JP2020073415A - Image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide an image recording device capable of downsizing while securing an evacuation area for a paper feeding part.SOLUTION: The image recording device includes: a recording part 24 which records an image on a sheet; a tray 20 which can be placed with the sheet and be inserted into or pulled out of the device; a paper feeding roller 25 which feeds the sheet placed on the tray 20; a guiding member 33 that forms a part of a reverse conveyance passage 67 for guiding the sheet whose front surface is printed by the recording part 24, to the recording part 24 again for printing a back surface; and a hole 81 which opens in the guiding part 33, for the paper feeding roller 25 in an evacuation attitude to enter.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus that records an image on a sheet, and particularly to an image recording apparatus that can record an image on both sides of a sheet.

Conventionally, an image recording device capable of recording an image on both sides of a sheet is known.
Patent Document 1 discloses a double-sided image forming apparatus as an example of this type of image recording apparatus. In the double-sided image forming apparatus, the sheet sent out from the sheet supply unit is conveyed by the conveying roller to the image forming unit including a photosensitive drum. An image is recorded on the surface of the sheet by the image forming means. The sheet on the surface of which the image is recorded is switched back by the discharge roller on the downstream side of the image forming unit. The switched-back sheet reaches the conveyance roller again via the sheet re-feed conveyance path provided below the image forming unit. The image is recorded on the back surface of the sheet by the image forming means in the same manner as when the image is formed on the front surface. After that, the sheet on which the images are recorded on both sides is discharged to the discharge tray by the discharge roller.

The sheet re-feeding / conveying path is provided above a tray for storing sheets, and an arm provided between the sheet re-supplying / conveying path and the end portion of the arm so as to be vertically rotatable about a predetermined rotation axis. A sheet supply roller that sends out the sheets stored in the tray by rotating.

JP, 2002-362766, A

In such a configuration, when the tray and the double-sided image recording apparatus are inserted and removed, if the arm and the sheet supply roller hit the side plate of the tray, the tray cannot be properly inserted and removed. In order to solve such a problem, the double-sided image recording apparatus may be configured so that the arm and the sheet supply roller are retracted above the tray when the tray is inserted and removed.

However, when the double-sided image recording device is configured as described above, a space for retracting the arm and the sheet supply roller is required inside the double-sided image recording device. As a result, the double-sided image recording device becomes large.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is possible to reduce the size of an image recording apparatus while ensuring a retreat area of a sheet feeding unit having an arm and a supply roller.

(1) The image recording apparatus of the present invention, a recording unit for recording an image on a sheet, a tray provided below the recording unit, on which the sheet can be placed, and which can be inserted into and removed from the apparatus, A first guide member that forms a curved first conveyance path that guides a sheet fed from the tray to the recording unit; a rotatable arm provided between the recording unit and the tray; A sheet rotatably provided on the tip side of the arm and configured to supply a sheet placed on the tray to the first conveyance path, and the roller placed on the sheet placing surface of the tray. Is provided between the recording unit and the paper feeding unit in the feeding position, and the image is provided on one surface. Guide the sheet on which is recorded to the first transport path A second guide member that forms at least a part of the second transport path for storing the area for allowing the paper feed unit to assume the retracted posture, and the second guide member for the second transport path. The region forming at least a part overlaps in a side view,
The second guide member is formed with an opening into which at least a part of the paper feeding unit rotated in the retracted posture enters.

For example, when the tray is inserted into or removed from the image recording apparatus, if the paper feed unit hits a side plate of the tray, etc., the tray cannot be properly inserted or removed. In order to solve such problems,
The image recording apparatus may be configured so that the paper feeding unit retracts above the tray when the tray is inserted or removed. In the above-described configuration, the paper feeding unit can take a retracted position above the tray. However, when the image recording device is configured as described above, an area for retracting the paper feeding unit is required inside the image recording device. As a result, the image recording apparatus becomes large.

However, in the above-described configuration, at least a part of the paper feed unit enters the opening when the paper feed unit is rotated from the supply posture to the retracted posture in the process of inserting / removing the tray with respect to the apparatus. .. As a result, it is possible to share the area for retracting the paper feeding unit and the area where the second guide member forms at least a part of the second transport path. Therefore, the size of the image recording apparatus can be reduced while ensuring the evacuation area of the sheet feeding unit.

(2) The image recording apparatus of the present invention is provided in the paper feed unit, and when the paper feed unit is in the fifth posture, it comes into contact with the second guide unit so that the surface of the roller has the first position. 2 A stopper is further provided to prevent contact with the guide member.
If the surface of the roller contacts the second guide member, the surface of the roller may be damaged. However, in the above configuration, the stopper can prevent the surface of the roller from coming into contact with the second guide member.

(3) In the image recording apparatus of the present invention, in the process of inserting and removing the tray with respect to the apparatus, the paper feeding unit can be rotated to the retracted posture by being pushed by the tray.

In the present invention, the second guide member has an opening. Therefore, it is possible to share the area for retracting the paper feeding unit and the area where the second guide member forms at least a part of the second transport path. As a result, the size of the image recording apparatus can be reduced while ensuring the evacuation area of the paper feeding unit.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multifunction peripheral 10 which is an example of an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer unit 11. FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer unit 11 when the paper feeding unit 15 has the first posture and the rotation guide member 70 has the third posture. FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer unit 11 when the paper feeding unit 15 has the second posture and the rotation guide member 70 has the fourth posture. FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer unit 11 when the paper feeding unit 15 contacts the rotation guide member 70. FIG. 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer unit 11 when the paper feeding unit 15 has the fifth posture and the rotation guide member 70 has the sixth posture. FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer unit 11 of the modified example.

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 goes without saying that the embodiment of the present invention can be appropriately changed without changing the gist of the present invention. In the following description, the up-down direction 7 is defined with reference to the state where the multi-function device 10 is installed so that it can be used (state of FIG. 1), and the side provided with the opening 13 is the front side (front side) and the front-back direction 8 is defined, and the left-right direction 9 is defined when the multifunction peripheral 10 is viewed from the front side (front side).

As shown in FIG. 1, the multi-function device 10 is generally formed in a thin rectangular parallelepiped, and an inkjet recording type printer unit 11 is provided in the lower part thereof. The multi-function device 10 has various functions such as a facsimile function and a print function. The print function has a double-sided image recording function for recording images on both sides of a recording sheet. The presence or absence of functions other than the print function is arbitrary. The printer unit 11 has a casing (housing) 14 having an opening 13 formed on the front surface, and a tray 20 on which recording sheets of various sizes (an example of the sheet of the present invention) can be placed.
A paper feed cassette 78 including (an example of the tray of the present invention) can be inserted and removed in the front-rear direction 8 from the opening 13. An operation panel 17 is provided on the front upper portion of the multi function device 10. The operation panel 17 is a device for operating the printer unit 11. The multifunction device 10 operates based on an operation input from the operation panel 17.

[Configuration of Printer Unit 11]
Next, the configuration of the printer unit 11 will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, in FIG.
Illustration of the front side (right side of the drawing) of the paper feed cassette 78 is omitted. The printer unit 11 picks up recording paper from the tray 20 and feeds (feeds) the recording paper (an example of the paper feeding unit of the present invention), and ink is applied to the recording paper fed by the paper feeding unit 15. An inkjet recording type recording unit 24 (an example of the recording unit of the present invention) that discharges droplets to record an image on a recording sheet, a path switching unit 41, and the like are provided. The recording unit 24 is not limited to the inkjet system, and various recording systems such as an electrophotographic system can be applied.

[Conveyance path 65]
A conveyance path 65 is formed inside the printer unit 11 from the tip of the tray 20 (the end portion on the rear side) to the paper discharge holding unit 79 via the recording unit 24. The conveyance path 65 is formed between a curved path 65A (an example of the first conveyance path of the present invention) formed between the tip of the tray 20 and the recording section 24, and between the recording section 24 and the discharged sheet holding section 79. It is divided into the ejected sheet discharge path 65B. Curved road 6
5A is a curved passage extending from the vicinity of the upper end of the separation inclined plate 22 (an example of the inclined plate of the present invention) provided on the tray 20 to the recording unit 24.

The separation inclined plate 22 extends diagonally upward and rearward across the left-right direction 9 (direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2) at the rear end of the tray 20. The angle formed by the separation inclined plate 22 and the sheet mounting surface of the tray 20 is an angle at which the recording sheet mounted on the sheet mounting surface is smoothly guided to the curved path. For example, the angle formed by the separation sloping plate 22 and the sheet mounting surface is ½ of the angle formed by the straight line parallel to the sheet mounting surface and the extension battle from the start end 64 of the curved path 65A. Is set to. As described above, the separation sloping plate 22 is provided integrally with the tray 20 along the conveyance direction of the recording sheet from the sheet mounting surface to the curved path 65A, and relaxes the angle formed by the sheet mounting surface and the curved path 65A. Configure the tilt of the angle.

The curved path 65A is generally formed in an arc shape centered on the inner side of the printer unit 11. The recording paper fed from the tray 20 is guided to the recording unit 24 via the curved path 65A. The curved path 65A is partitioned by an outer guide member 18 and an inner guide member 19 that are opposed to each other with a predetermined distance therebetween. That is, the outer guide member 18 and the inner guide member 19
Is an example of the first guide member of the present invention. The outer guide member 18 and the inner guide member 19, an upper guide member 82, a lower guide member 83, and an upper inclined guide member 3 which will be described later.
2, the lower tilt guide member 33, and the support member 43 are all extended in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2 (the left-right direction 9 in FIG. 1).

In the present embodiment, the outer guide member 18 has a base shaft 84 as shown in FIG.
Is rotated in the direction of arrow 85. The rotation is manually performed by the user of the multifunction machine 10, for example.

The paper discharge path 65B is a linear path extending from the downstream side of the recording unit 24 in the first transport direction to the paper discharge holding unit 79. Here, the first transport direction refers to the direction in which the recording sheet is transported through the transport path 65 (the direction indicated by the dashed line with an arrow in FIG. 2).

A branch port 36 is formed on the downstream side of the recording unit 24 in the first transport direction. At the time of double-sided image recording, the recording paper conveyed through the paper discharge path 65B is switched back on the downstream side of the branching port 36 and is directed to the reverse conveyance path 67 (an example of the second conveyance path of the present invention) described later. Be transported.

[Recording unit 24]
The recording unit 24 is arranged above the tray 20. The recording unit 24 reciprocates in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2 (main scanning direction). Below the recording unit 24, a platen 42 for horizontally holding the recording paper is provided. The recording unit 24, during the reciprocating process in the main scanning direction,
Ink supplied from an ink cartridge (not shown) is ejected from the nozzle 39 onto the recording paper conveyed on the platen 42. As a result, the image is recorded on the recording sheet.

The first transport roller 60 and the pinch roller 6 are provided between the end of the curved path 65A and the recording section 24.
1 is provided. The pinch roller 61 uses a first elastic member such as a spring (not shown) for the first
It is pressed against the roller surface of the transport roller 60. First transport roller 60 and pinch roller 61
Holds the recording sheet conveyed on the curved path 65A and sends it to the platen 42. Further, a second transport roller 62 and a spur roller 63 are provided between the recording section 24 and the start end of the paper discharge path 65B. Like the pinch roller 61, the spur roller 63 is pressed against the roller surface of the second transport roller 62. The second conveyance roller 62 and the spur roller 63 nip the recording paper on which the image is recorded by the recording unit 24 and convey the recording paper to the downstream side in the first conveyance direction (sheet ejection holding unit 79 side).

The first transport roller 60 and the second transport roller 62 are rotated by a rotational drive force transmitted from a transport motor (not shown) via a drive transmission mechanism (not shown). The drive transmission mechanism is composed of a planetary gear and the like, and the first transport roller 60 and the second transport roller 60 and the second transport roller 60 are configured to transport the recording paper in the first transport direction regardless of whether the transport motor is rotated in the forward or reverse direction. The transport roller 62 is rotated in one rotation direction.

[Paper feeder 15]
The paper feeding unit 15 is provided below the recording unit 24 and above the tray 20, that is, between the recording unit 24 and the tray 20. The paper feeding unit 15 conveys the recording paper stored in the tray 20 toward the curved path 65A. The paper feeding unit 15 includes a paper feeding roller 25 (an example of the roller of the present invention),
A paper feed arm 26 (an example of an arm of the present invention) and a drive transmission mechanism 27 are provided.

The paper feed roller 25 picks up the recording paper placed on the tray 20 to pick up the curved path 6
The paper is fed to 5A and is rotatably supported at the tip of the paper feed arm 26. The paper feed roller 25 is rotationally driven when a rotational force is transmitted from an ASF (Auto Sheet Feed) motor (not shown), which is a drive source different from the conveyance motor, via the drive transmission mechanism 27. Drive transmission mechanism 2
Reference numeral 7 is pivotally supported by the paper feed arm 26, and is composed of a plurality of gears arranged in a substantially straight line.
The ASF motor is rotated in one of the forward rotation and the reverse rotation, and the paper feed roller 25 is rotated by the rotation of the ASF motor so as to feed the recording paper to the curved path 65A.

The paper feed arm 26 has a base end portion supported by a base shaft 28, and is rotatable about the base shaft 28. Therefore, the paper feed arm 26 can move up and down so as to be able to come into contact with and separate from the tray 20. The paper feed arm 26 is urged to rotate in the direction of arrow 29 in FIG. 2 by its own weight or by an elastic force of an elastic member such as a spring. Therefore, the paper feed roller 25 can be pressed against the upper surface of the recording paper stored in the tray 20. That is, in the sheet feeding unit 15, the sheet feeding roller 25 is in contact with the surface of the tray 20 on which the recording sheet is placed (corresponding to the sheet placing surface of the present invention, hereinafter referred to as the sheet placing surface). 1 posture (corresponding to the 1st posture of the present invention)
Take

Further, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the paper feeding unit 15 has an upper surface of the tray 20 when the tray 20 is inserted into the printer unit 11 or when the tray 20 is pulled out from the printer unit 11. By being pushed by (for example, the separating inclined plate 22), it is pushed upward.
That is, the sheet feeding unit 15 is pushed upward by the separation inclined plate 22 in the process of inserting / removing the tray 20 into / from the multi-function peripheral 10, so that the sheet feeding unit 15 is separated from the sheet mounting surface and retracted from the insertion / extraction area of the tray 20. It can be rotated to a fifth posture (corresponding to the fifth posture of the present invention).

It should be noted that the pressing of the sheet feeding unit 15 is not limited to the separation inclined plate 22. For example, the side wall 21 of the tray 20 (see FIG. 2) may be used, or both the side wall 21 of the tray 20 and the separation inclined plate 22 may be used.

Further, as described above, the paper feed arm 26 is urged to rotate in the direction of arrow 29 in FIG. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4, when the tray 20 is pulled out from the printer unit 11, the paper feeding unit 15 is pressed against the frame 77 or the like of the multifunction machine 10 arranged below the tray 20. That is, the paper feeding unit 15 is in the second posture (corresponding to the second posture of the present invention) in which the paper feeding roller 25 is below the first posture when the tray 20 is removed from the multifunction machine 10.
Can be rotated to. As described above, the paper feed arm 26 rotates between the first posture, the fifth posture, and the second posture.

[Route switching unit 41]
As shown in FIG. 2, the path switching unit 41 is arranged near the branch opening 36 in the transport path 65. The path switching unit 41 includes the third conveyance roller 45, the spur roller 46, and the flap 4
It is composed of nine.

The third transport roller 45 is provided on the downstream side of the lower guide member 83. The third transport roller 45 is rotatably supported by the frame of the printer unit 11 or the like. The spur roller 46 is pressed against the roller surface of the third transport roller 45 by its own weight or a spring.

The driving force in the forward and reverse rotation directions is transmitted from the transportation motor to the third conveyance roller 45, and the third conveyance roller 45 is rotated in either the forward or reverse direction. For example, when single-sided recording is performed, the third conveyance roller 45
Is rotated in the forward direction. As a result, the recording paper is transferred to the third transport roller 45 and the spur roller 4.
The sheet is sandwiched between the sheets 6 and conveyed to the downstream side, and is discharged to the sheet discharge holding unit 79. On the other hand, when double-sided recording is performed, the rotation direction of the third transport roller 45 is switched from normal rotation to reverse rotation with the third transport roller 45 and the spur roller 46 sandwiching the trailing edge of the recording sheet.

A support shaft 87 extending in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2 (left-right direction 9 in FIG. 1) is provided in the frame of the printer unit 11, or the like. The flap 49 extends substantially downstream from the support shaft 87. The flap 49 is rotatably supported by the support shaft 87. An auxiliary roller 47 and an auxiliary roller 48 formed in a spur shape are pivotally supported by the flap 49.

The flap 49 is configured to be changeable in posture, and has a discharge posture (a posture shown by a broken line in FIG. 2) located above the lower guide member 83 and an extension end 49A below the branch port 36. It rotates with respect to the reversing posture (the posture shown by the solid line in FIG. 2) that moves into. The recording sheet that has passed through the recording unit 24 is further transported to the downstream side in the first transport direction when the flap 49 is in the discharge posture, and is switchback-transported to the reverse transport path 67 when the flap 49 is in the reverse posture.

[Reverse conveyance path 67]
The reversal conveyance path 67 guides the recording sheet from the downstream side in the first conveyance direction of the recording section 24 in the conveyance path 65 to the upstream side of the first conveyance roller 60 in the conveyance path 65 in the first conveyance direction. The reverse transport path 67 is branched from the paper discharge path 65B at the branch port 36, and is connected to the recording section 24 and the paper feed arm 27.
Through the space between the recording section 24 and the recording section 24, the merging section 37 on the upstream side in the first transport direction merges with the curved path 65A. The recording paper is conveyed in the second conveyance direction on the reverse conveyance path 67. Here, the second transport direction refers to the direction indicated by the chain double-dashed line with an arrow in FIG. As described above, the reversing conveyance path 67 is configured so that the recording sheet having the image recorded on at least one surface thereof by the recording section 24 is the curved path 6
It is a route for guiding to 5A.

The reverse conveyance path 67 is divided into a first path 67A and a second path 67B. First route 67A
Is partitioned by an upper tilt guide member 32 and a lower tilt guide member 33, each of which has an inclined surface that tilts obliquely downward and rearward from the branch opening 36.

The second path 67B includes a rotation guide member 70 (an example of the second guide member of the invention) rotatably supported in the directions shown by arrows 30 and 34 in FIGS. 5 and 6, and the frame of the printer unit 11. And is partitioned by a support member 43 that supports the recording unit 24.

The reverse conveyance path 67 is provided with a fourth conveyance roller 68 and a spur roller 69. The spur roller 69 is pressed against the roller surface of the fourth transport roller 68 by its own weight or a spring. The fourth transport roller 68 transports the recording paper in the second transport direction by rotating. The fourth conveying roller 68 is rotationally driven by the rotational force transmitted from the conveying motor. Fourth
The rotation direction of the transport roller 68 is the direction in which the recording sheet is transported in the second transport direction.

[Rotation guide member 70]
The rotation guide member 70 is provided between the recording unit 24 and the paper feeding unit 15. The rotation guide member 70 is a substantially thin flat plate rectangular member whose vertical dimension 7 is shorter than the longitudinal dimension 8 and lateral dimension 9. The rotation guide member 70 has its tip (rear end) curved obliquely upward. As a result, the reversal conveyance path 67 and the curved path 65A form a substantially arcuate path, and the recording sheet conveyed through the reversal conveyance path 67 is smoothly guided to the curved path 65A.

A base end portion (front end portion) of the rotation guide member 70 is supported by a base shaft 73 of the sheet feeding unit 15, and the rotation guide member 70 can rotate about the base shaft 73. By being supported by the base shaft 73,
The rotation guide member 70 can move up and down so as to approach and separate from the recording unit 24.

By rotating, the rotation guide member 70 forms a third posture (corresponding to the third posture of the present invention) that forms at least a part of the reverse conveyance path 67, and is closer to the recording unit 24 side than the third posture. A sixth posture (corresponding to the sixth posture of the present invention) that moves, and a fourth posture that is farther from the recording unit 24 side than the third posture.
It is possible to take a posture (corresponding to the fourth posture of the present invention).

In the third posture, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the upper surface of the rotation guide member 70 is the support member 4.
3 and the recording paper is in a posture in which a predetermined interval is maintained. The rotation guide member 70 is the third
When the posture is taken, the rotation guide member 70 is supported by the side wall 21 of the tray 20.
The side wall 21 of the tray 20 is provided upright along the front-rear direction 8 from both ends in the left-right direction 9 of the bottom plate on which the recording paper is placed. 2 and 3, the upper end of the side wall 21 of the tray 20 is shown by a broken line. In the present embodiment, the support member 80 is provided so as to project from the lower surface of the rotation guide member 70, and the support member 80 and the side wall 21 are brought into contact with each other, so that the rotation guide member 70 is separated from the side wall 2.
Supported by 1. It should be noted that the side wall 21 is not shown in FIGS. 4 to 6.

As shown in FIG. 6, the sixth posture is a posture in which the lower surface of the rotation guide member 70 is pushed by the sheet feeding unit 15 so that the upper surface of the rotation guide member 70 approaches the vicinity of the support member 43. is there. The fourth posture is, as shown in FIG. 4, when the tray 20 is removed from the multifunction device 10.
Since the lower surface of the rotation guide member 70 is no longer supported by the side wall 21 of the tray 20, the rotation guide member 70 follows the rotation of the paper feeding unit 15 to the second posture, and the frame 77 of the multifunction peripheral 10 follows. It is a posture approaching to the vicinity of above.

[Hole 71]
The surface of the rotation guide member 70 on which the recording paper is conveyed (corresponding to the sheet conveyance surface of the present invention.
It is referred to as a sheet conveyance surface. ), An opening is provided at a position facing the paper feed roller 25.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, when the rotation guide member 70 is in the fourth posture,
A position where at least a part of the paper feed roller 25 (for example, the roller surface of the paper feed roller 25 above the paper feed arm 26) contacts the rotary guide member 70 unless the rotation guide member 70 has an opening. A first hole 71 (an example of the first opening portion of the present invention) is provided in.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, when the rotation guide member 70 is in the third posture, if the rotation guide member 70 is not provided with an opening, the paper feed roller 25 and / or the paper feed arm 2
At least a part of 6 (for example, the roller surface of the paper feed roller 25 above the paper feed arm 26 or the upper surface of the paper feed arm 26) comes into contact with the rotation guide member 70 at the second hole (the main hole). An example of the second opening of the invention) is provided.

In this embodiment, the first hole 71 and the second hole are shared and are the same hole. However, depending on the relative positional relationship between the rotation guide member 70 and the paper feed roller 25, the paper feed roller 25 may be rotated depending on whether the rotation guide member 70 takes the fourth posture or the third posture. The position of contact with 70 may be different. In that case, the first hole and the second hole are provided separately. Hereinafter, the hole in which the first hole 71 and the second hole are shared is simply referred to as the hole 71.

By providing the hole 71 in the rotation guide member 70, when the rotation guide member 70 is in the fourth posture, at least a part of the sheet feeding roller 25 in the second posture penetrates through the sheet of the rotation guide member 70. It projects above the transport surface. Further, in the state where the rotation guide member 70 is in the third posture, at least a part of the sheet feeding portion 15 rotated in the fifth posture penetrates and the rotation guide member 7 is provided.
It projects upward from the sheet transport surface of 0.

[Protrusion 72]
As shown in FIG. 3, a protrusion 72 is provided on the upper surface of the paper feed arm 26 near the paper feed roller 25. As shown in FIG. 6, the protrusion 72 (an example of the stopper of the present invention)
Is in contact with the lower surface of the rotation guide member 70 when the paper feeding unit 15 is in the fifth posture. The position where the protrusion 72 is provided is not limited to the upper surface of the sheet feeding arm 26 as long as the contact between the surface of the sheet feeding roller 25 and the rotation guide member 70 due to the rotation of the sheet feeding unit 15 can be prevented.

[Plate member 75]
As shown in FIG. 3, a base shaft 74 is provided on the lower surface of the rotation guide member 70 at a position near the end of the hole 71 on the base shaft 73 side. Further, a plate member 75 having substantially the same shape as the hole 71.
(One example of the opening / closing member of the present invention) is provided at a position to close the hole 71. The plate member 75 is
The base end portion thereof is supported by the base shaft 74, and can rotate about the base shaft 74 as a central axis.

The plate member 75 is urged to rotate downward by its own weight or by an elastic force of an elastic member such as a spring. However, it is configured so as not to rotate below the position (the position shown in FIG. 3) that closes the hole 71 by a restriction member (not shown) or the like. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the plate-shaped member 75 is rotated to a position that closes the hole 71 when the paper feeding unit 15 is in the first posture. As a result, the plate member 75 forms a part of the sheet conveying surface of the rotation guide member 70. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 6, when the sheet feeding unit 15 is in the fifth posture, the plate member 75 is pushed by the surface of the sheet feeding roller 25 and rotated to a position where the hole 71 is opened. It

In the above description based on FIGS. 3 and 6, the case where the plate-shaped member 75 is provided in a configuration in which only the paper feed roller 25 penetrates the hole 71 has been described. However, the plate member 75 is
It may be provided when at least a part of the sheet feeding unit 15 including the sheet feeding roller 25 as well as the sheet feeding arm 26 penetrates the hole 71. In this case, the plate-shaped member 75 is configured to be capable of changing its posture to a position that closes or opens a hole 71 through which at least a part of the paper feeding unit 15 including the paper feeding arm 26 penetrates.

The plate-shaped member 75 is not limited to the one that changes its posture between the position where it closes the hole 71 and the position where it opens when it is rotated. For example, the plate member 75 may change its posture by sliding in parallel with the sheet conveying surface of the rotation guide member 70.

[Elastic member]
As shown in FIG. 4, an elastic member 76 such as a spring (an example of the elastic member of the present invention) is provided on the lower surface of the rotation guide member 70 (the surface opposite to the sheet conveying surface). As shown in FIG. 4, the elastic member 76 is provided at the lowermost portion when the rotation guide member 70 takes the fourth posture. Then, when the rotation guide member 70 takes the fourth posture,
The elastic member 76 is brought into contact with the frame 77 of the multifunction machine 10. The elastic member 76 is not shown except for FIG. 4.

[Rotation of the paper feed unit 15 and the rotation guide member 70]
As shown in FIG. 3, when the process of recording an image on the recording paper is being executed, the paper feeding unit 15 is in the first posture and the rotation guide member 70 is in the third posture. .. When the above process is not executed, the rotation guide member 70 is interlocked with the rotation of the paper feeding unit 15 from the first posture to the fifth posture in the process of removing the tray 20 from the multifunction machine 10. It is rotated from the third posture to the sixth posture. Then, when the tray 20 is removed from the multi-function device 10, the paper feeding unit 15 is rotated from the fifth posture to the second posture, and the rotation guide member 70 is rotated from the sixth posture to the fourth posture.

The details will be described below. In the state shown in FIG. 3, when the tray 20 is pulled out from the printer unit 11, that is, moved to the front, the paper feed arm 26 is arranged so that the inner side surface 23 of the separation inclined plate 22 does not contact the paper feed roller 25. Is rotated upward by the tray 20, and the paper feed roller 25 is also rotated upward accordingly. Therefore, the paper feeding unit 15 rotates from the first posture to the fifth posture.
When the paper feed roller 25 rotates upward by a predetermined amount, the paper feed roller 25 contacts the plate member 75.

In this state, as shown in FIG. 5, when the tray 20 is moved further forward and the paper feeding roller 25 is further rotated upward (see the arrow 30 in FIG. 5), the plate member 75 is moved.
Is rotated by being pushed by the paper feed roller 25 (see arrow 31 in FIG. 5). Further, the protrusion 72 contacts the lower surface of the rotation guide member 70. In this state, the paper feed roller 25
When the paper is further rotated upward (see arrow 34 in FIG. 6), the rotation guide member 70 is pushed upward by the protrusion 72 and is rotated upward together with the sheet feeding portion 15 (see arrow 35 in FIG. 6). ). That is, in the present embodiment, the protrusion 72 constitutes the interlocking portion of the present invention that interlocks with the pivoting of the sheet feeding portion 15 to the fifth posture and pivots the pivot guide member to the sixth posture. ..

The above rotation is continued until the paper feed roller 25 comes into contact with the upper end of the separation inclined plate, as shown in FIG. In the state shown in FIG. 6, the paper feeding unit 15 is in the fifth posture, and the rotation guide member 70 is in the sixth posture.

In FIG. 6, the sheet feeding unit 15 is shown by a solid line in the fifth posture. On the other hand, the rotation guide member 70 is indicated by the broken line in the third posture. As is clear from FIG. 6, the paper feeding unit 15
Pushes the rotation guide member 70 upward to take the third posture in the area where the rotation guide member 70 that had been in the fifth posture until then existed. That is, the area for the paper feeding unit 15 to assume the fifth posture and the area for the rotation guide member 70 to assume the third posture overlap.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the sheet feeding arm 26 of the sheet feeding unit 15 in the fifth posture has its longitudinal direction (front-back direction 8) substantially parallel to the sheet conveying surface of the rotation guide member 70 in the sixth posture. It is arranged so that.

In the state shown in FIG. 6, when the tray 20 is completely pulled out from the multifunction device 10, the paper feeding unit 15
Is not supported by the tray 20 and the separation inclined plate 22. Then, the sheet feeding unit 15 that is urged to rotate in the direction of arrow 29 in FIG. 2 is moved downward. At this time, as shown in FIG. 4, the lower surface of the sheet feeding roller 25 is rotated to the second posture, which is a position lower than the height of the sheet mounting surface of the tray 20 that has been present.

[Effect of Embodiment]
The rotation guide member 70 is rotated to the fourth posture when the tray 20 is removed from the multifunction machine 10. As a result, the space between the recording unit 24 and the rotation guide member 70 becomes large. Therefore,
Since the outer guide member 18 is configured to be openable / closable with respect to the multifunction machine 10, even if the recording paper is jammed in the rotation guide member 70, the recording paper can be easily taken out. However, when the rotation guide member 70 is rotated to the fourth posture as described above, the rotation guide member 70 blocks access to the sheet feeding roller 25.

However, according to the above-described embodiment, the rotation guide member 70 is provided with the hole 71. Then, when the rotation guide member 70 is rotated to the fourth posture, at least a part of the paper feed roller 25 penetrates the hole 71 and projects upward from the sheet conveying surface of the rotation guide member 70. As a result, access to the paper feed roller 25 is not obstructed by the rotation guide member 70. Therefore, the paper feed roller 25 can be easily cleaned.

When the tray 20 is inserted into or removed from the multifunction device 10, if the paper feed unit 15 hits the tray 20, the separation inclined plate 22, or both the tray 20 and the separation inclined plate 22, the tray 20 cannot be properly inserted or removed. In order to solve such a problem, the multi-function device 10 may be configured such that the sheet feeding unit 15 retracts above the tray 20 when the tray 20 is inserted and removed. In the above-described embodiment, the paper feeding unit 15 can be retracted to the fifth position above the tray 20. However, when the multifunction device 10 is configured as described above, a space for retracting the paper feeding unit 15 is required inside the multifunction device 10. As a result, the size of the multifunction device 10 is increased.

However, in the above-described embodiment, at least one of the sheet feeding units 15 is rotated when the sheet feeding unit 15 is rotated from the first posture to the fifth posture in the process of inserting and removing the tray 20 with respect to the multifunction machine 10. The portion penetrates the hole 71 and projects upward from the sheet conveying surface of the rotation guide member 70. As a result, the space for retracting the paper feeding unit 15 can be shared with the space above the sheet conveying surface of the rotation guide member 70. Therefore, the multifunction machine 10 can be downsized while ensuring the retreat area of the paper feeding unit 15.

When the surface of the paper feed roller 25 contacts the rotation guide member 70, the surface of the paper feed roller 25 may be damaged. However, in the above-described embodiment, the paper feed roller 2 is formed by the protrusion 72.
It is possible to prevent contact between the surface of 5 and the rotation guide member 70. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the protrusion 72 functions as a stopper that prevents the surface of the paper feed roller 25 and the rotation guide member 70 from coming into contact with each other, and the paper feed unit 15 is rotated to the fifth posture. The rotation guide member 70 is rotated to the sixth posture in conjunction with the movement. As a result, the surface of the paper feed roller 25 and the rotation guide member 7
A structure in which the mechanism for preventing contact with 0 is arranged in the multifunction machine 10 as compared with a structure in which the mechanism for rotating the rotation guide member 70 in conjunction with the rotation of the sheet feeding unit 15 is provided separately. The number of elements can be reduced. As a result, the multifunction device 10 can be downsized.

In the above-described embodiment, the longitudinal direction of the sheet feeding arm 26 and the sheet conveying surface of the rotation guide member 70 are parallel to each other. As a result, the distance between the paper feed arm 26 and the rotation guide member 70 can be reduced. Therefore, the multifunction device 10 can be downsized.

If the rotation guide member 70 is provided with the hole 71, the recording paper may be caught in the hole 71 and jammed. In order to prevent this, the rotation guide member 70 may be provided with a member for preventing the recording sheet from being guided to the hole 71 on the sheet conveying surface. As such a member,
For example, there is a convex portion provided along the periphery of the hole 71. However, the provision of the protrusion increases the thickness of the rotation guide member 70. As a result, the size of the multifunction device 10 is increased. Therefore, in the above-described embodiment, the plate member 75 that closes the hole 71 is provided in the state where the recording sheet is conveyed through the reverse conveyance path 67. Thereby, the rotation guide member 7
It is possible to reduce the possibility that the recording paper is caught in the hole 71 and jammed without increasing the thickness of 0.

As in the above-described embodiment, when the rotation guide member 70 is rotated in the fourth posture, the hole through which at least a part of the paper feed roller 25 penetrates, and the rotation guide member 70 is rotated in the third posture. The number and the area of the holes 71 provided in the rotation guide member 70 can be reduced by sharing a hole through which at least a part of the paper feeding unit 15 penetrates when moved. As a result, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the recording paper is caught in the hole 71 and jammed.

When the tray 20 is removed from the multifunction machine 10, the rotation guide member 70 is rotated to the fourth posture. At this time, the rotation guide member 70 may make a loud noise by coming into contact with the casing or the like that forms the bottom surface of the multifunction machine 10 existing below the tray 20. However, in the above-described embodiment, the elastic member 76 reduces the impact at the time of contact between the rotation guide member 70 and the landing surface. As a result, the sound generated when the rotation guide member 70 comes into contact with the landing surface can be reduced.

[Modification 1 of Embodiment]
Although the case where the protrusion 72 is the interlocking portion of the present invention has been described in the above-described embodiment, the interlocking portion is not limited to the protrusion 72. For example, the paper feed arm 26 may be the interlocking portion. In this case, when the sheet feeding arm 26 rotates, the sheet feeding arm 26 contacts the lower surface of the rotation guide member 70 instead of the protrusion 72. Then, in this state, when the sheet feeding section 15 further rotates upward, the rotation guide member 70 is pushed by the sheet feeding arm 26 and rotates upward together with the sheet feeding section 15.

In the present embodiment, the rotation guide member 70 is arranged in the space existing between itself and the recording unit 24 by taking the sixth posture. Therefore, the sheet feeding unit 15 can be present in the space where the rotation guide member 70 was previously present. Therefore, the multifunction machine 10 can be downsized while ensuring the retreat area of the paper feeding unit 15.

[Modification 2 of Embodiment]
In the above-described embodiment, as a member that constitutes at least a part of the reverse conveyance path 67,
The case where the rotatable guide member 70 is provided in the multifunction machine 10 has been described. However, a member that constitutes at least a part of the reverse conveyance path 67 may be a fixed member that is not rotated. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, the lower side of the reverse conveyance path 67 may be configured only by the lower guide member 33 that is not rotated (an example of the second guide member of claim 10 of the present invention). In this case, the reverse conveyance path 67 has the upper guide member 32 and the support member 43 arranged on the upper side.
And the lower guide member 33 arranged on the lower side.

In the case of such a configuration, the paper feeding unit 15 has a first posture (corresponding to the first posture of claim 10 of the present invention in which the paper feeding roller 25 contacts the sheet mounting surface of the tray 20. The illustrated posture) and the seventh posture (corresponding to the second posture of claim 10 of the present invention) which is separated from the sheet mounting surface.
It can be rotated to the posture shown by the solid line in FIG. 7. The rotation is performed in the same manner as the rotation from the first posture to the fifth posture in the above embodiment. In addition, the lower guide member 33
At least a part of the sheet feeding portion 15 rotated to the seventh posture penetrates the surface (corresponding to the sheet conveying surface according to claim 10 of the present invention) on which the recording paper is conveyed, to the lower guide member 33. Is provided with a third hole 81 (an example of the third opening of claim 10 of the present invention) projecting upward from the upper surface of the.
The role of the third hole 81 is similar to that of the hole 71 in the above-described embodiment.

For example, when the tray 20 is inserted into or removed from the multifunction device 10, the paper feeding unit 15 is
If the tray 20 hits the side plate, the tray 20 cannot be properly inserted or removed. In order to solve such a problem, the multi-function device 10 may be configured such that the sheet feeding unit 15 retracts above the tray 20 when the tray 20 is inserted and removed. In this embodiment, the paper feeding unit 15 is the tray 20.
It is possible to take a seventh upper position. However, when the multifunction device 10 is configured as described above, a space for retracting the paper feeding unit 15 is required inside the multifunction device 10. As a result, the size of the multifunction device 10 is increased.

However, also in the present embodiment, the space for retracting the sheet feeding unit 15 can be shared with the space above the sheet conveying surface of the lower guide member 33, as in the above embodiment. Therefore, the multifunction machine 10 can be downsized while ensuring the retreat area of the paper feeding unit 15.

10: multifunction device 15: paper feed unit 20: tray 22: separation inclined plate 24: recording unit 70: rotation guide member 71: hole 72: projection 75: plate member 76: elastic member

Claims (7)

A recording unit that records an image on a sheet,
A tray provided below the recording unit, on which a sheet can be placed, and which can be inserted into and removed from the apparatus,
A first guide member forming at least a part of a first transport path having a curved path for guiding a sheet fed from the tray to the recording unit;
The tray includes a rotatable arm provided above the tray, and a roller rotatably provided at a tip end side of the arm for supplying a sheet placed on the tray to the first transport path. A paper feed unit that is rotatable so that the roller moves to a first position and a second position above the first position;
A second guide member that forms at least a part of a second conveyance path for guiding a sheet having an image recorded on one surface to the curved path,
The image recording apparatus, wherein the second guide member is formed with an opening into which at least a part of the arm of the paper feed unit where the roller is moved to the second position enters.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arm is capable of contacting the second guide member when the roller is moved to the second position.   The arm according to claim 2, which is in contact with the second guide member when the roller is in the second position, prevents the surface of the roller from contacting the second guide member. Image recording device.   4. The roller according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, in the process of inserting / removing the tray with respect to the apparatus, the roller is rotatable upward by pressing the paper feeding unit at the first position by the tray. Image recording device.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the paper feeding unit further includes a plurality of gears that transmit a rotational force from a motor to the roller.   The image recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of gears are pivotally supported by the arm.   In the second guide member, the upstream side is located above the upper end of the rotation base end part of the arm of the paper feeding section and the downstream side is in the conveyance direction of the sheet conveyed through the second conveyance path. 7. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image recording apparatus is located below an upper end of a rotation base end of the arm of the paper feeding unit.

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