JP4556406B2 - Printing device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus including a paper feed tray for feeding a print sheet of a predetermined size and a paper discharge tray for receiving a print sheet after printing.

  Conventionally, the color ink liquid on the transfer paper surface is melted by the heat of the thermal head, sublimated, or the color ink liquid is ejected, depending on the character or image information at the desired position on the print sheet. Printing apparatuses that perform color printing are known.

  When a printing sheet of a predetermined size is used in such a printing apparatus, the printing sheets are separated one by one from a paper feed tray on which a large number of printing sheets of a predetermined size are stacked, supplied to the printing apparatus, and discharged after printing. A printing sheet supply / discharge mechanism for receiving the printing sheet to be printed is required.

  In a printing apparatus described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-312551, a paper feed port and a paper discharge port are provided on the upper surface portion of the apparatus main body, and the paper feed port and the paper discharge port are positioned on the upper surface portion of the apparatus main body. Corresponding to each other, the paper feed tray and the paper discharge tray are installed so as to overlap each other.

As described above, in this conventional printing apparatus, the paper feed tray and the paper discharge tray constituting the paper supply / discharge mechanism are installed on the upper surface portion of the apparatus main body, and this printing apparatus is not used. Regardless of the time, it is fixed at a fixed position of the apparatus body.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-331551

  As described above, in the conventional printing apparatus, the paper feed tray and the paper discharge tray constituting the paper supply / discharge mechanism are installed on the upper surface portion of the apparatus main body, but the apparatus main body is relatively large. If there is a printing device of this type, there is enough space to fix the paper feed tray and paper discharge tray to the main body of the device, but for small printers, the paper feed tray and paper discharge tray are used. There is a problem that there is no room for installation in the same state as the time, which is an obstacle to downsizing the apparatus shape.

  The present invention solves such problems, and when the apparatus is not used, the paper feed tray and the paper discharge tray can be stored compactly, the apparatus can be downsized, and the storage operation can be easily performed. It is another object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus that does not cause trouble in the paper feed function when it is not stored.

The invention of claim 1, in a printing device provided with a paper feed tray print sheet supply is accommodated in the printing unit, a paper discharge tray Ru receiving print sheets discharged is printed by the printing means , the paper feed tray, and a use position that serves as a paper feed tray, in order to be movable in the stowed position accommodated in the discharge and storage to the device body tray, provided rotatably in the apparatus main body is, the sheet discharge tray includes a storage location to be stored before Symbol paper feed tray, the housing of the printing sheet in the paper feed tray by separable at a predetermined distance from the upper surface of the paper feed tray possible and then, and the conjunction is provided in the paper feed tray and movable in the use position permitting reception of the printing sheet discharged from the printing unit in the paper discharge tray, the paper in its use position For the tray rotatably attached, when the paper feed tray and the output tray are both in the use position, above the discharge tray on the paper feed tray against the paper feed tray by rotating, while enabling the loading of the printing sheet to the paper feed tray on, when in the use position in a state where the paper feed tray accommodating the printing sheet, the discharge the discharge tray When from the use position of the paper tray to try to move to the storage position, the storage position from the use position of the discharge tray receiving interference of the printing sheet, wherein the sheet discharge tray is accommodated in the paper feed tray It is characterized in that it is configured to be prevented from moving to.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, when the paper discharge tray moves to the use position of the paper discharge tray, the paper discharge tray is on the paper feed tray in the discharge direction of the print sheet. It is characterized by moving to the side.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, the paper feed tray includes a positioning unit that positions a print sheet loaded on the tray, and the paper discharge tray is positioned when stored in the paper feed tray. It is characterized in that it is engaged with the part and locked in its stored state.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, when the paper feed tray and the paper discharge tray are stored in a predetermined storage position of the apparatus main body, a print sheet supply port provided in the apparatus main body and It is characterized by covering the paper outlet.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the paper discharge tray can be stored in the paper feed tray, a small printing apparatus can be realized. In addition, when both the paper feed tray and the paper discharge tray are in the use position and a print sheet is loaded on the paper feed tray, if the paper discharge tray is mistakenly moved from the use position to the storage position, the movement is caused by the print sheet. Is blocked by. Therefore, it is possible to make the user recognize the error, and by making the user aware of the erroneous operation, there is a deterrent effect on performing such an operation and leaving it as it is. It is possible to prevent a failure in the paper feeding function from the paper tray.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention viewed from the front side, and FIG. 2 is an external perspective view of the printing apparatus viewed from the back side.

  This printing device has a word processor that creates address books, edits postcards and other postcards, prints postcard addresses and prints postcards, and captures and prints photographic images taken with a digital camera. It has an image printing function.

  In FIG. 1, the printing apparatus includes a box-shaped apparatus main body 1. On the front surface 2 side of the apparatus main body 1, a keyboard 3 is provided for inputting document data when used as a word processor. The keyboard 3 is pivotally attached to the lower part of the front panel 4 of the apparatus main body 1. When used as a word processor, the keyboard 3 is tilted to the front side of the front panel 4 as shown in FIG. It can be stowed vertically and stored in contact with the front panel 4.

  The keyboard 3 includes character / symbol input keys for inputting address book and postcard text, and various control keys necessary for text editing, display screen control, printing, and the like.

  Reference numeral 5 denotes an escape hole for the print sheet provided on the front panel 4 of the apparatus main body 1, and a part of the print sheet protrudes from the escape hole 5 to the outside of the apparatus main body 1 during the conveyance operation. Further, since the keyboard 3 can be stood and stowed on the front surface of the apparatus main body 1, the keyboard 3 is provided with a similar relief hole 6 corresponding to the relief hole 5.

  On the top panel 8 located on the top surface 7 of the apparatus body 1, data input from the keyboard 3 is displayed, a menu screen necessary for various settings is displayed, and a photographic image taken from the digital camera is displayed. In addition, a liquid crystal display unit 9 is provided for displaying various kinds of information necessary for this apparatus. The liquid crystal display unit 9 is configured to tilt toward the front side so that the user can easily see it.

  Further, the upper panel 8 of the apparatus main body 1 is provided with a power button 10 for turning on / off the apparatus, and a key operation unit 11 corresponding to photographic image printing processing and the like separately from the keyboard 3. Is provided. The key operation unit 11 includes a cursor key 12 for controlling the movement of the cursor displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 9, a decision key 13 for making various selection decisions on the display screen, and a printing instruction. A print key 14 is provided.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a recess 16 is formed in the back surface 15 of the apparatus main body 1, and a paper feed port 17 and a paper discharge port 18 that communicate with the apparatus main body 1 are provided in the lower half of the recess 16. A paper feed tray 19 and a paper discharge tray 20 are provided corresponding to the paper feed port 17 and the paper discharge port 18.

  The wall surface of the recess 16 formed on the back surface 15 of the apparatus main body 1 is provided with card slots 21a to 21d in which a plurality of types of memory cards can be mounted as operation means. Then, the terminals of the memory card are connected to the connector terminals in the card slots 21a to 21d, so that the image data can be read out to the printing apparatus side.

  In this printing apparatus, images corresponding to a plurality of image data read from the memory card are reduced and displayed on the screen of the liquid crystal display unit 9, and the user selects a desired image and prints it on a predetermined print sheet. Can be done.

  4 to 6 show the mounting structure of the paper feed tray 19 and the paper discharge tray 20 with respect to the apparatus main body 1. The paper feed tray 19 has a recess 15 in the apparatus main body 1 on both sides at the rear end thereof via pins 50. It is pivotally attached to the both side walls so that it can rotate in the vertical direction.

  Standing walls 51 are formed on both sides of the front side of the upper surface of the sheet feeding tray 19, and guide grooves 52 are formed on the inner side surfaces of these standing walls 51. Each guide groove 52 has an inclined portion 52a extending obliquely, a first horizontal portion 52b extending horizontally from the lower end of the inclined portion 52a to the rear side of the paper feed tray 19, and a paper feed tray from the upper end of the inclined portion 52a. 19 has a substantially crank shape having a second horizontal portion 52b that extends horizontally on the front side of 19.

  The paper discharge tray 20 is disposed on the paper feed tray 19. Guide pins 54 protrude from both sides of the front side of the sheet discharge tray 20, and these guide pins 54 are loosely fitted in the respective guide grooves 52.

  Support legs 55 project from both sides of the lower surface of the paper discharge tray 20 so as to protrude downward, and slide grooves 56 corresponding to the support legs 55 are formed at both sides of the upper surface of the paper feed tray 19. The support legs 55 are slidably inserted into the sliding grooves 56. The sliding groove 56 extends in the front-rear direction of the paper feed tray 19, and has a deep groove portion 56a having a deep depth located on the front side of the paper feed tray 19, a shallow groove portion 56b having a shallow depth located on the rear side, It has the inclined groove part 56c of the intermediate part.

  A positioning member 59 is provided at the rear end of the paper feed tray 19. The positioning member 59 has a U-shape and is slidably attached to the paper feed tray 19 in the front-rear direction. A notch 60 that can be fitted to the positioning member 50 is formed at the rear edge of the paper discharge tray 20.

  The state shown in FIG. 4 shows a storage state (storage position) in which the paper discharge tray 20 is substantially in close contact with the upper surface of the paper feed tray 19. In this storage state, the guide pins 54 of the paper discharge tray 20 are connected to the paper feed tray 20. The support leg 55 of the paper discharge tray 20 is located in the deep groove portion 56 a of the sliding groove 56 of the paper feed tray 19. At this time, the rear end edge of the paper discharge tray 20 and the rear end edge of the paper feed tray 19 substantially coincide with each other, and the notch 60 at the rear end edge of the paper discharge tray 20 is fitted with the positioning member 59. Thus, the paper discharge tray 20 is locked at the storage position.

  When the positioning member 59 is slid to the rear side of the paper feed tray 19 from this state to unlock the paper discharge tray 20, and the paper tray 20 is further moved to the rear side of the paper feed tray 19, the guide pins 54 are guided. The first horizontal portion 52b of the groove 52 shifts to the second horizontal portion 52c via the inclined portion 52a, and the support leg 55 shifts from the deep groove portion 56a of the sliding groove 56 to the shallow groove portion 56c via the inclined portion 56b. As a result, the discharge tray 20 enters a use state (use position) in which the discharge tray 20 is separated from the upper surface of the paper feed tray 19 with a predetermined interval.

  When the paper discharge tray 20 is moved to the use position, the rear edge of the paper discharge tray 20 protrudes to the rear side of the paper feed tray 19. When the paper discharge tray 20 is moved to the use position, the positioning member 59 is slid to support the rear edge of the paper discharge tray 20 with the positioning member 59.

  Since the front end portion of the paper feed tray 19 is rotatably attached to the lower portion of the recess 15 of the apparatus main body 1, the paper feed port 17 and the paper discharge port 18 are opened to be horizontal to the rear side of the device main body 1. It is possible to move to a use position where the sheet is deployed and a storage position where the sheet feeding port 17 and the sheet ejection port 18 are closed and fitted into the recess 15.

  6A and 6B show the internal structure of the printing apparatus.

  The paper feed tray 19 and the paper discharge tray 20 are developed to the use positions, and a print sheet is loaded on the paper feed tray 19 in this state. As the print sheet, a postcard is used when a postcard is printed by a word processing function, and a dedicated photo printing paper is used when a photographed image of a digital camera is printed.

  In FIG. 6, reference numeral 25 denotes a pick-up roller for taking the print sheets 40 stacked on the paper feed tray 19 one by one from the uppermost portion into the apparatus main body 1 and is driven to rotate counterclockwise by a drive motor (not shown). Is done. The lower side of the pickup roller 25 is the aforementioned paper feed port 17, and the upper side is the aforementioned paper ejection port 18.

  At the time of paper feeding, a paper feeding lever 26 disposed below the pickup roller 25 pushes the front end portion of the print sheet 40 near the front end of the bottom portion of the paper feeding tray 19 and presses it toward the pickup roller 25 by a driving mechanism (not shown).

  Reference numeral 27 denotes a first conveyance path for conveying the captured print sheet 40, and an end portion of the conveyance path 27 includes a driving roller 28 and a pressure roller 29 for conveying the print sheet 40. A pair of transport rollers is disposed, and a first paper sensor 30 formed of a reflective optical sensor is provided in the transport path 27.

  The above-described escape hole 5 shown in FIG. 1 is arranged on the right side of the transport rollers 28 and 29, and the leading end of the printing sheet 40 carried into the apparatus main body 1 passes through the escape hole 5 once during the transport. It protrudes out of the main body 1.

  Reference numeral 31 denotes a second conveyance path that guides the print sheet 40 to be carried out of the apparatus body 1 when the conveyance direction of the print sheet 40 carried in via the first conveyance path 27 is reversed. In the middle of the conveyance path 31, an ink jet printing mechanism is arranged.

  The printing mechanism includes a carriage 33 that is movable along a guide rail 32 in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the print sheet 40. The carriage 33 includes Y (yellow), M (magenta), and C (cyan). A print head 34 having respective nozzles for discharging the respective color inks is mounted.

  The carriage 33 is provided with a second paper sensor 35 facing the second transport path 31. Reference numeral 36 denotes an ink receiving portion that absorbs excess ink.

  A driven roller 37 is provided at the end of the second conveyance path 31 so as to face the paper discharge port 18 and rolls against the pickup roller 25 in order to discharge the printed sheet 40 after printing. Yes. The driven roller 37 contacts the print surface of the print sheet 40 so as to face the pickup roller 25 that contacts the surface opposite to the print surface of the print sheet 40.

  During the printing operation, the pickup roller 25 is driven counterclockwise by the drive motor, and the drive roller 28 is driven clockwise and counterclockwise by the drive motor.

  Next, the operation of the printing apparatus will be described.

  When there is an instruction to start printing, as shown in FIG. 6A, the pickup roller 25 is driven in the counterclockwise direction, and in cooperation with the paper feed lever 26, one print sheet 40 is transferred to the first transport path. The paper is fed toward 27. The print sheet 40 conveyed to the first conveyance path 27 by the pickup roller 25 is inherited by the conveyance rollers 28 and 29, and is further conveyed by the conveyance rollers 28 and 29 until the rear end portion reaches the position of the conveyance rollers 28 and 29. Is done.

  In the process in which the print sheet 40 is conveyed to the first conveyance path 27, the first paper sensor 30 detects the print sheet 40, and after the rear end of the print sheet 40 passes the position of the first paper sensor 30. The clockwise rotation of the drive roller 28 is stopped in accordance with the timing at which the rear end is conveyed from the end of the first conveying path 27 after being conveyed by a predetermined distance.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 6B, the driving roller 28 rotates counterclockwise, and the rotation of the driving roller 28 counterclockwise causes the printing sheet 40 to move toward the leading end, contrary to the time of loading. Are carried into the second conveyance path 31 and conveyed toward the paper discharge outlet 18.

  When the leading end side of the print sheet 40 is detected by the second paper sensor 35 during conveyance in the second conveyance path 31, the carriage 33 moves along the guide rail 32 based on the detection, and the print head 34 is moved. Driven and printing on the print sheet 40 is performed.

  When printing is completed, the print sheet 40 is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 20 at the use position outside the apparatus main body 1 through the paper discharge port 18 by the pickup roller 25 and the driven roller 37.

When the paper discharge tray 20 is changed from the storage position to the use position, the paper discharge tray 20 is moved so that the rear edge of the paper discharge tray 20 protrudes to the rear side of the paper feed tray 19 as shown in FIG. The print sheet 40 moves to the discharge direction side on the paper feed tray 19. For this reason, the discharged print sheet 40 can be accurately received, and the discharge tray 20 can be moved to an appropriate position for receiving the discharged print sheet 40, so that the shape of the discharge tray 20 is limited to the extent that the function can be performed. When the print sheet 40 is loaded on the paper feed tray 19, as shown in FIG. 4, the guide tray 54 serves as a fulcrum as shown by the chain line. In this state, a plurality of print sheets 40 are stacked and loaded on the paper feed tray 19. Then, the positioning member 59 is slid and positioned so that the print sheets 20 are aligned with each other and fixed at a predetermined position. Thereafter, the standing paper discharge tray 20 is rotated downward and returned to the use position.

  By the way, when the paper discharge tray 20 is mistakenly moved from the use position to the front side thereof, the paper discharge tray 20 moves downward, and this movement causes the paper discharge tray 20 to move above the paper feed tray 19. This impedes the feeding of the printing sheet 40 by hitting the printing sheet 40.

  However, if the paper discharge tray 20 is moved from the use position to the storage position while the print sheet 20 is stored in the paper supply tray 19, the edge in the width direction of the print sheet 40 at a position before reaching the storage position. The guide pin 54 that slides in the guide groove 52 comes into contact with the portion, and the movement of the paper discharge tray 20 is prevented, so that the user can recognize from the touch of the finger that the handling is abnormal. Further, in terms of appearance, when the paper discharge tray 20 moves downward, the interval between the paper discharge tray 20 and the paper feed tray 19 is narrowed, and the paper discharge tray 20 is changed due to an appearance change different from the normal use state. The user recognizes that it is not in the proper storage position. Accordingly, by recognizing these abnormalities, the user can return the paper discharge tray 20 to the original normal use position, so that the paper discharge tray 20 is left in the wrong position to feed the print sheet 40. You can avoid situations that might cause problems.

  After the printing work is completed, the paper discharge tray 20 at the use position is pushed forward. By this operation, the guide pin 54 of the paper discharge tray 20 moves from the second horizontal portion 52c of the guide groove 52 to the first horizontal portion 52b via the inclined portion 52a, and the support leg 55 changes from the shallow groove portion 56c to the inclined groove portion 56b. After that, the sheet is transferred to the deep groove portion 56 a, and the sheet discharge tray 20 is thereby lowered and disposed at a storage position where the sheet discharge tray 20 is substantially in close contact with the upper surface of the sheet feed tray 19.

  Thereafter, the positioning member 59 is pushed into the front side of the paper feed tray 19, and the paper discharge tray 20 is locked by the positioning member 59 to be locked in the storage position.

  Next, the paper feed tray 19 that is overlapped so that the paper discharge tray 20 is in close contact with the upper surface is rotated upward with the pin 50 as a fulcrum, and as shown in FIG. Store inside.

  The paper discharge tray 20 is stored compactly with respect to the paper supply tray 19 so as to be in close contact with the upper surface of the paper supply tray 19, and the paper supply tray 19 is stored together with the paper discharge tray 20 in the recess 16 of the apparatus main body 1. For this reason, when the printing apparatus is not used, the entire printing apparatus can be made small and compact.

  A paper discharge tray 20 is integrally assembled with the paper feed tray 19, so that the paper feed tray 19 and the paper discharge tray 20 can be fed by a single operation of rotating the paper feed tray 19 upward. The tray 19 and the paper discharge tray 20 can be stored in the recess 16 of the apparatus main body 1 easily and efficiently.

  When the paper feed tray 19 is housed in the recess 16 of the apparatus main body 1, the card slots 21 a to 21 d, the paper feed port 17, and the paper discharge port 18 as the operation means of the device main body 1 are respectively covered by the paper feed tray 19. Is called. Therefore, each of the card slots 21a to 21d, the paper supply port 17, and the paper discharge port 18 can be protected, and the overall appearance of the printing apparatus can be kept clean as shown in FIG. .

  8 and 9 show a second embodiment. In this embodiment, the paper discharge tray 20 is connected to the paper supply tray 10 via a link mechanism 80, and the biasing means. The paper discharge tray 20 is elastically urged upward by a spring 81 as the above.

  The link mechanism 80 includes a pair of link bars 80a and 80b. One end of one link bar 80a is pivotally attached to the paper feed tray 19 via a pin 82, and the other link bar 80b. One end of the link bar is pivotally attached to the paper discharge tray 20 via a pin 83, and the other end of each link bar 80 a, 80 b is pivotable to each other via a pin 84. It is pivotally attached to.

  Then, stoppers 86 and 87 are respectively attached to the outer surfaces of the end portions on the other end side of the link bars 80a and 80b, and these stoppers 86 and 87 come into contact with each other, so that as shown in FIG. And the discharge tray 20 are kept at a predetermined interval, and the discharge tray 20 is supported at the use position.

  When the discharge tray 20 is moved from the use position to the storage position, the discharge tray 20 is pushed downward against the spring 81. The pushed-out paper discharge tray 20 is locked by a locking mechanism 88 and is locked at a storage position that is in close contact with the upper surface of the paper feed tray 19.

  Further, when the discharge tray 20 is moved from the storage position to the use position, the locking mechanism 88 is released. With this release, the paper discharge tray 20 is automatically raised by the urging force of the spring 81, and the paper discharge tray 20 is placed at a use position at a predetermined height by the abutment of the stoppers 86 and 87.

1 is an external perspective view of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention viewed from the front side. The external appearance perspective view seen from the back side of the printing apparatus. FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state when a paper discharge tray of the printing apparatus is stored in a paper feed tray. The side view which shows the state at the time of use which the discharge tray of the printing apparatus separated from the paper supply tray. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a paper feed tray and a paper discharge tray of the printing apparatus. Explanatory drawing which shows the internal structure of the printing apparatus. The perspective view which shows the external appearance of the whole printing apparatus. The side view which shows the paper feed tray and paper discharge tray in other embodiment of this invention. The side view which shows a part of link bar which connects the paper feed tray and the paper discharge tray.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Main body 19 ... Paper feed tray 20 ... Paper discharge tray 25 ... Pick-up roller 26 ... Paper feed lever 27 ... Conveyance path 28 ... Drive roller 29 ... Pressure roller 30 ... Paper sensor 31 ... Conveyance path 32 ... Guide rail 33 ... Carriage 34 ... Print head 35 ... Paper sensor 37 ... Driven roller 40 ... Print sheet 50 ... Pin 51 ... Standing wall 52 ... Guide groove 54 ... Guide pin 55 ... Support leg 56 ... Sliding groove 59 ... Positioning member

Claims (4)

A printing apparatus having a paper feed tray print sheet supply is accommodated in the printing unit, a paper discharge tray Ru receiving print sheets discharged are printed by said printing means,
The paper feed tray, and a use position that serves as a paper feed tray, in order to be movable in the stowed position accommodated in the discharge and storage to the device body tray, disposed rotatably in the device body ,
The discharge tray includes a storage location to be stored before Symbol paper feed tray, and capable of accommodating a printing sheet to the paper feed tray by separable at a predetermined distance from the upper surface of the paper feed tray and together is provided in the paper feed tray and movable in the use position permitting reception of the printing sheet discharged from the printing unit in the sheet discharge tray, the paper feed tray in its use position It is provided so as to be able to rotate ,
When the paper feed tray and the output tray are both in the use position, by rotating upward the sheet discharge tray on the paper feed tray against the paper feed tray, the paper feed tray on while enabling loading of the printing sheet to, when in the use position in a state where the paper feed tray accommodating the printing sheet, the storage position of the paper discharge tray from the use position of the discharge tray When it is attempted to move, the discharge tray is configured to be prevented from moving from the use position to the storage position of the discharge tray due to the interference of the print sheets stored in the paper supply tray . A printing apparatus characterized by that.   2. The sheet discharge tray moves to a print sheet discharge direction side on the sheet feed tray when the sheet discharge tray moves to the use position of the sheet discharge tray. Printing device.   The paper feed tray includes a positioning unit for positioning a print sheet loaded on the tray, and the paper discharge tray is engaged with the positioning unit when locked in the paper feed tray and locked in the stored state. The printing apparatus according to claim 1.   2. The sheet feeding port and the sheet ejection port of a printing sheet provided in the apparatus main body are covered when the sheet feeding tray and the sheet ejection tray are stored in predetermined storage positions of the apparatus main body. Printing device.

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