JP2019011183A - Conveyance device and image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

To suppress degradation in conveyance precision of a sheet.SOLUTION: The conveyance device includes: a discharge roller 62 which can move to a nip position where a sheet 12 is nipped in a space to a spur 63 and a spacing position spaced from the spur 63; bearings 80 each having a long hole 107 which can guide the discharge roller 62 to the nip position and the spacing position; and a side frame 55 supporting the bearings 80. Each of the bearings 80 has a circular outer-peripheral surface 104 when viewed from a longitudinal direction 9 and a fitting part 103 capable of being fitted to the side frame 55. The side frame 55 includes a circular inner-peripheral surface 72A in slide contact with the outer-peripheral surface 104 of the fitting part 103 fitted. Each of the bearings 80 rotates by a predetermined angle with the outer-peripheral surface 104 in slide contact with the inner-peripheral surface 72A to be assembled into the side frame 55. The discharge roller 62 is positioned at an upper end of the long hole 107 at the nip position. The rotational center of each of the bearings 80 is the identical position to an axis 62C of the discharge roller 62 at the nip position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

  The present invention relates to a conveyance device that conveys a sheet, and an image recording apparatus including the conveyance device.

  A conveyance device that can convey a sheet along a conveyance path formed inside is known. For example, an image recording apparatus such as a printer or a multifunction peripheral is provided with such a transport device. The conveying device includes a pair of rollers for nipping and conveying the sheet. The rollers constituting the roller pair are positioned by bearings.

  In the conveyance device and the image recording device, a sheet jammed in the conveyance path while being sandwiched between roller pairs is removed, or a medium tray on which a DVD or the like thicker than the sheet can be placed is nipped by a roller pair. For this reason, there is a configuration in which one of the rollers constituting the roller pair is configured to be able to contact and separate from the other.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an image recording apparatus including a bearing having a long hole capable of guiding a roller in the vertical direction so that one of the rollers constituting the roller pair can contact and separate from the other. Yes.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-132544

  When the bearing disclosed in Patent Document 1 is attached to the frame, a configuration in which the bearing is fitted into the frame along the axial direction of the roller, or a configuration in which the bearing is inserted from a notch formed in the frame can be considered. However, in the former configuration, the bearing may be displaced in the axial direction. In the latter configuration, the bearing may be displaced in the insertion direction into the notch.

  Therefore, a configuration is conceivable in which the bearing is attached to the frame by rotating the bearing after fitting the bearing into the frame. With this configuration, it is possible to reduce the displacement of the bearing in the axial direction or the notch insertion direction. However, when this configuration is adopted for a bearing having a long hole capable of guiding a roller, the following problems occur. In other words, in this configuration, the bearing may be displaced in the rotational direction. However, the position of the elongated hole deviated from the rotational center of the bearing is greatly affected by the positional displacement in the rotational direction. Thereby, the conveyance accuracy of the sheet by the roller positioned on the bearing is lowered.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a conveyance device that can suppress a decrease in sheet conveyance accuracy.

  (1) The conveyance device according to the present invention is movable to a first roller, a nip position where the sheet is nipped facing the first roller, and a separation position that is farther from the first roller than the nip position. A second roller; a bearing having a long hole capable of guiding the second roller to the nip position and the separation position; and a frame that supports the bearing. The bearing includes a fitting portion that has a circular outer peripheral surface when viewed in the axial direction of the second roller and can be fitted to the frame. The frame includes a circular inner peripheral surface that is in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion that is fitted to the frame. The bearing is assembled to the frame by rotating a predetermined angle while the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion and the inner peripheral surface of the frame are in sliding contact with each other. The second roller is located at one end of the long hole at the nip position. The rotation center of the bearing is at the same position as the axis of the second roller at the nip position.

  According to this configuration, the second roller at the nip position nips and conveys the sheet between the first roller and the second roller. Further, according to this configuration, the rotation center of the bearing is at the same position as the axis of the second roller at the nip position. Therefore, even when the bearing is displaced in the rotational direction, the second roller at the nip position is hardly affected by the displacement. Thereby, the conveyance accuracy of the sheet can be maintained satisfactorily.

  On the other hand, in this configuration, when the bearing is displaced in the rotational direction, the second roller at a position other than the nip position is easily affected by the displacement. However, the second roller at a position other than the nip position nips and does not convey the sheet. Therefore, the sheet conveyance accuracy does not decrease.

  (2) The conveying device according to the present invention may be configured such that a first position where the second roller is in contact with the second roller and the second roller is the nip position, and a second position where the second roller is the separation position, A moving member is provided that is movable along a moving direction that intersects the axial direction. The bearing includes a first contact portion that contacts one side surface of the frame in the axial direction in a state where the bearing is assembled to the frame, and a shaft in which the bearing is assembled to the frame. A second abutting portion that abuts against the other side surface of the frame in the direction and sandwiches the frame between the first abutting portion in the axial direction and restricts movement of the bearing in the axial direction. Are further provided. The second contact portion is disposed at a position not in contact with the moving member. In the axial direction, at least a part of the position of the second contact portion and the contact position of the moving member and the second roller overlap each other.

  According to this configuration, the position of the second contact portion and the contact position between the moving member and the second roller overlap in the axial direction. Therefore, the moving member can be arranged near the frame in the axial direction. Thereby, the position shift of the bearing due to the moving member coming into contact with the second roller can be reduced. Thereby, the enlargement in the axial direction of the conveying device can be suppressed.

  (3) The second contact portion extends along the moving direction in a state where the bearing is assembled to the frame.

  According to this configuration, the second contact portion extends along the movement direction. For this reason, when the bearing is displaced in the rotational direction, the possibility that the second contact portion enters the moving region of the moving member can be reduced. Thereby, the possibility of contact between the moving member and the second contact portion can be reduced.

  (4) The fitting portion includes a thick portion protruding in the axial direction. The moving member contacts the second roller from one of the axial direction and an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the moving direction. The thick part comes into contact with the second roller from the other side in the orthogonal direction.

  When the moving member comes into contact with the second roller, the second roller is urged toward the nip position. When the biased second roller comes into contact with and presses the bearing, the bearing may be displaced. According to this configuration, the biased second roller contacts the thick portion of the fitting portion. The thick portion has a thickness in the axial direction. Therefore, when the thick portion comes into contact with the second roller, it is possible to reduce the displacement of the bearing due to being pressed by the biased second roller.

  (5) In the axial direction, at least a part of the position of the thick portion overlaps with the contact position between the moving member and the second roller.

  According to this configuration, the thick portion is in a position where it is easy to receive a force from the second roller in contact with the moving member. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the displacement of the bearing due to being pushed by the second roller.

  (6) The second contact portion projects from the thick portion along the other side surface of the frame.

  According to this structure, it is easy to make the structure of a bearing the structure which provided the clearance gap which pinches | interposes a flame | frame between the 2nd contact part and the 1st contact part.

  (7) The present invention can also be understood as an image recording apparatus including the transport device and a recording unit that records an image on a sheet that is nipped and transported by the first roller and the second roller.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to suppress a decrease in sheet conveyance accuracy.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the multifunction machine 10. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer unit 11. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a pair of side frames 55, guide rails 56, transport rollers 60, discharge rollers 62, bearings 70, bearings 80, and moving members 120 in the printer unit 11. 4A is a right side view of the right side frame 55 of the pair of side frames 55, and FIG. 4B is a view of the right side frame 55 of the pair of side frames 55. It is a left side view. 5A is a right side view of the state in which the bearing 80 is assembled to the right side frame 55 of the pair of side frames 55, and FIG. It is a left view of the state in which the bearing 80 was assembled | attached to the right side frame 55 of FIG. 6A is a perspective view of the bearing 80 as viewed from the right front side, and FIG. 6B is a perspective view of the bearing 80 as viewed from the left front side. FIG. 7A is a right side view of a process in which the bearing 80 is assembled to the right side frame 55 of the pair of side frames 55, and FIG. FIG. 6 is a left side view of a process in which the bearing 80 is assembled to the right side frame 55. FIG. 8 is a left side view of the bearing 80 assembled to the right side frame 55 of the pair of side frames 55, the discharge roller 62 at the nip position, and the moving member 120 at the first position. FIG. 9 is a left side view of the bearing 80 assembled to the right side frame 55 of the pair of side frames 55, the discharge roller 62 at the separation position, and the moving member 120 at the second position. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the XX cross section of FIG.

  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. In the following description, a vertical direction 7 (an example of an orthogonal direction) is defined with reference to a state in which the multifunction machine 10 is installed so as to be usable (state in FIG. 1), and the surface on which the opening 13 is provided is defined as the front surface. A front-rear direction 8 is defined, and a left-right direction 9 is defined when the multifunction machine 10 is viewed from the front. In the present embodiment, in a state where the multifunction machine 10 is installed to be usable, the vertical direction 7 corresponds to the vertical direction, and the front-rear direction 8 and the horizontal direction 9 correspond to the horizontal direction. The front-rear direction 8 and the left-right direction 9 are orthogonal to each other.

[Overall structure of MFP 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction machine 10 is generally formed in a rectangular parallelepiped. The multifunction machine 10 includes a printer unit 11 (an example of an image recording apparatus) at the bottom. The printer unit 11 records an image on a sheet 12 (an example of a sheet, see FIG. 2) by an inkjet recording method. The multifunction machine 10 has various functions such as a facsimile function and a print function.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the printer unit 11 includes a recording unit 24, a platen 42, and a transport device. The conveying device includes a feeding tray 20, a discharge tray 21, a feeding unit 16, a conveying roller pair 59, a discharging roller pair 44, a side frame 55 (see FIG. 3), and a bearing 80 (see FIG. 3). And a moving member 120 (see FIG. 3).

[Feeding tray 20]
As shown in FIG. 1, the printer unit 11 includes an opening 13 on the front surface. The feeding tray 20 can be inserted and removed from the opening 13 in the front-rear direction 8. The feeding tray 20 has a box shape with the top opened. As shown in FIG. 2, the bottom plate 22 of the feeding tray 20 can support paper 12 of various sizes.

[Discharge tray 21]
As shown in FIG. 1, the discharge tray 21 is located above the feeding tray 20. The discharge tray 21 supports the paper 12 on which an image is recorded by the recording unit 24 and discharged.

[Feeding unit 16]
As shown in FIG. 2, the feeding unit 16 is disposed above the bottom plate 22 of the feeding tray 20 inserted in the printer unit 11. The feeding unit 16 includes a feeding roller 25, a feeding arm 26, and a shaft 27.

  The feed roller 25 is rotatably supported at the distal end portion of the feed arm 26. The feeding roller 25 is rotated by a driving force applied from a motor (not shown). A proximal end portion of the feeding arm 26 is rotatably supported on the shaft 27. The shaft 27 is supported by a base frame (not shown) of the printer unit 11. The base frame is a frame that forms the lower part of the printer unit 11. The printer unit 11 is formed by attaching an exterior cover 14 (see FIG. 1) to the base frame. The feeding arm 26 is biased toward the bottom plate 22 by its own weight or an elastic force by a spring or the like. The feed roller 25 rotates while being in contact with the paper 12 supported by the bottom plate 22, thereby picking up the paper 12 supported by the bottom plate 22 and feeding it to a conveyance path 65 described later.

[Conveyance path 65]
As shown in FIG. 2, the conveyance path 65 indicates a space defined by the outer guide member 18 and the inner guide member 19 that face each other at a predetermined interval in the printer unit 11. The conveyance path 65 is a path that extends rearward from the rear end portion of the feed tray 20, makes a U-turn while extending upward from below at the rear portion of the printer unit 11, and reaches the discharge tray 21 through the recording unit 24. The conveyance path 65 communicates with the discharge tray 21 through the nip position by the conveyance roller pair 59, between the recording unit 24 and the platen 42, and through the nip position by the discharge roller pair 44. Note that the conveyance direction 15 of the paper 12 in the conveyance path 65 is indicated by a one-dot chain arrow in FIG.

[Conveying roller pair 59 and discharging roller pair 44]
As shown in FIG. 2, the conveyance roller pair 59 is disposed in the conveyance path 65. The conveyance roller pair 59 includes a conveyance roller 60 and a pinch roller 61. The discharge roller pair 44 is disposed downstream in the transport direction 15 from the transport roller pair 59 in the transport path 65. The discharge roller pair 44 includes a discharge roller 62 (an example of a second roller) and a spur 63 (an example of a first roller).

  The conveyance roller 60, the pinch roller 61, the discharge roller 62, and the spur 63 rotate around an axis extending in the left-right direction 9. The left-right direction 9 is an example of an axial direction.

  The conveyance roller 60 and the pinch roller 61 are in contact with each other. The discharge roller 62 and the spur 63 are in contact with each other. The transport roller 60 and the discharge roller 62 are rotated by a driving force transmitted from a motor (not shown). Accordingly, the conveyance roller pair 59 and the discharge roller pair 44 nip the sheet 12 and convey it in the conveyance direction 15.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the discharge roller 62 includes a shaft 64 extending in the left-right direction 9 and a roller portion 58 attached to cover the shaft 64 with a space in the left-right direction 9. A plurality of spurs 63 are provided at intervals in the left-right direction 9. Each spur 63 is provided at a position facing the roller portion 58 of the discharge roller 62.

[Platen 42]
As shown in FIG. 2, the platen 42 is disposed between the conveyance roller pair 59 and the discharge roller pair 44 in the conveyance path 65. The platen 42 is disposed to face the recording unit 24 in the vertical direction 7. The platen 42 supports the paper 12 conveyed through the conveyance path 65 from below.

[Recording unit 24]
As shown in FIG. 2, the recording unit 24 is disposed between the conveyance roller pair 59 and the discharge roller pair 44 in the conveyance path 65. The recording unit 24 is disposed at a position facing the platen 42 above the conveyance path 65. The recording unit 24 includes a carriage 40 and a recording head 38. The carriage 40 is disposed at a position facing the platen 42 above the conveyance path 65. The carriage 40 reciprocates in the scanning direction (left-right direction 9) orthogonal to the conveyance direction 15.

  The carriage 40 is supported by guide rails 56 and 57 that are spaced apart in the front-rear direction 8. A known belt mechanism (not shown) is provided on at least one of the guide rails 56 and 57. The carriage 40 is connected to a belt mechanism. It is driven by a motor (not shown). Thereby, the carriage 40 can reciprocate in the left-right direction 9.

  The recording head 38 is mounted on the carriage 40. A plurality of nozzles 39 are formed on the lower surface of the recording head 38 (the surface facing the platen 42). Ink is supplied to the recording head 38 from an ink cartridge (not shown). The recording head 38 ejects ink from the nozzle 39 as fine ink droplets. When the carriage 40 reciprocates in the left-right direction 9, ink droplets are ejected from the nozzle 39 toward the platen 42. As a result, ink droplets land on the paper 12 supported by the platen 42 and an image is recorded on the paper 12.

[Side frame 55]
As shown in FIG. 3, the printer unit 11 includes a pair of side frames 55 (an example of a frame) that are arranged at an interval in the left-right direction 9. The pair of side frames 55 are arranged to the left and right of the conveyance path 65 in the left-right direction 9.

  The pair of side frames 55 are attached to and supported by the above-described base frame (not shown). The pair of side frames 55 support guide rails 56 and 57. The guide rails 56 and 57 are fixed to a pair of side frames 55. In FIG. 3, the guide rail 57 is not shown.

  The configuration of each of the pair of side frames 55 is substantially the same except for the symmetrical shape. Therefore, in the following description, the configuration of the side frame 55 positioned on the right side of the pair of side frames 55 will be described. On the other hand, the description of the configuration of the side frame 55 located on the left side of the pair of side frames 55 is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the side frame 55 includes a bottom plate 66 and a side plate 67. The bottom plate 66 extends in the front-rear direction 8 and the left-right direction 9. The bottom plate 66 is supported on the base frame from below. The side plate 67 is erected upward from the right end of the bottom plate 66. The side plate 67 extends in the up-down direction 7 and the front-rear direction 8.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the side plate 67 of the side frame 55 includes a notch 71, a through hole 72, and a through hole 73.

  The notch 71 is formed in the rear part of the side frame 55. The cutout 71 is cut out in an arc shape. As shown in FIG. 3, a known bearing 70 is fitted in the notch 71. Thereby, the bearing 70 is supported by the side frame 55. The conveyance roller 60 is inserted into the bearing 70. The bearing 70 supports the conveyance roller 60 in a rotatable manner.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the through hole 72 is formed in front of the notch 71. The through hole 72 has a circular shape. That is, the through-hole 72 has a circular inner peripheral surface 72A as viewed in the left-right direction 9. The fitting portion 103 (see FIG. 6) of the bearing 80 is inserted through the through hole 72.

  The through-hole 72 includes a pair of recesses 72B that are recessed from the inner peripheral surface 72A. The pair of recesses 72 </ b> B opposes along the side plate 67. Of the pair of recesses 72B, the recess 72B positioned forward is positioned above the recess 72B positioned rearward of the pair of recesses 72B. The second contact portion 102 (see FIG. 6) of the bearing 80 is inserted into the recess 72B.

  The through hole 73 is formed in front of the through hole 72. A protrusion 108 (see FIG. 6) of the bearing 80 is inserted into the through hole 73.

[Bearing 80]
As shown in FIG. 5, the bearing 80 is fitted in the through hole 72 of the side plate 67 of the pair of side frames 55. Thereby, the bearing 80 is supported by the side frame 55.

  The structure of the bearing 80 fitted into the through hole 72 of the side frame 55 located on the right side of the pair of side frames 55 and the fit of the through hole 72 of the side frame 55 located on the left side of the pair of side frames 55. The configuration of the bearing 80 is substantially the same except that it has a symmetrical shape. Therefore, in the following description, the configuration of the bearing 80 that is fitted into the through hole 72 of the side frame 55 located on the right side of the pair of side frames 55 will be described. On the other hand, description of the structure of the bearing 80 fitted in the through-hole 72 of the side frame 55 located on the left side of the pair of side frames 55 is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the bearing 80 includes a first contact portion 101, a second contact portion 102, and a fitting portion 103. In FIG. 6, the vertical direction 7, the front-rear direction 8, and the left-right direction 9 are defined assuming that the bearing 80 is fitted in the side frame 55.

  The first contact portion 101 has a plate shape extending in the up-down direction 7 and the front-rear direction 8.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, the fitting portion 103 is generally surrounded by the first contact portion 101 when viewed in the left-right direction 9. As shown in FIG. 6B, the fitting portion 103 protrudes leftward from the left surface 101 </ b> A of the first contact portion 101. The fitting part 103 has a cylindrical shape. That is, the fitting portion 103 includes an outer peripheral surface 104 that is a side surface of a cylinder, and the outer peripheral surface 104 is circular when viewed in the left-right direction 9. The diameter of the circle constituting the outer peripheral surface 104 is substantially the same as the diameter of the circle constituting the inner peripheral surface 72 </ b> A of the through hole 72 of the side frame 55. As a result, the fitting portion 103 can be inserted into the through hole 72. The fitting portion 103 is fitted into the side frame 55 by the fitting portion 103 being inserted into the through hole 72. That is, the bearing 80 is fitted to the side frame 55. In a state where the fitting portion 103 is inserted through the through hole 72, the outer peripheral surface 104 of the fitting portion 103 and the inner peripheral surface 72 </ b> A of the through hole 72 are in sliding contact.

  The fitting part 103 includes a thick part 106. The thick part 106 protrudes to the left at the upper part of the fitting part 103. Thereby, the length in the left-right direction 9 of the thick portion 106 is longer than the length in the left-right direction 9 of the portion other than the thick portion 106 of the fitting portion 103 (lower portion of the fitting portion 103). In other words, the thickness of the upper portion of the fitting portion 103 where the thick portion 106 is formed is thicker than the thickness of the lower portion of the fitting portion 103.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the fitting portion 103 includes a long hole 107. The long hole 107 penetrates the fitting portion 103 in the left-right direction 9. The long hole 107 extends forward as it goes downward. That is, the long hole 107 is a long hole in a direction inclined with respect to the vertical direction 7. The shaft 64 of the discharge roller 62 is inserted into the long hole 107. The discharge roller 62 can rotate in a state where the shaft 64 is inserted into the bearing 80.

  The discharge roller 62 is movable along the long hole 107 to a nip position shown in FIG. 8 and a separation position shown in FIG. That is, the long hole 107 can guide the discharge roller 62 to the nip position and the separation position.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the shaft 64 of the discharge roller 62 at the nip position is located at the upper end portion (an example of one end portion) of the long hole 107. The discharge roller 62 at the nip position can face the spur 63 and nip the paper 12 between the spur 63. As shown in FIG. 9, the shaft 64 of the discharge roller 62 in the separated position is located at the lower end of the long hole 107. The discharge roller 62 at the separation position is further away from the spur 63 than the discharge roller 62 at the nip position. The discharge roller 62 moves to the nip position and the separation position in conjunction with the movement of the moving member 120 described later.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the second contact portion 102 protrudes from the outer peripheral surface 104 of the thick portion 106 of the fitting portion 103. Note that the second contact portion 102 may protrude from other than the thick portion 106.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, a pair of second contact portions 102 are provided. Each of the pair of second contact portions 102 protrudes in opposite directions. The pair of second contact portions 102 extends along the side plate 67.

  The second contact portion 102 is smaller than the recess 72 </ b> B of the through hole 72 of the side frame 55 when viewed in the left-right direction 9. Accordingly, the second contact portion 102 can be inserted into the recess 72 </ b> B of the through hole 72 of the side frame 55 in the left-right direction 9.

  In the present embodiment, the first contact portion 101 includes an opening 110 and a notch 109 as shown in FIG. In the left-right direction 9, the opening 110 and the notch 109 are opposed to the second contact portion 102. That is, in the left-right direction 9, the first contact portion 101 does not face the second contact portion 102. In the left-right direction 9, the first contact portion 101 may face the second contact portion 102. For example, the first contact portion 101 may not include the opening 110 and the notch 109.

  The first contact portion 101 includes an extending portion 105 that extends forward. As shown in FIG. 6B, a protrusion 108 is formed at the tip of the extended portion 105. The protrusion 108 protrudes leftward from the left surface 101 </ b> A of the first contact portion 101. When viewed in the left-right direction 9, the distance from the center of the circular fitting portion 103 to the center of the protrusion 108 is the same as the distance from the center of the through hole 72 of the side frame 55 to the center of the through hole 73.

[Assembly of bearing 80 to side frame 55]
Below, the procedure in which the bearing 80 is assembled | attached to the side frame 55 located in the right side among a pair of side frames 55 is demonstrated. The procedure for assembling the bearing 80 to the left side frame 55 of the pair of side frames 55 is the procedure for assembling the bearing 80 to the right side frame 55 of the pair of side frames 55. Since this is the same, the description thereof is omitted.

  First, the fitting portion 103 of the bearing 80 is inserted into the through hole 72 of the side frame 55 from the right side of the side plate 67 of the side frame 55. At this time, in the left-right direction 9, the second contact portion 102 (see FIG. 6B) of the bearing 80 and the recess 72B (see FIG. 4A) of the through hole 72 of the side frame 55 are opposed to each other. Accordingly, the fitting portion 103 is inserted into the through hole 72 without the second contact portion 102 coming into contact with the right surface 67 </ b> A of the side plate 67.

  At this time, the outer peripheral surface 104 of the fitting portion 103 is in sliding contact with the inner peripheral surface 72 </ b> A of the through hole 72. At this time, the first contact portion 101 of the bearing 80 contacts the right surface 67A of the side plate 67 from the right side. At this time, the fitting portion 103 and the second contact portion 102 protrude leftward from the side plate 67. At this time, the protrusion 108 of the bearing 80 is located above the side frame 55.

  Next, the bearing 80 is rotated so that the outer peripheral surface 104 slides with respect to the inner peripheral surface 72A. The rotation direction of the bearing 80 is a direction in which the protrusion 108 approaches the through hole 73 of the side plate 67 of the side frame 55. When the bearing 80 rotates as described above, the protrusion 108 comes into contact with the upper end of the side plate 67 from above as shown in FIG. 7, and the rotation of the bearing 80 is inhibited. In this state, the extended portion 105 of the bearing 80 is bent to the right. Thereby, the protrusion 108 is positioned on the right side of the side plate 67, and further rotation of the bearing 80 in the rotation direction is possible. When the protrusion 108 faces the through hole 73 due to the rotation of the bearing 80, the protrusion 108 fits into the through hole 73, and the bending of the extending portion 105 is eliminated. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 5, the bearing 80 is assembled to the side frame 55.

  As described above, the bearing 80 is assembled to the side frame 55 by rotating by the predetermined angle θ while the outer peripheral surface 104 and the inner peripheral surface 72A are in sliding contact with each other. As shown in FIG. 5B, the predetermined angle θ is such that the straight line L1 passing through the center 72C of the through hole 72 and the center of the through hole 73 as viewed in the left-right direction 9 and the pair of recesses 72B face each other. This is the angle formed by the parallel straight line L2.

  In a state where the bearing 80 is assembled to the side frame 55, the first contact portion 101 is in contact with the right surface 67A (an example of one side surface) of the side plate 67 of the side frame 55 from the right side (FIG. 5A). )reference). In this state, the second contact portion 102 is in contact with the left surface 67B (an example of the other side surface) of the side plate 67 of the side frame 55 from the left (see FIG. 5B). That is, in this state, the first contact portion 101 and the second contact portion 102 sandwich the side plate 67 in the left-right direction 9. Thereby, the movement to the left-right direction 9 of the bearing 80 in the said state is controlled.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, the second contact portion 102 extends along the front-rear direction 8 in a state where the bearing 80 is assembled to the side frame 55.

  When the bearing 80 is removed from the side frame 55, the reverse procedure described above is executed.

[Moving member 120]
As shown in FIG. 3, the printer unit 11 includes a pair of moving members 120 facing in the left-right direction 9. The moving member 120 located on the right side of the pair of moving members 120 is supported by the bottom plate 66 of the side frame 55 located on the right side of the pair of side frames 55. The moving member 120 located on the left side of the pair of moving members 120 is supported by the bottom plate 66 of the side frame 55 located on the left side of the pair of side frames 55.

  The configuration of each of the pair of moving members 120 is substantially the same except for the symmetrical shape. Therefore, in the following description, the configuration of the moving member 120 located on the right side of the pair of moving members 120 will be described. On the other hand, description of the structure of the moving member 120 located on the left side of the pair of moving members 120 is omitted.

  The moving member 120 is a generally plate-shaped member that is long in the front-rear direction 8. The moving member 120 is movable in the front-rear direction 8 (an example of the moving direction). The moving member 120 is movable to a first position shown in FIG. 8 and a second position shown in FIG. 9 that is a position ahead of the first position.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the moving member 120 includes a grip portion 121, a coil spring 122, and a contact portion 123.

  The grip portion 121 is formed at the front end portion of the moving member 120. The grip part 121 extends to the vicinity of the opening 13 of the printer unit 11. The grip 121 is gripped by the user of the multifunction machine 10 through the opening 13 and moved along the front-rear direction 8 to the first position and the second position. In FIG. 1, the moving member 120 is omitted.

  One end (lower end) of the coil spring 122 is attached to the main body of the moving member 120 behind the grip portion 121. A contact portion 123 is attached to the other end (upper end) of the coil spring 122.

  The moving member 120 moves the discharge roller 62 to the nip position and the separation position by moving.

  As shown in FIG. 8, when the moving member 120 is in the first position, the contact portion 123 is in contact with the shaft 64 of the discharge roller 62 from below. An upward urging force by the coil spring 122 acts on the discharge roller 62 that is in contact with the contact portion 123 from below. Due to the urging force, the shaft 64 of the discharge roller 62 is positioned at the upper end portion of the long hole 107. That is, the moving member 120 at the first position contacts the discharge roller 62 and sets the discharge roller 62 to the nip position.

  When the discharge roller 62 is at the nip position, the thick portion 106 of the bearing 80 (specifically, the edge surface of the upper end portion of the long hole 107 defined by the thick portion 106) is directed to the shaft 64 of the discharge roller 62 from above. It is in contact. That is, the discharge roller 62 at the nip position is in contact with the contact portion 123 of the moving member 120 from below, and is in contact with the thick portion 106 of the bearing 80 from above.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the contact portion 123 is located in front of the shaft 64 of the discharge roller 62 when the moving member 120 is in the second position. That is, the contact portion 123 is separated from the shaft 64 of the discharge roller 62. Accordingly, the discharge roller 62 moves downward by its own weight and is positioned at the lower end portion of the long hole 107. That is, the moving member 120 at the second position sets the discharge roller 62 to the separated position.

[Positional relationship of bearing 80, moving member 120, and discharge roller 62]
As described above, the bearing 80 rotates so that the outer peripheral surface 104 slides with respect to the inner peripheral surface 72A. Therefore, the rotation center 80 </ b> C (see FIG. 5B) of the bearing 80 is the center of a circle formed by the outer peripheral surface 104 when the bearing 80 is viewed in the left-right direction 9. The rotation center 80 </ b> C is an imaginary line extending in the left-right direction 9. The rotation center 80C coincides with an axis 62C (see FIG. 8) that is the center of the shaft 64 of the discharge roller 62 at the nip position. That is, the rotation center 80C is at the same position as the axis 62C.

  As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the second contact portion 102 of the bearing 80 assembled to the side frame 55 is separated from the moving member 120 regardless of the position of the moving member 120. That is, the second contact portion 102 is disposed at a position that does not contact the moving member 120.

  As described above, the second contact portion 102 protrudes from the thick portion 106. Further, the protruding direction of the second contact portion 102 is parallel to the virtual plane extending in the up-down direction 7 and the front-rear direction 8. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, the position P1 in the left-right direction 9 of the second contact portion 102 and the thick portion 106 is a part of the contact position P2 in the left-right direction 9 between the moving member 120 and the discharge roller 62. (Specifically, it overlaps with the right portion of the contact position P2). In the left-right direction 9, the overlapping position of the position P1 and the position P2 is not limited to the right part of the position P2. For example, in the left-right direction 9, the overlapping position of the position P1 and the position P2 may be the left part of the position P2, or the position P1 and the position P2 may completely match. That is, in the left-right direction 9, the position P1 and the position P2 only need to partially overlap.

[Effect of the embodiment]
According to this embodiment, the discharge roller 62 at the nip position nips and conveys the paper 12 between the spur 63. Further, according to the present embodiment, the rotation center 80C of the bearing 80 is at the same position as the axis 62C of the discharge roller 62 at the nip position. Therefore, even when the bearing 80 is displaced in the rotational direction, the discharge roller 62 at the nip position is hardly affected by the displacement. Thereby, the conveyance accuracy of the paper 12 can be maintained satisfactorily.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, when the bearing 80 is displaced in the rotational direction, the discharge roller 62 at a position other than the nip position is easily affected by the displacement. However, the discharge roller 62 at a position other than the nip position nips the paper 12 and does not carry it. Therefore, the conveyance accuracy of the paper 12 does not decrease.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, in the left-right direction 9, the position P <b> 1 of the second contact portion 102 and the contact position P <b> 2 between the moving member 120 and the discharge roller 62 overlap. Therefore, the moving member 120 can be disposed near the side frame 55 in the left-right direction 9. Thereby, the position shift of the bearing 80 by the movement member 120 contacting the discharge roller 62 can be reduced. In addition, this makes it possible to suppress an increase in size of the multifunction machine 10 in the left-right direction 9.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the second contact portion 102 extends along the front-rear direction 8. Therefore, when the bearing 80 is displaced in the rotational direction, the possibility that the second contact portion 102 enters the moving region of the moving member 120 can be reduced. Thereby, the possibility of the contact between the moving member 120 and the second contact portion 102 can be reduced.

  Further, when the moving member 120 contacts the discharge roller 62, the discharge roller 62 is urged toward the nip position. When the biased discharge roller 62 comes into contact with and presses the bearing 80, the bearing 80 may be displaced. According to the present embodiment, the biased discharge roller 62 contacts the thick portion 106 of the fitting portion 103. The thick portion 106 is thick in the left-right direction 9. Therefore, when the thick portion 106 comes into contact with the discharge roller 62, the displacement of the bearing 80 due to being pushed by the biased discharge roller 62 can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, in the left-right direction 9, the position P1 of the thick portion 106 and the contact position P2 between the moving member 120 and the discharge roller 62 overlap. Therefore, the thick portion 106 is in a position where it is easy to receive a force from the discharge roller 62 that is in contact with the moving member 120. Therefore, the displacement of the bearing 80 due to being pushed by the discharge roller 62 can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the second contact portion 102 protrudes from the thick portion 106 along the side surface of the side frame 55. Therefore, it is easy to make the configuration of the bearing 80 a configuration in which a gap for sandwiching the side frame 55 is provided between the second contact portion 102 and the first contact portion 101.

[Modification]
In the above embodiment, the bearing 80 is fitted into the through hole 72, but the bearing 80 may be fitted into the notch. That is, the through hole 72 may be configured as a notch by partially cutting away the through hole 72. That is, the inner peripheral surface 72A of the through hole 72 is not limited to a perfect circle, and a part thereof may be cut out.

In the above-described embodiment, the outer peripheral surface 104 of the fitting portion 103 of the bearing 80 is a perfect circle. However, the outer peripheral surface 104 is not necessarily a perfect circle. For example, a part of the outer peripheral surface 104 may be cut out. That is, the rotation locus of the outer peripheral surface 104 may be a circle.

  In the above embodiment, the discharge roller 62 is supported by the bearing 80. However, rollers other than the discharge roller 62 may be supported by a bearing having the same configuration as the bearing 80.

  For example, the pinch roller 61 may be supported by a bearing having the same configuration as the bearing 80. In this case, the pinch roller 61 is an example of a second roller, and the transport roller 60 is an example of a first roller. Further, in this case, the pinch roller 61 can move along the elongated hole 107 to a nip position where the sheet 12 is nipped facing the conveyance roller 60 and a separation position that is farther from the conveyance roller 60 than the nip position. is there. The pinch roller 61 at the nip position is located at the upper end portion of the long hole 107, and the pinch roller 61 at the separated position is located at the lower end portion of the long hole 107.

  Further, for example, the conveyance roller 60 may be supported by a bearing having the same configuration as the bearing 80. In this case, the conveyance roller 60 is an example of a second roller, and the pinch roller 61 is an example of a first roller. Further, in this case, the conveyance roller 60 can move along the long hole 107 to a nip position where the sheet 12 is nipped facing the pinch roller 61 and a separation position that is farther from the pinch roller 61 than the nip position. is there. The conveyance roller 60 at the nip position is located at the lower end portion of the long hole 107, and the conveyance roller 60 at the separated position is located at the upper end portion of the long hole 107. That is, the movement of the roller from the nip position to the separation position may be performed by moving the roller downward as in the case of the discharge roller 62 or the pinch roller 61, or as in the case of the conveyance roller 60. , May be performed by moving above the roller. In addition, when the conveyance roller 60 is supported by the bearing of the same structure as the bearing 80, it cannot be overemphasized that the structure to which the moving member 120 moves the conveyance roller 60 differs from the said embodiment.

  In the above embodiment, the pinch roller 61 is disposed below the transport roller 60. However, contrary to the above embodiment, the pinch roller 61 may be disposed above the transport roller 60.

  In the above embodiment, the moving member 120 moves the discharge roller 62 by moving. However, the moving member 120 may move other than the discharge roller 62, for example, the platen 42 and the pinch roller 61 by moving. In addition, the structure for the moving member 120 to move various members is not limited to the structure described in the above embodiment, and other known structures may be employed.

  In the above embodiment, the moving member 20 is moved by the user who holds the holding part 121. However, the moving means of the moving member 20 is not limited to the means shown in the above embodiment. For example, the moving member 20 may be one that does not include the grip portion 121 and moves by being transmitted from a motor.

  In the above embodiment, the moving member 120 moves in the front-rear direction 8, but the moving direction of the moving member 120 may be a direction that intersects the left-right direction 9. For example, the moving member 120 may move diagonally forward from the first position to the second position.

  In the above embodiment, the conveying device is provided in the printer unit 11. However, the conveyance device may be provided in, for example, a scanner other than the printer unit 11.

55 ... Side frame (frame)
62... Discharge roller (second roller)
62C ... axis line 63 of discharge roller 62 ... spur (first roller)
72A ... inner peripheral surface 80 ... bearing 80C ... rotation center 103 of bearing 80 ... fitting portion 104 ... outer peripheral surface 107 ... long hole

Claims (7)

A first roller;
A nip position where the sheet is nipped facing the first roller, and a second roller movable to a separation position that is further away from the first roller than the nip position;
A bearing having a long hole capable of guiding the second roller to the nip position and the separation position;
A frame for supporting the bearing,
The bearing includes a fitting portion that has a circular outer peripheral surface when viewed in the axial direction of the second roller and can be fitted to the frame;
The frame includes a circular inner peripheral surface that is in sliding contact with the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion that is fitted to the frame,
The bearing is assembled to the frame by rotating a predetermined angle in a state where the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion and the inner peripheral surface of the frame are in sliding contact with each other,
The second roller is located at one end of the slot at the nip position,
The conveyance device, wherein the rotation center of the bearing is at the same position as the axis of the second roller at the nip position. A first position that contacts the second roller and sets the second roller as the nip position, and a second position that sets the second roller as the separation position, along a moving direction that intersects the axial direction. A movable movable member,
The bearing
A first contact portion that contacts one side surface of the frame in the axial direction in a state where the bearing is assembled to the frame;
In a state where the bearing is assembled to the frame, the bearing abuts against the other side surface of the frame in the axial direction, and the frame is sandwiched between the first abutting portion in the axial direction, and the bearing A second contact portion for restricting movement in the axial direction,
The second contact portion is disposed at a position not in contact with the moving member,
2. The transport device according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the position of the second contact portion and the contact position of the moving member and the second roller overlap in the axial direction.   The conveying device according to claim 2, wherein the second contact portion extends along the moving direction in a state where the bearing is assembled to the frame. The fitting portion includes a thick portion protruding in the axial direction,
The moving member abuts on the second roller from one of the axial direction and an orthogonal direction orthogonal to the moving direction,
The transport apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the thick portion contacts the second roller from the other of the orthogonal directions.   5. The transport device according to claim 4, wherein at least a part of the position of the thick portion and the contact position between the moving member and the second roller overlap in the axial direction.   The transport apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the second contact portion projects from the thick portion along the other side surface of the frame. A transport apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6;
An image recording apparatus comprising: a recording unit that records an image on a sheet that is nipped and conveyed by the first roller and the second roller.

Images