JP2022153985A - Medium conveying device and use method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a medium conveying device which comprises a tray unit on which a discharged medium is placed and facilitates mounting work of an optional apparatus, and a use method thereof.SOLUTION: A compound machine 11 as an example of a medium conveying device comprises: a device body 12 having a conveying mechanism for conveying a medium; a discharge roller pair 38 disposed in the device body 12 and discharging the medium from the device body 12; and a tray unit 60 placed on a placing surface 57A of the device body 12. On the placing surface 57A, a post-processing device for performing post-processing on the medium discharged by the discharge roller pair 38 can be placed in place of the tray unit 60. The tray unit 60 has: the discharge tray 61 stacking the medium discharged by the discharge roller pair 38 and fixed to the device body 12; and a driving source fixed to the discharge tray 61.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a medium transporting device for transporting a medium and a method of using the medium transporting device.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-100002 discloses a recording device as an example of this type of medium transport device. This recording apparatus includes a medium transport path provided with a medium ejection opening for ejecting paper, and a mounting table for placing the paper ejected from the medium ejection opening on a mounting surface. The placement table is provided with a protruding rib that extends along the paper ejection direction and protrudes from the placement surface at the center of the width direction that intersects the ejection direction of the paper ejected from the medium ejection port. . The protruding mechanism protrudes the protruding rib from the mounting surface at a rib height corresponding to the widthwise dimension of the paper discharged from the medium discharge port. In this recording apparatus, curling of the paper is suppressed by raising and lowering the protruding rib with respect to the placement surface. The recording device includes a drive source that drives the projection mechanism.

JP 2016-69187 A

In a medium conveying apparatus such as the recording apparatus described in Patent Document 1, there is a need to perform specific processing different from the processing by the protruding ribs of the mounting table on the medium such as paper discharged from the medium discharge port. For this reason, when configuring a medium transport device so that an optional device that implements such a specific process can be installed, it is desired that the optional device can be installed with good workability. It should be noted that even in a medium transporting device having a configuration in which a tray such as a mounting table is provided with a mechanism other than a protruding mechanism, workability is required when installing an optional device.

A medium transporting device for solving the above-described problem is provided, comprising: a device body having a transport mechanism for transporting a medium; an ejection section provided in the device body for ejecting the medium from the device body; a tray unit mounted on a mounting surface, and the mounting surface can mount a post-processing device that performs post-processing on the medium discharged by the discharge unit instead of the tray unit. The tray unit is a tray for stacking the media discharged by the discharge section, and has the tray fixed to the apparatus main body and a drive source fixed to the tray.

A method of using the medium transporting apparatus for solving the above problem includes removing the tray unit to which the drive source is fixed from the apparatus main body, and placing the post-processing apparatus on the mounting surface.

1 is a perspective view showing a multi-function device according to one embodiment; FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration of the printer section of the multifunction machine; FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the exterior of the multifunction device is removed; FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the tray unit in an attached state; FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the tray unit is removed; FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a state in which the post-processing device is attached; FIG. 2 is a partial front view showing a first configuration for attaching an optional device to the multifunction machine; FIG. 4 is a partial front view showing a second configuration for attaching an optional device to the multifunction machine; FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a tray unit; FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the back surface of the tray unit; FIG. 2 is a front cross-sectional view showing a main part of the multifunction machine; FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the rib elevating mechanism when the elevating rib is in the lowered position; FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the rib elevating mechanism when the elevating rib is at the raised position; FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the tray unit when the elevating rib is in the raised position; FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing the post-processing device; FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a main part showing a fixing structure of the tray unit to the apparatus main body; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a main part showing a fixing structure of the post-processing device to the device main body; FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view showing a fixing structure common to the tray unit and the post-processing device; 4 is a flow chart showing how to use the MFP.

An embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. A multifunction device as an example of a medium transport device includes, for example, an image reading function (scan function) for outputting an image obtained by reading a document as image data, a copying function for printing an image obtained by reading a document on a medium, and a function for printing characters and text on a medium. It has multiple functions including a print function for printing images. Note that the multi-function device may have a facsimile function.

In the drawing, it is assumed that the multifunction device 11 is placed on a horizontal installation surface F. FIG. Of the Z-axis orthogonal to the installation surface F of the multifunction device 11, the side of the multifunction device 11 with respect to the installation surface F is the +Z side, and the opposite side is the -Z side. In addition, the two orthogonal axes in the in-plane direction of the installation surface F are the X axis and the Y axis, respectively. Directions parallel to the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are respectively referred to as the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction. The X-axis direction includes both the +X direction and the -X direction. The Y-axis direction includes both the +Y direction and the -Y direction. The Z-axis direction includes both the +Z direction and the −Z direction. The Z-axis direction parallel to the Z-axis is also called the vertical Z direction. The X-axis direction is the width direction when the MFP 11 is viewed from the front. Therefore, the direction parallel to the X-axis is also called the width direction X. Here, the front side of the MFP 11 is the side on which the operation unit 14 operated by the user to give instructions to the MFP 11 is located. Also, the Y-axis is parallel to the depth direction of the MFP 11 . Therefore, the Y-axis direction is also referred to as the depth direction Y. FIG.

<Configuration of MFP>
As shown in FIG. 1, the multi-function device 11 includes a rectangular parallelepiped device main body 12 and a scanner 20 arranged above the device main body 12 . The scanner 20 includes a document platen 21 on which a document is placed, and an automatic document feeder (ADF) 22 as an example of an opening/closing body provided to be openable/closable with respect to the document platen 21 . The automatic document feeder 22 is configured to be openable and closable with respect to the document platen 21 about a rotation fulcrum. The automatic document feeder 22 has a function of automatically feeding documents. A document platen 21 is fixed to the upper end portion of the apparatus main body 12 . The automatic document feeder 22 of this embodiment is integrally mounted on the document platen cover 23 . That is, the lower portion of the automatic document feeder 22 facing the document platen 21 serves as the document platen cover 23 . Therefore, by rotating the automatic document feeder 22 with respect to the document platen 21 around the pivot point, the document platen cover 23 is opened and closed.

The device body 12 constitutes a printer section 13 . The multi-function device 11 has a configuration in which a printer section 13, a document table 21, and an automatic document feeder section 22 are stacked in order from the bottom in the vertical direction Z. As shown in FIG. The multi-function device 11 is installed on the installation surface F in a state in which a plurality of casters 12B provided on the bottom of the device main body 12 are in contact with the ground.

The scanner 20 is configured to be able to read images such as characters and photographs recorded on the document D. As shown in FIG. The automatic document feeder 22 has a document tray 24 on which a document D (a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1) can be placed. The scanner 20 uses a feed method for reading the document D fed from the document tray 24 by the automatic document feeder 22 as a reading method for the document D, and a feed method for reading the document D placed on the document platen 21 (see FIG. 3). It also has a flatbed method for reading. The automatic document feeder 22 includes a document tray 24 on which the document D is placed, a feeding mechanism 25 for feeding the document placed on the document tray 24, and the document D read by the feed method is stacked. and an ejection tray 26 . The document tray 24 may have a pair of edge guides 27 that are operated when positioning the document D in the width direction. When the document D is read by the flatbed method, the document D is placed on the upper surface of the document platen 21 exposed when the automatic document feeder 22 is opened, and the document D is read by closing the automatic document feeder 22. It is held by the base cover 23 . Then, the scanner 20 reads the document D on the document platen 21 .

An operation unit 14 is provided on the upper part of the front face 12</b>F of the apparatus main body 12 to be operated when giving instructions to the multifunction machine 11 . The operation unit 14 may be an operation panel having a display unit 14A. The display unit 14A may have a screen made up of a touch panel, for example. A touch panel is a display panel that can give instructions to the MFP 11 by touching the screen. Further, the operation unit 14 may have an operation button, or may be configured with only an operation button. In this example, the surface of the apparatus main body 12 facing the operation unit 14 (for example, the panel surface) is the front side.

The multifunction device 11 includes a cassette 15 (medium storage unit) that stores a plurality of media. The cassette 15 accommodates a plurality of media M (see FIG. 2) in a stacked state. The multi-function device 11 includes a plurality of stages (for example, two stages) of cassettes 15 arranged in a state of overlapping in the vertical direction Z under the device main body 12 . A plurality of cassettes 15 are detachably attached to the apparatus main body 12 . The cassette 15 has a handle 15A used when the user pulls it out. The number of stages of the cassettes 15 is not limited to two, and may be one, three, four, five, or the like. Further, the multi-stage cassette 15 may be an expansion unit in which a part or all of it is optionally expanded.

As shown in FIG. 1, a first cover 16 and a second cover 17 are provided on the side surface 12S of the apparatus body 12 so as to be openable and closable. Each cover 16, 17 has handles 16A, 17A that are used by the user to open and close the covers. Each of the covers 16 and 17 is used by being opened and closed in order to clear the jam when the medium M jams on the transport path T inside the apparatus main body 12 . The first cover 16 has a feed tray 18 on which a medium can be placed in an openable/closable state. The user can feed the medium placed on the feed tray 18 by opening the feed tray 18 using the handle 18A. Each of the covers 16 and 17 constitutes a casing 12A of the printer section 13 together with a body frame 50 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) and an exterior member 12C (see FIG. 1) which constitute the device body 12 and which will be described later. . Details of the body frame 50 will be described later.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a recording head 45 for recording on a medium (see FIG. 2) is arranged inside the housing 12A. The recording head 45 records on the medium M fed from the cassette 15 or the medium M fed from the feed tray 18 at a recording position in the middle of the transport path T. FIG. A liquid supply source 19 containing liquid such as ink is housed in the housing 12A. The recording head 45 has a head portion 45H that records on the medium M using liquid such as ink supplied from the liquid supply source 19 . The user can visually recognize the remaining amount of the liquid supply source 19 through the window 12W provided in the housing 12A. It should be noted that the liquid supply source 19 may be composed of a plurality of tanks or a plurality of cartridges each containing different types of liquid such as ink.

A concave discharge space DS is provided between the device main body 12 and the scanner 20 . A discharge tray 61 as an example of a tray is arranged at the bottom of the discharge space DS. The ejection tray 61 stacks media M (see FIG. 2) ejected by a pair of ejection rollers 38 (see FIG. 2), which is an example of an ejection unit to be described later. In other words, the printed medium M discharged from the discharge port 12</b>D (see FIG. 3 ) of the apparatus main body 12 is stacked on the upper surface of the discharge tray 61 . This discharge tray 61 is fixed to the apparatus main body 12 . In this embodiment, a tray unit 60 having a discharge tray 61 is detachably arranged at the bottom of the discharge space DS. Here, the tray unit 60 has a discharge tray 61 and a drive source 66 (see FIG. 10) fixed to the discharge tray 61 . The tray unit 60 is configured by integrally unitizing a discharge tray 61 and a drive source 66 (see FIG. 10). The drive source 66 is a drive source for the rib lifting mechanism 64 provided in the discharge tray 61 in this example. That is, the tray unit 60 is a part in which the discharge tray 61, the drive source 66, and the rib lifting mechanism 64 (see FIG. 4) driven by the drive source 66 are integrated into one unit. A detailed configuration of the tray unit 60 will be described later.

<Structure of the printer section>
Next, the configuration of the printer section 13 will be described with reference to FIG.
The device body 12 has a transport mechanism 30 that transports the medium. That is, a transport mechanism 30 that transports the medium M along the transport path T is provided inside the apparatus main body 12 . Further, the apparatus main body 12 contains a medium width sensor 101 for detecting the medium M conveyed along the conveying path T, a recording head 45 for recording on the medium M, and a liquid supply unit for supplying liquid such as ink to the recording head 45 . A source 19, a waste liquid storage unit 103 for storing waste liquid such as ink, and a control unit 100 for controlling the operation of each unit of the multifunction machine 11 are provided. The recording head 45 includes a head portion 45H that ejects liquid such as ink onto the medium M. As shown in FIG. The head unit 45H ejects liquid such as ink supplied from the liquid supply source 19 through a tube (not shown) from nozzles (not shown).

In the example shown in FIG. 2, the head portion 45H is arranged in a posture inclined with respect to the horizontal. That is, the head portion 45H is arranged such that the nozzle surface on which the nozzles for ejecting the liquid are opened is inclined with respect to the horizontal. The head portion 45</b>H faces the transport surface of the transport unit 34 . The angle at which the head portion 45H inclines with respect to the horizontal can be changed as appropriate. For example, the head section 45H and the transport unit 34 may be arranged horizontally (with an inclination angle of 0°). The transport unit 34 includes, for example, a pair of rollers 37 and a transport belt 34A wound around the pair of rollers 37 . The surface of the conveying belt 34A on which the medium M is conveyed is the conveying surface. The print head 45 may be a print head of another printing method other than the head portion 45H that ejects liquid. For example, the recording head 45 may employ a dot impact recording method, a thermal recording method, or a laser recording method that uses toner for recording. Further, the recording head 45 of the present embodiment is a line recording type line head.

In the multifunction machine 11, the medium M is conveyed through a conveying path T indicated by a dashed line in FIG. The AB coordinate system shown on the XZ plane is a Cartesian coordinate system. The A direction is the transport direction of the medium M at the recording position facing the head portion 45H constituting the recording head 45 in the transport path T. As shown in FIG. The direction toward the upstream of the A direction is called the -A direction, and the direction toward the downstream is called the +A direction. In the present embodiment, the A direction is an inclined direction such that the +A direction is located in the +Z direction rather than the -A direction. Specifically, it is inclined in the range of 50° to 70° with respect to the horizontal direction, and more specifically, it is inclined at approximately 60°. Thus, the transport direction of the medium M at the recording position of the recording head 45 is an inclined direction that intersects both the horizontal direction and the vertical direction Z. As shown in FIG.

The B direction is an example of the moving direction in which the recording head 45 having the head portion 45H moves. In other words, the B direction is the movement direction in which the recording head 45 advances and retreats with respect to the transport unit 34 . The direction in which the head portion 45H approaches the transport path T in the B direction is called the +B direction, and the direction away from the transport path T is called the -B direction. The -B direction is diagonally upward along the direction in which the recording head 45 separates from the transport surface of the transport unit 34 . In this embodiment, the B direction is a direction inclined so that the -B direction is located in the +Z direction rather than the +B direction, and is orthogonal to the A direction. The recording head 45 moves in the B direction along a path passing through a plurality of positions including the replacement position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 2 and the recording position indicated by the solid line in FIG. The B direction is a direction in which the recording head 45 is displaced, and is a direction including a component of the Z direction, which is the height direction. Note that the moving direction of the recording head 45 may be any direction that forms a predetermined angle with respect to the horizontal. The direction of movement of the recording head 45 is also referred to as the elevation direction because the recording head 45 is displaced in the vertical direction Z by the movement and is accompanied by upward and downward movement.

The multi-function device 11 has a housing 12A that constitutes an exterior portion of the device main body 12 . A discharge space DS for discharging the medium M after recording is formed in the +Z direction from the center of the housing 12A in the Z direction. A plurality of cassettes 15 are detachably provided in the housing 12A. A plurality of media M are accommodated in a plurality of cassettes 15 . The medium M accommodated in each cassette 15 is transported along the transport path T by the pick roller 31 , separation roller pair 32 and transport roller 33 . In the transport path T, a transport path T1 through which the medium M is transported from an external device and a transport path T2 through which the medium M is transported from the feed tray 18 provided in the housing 12A join.

In addition, the transport path T includes the transport unit 34 described above, a plurality of flaps 36 for switching paths along which a plurality of transport roller pairs 35 for transporting the medium M are transported, and a sensor for detecting the width of the medium M in the Y-axis direction. A medium width sensor 101 is arranged.

The transport path T is curved in a region facing the medium width sensor 101 and extends obliquely upward from the medium width sensor 101, that is, in the A direction. Downstream of the transport unit 34 in the transport path T, a transport path T3 and a transport path T4 leading to the discharge space DS, and a reversing path T5 for reversing the front and back of the medium M are provided. The transport mechanism 30 includes a discharge roller pair 38 for discharging the medium M from the transport path T3 and a discharge roller pair 39 for discharging the medium M from the transport path T4. The printed medium M discharged from the transport path T3 to the discharge space DS by the discharge roller pair 38 is stacked on the discharge tray 61 of the tray unit 60 . As described above, the apparatus main body 12 has the ejection roller pair 38 as an example of an ejection section that ejects the medium M from the apparatus main body 12 . A discharge tray (not shown) is provided in the discharge space DS in alignment with the transport path T4.

As shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus main body 12 includes a cap carriage 49 for maintenance of the nozzles of the head section 45H. The cap carriage 49 can reciprocate along the A direction. During non-recording, the cap carriage 49 moves to a position facing the recording head 45 and caps the head portion 45H. Cleaning is performed in which liquid such as ink is forcibly discharged from the nozzles of the head portion 45H while the head portion 45H is capped. As shown in FIG. 2, a recording head 45, a mechanism for moving the recording head 45, a cap carriage 49, a mechanism for moving the cap carriage 49, and a wiper carriage (not shown) for wiping the nozzle surface on which the nozzles of the head section 45H open. are configured as a motion unit 40 (see also FIG. 8) which is a unit body assembled into one.

As shown in FIG. 2, the multifunction machine 11 includes a tray unit 60 having a discharge tray 61 at the bottom of the discharge space DS. The discharge tray 61 is a rectangular plate-shaped member and has a stacking surface 63 on which the discharged media M are stacked. The discharge tray 61 is provided downstream of the transport unit 34 in the transport path T of the medium M and at a position on the +Z side with respect to the recording head 45 in the Z-axis direction. Note that FIG. 2 shows each component of the multifunction machine 11 in a simplified manner.

The control unit 100 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), and a storage (not shown). A control unit 100 controls the printer unit 13 and the scanner 20 . The control unit 100 controls the transportation of the medium M in the multifunction device 11 and the recording operation of information on the medium M by the recording head 45 . Further, the control section 100 controls the automatic document feeding section 22, the reading section, etc. of the scanner 20, and causes the document D to be read. Further, the control unit 100 controls the recording head 45 and the transport mechanism 30 (see FIG. 2) for the printer unit 13 to control transport of the medium M and recording on the medium M. FIG. The control unit 100 is not limited to performing software processing for all the processing that it itself executes. For example, the control unit 100 may include a dedicated hardware circuit (for example, an application specific integrated circuit: ASIC) that performs hardware processing for at least part of the processing performed by the control unit 100 . That is, the control unit 100 includes one or more processors that operate according to a computer program (software), one or more dedicated hardware circuits that perform at least part of various processes, or a combination thereof. It can be configured as a circuit. A processor includes a CPU and memory, such as RAM and ROM, which stores program code or instructions configured to cause the CPU to perform processes. Memory or computer-readable media includes any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer.

Next, the configurations of the body frame 50 and the tray unit 60 will be described with reference to FIG. Note that FIG. 3 shows a state in which a synthetic resin exterior member is removed from the apparatus main body 12 .

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the device body 12 includes a body frame 50 and an exterior member 12C. The body frame 50 has a front frame 51 and a rear frame 52, each having a surface parallel to the Z axis and facing each other. The front frame 51 is located at the end of the body frame 50 in the -Y direction and arranged along the XZ plane. The rear frame 52 is located at the end of the body frame 50 in the +Y direction and arranged along the XZ plane. The front frame 51 and the rear frame 52 constitute the base of the device main body 12 .

As shown in FIG. 3, the front frame 51 opens the discharge space DS. Further, the rear frame 52 closes the discharge space DS.
As shown in FIG. 3, the front frame 51 and the rear frame 52 have a first side plate 55A, a second side plate 55B, and a second side plate 55B extending in the Y-axis direction at different positions in the Z-axis direction at the ends in the +X direction. They are connected via the third side plate 55C. The front frame 51 and the rear frame 52 are connected at the ends in the -X direction via a plurality of side plates 56A, 56B, etc. extending in the Y-axis direction at different positions in the Z-axis direction. The plurality of side plates 56A, 56B, etc. are arranged at a height that avoids openings (not shown) facing the covers 16, 17 of the body frame 50. As shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the motion unit 40 is arranged between the front frame 51 and the rear frame 52 . The transport mechanism 30 transports the medium M to be recorded by the recording head 45 (see FIG. 2) of the motion unit 40 in the first direction, which is the in-plane direction of the front frame 51 . That is, the transport mechanism 30 shown in FIG. 2 transports the medium M at the recording position of the recording head 45 toward the first direction, which is the in-plane direction of the front frame 51 . In this embodiment, this first direction is the A direction. Therefore, hereinafter, the first direction is also referred to as "first direction A". In this manner, the recording head 45 performs recording on the medium M being conveyed in the first direction A, which is the in-plane direction of the front frame 51 . Note that the first direction is not limited to the A direction, and may be any in-plane direction of the front frame 51 .

As shown in FIG. 3 , the scanner 20 is fixed to the body frame 50 on the +Z side of the tray unit 60 having the discharge tray 61 . The scanner 20 extends in the +X direction so as to cover the upper side (+Z direction) of the discharge tray 61 . Therefore, the scanner 20 forms a discharge space DS with the discharge tray 61 .

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the body frame 50 has an opening 50A (see also FIG. 5) in a region facing the discharge space DS in the Z-axis direction. A tray unit 60 having a discharge tray 61 is placed on the bottom of the discharge space DS with respect to the body frame 50 . The tray unit 60 is mounted on a mounting surface 57A formed of at least a part of the surfaces parallel to the XY plane surrounding the opening 50A of the body frame 50 so as to cover the opening 50A of the body frame 50. It is

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a mounting plate 57 extending in the Y-axis direction is fixed to the +X-direction end of the opening 50A of the body frame 50 . The upper surface of the mounting plate 57 is a mounting surface 57A on which the tray unit 60 is mounted in a predetermined posture. The tray unit 60 is mounted on the mounting surface 57A of the apparatus body 12 .

As shown in FIG. 3, the tray unit 60 is inside the installation range of the apparatus main body 12 when the multifunction machine 11 is viewed from the +Z side. That is, the +X side end of the tray unit 60 is located on the -X side of the +X side end face of the body frame 50, and the -Y side end of the body frame 50 is located on the -Y side of the body frame 50. It is located on the +Y side of the end face. Further, the +X side end of the tray unit 60 is located on the -X side of the +X side of the device main body 12, and the -Y side of the tray unit 60 is located on the -Y side of the device main body 12. It is located on the +Y side of the front face 12F (see FIG. 1), which is a side face. Therefore, the area required for installing the MFP 11 can be reduced. In addition, it is easy to install a floor-mounted post-processing device (not shown) next to the +X side of the multifunction machine 11 . The +X side with respect to the MFP 11 corresponds to the downstream side in the ejection direction ED of the medium M ejected to the ejection tray 61 . The body frame 50 has an opening 50B at the bottom of its front surface (the surface on the -Y side) into which the cassette 15 is inserted.

<Tray unit mounting structure>
As shown in FIG. 4, the discharge tray 61 has a stacking surface 63 that supports the stacked media M. As shown in FIG. The stacking surface 63 has a first surface 63A that supports the stacked media M and a second surface 65A that supports the stacked media M. As shown in FIG. 65 A of 2nd surfaces are comprised by the drive force from the drive source 66 so that the amount of protrusion with respect to 63 A of 1st surfaces can be changed. The discharge tray 61 of this embodiment includes a rib elevating mechanism 64 having elevating ribs 65 that can change the amount of protrusion from the stacking surface 63 . In this embodiment, the upper surface of the lifting rib 65 of the stacking surface 63 corresponds to the second surface 65A, and the other surface area corresponds to the first surface 63A. The elevating rib 65 has an elongated shape extending along the ejection direction ED. The rib elevating mechanism 64 supports the medium M discharged from the outlet 12D by the second surface 65A of the elevating rib 65 projecting from the first surface 63A of the stacking surface 63, thereby suppressing the curling of the medium M after recording. It has the function to A detailed configuration of the rib lifting mechanism 64 will be described later.

In this manner, the tray unit 60 in which the discharge tray 61 and the driving source 66 are integrated as a unit performs the operation of acting on the medium M by the power of the driving source 66 . This operation of tray unit 60 acting on media M does not include post-processing operations. The tray unit 60 does not post-process the medium M ejected by the ejection roller pair 38 . This is because the multifunction machine 11 of this embodiment is configured such that the tray unit 60 can be replaced with the post-processing device 80 as an optional device. Therefore, the tray unit 60 does not perform the post-processing operation with the power of the driving source 66 . Further, since the drive source 66 is unitized integrally with the tray unit 60, when the tray unit 60 is removed from the apparatus main body 12, the drive source 66 is removed together. Therefore, the drive source 66 is not shared with the post-processing device 80 that has been replaced with the tray unit 60 .

As shown in FIG. 4 , the rib elevating mechanism 64 has an elevating rib 65 at the center of the width of the stacking surface 63 of the discharge tray 61 . The rib lifting mechanism 64 is controlled by the control section 100 based on the recording conditions. For example, if the medium M discharged onto the stacking surface 63 is recorded under recording conditions that tend to curl, the control unit 100 raises the elevation ribs 65; otherwise, the elevation ribs 65 are lowered.

As shown in FIG. 4 , the printed medium M ejected from the ejection port 12</b>D in the ejection direction ED by the ejection roller pair 38 is stacked on the stacking surface 63 of the ejection tray 61 . At this time, the media M recorded under recording conditions that tend to curl are stacked on the stacking surface 63 in a state in which the central portion of the width is pushed up by the lift ribs 65 that have risen. Further, the stacking surface 63 of the ejection tray 61 is inclined toward the +Z side toward the downstream side in the ejection direction ED. Therefore, the medium M ejected onto the stacking surface 63 falls due to its own weight toward the upstream in the ejection direction ED, and the rear end of the medium M collides with the standing wall 12E formed of a surface perpendicular to the X axis, thereby causing the medium to drop. The positions of M in the ejection direction ED are aligned.

The ejection tray 61 includes a first frame 62 made of metal that inclines toward the +Z side as it goes downstream in the ejection direction ED, and a first frame 62 that extends along the Z axis. and a metal second frame 58 connecting the mounting surface 57A. The second frame 58 is arranged closer to the downstream side than the upstream side in the discharge direction ED in the placement surface 57A.

Due to the configuration of the discharge tray 61 as described above, the first surface 63A is inclined toward the +Z side toward the downstream side in the discharge direction ED of the medium M from the discharge roller pair 38 . The discharge tray 61 has a first metal frame 62 (see also FIG. 10) extending along the first surface 63A and a second metal frame 58 extending along the Z-axis. The second frame 58 is a mounting bracket (stay) that connects the first frame 62 and the mounting surface 57A. The first frame 62 covers the entire surface (back surface) of the discharge tray 61 opposite to the stacking surface 63, and has a mounting bracket 62B at the downstream end in the discharge direction ED. A pair of second frames 58 are fixed to the mounting bracket 62B by fastening screws 75 in a posture extending along the Z-axis direction.

The pair of second frames 58 are fixed to the placement surface 57A by fastening screws 76. As shown in FIG. Thereby, the tray unit 60 is fixed to the apparatus main body 12 while being placed on the placement surface 57A. In other words, the tray unit 60 is detachably fixed to the placement surface 57A of the body frame 50 by fastening or removing the screws 76 . The first frame 62 and the second frame 58 may be fixed by welding instead of by tightening the screws 75 .

Here, the placement surface of the body frame 50 on which the tray unit 60 is placed may be a surface facing the +Z side of the peripheral portion of the opening 50A, and is not necessarily the placement surface located at the end of the opening 50A in the +X direction. 57A only. Here, for the sake of convenience, it will be referred to as the mounting surface 57A, including the case where the surface other than the upper surface of the mounting plate 57 is included. That is, the mounting surface 57A is not limited to the upper surface of the mounting plate 57, and may include the guide surfaces 76A to 76C of the tray rails 71A and 73A, which will be described later, and the inner peripheral surface of the fitting hole 78A of the mounting bracket 78. .

The second frame 58 of the placement surface 57A is arranged at a position closer to the downstream side in the discharge direction ED. Therefore, the tray unit 60 placed in an inclined posture with its downstream end (front end) in the ejection direction ED lifted can be stably supported with respect to the apparatus main body 12 .

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a first rail member 71 and a second rail member 72 are attached to the body frame 50 on both sides of the discharge space DS in the Y-axis direction. The first rail member 71 is positioned on the −Y side with respect to the tray unit 60 , and the second rail member 72 is positioned on the +Y side with respect to the tray unit 60 . The first rail member 71 covers the -Y side of the tray unit 60 in a region lower than the stacking surface 63 . Therefore, the first rail member 71 opens the discharge space DS. The first rail member 71 has a first tray rail 71A that guides the −Y side end of the bottom of the tray unit 60 .

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the second rail member 72 is separated into two members vertically. That is, the second rail member 72 is composed of a lower rail member 73 and an upper rear cover member 74 . The second rail member 72 blocks the discharge space DS from the +Y side. In other words, the second rail member 72 forms a surface portion located on the +Y side of the wall surfaces defining the discharge space DS. The lower rail member 73 has a second tray rail 73A. The first tray rail 71A and the second tray rail 73A are formed on substantially the same path in which the paths of the respective rail surfaces overlap each other when viewed from the front in the Y-axis direction.

When removing the tray unit 60 shown in FIG. 4 from the mounting surface 57A of the body frame 50, the screws 76 fixing the mounting surface 57A and the pair of second frames 58 are removed. Then, the tray unit 60 is pulled out downstream in the ejection direction ED along the tray rails 71A and 73A. As a result, the tray unit 60 is removed from the placement surface 57A (see FIG. 5). The tray unit 60 can be attached to and detached from a mounting state shown in FIG. 4 in which the opening 50A is covered on the mounting surface 57A of the body frame 50 and a removed state shown in FIG. 5 in which the opening 50A is exposed. .

As shown in FIG. 5, the first and second tray rails 71A and 73A have at least portions of inclined paths that incline toward the +Z direction toward the downstream in the discharge direction ED. By guiding the tray unit 60 by the first and second tray rails 71A and 73A, as shown in FIG. 4, the discharge tray 61 is positioned on the +Z side as it goes downstream in the discharge direction ED. It is held in a tilted posture that tilts in a direction.

As shown in FIG. 5, the first and second tray rails 71A and 73A each have a first guide surface 76A extending substantially horizontally in the +X direction near the end, a second guide surface 76B inclined, and a substantially horizontal guide surface 76B. and a third guide surface 76C extending to the The first to third guide surfaces 76A to 76C are arranged in this order upstream in the discharge direction ED.

A recess 73C is formed at the lower end of the rail member 73 for inserting a connector 69 on the side of the tray unit 60 into a connector 77 (see FIG. 11) on the side of the apparatus main body 12, which will be described later. Therefore, although the second tray rail 73A is cut at the concave portion 73C, the length of the cut is short, so the guide performance for guiding the tray unit 60 is not so affected.

The tray unit 60 shown in FIG. 4 is configured to be detachable from the mounting surface 57A by removing the screws 76 . After removing the screws 76, the tray unit 60 can be removed along the first and second tray rails 71A and 73A shown in FIG. The tray unit 60 moves obliquely upward in the area guided by the second guide surface 76B in the removal process, and is guided horizontally in the area guided by the first guide surface 76A.

As shown in FIG. 5, the tray rails 71A and 73A have a second guide surface 76B, which is an inclined surface that guides the discharge tray 61 toward the +Z side, and a second guide surface 76B that guides the discharge tray 61 toward the +Z side toward the downstream side in the discharge direction ED. and a first guide surface 76A serving as a horizontal surface for guiding 61 . A second guide surface 76B, which is an inclined surface of each of the tray rails 71A and 73A, guides the ejection tray 61 toward the +Z side as it goes downstream in the ejection direction ED. Further, the first guide surfaces 76A of the tray rails 71A and 73A are guided obliquely upward by the second guide surfaces 76B of the tray rails 71A and 73A so that the partially removed discharge tray 61 becomes an inclined surface due to its own weight. It is provided to hold it so that it does not fall back to its original position along the second guide surface 76B. That is, the first guide surface 76A, which is the horizontal surface of the tray rails 71A, 73A, has a function of preventing the ejection tray 61, which has been partially removed by the user along the tray rails 71A, 73A, from falling back to its original position. . It is sufficient that the first guide surface 76A is a substantially horizontal surface, and may be inclined at a small angle of, for example, 10° or less from the horizontal.

The multi-function machine 11 of this embodiment is configured such that the tray unit 60 and optional equipment can be exchanged. The optional device in this example is the post-processing device 80 shown in FIG. 6 can be placed on the placement surface 57A instead of the tray unit 60 shown in FIG. The post-processing device 80 performs post-processing on the medium M ejected by the ejection roller pair 38 . As post-processing, the post-processing device 80 performs, for example, punching to punch holes in the medium M, and stapling of bundling a plurality of media M and binding the trailing ends thereof with staples.

As shown in FIG. 6, the post-processing device 80 has a punch mechanism 81 and a staple mechanism 82 . In addition, the post-processing device 80 includes a processing tray 83 on which a plurality of media M discharged from the discharge port 12D are stacked, and the side edges of the media M stacked on the processing tray 83 in the width direction. A pair of aligning plates 84 that can be hit from both sides in the width direction are provided. The pair of alignment plates 84 are configured to be reciprocally movable with respect to the processing tray 83 in the width direction of the medium M perpendicular to the ejection direction ED. The processing tray 83 is inclined toward the +Z side as it goes downstream in the discharge direction ED. Therefore, the medium M on the processing tray 83 slides down by its own weight toward the upstream side in the discharge direction ED, and the trailing edge collides with the alignment plate 83A (see FIG. 15), thereby aligning the positions in the discharge direction ED.

The punch mechanism 81 has a punch function of punching holes in the medium M ejected from the ejection port 12D. The stapling mechanism 82 is arranged at an upstream end (rear end) of a bundle of a plurality of mediums M discharged from the discharge port 12D stacked on the processing tray 83 in the discharge direction ED of the bundle. It has a stapling function for binding. The stapling mechanism 82 binds a bundle of a plurality of media M aligned in the discharge direction ED by the inclination of the processing tray 83 and aligned in the width direction by hitting the side edges with a pair of alignment plates 84 .

The post-processing device 80 includes a discharge roller pair 85 capable of discharging the medium M on the processing tray 83 downstream in the width direction X. As shown in FIG. The discharge roller pair 85 moves between the drive roller 85A, a waiting position shown in FIG. and a possible driven roller 85B. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the post-processing device 80 may be mounted on the apparatus main body 12 while being guided by the tray rails 71A and 73A and mounted on the mounting surface 57A. A detailed configuration of the post-processing device 80 will be described later.

The multi-function machine 11 of this embodiment is configured such that an optional device can be mounted in the discharge space DS. By the way, as a configuration for mounting an optional device in the discharge space DS, as shown in FIG. 7, there is a first configuration in which the space above the tray unit 60 in the discharge space DS is used as a layout space PS1 for the optional device OP. be done. In this first configuration, since the layout space PS1 for the optional equipment OP is narrow, there is no problem if the optional equipment OP is small in the Z-axis direction. In order to secure the space PS1, the MFP 11 is raised in the height direction (Z-axis direction). In this case, for a user who does not have the optional device OP, increasing the size of the multifunction machine 11 in the height direction has little advantage.

Therefore, in this embodiment, a second configuration is adopted in which the optional device OP is attached by replacing the tray unit 60 . As shown in FIG. 8, in the second configuration, the entire discharge space DS can be used as the layout space PS2 for the optional equipment OP. Therefore, even if the optional device OP is large in the Z-axis direction, the optional device OP can be attached without enlarging the discharge space DS in the Z-axis direction. In this case, the size of the multifunction device 11 in the height direction is not increased for the user who does not install the optional device OP.

In the MFP 11 of the present embodiment, the object to be attached while being placed on the placing surface 57A of the apparatus main body 12 can be exchanged between the tray unit 60 and the optional device. The optional device is the post-processing device 80 in this example. The post-processing device 80 is an inner finisher of the type attached to the discharge space DS. In the multi-function machine 11 of this example, the tray unit 60 mounted on the mounting surface 57A of the apparatus main body 12 and the post-processing device 80, which is an optional device, are interchangeable. As described above, the multi-function machine 11 adopts the second configuration shown in FIG. 8 in which the tray unit 60 and the post-processing device 80 are exchanged. Can be placed in DS.

<Configuration of tray unit>
Next, a detailed configuration of the tray unit 60 will be described with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10. FIG.
9 shows the front surface of the tray unit 60, and FIG. 10 shows the back surface of the tray unit 60. As shown in FIG. 9 and 10, directions corresponding to the X-axis direction, the Y-axis direction, and the Z-axis direction when the tray unit 60 is attached to the apparatus main body 12 are denoted by X1, Y1, and Z1, respectively. . Since the Y1 direction corresponds to the width direction orthogonal to the ejection direction ED of the medium M, it is hereinafter also referred to as the width direction Y1.

As shown in FIG. 9 , the tray unit 60 has a discharge tray 61 having a function of stacking media M and a rib lifting mechanism 64 assembled to the discharge tray 61 . The rib elevating mechanism 64 includes an elevating rib 65 extending along the ejection direction ED at the center of the stacking surface 63 in the width direction Y1 orthogonal to the ejection direction ED of the medium M so as to be able to move up and down with respect to the stacking surface 63 . .

The stacking surface 63 of the discharge tray 61 includes a first surface 63A that supports the stacked media M and a surface that supports the stacked media M. The amount of protrusion from the first surface 63A is controlled by a drive source 66 (see FIG. 15). ), and a second surface 65A which is a surface that can be changed by driving from the . That is, in the tray unit 60, the surface area of the stacking surface 63 other than the lifting ribs 65 is the first surface 63A, and the upper surface of the lifting ribs 65 of the stacking surface 63 is the second surface 65A. The lifting rib 65 changes the amount of protrusion of the second surface 65A with respect to the first surface 63A.

The discharge tray 61 has a tray portion 61A whose entire member having a loading surface 63 on its surface is made of synthetic resin. The elevating ribs 65 attached to the discharge tray 61 are made of synthetic resin. The discharge tray 61 has a tray portion 61A made of synthetic resin, a first frame 62 covering substantially the entire rear surface of the tray portion 61A shown in FIG. 15, and a pair of second frames 58 as mounting brackets.

As shown in FIG. 10, the first frame 62 that covers most of the back surface of the discharge tray 61 has a cover 62A that protrudes toward the back surface as a part thereof. The cover 62</b>A protects the drive system components by covering the drive system components including the drive source 66 such as a motor that outputs driving force to the rib lifting mechanism 64 . In addition, a drive mechanism 67 for raising and lowering the lifting ribs 65 is incorporated in a region corresponding to the lifting ribs 65 on the back surface of the discharge tray 61 . For example, when the driving source 66 is driven to rotate forward, the lifting rib 65 is lifted via the driving mechanism 67 . Further, when the driving source 66 is reversely driven, the lifting rib 65 is lowered via the driving mechanism 67 . The control unit 100 controls the protrusion amount of the lifting rib 65 by driving and controlling the driving source 66 .

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, a mounting bracket 62B is formed at the tip of the first frame 62 by bending. The mounting bracket 62B has screw insertion holes 62C on both sides spaced apart corresponding to the space between the pair of second frames 58 . The pair of second frames 58 has screw insertion holes 58A through which screws 76 (see FIG. 4) are inserted. In addition, the first frame 62 has an extension plate portion 62D at its rear end portion which is inclined toward the surface side and extends over a predetermined length toward the upstream side (rear end side) in the discharge direction ED. ing. A pair of fitting portions 68 extends toward the upstream side in the ejection direction from both ends of the extension plate portion 62D in the width direction. A wire connected to a drive source 66 extends from the cover 62A, and a connector 69 is connected to the tip of the wire. This connector 69 is connected to the connector 77 (see FIG. 11) on the apparatus main body 12 side when the tray unit 60 is mounted on the mounting surface 57A.

<Features of the mounting structure of the tray unit>
Next, a characteristic configuration when the tray unit 60 is attached to the body frame 50 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 11, the apparatus main body 12 includes a rear surface 72A, which is a surface that intersects the placement surface 57A and extends along the medium M ejection direction ED among the surfaces defining the ejection space DS. The rear surface 72A faces the medium M ejected from the ejection port 12D (see FIG. 4). The rear surface 72A is the -Y side surface (inner surface) of the second rail member 72 arranged on the +Y side in the depth direction Y of the discharge space DS.

The device main body 12 may have a connector 77 on the rear surface 72A. Specifically, the rail member 73 forming the lower portion of the second rail member 72 has a rear surface 73B forming part of the rear surface 72A. The connector 77 is attached to an opening (not shown) of the rear frame 52 located on the +Y side of the rail member 73 . This connector 77 is used to connect the drive source 66 of the tray unit 60 . Moreover, the rail member 73 has a concave portion 73</b>C that is concave toward the +Z side so as to avoid the connector 77 . The connector 77 is provided at a position recessed further (in the +Y direction) in the recess 73C than the rear surface 73B. Thus, the connector 77 may be arranged at a position on the +Z side of the placement surface 57A and recessed from the rear surface 73B.

The rear surface 72A functions as a guide surface that guides the +Y side surface of the tray unit 60 that is guided by the second tray rail 73A. The back surface 72A has a function of defining the position of the tray unit 60 in the Y-axis direction. The connector 77 is arranged at a position recessed on the +Y side from the back surface 73B that functions as part of this guide surface. Therefore, the tray unit 60 does not interfere with the connector 77 in the process of attaching and detaching the tray unit 60 for replacement.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the first surface 63A is inclined toward the +Z side toward the downstream side in the ejection direction ED of the medium M from the ejection roller pair 38, and is inclined toward the connector 77 in the Z-axis direction. spans both sides of the Since the first surface 63 A extends to the +Z side of the connector 77 , the connector 77 is hidden by the tray unit 60 . Further, since the first surface 63A extends to the -Z side on the upstream side in the discharge direction ED compared to the downstream end side, a large number of media M can be stacked on the first surface 63A if the size of the medium M is small. It is possible. The discharge roller pair 38 is composed of a drive roller 38A and a driven roller 38B.

As shown in FIG. 11, the drive source 66 is between the first frame 62 and the placement surface 57A in the Z-axis direction parallel to the Z-axis. Therefore, the driving source 66 is arranged in a space formed by the first frame 62 inclined along the first surface 63A and the mounting surface 57A.

11, a part of the tray unit 60 on the upstream side in the ejection direction ED is located between the front frame 51 (see FIG. 3) and the rear frame 52. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 11, the recording head 45 has a rack 46A. The rack 46A meshes with the pinion 47A. As the pinion 47A rotates forward or backward under the power of a motor (not shown), the recording head 45 is guided by the head rail 48 and descends in the +B direction or ascends in the -B direction.

A tray unit 60 covers the headrail 48 . The opening 50A covered by the tray unit 60 is used as an outlet for the recording head 45. As shown in FIG. When the recording head 45 moves along the head rail 48 in the -B direction to the attachment/detachment position, it can move in the +Z direction along the rail portion 48A that branches and extends along the Z-axis direction. When the tray unit 60 is removed, the recording head 45 at the attachment/detachment position can be taken out in the +Z direction from the opening 50A along the rail portion 48A.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the tray unit 60 inclines toward the +Z side as it goes downstream in the ejection direction ED. Therefore, a space is created below the portion of the tray unit 60 closer to the downstream side in the ejection direction ED. A fan unit 105 and a cooling duct 106 for blowing air from the fan unit 105 to the recording head 45 are arranged below the tray unit 60 . A cover 62A that covers the drive source 66 protrudes downward from the rear surface of the tray unit 60, but does not interfere with the fan unit 105 and the duct 106.

Parts or members may be arranged in the space below the tray unit 60 . For example, ink tubes and head ducts may be arranged in the space below the discharge tray 61 . A tube for supplying liquid such as ink from the liquid supply source 19 to the recording head 45 is routed along the head rail 48 . A portion of this tube may be arranged in the space below the discharge tray 61 . Also, part of the duct 106 extending from the fan unit 105 may be arranged in the space below the tray unit 60 . Also, part of the fan unit 105 may be arranged in the space below the discharge tray 61 .

<Rib lifting mechanism>
Next, a detailed configuration of the rib elevating mechanism 64 will be described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 14 and the like. The drive mechanism 67 includes a conversion mechanism 91 that converts the power of the drive source 66 from rotation to linear motion, and a rod 92 that reciprocates in the axial direction by the force of the linear motion converted by the conversion mechanism 91 . The rod 92 extends along the ejection direction ED. The rod 92 is supported on the first frame 62 so as to be relatively movable in its axial direction. A lift mechanism 93 driven by reciprocating motion of the rod 92 is connected to a plurality of different locations (for example, two locations) in the axial direction of the rod 92 .

The lift mechanism 93 includes a plurality of lifters 94 whose base ends are rotatably connected to the first frame 62 . At the tip of the lifter 94, a roller 95 is provided that can roll on the rear surface (inner bottom surface) of the lifting rib 65 along the ejection direction ED. At an intermediate position in the longitudinal direction of the lifter 94, a support rod 96 (see FIG. 13) whose base end is rotatably connected to the rod 92 is rotatably connected via a shaft 97. ing.

The driving source 66 is driven and controlled by the control section 100 . The drive source 66 is, for example, a motor. When the drive source 66 is driven to rotate forward, the rod 92 axially moves downstream in the ejection direction ED. Backward movement upstream in direction ED. When the rod 92 moves forward in the axial direction, the lifter 94 tilts because the support rod 96 tilts. As a result, the elevating rib 65 is lowered to the lowered position shown in FIG. On the other hand, when the rod 92 moves back in the axial direction, the support rod 96 is raised, and the lifter 94 is raised via the shaft 97 . As a result, the elevating rib 65 rises to the raised position shown in FIG.

The control unit 100 controls the amount of protrusion of the second surface 65A with respect to the first surface 63A by driving and controlling the driving source 66 . The control unit 100 controls the drive source 66 based on conditions including recording conditions that cause the curling of the medium M after recording. The control unit 100 changes the protrusion amount of the second surface 65A according to the amount of ink, the thickness (basis weight) of the medium M, and the size of the medium M, for example. In other words, the control unit 100 increases the amount of projection of the second surface 65A for the medium M on which recording is performed under conditions where curling is likely to occur.

The elevating rib 65 has a lowered position (retracted position) in which the amount of protrusion with respect to the first surface 63A is a first amount of protrusion, and an elevated position in which the amount of protrusion with respect to the first surface 63A is a second amount of protrusion larger than the first amount of protrusion. ascending and descending between In addition, the lifting rib 65 may be arranged in one step or a plurality of steps in an intermediate protrusion amount between the lowered position and the raised position. For example, the configuration may be such that the amount of protrusion of the lifting rib 65 with respect to the first surface 63A can be adjusted to an amount between the lowered position and the raised position. The second surface 65A, which is the upper surface of the lifting rib 65, is arranged at a height position corresponding to the protrusion amount of the lifting rib 65 with respect to the first surface 63A. When the elevating rib 65 is in the lowered position, the second surface 65A is arranged at a first height that is the same height or a lower height than the first surface 63A. When the elevating rib 65 is in the raised position, the second surface 65A is arranged at a second height higher than the first height with respect to the first surface 63A. In the case where the lifting rib 65 is configured to be able to move up and down in three or more different heights, the second surface 65A has a third height of one or more steps between the first height and the second height. may be placed. The first height of the second surface 65A may be a height position higher than that of the first surface 63A.

As shown in FIG. 14, the elevating rib 65 extends along the discharge direction ED at the center position in the width direction of the stacking surface 63, and the amount of protrusion from the first surface 63A determines how easily the medium M curls. Controlled based on parameters. The medium M ejected from the ejection port 12D is stacked on the stacking surface 63 so that the width center of the medium M is placed on the second surface 65A of the elevating rib 65 regardless of its size. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 14, when the elevating rib 65 is in the projecting state, the medium M is bent by the elevating rib 65 pushing up the width center portion thereof as indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. The bending of the medium M creates tension in the medium M extending along the ejection direction ED. Therefore, the occurrence of curling in which both ends of the medium M are warped in the ejection direction ED is suppressed.

<Configuration of post-processing device>
Next, the configuration of post-processing device 80 will be described with reference to FIG. As shown in FIG. 15, the post-processing device 80 includes a punching mechanism 81, a stapling mechanism 82, a processing tray 83, a pair of aligning plates 84, an aligning plate 83A and a discharge roller pair 85. The post-processing device 80 also includes a first guide plate 80A and a second guide plate 80B that guide the medium M discharged from the discharge port 12D by the discharge roller pair 38. As shown in FIG. The punch mechanism 81 has a punch section 81A that punches a hole at a predetermined position on the medium M. As shown in FIG. The punch part 81A is provided movably in the width direction of the medium M orthogonal to the ejection direction ED. The punch unit 81A moves to a position in the width direction corresponding to the position to punch holes in the medium M, and punches holes in a predetermined position of the medium M while the medium M discharged from the discharge port 12D is stopped. The punch unit 81A, for example, punches holes in the medium M stopped while being supported by the first guide plate 80A and the second guide plate 80B.

The medium M guided by the first guide plate 80A and the second guide plate 80B and discharged downstream in the discharge direction ED is discharged onto the processing tray 83 by the transport roller pair 87 . The medium M that has fallen onto the processing tray 83 slides down on the processing tray 83 . The pair of alignment plates 84 align the media M in the width direction by sandwiching the media M on the processing tray 83 in the width direction. Further, the rear end of the medium M that has slid down on the processing tray 83 hits the alignment plate 83A, so that the medium M is also aligned in the ejection direction ED. In this way, media M aligned in two directions, ie, the width direction and the ejection direction ED, are stacked on the processing tray 83 . Note that the medium M dropped onto the processing tray 83 may be moved to the alignment plate 83A by the rotating paddle 88. FIG. The paddle 88 has, for example, a rotating shaft 88A extending along the Y-axis direction and a plurality of blades 88B (feeding units) rotating about the rotating shaft 88A as the rotating shaft 88A rotates.

The staple mechanism 82 is configured to be movable in the width direction of the medium M and moves to a predetermined binding position. When the number of media M stacked on the processing tray 83 reaches a predetermined number, the stapling mechanism 82 staples the rear end portion of the bundle of media M on the processing tray 83 . During this time, the discharge roller pair 85 is arranged at the standby position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 15 where the driven roller 85B is separated from the driving roller 85A. Therefore, the media M on the processing tray 83 are stacked on the processing tray 83 in a state in which the downstream end portion (tip portion) thereof in the discharge direction ED extends downstream beyond the driving roller 85A. .

When the staple mechanism 82 binds the bundle of media M, the driven roller 85B descends from the standby position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 15 to the nip position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. As a result, the bundle of media M bound on the processing tray 83 is nipped by the discharge roller pair 85 . Then, the drive roller 85A is driven to rotate forward, so that the pair of discharge rollers 85 discharges the bundle of media M downstream in the discharge direction ED. The media M discharged from the processing tray 83 are stacked on the discharge tray 86 . Note that the medium M punched by the punch mechanism 81 may be stacked on the processing tray 83 and then discharged to the discharge tray 86 by the discharge roller pair 85 , or may be discharged to the discharge tray 86 without passing through the processing tray 83 . It may be discharged directly to 86.

As shown in FIG. 15, the post-processing device 80 has a plurality of driving sources 80M for driving a punching mechanism 81, a stapling mechanism 82, a pair of alignment plates 84, driving rollers 85A and the like. The post-processing device 80 is integrally unitized with a plurality of drive sources 80M. Therefore, when the post-processing device 80 is attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 12, the plurality of drive sources 80M are attached and detached together. One of the drive sources 80M is arranged between the bottom surface of the post-processing device 80 and the mounting surface 57A. For example, if all of the drive source 80M is arranged below the placement surface 57A, it is necessary to secure an installation space within the device main body 12, which causes the device main body 12 to become large. . On the other hand, if at least one of the driving sources 80M is arranged between the mounting surface 57A and the bottom surface of the post-processing device 80, the apparatus main body 12 can be prevented from becoming large.

The post-processing device 80 has a connector (not shown) connected to the tip of wiring including power lines for supplying power to the plurality of drive sources 80M and signal lines for transmitting control signals for controlling the drive sources 80M. This connector may be connected to the connector 77 on the device main body 12 side. In other words, the connector 77 on the device main body 12 side may be shared between the tray unit 60 and the post-processing device 80 .

<Fixed structure>
As shown in FIG. 16, the tray unit 60 has the aforementioned pair of fitting portions 68 facing rearward at the end (rear end) on the upstream side (rear side) in the ejection direction ED. The body frame 50 has a pair of mounting brackets 78 at positions corresponding to the pair of fitting portions 68 of the tray unit 60 . When the tray unit 60 is in the position before reaching the end position in the mounting process, the pair of fitting portions 68 face the pair of fitting holes 78A (see FIG. 18). When the tray unit 60 is pushed to the end position where the tray unit 60 is mounted, the pair of fitting portions 68 are fitted into the pair of fitting holes 78A.

Further, as shown in FIG. 17, the post-processing device 80 has a pair of fitting portions 89 facing rearward at the end (rear end) on the upstream side (rear side) in the discharge direction ED. The pair of fitting portions 89 are formed to have the same size and shape as the pair of fitting portions 68 of the tray unit 60 . A pair of fitting holes 78A (see FIG. 18) of the pair of mounting brackets 78 are shared between the tray unit 60 and the post-processing device 80 as fitting destinations of the pair of fitting portions 68 and 89, respectively. be. The pair of fitting portions 89 face the pair of fitting holes 78A when the post-processing device 80 is in the position before reaching the end position in the process of being mounted. When the post-processing device 80 is pushed to the end position where the post-processing device 80 is mounted, the pair of fitting portions 89 are fitted into the pair of fitting holes 78A.

As shown in FIG. 18 , the pair of mounting brackets 78 has fitting holes 78A that can be fitted with the fitting portion 68 . When the tray unit 60 is mounted on the mounting surface 57A, the pair of fitting portions 68 are fitted into the pair of fitting holes 78A, whereby the tray unit 60 is mounted on the apparatus body 12 (body frame 50). Positioning is performed in two directions, the Y-axis direction (depth direction Y) and the Z-axis direction (vertical direction Z). Further, when the post-processing device 80 is mounted on the mounting surface 57A, the pair of fitting portions 89 are fitted into the pair of fitting holes 78A so that the tray unit 60 can be attached to the device main body 12 (main body frame 50). are positioned in two directions, ie, the Y-axis direction and the Z-axis direction.

As described above, the apparatus main body 12 has the fitting hole 78A that can be fitted with the fitting parts 68 and 89 as an example of a fixing part that fixes the tray unit 60 and the post-processing device 80 in a replaceable manner. The tray unit 60 and the post-processing device 80 are fixed to the device main body 12 by fitting the respective fitting portions 68 and 89 into the common fitting hole 78A. Therefore, by sharing the parts of the mounting bracket 78, it is possible to reduce the number of parts required for replacing the tray unit 60 and the post-processing device 80. FIG.

<Action of Embodiment>
The operation of the MFP 11 of this embodiment will be described.
A plurality of cassettes 15 accommodate mediums M having different sizes and/or paper types. The user designates recording conditions including the size of the medium M and the type of paper, and instructs the multifunction device 11 to perform recording. A medium M is supplied from a cassette 15 containing medium M of a specified size and medium type. The recording head 45 records on the medium M supplied from the cassette 15 at a recording position in the middle of the transport path T. FIG. The medium M after recording is discharged from the transport path T<b>3 to the discharge space DS by the discharge roller pair 38 , and stacked on the discharge tray 61 .

When double-sided recording is performed, the medium M after recording on the first side by the recording head 45 is sent to the reversing path T5 by the flap 36, conveyed upward along the reversing path T5, and then conveyed. Due to the switchback in which the direction is reversed, the sheet is conveyed backward along the reversing path T5. The reversely conveyed medium M is re-fed to the recording position facing the recording head 45 again by a plurality of conveying roller pairs 35 along the reversing path T5. At this time, the medium M is re-fed so that the second surface opposite to the first surface of the medium M faces the recording head 45 . The recording head 45 records on the second surface of the re-fed medium M. FIG. Then, the medium M on which double-sided recording has been completed is discharged from the transport path T3 to the discharge space DS by the discharge roller pair 38, and stacked on the discharge tray 61, for example. During copying, the control unit 100 generates recording data based on the image read from the document D by the scanner 20, and performs a recording operation of recording the image of the document D on the medium M based on this recording data. will be

The control unit 100 changes the protrusion amount of the second surface 65A according to the amount of ink, the thickness (basis weight) of the medium, and the size. In other words, the control unit 100 increases the projection amount of the second surface 65A for the medium M on which recording is performed under the condition that curling is likely to occur. The control unit 100 may change the protrusion amount of the second surface 65A based on at least one of the amount of ink, the basis weight of the medium, and the size. The control unit 100 controls the recording head 45 based on the recording condition data. The recording condition data includes recording image data, the type of medium M (medium type) and size. The thickness (range of thickness) of the medium M is roughly specified from the type of the medium M. Also, the amount of liquid ejected per unit area of the medium M is specified from the recorded image data.

The control unit 100 may control the protrusion amount of the elevating rib 65 in accordance with the liquid ejection amount, which is the amount of ink ejected onto the medium M from the recording head 45 . The medium M is more likely to curl when the liquid ejection amount per unit area is the second ejection amount, which is larger than the first ejection amount, than when the liquid ejection amount is the first ejection amount. The surface of the medium M on which the liquid is ejected expands more easily than the opposite surface. As described above, the recording surface and the non-recording surface of the medium M have different elongation amounts due to expansion by the liquid, and the medium M tends to curl after recording due to the difference in elongation amount. In order to correct this curl, the center of the width of the discharge tray 61 is supported by the second surface 65A at the position of the amount of projection when the elevating rib 65 extending along the discharge direction ED rises.

Further, if the liquid discharge amount per unit area of the medium M is the same, when the thickness of the medium M is the second thickness thinner than the first thickness, the Easy to curl. The control unit 100 may control the protrusion amount of the elevating ribs 65 according to the thickness of the medium M in addition to the ejection amount of liquid such as ink ejected onto the medium M from the recording head 45 . Note that in the case of a specific print mode in which the amount of liquid ejected per unit area of the medium M is not significantly different among the media M, the control unit 100 controls the amount of liquid ejected from the print head 45 onto the medium M rather than the amount of liquid ejected onto the medium M. The amount of protrusion of the lifting rib 65 may be controlled according to the thickness of M. A specific recording mode is, for example, a photographic recording mode.

Furthermore, if the amount of liquid ejected per unit area of the medium M is the same, the size of the medium M of the second size, which is larger than the first size, is greater than the size of the medium M of the first size. Easy to curl. The control unit 100 may control the protrusion amount of the elevating ribs 65 according to the size of the medium M in addition to the ejection amount of liquid such as ink ejected onto the medium M from the recording head 45 . Note that in the case of a specific print mode in which the liquid ejection amount per unit area and the thickness of the medium M are not significantly different among the media M, the control unit 100 controls the liquid ejection amount and the thickness of the liquid ejected from the print head 45 onto the medium M. The protrusion amount of the elevating rib 65 may be controlled according to the size of the medium M instead of the thickness. A specific recording mode is, for example, a photographic recording mode.

In this manner, since the amount of projection of the lifting rib 65 of the tray unit 60 is adjusted, curling of the medium M stacked on the stacking surface 63 of the discharge tray 61 is suppressed even when recording is performed under conditions that tend to curl. be done.

When the user wants to use the optional equipment, the user attaches the optional equipment to the device body 12 . In this embodiment, the optional device is the post-processing device 80 . The user replaces the tray unit 60 and the post-processing device 80 when the user wants to post-process the medium M after recording. That is, the tray unit 60 is removed from the mounting surface 57A of the apparatus main body 12, and the post-processing device 80 is attached to the mounting surface 57A after removal. By exchanging the tray unit 60 and the post-processing device 80 in this manner, the multi-function device 11 can be used.

A method of using the multifunction machine 11 will be described with reference to FIG. 19 and the like. A method of using the multi-function device 11 is shown in the flow chart of FIG. This flow chart shows how the user replaces the tray unit 60 attached to the multifunction machine 11 with the post-processing device 80, which is an optional device.

First, in step S11, the user removes the tray unit 60 from the placement surface 57A of the apparatus main body 12. As shown in FIG. Specifically, the screws 76 are removed to remove the tray unit 60 together with the second frame 58 from the mounting surface 57A. That is, the user pulls out the tray unit 60 downstream in the ejection direction ED. At this time, when pulling out the tray unit 60, first, the pair of fitting portions 68 extending from the rear end portion of the tray unit 60 are pulled out from the fitting holes 78A of the mounting brackets 78 on the apparatus main body 12 side. Further, the user pulls out the tray unit 60 along the tray rails 71A, 73A downstream in the ejection direction ED. As a method of removing the tray unit 60, the screws 75 are first removed, the tray unit 60 is pulled out and removed from the mounting surface 57A, and then the screws 76 are removed to remove the second frame 58 from the mounting surface 57A. Alternatively, the tray unit 60 may be removed in the procedure.

Next, in step S<b>12 , the user attaches post-processing device 80 to mounting surface 57</b>A of device main body 12 . Specifically, the user places the post-processing device 80 on the placement surface 57A. At this time, the user inserts the post-processing device 80 into the discharge space DS upstream in the discharge direction ED. A pair of fitting portions 89 extending from the rear end portion of the post-processing device 80 are inserted into the fitting holes 78A on the device main body 12 side. Thereby, post-processing device 80 is positioned in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. Next, the post-processing device 80 is fixed to the placement surface 57A of the device main body 12 using screws (not shown).

When replacing the tray unit 60 with an optional device, the multifunction device 11 is used by removing the tray unit 60 from the mounting surface 57A of the device main body 12 (step S11) and removing the post-processing device 80 from the device main body 12 (step S11). and placing on the 12 placement surfaces 57A (step S12).

When the post-processing device 80 is attached to the apparatus main body 12, the tray rails 71A and 73A for the tray unit 60 may be used as guide rails for attaching and detaching the post-processing device 80. FIG. In this case, only one of the tray rails 71A and 73A may be used.

Alternatively, the post-processing device 80 may be mounted after removing the rail members 71 and 72 made of synthetic resin. In this way, it is possible to secure a large installation space for the post-processing device 80 also in the Y-axis direction. Therefore, an increase in size in the depth direction Y of the multifunction device 11 can be suppressed. In this case, only one of the rail members 71 and 72 may be removed.

Further, the second rail member 72 may be configured such that the post-processing device 80 is mounted after removing the upper rear cover member 74 . In this case, the installation space PS2 for optional equipment such as the post-processing device 80 that requires a large dimension in the Y-axis direction can be secured widely in the Y-axis direction. Therefore, even if a relatively large optional device such as the post-processing device 80 is installed, the increase in size in the depth direction Y of the multi-function device 11 is suppressed.

Also, when returning from the post-processing device 80, which is an optional device, to the tray unit 60, the processing shown in FIG. 19 is performed in reverse order. That is, first, the post-processing device 80 is removed from the placement surface 57A of the device main body 12 . Specifically, first, the screw (not shown) fixing the post-processing device 80 to the device main body 12 is removed, and then the fitting portion 89 of the post-processing device 80 is pulled out from the fitting hole 78A on the device main body 12 side. . The post-processing device 80 is pulled out downstream in the discharge direction ED along the tray rails 71A and 73A. Thus, the post-processing device 80 is removed from the device body 12 .

Next, the tray unit 60 is attached to the mounting surface 57A of the apparatus main body 12. As shown in FIG. Specifically, the tray unit 60 is inserted upstream in the ejection direction ED along the tray rails 71A and 73A. Next, the user fastens the pair of second frames 58 to the placement surface 57A by tightening the screws 76 . Thus, the tray unit 60 is fixed to the apparatus main body 12 while being placed on the placement surface 57A.

The method of using the multifunction device 11 when returning the tray unit 60 from the optional device in this way is to remove the post-processing device 80 from the mounting surface 57A of the apparatus main body 12, and to remove the tray unit 60 from the mounting surface of the apparatus main body 12. 57A.

As described in detail above, according to this embodiment, the following effects are obtained.
(1) An apparatus main body 12 having a transport mechanism 30 for transporting the medium M, a pair of ejection rollers 38 provided in the apparatus main body 12 for ejecting the medium M from the apparatus main body 12, and a mounting surface 57A of the apparatus main body 12. and a tray unit 60 placed thereon. Instead of the tray unit 60, the mounting surface 57A can mount a post-processing device 80 that performs post-processing on the medium M ejected by the pair of ejection rollers . The tray unit 60 is an ejection tray 61 for stacking the media M ejected by the ejection roller pair 38, and has an ejection tray 61 fixed to the apparatus main body 12 and a drive source 66 fixed to the ejection tray 61. . According to this configuration, since the drive source 66 is fixed to the discharge tray 61, the drive source 66 is removed together with the discharge tray 61 when the tray unit 60 is removed from the mounting surface 57A in order to attach the post-processing device 80. be able to. Therefore, workability is good.

(2) The ejection tray 61 has a first surface 63A that supports the stacked media M and a second surface 65A that supports the stacked media M. and the second surface 65A that is changed by the driving force of . According to this configuration, the protruding second surface 65A and first surface 63A allow the media M to be stacked in a curved state. Therefore, it is possible to suppress curling of the medium M and reduce stacking defects. Moreover, since the amount of projection of the second surface 65A can be changed, the degree of curvature can be changed according to the type of medium M. The control unit 100 changes the protrusion amount of the second surface 65A according to the amount of ink, basis weight of the medium M, and size. In other words, the controller 100 increases the amount of projection of the second surface 65A under the condition that curling is likely to occur.

(3) Of the Z-axis orthogonal to the installation surface F of the MFP 11, the MFP 11 side with respect to the installation surface F is the +Z side. The first surface 63A is inclined toward the +Z side toward the downstream side in the ejection direction ED of the medium M from the ejection roller pair 38 . The discharge tray 61 extends along the first surface 63A and is made of metal, and extends along the Z-axis and connects the first frame 62 and the mounting surface 57A. and a second frame 58 . The second frame 58 is arranged at a position closer to the downstream side than the upstream side in the discharge direction ED on the mounting surface 57A. According to this configuration, since the first surface 63A is inclined, the media M stacked on the first surface 63A are likely to move upstream in the ejection direction ED due to their own weight. Therefore, it is easy to align the upstream end in the ejection direction ED of the media M stacked on the first surface 63A. Moreover, since it is configured with a metal frame, many media M can be stacked on the inclined first surface 63A. In addition, since the second frame 58 is located on the output tray 61 side and not on the main body side, the placement surface 57A tends to be horizontal. Therefore, it is easy to attach the post-processing device 80 . Furthermore, the second frame 58 can stably support the tray unit 60, which is heavier than the discharge tray 61, in a posture in which the first surface 63A is inclined with respect to the mounting surface 57A while reducing the weight of the tray unit 60. .

(4) Of the Z-axis orthogonal to the installation surface F of the MFP 11, the MFP 11 side with respect to the installation surface F is the +Z side. The ejection tray 61 includes a first frame 62 made of metal that inclines toward the +Z side as it goes downstream in the ejection direction ED, and a first frame 62 that extends along the Z-axis direction. 62 and a metal second frame 58 connecting the mounting surface 57A. The second frame 58 is arranged closer to the downstream side than the upstream side in the ejection direction ED of the placement surface 57A. According to this configuration, since the ejection tray 61 is inclined, the media M stacked on the ejection tray 61 tend to move upstream in the ejection direction ED due to their own weight. Therefore, it is easy to align the upstream end in the ejection direction ED of the media M stacked on the ejection tray 61 . Further, since the frame is made of metal, a large number of media M can be stacked on the inclined discharge tray 61 . In addition, since the second frame 58 is located on the output tray 61 side and not on the main body side, the placement surface 57A tends to be horizontal. Therefore, it is easy to attach the post-processing device 80 . Furthermore, the second frame 58 can stably support the tray unit 60, which is heavier than the discharge tray 61, in a posture in which the discharge tray 61 is tilted with respect to the mounting surface 57A while reducing the weight of the tray unit 60.

(5) Of the Z-axis orthogonal to the installation surface F of the multifunction device 11, the multifunction device 11 side with respect to the installation surface F is the +Z side. The apparatus main body 12 has a rear surface 72A that intersects with the mounting surface 57A and is along the ejection direction ED of the medium M and faces the ejected medium M side. 77. The connector 77 is arranged at a position on the +Z side of at least a part of the mounting surface 57A and recessed from the rear surface 72A. According to this configuration, since the connector 77 is arranged at a position recessed from the back surface 72A, the tray unit 60 and the post-processing device 80 do not collide with the connector 77 when they are attached. Further, since the connector 77 is located on the +Z side of the mounting surface 57A, the connector 69 of the driving source 66 can be easily attached and detached. Therefore, the workability at the time of mounting the tray unit 60 is good.

(6) Of the Z-axis orthogonal to the installation surface F of the multifunction device 11, the multifunction device 11 side with respect to the installation surface F is the +Z side. The first surface 63A is inclined toward the +Z side toward the downstream side in the ejection direction ED of the medium M from the ejection roller pair 38, and extends over both sides of the connector 77 in the Z-axis direction. According to this configuration, since the first surface 63A extends to the -Z side on the upstream side in the discharge direction ED, a large number of media M can be stacked on the first surface 63A if the size of the media M is small. Since the first surface 63A extends to the +Z side of the connector 77, the connector 77 can be hidden when the tray unit 60 is attached.

(7) In the Z-axis direction parallel to the Z-axis, the drive source 66 is between the first frame 62 and the mounting surface 57A. According to this configuration, the driving source 66 can be arranged in the space formed by the inclined first frame 62 and the mounting surface 57A. Therefore, the device main body 12 can be miniaturized.

(8) The device main body 12 has a fixing portion that fixes the tray unit 60 and the post-processing device 80 in a replaceable manner. According to this configuration, the tray unit 60 and the post-processing device 80 can be fixed using a common fixing portion.

(9) When the MFP 11 is viewed from the +Z side, the tray unit 60 is inside the installation range of the apparatus main body 12 . According to this configuration, the area required for installation of the multi-function device 11 can be reduced. It is easy to install the floor-installed type post-processing device 80 next to the multifunction device 11 .

(10) The tray unit 60 does not post-process the medium M ejected by the ejection roller pair 38 . With this configuration, the mechanism of the tray unit 60 can be simplified.
(11) A method of using the multifunction machine 11, which includes removing the tray unit 60 with the drive source 66 still fixed from the apparatus main body 12 (step S11) and placing the post-processing device 80 on the mounting surface 57A. (Step S12). According to this method of use, by replacing the tray unit 60 with the post-processing device 80, one multifunction machine 11 can select two types of discharge processing methods. There is no need to prepare two multifunction machines 11.

It should be noted that the above-described embodiment can be modified into a form such as the modified example shown below. Furthermore, a further modified example can be obtained by appropriately combining the above-described embodiment and the modified examples described below, or a further modified example can be obtained by appropriately combining the modified examples described below.

- The discharge tray 61 fixed to the main body of the apparatus may be composed of a plurality of members, or may be composed of a single member.
- The driving source 66 is not limited to the one used for lifting and lowering the lifting rib 65, and may be a driving source for driving other objects to be driven. For example, any drive source may be used as long as it moves a mechanism that acts on the medium M on the discharge tray 61 . For example, the drive source 66 of an alignment mechanism that moves a cursor for aligning the medium M on the ejection tray 61 may be used. Further, the drive source 66 may drive a fan that moves wind (air) by blowing or sucking the medium M discharged to the discharge tray 61 .

- The drive source 66 of the tray unit 60 may be a drive source that is not used in the post-processing device 80 . If the drive source 66 is used for the post-processing device 80 , the drive source 66 is shared by the tray unit 60 and the post-processing device 80 , so there is no need to remove the drive source 66 together with the tray unit 60 . In other words, the drive source 66 of the tray unit 60 may be a drive source that is not shared by the post-processing device 80 .

The placement of the tray unit 60 on the placement surface 57A may be achieved by fixing with screws, hooks, or snap-fitting. Furthermore, the tray unit 60 may simply be placed on the mounting recess without being fixed using fixtures. In short, the method of placing the tray unit 60 on the placement surface 57A can be arbitrarily selected as long as the tray unit 60 does not shift or come off during use. In this manner, "placing" may be performed in a state in which the tray unit 60 is placed on the placement surface 57A, and fixing the tray unit 60 and the apparatus main body 12 is not essential.

The post-processing performed by the post-processing device 80 may include punching, stapling, shifting, cutting, and the like. Here, the shift is a post-processing in which the medium M is shifted and placed in a plurality of different positions in a direction intersecting the ejection direction ED. The shift is performed by sandwiching the medium M between the pair of alignment plates 84 and moving it in the width direction. Cutting is post-processing for cutting (cutting) the medium M. As shown in FIG. Post-processing device 80 may perform other post-processing. The post-processing may include folding processing such as tri-folding, center-stitching, and center-folding, attaching a cover sheet, and the like. Note that the post-processing device 80 may be configured to perform only one of punching, stapling, shifting, cutting, and the like as post-processing.

The ejection unit that ejects the medium M from the apparatus main body 12 is not limited to the ejection roller pair 38, and may be an ejection belt wound around the ejection rollers. That is, the medium M may be ejected by directly contacting the ejection roller, or may be ejected by contacting the ejection belt that rotates as the ejection roller rotates. The ejection unit may eject the medium M in the ejection direction ED by a linear driving force of a linear motor, or eject the medium M in the ejection direction by an air force (air flow) of a fan. good too. In this case, the force of the air may be a blowing force or a suction force.

- The drive source 66 of the tray unit 60 is not limited to a motor, and may be an electric cylinder, a solenoid, or an electric actuator. Moreover, when the drive source 66 is a motor, it may be a rotary motor or a linear motor.

- In the above-described embodiment, the medium conveying device is the multifunction machine 11, but it may be a recording device that does not have a scanner.
- Although the tray unit 60 is arranged entirely within the range of the device main body 12 in plan view, a part of the tray unit 60 may be arranged outside the range of the device main body 12 .

- The 1st frame 62 and the 2nd frame 58 may be fitted, may be welded, and may be comprised by one member.
- The second frame may be simply placed on the placement surface, but it is preferable that the second frame and the placement surface are detachably fixed. That is, it is preferable that the second frame is detachably fixed to the frame forming the mounting surface of the apparatus main body. In the above-described embodiment, the fixing between the second frame and the mounting surface is performed by screw fixing, but fitting or locking may also be used. Here, locking means fixing by engagement between a locking portion of one of the tray unit 60 and the device main body 12 and a locked portion of the other. Further, the rear end (basal end), which is the upstream end of the first frame in the discharge direction ED, is fixed to the mounting surface of the apparatus main body by fitting the fitting portion into the fitting hole. , the fitting of this portion may be replaced with locking.

- The fixing part is not limited to a fitted part such as the fitting hole 78A, and may be a hole used for screw fixing, a snap fit, or a hook. The hole used for screw fixation may be a screw insertion hole or a screw hole having a female thread. Also, if the fixing part is one of the snap-fits, the tray unit 60 has the other of the snap-fits. If the fixing part is one of the hooks, the tray unit 60 has the other of the hooks.

- The medium M is not limited to paper, and may be a sheet or film made of plastic, metal, laminate, or ceramic. Further, the medium M may be cloth (including woven fabric, non-woven fabric, and knitted fabric).

- The medium transport device may be the multi-function device 11 or the recording device that does not include the cassette 15 . For example, it may be used as a recording system in which the medium M is supplied from an external device such as a large-capacity paper feed unit.

- The medium transport device is not limited to a multifunction device or a recording device. Any device may be used as long as it has a transport path for transporting a medium. Further, the medium conveying device may be configured without a recording unit. That is, the medium conveying device may be any device that has a processing unit that performs predetermined processing, including recording or processing other than recording, on a medium. That is, the medium transport device may be any device that has a processing unit that processes a medium and a transport mechanism that transports the medium along a route that passes through the processing positions processed by the processing unit. For example, the medium conveying device may be an image reading device having a reading unit that performs reading processing for reading an image of a document as a processing unit. The processing unit may eject or apply a processing liquid onto the medium. Also, the processing section may be a drying section that performs a drying process for drying the medium. The drying section includes, for example, an air blowing section or a heating section.

The technical ideas and effects obtained from the above-described embodiments and modifications will be described below.
(A) The medium transporting device includes a device body having a transport mechanism for transporting a medium, an ejection section provided in the device body for ejecting the medium from the device body, and a medium transporting device placed on a mounting surface of the device body. a post-processing device that performs post-processing on the medium discharged by the discharge unit can be placed on the mounting surface instead of the tray unit, and the tray unit includes the A tray for stacking media ejected by an ejection unit, the tray being fixed to the apparatus main body, and a drive source fixed to the tray.

According to this configuration, since the drive source is fixed to the tray, the drive source can be removed together with the tray when removing the tray unit from the mounting surface in order to attach the post-processing device. Therefore, workability is good.

(B) In the above medium transport device, the tray has a first surface that supports stacked media and a second surface that supports stacked media, and the amount of protrusion with respect to the first surface is determined by the drive source. and said second surface being modified by a driving force from.

According to this configuration, the protruding second surface and first surface allow the media to be stacked in a curved state. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the curling of the medium and reduce lamination defects. Moreover, since the amount of projection of the second surface can be changed, the degree of curvature can be changed according to the type of medium. The control unit changes the protrusion amount of the second surface according to the amount of ink, basis weight of the medium, and size. In other words, the control unit increases the projection amount of the second surface under the condition that curling is likely to occur.

(C) In the above medium transport device, if the medium transport device side is the +Z side with respect to the installation surface of the Z axis perpendicular to the installation surface of the medium transport device, the first surface corresponds to the discharge section. The tray is inclined toward the +Z side as it goes downstream in the direction of ejection of the medium from the tray, the tray extends along the first surface, and is made of a metal first frame; a second frame made of metal extending along the Z-axis and connecting the first frame and the mounting surface; It may be arranged at a position closer to the downstream side than the upstream side in the direction.

According to this configuration, since the first surface is inclined, the media stacked on the first surface are likely to move upstream in the ejection direction due to their own weight. Therefore, it is easy to align the upstream end in the ejection direction of the media stacked on the first surface. Further, since the frame is made of metal, many media can be stacked on the inclined first surface. In addition, since the second frame is located on the tray side and not on the main body side, the placement surface tends to be horizontal. Therefore, it is easy to attach the post-processing device. Furthermore, the second frame can stably support the tray unit, which is heavier than the tray, in a posture in which the first surface is inclined with respect to the mounting surface, while reducing the weight of the tray unit.

(D) In the above medium transport device, if the medium transport device side of the Z axis perpendicular to the installation surface of the medium transport device is the +Z side with respect to the installation surface, the tray is downstream in the ejection direction. A first metal frame that inclines toward the +Z side, and a metal frame that extends along the Z-axis and connects the first frame and the mounting surface. and the second frame may be arranged closer to the downstream side than the upstream side in the ejection direction on the mounting surface.

According to this configuration, since the tray is inclined, the media stacked on the tray tend to move upstream in the discharge direction due to their own weight. Therefore, it is easy to align the upstream ends in the ejection direction of the media stacked on the tray. Moreover, since it is configured with a metal frame, many media can be stacked on the inclined tray. In addition, since the second frame is located on the tray side and not on the main body side, the placement surface tends to be horizontal. Therefore, it is easy to attach the post-processing device. Furthermore, the second frame can stably support the tray unit, which is heavier than the tray, in a posture in which the tray is inclined with respect to the mounting surface, while reducing the weight of the tray unit.

(E) In the above medium transport device, if the medium transport device side is the +Z side with respect to the installation surface of the Z axis perpendicular to the installation surface of the medium transport device, then the device main body is positioned on the installation surface. intersects with the medium ejection direction and has a rear surface facing the side of the ejected medium, and a connector used for connection with the drive source, wherein the connector is connected to the placement surface It may be arranged at a position on the +Z side of and recessed from the back surface.

According to this configuration, since the connector is arranged in the recessed position, it does not collide with the connector when the tray unit or post-processing device is attached. Moreover, since it is located on the +Z side with respect to at least a part of the mounting surfaces, it is easy to attach and detach the harness. Therefore, the workability at the time of mounting the unit is good.

(F) In the above medium transport device, the tray has a first surface that supports stacked media and a second surface that supports stacked media, and the amount of protrusion with respect to the first surface is controlled by the drive source. and said second surface being modified by a driving force from. According to this configuration, the same effect as the above (B) can be obtained.

(G) In the medium conveying device, the first surface is inclined toward the +Z side toward the downstream side in the direction in which the medium is discharged from the discharge section, and in the Z-axis direction parallel to the Z-axis. may extend over both sides of the connector at .

According to this configuration, since the first surface extends to the −Z side on the upstream side in the discharge direction, many media can be stacked on the first surface if the media are small in size. Since the first surface extends to the +Z side of the connector, the connector can be hidden when the tray unit is attached.

(H) In the above medium transport device, the drive source may be between the first frame and the mounting surface in a Z-axis direction parallel to the Z-axis.
According to this configuration, the driving source can be arranged in the space formed by the inclined first frame and the mounting surface. Therefore, the device main body can be miniaturized.

(I) In the medium conveying device, the device main body may have a fixing portion that fixes the tray unit and the post-processing device in a replaceable manner.
According to this configuration, the tray unit and the post-processing device can be fixed using a common fixing portion.

(J) In the above medium transport device, if the medium transport device side is the +Z side with respect to the installation surface of the Z axis orthogonal to the installation surface of the medium transport device, the medium transport device is viewed from the +Z side. In this case, the tray unit may be inside the installation range of the apparatus main body.

According to this configuration, the occupied area required for installation of the medium conveying device can be reduced. It is easy to install a (floor-mounted) post-processing device next to the media transport device.
(K) In the medium conveying device, the tray unit may not post-process the medium discharged by the discharge section.

With this configuration, the mechanism of the tray unit can be simplified.
(L) A method of using the medium transporting device, which includes removing the tray unit to which the drive source is fixed from the device main body, and placing the post-processing device on the mounting surface. .

According to this method of use, by replacing the tray unit with the post-processing device, two types of ejection processing methods can be selected with one medium transport device. There is no need to prepare two media conveying devices.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11... MFP as an example of a medium conveying apparatus, 12... Apparatus main body, 12A... Housing, 12B... Caster, 12C... Exterior member, 12D... Ejection port, 12E... Standing wall, 12F... Front, 12S... Side, 12W Window part 13 Printer part 14 Operation panel 14A Display part 15 Cassette 16 First cover 16A Handle 17 Second cover 17A Handle 18 Feeding tray 18A Handle 19 Liquid supply source 20 Scanner 21 Manuscript platen 22 Automatic document feeder 23 Manuscript platen cover 24 Manuscript tray 25 Feeding mechanism 26 Discharge tray 27 Edge guide 30 Conveying mechanism 31 Pick roller 32 Separating roller pair 33 Conveying roller 34 Conveying unit 34A Conveying belt 35 Conveying roller pair 36 Flap 37 Roller 38 Ejection roller pair as an example of an ejection part, 38A... drive roller, 38B... driven roller, 39...ejection roller pair, 40...motion unit, 45...recording head, 45H...head section, 46...support plate, 46A...rack, 46B Roller 49 Cap carriage 48 Head rail 48A Rail portion 50 Body frame 50A Opening 51 Front frame 52 Rear frame 55A First side plate 55B Second side Plate 55C Third side plate 56A, 56B Side plate 57 Placement plate 57A Placement surface 58 Second frame 60 Tray unit 61 Discharge tray 61A Tray part 62 First frame 62A Cover 62B Mounting bracket 62C Screw insertion hole 62D Extension plate 63 Loading surface 63A First surface 64 Rib lifting mechanism 65 Lifting rib 65A Second surface 66 Drive source 67 Lifting mechanism 68 Fitting portion 69 Connector 71 First rail member 71A First tray rail 72 Second rail member 72A Rear surface 73...Rail member 73A...Second tray rail 73B...Back surface 73C...Recess 74...Rear cover member 75...Screw 77...Connector 78...Mounting bracket 78A...Fitting hole as an example of fixing part 80 Post-processing device 80M Drive source 81 Punch mechanism 82 Staple mechanism 83 Processing tray 83A Alignment plate 84 Alignment plate 85 Discharge roller pair 85A Drive roller 85B Driven Rollers 86 Ejection tray 87 Conveying roller pair 88 Paddle 88A... Rotary shaft, 88B... Blade, 89... Fitting part, 91... Conversion mechanism, 92... Rod, 93... Lift mechanism, 94... Lifter, 95... Roller, 96... Support rod, 97... Shaft, 100... Control part , 101... Medium width sensor, 103... Waste liquid reservoir, DS... Discharge space, T... Transport path, T1 to T4... Transport path, T5... Reversing path, D... Document, M... Medium, F... Installation surface, X... Width direction, Y...depth direction, Z...vertical direction, ED...ejection direction.

Claims (12)

an apparatus main body having a transport mechanism for transporting a medium;
a discharge unit provided in the device body for discharging the medium from the device body;
a tray unit mounted on the mounting surface of the apparatus main body,
A post-processing device for post-processing the medium ejected by the ejection unit can be placed on the placement surface instead of the tray unit,
The tray unit is
a tray for stacking the media discharged by the discharge unit, the tray being fixed to the apparatus main body;
and a drive source fixed to the tray. The tray is
a first surface supporting stacked media;
a second surface supporting the stacked media, the second surface changing the amount of protrusion with respect to the first surface by a driving force from the driving source;
2. The media transport device of claim 1, comprising: With respect to the installation surface of the Z-axis orthogonal to the installation surface of the medium transportation device, if the medium transportation device side is the +Z side,
the first surface is inclined toward the +Z side toward the downstream side in the direction in which the medium is ejected from the ejection portion;
The tray is
a metal first frame extending along the first surface;
a second metal frame extending along the Z-axis and connecting the first frame and the placement surface;
3. The medium conveying device according to claim 2, wherein the second frame is arranged at a position closer to the downstream side than the upstream side in the discharge direction on the mounting surface. With respect to the installation surface of the Z-axis orthogonal to the installation surface of the medium transportation device, if the medium transportation device side is the +Z side,
The tray is
a metal first frame that inclines toward the +Z side as it goes downstream in the discharge direction;
a second metal frame extending along the Z-axis and connecting the first frame and the mounting surface;
2. The medium conveying apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second frame is arranged closer to the downstream side than the upstream side in the discharging direction of the mounting surface. With respect to the installation surface of the Z-axis orthogonal to the installation surface of the medium transportation device, if the medium transportation device side is the +Z side,
The device main body is
a back surface that intersects the mounting surface and is along the medium ejection direction and faces the ejected medium;
and a connector used for connection with the drive source,
5. The medium transporting device according to claim 1, wherein the connector is arranged on the +Z side of the mounting surface and recessed from the rear surface. The tray is
a first surface supporting stacked media;
a second surface supporting the stacked media, the second surface changing the amount of protrusion with respect to the first surface by a driving force from the driving source;
6. The media transport device of claim 5, comprising: The first surface is slanted toward the +Z side toward the downstream side in the medium ejection direction from the ejection section, and the first surface is inclined in the Z-axis direction parallel to the Z-axis. 7. The media transport device of claim 6, wherein the media transport device spans both sides of the . 5. The medium conveying device according to claim 3, wherein the drive source is located between the first frame and the mounting surface in a Z-axis direction parallel to the Z-axis. 9. The medium conveying device according to claim 1, wherein the device main body has a fixing portion that fixes the tray unit and the post-processing device in a replaceable manner. With respect to the installation surface of the Z-axis orthogonal to the installation surface of the medium transportation device, if the medium transportation device side is the +Z side,
10. The medium conveying device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein when the medium conveying device is viewed from the +Z side, the tray unit is located inside an installation range of the device main body. . The medium conveying apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the tray unit does not post-process the medium discharged by the discharge section. A method of using the medium transport device according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
removing the tray unit to which the drive source is fixed from the device main body;
and placing the post-processing device on the mounting surface.

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