JP6107566B2 - Image recording device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus having a manual feed tray and capable of label printing.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known an image recording apparatus that includes a manual feed tray on which a user can manually feed a manual feed sheet and a tray guide that supports a Lambert lay (for example, see Patent Document 1). This image recording apparatus records an image in the process of passing a common conveyance path with respect to the manual sheet and the Lambert lay. Further, this image recording apparatus detects the position of the manual sheet and the Lambert lay by a registration sensor disposed in the conveyance path.

JP 2011-207145 A

  In the image recording apparatus described above, the tray guide and the manual feed tray are often provided at different locations. For this reason, it is possible to start image recording on the Laebert lay with the sheet set on the manual feed tray. As a result, the presence of the manual sheet at the detection position of the registration sensor makes it impossible to accurately grasp the position of the Laebert lay, and image recording on the Laevel lay may not be performed properly.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus that can appropriately perform image recording by accurately specifying a recording medium detected by a registration sensor. It is to provide.

  (1) The image recording apparatus according to the present invention includes a conveyance roller unit and a discharge roller unit positioned downstream of the conveyance roller unit in the first conveyance direction, and the recording medium is arranged in the first conveyance direction and the above-described conveyance direction. A detection signal on condition that there is a conveyance unit capable of conveyance in a second conveyance direction opposite to the first conveyance direction, and that there is a recording medium at an upstream detection position upstream of the conveyance roller unit in the first conveyance direction. Is disposed between the conveyance roller unit and the discharge roller unit in the first conveyance direction, and a recording unit that records an image on a recording medium, and the first conveyance direction from the registration sensor. A manual feed tray that supports the first recording medium in contact with the transport roller unit, and a downstream side of the discharge roller unit in the first transport direction. Above The thicker the recording medium the second recording medium comprises a support portion for supporting in abutting contact with the discharge roller unit, and a control unit for controlling the operation of the transport unit and the recording unit. The control unit receives a recording instruction for recording an image on the second recording medium, and a detection signal is not output from the registration sensor at a timing when the recording instruction is received in the receiving process. On the condition that the detection signal is output from the registration sensor at the timing when the recording instruction is received in the reception process and the recording process for recording the image on the second recording medium. Temporary discharge processing is performed in which the second recording medium is transported to the transport unit by a predetermined transport amount in the transport direction.

  According to the above configuration, the detection signal is output from the registration sensor because the first recording medium is set on the manual feed tray or the second recording medium is inserted to the upstream detection position. Can be accurately identified. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the recording process from being executed in a state where the position of the second recording medium cannot be specified.

  (2) Preferably, the control unit supports that the first recording medium is supported by the manual feed tray on the condition that a detection signal is output from the registration sensor after execution of the temporary ejection process. A notification process for informing the user is executed, and the recording process is executed on condition that no detection signal is output from the registration sensor after the provisional discharge process.

  The case where the detection signal is output in the above configuration is the case where the first recording medium is set on the manual feed tray. In this case, the first recording medium can be removed by notifying the user to that effect. On the other hand, the case where the detection signal is not output is a case where the second recording medium inserted up to the upstream detection position is removed from the upstream detection position by the temporary discharge process. Therefore, in this case, the recording process for the second recording medium may be executed.

  (3) Preferably, the recording unit records in a recording head that records an image on a recording medium while moving in a main scanning direction intersecting the first transport direction, and a downstream detection position facing the recording head. And a media sensor that outputs a detection signal on condition that a medium exists. The control unit determines the rear end position of the second recording medium based on a detection signal output from the registration sensor in the process of causing the conveying unit to convey the second recording medium in the second conveying direction. Based on the detection signal output from the media sensor in the process of detecting the detection process and moving the recording head in the main scanning direction with the second recording medium positioned at the downstream detection position, A first measurement process for measuring a length of the second recording medium along the main scanning direction; a retreating process for positioning the rear end of the second recording medium on the downstream side in the first transport direction from the media sensor; In the process of transporting the second recording medium in the second transport direction to the transport unit on the condition that no detection signal is output from the registration sensor after execution of the retraction process. And performing a second measurement process for measuring the length of the second recording medium along the second transport direction based on a detection signal output from the media sensor prior to the recording process, On the condition that a detection signal is output from the registration sensor after execution of the above, a notification process for notifying the user that the first recording medium is supported by the manual feed tray is executed.

  The case where the detection signal is output after execution of the evacuation process is a case where the first recording medium is set on the manual feed tray in the course of executing the detection process, the first measurement process, and the evacuation process. In this case, by notifying the user to that effect, the user can remove the first recording medium.

  (4) For example, the second recording medium includes a plate-shaped tray and a disk-shaped optical disk supported by the tray. Then, the control unit records an image on the optical disc supported by the first tray in the recording process.

  (5) For example, the discharge roller portion includes a driving roller and a driven roller facing each other, and a first state in which an inter-axis distance between the driving roller and the driven roller is a first distance, and an inter-axis distance is The state can be changed to a second state that is a second distance longer than the first distance. The control unit needs to place the second recording medium on the support unit on the condition that the discharge roller unit is in the first state at the timing when the recording instruction is received in the receiving process. An informing process for informing the user that there is an image is executed.

  According to the present invention, at the timing when the recording instruction is received, the operation can be performed depending on whether the first recording medium is set in the manual feed tray or whether the second recording medium is inserted to the upstream detection position. It is.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the multifunction machine 10, where (A) is a view seen from the front side, and (B) is a view seen from the back side. 2A and 2B are longitudinal sectional views schematically showing the internal structure of the printer unit 11. FIG. 2A shows a first state of the transport unit, and FIG. 2B shows a second state of the transport unit. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the media tray 70 and the recording medium 75. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the carriage 23 and the guide rails 43 and 44. FIG. 5 is a block diagram of the printer unit 11. FIG. 6 is a flowchart of the image recording process. FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the printer unit 11. FIG. 7A shows a state where the media tray 70 has not reached the upstream detection position at the time of execution of the image recording process, and FIG. 7B shows a detection process (S15). (C) shows a state after the first measurement process (S16) is executed. 8A and 8B are longitudinal sectional views of the printer unit 11, in which FIG. 8A shows a state after executing the save process (S17), and FIG. 8B shows a state after the second measurement process is executed. FIG. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the printer unit 11. FIG. 9A shows a state in which the media tray 70 has reached the upstream detection position at the time of execution of the image recording process, and FIG. A state in which the sheet 12 on the manual feed tray 22 exists at the upstream side detection position at the time of execution, and (C) shows a state in which the temporary discharge process has been executed from the state of (B).

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described. The embodiment described below is merely an example of the present invention, and it is needless to say that the embodiment of the present invention can be changed as appropriate without departing from the gist of the present invention. Further, in the following description, the vertical direction 7 is defined with reference to the state where the multifunction machine 10 is installed (the state of FIG. 1), and the side where the front opening 13 is provided is the front side (front side). A front-rear direction 8 is defined, and a left-right direction 9 is defined when the multifunction machine 10 is viewed from the front side (front side).

[Overall configuration of MFP 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction machine 10 is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped. The multifunction machine 10 has a front opening 13 on the front and a back opening 31 on the back. The multifunction machine 10 includes a printer unit 11 that records an image on a recording medium using an inkjet recording method, a display unit 14, and an operation unit 17 at the bottom. As shown in FIG. 2, the printer unit 11 includes a feeding unit 15, a feeding tray 20, a discharge tray 21, a manual feed tray 22, a tray guide 30, a conveyance roller unit 54, and a recording unit 24. , A discharge roller portion 55 and a platen 42 are provided. The multifunction machine 10 may further have various functions such as a facsimile function and a print function. The multifunction machine 10 is an example of an image recording apparatus.

[Feeding tray 20, discharge tray 21, manual feed tray 22, tray guide 30]
As shown in FIG. 1A, the feeding tray 20 is inserted and removed in the front-rear direction 8 through a front opening 13 formed in the front of the printer unit 11. A plurality of sheets of paper 12 fed to the transport path 65 by the feeding unit 15 can be supported on the feeding tray 20. The discharge tray 21 is disposed on the upper side of the feeding tray 20. The discharge tray 21 supports the paper 12 discharged by the discharge roller unit 55.

  As shown in FIG. 1B, the manual feed tray 22 is disposed on the back side of the printer unit 11. The manual feed tray 22 extends obliquely upward from the back side of the printer unit 11 toward the rear. Further, the manual feed tray 22 supports one sheet of paper 12 in contact with the transport roller unit 54 on the upper surface thereof. The user sets the paper 12 on the manual feed tray 22 while inserting the paper 12 from the upstream side in the first transport direction 16 </ b> A toward the transport roller unit 54. That is, the manual feed tray 22 is disposed on the upstream side in the first transport direction 16 </ b> A from the transport roller unit 54.

  The tray guide 30 is disposed on the upper side of the discharge tray 21 as shown in FIG. The tray guide 30 supports the media tray 70 shown in FIG. The media tray 70 supported by the tray guide 30 is brought into contact with the discharge roller portion 55 from the downstream side in the first transport direction 16A. That is, the tray guide 30 is disposed downstream of the discharge roller portion 55 in the first transport direction 16A. The tray guide 30 is an example of a support part.

 As shown in FIG. 3, the media tray 70 is a thin plate-shaped resin plate. On the upper surface of the rectangular media tray 70, a media support portion 71 capable of supporting the recording media 75 is formed. The media support 71 is a circular recess. The diameter of the recess is substantially the same as the diameter of the recording medium 75. The media tray 70 is supported by the tray guide 30 with the longitudinal direction facing the first transport direction 16A and the upper surface facing upward.

  In addition, the upper surface of the media tray 70 in this embodiment (that is, the surface facing the recording unit 24) is a color (for example, black) whose light reflectance is lower than that of the recording medium 75. The recording medium 75 is a disk-shaped optical disk such as a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM. The media tray 70 is an example of a tray. The media tray 70 and the recording medium 75 supported by the media tray 70 constitute an example of a second recording medium. Hereinafter, the media tray 70 in a state where the recording medium 75 is supported is referred to as a “media tray 70”.

[Feeding unit 15]
As shown in FIG. 2, the feeding unit 15 includes a feeding roller 25, a feeding arm 26, and a shaft 27. The feeding roller 25 is rotatably provided on the leading end side of the feeding arm 26. The feed roller 25 rotates in the direction (that is, forward rotation) in which the paper 12 is conveyed in the first conveyance direction 16 </ b> A by the reverse rotation driving of the conveyance motor 102. The feeding arm 26 is rotatably provided on a shaft 27 supported by the frame of the printer unit 11. The feeding arm 26 is urged to rotate toward the feeding tray 20 by its own weight or an elastic force by a spring or the like.

[Conveyance path 65]
As shown in FIG. 2, the conveyance path 65 indicates a space formed by an outer guide member 18 and an inner guide member 19 that are partially opposed to each other at a predetermined interval inside the printer unit 11. The conveyance path 65 is a path extending from the rear end portion of the feeding tray 20 to the rear side of the printer unit 11 as indicated by a one-dot chain line in FIG. The conveyance path 65 is a path that makes a U-turn while extending upward from below on the rear side of the printer unit 11 and reaches the discharge tray 21 through the recording unit 24.

  The direction from the feed tray 20 to the discharge tray 21 via the conveyance roller portion 54 and the discharge roller portion 55 is referred to as a first conveyance direction 16A, and the rear surface from the discharge tray 21 via the discharge roller portion 55 and the conveyance roller portion 54 is described. The direction reaching the opening 31 is referred to as a second transport direction 16B. That is, between the transport roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55, the first transport direction 16A and the second transport direction 16B are opposite to each other.

[Conveying roller unit 54]
As shown in FIG. 2, the transport roller unit 54 is disposed upstream of the recording unit 24 in the first transport direction 16A. The conveyance roller unit 54 includes a conveyance roller 60 and a pinch roller 61 that face each other. The conveyance roller 60 is driven by the conveyance motor 102. The pinch roller 61 is rotated along with the rotation of the conveyance roller 60. The transport roller 60 is a forward rotation (counterclockwise in the example of FIG. 2) that transports the paper 12 and the media tray 70 (hereinafter collectively referred to as “recording medium”) in the first transport direction 16A. The recording medium can be rotated in the reverse direction (clockwise in the example of FIG. 2) in which the recording medium is conveyed in the second conveyance direction 16B. Specifically, the transport roller 60 rotates forward by the forward drive of the transport motor 102 and reverses by the reverse drive of the transport motor 102. The recording medium is nipped by the forward conveying roller 60 and the pinch roller 61 and conveyed in the first conveying direction 16A, and is nipped by the reverse conveying roller 60 and the pinch roller 61 and conveyed in the second conveying direction 16B. The conveyance roller 60 is an example of a driving roller, and the pinch roller 61 is an example of a driven roller.

[Discharge roller section 55]
As shown in FIG. 2, the discharge roller portion 55 is provided downstream of the recording portion 24 in the first transport direction 16A. The discharge roller portion 55 includes a discharge roller 62 and a spur 63 that face each other. The discharge roller 62 is driven by the transport motor 102. The spur 63 is rotated along with the rotation of the discharge roller 62. The discharge roller 62 performs forward rotation (clockwise in the example of FIG. 2) for conveying the recording medium in the first conveyance direction 16A and reverse rotation (in the example of FIG. 2, it is counterclockwise in the example of FIG. 2). (Clockwise). Specifically, the discharge roller 62 rotates forward by the forward drive of the transport motor 102 and reverses by the reverse drive of the transport motor 102. The recording medium is nipped by the forward discharge roller 62 and spur 63 and conveyed in the first conveyance direction 16A, and is nipped by the reverse rotation discharge roller 62 and spur 63 and conveyed in the second conveyance direction 16B. The discharge roller 62 is another example of the driving roller, and the spur 63 is another example of the driven roller.

  The conveyance roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 are configured to be able to change between a first state shown in FIG. 2A and a second state shown in FIG. The user can insert the media tray 70 into the multifunction device 10 only by operating the multifunction device 10 to set the transport roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 to the second state. A specific configuration for changing the state of the transport roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 is not particularly limited. For example, it may be realized by a cam driven by the transport motor 102 or may be realized by operating a manual lever by the user. Further, the states of the transport roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 are detected by the control unit 130 by a sensor or the like (not shown). The conveyance roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 constitute an example of a conveyance unit.

  The first state shown in FIG. 2A is a state in which the distance between the axes of the transport roller 60 and the pinch roller 61 is shorter than that in the second state, and the distance between the axes of the discharge roller 62 and the spur 63 is shorter than that in the second state. . That is, the conveyance roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 in the first state are suitable for sandwiching the paper 12. The paper 12 supported by the manual feed tray 22 is transported in the first transport direction 16A by the transport unit in the first state, and an image is recorded by the recording unit 24. The distance between the axes of the transport roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 in the first state is an example of a first distance.

  The second state shown in FIG. 2B is a state in which the distance between the axes of the conveying roller 60 and the pinch roller 61 is longer than that in the first state, and the distance between the axes of the discharge roller 62 and the spur 63 is longer than that in the first state. . That is, the transport roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 in the second state are suitable for sandwiching the media tray 70. The media tray 70 supported by the tray guide 30 is transported in the first transport direction 16A and the second transport direction 16B by the transport unit in the second state, and an image is recorded on the recording medium 75 by the recording unit 24. Further, the media tray 70 conveyed in the second conveyance direction 16B by the conveyance unit is exposed from the back surface opening 31 as shown in FIG. The distance between the axes of the transport roller portion 54 and the discharge roller portion 55 in the second state is an example of the second distance.

[Registration sensor 120]
As shown in FIG. 2, the printer unit 11 includes a known registration sensor 120 on the upstream side of the first conveyance direction 16 </ b> A from the conveyance roller unit 54. The registration sensor 120 is a sensor for detecting whether or not the recording medium exists at the installation position of the registration sensor 120 (hereinafter referred to as “upstream detection position”). The registration sensor 120 outputs a low level signal that is a detection signal (that is, a “signal whose signal level is less than the threshold”) to the control unit 130 described later on condition that the recording medium exists at the upstream detection position. To do. On the other hand, the registration sensor 120 outputs a high-level signal that is a detection signal (that is, a “signal whose signal level is equal to or higher than the threshold”) to the control unit 130 on condition that the recording medium does not exist at the upstream detection position. To do.

[Rotary encoder 121]
As shown in FIG. 5, the printer unit 11 includes a known rotary encoder 121 that generates a pulse signal in accordance with the rotation of the transport roller 60 (in other words, the rotational drive of the transport motor 102). The rotary encoder 121 includes an encoder disk and an optical sensor. The encoder disk rotates with the rotation of the transport roller 60. The optical sensor reads the rotating encoder disk to generate a pulse signal, and outputs the generated pulse signal to the control unit 130.

[Recording unit 24]
As shown in FIG. 2, the recording unit 24 is disposed between the conveyance roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 in the first conveyance direction 16 </ b> A or the second conveyance direction 16 </ b> B. The recording unit 24 is disposed so as to face the platen 42 in the vertical direction 7. The recording unit 24 includes a carriage 23, a recording head 39, an encoder sensor 38 </ b> A, and a media sensor 122. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, an ink tube 32 and a flexible flat cable 33 are extended from the carriage 23. The ink tube 32 supplies ink of the ink cartridge mounted on the cartridge mounting portion to the recording head 39. The flexible flat cable 33 connects the control board on which the control unit 130 is mounted and the recording head 39.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the carriage 23 is supported by guide rails 43 and 44 that extend in the left-right direction 9 at positions spaced in the front-rear direction 8. The carriage 23 is connected to a known belt mechanism provided on the guide rail 44. The belt mechanism includes a drive pulley 47 provided at the right end of the guide rail 44 in the left-right direction 9, a driven pulley 48 provided at the left end, and an endless annular belt 49 wound around the drive pulley 47 and the driven pulley 48. Have The carriage 23 is connected to the belt 49 on the bottom side. The drive pulley 47 that is rotated by the driving force of the carriage motor 103 causes the belt 49 to move circumferentially, whereby the carriage 23 reciprocates in the main scanning direction along the left-right direction 9.

  The recording head 39 is mounted on the carriage 23 as shown in FIG. A plurality of nozzles 40 are formed on the lower surface of the recording head 39. The recording head 39 ejects ink from the nozzle 40 as fine ink droplets. In the process of moving the carriage 23, the recording head 39 ejects ink droplets toward the recording medium supported by the platen 42. Thereby, an image is recorded on the recording medium.

  The guide rail 44 is provided with a belt-like encoder strip 38 </ b> B extending in the left-right direction 9. The encoder sensor 38 </ b> A is mounted on the lower surface of the carriage 23. Further, the encoder sensor 38A and the encoder strip 38B are disposed at positions facing each other in the vertical direction 7. In the process of moving the carriage 23, the encoder sensor 38 </ b> A reads the encoder strip 38 </ b> B to generate a pulse signal, and outputs the generated pulse signal to the control unit 130. The encoder sensor 38A and the encoder strip 38B constitute the carriage sensor 38 shown in FIG.

[Platen 42]
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the platen 42 is disposed between the transport roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 in the first transport direction 16A or the second transport direction 16B. The platen 42 is disposed so as to face the recording unit 24 in the vertical direction 7 and supports the paper 12 conveyed by the conveyance roller unit 54 from below. Further, the platen 42 is configured to be able to change state between the first state and the second state in conjunction with the transport roller portion 54 and the discharge roller portion 55. The first state of the platen 42 is a state in which the distance from the recording unit 24 in the vertical direction 7 is shorter than the second state. The second state of the platen 42 is a state in which the distance from the recording unit 24 in the vertical direction 7 is longer than the first state. That is, the platen 42 is configured to be movable in the vertical direction 7.

[Media sensor 122]
As shown in FIG. 2, the media sensor 122 is mounted on the carriage 23 on the lower surface of the carriage 23 (the surface facing the platen 42). The media sensor 122 is used to detect whether or not the sheet 12 exists at the downstream side detection position facing the carriage 23 in the vertical direction 7. The media sensor 122 includes a light emitting unit composed of a light emitting diode or the like, and a light receiving unit composed of an optical sensor or the like. The light emitting unit irradiates the platen 42 with the amount of light instructed by the control unit 130. The light applied to the platen 42 is reflected by the platen 42 or the sheet 12 on the platen 42, and the reflected light is received by the light receiving unit.

  The media sensor 122 outputs a detection signal corresponding to the amount of light received by the light receiving unit to the control unit 130. For example, the media sensor 122 outputs a detection signal having a higher level to the control unit 130 as the amount of received light is larger. The light reflectance of the platen 42 in this embodiment is lower than that of the media tray 70. Therefore, the control unit 130 can detect the boundary position between the media tray 70 and the recording medium 75 existing at the downstream detection position based on the signal level of the detection signal output from the media sensor 122.

[Drive transmission mechanism 104]
The drive transmission mechanism 104 shown in FIG. 5 transmits the driving force of the conveyance motor 102 to the feeding roller 25, the conveyance roller 60, and the discharge roller 62. The drive transmission mechanism 104 is configured by combining all or part of a gear, a pulley, an endless annular belt, a planetary gear mechanism (pendulum gear mechanism), a one-way clutch, and the like. Specifically, the drive transmission mechanism 104 rotates the transport roller 60 and the discharge roller 62 in the normal direction by the forward driving force of the transport motor 102, and reverses the transport roller 60 and the discharge roller 62 in the reverse drive force of the transport motor 102. .

[Display unit 14]
The display unit 14 includes a display screen that displays information to be notified to the user as a message or an animation. Although the specific configuration of the display unit 14 is not particularly limited, for example, a liquid crystal display (abbreviation of Liquid Crystal Display), an organic EL display (abbreviation of Organic Electro-Luminescence Display), or the like can be employed.

[Operation unit 17]
The operation unit 17 is an input interface that receives an instruction input to the multifunction machine 10 from a user. The specific configuration of the operation unit 17 is not particularly limited. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the operation unit 17 may include a plurality of push buttons, or may include a touch sensor superimposed on the display screen of the display unit 14. You may do it.

[Control unit 130]
As shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 130 includes a CPU 131, a ROM 132, a RAM 133, an EEPROM 134, and an ASIC 135, which are connected by an internal bus 137. The ROM 132 stores a program for the CPU 131 to control various operations. The RAM 133 is used as a storage area for temporarily recording data and signals used when the CPU 131 executes the program, or as a work area for data processing. The EEPROM 134 stores settings, flags, and the like that should be retained even after the power is turned off.

  A transport motor 102 and a carriage motor 103 are connected to the ASIC 135. The ASIC 135 acquires a drive signal for rotating each motor from the CPU 131, and outputs a drive current corresponding to the drive signal to each motor. Each motor is driven forward or reversely by a drive current from the ASIC 135. For example, the control unit 130 rotates each roller by controlling the driving of the transport motor 102. Further, the control unit 130 reciprocates the carriage 23 by controlling driving of the carriage motor 103. Further, the control unit 130 controls the recording head 39 to eject ink from the nozzles 40.

  In addition, a carriage sensor 38, a registration sensor 120, a rotary encoder 121, and a media sensor 122 are connected to the ASIC 135. The control unit 130 detects the position of the carriage 23 based on the pulse signal output from the carriage sensor 38. Further, the control unit 130 detects the presence or absence of a recording medium at the upstream detection position based on the detection signal output from the registration sensor 120. The control unit 130 detects the position of the recording medium based on the detection signal output from the registration sensor 120 and the pulse signal output from the rotary encoder 121. Furthermore, the control unit 130 detects the boundary position between the media tray 70 and the recording medium 75 existing at the downstream detection position based on the detection signal output from the media sensor 122.

[Image recording processing]
The image recording process in the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. This image recording process is executed by the CPU 131 of the control unit 130. The following processes may be executed by the CPU 131 reading out and executing a program stored in the ROM 132, or may be realized by a hardware circuit mounted on the control unit 130. The image recording process will be described by paying attention to the rotation of the feeding roller 25, the transport roller 60, and the discharge roller 62, or the movement of the carriage 23. These operations are realized by driving the transport motor 102 and the carriage motor 103 as described above.

  The control unit 130 executes the image recording process shown in FIG. 6 on the condition that the recording instruction is acquired from the user. The acquisition destination of the recording instruction is not particularly limited. For example, the recording instruction may be acquired through the operation unit 17 provided in the multifunction machine 10 or may be acquired from an external device through a communication network. The control unit 130 controls the operations of the rollers, the carriage 23, and the recording head 39 according to the acquired recording instruction, and executes image recording on the recording medium 75. The process for acquiring the recording instruction is an example of a reception process. Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the recording instruction includes information indicating that the target of image recording is the recording medium 75.

  The control unit 130 notifies the user that the media tray 70 is placed on the tray guide 30 on the condition that the transport unit is in the first state (S11: No) (S12). Although the specific method of alerting | reporting is not specifically limited, For example, a message may be displayed on the display part 14 and a guide audio | voice may be output from a speaker not shown. Moreover, you may alert | report through the display part etc. of the external apparatus connected via the communication network. The process of step S12 is an example of a notification process.

  In step S12, the control unit 130 requests the user to change the state of the transport unit to the second state and to insert the media tray 70 in the second transport direction 16B from the tray guide 30 side through the discharge roller unit 55. And the control part 130 returns to the process of step S11 on condition that the restart instruction | indication which restarts image recording was acquired from the user (S13: Yes).

  Next, on the condition that the transport unit is in the second state (S11: Yes) and the low level signal is not output from the registration sensor 120 (S14: No), the control unit 130 sets the rear end of the media tray 70. The position of “(the upstream end of the first transport direction 16A”) is detected (S15). The state in which the low level signal is not output from the registration sensor 120 in step S14 is, for example, a state as shown in FIG. Specifically, the media tray 70 inserted in the second transport direction 16 </ b> B through the discharge roller unit 55 has not reached the upstream detection position, and the sheet 12 is not supported by the manual feed tray 22.

  Specifically, the control unit 130 reverses the transport roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 on condition that a low level signal is not output from the registration sensor 120 (S14: No). As a result, the media tray 70 is transported in the second transport direction 16B. In step S15, the control unit 130 detects that the rear end of the media tray 70 has reached the upstream detection position because the detection signal output from the registration sensor 120 has changed from the high level signal to the low level signal. To do. The process of step S15 is an example of a detection process.

  In step S15, the control unit 130 in the present embodiment conveys the media tray 70 to the position shown in FIG. 7B. Then, the control unit 130 outputs from the rotary encoder 121 from the time when the rear end of the media tray 70 reaches the upstream detection position to the time when the media tray 70 reaches the position shown in FIG. Count pulse signals. In addition, the control unit 130 stores the length of the media tray 70 in the longitudinal direction. That is, in step S15, the control unit 130 calculates the position of the front end (referring to the “end on the downstream side of the first transport direction 16A”) from the position of the rear end of the media tray 70.

  Next, the control unit 130 measures the length along the main scanning direction of the recording medium 75 supported by the media tray 70 (S16). Specifically, the control unit 130 first rotates the transport roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 in the normal direction. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7C, the first reference line 72 of the media tray 70 reaches the downstream detection position. As shown in FIG. 3, the first reference line 72 is an imaginary line that passes through the center of the recording medium 75 supported by the media support 71 and extends in the short direction of the media tray 70. Next, the control unit 130 moves the carriage 23 in the main scanning direction while irradiating the media sensor 122 with light toward the media tray 70.

  Next, the controller 130 changes the position where the detection signal output from the media sensor 122 changes from a state above the threshold level to a state below the threshold level, and the detection signal output from the media sensor 122 is below the threshold level. The position where the state changes from the state to the state exceeding the threshold level (that is, the position where the detection signal crosses the threshold level) is detected as the boundary position between the media tray 70 and the recording medium 75. The control unit 130 can measure the length of the recording medium 75 along the main scanning direction based on the number of pulse signals output from the carriage sensor 38 while detecting the two boundary positions. The process of step S16 is an example of a first measurement process.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 8A, the control unit 130 retracts the rear end of the media tray 70 from the media sensor 122 to the downstream side in the first transport direction 16A (S17). Specifically, the control unit 130 causes the transport roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 to rotate forward until the position of the rear end of the media tray 70 reaches the downstream side of the first transport direction 16A from the downstream detection position. . The process in step S17 is an example of a save process.

  Next, on the condition that the high level signal is output from the registration sensor 120 after the execution of step S17 (S18: No), the control unit 130 performs the first conveyance direction of the recording medium 75 supported by the media tray 70. The length along 16A (in other words, the second transport direction 16B) is measured (S19). Specifically, the control unit 130 causes the carriage 23 to reach the extended line of the second reference line 73. The second reference line 73 is an imaginary line that passes through the center of the recording medium 75 supported by the media support 71 and extends in the longitudinal direction of the media tray 70.

  Next, as illustrated in FIG. 8B, the control unit 130 causes the front end of the media tray 70 to reach the upstream side in the first transport direction 16 </ b> A from the media sensor 122 while irradiating the media sensor 122 with light. The transport roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 are reversed. In the process in which the media tray 70 is transported in the second transport direction 16B, the control unit 130 positions the detection signal output from the media sensor 122 across the threshold level (that is, the boundary position between the media tray 70 and the recording medium 75). ) Is detected. The control unit 130 can measure the length of the recording medium 75 along the first conveyance direction 16A based on the number of pulse signals output from the rotary encoder 121 while detecting the two boundary positions. The process of step S19 is an example of a second measurement process.

  Next, the control unit 130 records the recording medium 75 supported by the media tray 70 on the condition that the length measured in the first measurement process (S16) and the second measurement process (S19) is within the threshold range. An image is recorded on (S20). The case where the length measured in the first measurement process and the second measurement process is within the threshold range is, for example, a prescribed size (so-called 12 cm size) that allows the recording medium 75 to record an image with the multifunction device 10. This is the case.

  Specifically, the control unit 130 includes a recording head for the recording medium 75 supported by the media tray 70 and an intermittent conveyance process for conveying the media tray 70 to the conveyance unit by a predetermined line feed width in the first conveyance direction 16A. And an ejection process for ejecting ink repeatedly. Specifically, in the intermittent conveyance process, the control unit 130 causes the conveyance roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 to rotate forward by a predetermined rotation amount. The process in step S20 is an example of a recording process. Next, the control unit 130 discharges the media tray 70 on which the image is recorded in step S20 to the tray guide 30 (S21), and ends the image recording process. Specifically, in step S <b> 21, the control unit 130 causes the transport roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 to rotate normally until the rear end of the media tray 70 passes through the discharge roller unit 55.

  On the other hand, on the condition that a low level signal is output from the registration sensor 120 in step S14 (S14: Yes), the control unit 130 conveys the media tray 70 in the first conveyance direction 16A by a predetermined conveyance amount. Until this is done, the transport roller 54 and the discharge roller 55 are rotated forward (S22). The transport amount of the media tray 70 in step S22 may be, for example, the length of the media tray 70 in the longitudinal direction. The process of step S22 is an example of a temporary discharge process.

  As an example of outputting a low level signal from the registration sensor 120 in step S14, as shown in FIG. 9A, the media tray 70 inserted in the second transport direction 16B through the discharge roller portion 55 is detected on the upstream side. The case where the position has been reached can be considered. When the temporary discharge process is executed in the state shown in FIG. 9A, as shown in FIG. 8A, the media tray 70 is positioned on the downstream side in the first transport direction 16A from the upstream detection position. . As a result, the detection signal output from the registration sensor 120 changes from a low level signal to a high level signal. And the control part 130 performs the process (namely, recording process) after step S15 on condition that the low level signal is not output from the registration sensor 120 after execution of a temporary discharge process (S23: No).

  As another example in which a low level signal is output from the registration sensor 120 in step S14, as shown in FIG. 9B, the media tray 70 has not reached the upstream detection position and the manual feed tray 22 has not been reached. A case where the supported paper 12 is present at the upstream detection position can be considered. When the temporary discharge process is executed in the state shown in FIG. 9B, the media tray 70 is discharged to the tray guide 30 but supported by the manual feed tray 22 as shown in FIG. 9C. The sheet 12 remains in the upstream detection position. As a result, the detection signal output from the registration sensor 120 remains a low level signal.

  Then, the control unit 130 notifies the user that the sheet 12 exists in the manual feed tray 22 on the condition that the low level signal is output from the registration sensor 120 after the temporary discharge process is executed (S23: Yes) ( S24) and the image recording process is terminated. A specific method of notification may be the same as in step S12. The process of step S24 is another example of the notification process. Further, the control unit 130 notifies the user that the paper 12 is present in the manual feed tray 22 (S24) on condition that a low level signal is output from the registration sensor 120 in step S18 (S18: Yes). Then, the image recording process is terminated. The case where the low level signal is output in step S18 is a case where the paper 12 is placed on the manual feed tray 22 in the execution process of steps S15 to S17.

[Operational effects of this embodiment]
By executing the temporary discharge process (S22) as in the present embodiment, it is possible to appropriately cope with a case where the registration sensor 120 low level signal is output at a timing different from the timing assumed by the multifunction machine 10. The following can be considered as a case where the low level signal is output at a timing different from the timing assumed by the multifunction machine 10. For example, as shown in FIG. 9A, the media tray 70 is inserted to the upstream detection position, or the paper 12 is supported on the manual feed tray 22 as shown in FIG. 9B. There is a case. In this case, the control unit 130 cannot specify the position of the media tray 70 when attempting to record an image on the recording medium 75. However, by executing the temporary discharge process (S22), it is possible to prevent the recording process (S20) from being executed in a state where the position of the media tray 70 cannot be specified.

  Further, on condition that a high level signal is output from the registration sensor 120 after the temporary discharge process is executed (S23: No), the recording process (S20) to the recording medium 75 supported by the media tray 70 is executed. . As a result, the recording process is executed even when the media tray 70 is inserted deeper than necessary. That is, the recording process can be executed without making the user aware of the insertion position of the media tray 70.

  On the other hand, on the condition that a low level signal is output from the registration sensor 120 after execution of the temporary discharge process (S23: Yes), by notifying the user that the paper 12 is placed on the manual feed tray 22, The paper 12 can be removed by the user. Thereby, after the sheet 12 is removed, the recording process for the recording medium 75 can be executed again. Further, even when the paper 12 is set on the manual feed tray 22 in the execution process of steps S15 to S17, the user can remove the paper 12 by executing the notification process.

  Note that the execution order of the first measurement process (S15) and the second measurement process (S19) is not limited to the above example. Further, the transport direction of the media tray 70 in the first measurement process, the second measurement process, and the recording process (S20) is not limited to the above example. That is, the control unit 130 may transport the media tray 70 to the transport unit in at least one of the first transport direction 16A and the second transport direction 16B in each of the above processes.

  In the present embodiment, the paper 12 and the media tray 70 are described as examples of the recording medium. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be cardboard, cardboard, or the like. That is, according to the present invention, a relatively thin recording medium is supplied from the feeding tray 20 or the manual feed tray 22, and a relatively thick recording medium is provided downstream from the discharge roller portion 55 in the first conveying direction 16 </ b> A. The present invention can be applied to the supplied multifunction device 10.

  In this embodiment, an example of the conveyance unit including the conveyance roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a second discharge roller portion may be provided downstream of the discharge roller portion 55 shown in FIG. 2 in the first conveying direction 16A. In this case, the discharge tray 21 and the tray guide 30 are disposed downstream of the second discharge roller portion in the first transport direction 16A.

  Further, in the present embodiment, when the user operates the multifunction machine 10, the example in which both the transport roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 are simultaneously changed between the first state and the second state has been described. It is not limited. That is, the conveyance roller unit 54 and the discharge roller unit 55 may be independently changeable from the first state to the second state. For example, when the user operates the multifunction machine 10, only the discharge roller unit 55 changes from the first state to the second state. Thereafter, after each recording instruction is received, each roller unit is configured such that the state of the transport roller unit 54 changes from the first state to the second state by the media tray 70 transported by the discharge roller unit 55. Good.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Multifunction machine 13 ... Front opening 16A ... 1st conveyance direction 16B ... 2nd conveyance direction 22 ... Manual feed tray 23 ... Carriage 24 ... Recording part 30 ... Tray Guide 39 ... Recording head 54 ... Conveying roller 55 ... Discharge roller 60 ... Conveying roller 61 ... Pinch roller 62 ... Discharging roller 63 ... Spur 70 ... Media tray 75... Recording medium 120... Registration sensor 122... Media sensor 130.

Claims (5)

A conveyance roller unit and a discharge roller unit positioned downstream of the conveyance roller unit in the first conveyance direction, and the recording medium is conveyed in the first conveyance direction and the second conveyance direction opposite to the first conveyance direction. A transport unit capable of transporting
A registration sensor that outputs a detection signal on the condition that a recording medium exists at an upstream detection position on the upstream side in the first conveyance direction from the conveyance roller unit;
A recording unit that is disposed between the conveyance roller unit and the discharge roller unit in the first conveyance direction, and that records an image on a recording medium;
A manual feed tray disposed upstream of the registration sensor in the first transport direction and supporting the first recording medium in contact with the transport roller unit;
A support portion that is disposed downstream of the discharge roller portion in the first transport direction and supports a second recording medium that is thicker than the first recording medium in contact with the discharge roller portion;
A control unit for controlling the operation of the transport unit and the recording unit,
The control unit
A receiving process for receiving a recording instruction for recording an image on the second recording medium;
A recording process for recording an image on the second recording medium on condition that a detection signal is not output from the registration sensor at a timing when the recording instruction is received in the reception process;
The second recording medium is transported by a predetermined transport amount in the first transport direction on condition that a detection signal is output from the registration sensor at the timing when the recording instruction is received in the reception process. An image recording apparatus that performs temporary discharge processing to be conveyed to a printing unit. The control unit
On the condition that a detection signal is output from the registration sensor after execution of the temporary discharge process, a notification process is performed to notify the user that the first recording medium is supported by the manual feed tray,
The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the recording process is executed on condition that a detection signal is not output from the registration sensor after the temporary discharge process is executed. The recording part
A recording head for recording an image on a recording medium while moving in a main scanning direction intersecting the first conveying direction;
A media sensor that outputs a detection signal on condition that a recording medium is present at a downstream detection position facing the recording head, and
The control unit
A detection process for detecting a rear end position of the second recording medium based on a detection signal output from the registration sensor in the process of transporting the second recording medium in the second transport direction to the transport unit;
Based on the detection signal output from the media sensor in the process of moving the recording head in the main scanning direction with the second recording medium positioned at the downstream detection position, the second recording medium A first measurement process for measuring a length along the main scanning direction;
A retreat process for positioning the rear end of the second recording medium downstream of the media sensor in the first transport direction;
Detection that is output from the media sensor in the process of transporting the second recording medium in the second transport direction to the transport unit on the condition that no detection signal is output from the registration sensor after the execution of the retraction process. Prior to the recording process, performing a second measurement process for measuring the length of the second recording medium along the second transport direction based on the signal,
2. A notification process for notifying a user that the first recording medium is supported by the manual feed tray is executed on condition that a detection signal is output from the registration sensor after the execution of the evacuation process. Or the image recording apparatus of 2. The second recording medium is composed of a plate-shaped tray and a disk-shaped optical disk supported by the tray,
The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit records an image on the optical disc supported by the tray in the recording process. The discharge roller portion includes a driving roller and a driven roller facing each other, and a first state in which an inter-axis distance between the driving roller and the driven roller is a first distance, and an inter-axis distance is greater than the first distance. It is configured to be able to change to a second state that is a long second distance,
The control unit needs to place the second recording medium on the support unit on the condition that the discharge roller unit is in the first state at the timing when the recording instruction is received in the receiving process. The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a notification process for notifying a user of this is executed.

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