JP2016193495A - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a device which can smoothly slide a bearing supported by a support shaft in a slidable manner.SOLUTION: An ink jet recording device includes: a slide gear which is supported by a support shaft 42 and which can select engagement with a plurality of transmission gears by sliding left and right; a carriage which can move left and right; and a lever member 43 which has a body part 45 adjacent to the slide gear and supported in a manner slidable left and right by the support shaft 42 and a projection part 46 projecting from the body part 45 into a movement region of the carriage 22, and which slides by the moving carriage 22 coming into contact with the projection part 46. The support shaft 42 comes into contact with the body part 45 in two places (contact positions P1, P2) in a first range which is further in an upper direction 4 than a virtual line L2 and comes into contact with the body part 45 in two places (contact positions P3, P4) in a second range which is further in a lower direction 5 than the virtual line L2, when viewed from left and right.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus that records an image on a sheet by ejecting ink from a nozzle toward the sheet.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an ink jet recording apparatus that records an image on a sheet by ejecting ink from a nozzle provided on the recording head toward the sheet is known. In the ink jet recording apparatus, in order to transmit the output of one motor to a plurality of driving units, switching of driving transmission is performed as disclosed in the image recording apparatus of Patent Document 1.

  More specifically, the image recording apparatus includes a switching gear supported by a support shaft so as to be slidable along the axial direction of the support shaft. The switching gear slides while meshing with a driving gear that is driven and transmitted from the motor. Further, a plurality of transmission gears for transmitting the drive to each drive unit are arranged corresponding to each slide position of the switching gear. The switching gear is engaged with each transmission gear by sliding.

  Further, the image recording apparatus includes an input lever having a bearing supported by a support shaft so as to be slidable in the axial direction at a position adjacent to the switching gear, and a lever protruding upward from the bearing. The bearing slides when the carriage on which the recording head is mounted contacts and presses the lever. The switching gear slides as the bearing slides.

JP 2009-34832 A

  However, when the carriage comes into contact with the lever and pushes the lever, a rotational moment is applied to the bearing via the lever. Thereby, the force which a bearing presses a spindle acts. Specifically, at the front end of the bearing in the direction in which the carriage pushes the lever, a force acts on the bearing from above, and at the rear end of the bearing in the direction in which the carriage pushes the lever, the bearing is supported from below. A force that pushes the shaft acts. These forces become loads on the slide of the bearing, increasing the load on the movement of the carriage and possibly reducing the slide speed of the bearing.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide means capable of smoothly sliding a bearing supported slidably on a support shaft.

  (1) An ink jet apparatus according to the present invention includes a slide gear that is slidably supported by a support shaft along an axial direction, and a biasing member that biases the slide gear in a first direction along the axial direction. A plurality of transmission gears that are spaced apart from each other along the axial direction, each having a plurality of transmission gears that can mesh with the slide gear, and a recording head that discharges ink from the nozzles toward the sheet, A carriage that is movable along the axial direction; a main body that is slidably supported by the support shaft adjacent to the slide gear; and a protrusion that protrudes from the main body into the moving region of the carriage. And a lever member that slides when the carriage moving in the second direction opposite to the first direction comes into contact with the projecting portion. The support shaft is viewed from the axial direction and passes through the center of the axis and is opposite to the protruding portion from the first range and the imaginary line on the protruding portion side with respect to the imaginary line orthogonal to the protruding direction of the protruding portion. In each of the second ranges on the side, the main body is in contact with the main body at a plurality of locations.

  According to the above configuration, since the main body portion and the support shaft are in contact with each other at a plurality of locations, the force of the main body portion acting when the carriage presses the protruding portion presses the support shaft can be dispersed. Moreover, according to the said structure, the spindle has contact | abutted with the main-body part in multiple places in each of the 1st range and the 2nd range. Therefore, it is possible to disperse both the force of pushing the support shaft from the side where the bearing is provided with the projection and the force of pushing the support shaft from the side opposite to the side where the bearing is provided with the projection. As a result, the load on the slide of the lever member can be reduced.

  (2) The ink jet apparatus according to the present invention further includes a holding portion having a plurality of stoppers that hold the protruding portion at each position where the slide gear meshes with each of the plurality of transmission gears. In the state where the protrusion is held at the positions by the stoppers, the support shaft has the body portion and a plurality of locations in each of the first range and the second range as viewed from the axial direction. In contact.

  According to the above configuration, it is possible to reduce the load on the slide of the lever member even in a state where the protruding portion is held at each position by each stopper.

  (3) The lever member is rotatable about the support shaft. The holding portion includes an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the axial direction. The lever member rotates when the protruding portion in contact with the inclined surface is guided along the inclined surface. In a state where the protruding portion is in contact with the inclined surface, the support shaft is in contact with the main body portion at a plurality of locations in each of the first range and the second range as viewed from the axial direction. Yes.

  According to the above configuration, the load on the slide of the lever member can be reduced even when the protruding portion is in contact with the inclined surface and rotated.

  (4) The support shaft and the main body are in point contact when viewed from the axial direction.

  According to the above configuration, since the contact area between the main body portion and the support shaft can be reduced, the sliding resistance of the main body portion with respect to the support shaft can be reduced.

  (5) In the second range as viewed from the axial direction between the support shaft and the main body portion, and the number of contact points in the first range as viewed from the axial direction between the support shaft and the main body portion. The number of contact points is the same.

  According to the above configuration, both the force that pushes the spindle from the side where the bearing is provided with the projection and the force that pushes the spindle from the side opposite to the side where the bearing is provided are approximately Can be evenly distributed.

  (6) The contact portion in the first range as seen from the axial direction between the support shaft and the main body, and the contact in the second range as seen from the axial direction between the support shaft and the main body. The location is in a line-symmetric relationship with a virtual line that passes through the axis center and is orthogonal to the protruding direction of the protruding portion.

  According to the said structure, both the force which a bearing pushes a spindle from the side in which the protrusion part is provided, and the force which pushes a spindle from the opposite side to the side in which a bearing is provided, ( It can be dispersed more evenly than 5).

  (7) The support shaft is in contact with the main body at two locations in each of the first range and the second range as viewed from the axial direction.

  According to the above configuration, the number of contact portions between the support shaft and the main body is plural, but the minimum number. Thereby, since the shape of a main-body part can be simplified, shaping | molding of a lever member becomes easy.

  (8) The protrusion may protrude from a position offset in the first direction or the second direction from the axial center of the main body.

  According to the present invention, the lever member that is slidably supported by the support shaft can be smoothly slid.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the multifunction machine 10. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer unit 111. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the configuration of the recording unit 15 and its periphery. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram schematically showing the configuration of the drive switching mechanism 40. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the support shaft 42, the lever member 43, and the holding portion 83. 6A and 6B are views showing the support shaft 42, the lever member 43, and the holding portion 83, where FIG. 6A is a right side view, FIG. 6B is a plan view, and FIG. 6C is a front view. It is. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. 8A is a left side view schematically showing the lever member 43, and FIG. 8B is a left side view schematically showing the support shaft 42 and the lever member 43. FIG. ) Is a left side view schematically showing the support shaft 42 and the lever member 43 when the protruding portion 46 is inclined with respect to the upward direction 4 and the downward direction 5, and FIG. FIG. 8E is a left side view schematically showing the shaft 42 and the lever member 43, and FIG. 8E is a left side view schematically showing the support shaft 42 and the lever member 43 in the modification.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. The embodiment described below is merely an example of the present invention, and it is needless to say that the embodiment of the present invention can be changed as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present invention. Further, in the following description, the upper direction 4 and the lower direction 5 are defined on the basis of the state in which the multifunction machine 10 is installed so as to be usable (the state in FIG. 1), and the surface on which the opening 113 is provided is the front surface. A front direction 6 and a rear direction 7 are defined as (front), and a right direction 8 and a left direction 9 are defined when the multifunction machine 10 is viewed from the front.

[Schematic configuration of MFP 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction machine 10 includes a scanner unit 112 in the upper part and an ink jet recording type printer unit 111 (an example of an ink jet recording apparatus) in the lower part. The multifunction machine 10 has various functions such as a facsimile function and a print function.

  The printer unit 111 includes a feed tray 11 and a discharge tray 12 supported by the feed tray 11. An opening 113 is formed in the front of the printer unit 111. The printer unit 111 can insert the feeding tray 11 and the discharge tray 12 supported thereby through the opening 113 in the rearward direction 7 and can be removed in the forward direction 6.

  The feeding tray 11 can support a sheet. The size of the sheet that can be supported by the feeding tray 11 is, for example, various standard sizes such as A4 size, B5 size, and postcard size that are smaller than the legal size. As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet supported by the feeding tray 11 is fed to the conveyance path 14 by the feeding roller 13, and a desired image is recorded by the recording unit 15, and is discharged to the discharge tray 12.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the conveyance path 14 bends in the backward direction 7 and the upward direction 4 from the rear end of the feed tray 11, bends in the forward direction 6, and passes through the recording unit 15 to the discharge tray 12. ing. Therefore, the sheet accommodated in the feeding tray 11 is guided by the conveyance path 14 so as to make a U-turn from the bottom to the top, reaches the recording unit 15, and after the image recording is performed by the recording unit 15, the discharge tray 12. To be discharged. That is, the sheet is conveyed in the conveying direction 101 indicated by the arrow in FIG.

  A recording unit 15 is provided downstream of the curved portion of the conveyance path 14 in the conveyance direction 101. The recording unit 15 includes a carriage 22 that carries the recording head 21 and reciprocates in the right direction 8 and the left direction 9. The recording head 21 includes cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), and black (ink) from an ink cartridge disposed independently of the recording head 21 in the multifunction machine 10 through an ink tube 20 (see FIG. 3). Each color ink of Bk) is supplied. While the carriage 22 is reciprocated, each color ink is selectively ejected from a plurality of nozzles formed on the recording head 21 as minute ink droplets. As a result, image recording is performed on a sheet conveyed on the platen 16 disposed to face the recording head 21. The detailed configuration of the recording unit 15 will be described later.

  Conveying roller pairs 17 and 18 are provided upstream and downstream in the conveying direction 101 from the recording unit 15, respectively. The conveyance roller pairs 17 and 18 convey the sheet while sandwiching it. Each of the rollers constituting the conveyance roller pair 17 and 18 rotates about an axis along the right direction 8 and the left direction 9 orthogonal to the conveyance direction 101. The output of a motor (not shown) is transmitted to one roller of the pair of conveying rollers 17 and 18 to rotate. The other roller of the conveying roller pair 17 and 18 is driven by the one roller that has been driven.

[Recording unit 15]
As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of guide rails 23 and 24 are separated by a predetermined distance in the front direction 6 and the rear direction 7 of the sheet above the conveyance path 14, and the pair of guide rails 23 and 24 are in the right direction 8 (an example of the second direction) and It extends in the left direction 9 (an example of the first direction). The guide rails 23 and 24 are provided in the housing of the multifunction device 10 and constitute a part of a frame that supports each member constituting the multifunction device 10. The carriage 22 is supported by the guide rails 23 and 24 so as to straddle the guide rails 23 and 24. As will be described in detail below, the carriage 22 is slidable on the guide rails 23 and 24 in the right direction 8 and the left direction 9.

  Of the guide rails 23, 24, the guide rail 23 disposed upstream (backward direction 7) in the transport direction 101 is a flat plate whose length in the right direction 8 and left direction 9 of the transport path 14 is longer than the moving region of the carriage 22. It is a shape. Of the guide rails 23, 24, the guide rail 24 disposed downstream (forward direction 6) in the transport direction 101 is substantially the same length as the guide rail 23 in the right direction 8 and the left direction 9 of the transport path 14. It is a plate-shaped thing.

  The rear end 7 of the carriage 22 is supported by the guide rail 23. Further, the front end 6 of the carriage 22 is supported by the guide rail 24. Thereby, the carriage 22 is slid along the right direction 8 and the left direction 9. An edge 25 of the guide rail 24 upstream in the transport direction 101 is bent at a substantially right angle toward the upward direction 4. The carriage 22 carried on the guide rails 23 and 24 has an edge portion 25 slidably held by a holding member (not shown). Accordingly, the carriage 22 is positioned with respect to the front direction 6 and the rear direction 7 and can slide in the right direction 8 and the left direction 9.

  A belt drive mechanism 26 is disposed on the upper surface of the guide rail 24. The belt drive mechanism 26 is configured by an endless annular belt 29 stretched between a drive pulley 27 and a driven pulley 28 provided in the vicinity of both ends of the guide rail 24 in the right direction 8 and the left direction 9, respectively. is there. A driving force is input from a motor (not shown) to the shaft of the driving pulley 27, and the belt 29 moves circumferentially as the driving pulley 27 rotates. In addition to the endless annular belt 29, a belt 29 that fixes both ends of the endless belt to the carriage 22 may be used.

  The carriage 22 is fixed to the belt 29 on the bottom surface side. Therefore, based on the circumferential movement of the belt 29 by the motor, the carriage 22 reciprocates in the right direction 8 and the left direction 9 on the guide rails 23 and 24 with the edge 25 as a reference. Since the recording head 21 is mounted on the carriage 22, the recording head 21 is reciprocated in the right direction 8 and the left direction 9.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a platen 16 is disposed below the conveyance path 14 so as to face the recording head 21. The platen 16 is disposed below the central portion through which the sheet passes in the moving region of the carriage 22 so as to face the central portion. Since the lengths of the platen 16 in the right direction 8 and the left direction 9 are longer than the lengths of the right direction 8 and the left direction 9 of the maximum size sheet that can be conveyed, the right direction 8 and left of the sheet conveyed in the conveyance path 14 Both ends in direction 9 always pass over the platen 16.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a purge mechanism 34 is disposed at a position 8 in the right direction from the platen 16. The purge mechanism 34 is disposed below the right end portion of the movement region of the carriage 22 so as to face the right end portion. A waste ink tray 35 is disposed at a position 9 in the left direction of the platen 16. The waste ink tray 35 is disposed below the left end portion of the movement region of the carriage 22 so as to face the left end portion.

  The purge mechanism 34 sucks and removes bubbles and foreign matters from the nozzles of the recording head 21. The purge mechanism 34 has a cap 36 that covers the nozzles of the recording head 21. The cap 36 is moved in the upward direction 4 and the downward direction 5 (direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 3) by a known lift-up mechanism to come in contact with and separate from the recording head 21. Although not appearing in FIG. 3, the purge mechanism 34 further includes a suction pump. The suction pump is connected to the cap 36, and the inside of the cap 36 is set to a negative pressure by operating the suction pump. When the suction pump is operated in a state where the cap 36 is in contact with the recording head 21 and covers the nozzle and the exhaust port, bubbles and foreign matters are sucked and removed from the recording head 21.

  The waste ink tray 35 is for receiving an empty ink discharge from the recording head 21. A felt is laid as an ink absorbing material in the waste ink tray 35, and the ink ejected in an idle manner is absorbed and held by the felt. Thus, the purge mechanism 34 and the waste ink tray 35 are used to perform maintenance such as removal of bubbles and mixed color ink in the recording head 21 and prevention of drying.

  Although not shown in each figure, the multifunction device 10 is provided with a cartridge mounting portion, and an ink cartridge for storing various inks is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion. A plurality of ink tubes 20 corresponding to each color ink are routed from the cartridge mounting portion to the carriage 22. The recording head 21 mounted on the carriage 22 is supplied with each color ink from the ink cartridge mounted on the cartridge mounting portion through each ink tube 20. The ink tube 20 is a tube made of synthetic resin, and has flexibility to bend following the reciprocation of the carriage 22.

[Drive switching mechanism 40]
Hereinafter, the drive switching mechanism 40 that selectively transmits the driving force from the motor to the feeding roller 13, the purge mechanism 34, and other driving units will be described. The drive switching mechanism 40 selectively transmits the drive output from a motor (not shown) to each drive unit.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the drive switching mechanism 40 is disposed below the right end portion of the movement region of the carriage 22 so as to face the right end portion. In FIG. 3, only a part of the drive switching mechanism 40 is exposed from the hole 69 formed in the guide rail 23. Further, the drive switching mechanism 40 is disposed in the rearward direction 7 with respect to the purge mechanism 34. The position of the drive switching mechanism 40 is not limited to the lower side of the carriage 22, and may be the front, rear, or upper side of the carriage 22.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the drive switching mechanism 40 includes a drive gear 76, a support shaft 42, a slide gear 41, a support shaft 77, a plurality of transmission gears 54, 55, 56, 57, a lever member 43, a coil spring 59 (attached). An example of a biasing member), a coil spring 58, and a holding portion 83 shown in FIG.

  The output of the motor is input to the left end portion of the driving roller 19 (see FIG. 2) of the conveying roller pair 17. As shown in FIG. 4, a drive gear 76 is provided at the right end portion of the drive roller 19 so as to rotate coaxially and integrally with the drive roller 19. The slide gear 41 is engaged with the drive gear 76. Thereby, the slide gear 41 is rotationally driven based on the output of the motor.

  The slide gear 41 is supported by the support shaft 42 so as to be slidable and rotatable along the direction of the axis of the support shaft 42. The directions of the axis of the support shaft 42 are the right direction 8 and the left direction 9. The right direction 8 and the left direction 9 are examples of the axial direction. As described above, the slide gear 41 can slide in the right direction 8 and the left direction 9.

  The axis of the slide gear 41 is parallel to the axis of the drive gear 76, and both are along the right direction 8 and the left direction 9. The length of the drive gear 76 in the right direction 8 and the left direction 9 is sufficiently longer than the slide range of the slide gear 41 in the right direction 8 and the left direction 9. Therefore, the slide gear 41 and the drive gear 76 are always meshed within the slide range of the slide gear 41. The slide range of the slide gear 41 is a range from a position where the slide gear 41 meshes with the transmission gear 54 to a position where the slide gear 41 meshes with the transmission gear 57.

  A support shaft 77 that rotatably supports the transmission gears 54, 55, 56, and 57 is provided below the support shaft 42 in parallel with the support shaft 42. FIG. 4 is a diagram schematically showing the arrangement relationship of each gear. The arrangement relationship of each gear in the right direction 8 and the left direction 9 is as shown in the figure, but the upper direction 4 and the lower direction of each gear. The positional relationship between the direction 5 and the front direction 6 and the rear direction 7 is not necessarily as illustrated. The direction of the axis of the support shaft 77 is along the right direction 8 and the left direction 9. The transmission gears 54, 55, 56, and 57 are sequentially arranged in the right direction 8 on the support shaft 77. Each transmission gear 54, 55, 56, 57 can rotate independently of each other. When the slide gear 41 is slid along the support shaft 42, the slide gear 41 is selectively meshed with any one of the transmission gears 54, 55, 56, and 57.

  For example, in the present embodiment, the transmission gear 54 transmits the driving force of the motor to the feeding roller 13. The transmission gear 55 transmits the driving force of the motor to a feeding roller (not shown) provided separately from the feeding roller 13 in order to supply a sheet from a lower tray disposed below the feeding tray 11. In order to record images on both sides of the sheet, the transmission gear 56 reverses the sheet on which the image is recorded on the surface and returns the sheet to the recording unit 15 again to re-feed rollers (not shown). The driving force of the motor is transmitted to (shown). The transmission gear 57 transmits the drive of the motor to the purge mechanism 34. In this way, the driving force of the motor is transmitted to each drive unit via each transmission gear 54, 55, 56, 57. In addition, the specific example of each drive part is only an example, and in the drive switching mechanism 40, the four transmission gears 54, 55, 56, and 57 do not necessarily need to be provided. For example, in the multi-function device 10 in which the lower tray and the re-conveying path are not provided, and thus the feeding roller and the re-conveying roller are not provided, the transmission gears 54 and 57 are set at predetermined positions instead of the transmission gears 55 and 56. A spacer may be provided to be disposed on the substrate.

[Lever member 43]
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, a lever member 43 is supported on the support shaft 42. The lever member 43 includes a main body portion 45 through which the support shaft 42 passes, and a protruding portion 46 protruding from the main body portion 45.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the main body 45 is disposed in the right direction 8 relative to the slide gear 41. As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the main body portion 45 extends along the right direction 8 and the left direction 9, and is attached to the through portion 141 through which the support shaft 42 passes and the left end portion of the through portion 141. The flange part 142 fitted and the extension part 143 extended in the right direction 8 from the outer periphery of the flange part 142 are provided.

  A through-hole 144 that penetrates in the first direction 103 and the second direction 104 is formed in the through-portion 141. The support shaft 42 passes through the through hole 144. Thus, the main body 45 is supported by the support shaft 42 so as to be slidable in the direction of the axis of the support shaft 42 (right direction 8 and left direction 9) and to be rotatable around the axis of the support shaft 42. That is, the penetration part 141 has a function as a bearing of the support shaft 42. The through hole 144 will be described later in detail.

  The protruding portion 46 protrudes from the main body portion 45 toward the movement region of the carriage 22. In the present embodiment, since the drive switching mechanism 40 is disposed below the right end portion of the moving region of the carriage 22, the projecting portion 46 projects generally upward 4.

  The protruding portion 46 protrudes from the outer peripheral surface 143 </ b> A of the extending portion 143, that is, the left end portion of the main body portion 45. That is, as shown in FIG. 6C, the protruding portion 46 protrudes from the position offset in the left direction 9 from the center position C in the right direction 8 and the left direction 9 in the main body portion 45. The protrusion 46 may protrude from a position offset in the right direction 8 from the center position C in the right direction 8 and the left direction 9 in the main body 45, or in the right direction 8 and the left direction 9 in the main body 45. You may protrude from the center part.

  The protruding tip end portion of the protruding portion 46 is located in the movement region of the carriage 22. As a result, the protrusion 46 is pressed against the carriage 22 moving in the right direction 8 (specifically, the guide piece 38 (see FIG. 3) formed at the rear end of the carriage 22) from the left direction 9. It is. As a result, the lever member 43 moves in the right direction 8.

  In the present embodiment, the lever member 43 is urged counterclockwise in FIG. 6A by an urging member (not shown) (for example, a torsion spring). The urging force of the urging member is smaller than the urging force of the coil spring 59 (specifically, the urging force by which the coil spring 59 moves the lever member 43 in the left direction 9 against the urging force of the coil spring 58).

[Coil springs 59, 58]
As shown in FIG. 4, the coil spring 59 is disposed in the right direction 8 relative to the lever member 43. The support shaft 42 is passed through the coil spring 59. The left end of the coil spring 59 is a surface 142A (see FIG. 5) that faces the right direction 8 of the flange portion 142 of the lever member 43 through a gap 70 (see FIG. 5B) formed between the penetration portion 141 and the extension portion 143. 5 (B)). The right end of the coil spring 59 is in contact with a second plate 85 of a holding portion 83 to be described later. Thus, the coil spring 59 can bias the lever member 43 and the slide gear 41 in the left direction 9.

  The coil spring 58 is disposed in the left direction 9 with respect to the slide gear 41. The support shaft 42 is passed through the coil spring 58. The right end of the coil spring 58 is in contact with the surface 41 </ b> A of the slide gear 41 facing the left direction 9. The left end of the coil spring 58 is in contact with the third plate 86 of the holding portion 83. Accordingly, the coil spring 58 can bias the slide gear 41 and the lever member 43 in the right direction 8.

  The slide gear 41 and the lever member 43 are urged in opposite directions by two coil springs 58 and 59. Thus, the slide gear 41 and the lever member 43 are brought into contact with each other on the support shaft 42 and are integrated. The urging force of the coil spring 59 in the left direction 9 is larger than the urging force of the coil spring 58 in the right direction 8. Therefore, the slide gear 41 and the lever member 43 slide in the left direction 9 when no external force is applied.

[Holding part 83]
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, a holding portion 83 is provided above the support shaft 42. The holding portion 83 is fixed to a surface facing the downward direction 5 of the guide rail 23 so that a hole 69 (see FIG. 3) formed in the right end portion of the guide rail 23 and an opening 87 described later overlap.

  5-7, the holding | maintenance part 83 protrudes below from the 1st board 84 provided above the main part 45 of the spindle 42 and the lever member 43, and the right end part of the 1st board 84. As shown in FIG. The second plate 85 and the third plate 86 projecting downward from the left end portion of the first plate 84 are provided.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a through hole 85A is formed in the second plate 85, and the right end portion of the support shaft 42 is fitted into the through hole 85A and fixed. A through hole 86A is formed in the third plate 86, and the left end portion of the support shaft 42 is fitted into the through hole 86A and fixed.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6B, the first plate 84 has openings 87 that are long in the right direction 8 and the left direction 9. In the opening 87, the protruding portion 46 of the lever member 43 is penetrated in the upward direction 4. The protruding portion 46 protrudes upward 4 from the guide rail 23 through the opening 87 and the hole 69. A portion of the protruding portion 46 that protrudes upward 4 from the guide rail 23 comes into contact with the guide piece 38 of the carriage 22 that moves in the right direction 8 from the left direction 9.

  As described above, the lever member 43 is urged in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 6A by the urging member. Therefore, the protrusion 46 is biased in the front direction 6 in FIG. Thus, the protruding portion 46 is in contact with an edge portion 88 that defines the end portion of the opening 87 in the front direction 6.

  A first stopper 121, a second stopper 122, and a first inclined surface 123 are formed on the edge 88. . The first stopper 121 and the second stopper 122 are an example of a plurality of stoppers. A second inclined surface 124 is formed on an edge 89 that defines an end in the rearward direction 7 of the opening 87.

  The first stopper 121 protrudes from the edge 88 in the rear direction 7. The second stopper 122 is provided in the right direction 8 relative to the first stopper 121 at the edge 88 and protrudes in the rear direction 7.

  Surfaces 121 </ b> A and 122 </ b> A facing the right direction 8 of the first stopper 121 and the second stopper 122 extend from the edge portion 88 substantially in the rearward direction 7. Accordingly, the first stopper 121 and the second stopper 122 can lock the protruding portion 46 urged in the left direction 9 by the coil spring 59 against the urging force of the coil spring 59. On the other hand, the surfaces 121B and 122B (an example of an inclined surface) facing the left direction 9 of the first stopper 121 and the second stopper 122 are inclined surfaces in the right direction 8 and the rear direction 7. That is, the surfaces 121B and 122B are inclined with respect to the right direction 8 and the left direction 9. The protrusion 46 moving in the right direction 8 can get over the first stopper 121 and the second stopper 122 by being guided by the surfaces 121B and 122B.

  The protrusion 46 moves in the rearward direction 7 against the urging force of the urging member while being guided by the surfaces 121B and 122B. In other words, the lever member 43 rotates clockwise in FIG.

  The first inclined surface 123 is a surface that is provided in the right direction 8 relative to the second stopper 122 in the edge portion 88 and is inclined in the right direction 8 and the rear direction 7. The second inclined surface 124 is provided in the left direction 9 with respect to the first stopper 121 at the edge 89 and is inclined in the left direction 9 and the forward direction 6.

  The protrusion 46 is held at the following four positions (first position to fourth position). The first position is a position where the protrusion 46 abuts a surface 125 (an example of a stopper) facing the right direction 8 at the left end of the opening 87. The protrusion 46 in the first position is shown as a protrusion 46A in FIG. The surface 125 prevents the protrusion 46 from moving in the left direction 9 due to the urging force of the coil spring 59 and holds the protrusion 46 in the first position. When the protrusion 46 is in the first position, the slide gear 41 is engaged with the transmission gear 54.

  The second position is a position where the protrusion 46 comes into contact with the surface 121 </ b> A of the first stopper 121. The protrusion 46 in the second position is shown as the protrusion 46B in FIG. The surface 121A prevents the protrusion 46 from moving in the left direction 9 by the biasing force of the coil spring 59, and holds the protrusion 46 in the second position. When the protrusion 46 is in the second position, the slide gear 41 meshes with the transmission gear 55.

  The third position is a position where the protrusion 46 comes into contact with the surface 122 </ b> A of the second stopper 122. The protrusion 46 in the third position is shown as the protrusion 46C in FIG. The surface 122A prevents the protrusion 46 from moving in the left direction 9 by the biasing force of the coil spring 59, and holds the protrusion 46 in the third position. When the protrusion 46 is in the third position, the slide gear 41 is engaged with the transmission gear 56.

  The fourth position is a position where the protruding portion 46 contacts the first inclined surface 123. At this time, the protrusion 46 maintains the fourth position against the urging force of the coil spring 59 by being brought into contact with the carriage 22 from the left direction 9. The protrusion 46 at the fourth position is shown as a protrusion 46D in FIG. When the protrusion 46 is in the fourth position, the slide gear 41 is engaged with the transmission gear 57.

  The protrusion 46 moves in the rearward direction 7 against the urging force of the urging member in a state where the protrusion 46 is located at the fourth position (a state where the protrusion 46 is in contact with the first inclined surface 123). In other words, the lever member 43 is rotated clockwise in FIG.

[Support shaft 42 and through hole 144]
As shown in FIG. 5, the support shaft 42 is a cylindrical and bar-shaped member. In other words, as shown in FIG. 8B, the support shaft 42 is a rod-shaped member having a circular cross-sectional shape when viewed from the right and left. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8A, the through-hole 144 formed in the main body portion 45 is a hole having a square cross-sectional shape when viewed from the right and left.

  In the present embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the through hole 144 is generally a square (hereinafter referred to as a square). The length of one side of the square is the same as the diameter of the support shaft 42. As a result, as shown in FIG. 8B, the main body portion 45 in which the through hole 144 is formed and the support shaft 42 inserted into the through hole 144 are in four contact positions P1, P2, and P3. , P4 makes point contact. The above-mentioned “same” means that the length of one side of the square and the diameter of the support shaft 42 are completely the same, and the length of one side of the square and the diameter of the support shaft 42 are the same. Including the difference in the tolerance range of the part 45.

  FIG. 8B shows a side view of the lever member 43 and the support shaft 42 when the protrusion 46 is held at the first position to the third position.

  In this case, among the square vertices A1, A2, A3, and A4 of the cross-sectional shape of the through-hole 144, the virtual line L1 that connects the opposite vertices A1 and A2 is a line along the upward direction 4 and the downward direction 5. Here, the virtual line L1 is a line that passes through the axial center 42A of the support shaft 42 and is parallel to the protruding direction (upward direction 4) of the protruding portion 46. Further, a virtual line L2 connecting the paired vertices A2 and A4 is a line along the right direction 8 and the left direction 9. Here, the imaginary line L2 is a line that passes through the axial center 42A of the support shaft 42 and is orthogonal to the protruding direction (upward direction 4) of the protruding portion 46.

  And the contact positions P1 and P2 are located in the 1st range which is an area | region of the upward direction 4 from the virtual line L2 (area | region of the protrusion part 46 side from the virtual line L2). Further, the contact positions P3 and P4 are located in a second range which is a region 5 below the virtual line L2 (a region on the opposite side of the projecting portion 46 from the virtual line L2).

  As described above, in a state where the protruding portion 46 is held at the first position to the third position, the support shaft 42 is located at two positions (the contact positions P1, P2) in the first range when viewed from the right and left. ). Further, the support shaft 42 is in contact with the main body 45 at two locations (contact positions P3 and P4) in the second range as viewed from the right and left.

  That is, the number of contact locations in the first range when the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 are viewed from the right and left, and the contact location in the second range when the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 are viewed from the right and left. Both are the same in two places.

  Further, the contact location in the first range when the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 are viewed from the right and left, and the contact location in the second range when the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 are viewed from the right and left are as follows. The line is symmetrical with respect to the virtual line L2.

  FIG. 8C shows a side view of the lever member 43 and the support shaft 42 when the protrusion 46 is held at the fourth position. The protrusion 46 is in contact with the first inclined surface 123 when being held at the fourth position. Thereby, the lever member 43 is rotated so that the protruding portion 46 moves in the rearward direction 7. That is, the position of the lever member 43 in FIG. 8C is a position rotated in the direction of the arrow 130 from the state of FIG.

  In this case, among the square vertices A1, A2, A3, and A4 of the cross-sectional shape of the through-hole 144, the virtual line L3 that connects the opposite vertices A1 and A2 is a line that is inclined with respect to the upward direction 4 and the downward direction 5. . Here, the imaginary line L3 is a line that passes through the axial center 42A of the support shaft 42 and is parallel to the protruding direction 171 (direction inclined with respect to the upward direction 4) of the protruding portion 46. A virtual line L4 connecting the paired vertices A2 and A4 is a line inclined with respect to the right direction 8 and the left direction 9. Here, the imaginary line L4 is a line that passes through the axial center 42A of the support shaft 42 and is orthogonal to the protruding direction 171 of the protruding portion 46.

  Even in the case of FIG. 8C, as in the case of FIG. 8B, the contact positions P1 and P2 are located in the first range that is a region 4 above the virtual line L2. Further, the contact positions P3 and P4 are located in a second range that is an area 5 below the virtual line L2.

  From the above, even in the state where the protrusion 46 is held at the fourth position, the support shaft 42 is viewed from the right and left, as in the state where the protrusion 46 is held at the first position to the third position. In the first range, the main body 45 abuts at two locations (abutment positions P1, P2). Further, the support shaft 42 is in contact with the main body 45 at two locations (contact positions P3 and P4) in the second range as viewed from the right and left.

  That is, the number of contact locations in the first range when the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 are viewed from the right and left, and the contact location in the second range when the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 are viewed from the right and left. Both are the same in two places.

  Note that the lever member 43 also has the protrusion 46 at the rear when the protrusion 46 is in contact with the surface 121B of the first stopper 121 and when the protrusion 46 is in contact with the surface 122B of the second stopper 122. It is rotated so as to be located in the direction 7. In this case, the number of contact positions between the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 and the positional relationship between the contact positions are the same as in the case shown in FIG.

[Drive switching in the drive switching mechanism 40]
Hereinafter, drive switching to the transmission gears 54, 55, 56, and 57 by sliding of the slide gear 41 will be described.

  In a state where the protrusion 46 is located at the first position (a state where the protrusion 46 abuts the surface 125 and the slide gear 41 meshes with the transmission gear 54), the protrusion 46 contacts the carriage 22 moving in the right direction 8. When contacted and pressed, the protrusion 46 (lever member 43) slides in the right direction 8 against the urging force of the coil spring 59. Thereby, the slide gear 41 urged in the right direction 8 by the coil spring 58 slides in the right direction 8 as the lever member 43 slides. As a result, the slide gear 41 is separated from the transmission gear 54. The protrusion 46 gets over the first stopper 121 by being guided by the surface 121 </ b> B of the first stopper 121. In the process in which the protrusion 46 is guided along the surface 121B, the lever member 43 rotates so that the protrusion 46 moves in the rearward direction 7 against the urging force of the urging member. When the protruding portion 46 is positioned in the right direction 8 from the surface 121B, the lever member 43 rotates so that the protruding portion 46 moves in the forward direction 6 by the biasing force of the biasing member. Thereby, the protrusion part 46 engages with the surface 121A of the first stopper 121 and is positioned at the second position. At this time, the slide gear 160 is engaged with the transmission gear 55.

  In a state where the protruding portion 46 is located at the second position (the protruding portion 46 is in contact with the surface 121A and the slide gear 41 is engaged with the transmission gear 55), the protruding portion 46 contacts the carriage 22 moving in the right direction 8. When contacted and pressed, the protrusion 46 (lever member 43) slides in the right direction 8 against the urging force of the coil spring 59. Thereby, the slide gear 41 urged in the right direction 8 by the coil spring 58 slides in the right direction 8 as the lever member 43 slides. As a result, the slide gear 41 is separated from the transmission gear 55. The protrusion 46 gets over the second stopper 122 by being guided by the surface 122 </ b> B of the second stopper 122. In the process in which the protrusion 46 is guided along the surface 122B, the lever member 43 rotates so that the protrusion 46 moves in the rearward direction 7 against the urging force of the urging member. When the protruding portion 46 is positioned in the right direction 8 from the surface 122B, the lever member 43 rotates so that the protruding portion 46 moves in the forward direction 6 by the biasing force of the biasing member. Thereby, the protrusion 46 is engaged with the surface 122A of the second stopper 122 and is positioned at the third position. At this time, the slide gear 160 meshes with the transmission gear 56.

  In a state where the protrusion 46 is located at the third position (the protrusion 46 is in contact with the surface 122A and the slide gear 41 is engaged with the transmission gear 56), the protrusion 46 contacts the carriage 22 moving in the right direction 8. When pressed in contact with each other, the protrusion 46 (lever member 43) slides in the right direction 8 against the urging force of the coil spring 59. Thereby, the slide gear 41 urged in the right direction 8 by the coil spring 58 slides in the right direction 8 as the lever member 43 slides. As a result, the slide gear 41 is separated from the transmission gear 56. The protrusion 46 is guided by the first inclined surface 123. At this time, the lever member 43 rotates so that the protrusion 46 moves in the rearward direction 7 against the urging force of the urging member. Thereby, the protrusion part 46 reaches | attains a 4th position. At this time, the carriage 22 maintains contact with the protruding portion 46, whereby the protruding portion 46 is held at the fourth position, which is a position where the protruding portion 46 contacts the first inclined surface 123. In the state where the protruding portion 46 is located at the fourth position, the slide gear 160 is engaged with the transmission gear 57.

  In a state where the protruding portion 46 is located at the fourth position (the protruding portion 46 is in contact with the first inclined surface 123 and the slide gear 41 is engaged with the transmission gear 57), the carriage 22 moves in the left direction 9 and protrudes. When separated from the portion 46, the protruding portion 46 (lever member 43) slides in the left direction 9 by the biasing force of the coil spring 59. At this time, since the protruding portion 46 moves in the rearward direction 7, it slides in the leftward direction 9 with respect to the first stopper 121 without being engaged with the first stopper 121 and the second stopper 122. As a result, the protrusion 46 abuts on the second inclined surface 124 and is guided to the second inclined surface 124. At this time, the lever member 43 rotates so that the protrusion 46 moves in the forward direction 6. As a result, the protrusion 46 reaches the first position. When the protrusion 46 is positioned at the first position, the slide gear 160 is engaged with the transmission gear 54.

[Operational effects of this embodiment]
According to this embodiment, since the main body 45 and the support shaft 42 are in contact with each other at a plurality of locations, the main body 45 acting when the carriage 22 presses the protrusion 46 disperses the force of pressing the support shaft 42. be able to. Further, according to the present embodiment, the support shaft 42 is in contact with the main body 45 at a plurality of locations in each of the first range and the second range. Therefore, the side on which the through-hole 141 is provided with the protrusion 46, that is, the force F <b> 1 (see FIG. 7) that pushes the support shaft 42 from above, and the side on which the through-hole 141 is provided with the protrusion 46. Both the force F2 (see FIG. 7) pushing the support shaft 42 from the opposite side, that is, the bottom can be dispersed. As a result, the load on the slide of the lever member 43 can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, even when the protruding portion 46 is held at the first position to the third position by the surface 125 and the stoppers 121 and 122, the main body portion 45 and the support shaft 42 are provided at a plurality of locations. It is in contact. Therefore, even when the protrusion 46 is held at the first position to the third position, the load on the slide of the lever member 43 can be reduced.

  Moreover, according to this embodiment, even if the protrusion part 46 is the state contacted and rotated by the inclined surface (the surface 121B, the surface 122B, the 1st inclined surface 123), the main-body part 45, the spindle 42, and Are in contact at multiple locations. Therefore, the load on the slide of the lever member 43 can be reduced even in a state where the protruding portion 46 is rotated in contact with the inclined surfaces (surface 121B, surface 122B, first inclined surface 123).

  In addition, according to the present embodiment, the support shaft 42 and the main body portion 45 are point contacts when viewed from the right and left, so that the contact area between the main body portion 45 and the support shaft 42 can be reduced. Therefore, the sliding resistance of the main body 45 with respect to the support shaft 42 can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the number of contact portions between the support shaft 42 and the main body portion 45 in the first range is the same as the number of contact portions between the support shaft 42 and the main body portion 45 in the second range. It is. Further, according to the present embodiment, the number of contact portions between the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 in the first range and the contact portion between the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 in the second range are imaginary lines. It is in a line-symmetric relationship with L2. Therefore, the side on which the through-hole 141 is provided with the protrusion 46, that is, the force F <b> 1 (see FIG. 7) that pushes the support shaft 42 from above, and the side on which the through-hole 141 is provided with the protrusion 46. Both the opposite side, that is, the force F2 (see FIG. 7) that pushes the support shaft 42 from below can be distributed substantially evenly.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the number of contact portions between the support shaft 42 and the main body portion 45 is plural, but the minimum number (2 for each range). Thereby, since the shape of the main-body part 45 can be simplified, shaping | molding of the lever member 43 becomes easy.

[Modification]
In the above embodiment, the cross-sectional shape when the through-hole 144 is viewed from the right and left is a square, but the cross-sectional shape may be other than a square. In addition, the number of contact portions between the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 in the first range and the second range is two, but the number of the contact portions may be plural. Not limited to.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 8D, the through hole 144 may be a hole having a hexagonal cross section when viewed from the right and left. In this case, the number of contact points between the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 in the first range is three (contact points P11, P12, P13). Further, the number of contact points between the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 in the second range is also three (contact points P14, P15, P16).

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the contact location of the spindle 42 and the main-body part 45 in a 1st range and the number of contact locations of the support shaft 42 and the main-body part 45 in a 2nd range were the same number. , It does not have to be the same number.

  For example, the through-hole 144 may be a hole having a cross-sectional shape as shown in FIG. In this case, the number of contact portions between the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 in the first range is two (contact positions P21 and P22), whereas the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 in the second range. The number of contact points is three (contact points P23, P24, P25).

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, in the 2nd range seen from the right and the left of the spindle 42 and the main-body part 45, and the contact location in the 1st range seen from the right and the left of the spindle 42 and the main-body part 45. The contact portion has a line-symmetric relationship with respect to a line that passes through the shaft center 42A of the support shaft 42 and is orthogonal to the protruding direction of the protruding portion 46, but may not have a line-symmetric relationship.

  For example, in the case of the configuration shown in FIG. 8 (E), the contact portion (contact position P21, P22) in the first range of the support shaft 42 and the main body portion 45 as viewed from the right and left, and the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 in the second range as viewed from the right and the left (contact positions P23, P24, P25) are the axial direction 42A of the support shaft 42 and the protruding direction of the protruding portion 46. There is no line-symmetric relationship with respect to the orthogonal virtual line L2.

21 ... recording head 22 ... carriage 41 ... slide gear 42 ... support shaft 43 ... lever member 45 ... main body 46 ... projection 54 ... transmission gear 55 ... Transmission gear 56 Transmission gear 57 Transmission gear 59 Coil spring (biasing member)
111... Printer unit (inkjet recording apparatus)

Claims (8)

A slide gear slidably supported by a support shaft along the axial direction;
A biasing member that biases the slide gear in a first direction along the axial direction;
A plurality of transmission gears that are spaced apart from each other along the axial direction, each capable of meshing with the slide gear;
A carriage having a recording head for ejecting ink from the nozzles toward the sheet, and a carriage movable along the axial direction;
A main body part slidably supported by the support shaft adjacent to the slide gear, and a projecting part projecting from the main body part to the moving region of the carriage, and a second direction opposite to the first direction. A lever member that slides when the carriage that moves to abuts against the protrusion,
The support shaft is viewed from the axial direction and passes through the center of the axis and is opposite to the protruding portion from the first range and the imaginary line on the protruding portion side with respect to the imaginary line orthogonal to the protruding direction of the protruding portion. An inkjet recording apparatus that is in contact with the main body at a plurality of locations in each of the second ranges on the side. A holding portion having a plurality of stoppers for holding the protrusion at each position where the slide gear meshes with each of the plurality of transmission gears;
In the state where the protrusion is held at the positions by the stoppers, the support shaft has the body portion and a plurality of locations in each of the first range and the second range as viewed from the axial direction. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, which is in contact with each other. The lever member is rotatable around the support shaft,
The holding portion includes an inclined surface inclined with respect to the axial direction,
The lever member rotates when the protruding portion in contact with the inclined surface is guided along the inclined surface,
In a state where the protruding portion is in contact with the inclined surface, the support shaft is in contact with the main body portion at a plurality of locations in each of the first range and the second range as viewed from the axial direction. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1 or 2.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support shaft and the main body are in point contact when viewed from the axial direction.   The number of contact locations in the first range as seen from the axial direction between the support shaft and the main body, and the contact locations in the second range as seen from the axial direction between the support shaft and the main body. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of the ink jet recording apparatuses is the same.   The contact location in the first range as seen from the axial direction of the support shaft and the main body, and the contact location in the second range as seen from the axial direction of the support shaft and the main body are: The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the inkjet recording apparatus has a line-symmetric relationship with respect to an imaginary line passing through the axial center and perpendicular to the protruding direction of the protruding portion.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the support shaft is in contact with the main body at two locations in each of the first range and the second range as viewed from the axial direction.   8. The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the protruding portion protrudes from a position offset from the center of the main body portion in the first direction or the second direction.

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