 101 is detachably provided with an ink cartridge (not shown) that stores black ink supplied to the head 1. This ink cartridge is connected to the head 1 via a tube (not shown) and supplies ink to the head 1.

  Next, the extension sheet feeding unit 80 will be described. Since the three additional paper feed units 80 in the present embodiment have the same configuration, only one additional paper feed unit 80 will be described.

  The extension paper feeding unit 80 has a housing 81 as shown in FIG. In the casing 81, a paper feed tray 82, a guide unit 84, a sensor 85, a paper feed control unit 170, and the like are arranged. The paper feed tray (mounting unit) 82 is detachable from the housing 81. A plurality of sheets P can be stored in the sheet feed tray 82. The paper feed control unit 170 controls the operations of the paper feed roller 83 and the feed roller pair 89 of the guide unit 84 based on a command (command data) from the main body control unit 150.

  The sensor 85 is a displacement sensor and is fixed to the upper part of the paper feed tray 82. The height of the paper P stored in the paper feed tray 82 is detected, and a detection signal (unit data) is output to the main body control unit 150 via the paper feed control unit 170. Accordingly, the main body control unit 150 can determine the number of sheets P in the sheet feed tray 82 based on the detection signal. The sensor 85 is not limited to a displacement sensor, like the sensor 7.

  A first paper feed connector 86 is provided on the bottom plate of the housing 81. The first paper feed connector 86 is disposed at a position that coincides with the paper feed connector 105 in the horizontal direction. A second paper feed connector 87 is provided on the top plate of the housing 81. The second paper feed connector 86 is disposed at a position that coincides with the first paper feed connector 86 in the horizontal direction. The second paper feed connector 87 can be connected to both the paper feed connector 105 and the first paper feed connector 86 of another extension paper feed unit 80. As shown in FIG. 3, the first paper feed connector 86 is connected to the paper feed controller 170 via connection lines 266 to 268, and the second paper feed connector 87 is fed via connection lines 265 to 267. It is connected to the paper control unit 170. Each of the connection lines 266 and 267 is a signal line that mutually connects the first paper feed connector 86, the second paper feed connector 87, and the paper feed control unit 170. On the other hand, the connection line 265 is a signal line that connects only the second paper feed connector 87 and the paper feed control unit 170, and the connection line 268 connects the first paper feed connector 86 and the paper feed control unit 170. It is a signal line that connects only between the two.

  When the second paper feed connector 87 is connected to the paper feed connector 105 of the apparatus main body 101, the connection lines 265 to 267 are connected to the connection lines 205b, 206, and 207 of the apparatus main body 101, respectively. On the other hand, when the second paper feed connector 87 is connected to the first paper feed connector 86 of another extension paper feed unit 80, the connection lines 266 and 267 are connection lines 266 and 267 of the other extension paper feed unit 80. Are connected to each other, and the connection line 265 is connected to the connection line 268 of the other additional sheet feeding unit 80.

  With the above configuration, even in the additional paper feed unit 80 connected to the apparatus main body 101 in the second and subsequent stages, the connection lines 266 and 267 of the additional paper feed unit 80 in the previous stage to the additional paper feed unit 80. And various types of data such as response data can be transmitted to and received from the apparatus main body 101. On the other hand, connection confirmation data (described later) is transmitted / received only between the apparatus main body 101 and the additional sheet feeding unit 80 connected to the apparatus main body 101 in the first stage and between the adjacent additional sheet feeding units 80. It can be performed.

  In addition, a sheet discharge port 81 a through which the sheet P fed to the apparatus main body 101 or another additional sheet feeding unit 80 passes is formed on the top plate of the casing 81. Formed on the bottom plate of the housing 81 is a paper feed port 81b through which the paper P fed from the additional paper feed unit 80 positioned below passes.

  A hole 81 c is formed in the bottom plate of the housing 81. The hole 81c is arranged at a position that coincides with the hole 104 in the horizontal direction. A mounting sensor 79 (see FIG. 3) is provided in the hole 81c. The mounting sensor 79 is connected to the paper feed control unit 170. When a projection 195 of a stabilizer 190 described later enters the hole 81c, the mounting sensor 79 detects the projection 195 and detects a detection signal (via the paper feed control unit 170). Unit data) is output to the main body control unit 150. This makes it possible to detect whether the stabilizer 190 is attached to the lower part of the apparatus main body 101.

  The guide unit (first transport mechanism) 84 includes two guides 88 a and 88 b, a paper feed roller 83, and a feed roller pair 89. The paper feed roller 83 sends out the uppermost paper P in the paper feed tray 82. The feed roller pair 89 is disposed in the vicinity of the paper discharge port 81a so that the paper P can be conveyed toward the paper discharge port 81a. The guide 88a extends from the paper feed port 81b to the feed roller pair 89 and constitutes a transport path between them. The guide 88b extends from the paper feed tray 82 to an intermediate portion of the guide 88a, and constitutes a conveyance path between them. With this configuration, the guide unit 84 transports the paper P from the paper feed tray 82 and the paper P from the other additional paper feed unit 80 toward the apparatus main body 101. In other words, the guide unit 84 conveys the paper P from below to above.

  The stabilizer 190 is configured to be attachable at the lower part of the apparatus main body 101 or the lower part of the additional paper feeding unit 80 attached to the apparatus main body 101. The stabilizer 190 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped casing 191 that extends outward from the outer shape of the apparatus main body 101 and the additional sheet feeding unit 80 in the horizontal direction. The top plate of the stabilizer 190 is provided with a recess 192 as shown in FIG. The recess 192 is formed to be slightly larger than the apparatus main body 101 and the additional sheet feeding unit 80 in the horizontal direction. When the stabilizer 190 is attached to the lower part of the apparatus main body 101 or the lower part of the additional sheet feeding unit 80 attached to the apparatus main body 101, the recess 192 is configured to overlap the apparatus main body 101 in the vertical direction. The apparatus main body 101 or the additional paper supply unit 80 is inserted into the recess 192, and the stabilizer 190 and the apparatus main body 101 or the additional paper supply unit 80 are fixed by a lock mechanism (not shown). By attaching such a stabilizer 190 to the apparatus main body 101 or the additional paper feeding unit 80, the printer 100 is stabilized and hardly falls down. A protrusion 195 is formed on the top plate of the recess 192. The protrusion 195 is disposed at a position corresponding to the hole 81 c and the hole 104 of the apparatus main body 101 in the horizontal direction, and has a shape that can be inserted into the hole 81 c and the hole 104.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the apparatus main body 101 of the printer 100 will be described below with reference to FIG. The operation of the apparatus main body 101 is controlled by the main body control unit 150. As shown in FIG. 4, the main body control unit 150 includes a microcomputer 211 disposed on a circuit board as a main component, and is configured by adding various circuits to the microcomputer 211. The microcomputer 211 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 212, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 213, and a RAM (Random Access Memory) 214 that perform control operations according to a preset program. The ROM 213 stores various programs executed by the CPU 212.

  The RAM 214 temporarily stores data, and includes an identifier storage unit 214a, a transmission count storage unit 214b, a condition setting unit 214c, a stabilizer mounting storage unit 214d, and a variable storage unit 214e.

  The identifier storage unit 214a includes a lower identifier storage unit 250 and an upper identifier storage unit 251, and identifiers corresponding to the number of stages in multistage connection are stored in advance. Specifically, in the lower identifier storage unit 250, the number of stages indicating the number of stages installed in the multistage connection and the extension sheet feeding unit 80 to be stored in the extension sheet feeding unit 80 corresponding to the number of stages are stored. An identifier is stored in advance. Further, the upper identifier storage unit 251 stores in advance the number of stages in the multistage connection and the identifier of the additional paper discharge unit 90 to be stored in the additional paper discharge unit 90 corresponding to the number of stages.

  In addition, the identifier storage unit 214a, among the connection lines 205a and 205b used for transmitting the connection confirmation data to the additional paper supply unit 80 and the additional paper discharge unit 90, performs connection confirmation in the device-side identifier association process described later. The output destination status information indicating the connection line that is the data output destination, the output connection line information that indicates the connection line that was previously output as the connection confirmation data, and the lower identifier storage unit 250 and the upper identifier storage unit 251 Connection unit presence / absence information indicating the presence / absence of a connection unit corresponding to the stored identifier is stored.

  The number-of-transmissions storage unit 214b stores the number n of device-side connection confirmation data transmission processes (n is a natural number: hereinafter, also referred to as the number of transmissions n), and the number of transmissions n is “1” in the initial state. Is set to The number of transmissions n is set to an initial state when the power is turned off.

  The condition setting unit 214c includes a predetermined condition storage unit 252, a user setting storage unit 253, and a conveyance speed storage unit 254. The predetermined condition storage unit 252 stores predetermined predetermined feeding conditions and predetermined discharge conditions. In the present embodiment, the predetermined feeding condition is that the main sheet feeding tray 10 and the one or more additional sheet feeding trays 80 of the attached one or more additional sheet feeding units 80 are fed in order from the sheet P in the upper sheet feeding tray. It is a condition. The predetermined feeding condition is an example of the feeding condition of the present invention. The predetermined discharge condition is a condition in which the sheets P are discharged in order from the lower side of the main body discharge unit 4 and the discharge unit 94 of the one or more additional discharge units 90 mounted. The predetermined discharge condition is an example of the discharge condition of the present invention.

  The user setting storage unit 253 stores the order of paper feed trays that preferentially feed the paper P and the order of paper discharge units that preferentially eject the paper P by a predetermined operation by the user. Specifically, based on a setting signal indicating a specified feeding condition transmitted from an external device (not shown) such as a PC by the user, the order of the paper feeding trays that preferentially feed the paper P is stored, Alternatively, the order of the paper discharge units that preferentially discharge the paper P is stored based on the setting signal indicating the specified discharge condition. The transport speed storage unit 254 stores a speed at which the paper P is transported. Specifically, two types of a first transport speed and a second transport speed smaller than the first transport speed are stored. The condition setting unit 214c selects and stores the condition to be executed among the conditions stored in the storage units 252 to 254. The condition is set by storing the condition in the condition setting unit 214c.

  The stabilizer mounting storage unit 214d stores a mounting flag indicating whether or not the stabilizer 190 is mounted. Specifically, while the detection signals are output from the mounting sensors 78 and 79, the mounting flag is turned on. The variable storage unit 214e stores a variable x described later (x is a natural number: hereinafter also referred to as a variable x), and the variable x is set to “1” in the initial state. Note that the variable x is set to the initial state when the power is turned off.

  The CPU 212 is connected with a head control circuit 215, a conveyance control circuit 216, a connection detection circuit 217, an apparatus communication control circuit 218, a paper quantity detection circuit 219, a paper discharge amount detection circuit 220, and a buzzer control circuit 221. The CPU 212 controls them.

  The head control circuit 215 controls the head 1 based on a recording command transferred from an external device such as a PC. The transport control circuit 216 controls the paper feed roller 12, the feed roller pairs 14 to 18, and the drive unit 20 b so that the paper P is transported from the main body paper feed tray 10 to the paper discharge unit 4. The connection detection circuit 217 receives a detection signal from the mounting sensor 78.

  The device communication control circuit 218 includes device-side connection confirmation data transmission processing (hereinafter referred to as connection confirmation data transmission processing), command transmission processing, device-side response data reception processing (hereinafter referred to as response data reception processing), and unit data reception described later. Process. The connection confirmation data transmission process outputs connection confirmation data, which will be described later, to the connection lines 205a and 205b, respectively, so that these data are connected to the first paper feed unit 80 and the first paper delivery unit connected to the first paper. 90 is a process to transmit to 90. The connection confirmation data transmission process is a process for confirming the installation of the additional paper feed unit 80 or the additional paper discharge unit 90 corresponding to the number of stages in the multistage connection. The command transmission process is a process for transmitting the command data to the additional paper supply unit 80 and the additional paper discharge unit 90 by outputting the command data to the connection line 207. The data output to the connection line 207 by the apparatus communication control circuit 218 is sent to all the additional paper feed units 80 via the paper feed connector 105 and to all the additional paper discharge units via the paper discharge connector 103. 90 is transmitted. The connection confirmation data output to the connection lines 205a and 205b by the apparatus communication control circuit 218 is sent to the additional paper feed unit 80 connected to the first stage via the paper feed connector 105 and to the paper discharge connector 103. Is sent only to the additional paper discharge unit 90 connected in the first stage.

  The response data reception process and the unit data reception process are processes for receiving the response data and the unit data transmitted from the additional paper supply unit 80 or the additional paper discharge unit 90 via the connection line 206, respectively.

  The sheet quantity detection circuit 219 receives a detection signal from the sensor 7. The paper discharge amount detection circuit 220 receives a detection signal from the sensor 8. The buzzer control circuit 221 controls the buzzer 75 so as to emit a sound.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the additional paper feeding unit 80 will be described below with reference to FIG. The operation of the extension sheet feeding unit 80 is controlled by the main body control unit 150 via the sheet feeding control unit 170.

  The operation of the additional paper feeding unit 80 is controlled by the paper feeding control unit 170 as shown in FIG. The paper feed control unit 170 includes a microcomputer 171 disposed on a circuit board as a main component, and is configured by adding various circuits thereto. The microcomputer 171 includes a CPU 172 that performs control operations according to a preset program, a ROM 173, and a RAM 174. The ROM 173 stores various programs executed by the CPU 172.

  The RAM 174 temporarily stores data, and includes an identifier storage unit 174a and a flag storage unit 174b. The identifier storage unit 174a stores an identifier included in the connection confirmation data transmitted from the main body control unit 150. In addition, the flag storage unit 174b stores a transfer flag indicating whether or not a transfer process described later has been performed. The transfer flag is turned off in the initial state. When the power is turned off, the transfer flag is turned off.

  Further, a paper feed control circuit 175, a connection detection circuit 176, a unit communication control circuit 177, and a paper quantity detection circuit 179 are connected to the CPU 172, and the CPU 172 controls them. The control of the paper feed control circuit 175 of the CPU 172 is mainly executed based on command data transmitted from the apparatus main body 1012.

  The paper feed control circuit 175 controls the paper feed roller 83 and the feed roller pair 89 so that the paper P is fed from the additional paper feed unit 80 to the apparatus main body 101. The connection detection circuit 176 receives a detection signal from the mounting sensor 79. The sheet quantity detection circuit 179 receives a detection signal from the sensor 85.

  The unit communication control circuit 177 includes unit side connection confirmation data reception processing (hereinafter referred to as connection confirmation data reception processing), command data reception processing, unit side response data transmission processing (hereinafter referred to as response data transmission processing), unit data transmission processing and transfer. Process. The connection confirmation data reception process is a process of receiving connection confirmation data transmitted from the apparatus main body 101 or the adjacent additional paper feed unit 80 via the connection line 265. The command data reception process is a process for receiving command data transmitted from the apparatus main body 101 via the connection line 267. Each of the response data transmission process and the unit data transmission process is a process of transmitting the response data and the unit data to the apparatus main body 101 by outputting the response data and the unit data to the connection line 266.

  The transfer process is a process of transferring the connection confirmation data to the subsequent additional sheet feeding unit 80 by outputting the connection confirmation data to the connection line 268. Note that the data output to the connection line 268 by the unit communication control circuit 177 is transmitted only to the adjacent succeeding additional paper feed unit 80 via the first paper feed connector 86. In other words, the connection confirmation data cannot be directly received from the apparatus main body 101 for the additional paper feeding units 80 connected to the apparatus main body 101 in the second and subsequent stages. Only the connection confirmation data that has been transferred can be received.

  Next, the recording operation of the printer 100 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 6, first, in step F1, the printer 100 (device main body 101) is turned on. Then, the CPU 212 performs apparatus-side identifier association processing (described later) shown in FIG. 7A, and the CPU 172 performs unit-side identifier association processing (described later) shown in FIG. 7B (F2). . By performing the apparatus-side and unit-side identifier association processing, it is recognized whether n stages (three stages in the present embodiment) of the additional sheet feeding units 80 are mounted on the apparatus main body 101. The printer 100 according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which three stages of additional paper feeding units 80 are mounted on the apparatus main body 101 and no stabilizer 190 is mounted. Since the apparatus main body 101 is not equipped with the additional paper discharge unit 90, all the paper P conveyed from the paper feed trays 10 and 82 is discharged to the main body paper discharge unit 4.

  In step F3, the CPU 212 determines whether a recording command has been received from an external device. If the recording command is not received, the process waits. If the recording command is received, the process proceeds to Step F4. In step F4, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the additional sheet feeding unit 80 is one stage or less. If it exceeds one stage, the process proceeds to step F5, and if it is one stage or less, the process proceeds to step F8. In step F5, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the additional sheet feeding unit 80 has three stages or less. If it exceeds three stages, the process proceeds to step F6, and if it is three stages or less, the process proceeds to step F7. In step F <b> 6, the CPU 212 controls the buzzer 75 via the buzzer control circuit 221. When the buzzer 75 emits a sound, the CPU 212 informs the user that four or more stages of the additional paper feeding units 80 are mounted and there is a risk of falling.

  In step F7, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the stabilizer 190 is attached. That is, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the mounting flag is on based on the detection signals from the mounting sensors 78 and 79. At this time, if the mounting flag is on, the process proceeds to step F8, and if the mounting flag is off, the process proceeds to step F14.

  In step F8, the CPU 212 determines whether the user setting is performed. That is, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the designated feeding condition is stored in the user setting storage unit 253. If it is not stored, the process proceeds to step F9, and if it is stored, the designated feeding condition is used. This is stored in the condition setting unit 214c (setting), and the process proceeds to Step F10. In step F <b> 9, the CPU 212 stores (sets) in the condition setting unit 214 c that the predetermined feeding condition stored in the predetermined condition storage unit 252 is used. In step F10, the CPU 212 stores (sets) in the condition setting unit 214c that the first transport speed is used as the transport speed of the paper P to be transported under the set feeding conditions.

  Next, in step F11, the CPU 212 controls the conveyance control circuit 216 so that the conveyance of the paper P is started based on the conditions of the feeding and conveyance speed set (stored in the condition setting unit 214c). Then, the apparatus communication control circuit 218 is controlled so as to perform a command transmission process to the corresponding additional sheet feeding unit 80. At this time, when the unit communication control circuit 177 receives command data, the CPU 172 controls the paper feed control circuit 175 based on the contents of the command data. In this way, the paper is transported from the desired paper feed tray.

  Next, in step F12, the CPU 212 controls the head 1 via the head control circuit 215 so that an image is recorded on the conveyed paper P. In this way, ink is ejected from the head 1 and recording on the paper P is executed. At this time, the paper P on which the image is recorded is discharged to the paper discharge unit 4.

  Next, in step F13, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the recording operation on the paper P has been completed. If it has not been completed, the process returns to step F11. If it has been completed, the flow of the recording operation ends.

  In step F14, even if the designated feeding condition is stored in the user setting storage unit 253, the CPU 212 ignores the designated feeding condition, and sets the predetermined feeding condition stored in the predetermined condition storage unit 252. Use is stored (set) in the condition setting unit 214c. In other words, the CPU 212 selects a predetermined feeding condition stored in the predetermined condition storage unit 252 instead of the designated feeding condition in the user setting storage unit 253, and stores it in the condition setting unit 214c. Next, in step F15, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the number of sheets in the n-th (lowermost) additional sheet feeding unit 80 is greater than or equal to a predetermined amount. If it is less than the predetermined amount, the process proceeds to step F16. If it is greater than or equal to the predetermined amount, the process proceeds to step F17. In step F16, the CPU 212 causes the condition setting unit 214c to store (set) that the second transport speed is used as the transport speed of the paper P to be transported under the feeding conditions set (stored in the condition setting unit 214c). ), And proceeds to Step F18. In step F17, the CPU 212 stores (sets) in the condition setting unit 214c that the first transport speed is used as the transport speed of the transported paper P under the set feeding conditions, and the process proceeds to step F18.

  In step F18, the CPU 212 refers to the detection result of the paper quantity detection circuit 219 to determine whether or not there is paper P in the main body paper feed tray 10. If there is, the process proceeds to step F19, and if not, step F22. Proceed to In step F <b> 19, the CPU 212 controls the transport control circuit 216 so that the transport of the paper P is started based on the set feed and transport speed conditions. In this way, the sheet is conveyed from the main body sheet feeding tray 10. Next, in step F20, the same control as in step F12 is performed. In step F21, the same control as in step F13 is performed. If not completed, the process returns to step F18. If completed, the flow of the recording operation ends.

  In step F22, the CPU 212 determines whether n indicating the number of loading stages of the additional sheet feeding unit 80 and the variable x are the same. If they are the same, the process proceeds to step F28, and if they are different, the step F23 is performed. Proceed to In the present embodiment, since the number of installed stages of the additional sheet feeding unit 80 is 3, the process proceeds to step F28 when the variable x becomes 3.

  In step F23, the CPU 212 determines whether or not there is paper P in the paper feed tray 82 of the x-th stage additional paper feed unit 80. If there is, the process proceeds to step F24, and if not, the process proceeds to step F27. In step F24, the CPU 212 performs a command transmission process to the x-th additional sheet feeding unit 80 so that the conveyance of the sheet P is started based on the set conditions of the feeding and conveying speed. The device communication control circuit 218 is controlled. At this time, when the unit communication control circuit 177 receives command data, the CPU 172 controls the paper feed control circuit 175 based on the contents of the command data. In this way, the sheet is transported from the x-th stage additional sheet feeding unit 80.

  Next, in step F25, the same control as in step F12 is performed. In step F26, the same control as in step F13 is performed. If not completed, the process returns to step F23, and if completed, the flow of the recording operation ends. In step F27, the CPU 212 adds 1 to the variable x stored in the variable storage unit 214e, and the process returns to step F22.

  In step F28, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the number of sheets of the n-th (lowermost) additional sheet feeding unit 80 is equal to or larger than a predetermined amount. If it is equal to or larger than the predetermined amount, the process proceeds to step F29. When it is less than the fixed amount, the process proceeds to Step F32. In step F29, the CPU 212 performs a command transmission process to the n-th additional sheet feeding unit 80 so that the conveyance of the sheet P is started based on the set conditions of feeding and conveying speed. The device communication control circuit 218 is controlled. At this time, when the unit communication control circuit 177 receives command data, the CPU 172 controls the paper feed control circuit 175 based on the contents of the command data. In this way, the sheet is transported from the n-th stage additional sheet feeding unit 80. Next, in step F30, the same control as in step F12 is performed. In step F31, the same control as in step F13 is performed. If not completed, the process returns to step F28, and if completed, the flow of the recording operation ends.

  In step F32, the CPU 212 determines whether or not there is paper P in the paper feed tray 82 of the n-th stage additional paper feed unit 80. If there is, the process proceeds to step F33, and if not, the process proceeds to step F34. In step F33, the CPU 212 stores (sets) in the condition setting unit 214c that the second transport speed is used as the transport speed of the paper P to be transported under the set feeding conditions, and the process proceeds to step F29. If there is a predetermined amount or more of paper P in the paper feed tray 82 of the n-th stage additional paper feed unit 80, the n-th stage additional paper feed unit 80 becomes a weight, and the apparatus main body 101 may fall over. However, when the number of sheets P in the sheet feed tray 82 of the n-th stage additional sheet feeding unit 80 is less than a predetermined amount, the center of gravity of the entire apparatus is positioned significantly upward, so that the apparatus main body 101 may fall over. There is a fear. The predetermined amount here is set to a sheet amount that can reduce the fall of the apparatus main body 101 even when the stabilizer 190 is not attached. The predetermined amount is set to, for example, half of the upper limit value that can be accommodated in the paper feed tray 82. The predetermined amount is not limited to half, and may be 1/3 or 2/3, for example. In step F <b> 34, the CPU 212 controls the buzzer 75 via the buzzer control circuit 221. When the buzzer 75 emits a sound, the CPU 212 notifies the user that there is no paper P in all the paper feed trays 10 and 82.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 7, the apparatus side and unit side identifier association processing will be described below.

  First, the apparatus-side identifier association process will be described with reference to FIG. The CPU 212 stores either “upper connection line 205a” or “lower connection line 205b” in the output destination status information of the identifier storage unit 214a, and outputs the stored connection line to the output connection of the identifier storage unit 214a. It adds to line information (FA41). Next, based on the output destination status information stored in the identifier storage unit 214a and the transmission count n stored in the transmission count storage unit 214b, the CPU 212 determines the connection confirmation data transmitted for the nth time. Then, the identifier of the nth stage stored in the identifier storage unit 214a is included (FA42). More specifically, when the output destination status stored in the identifier storage unit 214a is “upper connection line 205a”, n stored in the upper identifier storage unit 251 corresponding to the upper connection line 205a. The identifier corresponding to the stage is included in the n-th connection confirmation data. On the other hand, when the output destination status stored in the identifier storage unit 214a is “lower connection line 205b”, it corresponds to the nth stage stored in the lower identifier storage unit 250 corresponding to the lower connection line 205b. To be included in the n-th connection confirmation data.

  After the process of step FA42, the CPU 212 controls the apparatus communication control circuit 218 so that the n-th connection confirmation data transmission process is performed (FA43). Next, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the device communication control circuit 218 has received response data corresponding to the connection confirmation data transmission process (FA44). When it is determined that the response data has been received (FA44: YES), the CPU 212 determines that there is a connection unit corresponding to the identifier transmitted by the n-th connection confirmation data transmission process, and stores the identifier in the identifier storage unit 214a. The connected unit presence / absence information is updated (FA45). Then, the CPU 212 adds 1 to the number of transmissions n stored in the number-of-transmissions storage unit 214b (FA46), and returns to the processing of step FA42. Thereafter, the CPU 212 repeats the processing from step FA42 to step FA46 until it is determined in step FA44 that response data corresponding to the connection confirmation data transmission processing has not been received.

  If it is determined in step FA44 that the response data corresponding to the connection confirmation data transmission process has not been received (FA44: NO), the CPU 212 uses the connection line 205a used for transmitting the connection confirmation data to the connection unit. 205b, it is determined whether there is a connection line that is not stored in the output connection line information of the identifier storage unit 214a (FA47). If it is determined that there is a connection line that is not stored in the output connection line information (FA47: YES), the CPU 212 selects a connection line that is not stored in the output connection line information as the output destination status of the identifier storage unit 214a. The information is stored in the information, and the stored connection line is added to the output connection line information in the identifier storage unit 214a (FA48). Next, the number of transmissions stored in the transmission number storage unit 214b is initialized to “1” (FA49), and the process returns to step FA42. Thereafter, the CPU 212 repeats the processing from step FA42 to step FA46 until it is determined in step FA44 that response data corresponding to the connection confirmation data transmission processing has not been received.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step FA47 that there is no connection line that is not stored in the output connection line information in the identifier storage unit 214a among the connection lines 205a and 205b (FA47: NO), this process is performed. finish.

  Next, the unit-side identifier association process will be described with reference to FIG. The unit-side identifier association process of the additional paper discharge unit 90 is substantially the same as the unit-side identifier association process of the additional paper feed unit 80.

  First, the CPU 172 determines whether or not the unit communication control circuit 177 has received connection confirmation data within a predetermined time (FB41). When it is determined that the connection confirmation data has been received (FB41: YES), the CPU 172 determines whether or not the transfer flag stored in the flag storage unit 174b is in an on state (FB42). When it is determined that the transfer flag is not in the on state (FB42: NO), the CPU 172 stores the identifier included in the connection confirmation data in the identifier storage unit 174a (FB43), and the response data transmission process is performed. Next, the unit communication control circuit 177 is controlled (FB44). Next, the CPU 172 turns on the transfer flag state stored in the flag storage unit 174b (FB45), and returns to the process of step FB41.

  On the other hand, if it is determined in step FB42 that the transfer flag is in the on state (B42), a transfer process is performed so that the received connection confirmation data is transferred to the adjacent subsequent additional sheet feeding unit 80. The communication control circuit 177 is controlled (FB46), and the process returns to step FB41. As a result, even if connection confirmation data is received by the unit communication control circuit 177 after the response data transmission processing, the response data corresponding to the connection confirmation data is not transmitted to the apparatus main body 101, and the adjacent subsequent stage. Are transferred to the additional sheet feeding unit 80.

  On the other hand, in the processing of step FB41, when it is determined that the connection confirmation data has not been received within a predetermined time, that is, when the recognition of the installed additional paper supply unit 80 and the additional paper discharge unit 90 is completed (FB41: If NO, this process ends.

  As described above, according to the apparatus main body 101 included in the printer 100 of the present embodiment, when the stabilizer 190 as the support member is not attached, the paper P is set by setting a predetermined feeding condition. The center of gravity of the entire printer 100 is restrained from moving from the lower side to the upper side with the conveyance of. In other words, the paper P is transported so that the center of gravity of the entire printer 100 is kept low. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the printer 100 from overturning. More specifically, when the stabilizer 190 is not attached, the designated feeding condition is canceled even if the designated feeding condition is set by the user, and the predetermined feeding condition (from the upper feed tray) is canceled. Sheet P is conveyed). By transporting the paper P from the upper paper feed tray, the center of gravity of the entire printer 100 is kept lower than when the paper P is transported from the lower paper feed tray. For this reason, it is possible to suppress a significant upward movement of the center of gravity of the printer 100 accompanying the movement of the paper P. As a result, the printer 100 can be prevented from falling.

  The printer 100 is configured such that an additional sheet feeding unit 80 having the same configuration can be mounted on the apparatus main body 101 for common parts. The user attaches one or more additional paper feeding units 80 according to the usage environment. At this time, in a state where two or more additional paper feeding units 80 are mounted, the mounting of the stabilizer 190 is recommended by a manual or the like. Here, when only one additional paper feeding unit 80 is installed, the possibility of falling or the like is extremely small even if the stabilizer 190 is not particularly installed, so that the stabilizer 190 is also detachable. Therefore, it is possible that the printer is used in a state where two or more additional paper feeding units 80 are mounted without mounting the stabilizer 190. In such a case, for example, the paper P is used starting from the paper P of the lowermost additional paper feeding unit 80, and after the paper P is used up, the paper P is transported so that the paper P of the other additional paper feeding unit 80 is used. Then, since the lower part of the whole printer 100 becomes light, the center of gravity of the whole printer becomes significantly high, and it becomes easy to fall down. However, in the present invention, since the conveyance control as described above is performed, the printer 100 is prevented from being overturned.

  When the paper P in the n-th (lowermost) paper feed tray 82 is less than a predetermined amount, the setting of the paper P transport speed is changed to the second transport speed in steps F16 and F33. It is possible to suppress vibration due to the conveyance of the. For this reason, it is possible to more effectively suppress the overturn of the printer 100.

  As a modification, the additional sheet feeding unit 80 may be mounted in four or more stages. In steps F15 and F28, when the number of sheets P in the n-th sheet feeding tray 82 is less than a predetermined amount, an error may be notified without conveying the sheets P. Thereby, it is possible to further prevent the printer 100 from overturning.

  Next, an inkjet printer 100 that is a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The printer 100 of the present embodiment is different from the first embodiment only in the control content of the main body control unit 150 (the control flow from step F14 in the recording operation of the first embodiment is different). This is the same as the printer 100 of the embodiment. For this reason, the same thing is shown by the same code | symbol and description is abbreviate | omitted. In the present embodiment, the predetermined feeding condition is a condition for conveying the sheet P so that the number of sheets in the sheet feeding tray 82 of the lowermost (n-th) additional sheet feeding unit 80 does not become less than a predetermined amount. .

  A recording operation of the printer 100 in this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 8, steps G1 to G13 are the same as steps F1 to F13 of the first embodiment. In step G14, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the number of sheets in the n-th stage additional sheet feeding unit 80 is greater than or equal to a predetermined amount. If it is less than the predetermined amount, the process proceeds to step G6. Advances to step G15. At this time, when the process proceeds from step G14 to step G6, the CPU 212 controls the transport control circuit 216 so as not to transport the paper P, and feeds the paper P to the corresponding additional paper feeding unit 80. The device communication control circuit 218 is controlled so as to perform a command transmission process for preventing the transmission. Thereby, the paper is not conveyed from the paper feed tray.

  In step G15, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the designated feed condition is stored in the user setting storage unit 253. If not stored, the process proceeds to step G16, and if stored, the designated feed is stored. The use of the condition is stored (set) in the condition setting unit 214c, and the process proceeds to Step G17. In step G16, the CPU 212 causes the condition setting unit 214c to store (set) the use of the predetermined feeding condition stored in the predetermined condition storage unit 252. In step G17, the CPU 212 stores (sets) in the condition setting unit 214c that the second transport speed is used as the transport speed of the transported paper P under the set feeding conditions.

  In step G18, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the xth priority paper feed tray is the paper feed tray 82 of the n-th (lowermost) additional paper feed unit 80. If the xth priority paper feed tray is the lowermost paper feed tray 82, the process proceeds to Step G26, and if different, the process proceeds to Step G19.

  In step G19, the CPU 212 determines whether or not there is paper P in the xth priority paper feed tray. If there is, the process proceeds to step G20, and if not, the process proceeds to step G23. In step G20, the CPU 212 controls the conveyance control circuit 216 so that the conveyance of the paper P is started based on the set conditions of the feeding and conveyance speed, or to the corresponding additional paper feeding unit 80. The device communication control circuit 218 is controlled to perform command transmission processing. When paper is fed from the paper feed tray 82 of the additional paper feed unit 80, when the unit communication control circuit 177 receives command data, the CPU 172 controls the paper feed control circuit 175 based on the contents of the command data. In this way, the sheet is conveyed from the sheet feeding tray 82 of the additional sheet feeding unit 80. Further, the CPU 212 controls the transport control circuit 216 to transport the paper P transported from the paper feed tray 82 of the additional paper feed unit 80. On the other hand, when paper is fed from the main body paper feed tray 10, the paper P is transported by controlling the transport control circuit 216. In this way, the paper is transported from the xth priority paper feed tray.

  Next, in step G21, the same control as in step G12 is performed. In step G22, the same control as in step G13 is performed. If not completed, the process returns to step G19. If completed, the flow of the recording operation ends.

  In step G23, the CPU 212 adds 1 to the variable x stored in the variable storage unit 214e, and the process proceeds to step G24. In step G24, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the variable x is the same as the number obtained by adding 2 to n. That is, it is determined whether or not the paper P has been transported from all the paper feed trays 10 and 82. If not (if different), the process returns to step G18. Proceed to step G25. In step G25, the CPU 212 controls the buzzer 75 via the buzzer control circuit 221. When the buzzer 75 emits a sound, the CPU 212 indicates that there is no paper P other than the lowermost paper feed tray 82 among all the paper feed trays 10 and 82, and the paper P in the lowermost paper feed tray 82. Informs the user that is a predetermined amount.

  In step G26, the CPU 212 performs command transmission processing to the n-th additional sheet feeding unit 80 so that the conveyance of the sheet P is started based on the set conditions of the feeding and conveying speed. The device communication control circuit 218 is controlled. At this time, when the unit communication control circuit 177 receives command data, the CPU 172 controls the paper feed control circuit 175 based on the contents of the command data. In this way, the sheet conveyance from the sheet feeding tray 82 of the lowermost additional sheet feeding unit 80 is started.

  Next, in step G27, the same control as in step G12 is performed. In step G28, the same control as in step G13 is performed. If not completed, the process proceeds to step G29. If completed, the flow of the recording operation is terminated. In step G29, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the number of sheets in the n-th sheet feeding tray 82 is a predetermined amount. If not, the process returns to step G26, and if it is the predetermined amount, the process returns to step G23. move on. In step G29, the case where the n-th paper quantity is not a predetermined quantity is a case where the paper quantity exceeds a predetermined quantity. This is because, in step G14 prior to step G29, it is already determined whether or not the paper quantity is greater than or equal to the predetermined quantity, and only in the case where the paper quantity is greater than or equal to the predetermined quantity in step G14, step G29 is reached.

  As described above, according to the apparatus main body 101 included in the printer 100 of the present embodiment, a predetermined amount or more of paper P remains in the paper feed tray 82 of the lowermost (n-th) additional paper feed unit 80. In this state, the paper P is transported. That is, the predetermined feeding condition is a condition for transporting the sheet P in a state where a predetermined amount or more of the sheet P remains in the sheet feeding tray 82 of the lowermost (n-th) additional sheet feeding unit 80. By leaving a predetermined amount of paper P in the paper feed tray 82 of the lowermost additional paper feed unit 80, the entire printer 100 is compared with the case where the paper feed tray 82 of the lowermost additional paper feed unit 80 becomes empty. The center of gravity is kept low. For this reason, it is possible to suppress a significant upward movement of the center of gravity of the printer 100 accompanying the movement of the paper P. As a result, the printer 100 can be prevented from falling.

  In step G14, when the paper P in the n-th paper feed tray 82 is less than a predetermined amount, an error is notified to the user, and the paper P is not transported. As a result, the printer 100 can be more effectively prevented from falling. Further, when the stabilizer 190 is not attached, the setting of the conveyance speed of the paper P is set to the second conveyance speed. As a result, it is possible to suppress vibration due to the conveyance of the paper P. For this reason, it is possible to more effectively suppress the overturn of the printer 100.

  As a modification, the additional sheet feeding unit 80 may be mounted in four or more stages. Further, the transport speed may always be set to the first transport speed.

  In the second embodiment described above, the paper P is transported in a state where a predetermined amount of paper P is left in the paper feed tray 82 of the n-th (lowermost) additional paper feed unit 80. The sheet conveyance may be performed in a state in which the total amount of sheets in the sheet feeding tray 82 of the n-th stage and the (n−1) -th added sheet feeding unit 80 is equal to or larger than a predetermined amount. That is, the predetermined feeding condition is a condition for transporting a sheet in a state where the total amount of sheets in the sheet feeding tray 82 of the n-th and (n−1) -th additional sheet feeding units 80 is equal to or larger than a predetermined amount. It is good.

  Since the flow of the recording operation in this modification is substantially the same as that of the second embodiment, only the differences will be described below. From step G1 to step G13, the process proceeds in the same manner as in the second embodiment. In step G14, the CPU 212 determines that the total sheet quantity of the n-th and (n-1) -th added sheet feeding units 80 is equal to or greater than a predetermined amount. If it is less than the predetermined amount, the process proceeds to Step G6, and if it is greater than the predetermined amount, the process proceeds to Step G15. Thereafter, the process proceeds in the same manner as in the second embodiment. In step G18, the CPU 212 feeds the x-th priority sheet feeding tray to the n-th or (n−1) -th additional sheet feeding unit 80. It is determined whether or not it is the tray 82. If the x-th priority paper feed tray is the n-th or (n-1) -th paper feed tray 82, the process proceeds to step G26, and if not, the process proceeds to step G19.

  Thereafter, the process proceeds in the same manner as in the second embodiment. In step G26, the CPU 212 starts transporting the paper P from the xth priority paper feed tray based on the set feed and transport speed conditions. As described above, the apparatus communication control circuit 218 is controlled so as to perform command transmission processing to the additional sheet feeding unit 80 corresponding to the xth priority sheet feeding tray. At this time, when the unit communication control circuit 177 receives command data, the CPU 172 controls the paper feed control circuit 175 based on the contents of the command data. In this way, the paper is transported from the xth priority paper feed tray. Since the x-th priority paper feed tray is the paper feed tray 82 of the n-th or (n−1) -th extension paper feed unit 80, paper is fed from the x-th priority paper feed tray. As a result, the total number of sheets in the n-th and (n−1) -th expansion sheet feeding units 80 is reduced.

  In step G29, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the total number of sheets in the n-th and (n-1) -th stages is a predetermined amount. If not, the process returns to step G26 and the predetermined amount is reached. In that case, the process proceeds to Step G23. That is, paper is fed from the xth priority paper tray until the total paper quantity of the n-th stage and (n−1) -th stage additional paper feeding units 80 becomes equal to or less than a predetermined amount. In step G29, the case where the total paper quantity in the n-th stage and the (n-1) -th stage is not the predetermined amount is a case where the total paper quantity exceeds the predetermined amount. In step G14 prior to step G29, it is already determined whether or not the total paper quantity is greater than or equal to the predetermined amount, and only when the total paper quantity is greater than or equal to the predetermined amount in step G14, the process reaches step G29. is there.

  In this way, sheet conveyance is realized in a state where the total amount of sheets in the n-th stage and (n−1) -th expansion sheet feeding unit 80 is greater than or equal to a predetermined amount. As a result, it is possible to suppress a significant upward movement of the center of gravity of the entire printer. In step G14, when the total number of sheets in the n-th and (n−1) -th sheet feeding trays 82 is less than a predetermined amount, an error is notified to the user, and the sheet P is not transported. . As a result, the printer 100 can be more effectively prevented from falling. Note that the same effect can be obtained with the same configuration as in the second embodiment.

  As another modification of the second embodiment, when the stabilizer 190 is not attached, the paper P is transported so that a predetermined amount or more of the paper P remains in all the paper feed trays 10 and 82. Good. That is, the predetermined feeding condition may be a condition for conveying the paper P so that a predetermined amount or more of the paper P remains in all the paper feed trays 10 and 82. In this case, in step G14, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the number of sheets in all of the paper feed trays 10 and 82 is equal to or larger than a predetermined amount. If YES, go to Step G15. Then, step G18 and steps G26 to G29 are omitted, and in step G19, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the number of sheets in the xth priority sheet feeding tray is a predetermined amount, and is not a predetermined amount (predetermined amount). If it exceeds the predetermined amount, the process proceeds to step G23.

  In this way, paper conveyance is performed in a state where a predetermined amount or more of paper P remains in all the paper feed trays 10 and 82. As a result, it is possible to suppress a significant upward movement of the center of gravity of the entire printer. Note that the same effect can be obtained with the same configuration as in the second embodiment.

  Next, an inkjet printer 300 that is a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 9, the printer 300 according to the present embodiment includes an apparatus main body 101 and two additional paper discharge units 90 configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body 101. The additional paper discharge unit 90 is connected in two stages at the upper part of the apparatus main body 101 and is configured to be able to discharge the paper P from the apparatus main body 101. In addition, about the thing similar to 1st and 2nd embodiment, it shows with the same code | symbol and abbreviate | omits description.

  The additional paper discharge unit 90 will be described below with reference to FIGS. Since the two additional paper discharge units 90 in the present embodiment have the same configuration, only one additional paper discharge unit 90 will be described. The additional paper discharge unit 90 has a housing 91 as shown in FIG. The housing 91 includes a main body 91a and a protruding portion 91b that protrudes leftward from the main body 91a. The main body portion 91a is attached to the top plate on the upper right portion (on the guide portion 9b) of the housing 101a. The main body portion 91a is provided with a guide portion 92, a paper discharge control portion 180, and the like. The protruding portion 91b is provided with a sensor 93, a paper discharge portion 94, and the like. The paper discharge control unit 180 controls the operations of the pair of feed rollers 95 and 96 of the guide unit 92 and the switching mechanism 20 based on a command from the main body control unit 150.

  The paper discharge unit (mounting unit) 94 is configured by a concave portion formed in the protruding portion 91b. A support plate 94 a that supports the discharged paper P is provided at the bottom of the concave portion (paper discharge portion) 94. The support plate 94a is connected to the bottom of the recess 94 via a shaft 94b, and is configured to be rotatable between an upper limit position (position shown in FIG. 6) and a lower limit position. The paper discharge unit 94 has the same configuration as the paper discharge unit 4, and the upper limit position and the lower limit position are the same. A spring 94c is disposed between the support plate 94a and the bottom surface of the recess 94, and urges the support plate 94a upward. That is, as the number of sheets P supported by the support plate 94a increases, that is, according to the weight on the support plate 94a, the spring 94c contracts and the support plate 94a moves to the lower limit position.

  Similar to the sensor 8, the sensor 93 is a proximity sensor and is fixed to the bottom of the recess 94. The sensor 93 detects the tip of the support plate 94a when the support plate 94a is between the upper limit position and the lower limit position and is slightly below the lower limit position, and notifies the main body control unit 150 via the paper discharge control unit 180. A detection signal is output. Accordingly, the main body control unit 150 can determine whether or not the paper P discharged to the paper discharge unit 94 has reached a predetermined amount based on the detection signal. Here, the predetermined amount is an amount slightly smaller than the maximum amount of paper that can be accommodated in the paper discharge unit 94. The predetermined amount is set to such an amount that the fall of the apparatus main body 101 can be reduced even when the apparatus main body 101 is used without attaching the stabilizer 190 to the apparatus main body 101. The predetermined amount is not limited to a slightly smaller amount than the maximum amount of paper P that can be stored in the paper discharge unit 94, and may be half or one third of the maximum allowable number. The sensor 93 is not limited to a proximity sensor. For example, a sensor that contacts the uppermost sheet P stacked on the support plate 94a and swings according to the amount of the sheet P on the support plate 94a and detects the amount of rotation of the lever. Good. Further, it may be a sensor that detects the amount of rotation of the support plate 94a.

  A first paper discharge connector 97 is provided on the top plate of the main body 91a. The first paper discharge connector 97 is disposed at a position that coincides with the paper discharge connector 103 in the horizontal direction. A second paper discharge connector 98 is provided on the bottom plate of the main body 91a. The second paper discharge connector 98 is disposed at a position that coincides with the first paper discharge connector 97 in the horizontal direction. The second paper discharge connector 98 can be connected to both the paper discharge connector 103 of the apparatus main body 101 and the first paper discharge connector 97 of another additional paper discharge unit 90. As shown in FIG. 10, the first paper discharge connector 97 is connected to the paper discharge control unit 180 via connection lines 296 to 298, and the second paper discharge connector 98 is discharged via connection lines 295 to 297. It is connected to the control unit 180. The first paper discharge connector 97, the second paper discharge connector 98, and the connection lines 295 to 298 are substantially the same as the first paper supply connector 86, the second paper supply connector 87, and the connection lines 265 to 268, respectively. Since it is a structure, the description is abbreviate | omitted.

  A paper supply port 91c is formed in the bottom plate of the main body 91a. The paper P discharged from the apparatus main body 101 passes through the paper supply port 91c. A paper discharge port 91e is formed on the top plate of the main body 91a. The sheet P discharged to the other additional sheet discharge unit 90 passes through the sheet discharge port 91e.

  The guide unit (first transport mechanism) 92 includes three guides 99 a to 99 c, two feed roller pairs 95 and 96, and a switching mechanism 20. These feed roller pairs 95 and 96 are arranged at appropriate intervals along the transport direction of the paper P. The feed roller 96 is disposed in the vicinity of the paper discharge unit 94. The guide 99a extends from the paper supply port 91c to the feed roller pair 95, and constitutes a transport path between them. The guide 99b extends from the pair of feed rollers 95 to the paper discharge port 91e and constitutes a conveyance path between them. The guide 99c extends from the middle part of the guide 99b to the feed roller pair 96, and constitutes a transport path between them.

  The switching mechanism 20 is the same as the switching mechanism 20 described above, and is disposed at the connection portion between the guides 99b and 99c, and switches the transport path of the paper P. In the switching mechanism 20, the driving unit 20 b is controlled by the paper discharge control unit 180, and when the paper P is discharged to the paper discharge unit 94, the swinging member 20 a is disposed at the first position, and the paper P is added separately. When discharging to the paper discharge unit 90, the swing member 20a is disposed at the second position. With this configuration, the guide unit 92 conveys the paper P after image formation toward the paper discharge unit 94 and another additional paper discharge unit 90.

  Next, the electrical configuration of the additional paper discharge unit 90 will be described below with reference to FIG. The operation of the additional paper discharge unit 90 is controlled by the main body control unit 150 via the paper discharge control unit 180.

  The operation of the additional paper discharge unit 90 is controlled by a paper discharge control unit 180 as shown in FIG. The paper discharge control unit 180 is not provided with the connection detection circuit 176 in the paper feed control unit 170 described above, and is a paper discharge control circuit 185 instead of the paper feed control circuit 175. Since the configuration is substantially the same except for the discharge amount detection circuit 189, the corresponding part to the paper feed control unit 170 is denoted by the reference numeral obtained by adding 10 to the code of the corresponding part of the paper feed control unit 170. Is omitted.

  The paper discharge control circuit 185 allows the paper P conveyed from the apparatus main body 101 to be discharged to the paper discharge unit 94, or the additional paper discharge positioned above the paper P conveyed from the apparatus main body 101. The drive unit 20b and the pair of feed rollers 95 and 96 are controlled so as to be conveyed to the paper discharge unit 94 of the unit 90. The paper discharge amount detection circuit 189 receives a detection signal from the sensor 93. Accordingly, the paper discharge control unit 180 can determine whether or not the paper P discharged to the paper discharge unit 94 has reached a predetermined amount.

  Next, the recording operation of the printer 300 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 12, first, in step H1, the power source of the printer 300 (device main body 101) is turned on. Then, the CPU 212 performs apparatus-side and unit-side identifier association processing as in the first embodiment. By performing these apparatus-side and unit-side identifier association processing, it is recognized whether or not the additional sheet discharge unit 90 is mounted in the apparatus main body 101 in n stages (in this embodiment, two stages). The printer 300 according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which the additional sheet discharge unit 90 is mounted on the apparatus main body 101 in two stages and the stabilizer 190 is not mounted. Since the additional paper feeding unit 80 is not installed in the apparatus main body 101, all the paper P is fed from the main body paper feeding tray 10.

  In step H3, the same processing as in step F3 is performed. In step H4, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the additional paper discharge unit 90 is one stage or less. If it exceeds one stage, the process proceeds to step H5, and if it is one stage or less, the process proceeds to step H6. In step H5, processing similar to that in step F7 is performed, and the CPU 212 determines whether or not the mounting flag is on based on the detection signal from the mounting sensor 78. At this time, if the mounting flag is on, the process proceeds to step H6, and if the mounting flag is off, the process proceeds to step H12.

  In step H6, the CPU 212 determines whether or not user setting is performed. That is, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the designated discharge condition is stored in the user setting storage unit 253. If it is not stored, the process proceeds to step H7, and if it is stored, the specified discharge condition is used. The information is stored (set) in the condition setting unit 214c, and the process proceeds to Step H8. In step H7, the CPU 212 stores (sets) in the condition setting unit 214c that the predetermined discharge condition stored in the predetermined condition storage unit 252 is used. In step H8, the CPU 212 stores (sets) in the condition setting unit 214c that the first transport speed is used as the transport speed of the paper P to be transported under the set discharge conditions. The predetermined discharge condition is a condition in which the sheets P are discharged in order from the lower side of the main body discharge unit 4 and the discharge unit 94 of the one or more additional discharge units 90 mounted.

  Next, in step H9, the CPU 212 controls the transport control circuit 216 so that the paper P is transported based on the set discharge and transport speed conditions, and sends a command to the corresponding additional paper discharge unit 90. The device communication control circuit 218 is controlled so as to perform transmission processing. At this time, when the unit communication control circuit 187 receives command data, the CPU 182 controls the paper discharge control circuit 185 based on the contents of the command data. Thus, the paper P is transported from the main body paper feed tray 10 toward a desired paper discharge unit.

  Next, in step H <b> 10, the CPU 212 controls the head 1 via the head control circuit 215 so that an image is recorded on the conveyed paper P. In this way, ink is ejected from the head 1 and recording on the paper P is executed. At this time, the paper P on which the image is recorded is discharged to a desired paper discharge unit.

  Next, in step H11, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the recording operation on the paper P has ended. If not, the process returns to step H9, and if it has ended, the flow of the recording operation ends.

  In step H12, even if the designated discharge condition is stored in the user setting storage unit 253, the CPU 212 ignores the designated discharge condition and uses the predetermined discharge condition stored in the predetermined condition storage unit 252. It is stored (set) in the condition setting unit 214c. Next, in step H13, the CPU 212 stores (sets) in the condition setting unit 214c that the second transport speed is used as the transport speed of the paper P to be transported under the set discharge condition.

  Next, in step H14, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the sheet P of the main body discharge section 4 is greater than or equal to a predetermined amount. If it is less than the predetermined amount, the process proceeds to step H15. Proceed to step H18. That is, when the paper P in the main body discharge unit 4 is less than a predetermined amount, the next paper P is fed and conveyed. When the sheet P of the main body discharge section 4 reaches a predetermined amount as a result of being conveyed and discharged to the main body discharge section 4, that is, the sheet P has reached a predetermined amount by the sensor 8 or the sensor 93. Is detected, the next paper P is not fed and transported. In other words, the next paper P is fed and transported until the paper P in the main body discharge section 4 reaches a predetermined amount. That is, the paper P is fed and transported so that the paper P in the main body discharge unit 4 is less than a predetermined amount. In step H15, the CPU 212 controls the transport control circuit 216 so that the paper P is transported based on the set discharge and transport speed conditions. In this way, the sheet is conveyed from the main body sheet feeding tray 10. Next, in step H16, the same control as in step H10 is performed. At this time, the paper P is discharged to the main body paper discharge unit 4. In step H17, the same control as in step H11 is performed. If not completed, the process returns to step H14, and if completed, the flow of the recording operation is terminated.

  In step H18, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the variable x is equal to the number obtained by adding 1 to n indicating the number of loading stages of the additional paper discharge unit 90, and if it is the same, the process proceeds to step H19. If they are different, the process proceeds to step H20. In this embodiment, since the number of loading stages of the additional paper discharge unit 90 is two, when the variable x becomes 3, the process proceeds to Step H19. In step H <b> 19, the CPU 212 controls the buzzer 75 via the buzzer control circuit 221. When the buzzer 75 emits a sound, the CPU 212 informs the user that the paper P of all the paper discharge units 4, 94 is a predetermined amount.

  In step H20, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the paper P in the x-th sheet discharge section 94 is greater than or equal to a predetermined amount. If it is less than the predetermined amount, the process proceeds to step H21. Advances to step H24. That is, when the paper P of the x-th paper discharge unit 94 is less than a predetermined amount, the next paper P is fed and transported. When the sheet P of the x-th sheet discharge unit 94 reaches a predetermined amount as a result of being conveyed and discharged to the x-th sheet discharge unit 94, the next sheet P is fed and conveyed. I will not. In other words, the next paper P is fed and transported until the paper P in the x-th paper discharge section 94 reaches a predetermined amount. That is, the paper P is fed and transported so that the paper P of the x-th paper discharge section 94 is less than a predetermined amount. In step H21, the CPU 212 controls the transport control circuit 216 so that the paper P is transported based on the set discharge and transport speed conditions, and commands to the additional discharge unit 90 in the x-th stage. The device communication control circuit 218 is controlled so as to perform transmission processing. At this time, when the unit communication control circuit 187 receives command data, the CPU 182 controls the paper discharge control circuit 185 based on the contents of the command data. Thus, the paper P is transported from the main body paper feed tray 10 toward a desired paper discharge unit. Next, in step H22, the same control as in step H10 is performed. At this time, the paper P is discharged to the x-th paper discharge section 94. In step H23, the same control as in step H11 is performed. If not completed, the process returns to step H18, and if completed, the flow of the recording operation is terminated. In step H24, the CPU 212 adds 1 to the variable x stored in the variable storage unit 214e, and the process returns to step H18.

  As described above, according to the apparatus main body 101 included in the printer 300 of the present embodiment, when the stabilizer 190 as the support member is not attached, the predetermined discharge condition is set, so that the lowermost position is set. The paper P is transported so that the paper P is sequentially discharged from a certain main body discharge unit 4. For this reason, it is possible to suppress a significant upward movement of the center of gravity of the printer 300 accompanying the movement of the paper P. In addition, when the stabilizer 190 is not attached, even if the specified discharge condition is set by the user, the specified discharge condition is canceled, and the paper P is discharged in order from a predetermined discharge condition (the discharge section below). ) Is executed. By discharging the paper P in order from the lower paper discharge unit, the center of gravity of the entire printer 100 is kept lower than in the case of discharging paper in order from the upper paper discharge unit. For this reason, it is possible to suppress a significant upward movement of the center of gravity of the printer 300 accompanying the movement of the paper P. As a result, the printer 300 can be prevented from falling.

  For example, when the additional paper discharge unit 90 that discharges the paper P is mounted on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 101 and used, the center of gravity of the entire printer becomes high. At this time, the discharge of the paper P is performed from the uppermost additional paper discharge unit 90, and after the quantity of the paper P discharged to the additional paper discharge unit 90 reaches the upper limit, When the conveyance control is performed so that the paper P is discharged to the unit 90 or the main body discharge unit, the center of gravity of the entire printer becomes significantly high, and it is easy to fall down. However, in the present invention, since the conveyance control as described above is performed, the printer 300 is prevented from being overturned.

  Further, when the stabilizer 190 is not attached, the setting of the conveyance speed of the paper P is set to the second conveyance speed. As a result, it is possible to suppress vibration due to the conveyance of the paper P. For this reason, it is possible to more effectively suppress the overturn of the printer 300.

  As a modified example, the additional paper discharge unit 90 may be mounted in one or less stages or in three or more stages. In step H14 and step H20, the predetermined amount may be read as an upper limit value that can be accommodated in the paper discharge unit. In this case, the sensors 8 and 93 may be configured to output a detection signal when the sheets stacked on the paper discharge unit reach an upper limit value that can be accommodated in the paper discharge unit. When the predetermined amount is set as the upper limit value, in step H18, the CPU 212 may determine whether n indicating the number of loading stages of the additional paper discharge unit 90 and the variable x are the same. In this case, the paper P is not discharged to the additional paper discharge unit 90 at the top. As a result, the printer 300 can be prevented from falling over.

  Next, an inkjet printer 300 that is a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. The printer 300 according to the present embodiment is different from the third embodiment only in the control content of the main body control unit 150 (the control flow from step H12 in the recording operation of the third embodiment is different). This is the same as the printer 300 of the embodiment. For this reason, the same thing is shown by the same code | symbol and description is abbreviate | omitted. In the present embodiment, the predetermined discharge condition is a condition in which the paper P is transported so that the paper P does not exceed a predetermined amount in all of the paper discharge units 4 and 94.

  A recording operation of the printer 300 in this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 13, steps J1 to J11 are the same as steps H1 to H11 of the third embodiment. In Step J12, the same processing as in Step H6 described above is performed, and if the designated discharge condition is not stored in the user setting storage unit 253, the process proceeds to Step J13, and if it is stored, the designated discharge condition is used. Is stored (set) in the condition setting unit 214c, and the process proceeds to Step J14. In step J13, the same processing as in step H7 is performed. In step J14, the CPU 212 causes the condition setting unit 214c to store (set) that the second transport speed is used as the transport speed of the transported paper P under the set discharge conditions.

  Next, in step J15, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the paper P of the xth priority paper discharge section is greater than or equal to a predetermined amount. If it is, the process proceeds to step J16. Proceed to J17. In other words, when the paper P in the xth priority paper discharge section has already reached a predetermined amount, the next paper P is not fed and transported. At this time, when the process proceeds from step J15 to step J16, the CPU 212 controls the transport control circuit 216 so as not to transport the paper P. As a result, the sheet is not conveyed from the main body sheet feeding tray 10. In step J <b> 16, the CPU 212 controls the buzzer 75 via the buzzer control circuit 221. When the buzzer 75 emits a sound, the CPU 212 informs the user that the paper P in the xth priority paper discharge unit exceeds a predetermined amount.

  In step J17, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the paper P of the xth priority paper discharge unit is a predetermined amount. If it is not the predetermined amount, the process proceeds to step J18. If it is the predetermined amount, the process returns to step J21. move on. In step J17, the case where the paper P of the xth priority paper discharge unit is not a predetermined amount is the case where the paper P of the xth priority paper discharge unit is less than the predetermined amount. This is because, in step J15 prior to step J17, it has already been determined whether or not the sheet has exceeded the predetermined amount, and step J17 is reached only when the sheet is less than or equal to the predetermined amount in step J15. In step J18, the same processing as in step H9 described above is performed. Thereby, the paper P is transported from the main body paper feed tray 10 toward a desired paper discharge unit. Next, in step J19, the same control as in step H10 described above is performed. At this time, the paper P is discharged to the xth priority paper discharge section. In step J20, the same control as in step H11 described above is performed. If not completed, the process returns to step J15. If completed, the flow of the recording operation ends.

  In step J21, the CPU 212 determines whether or not the variable x is equal to the number obtained by adding 1 to n indicating the number of loading stages of the additional paper discharge unit 90. If the variable x is different, the process proceeds to step J22. If YES, go to Step J23. In step J22, the CPU 212 adds 1 to the variable x stored in the variable storage unit 214e, and the process returns to step J15. In step J23, the CPU 212 controls the buzzer 75 via the buzzer control circuit 221 to notify the user that the paper P of all the paper discharge units 4, 94 is a predetermined amount.

  As described above, according to the apparatus main body 101 included in the printer 300 of the present embodiment, the paper P is transported so that the paper P becomes a predetermined amount or less in all the paper discharge units 4 and 94. . That is, the predetermined discharge condition is a condition for transporting the paper P so that the paper P becomes a predetermined amount or less in all of the paper discharge units 4 and 94. Compared with the case where the paper P is discharged to the upper limit value in all the paper discharge units 4 and 94, the weight of the paper discharge unit is reduced. For this reason, it is possible to suppress a significant upward movement of the center of gravity of the printer 300 accompanying the movement of the paper P.

  In step J15, when the number of sheets P in the xth priority discharge section is equal to or larger than a predetermined amount, an error is notified to the user, and the sheet P is not transported. As a result, the printer 100 can be more effectively prevented from falling. Note that the same effect can be obtained with the same configuration as in the third embodiment.

  As a modified example, the additional paper discharge unit 90 may be mounted in one or less stages or in three or more stages. Further, it is sufficient that the discharge amount of the paper P is less than a predetermined amount only in at least one of the plurality of paper discharge units. Even in this case, it is possible to suppress a significant upward movement of the center of gravity of the printer 300 accompanying the movement of the paper P.

  As another modification, in step J21, the CPU 212 may determine whether n indicating the number of loading stages of the additional paper discharge unit 90 and the variable x are the same. In this case, the paper P is not discharged to any one paper discharge unit. That is, the predetermined discharge condition may be a condition in which the paper P is not discharged to any one of the paper discharge units. As a result, the weight of the paper discharge unit is reduced as compared with the case where the paper P is discharged to all the paper discharge units 4 and 94. In this case, in step J17, the predetermined amount may be read as an upper limit value that can be accommodated in the paper discharge unit. Even in this case, it is possible to prevent the printer 300 from overturning.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made as long as they are described in the claims. For example, the third or fourth embodiment may be combined with each of the first and second embodiments. Specifically, one or more additional paper feed units 80 and one or more additional paper discharge units 90 may be attached to the apparatus main body 100. In that case, for example, the predetermined feeding condition of the first embodiment and the predetermined discharge condition of the third or fourth embodiment may be combined. Further, the predetermined feeding condition of the second embodiment and the predetermined discharging condition of the third or fourth embodiment may be combined. In this way, it is possible to further suppress the significant upward movement of the center of gravity of the entire printer accompanying the movement of the paper P.

  In the above-described embodiment, the device communication control circuit 218, the connection lines 205a, 205b, 206, and 207, the paper feed connector 105, and the paper discharge connector 103 constitute a detachable unit detection unit. Specifically, the detachable unit detection unit detects whether or not the additional paper supply unit 80 or the additional paper discharge unit 90 is attached by communicating with the paper supply control unit 170 or the paper discharge control unit 180. Note that the detachable unit detection means may detect the mounting of each unit 80, 90 with another configuration. The connection detection circuit 217, the mounting sensor 78, the connection lines 205a, 205b, 206, and 207, the paper feed connector 105, and the paper discharge connector 103 constitute support member detection means. Specifically, the support member detection unit refers to the detection signal of the mounting sensor 78 and communicates with the paper feed control unit 170 to determine whether the stabilizer 190 is attached to the apparatus main body 101 or the additional paper feed unit 80. Detect whether or not. It should be noted that the mounting detection of the stabilizer 190, which is a support member, may be performed with a configuration other than the mounting sensor 78. The microcomputer 211 is an example of the control means of the present invention. A conveyance control circuit 216 in the microcomputer 211 controls the second conveyance mechanism. Further, the device communication control circuit 218 transmits a command to the paper feed control unit 170 or the paper discharge control unit 180 so as to control the first transport mechanism. In the above-described embodiment, the microcomputer 211 in the main body control unit 150 controls the additional paper feeding unit 90 or the first transport mechanism of the additional paper discharge unit 90 without providing the paper feed control unit 170 and the paper discharge control unit 180. May be. In the first and second embodiments, the sensor 85 and the sheet quantity detection circuit 179 constitute a quantity detection unit. In the third and fourth embodiments, the sensor 8, the paper discharge amount detection circuit 220, the sensor 93, and the paper discharge amount detection circuit 189 constitute a quantity detection unit.

  The present invention can be applied to both a line type and a serial type, and is not limited to a printer, and can also be applied to a facsimile machine, a copier, and the like. Further, recording is performed by discharging a liquid other than ink. The present invention can also be applied to a recording apparatus that performs. The present invention is not limited to the ink jet type, and can be applied to, for example, a laser type or thermal type recording apparatus. The recording medium is not limited to the paper P, and may be various recording media.

1 head (recording part)
4 Main unit paper discharge unit (discharge unit)
7, 8, 85, 93 Sensor 10 Main body paper feed tray (container)
78, 79 Mounting sensor 80 Additional paper feeding unit (detachable unit)
82 Paper Tray (Place)
84, 92 Guide part (first transport mechanism)
86 First paper feed connector 87 Second paper feed connector 90 Additional paper discharge unit (detachable unit)
94 Paper discharge unit (mounting unit)
97 First discharge connector 98 Second discharge connector 100, 300 Inkjet printer (recording apparatus)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 Main body 103 Paper discharge connector 105 Paper feed connector 150 Main body control part 170 Paper feed control part 180 Paper discharge control part 190 Stabilizer 205a, 205b, 206,207, 265-268, 295-298 Connection line

Claims (14)

At least a part of the mounting unit on which the recording medium is mounted and one or more detachable units having a first transport mechanism that transports the recording medium from or toward the mounting unit are vertically It can be attached to and detached from the upper part and / or the lower part of the apparatus main body so as to overlap the apparatus main body along the direction,
A support member that supports the apparatus main body by overlapping with the apparatus main body along the vertical direction and partially positioned outside the apparatus main body with respect to a direction orthogonal to the vertical direction is provided at a lower portion of the apparatus main body. Or a recording device detachably attached to a lower part of the one or more detachable units attached to a lower part of the apparatus main body,
A recording unit for recording an image on a recording medium;
An accommodating portion that is disposed below the recording portion and accommodates a recording medium;
A discharge unit disposed above the recording unit and from which the recording medium is discharged;
A second transport mechanism that transports the recording medium transported from the mounting section or the storage section toward the recording section, or transports the recording medium from the recording section toward the discharge section or the mounting section. When,
A detachable unit detecting means for detecting whether or not the one or more detachable units are mounted on the apparatus main body;
Support member detection means for detecting whether or not the support member is attached to the lower part of the apparatus main body or the lower part of the one or more detachable units attached to the apparatus main body;
Control means for controlling at least one of the first transport mechanism and the second transport mechanism so as to transport the recording medium from below to above;
The control means detects that the one or more attachment / detachment units are attached and detects that the attachment / detachment unit detection means detects that the support member is not attached. Setting at least one of a feeding condition and a discharging condition for suppressing the center of gravity of the entire apparatus including the one or more detachable units from moving from below to above, and transporting the recording medium under the condition. A recording apparatus.   When the attachment / detachment unit detection means detects that the one or more attachment / detachment units are attached to the lower part of the apparatus main body, the control means is located above the accommodation portion and the placement portion of the one or more attachment / detachment units. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the feeding condition for feeding the recording medium in order is set.   The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the control unit invalidates a specified feeding condition set by a predetermined operation by a user and sets the feeding condition. Each of the one or more attachment / detachment units has a quantity detection means for detecting the quantity of the recording medium placed on the placement unit,
When the quantity of the detachable unit mounted at the lowermost position is less than a predetermined amount, the control means determines the conveyance speed of the recording medium conveyed by the first conveyance mechanism and the second conveyance mechanism by the support member. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the recording apparatus is smaller than when the apparatus is mounted. Each of the one or more attachment / detachment units has a quantity detection means for detecting the quantity of the recording medium placed on the placement unit,
When the attachment / detachment unit detection means detects that the one or more attachment / detachment units are attached to the lower part of the apparatus main body, the control means prevents the quantity of the attachment / detachment units attached at the lowermost position from being less than a predetermined amount. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the feeding condition for feeding the recording medium placed in the storage unit and the one or more detachable units is set.   6. The recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control unit sets the feeding condition for not feeding the recording medium when the quantity in the lowermost detachable unit is less than a predetermined amount. Each of the plurality of detachable units has a quantity detecting means for detecting the quantity of the recording medium placed on the placing section,
When the attachment / detachment unit detection means detects that the plurality of attachment / detachment units are attached to the lower part of the apparatus main body, the control means includes the two or more attachment / detachment units attached below in the plurality of attachment / detachment units. The feeding condition for feeding the recording medium placed on the storage unit and the plurality of detachable units is set so that the total quantity does not become less than a predetermined amount. Recording device.   The recording apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the control unit sets the feeding condition for not feeding a recording medium when the total is less than a predetermined amount.   The control means makes the transport speed of the recording medium transported by the first transport mechanism and the second transport mechanism smaller than when the support member is mounted. The recording apparatus according to any one of the above.   The control means is configured to detect, when the attachment / detachment unit detection means detects that the one or more attachment / detachment units are mounted on an upper portion of the apparatus main body, below the discharge portion and the placement portion of the one or more attachment / detachment units. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discharge conditions for discharging the recording medium in order are set.   The recording apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the control unit invalidates a specified discharge condition set by a user's predetermined operation and sets the discharge condition. The discharge unit and the detachable unit each have a quantity detection means for detecting the number of recording media placed on the discharge unit or the placement unit,
When the attachment / detachment unit detection means detects that the one or more attachment / detachment units are mounted on the upper part of the apparatus main body, the control means detects the quantity detected by at least one of the plurality of quantity detection means. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discharge condition for discharging the recording medium is set to the storage unit and the mounting unit of the one or more detachable units so as to be equal to or less than a fixed amount.   The control means sets the feeding condition for not feeding the recording medium when the quantity detected by at least one of the plurality of quantity detecting means reaches the predetermined amount. The recording apparatus according to claim 12.   The control means makes the conveyance speed of the recording medium conveyed by the first conveyance mechanism and the second conveyance mechanism smaller than when the support member is mounted. The recording apparatus according to any one of the above.

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