JP5924485B2 - Recording device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a recording medium return member and a recording apparatus including the same.
In the present application, the recording apparatus includes types such as an ink jet printer, a line printer, a copying machine, and a facsimile.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a recording apparatus such as an ink jet printer, paper (cut sheet paper, etc.), which is a recording medium placed on a placement surface provided in a paper feed unit, is sent to the downstream side of a feeding path by a feeding means. In some cases, there is provided a paper return lever that prevents double feeding of paper (for example, Patent Document 1).

  In this recording apparatus, a plurality of sheet return levers are provided at intervals on one axis extending in the width direction of the sheet. A driving mechanism is provided at one end of the shaft, and the shaft is rotated by a driving force from a driving source. The sheet return lever is configured to rotate around the shaft by the rotation of the shaft, and to protrude from the feeding path or to retreat from the feeding path.

  In this recording apparatus, when the recording medium placed on the placing surface is fed to the downstream side of the feeding path by the feeding unit, the sheet to be fed is not necessarily one sheet. Since a frictional force is generated between the uppermost sheet and the succeeding and subsequent sheets with respect to the feeding means, there is a possibility that the succeeding and subsequent sheets are also fed. Therefore, first, the uppermost sheet and the subsequent sheets are separated from the fed sheet by a separation unit provided in the feeding path. Next, the return lever is rotated to forcibly lift up the leading edge of the next and subsequent sheets and push it back onto the mounting surface. Therefore, in this recording apparatus, only the uppermost sheet can be fed to the recording unit downstream in the feeding direction.

JP 2007-119190 A

  By the way, in this recording apparatus, since the shaft is rotated by the driving mechanism provided on one end side of the shaft and the return lever is rotated, when the shaft is rotated, one end side of the shaft and the other side are rotated. Twist occurs between the ends. In the plurality of return levers provided on the shaft due to this twisting, the rotation operation of the return lever disposed on the other end side of the shaft from the start timing of the rotation operation of the return lever disposed on the one end side of the shaft The start timing is delayed. Due to the delay in the timing of starting the rotation operation of the return lever arranged on the other end side, skew (skew) occurs in the sheet returned to the placement surface. For this reason, when the sheet is fed next time in the recording apparatus, there is a possibility that a sheet feeding failure, a paper jam, and a recording quality decrease may occur.

  Further, it is desirable that the return lever is disposed near the separating portion from the viewpoint of the function of returning the separated sheet to the placement surface described above or from the viewpoint of downsizing the apparatus. However, in this recording apparatus, since a plurality of paper return levers are provided at intervals on one shaft, it is difficult to place a separating member for separating the recording medium between the return levers, and a position away from the shaft, that is, a return position. It had to be installed at a position away from the lever.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and it is possible to suppress a shift in operation timing of a plurality of return levers, perform a sheet return operation more effectively, and suppress an increase in size of the apparatus. It is an object of the present invention to provide a recording apparatus that can realize at least one of them.

  In order to achieve the above object, a recording medium feeding device according to a first aspect of the present invention supplies a recording surface on which a recording medium is placed and the recording medium placed on the placement surface. A linearly displacing operation is performed with a feeding unit that feeds the feeding path and a recording medium returning member that is rotatably provided so as to return the recording medium sent to the feeding path to the mounting surface. And an operation conversion member that engages with the recording medium return member and converts the displacement operation into a rotation operation of the recording medium return member.

According to this aspect, since the displacement operation is converted into the rotation operation of the recording medium return member by the operation converting member that linearly moves, it is necessary to provide an axis extending in the width direction of the recording medium in the recording apparatus. Therefore, the deviation of the rotational operation start timing between the plurality of recording medium return members provided due to the deflection of the shaft does not occur, or the deviation can be reduced. Further, since it is not necessary to provide the shaft for driving the recording medium return member, the separation unit for separating the recording medium and the recording medium return when the feeding path of the recording medium is viewed from the side. The members can be arranged close to each other. Further, since it is not necessary to provide the shaft for driving the recording medium return member, the internal space of the recording apparatus can be used effectively, and the recording apparatus can be reduced in size.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect, at least a part of the motion converting member is disposed in a space formed below the member forming the placement surface. To do.
According to this aspect, in addition to the same effect as the first aspect, at least a part of the motion conversion member is arranged using the space formed below the member forming the placement surface. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide a new space in the recording apparatus main body for arranging the motion converting member in the recording apparatus main body. For this reason, the internal space of the recording apparatus can be used effectively, and the recording apparatus can be reduced in size.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect, the motion conversion member and the recording medium return member are along a width direction of the recording medium that is a direction intersecting the feeding path. A plurality of pairs are provided.
According to this aspect, since a plurality of the motion conversion member and the recording medium return member are provided in pairs along the width direction of the recording medium, the motion converting member and the recording medium return member are rotated between the recording medium return members. The operation start timing is not delayed, and another member such as a separating member can be disposed between the recording medium return members.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to third aspects, the motion conversion member includes a cam portion that engages with the recording medium return member, and the recording medium return member is An engagement surface that engages with a cam portion is provided, and the recording medium is returned to the cam portion by causing the recording medium return member that has fallen downstream and retracted from the feeding path to the upstream side. Before completion of the returning operation to return to the mounting surface, a recess is formed in which the recording medium returning member is tilted to the downstream side and rotated again in the direction to cause it to be raised upstream.

  According to this aspect, in addition to the same effects as in any one of the first to third aspects, the return operation is completed in the process of causing the recording medium return member upstream, that is, in the process of the return operation. By causing the recording medium return member to perform a displacement operation in the downstream direction before, the recording medium in contact with the recording medium return member and stuck to the recording medium return member is returned to the recording medium return It can be separated from the member and returned to the mounting surface. As a result, when the recording medium is fed again, it is prevented that the recording medium is double-fed or the recording medium placed on the placement surface is collapsed and swooped to the downstream side of the feeding path. be able to.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the placement surface has a width direction of the recording medium on one side in the width direction of the recording medium. A restricting portion for restricting movement is provided, and among the recording medium return members provided in a plurality along the width direction, the recording medium return member disposed at a position furthest from the restricting portion is replaced with another recording medium return member. The recording medium returning member is rotated prior to the recording medium returning member.

  According to this aspect, in the recording apparatus, the recording medium return member disposed on the side where the restricting portion that restricts the movement of the recording medium in the width direction is provided. By advancing the start timing of the rotation of the recording medium return member disposed at the position, the side end of the recording medium can be brought into contact with the restricting portion, whereby the posture of the recording medium is changed to the restricting portion. The skew of the recording medium is corrected following the above.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is the rack according to any one of the third to fifth aspects, wherein the plurality of motion conversion members are provided along the width direction, and the rack extends in the displacement operation direction of the motion conversion member. And a pinion gear meshing with the rack.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to sixth aspects, the recording medium return member includes a biasing member that biases the recording medium return member in a direction to tilt the recording medium return member to the downstream side. It is characterized by having.
According to this aspect, in addition to the same function and effect as in any one of the first to sixth aspects, the biasing member biases the recording medium return member in a direction to tilt the recording medium return member to the downstream side. The recording medium return member can be reliably retracted from the feeding path.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to seventh aspects, a separation member that separates the recording medium in contact with a tip of the recording medium is provided, and the separation member is provided. The position overlaps with the position where the recording medium return member is provided in the feeding path when the feeding path of the recording medium is viewed from the side.

  According to this aspect, in addition to the same effects as any one of the first to seventh aspects, the separation member can be disposed between the plurality of recording medium return members, so that the recording apparatus can be downsized. Can be achieved.

FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a feeding unit of the printer according to the invention. The perspective view which shows the pick-up roller in a feeding part, and a control part. The perspective view which shows the feeding part which concerns on this invention. The perspective view which shows the recording medium return mechanism which concerns on this invention. FIG. 3 is a side sectional view of a recording medium return mechanism according to the present invention. 4 is a timing chart showing a relationship between a pickup roller and a recording medium return member. (A) is a sectional side view showing a first state of the recording medium returning member, and (B) is a sectional side view showing a second state of the recording medium returning member. (A) is a sectional side view showing a third state of the recording medium returning member, and (B) is a sectional side view showing a fourth state of the recording medium returning member. The top view which shows the recording medium return mechanism of a 2nd Example.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, about the same structure in each Example, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected and it demonstrates only in the first Example, The description of the structure is abbreviate | omitted in a subsequent Example.

  FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a feeding section of a printer according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a pickup roller and a regulating section in the feeding section, and FIG. 3 shows a feeding section according to the present invention. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a recording medium return mechanism according to the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a side sectional view of the recording medium return mechanism according to the present invention.

  FIG. 6 is a timing chart showing the relationship between the pickup roller and the recording medium return member. FIG. 7A is a side sectional view showing a first state of the recording medium return member, and FIG. ) Is a side sectional view showing a second state of the recording medium returning member, FIG. 8A is a side sectional view showing a third state of the recording medium returning member, and FIG. FIG. 9 is a side sectional view showing a fourth state of the recording medium returning member, and FIG. 9 is a plan view showing a recording medium returning mechanism of the second embodiment.

  Note that FIG. 1 illustrates almost all rollers on the same surface in order to illustrate the rollers arranged on the paper transport path of the printer, but the position in the depth direction (the front and back direction in FIG. 1) is They do not always match (sometimes they match). In the XYZ coordinate system shown in each figure, the X direction is perpendicular to the paper conveyance (feed) direction, that is, the paper width direction, the Y direction is the paper conveyance (feed direction) direction, and the Z direction is the apparatus height. The vertical direction, that is, the direction of gravity is shown.

  1, 2, and 3, a feeding unit 11 of an ink jet printer 10 (hereinafter referred to as “printer 10”) as a recording apparatus according to the present invention is illustrated. The feeding unit 11 includes a placement surface 12 on which a sheet P that is an example of a “recording medium” is placed, a pickup roller 14 as a “feeding unit” at a position facing the placement surface 12, and a sheet. A separation unit 16 that separates P and a sheet return mechanism 18 that pushes the separated sheet P back to the placement surface 12 are provided. In addition, a recording unit 20 is provided on the downstream side of the separation unit in the feeding path.

  The separation unit 16 includes a separation bank surface 22 as a first separation means and a separation member 24 as a second separation means. The paper return mechanism 18 includes a paper return lever 26 as a “recording medium return member”, an operation conversion member 28 that engages with the paper return lever 26, and a drive mechanism that linearly displaces the operation conversion member 28. 30. The recording unit 20 includes a recording head 32 and a lower guide member 34 facing the recording head 32.

  The placement surface 12 is provided in the feeding unit 11 so that the paper P is placed in an inclined state, and the leading edge of the paper P is in contact with the separation bank surface 22. Further, an edge guide 36 is provided on one side of the loading surface 12 in the width direction of the paper P as a “restricting portion” that restricts the movement of the paper P in the width direction (see FIG. 2). The pickup roller 14 is provided on a swing member 40 that swings around a swing shaft 38. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 14 indicates a state where the pickup roller 14 is in contact with the paper P, and reference numeral 14 ′ indicates a state where the pickup roller 14 is separated from the paper P.

  The pickup roller 14 is displaced in a direction in contact with or away from the paper P by a swing shaft 38 and a swing member 40 driven by a drive motor (not shown). The pickup roller 14 is driven to rotate by the drive motor, and sends the paper P to the downstream side of the feeding path.

  The sheet P sent out from the placement surface 12 is sent to the downstream side of the feeding path while the leading end thereof is in contact with the separation bank surface 22, and the leading end is in contact with the separation member 24. The fed sheet P is separated from the uppermost sheet P and the subsequent sheet P by the separation bank surface 22 and the separating member 24, and only the uppermost sheet P is sent to the downstream side of the feeding path. It is. That is, the separation unit 16 prevents double feeding of the paper P. The separated and subsequent sheets P are loaded when the return lever 26 (refer to reference numeral 26 in FIG. 1) that is tilted downstream is raised in the upstream direction (refer to reference numeral 26 ′ in FIG. 1). It is pushed back to the mounting surface 12 (see FIG. 3).

  The paper P sent out from the separating member 24 to the downstream side of the feeding path is transported to the recording unit 20 (see FIG. 1) by a paper transport roller (not shown). The paper P conveyed to the recording unit 20 is positioned between the recording head 32 and the lower guide member 34 and faces the recording head 32. The recording head 32 is provided at the bottom of a carriage (not shown), and the carriage is driven by a drive motor (not shown) so as to reciprocate in the main scanning direction (the front and back direction in FIG. 1, ie, the X axis direction). The lower guide member 34 supports the paper P and defines the distance between the paper P and the recording head 32. The paper P on which recording has been performed in the recording unit 20 is discharged from the printer 10 by a conveyance unit (not shown).

■■■ First Example ■■■■
Further, the sheet returning mechanism 18 of the first embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIG. As described above, the paper return mechanism 18 includes the paper return lever 26, the operation converting member 28, and the paper return drive mechanism 30. The sheet return drive mechanism 30 includes a plate-like rack member 44 that is slidable with respect to the bottom surface 42 of the feeding unit 11, and a pinion gear 48 that meshes with a rack 46 provided on the rack member 44. Yes.

  The rack member 44 is formed as a plate-like member extending in the width direction of the paper P, that is, the X-axis direction, and a pair of racks 46 extending in the Y-axis direction are formed at both ends in the X-axis direction. Further, the rack member 44 is provided with at least one motion conversion member 28 on one side in the Y-axis direction, that is, the side portion 50 on the + Y side.

  In addition, a pinion gear drive shaft 52 extending in the X-axis direction and driven by a motor (not shown) is provided above the rack member 44. The pinion gear drive shaft 52 is provided with a pinion gear 48 at a position corresponding to the rack 46 of the rack member 44 in the X-axis direction.

  The motion conversion member 28 protrudes from the side portion 50 of the rack member 44 in the Y direction and extends in the Y direction. Further, the motion converting member 28 has an inclined surface 54 extending from the lower side to the upper side in the −Y direction, a top surface 56 continuous with the inclined surface 54, and a recess 58 formed in a V shape on the upper surface 56. (See FIG. 5). The inclined surface 54, the upper surface 56, and the recess 58 function as a cam portion 59 that engages with an engagement surface 68 of the sheet return lever 26 described later.

  In addition, the bottom surface 42 of the feeding unit 11 is formed with a hook-like portion 60 that protrudes upward from the bottom surface 42 at a position corresponding to the motion conversion member 28. The hook-shaped portion 60 guides the movement of the motion conversion member 28 in the Y-axis direction and restricts the lifting of the motion conversion member 28 in the Z-axis direction.

  On the Y direction side of the inclined surface 54 of the motion converting member 28, a paper return lever 26 is rotatably provided. The sheet return lever 26 includes a main body portion 64, a lever portion 66 protruding from the main body portion 64, and an engagement surface 68 (see FIG. 5), and a torsion spring 70 is attached to the main body 64.

  The engagement surface 68 sequentially engages with the inclined surface 54, the upper surface 56, the recess 58 and the upper surface 56 of the motion conversion member 28 as the motion conversion member 28 is displaced in the Y direction. As a result, the engaging surface 68 changes its posture and rotates the lever portion 66. Further, the torsion spring 70 is attached to the main body portion 64 so as to bias the lever portion 66 in a direction in which the lever portion 66 is retracted from the feeding path, that is, a direction in which the lever portion 66 is tilted downstream.

  Referring to FIG. 1 again, a space 43 is formed on the lower side of the member forming the mounting surface 12. In the space 43, at least a part of the motion conversion member 28 and the sheet return drive mechanism 30 (the rack member 44, the rack 46, and the pinion gear 48) are arranged.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 5, the movement of the paper return lever 26, the motion converting member 28, and the paper return drive mechanism 30 will be described. When the pinion gear drive shaft 52 is driven by the drive motor and rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG. 5, the pinion gear 48 also rotates in the clockwise direction in FIG. 5, and the rack 46 engaged with the pinion gear 48 in the Y direction. A linear displacement operation is performed (see reference numeral 46 '). By this displacement operation, the rack member 44 and the operation conversion member 28 are also linearly displaced in the Y direction (the inclined surface 54 is displaced to the position 54 ').

  First, the inclined surface 54 of the motion converting member 28 comes into contact with the engaging surface 68 of the paper return lever 26, and the paper return lever 26 that is biased in the direction to fall downstream by the torsion spring 70 is inclined by the inclination angle of the inclined surface 54. In addition, it is caused in the upstream direction of the feeding path. Next, the engaging surface 68 engages with the upper surface 56, and the lever portion 66 protrudes into the feeding path (see reference numeral 66 'in FIG. 5).

  When the lever 66 is tilted downstream, the pinion gear drive shaft 52 is rotated counterclockwise in FIG. 5 to linearly move the rack 46, the rack member 44, and the motion converting member 28 in the −Y direction. . As a result, the engagement state between the motion conversion member 28 and the engagement surface 68 is canceled, and the paper return lever 26 is tilted downstream toward the bottom surface 42 by the biasing force of the torsion spring 70. As a result, the lever portion 66 is retracted from the feeding path.

  Referring to FIG. 4 again, in the present embodiment, the paper return lever 26 is configured to be paired with an operation converting member 28 that engages with the paper return lever 26, and a plurality of paper return levers 26 are arranged along the X-axis direction. Yes. Further, the plurality of motion converting members 28 are configured to have the same length protruding from the rack member 44. That is, in the plurality of motion converting members 28, the positions where the inclined surfaces 54 and the recesses 58 are provided from the rack member 44 are set to be the same.

  In other words, each of the plurality of paper return levers 26 is independently configured in a pair with the motion conversion member 28, and the engagement timing between the engagement surface 68 and the inclined surface 54 and the recess 58 of the motion conversion member 28 is the same. It is configured to be. For this reason, in the paper return lever 26, there is no deviation in the start timing of the rotating operation. Therefore, there is little risk of causing skew (skew) in the paper P pushed back to the placement surface 12 by the paper return lever 26, or no skew is caused.

  Further, as described above, the plurality of paper return levers 26 are rotated by converting the linear displacement operation of the paper return drive mechanism 30 by the motion conversion members 28 that make a pair. For this reason, there is no need to provide a drive shaft across the X-axis direction between one paper return lever 26 and the other paper return lever 26. Therefore, when the feeding path is viewed from the side, the paper return lever 26 and The separation member 24 can be disposed in proximity. As a result, the paper return lever 26 can be disposed at a desirable position in terms of the function of returning the paper P separated by the separation member 24 to the placement surface 12. Further, the space between the paper return levers 26 in the X-axis direction can be effectively used, and the recording apparatus can be reduced in size.

  In the present embodiment, a separating member 24 is disposed between the paper return levers 26 in the X-axis direction. The separating member 24 is located at a position overlapping the paper return lever 26 when the feeding path is viewed from the side.

  Further, referring to FIGS. 6, 7A, 7B, 8A, and 8B, the relationship between the operation of the pickup roller 14 and the rotation operation of the paper return lever 26 is described. Will be explained. Referring to FIG. 6, changes in the state of the pickup roller 14 and the paper return lever 26 are shown. 6 (A), 7 (B), 8 (A), and 8 (B) in FIG. 6 indicate the state of the paper return lever 26 at that time, that is, FIGS. 7 (A), 7 (B), and FIG. Each state of the paper return lever 26 shown in FIG. 8 (A) and FIG. 8 (B) is shown.

  Initially, the paper return lever 26 is raised in the upstream direction and protrudes into the feeding path, that is, the state shown in FIG. 8B. This is to prevent the paper P placed in an inclined state on the placement surface 12 from collapsing to the downstream side of the feeding path, and the broken paper P from entering the feeding path by mistake. When the pickup roller 14 is displaced from the state separated from the paper P to the state in contact with the paper P, the paper return lever 26 is retracted from the feeding path tilted in the downstream direction along with the displacement. That is, the paper return lever 26 is in the state shown in FIG. As a result, the paper P sent out from the placement surface 12 can be fed to the downstream side of the feeding path via the separation unit 16.

  Next, when the leading edge of the paper P is nipped by a paper transport roller (not shown), the pickup roller 14 is displaced in a direction away from the paper P. Along with this displacement, the motion conversion member 28 is linearly displaced in the Y direction by the paper return drive mechanism 30, and the inclined surface 54 and the upper surface 56 are sequentially engaged with the engagement surface 68 of the paper return lever 26 in accordance with the displacement operation. Engage with. As a result, the paper return lever 26 is raised in the upstream direction from the state of being tilted in the downstream direction. That is, the paper return lever 26 is in the state shown in FIG. In this state, the leading edge of the next and subsequent sheets P separated by the separating section 16 contacts the lever section 66 of the sheet return lever 26.

  Further, the motion converting member 28 is linearly displaced in the Y direction by the paper return driving mechanism 30. For this reason, the engagement surface 68 of the paper return lever 26 is temporarily displaced in the direction of being tilted in the downstream direction, following the recess 58 formed in the V shape of the motion conversion member 28. That is, the paper return lever 26 is in the state shown in FIG. By temporarily displacing the paper return lever 26 by a small angle toward the downstream side of the feeding path, that is, in the direction of retracting from the feeding path, the paper P sticking to the lever part 66 of the paper return lever 26 is moved to the lever part 66. Can be shaken off.

  When the paper P is fed again while the paper P is stuck to the lever portion 66, the paper P returns to the downstream side of the feeding path earlier than a predetermined feeding timing as the paper return lever 26 is retracted. It is sent. Along with this, the other paper P placed on the placement surface 12 is pulled to the downstream side of the feed path by the frictional force generated between the paper P and the paper P stuck to the paper return lever 26, and downstream of the feed path. Or a plurality of sheets P collapses to the downstream side of the feeding path and flows into the downstream side of the feeding path. As a result, it becomes a cause of paper jam and poor feeding. Since the paper return lever 26 is displaced by a small angle toward the downstream side of the feeding path as described above, the stuck paper P is shaken off from the lever portion 66, and the paper P can be returned to a predetermined position on the placement surface 12. Further, it is possible to prevent the paper P from being jammed, paper scratches, or poor feeding.

  Further, the motion conversion member 28 is linearly displaced in the Y direction by the paper return drive mechanism 30, and the engagement surface 68 of the paper return lever 26 is reengaged with the upper surface 56 of the motion conversion member 28. As a result, the paper return lever 26 protrudes again into the feeding path, pushes the shaken paper P back to the placement surface 12, and restricts entry of the paper P into the feeding path. That is, the paper return lever 26 is in the state shown in FIG.

■■■ Second Example ■■■■
With reference to FIG. 9, the sheet return mechanism 72 according to the second embodiment will be described in detail. The sheet return mechanism 72 is such that the distance L1 from the rack member 44 to the inclined surface 54 in some of the motion converting members 28 is longer than the distance L2 from the rack member 44 to the inclined surface 54 in the other motion converting members 28. This is different from the sheet return mechanism 18 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 9, the reference numeral of the paper return lever disposed at the position farthest in the X direction from the edge guide 36 is 26A, and the reference numerals of the other paper return levers are 26B and 26C in order of approaching the edge guide 36.

  An edge guide 36 that restricts movement of the paper P in the X-axis direction is provided on the placement surface 12 on the −X direction side. The motion conversion member 74 is disposed at a position opposite to the side on which the edge guide 36 is provided (+ X direction side), that is, at a position farthest from the edge guide 36 in the X-axis direction. The motion conversion member 74 is configured to protrude in the Y direction from the other motion conversion members 28. For this reason, in the motion converting member 74, the distance L1 from the end 50 of the rack member 44 to the tip of the inclined surface 54 is the distance from the end 50 of the rack member 44 to the tip of the inclined surface 54 in the other motion converting member 28. Longer than L2.

  Therefore, the timing at which the paper return lever 26A engaged with the motion conversion member 74 is caused is earlier than the paper return levers 26B and 26C engaged with the other motion conversion members 28. As a result, the paper P is inclined toward the edge guide 36, and as a result, one edge of the paper P follows the edge guide 36, whereby the skew of the paper P is appropriately corrected.

  In summary, the ink jet printer 10 according to the present embodiment includes the placement surface 12 on which the paper P is placed, the pickup roller 14 that sends the paper P placed on the placement surface to the feeding path, and the feeding The paper return lever 26 that is rotatably provided so as to return the paper P sent to the feeding path to the placement surface 12 is linearly displaced and engaged with the paper return lever 26 to perform the displacement operation. An operation conversion member 28 that converts the paper return lever 26 into a rotating operation is provided. At least a part of the motion conversion member 28 is disposed in a space 43 formed on the lower side of the member forming the placement surface 12.

  A plurality of motion conversion members 28 and paper return levers 26 according to the present embodiment are provided in pairs along the width direction of the paper P, which is a direction intersecting the feeding path. The sheet return lever 26 includes an engagement surface 68 that engages with the cam part 59, and a torsion spring 70 that urges the sheet return lever 26 in the direction in which the sheet return lever 26 is tilted downstream. In the portion 59, the paper return lever 26 is moved before the completion of the return operation for returning the paper P to the placement surface 12 by causing the paper return lever 26 that has fallen downstream and retracted from the feeding path to the upstream side. A recess 58 is formed which is tilted downstream and rotated again in the direction causing it to rise upstream.

  On the placement surface 12 of the present embodiment, an edge guide 36 that restricts movement of the paper P in the width direction is provided on one side in the width direction of the paper P. Of the plurality of paper return levers 26A, 26B, and 26C provided along the width direction, the paper return lever 26A that is disposed farthest from the edge guide 36 is preceded by the other paper return levers 26B and 26C. Rotate.

In addition, the inkjet printer 10 of the present embodiment includes a rack member 44 including a plurality of motion conversion members 28 along the width direction and a rack 46 extending in the displacement operation direction of the motion conversion member 28, and a pinion gear that meshes with the rack 46. 48,
A separating member 24 that contacts the leading end of the sheet P and separates the sheet P. The position at which the separating member 24 is provided is a sheet return lever in the feeding path when the feeding path is viewed from the side. 26 overlaps with the provided position.

<<<<< Modification of the first embodiment and the second embodiment >>>>
(1) The pickup roller 14 may be a D-shaped paper feeding roller in a side view, and the mounting surface 12 may be a hopper that can be displaced in a direction in contact with or away from the paper feeding roller.
(2) The means for biasing the paper return lever 26 in order to retract the paper return lever 26 from the feeding path may use air pressure, hydraulic pressure, or the like instead of the torsion spring 70.

(3) As a drive means for the pinion gear 48, a drive motor for driving the pickup roller 14 may be used instead of a dedicated drive motor, or other drive motors may be used.
(4) The sheet return drive mechanism 30 may be a direct acting cylinder using air pressure, hydraulic pressure, or the like, instead of the rack and pinion mechanism.

In this embodiment, the recording apparatus according to the present invention is applied to an ink jet printer as an example of a recording apparatus. However, the present invention can also be applied to other liquid ejecting apparatuses in general.
Here, the liquid ejecting apparatus uses an ink jet recording head, and is not limited to a recording apparatus such as a printer, a copier, and a facsimile machine that discharges ink from the recording head to perform recording on a recording medium. And a device for ejecting a liquid corresponding to the application from a liquid ejecting head corresponding to the ink jet recording head to an ejected medium corresponding to the recording medium, and attaching the liquid to the ejected medium.

  In addition to the recording head, as a liquid ejecting head, a color material ejecting head used for manufacturing a color filter such as a liquid crystal display, and an electrode material (conductive paste) used for forming an electrode such as an organic EL display or a surface emitting display (FED) Examples thereof include an ejection head, a bioorganic matter ejection head used for biochip production, and a sample ejection head as a precision pipette.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention. Needless to say.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Inkjet printer, 11 Feeding part, 12 Loading surface, 14 Pickup roller, 16 Separation part, 18 Paper return mechanism, 20 Recording part, 22 Separation bank surface, 24 Separation member, 26, 26A, 26B, 26C Return lever, 28 Motion conversion member, 30 Drive mechanism, 32 Recording head, 34 Lower guide member, 36 Edge guide, 38 Oscillating shaft, 40 Oscillating member, 42 Bottom surface of feeding unit, 43 Space, 44 Rack member, 46 Rack, 48 Pinion gear, 50 side portion of motion conversion member, 52 pinion gear drive shaft, 54 inclined surface of motion conversion member, 56 upper surface of motion conversion member, 58 recess of motion conversion member, 59 cam portion, 60 hook-shaped portion, 62 side surface, 64 Body, 66 Lever, 68 Engagement surface, 72 Paper return mechanism, 74 Motion conversion member, L1, L2 distance , P paper

Claims (7)

A mounting surface on which a recording medium is mounted;
A feeding means for sending the recording medium placed on the placement surface to a feeding path;
A plurality of the recording mediums sent along the feeding path are provided along the width direction of the recording medium, which is provided so as to be rotatable so as to return to the mounting surface, and which intersects the feeding path. A recording medium return member provided ;
A plurality of the recording medium return member, which are linearly displaced and which are engaged with the recording medium return member to convert the displacement operation into a rotation operation of the recording medium return member. A motion converting member,
A drive mechanism that linearly displaces the plurality of motion conversion members , and
A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least a part of the motion conversion member is disposed in a space formed on a lower side of the member forming the placement surface.
A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the motion conversion member includes a cam portion that engages with the recording medium return member.
The recording medium return member includes an engagement surface that engages with the cam portion,
Before the completion of the returning operation for returning the recording medium to the mounting surface by causing the recording medium returning member that has fallen downstream and retracted from the feeding path to the upstream side. A recess is formed to tilt the recording medium return member to the downstream side and rotate the recording medium return member in the direction to cause the recording medium return member to be upstream again.
A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, in the mounting surface, restricting the movement in the width direction of the recording medium on one side in the width direction of the recording medium There is a regulation part to
Among the plurality of recording medium return members provided along the width direction, the recording medium return member disposed at the position farthest from the restricting portion is rotated before the other recording medium return members. Move
A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the drive mechanism includes a rack member having a rack extending in the displacement direction of movement of the motion conversion member,
A pinion gear meshing with the rack,
A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the recording medium return member comprises a biasing member for biasing in a direction to defeat該被recording medium return member downstream ,
A recording apparatus. The recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , further comprising a separation member that contacts a tip of the recording medium and separates the recording medium.
The position where the separation member is provided overlaps the position where the recording medium return member is provided in the feeding path when the feeding path is viewed from the side.
A recording apparatus.

Images