JP6376016B2 - Feeding device and image recording device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a sheet feeding device that feeds a sheet and an image recording apparatus including the sheet feeding device.

  In an image recording apparatus such as an ink jet recording apparatus, when feeding recording sheets that are stacked and supported by a paper feed tray to a recording unit that records an image, multiple feeding is performed in a state where a plurality of sheets are overlapped. May occur. In order to prevent overlap feeding, an image recording apparatus is known in which a plurality of separating pieces are provided on a guide member that guides a recording sheet downstream of the sheet feeding tray in the feeding direction (Patent Document 1). reference).

JP 2009-244204 A

  For example, in an inkjet recording apparatus, glossy paper may be used as recording paper when printing image data of a photograph taken with a digital camera. Glossy paper has a glossy surface with less ink bleeding, and a vivid color image can be obtained by recording an image on the glossy surface.

  However, glossy paper is generally more rigid than normal recording paper (plain paper, high-quality paper), and the image recording surface may be pressed against the separation piece with a stronger force than normal recording paper. For this reason, rubbing against the separation piece may damage the glossy surface, which is the image recording surface, and the quality of the recorded image may be deteriorated. In order to prevent the quality of the recorded image from being deteriorated, in the apparatus of Patent Document 1, the guide member is provided with a convex portion for preventing the image recording surface of the recording paper from rubbing against the separation piece. However, the presence of the convex portion can be a factor that hinders the separation performance of the recording paper by the separation piece.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to satisfactorily suppress sheet overlap feeding in a configuration in which sheet overlap feed is suppressed by a separation piece, and the sheet is separated. It is an object of the present invention to provide a feeding device and an image recording device that can suppress being damaged by contact with a piece.

  (1) A feeding device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a support member having a support surface that can be supported in a stacked state, and a sheet feeding device that supports the sheet supported by the support surface in a feeding direction. An inclined surface that is provided downstream of the support surface in the feeding direction and that is inclined with respect to the support surface and guides the sheet by contacting the sheet fed by the feeding unit A sheet that is provided on the guide member, is formed of a metal material, protrudes from the inclined surface along the feeding direction, and is fed by the feeding unit. A first separation piece that separates the uppermost sheet from other sheets; a first direction that is provided on the guide member, is formed of a resin material, and is perpendicular to the feeding direction with respect to the first separation piece; , Second direction opposite to the first direction Is located, protrudes from the inclined surface, contacts the uppermost sheet separated from the other sheet by the first separation piece, and separates the sheet surface of the uppermost sheet from the first separation piece. The first separation piece has a first end that is a top in the protruding direction protruding from the inclined surface, and a second end upstream of the feeding direction. A height of the third end portion of the convex portion from the inclined surface, the third end portion being a top portion in the protruding direction protruding from the inclined surface, and a fourth end portion upstream of the feeding direction. Is higher than the height of the first end of the first separation piece from the inclined surface, and when viewed along a direction parallel to the inclined surface and perpendicular to the feeding direction, The piece does not overlap at least the first end with the shape of the convex portion, and the first end of the first separation piece An acute angle θ1 formed between the first line segment connecting the second end portion and the second end portion and the inclined surface is a second line segment connecting the third end portion and the fourth end portion of the convex portion; It is larger than an acute angle θ2 formed by the inclined surface.

  In an image recording apparatus such as an ink jet recording apparatus, the uppermost recording sheet among recording sheets (an example of sheets) supported in a stacked state by a support surface of a support member is a rubber feeding roller as a feeding unit. For example, the sheet is fed in the feeding direction with a relatively large frictional force. On the other hand, recording sheets other than the uppermost recording sheet are fed in the feeding direction by a relatively small frictional force with the uppermost recording sheet. For this reason, the other recording paper is braked by a reaction force (elastic force) received from the elastically deformable first separation piece when the leading end in the feeding direction contacts the first separation piece on the inclined surface, for example. Stop in play. On the other hand, since the uppermost recording paper is fed by a large frictional force with a feeding roller or the like, even if the leading end in the feeding direction comes into contact with the first separation piece, the uppermost recording paper does not stop in place and is fed. Feeded in the feed direction. As described above, in the image recording apparatus, the uppermost recording sheet can be separated from other recording sheets. The principle that the uppermost sheet is separated from other sheets is the same for sheets other than recording paper.

  And according to the said structure, the resin convex part which a 3rd end protrudes higher from an inclined surface than the 1st end part of a metal 1st separated piece is a feed direction with respect to a 1st separated piece. Is positioned in a first direction orthogonal to the first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction, thereby preventing the sheet surface of the sheet guided by the inclined surface from being rubbed and damaged by the first metal separation piece. be able to. Therefore, in an image recording apparatus such as an ink jet recording apparatus, it is possible to prevent the image recording surface of recording paper (plain paper, glossy paper, etc.) from being rubbed and damaged by the first separation piece. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the quality of the image recorded on the recording paper from being deteriorated. Note that the protruding direction is a direction that is perpendicular to the inclined surface and goes from the inside of the guide member to the outside.

  In the above configuration, at least the first end portion of the first separation piece does not overlap the shape of the convex portion when viewed along a direction parallel to the inclined surface and perpendicular to the feeding direction. For this reason, the front-end | tip part of the conveyance direction of a sheet | seat is easily contact | abutted with a 1st separation piece, without being disturbed by a convex part. Therefore, the uppermost sheet can be easily separated from other sheets without impairing the separation performance of the first separation piece. The “convex shape” is a projected shape of the convex portion onto a plane (for example, a plane parallel to the cross section shown in FIG. 6) perpendicular to the inclined surface and normal to the feeding direction. For example, “the first end portion overlaps the shape of the convex portion” means that the projected shape of the first end portion onto the plane is included in the projected shape of the convex portion.

  Furthermore, by providing a plurality of first separation pieces along the feeding direction, the opportunity to separate the uppermost sheet from other sheets can be increased according to the number of first separation pieces. Thereby, it becomes easy to suppress the overlap feeding of the sheets. In addition, when the first separation piece is viewed along a direction parallel to the inclined surface and perpendicular to the feeding direction, the entire shape (projected shape) of the portion protruding from the inclined surface is the shape of the convex portion (above It is preferable that there is no overlap with the projected shape. Thereby, the front-end | tip part of the conveyance direction of a sheet | seat can be made to contact | abut with a 1st separation piece further easily, without being disturbed by a convex part. Therefore, the uppermost sheet can be more easily separated from other sheets without impairing the separation performance of the first separation piece.

  Further, since the acute angle θ2 is smaller than the acute angle θ1, a slope inclined by the acute angle θ2 with respect to the inclined surface (referred to as a first slope) between the third end portion and the fourth end portion of the convex portion. Is provided, and an inclined surface (referred to as a second inclined surface) inclined by an acute angle θ1 with respect to the inclined surface is provided between the first end and the second end of the first separation piece. The angle at which the first slope rises from the inclined surface (acute angle θ2) is smaller than the angle at which the second slope rises from the inclined surface (acute angle θ1). Thereby, when the uppermost sheet comes into contact with the convex portion, it is easy to reduce the resistance force received from the convex portion. Therefore, the feeding of the sheet can be prevented from being hindered by the uppermost sheet being caught by the convex portion. The acute angle θ1 and the acute angle θ2 can be defined as angles in a plane perpendicular to the inclined surface and parallel to the feeding direction.

  (2) Preferably, in the feeding device, a plurality of the convex portions protrude from the inclined surface along the feeding direction.

  According to the said structure, the convex part located in a 1st direction and a 2nd direction with respect to a 1st isolation | separation piece is a plurality in the position of a feed direction, Preferably both a 1st direction and a 2nd direction are several. Are provided. Thereby, even if the number of sheets supported by the support surface varies variously and the height from the support surface of the uppermost sheet varies variously, a plurality of convex portions provided along the feeding direction Thus, the uppermost sheet can be separated from the first separation piece so that the sheet surface of the uppermost sheet does not rub against the first separation piece. As a result, the sheet surface of the uppermost sheet can be prevented from being damaged by the first separation piece in accordance with the number of various sheets supported by the support surface. Note that the number of convex portions is preferably smaller than the number of first separation pieces. By reducing the number of convex portions as much as possible within a range sufficient to prevent damage to the sheet, the possibility that the convex portions impede the separation performance of the first separation piece can be reduced.

  (3) Preferably, the feeding device is provided in the guide member, and is positioned in the first direction and the second direction with respect to the first separation piece, and the first direction and the above In the second direction, it is arranged away from the first separation piece from the convex portion, protrudes from the inclined surface, and is rotatable around a rotation axis parallel to the inclined surface and perpendicular to the feeding direction. The roller portion further includes a roller portion, and the roller portion has a height from the inclined surface of the highest portion in the protruding direction protruding from the inclined surface is higher than the height from the inclined surface of the third end portion of the convex portion. The convex portion is high, and at least the third end portion does not overlap the shape of the roller portion when viewed along a direction parallel to the inclined surface and perpendicular to the feeding direction.

  According to the above configuration, the roller portion whose protrusion amount from the inclined surface is larger than that of the convex portion is the third end that is the top portion of the convex portion in the direction parallel to the inclined surface and perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction. It is provided at a position shifted from the part. Thereby, the damage prevention function of the sheet | seat surface which a convex part has can be supplemented, and it can suppress more reliably that the sheet | seat surface of a sheet | seat is rubbed and damaged by a 1st separated piece. In addition, by disposing a roller portion whose protrusion amount from the inclined surface is larger than that of the convex portion at a position farther from the first separation piece than the convex portion, the roller portion impedes the separation performance of the first separation piece. Can be suppressed. Further, the resistance when the inclined surface guides the sheet can be reduced by the rotation of the roller portion. Thereby, a sheet | seat can be sent smoothly. Note that when viewed along a direction parallel to the inclined surface and perpendicular to the feeding direction, the entire convex portion (the projected shape) is the shape of the protruding portion of the roller portion protruding from the inclined surface (the above-described projection shape). More preferably, it does not overlap with the projected shape.

  (4) Preferably, in the feeding device, when viewed along a direction parallel to the inclined surface and perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction, the first separating piece is The third end portion of the convex portion located in one direction includes the highest portion of the roller portion located in the first direction with respect to the first separation piece, and the first end portion of the first separation piece. Projecting higher from the inclined surface than the straight line passing through the first and second separation pieces when viewed along a direction parallel to the inclined surface and perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction. The third end portion of the convex portion located in the second direction has the highest portion of the roller portion located in the second direction with respect to the first separation piece, and the first portion of the first separation piece. It protrudes higher from the inclined surface than a straight line passing through the end.

  According to the said structure, a roller part is arrange | positioned in the position fully away from the 1st separation piece from the convex part in contrast with the protrusion amount from the inclined surface of the highest part. For this reason, it is possible to minimize the degree to which the roller portion impairs the separation performance of the first separation piece and to satisfactorily supplement the damage prevention performance of the convex portion. In addition, when the highest part of the roller part has a dimension corresponding to the length of the roller part in the axial direction, the third end of the convex part is the part of the highest part of the roller part that is closest to the first separation piece. It is preferable that the protrusion protrudes higher than the inclined surface from a straight line passing through the first end of the first separation piece.

  (5) Preferably, the feeding device is provided on the guide member, is formed of resin, and is positioned in the first direction and the second direction with respect to the first separation piece, In the first direction and the second direction, they are arranged closer to the first separation piece than the convex part, and a plurality of protrusions protrude from the inclined surface along the feeding direction, and are fed by the feeding part. A second separation piece that separates the uppermost sheet from the other sheets, and the second separation piece is an inclined surface at a fifth end that is a top in a protruding direction protruding from the inclined surface. The height of the first separation piece is lower than the height of the first end portion of the first separation piece from the inclined surface, and the interval arranged on the inclined surface is such that the first separation piece is arranged on the inclined surface. Less than the interval.

  It is conceivable that the inclined surface has a limited length along the feeding direction, and a sufficient number of first separation pieces cannot be provided along the feeding direction to suppress overlap feeding. In the above configuration, in the first direction and the second direction, the height at which the fifth end as the top protrudes from the inclined surface at a position closer to the first separation piece than the convex portion is the first separation piece first. The second separation piece whose end is lower than the height at which the end protrudes from the inclined surface is provided on the inclined surface with an interval smaller than the interval between the first separation pieces. Thereby, the separation performance of the first separation piece can be supplemented by the second separation piece. In addition, since the fifth end portion of the second separation piece has a lower height than the third end portion of the first separation piece and protrudes from the inclined surface, sheet feeding is hindered by the second separation piece formed of resin. Can be suppressed. In addition, the space | interval by which a 2nd separated piece is arranged on an inclined surface should just be smaller than the average value of the space | interval by which a 1st separated piece is arranged on an inclined surface.

  (6) Preferably, in the feeding device, the support member has a maximum height for supporting the stacked sheets by the support surface, and the convex portion has the sheet up to the maximum height. In the state of being supported by the support surface, the uppermost sheet is located at a position farther from the support surface than the position in the direction perpendicular to the support surface.

  According to the above configuration, the angle with respect to the inclined surface of the sheet when the leading end portion in the sheet feeding direction comes into contact with the convex portion can be reduced, and the sheet feeding is prevented from being hindered by the convex portion. Can do. Further, even when the sheets are stacked on the support surface up to the maximum height, it is possible to suppress the sheet surface of the uppermost sheet from being rubbed and damaged by the first separation piece.

  (7) Preferably, the feeding device is provided with a separation member provided with a plurality of the first separation pieces, a storage portion provided inside the guide member, and housing the separation member, and the guide. The member is provided, communicates the inside of the storage portion with the outside of the guide member, opens to the inclined surface, and a plurality of the first separation pieces from the inside of the storage portion to the inclined surface. And an opening that projects beyond the guide member.

  (8) Preferably, in the feeding device, the first separation piece is elastically deformable along the feeding direction.

  According to the above configuration, the elastic force suitable for separating the uppermost sheet from other sheets is set on the first separation piece by setting the thickness and height of the metal first separation piece to an appropriate size. It is possible to feed the uppermost sheet separately from other sheets.

  (9) An image recording apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention includes the feeding device and a recording unit that records an image on a sheet.

  According to the present invention, in the configuration in which the sheet overlap feed is suppressed by the separation piece, the sheet overlap feed can be suppressed well, and the sheet can be prevented from being damaged by contact with the separation piece. .

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the multifunction machine 10. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer unit 11. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the feeding tray 20 and the guide member 72 as viewed from above. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the main part of the guide member 72 when the inclined surface 67 of the guide member 72 is viewed from a direction perpendicular to the inclined surface 67. FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of the guide member 72 when the guide member 72 is viewed from a direction parallel to the inclined surface 67 and perpendicular to the upward direction 7A and the downward direction 7B. FIG. 6 is a partially enlarged view of the inside of the circle 200 in FIG. FIG. 7 schematically shows the height and shape of the first separation piece 74 and the convex 75 portion from the inclined surface 67, and also shows the height of the second separation piece 77 and the roller 76 from the inclined surface 67. FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a line of sight parallel to a surface 67 and perpendicular to a feeding direction 17. FIG. 8 schematically shows the mutual relationship between the height of the first separation piece 74, the second separation piece 77, and the roller 76 from the inclined surface 67, and is parallel to the inclined surface 67 and perpendicular to the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B. It is a schematic diagram of a gaze.

  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 upper direction 7A and the lower direction 7B are defined based on the state where the multifunction device 10 is installed so as to be usable, and the surface on which the opening 13 of the multifunction device 10 is provided is the front (front surface). A front direction 8A and a rear direction 8B are defined, and a left direction 9A and a right direction 9B are defined when the multifunction machine 10 is viewed from the front (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 includes a printer unit 11 that records an image on a recording paper 12 (an example of a sheet, see FIG. 2) using an ink jet recording method. The multifunction machine 10 has various functions such as a facsimile function and a print function. The printer unit 11 is an example of an image recording apparatus that includes a feeding device.

  The printer unit 11 has a housing 14 formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped. An opening 13 is formed on the front surface of the housing 14. A feed tray 20 (an example of a support member) and a discharge tray 21 can be inserted and removed from the opening 13 into the housing 14 in the forward direction 8A and the backward direction 8B. Note that the feeding tray 20 and the discharge tray 21 may be completely removed from the housing 14, or may be attached to the housing 14 instead of being completely removed from the housing 14. It may be drawn from the state to the middle. On the feeding tray 20, recording sheets 12 having a desired size such as A4 size or B5 size are placed in a stacked state.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the printer unit 11 includes a conveyance roller pair 58 and a discharge roller pair 59 that convey the recording paper 12, an ink jet recording unit 24 that records an image on the recording paper 12, a feeding device, and the like. I have. The recording unit 24 is not limited to the ink jet method, and may be an electrophotographic method, for example.

  The feeding device feeds a feed tray 20 (an example of a support member) having a support surface 23 that supports the recording paper 12 in a stacked state, and the recording paper 12 supported by the support surface 23 of the feed tray 20. A feeding unit 15 that feeds in a direction 17 (an example of a feeding direction) and a guide member 72 (an example of a guide member) are provided. The guide member 72 has an inclined surface 67 (an example of an inclined surface) that is inclined with respect to the support surface 23. The inclined surface 67 is provided downstream of the support surface 23 in the feeding direction 17 and is in contact with the recording paper 12 fed in the feeding direction 17 by the feeding unit 15 so that the recording paper 12 advances. In a direction along the inclined surface 67. As a result, the recording paper 12 is guided to the conveyance path 65 that conveys the recording paper 12 along the conveyance direction 16 indicated by the one-dot chain line arrow in FIG.

  The conveyance path 65 extends from the rear end portion of the feeding tray 20. The conveyance path 65 includes a curved portion 33 and a straight portion 34. The curved portion 33 extends while being curved with the rear direction 8B as the curved outer side and the front direction 8A as the curved inner side. The straight line portion 34 extends in the forward direction 8A. The bending portion 33 is formed by a first guide member 18 and a second guide member 19 that face each other with a predetermined interval. Each guide member 18 and 19 is extended in the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B which are directions orthogonal to the paper surface in FIG. The straight line portion 34 is formed by the recording portion 24 and the platen 42 facing each other at a predetermined interval at a position where the recording portion 24 is disposed.

  The first guide member 18 is configured to be rotatable in the direction of an arrow 66 around a shaft 48 formed in the lower portion. The first guide member 18 forms the curved portion 33 at the position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 2, and exposes the curved portion 33 to the outside at the position indicated by the broken line in FIG. The user of the multifunction machine 10 can take out the recording paper 12 jammed in the curved portion 33 by rotating the first guide member 18 to the position indicated by the broken line in FIG. The first guide member 18 may change its state by other than rotation. For example, the first guide member 18 may be configured to be detachable from the printer unit 11.

  The recording sheet 12 fed in the feeding direction 17 by the feeding unit 15 abuts on a guide member 72 disposed in the housing 14. As a result, the direction in which the recording paper 12 is fed changes from the feeding direction 17 along the inclined surface 67 to a direction perpendicular to the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B. Thereafter, the recording paper 12 is transported in the transport direction 16 by the feeding unit 15 and the transport roller pair 58. At that time, the recording paper 12 is guided along the conveyance path 65 by the first guide member 18 and the second guide member 19. Therefore, the conveyance direction 16 of the recording paper 12 changes from the middle direction between the rear direction 8B and the upper direction 7A to the upper direction 7A. Thereafter, when the recording paper 12 passes through the curved portion 33 and reaches the linear portion 34, the conveyance direction 16 of the recording paper 12 is changed from the upward direction 7A to the forward direction 8A. The recording unit 24 records an image on the recording paper 12 conveyed through the linear part 34. The discharge roller pair 59 conveys the recording paper 12 on which an image is recorded in the forward direction 8 </ b> A and discharges it to the discharge tray 21.

[Recording unit 24]
As shown in FIG. 2, the recording unit 24 is provided in the upward direction 7 </ b> A of the linear part 34. A platen 42 is provided at a position facing the recording unit 24 in the downward direction 7 </ b> B of the recording unit 24. The platen 42 is a member that supports the recording paper 12. The recording unit 24 includes a carriage 40 and a recording head 38.

  The carriage 40 is supported so as to reciprocate in the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B by two guide rails (not shown) arranged at an interval in the front direction 8A and the rear direction 8B. The recording head 38 is mounted on the carriage 40. Ink is supplied to the recording head 38 from an ink cartridge (not shown). A nozzle 39 is formed on the lower surface of the recording head 38. When the carriage 40 moves in the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B, the recording head 38 ejects ink droplets from the nozzles 39 toward the platen 42. As a result, an image is recorded on the recording paper 12 that is conveyed in the conveying direction 16 and supported by the platen 42.

[Conveying roller pair 58 and discharging roller pair 59]
As shown in FIG. 2, a conveyance roller pair 58 is disposed upstream of the recording unit 24 in the linear portion 34 in the conveyance direction 16. A discharge roller pair 59 is disposed downstream of the recording unit 24 in the linear portion 34 in the transport direction 16.

  The conveyance roller pair 58 is disposed opposite to the conveyance roller 60 in the downward direction 7B of the linear portion 34, and opposed to the conveyance roller 60 in the upward direction 7A of the linear portion 34, and is conveyed by a coil spring (not shown) or the like. And a pinch roller 61 biased toward the roller 60. The discharge roller pair 59 is discharged by a discharge roller 62 disposed in the downward direction 7B of the linear portion 34 and a coil spring (not shown) disposed opposite to the discharge roller 62 in the upward direction 7A of the linear portion 34. And a spur 63 biased toward the roller 62.

  The conveyance roller 60 and the discharge roller 62 are rotated by a driving force transmitted from a conveyance motor (not shown). As a result, the recording paper 12 sandwiched between the transport roller pair 58 and the discharge roller pair 59 is transported in the transport direction 16.

[Feeding tray 20]
As shown in FIG. 3, the feeding tray 20 is formed in a box shape with the top opened. The feeding tray 20 has a generally rectangular bottom plate 81 and a pair of side plates 82 that are erected in the upward direction 7A and extend in the forward direction 8A and the backward direction 8B at both ends of the bottom plate 81 in the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B. And a front plate 83 standing in the upward direction 7A and extending in the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B at the end portion of the bottom plate 81 in the front direction 8A. The bottom plate 81 has a plate shape having planes along the front direction 8A and the rear direction 8B, and the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B. The upper surface of the bottom plate 81 constitutes a support surface 23 that supports the recording paper 12 in a stacked state.

  A pair of side guides 78 that can move in the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B are attached to the bottom plate 81 in the vicinity of the end portions in the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B. The side guide 78 abuts on the left end or the right end of the recording paper 12 placed on the bottom plate 81. When one of the pair of side guides 78 is moved, the other is moved in an opposite direction in conjunction with the other. With the side guide 78 as described above, recording papers 12 of various sizes can be placed on the bottom plate 81 with reference to the center of the left plate 9A in the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B. In FIG. 3, only the side guide 78 provided in the vicinity of the end portion of the bottom plate 81 in the right direction 9 </ b> B is visible among the pair of side guides 78. The side guide 78 provided in the vicinity of the end of the bottom plate 81 in the left direction 9 </ b> A is hidden by the side plate 82.

  The feeding tray 20 has a stacking limiting portion 79 that defines a maximum height H5 (see FIG. 5) from the support surface 23 of the recording paper 12 stacked on the support surface 23. The stacking limiting portion 79 is disposed in the vicinity of the end portion of each of the pair of side guides 78 in the front direction 8A. The stacking limiting portion 79 has a claw portion 79A at a position corresponding to the maximum height H5 in the upward direction 7A and the downward direction 7B of the side guide 78. The claw portion 79A protrudes in the left direction 9A or the right direction 9B toward the central portion of the feeding tray 20 in the left direction 9A or the right direction 9B. The user can stack the recording paper 12 on the support surface 23 until the upper surface of the uppermost recording paper 12 in the left direction 9A and the rightward direction 9B comes into contact with the lower surface of the claw portion 79A.

  The side guide 78 is not limited to the configuration described above. For example, the side guide 78 may be configured by one instead of a pair, and the recording paper 12 may be aligned by the side guide 78 and one of the pair of side plates 82. In this case, recording papers 12 of various sizes can be placed on the basis of one of the pair of side plates 82, that is, the left end or right end of the bottom plate 81.

[Discharge tray 21]
A discharge tray 21 can be disposed on the opened upper portion of the feeding tray 20 (see FIG. 1). The discharge tray 21 is supported by the front plate 83 and the pair of side plates 82 of the feeding tray 20. The discharge tray 21 is rotatably supported by a bearing portion 85 provided at a center portion in the front direction 8A and the rear direction 8B of the feeding tray 20 with a rotation shaft (not shown) provided at an end portion in the rear direction 8B. . Thereby, the discharge tray 21 can be rotated so as to open and close the upper side of the feeding tray 20. The user can put the recording paper 12 in and out of the feeding tray 20 in a state where the discharge tray 21 is rotated so that the upper side of the feeding tray 20 is opened.

  The feed tray 20 is inserted into the opening 13 of the housing 14 with the end in the rear direction 8B first, and the front plate 83 is flush with the front surface of the housing 14 as shown in FIG. It is moved in the backward direction 8B to the state. As a result, the feeding tray 20 is mounted on the printer unit 11 (the state shown in FIG. 2). In the state where the feeding tray 20 is mounted on the printer unit 11, the rear end 8 </ b> B of the feeding tray 20 feeds the recording paper 12 fed by the feeding unit 15 in the feeding direction 17 to the conveyance path 65. It is close to the guiding member 72 to be guided. Further, the feeding tray 20 is pulled out from the printer unit 11 by moving in the forward direction 8A from the state in which it is mounted on the printer unit 11. In a state where the feeding tray 20 is mounted on the printer unit 11 as shown in FIG. 2, the recording paper 12 placed on the feeding tray 20 can be fed to the conveyance path 65 by the feeding unit 15. is there.

[Feeding unit 15]
As shown in FIG. 2, a feeding unit 15 is provided above the feeding tray 20. The feeding unit 15 includes a feeding roller 25, a feeding arm 26, and a shaft 22. The feeding arm 26 has a transmission mechanism (not shown) that reaches the feeding roller 25 with a driving force of a feeding motor (not shown) that rotationally drives the feeding roller 25. The transmission mechanism can be composed of a gear, a pulley, a belt, and the like.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the shaft 22 is provided at one end of the feeding arm 26. As a result, the feeding arm 26 rotates about the shaft 22 in the direction indicated by the arrows 51 and 52. The feed roller 25 is rotatably supported at the other end of the feed arm 26. The feeding arm 26 is urged in the direction of the arrow 52 by an urging member such as its own weight or a spring. As a result, the feeding roller 25 comes into contact with the uppermost recording paper 12 among the recording papers 12 supported in a stacked state by the support surface 23.

[Guide member 72]
The guide member 72 is attached to the housing 14 inside the housing 14. In the state in which the feeding tray 20 is mounted on the printer unit 11, the guide member 72 is disposed at a position where the end of the feeding tray 20 in the rear direction 8B is close as shown in FIG. The guide member 72 is a substantially rectangular plate-like member extending in the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B. The guide member 72 has an inclined surface 67 inclined with respect to the support surface 23. The inclined surface 67 is located downstream of the support surface 23 in the feeding direction 17. The inclined surface 67 is a surface in the front direction 8A of the guide member 72, and the end portion in the upper direction 7A is located downstream of the end portion in the lower direction 7B in the feeding direction 17.

[First separation piece 74]
As shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, a first separation piece 74 is provided at the center of the inclined surface 67 in the left direction 9 </ b> A and the right direction 9 </ b> B. A plurality of first separating pieces 74 protrude from the inclined surface 67 along the feeding direction 17. In a state where the feeding tray 20 is mounted on the printer unit 11, the central portion of the recording paper 12 and the central portion of the guide member 72 in the left direction 9 </ b> A and the right direction 9 </ b> B substantially coincide with each other. The first separation piece 74 separates the uppermost recording sheet 12 from the other recording sheets 12 by abutting against the plurality of recording sheets 12 when the plurality of recording sheets 12 are overlapped and fed from the feeding tray 20. . As a result, only the uppermost recording sheet 12 is guided toward the conveyance path 65 by the inclined surface 67.

  The first separation piece 74 is a thin metal plate, and is integrally formed with a separation member 80 in which the first separation pieces 74 are arranged in a straight line on one plane 80A. For example, the first separation piece 74 is formed by pressing a separation member 80 that is a thin metal plate. As shown in FIG. 6, the first separation piece 74 has a raised portion 74C that rises vertically from the plane 80A, and a bent portion 74D that is bent downstream from the tip end portion of the raised portion 74C in the feeding direction 17. ing. The first separating piece 74 has a bent portion 74 </ b> D protruding from the inclined surface 67, and all or most of the upright portion 74 </ b> C is located inside the guide member 72 from the inclined surface 67. The first separation piece 74 has a first end portion 74A that is a top portion in a protruding direction (a direction perpendicular to the inclined surface 67) protruding from the inclined surface 67 and a distal end portion of the bent portion 74D, and a downstream end in the feeding direction 17 And a second end portion 74B that is a base end portion of the bent portion 74D. Since the first separation piece 74 is formed of a thin metal plate and the bent portion 74D is bent downstream in the feeding direction 17, the first separating piece 74 (folded portion 74D) is good along the feeding direction 17. Has elastic deformation. 7 schematically shows a state in which the first separation piece 74 and the convex portion 75, and the second separation piece 77 and the roller 76 described later are seen from a direction parallel to the inclined surface 67 and perpendicular to the feeding direction 17. Show.

  The separation member 80 is stored in a storage portion 91 provided inside the guide member 72. The storage portion 91 has a facing surface 91 </ b> A that is on the back side of the inclined surface 67 and faces the flat surface 80 </ b> A of the separating member 80. The guide member 72 has an opening 91B that opens to the inclined surface 67 and the opposing surface 91A. The opening 91 </ b> B communicates the inside of the storage portion 91 and the outside of the guide member 72. The plurality of first separation pieces 74 formed on the flat surface 80 </ b> A of the separation member 80 pass through the opening 91 </ b> B from the inside of the storage portion 91 beyond the inclined surface 67, and the bent portion 74 </ b> D protrudes outside the guide member 72. .

[Convex part 75]
As shown in FIG. 4, resin convex portions 75 are provided at predetermined positions in the left direction 9 </ b> A and the right direction 9 </ b> B (here, examples of the first direction and the second direction) with respect to the first separation piece 74. It has been. A plurality of convex portions 75 protrude from the inclined surface 67 along the feeding direction 17. If the guide member 72 is made of resin, the resin convex portion 75 can be integrally formed on the inclined surface 67 of the guide member 72. As shown in FIG. 6, the convex portion 75 includes a third end portion 75 </ b> A that is a top portion in the protruding direction protruding from the inclined surface 67 and a fourth end portion 75 </ b> B that is an upstream end portion in the feeding direction 17. Have.

  As schematically shown in FIG. 7, the height H2 from the inclined surface 67 of the third end portion 75A of the convex portion 75 is from the inclined surface 67 of the first end portion 74A of the first separation piece 74. It is higher than the height H1. In addition, the shape of the bent portion 74D including the first end portion 74A of the first separation piece 74 (see FIG. 6) in a state viewed from a direction parallel to the inclined surface 67 and perpendicular to the feeding direction 17 (the state shown in FIG. 6). (Projected shape on a plane parallel to the cross section shown in FIG. 6) does not overlap with the shape of the convex portion 75 (above-mentioned projected shape).

  Further, as schematically shown in FIG. 7, in the state (state shown in FIG. 6) seen along the direction parallel to the inclined surface 67 and perpendicular to the feeding direction 17, the fourth of the convex portion 75. An angle θ2 (an example of an acute angle θ2 formed by the second line segment (LS2) and the inclined surface) formed by the inclined surface 67 of the inclined surface 75C between the end portion 75B and the third end portion 75A is the first separation piece 74. An inclined surface 74E between the second end portion 74B and the first end portion 74A is smaller than an angle θ1 (an example of an acute angle θ1 formed by the first line segment (LS1) and the inclined surface) formed by the inclined surface 67. .

[Colo 76]
As shown in FIG. 4, the guide member 72 has a roller at predetermined positions in the left direction 9 </ b> A and the right direction 9 </ b> B (here, examples of the first direction and the second direction) with respect to the first separation piece 74. 76 is rotatably mounted. Two rollers 76 are provided along the feeding direction 17 at predetermined positions in the left direction 9 </ b> A and the right direction 9 </ b> B with respect to the first separation piece 74. The roller 76 is disposed so that a part of the peripheral surface protrudes from an opening formed in the inclined surface 67 of the guide member 72. The roller 76 is rotatably supported by a rotation shaft 76B perpendicular to the feeding direction 17 and parallel to the inclined surface 67 in a state where a part of the roller 76 is exposed from the inclined surface 67. As a result, the roller 76 rotates in contact with the recording paper 12 fed by the feeding unit 15. Incidentally, in order to improve the visibility of the drawing and facilitate the understanding of the invention, the rollers 76 arranged upstream of the feeding direction 17 are not shown in FIGS.

  The roller 76 located in the left direction 9 </ b> A with respect to the first separation piece 74 is arranged farther from the first separation piece 74 than the convex portion 75 located in the left direction 9 </ b> A with respect to the first separation piece 74. The roller 76 located in the right direction 9B with respect to the first separation piece 74 is disposed farther from the first separation piece 74 than the convex portion 75 located in the right direction 9B with respect to the first separation piece 74. The height H3 (see FIG. 7) of the highest portion 76A of the protruding portion protruding from the inclined surface 67 of the roller 76 is the height (H2) of the third end portion 75A of the convex portion 75 from the inclined surface 67. Higher. Here, the shape of the convex portion 75 (projected shape) is the inclined surface 67 of the roller 76 in a state (state shown in FIG. 6) viewed along a direction parallel to the inclined surface 67 and perpendicular to the feeding direction 17. It does not overlap with the shape of the protruding portion protruding from the above (projected shape above).

  Further, as schematically shown in FIG. 8, feeding along a direction parallel to the inclined surface 67 and perpendicular to the left direction 9 </ b> A (an example of the first direction) and the right direction 9 </ b> B (an example of the second direction). When the inclined surface 67 is viewed upstream in the direction 17, the third end 75 </ b> A of the convex portion 75 located in the left direction 9 </ b> A with respect to the first separation piece 74 is leftward with respect to the first separation piece 74. It is higher from the inclined surface 67 than the straight line L1 passing through the highest portion 76A (the portion closest to the first separation piece 74 in the highest portion 76A) of the roller 76 located at 9A and the first end portion 74A of the first separation piece 74. It protrudes. Similarly, although not shown in the drawing, the convex located in the right direction 9B with respect to the first separation piece 74 when viewed along the direction parallel to the inclined surface 67 and perpendicular to the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B. The third end portion 75A of the portion 75 includes the highest portion 76A of the roller 76 located in the right direction 9B with respect to the first separation piece 74 (the portion closest to the first separation piece 74 in the highest portion 76A), and the first separation. It protrudes higher from the inclined surface 67 than a straight line passing through the first end 74 </ b> A of the piece 74.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the guide member 72 has a resin at predetermined positions in the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B (here, examples of the first direction and the second direction) with respect to the first separation piece 74. The 2nd separation piece 77 formed from is provided. Similarly to the first separation piece 74, the second separation piece 77 has a function of separating the uppermost recording sheet 12 from the other recording sheets 12 among the recording sheets 12 fed in the feeding direction 17 by the feeding unit 15. doing. The second separation piece 77 located in the left direction 9A with respect to the first separation piece 74 is disposed closer to the first separation piece 74 than the convex portion 75 located in the left direction 9A with respect to the first separation piece 74. Yes. The second separation piece 77 located in the right direction 9B with respect to the first separation piece 74 is disposed closer to the first separation piece 74 than the convex portion 75 located in the right direction 9B with respect to the first separation piece 74. Yes.

  A plurality of second separating pieces 77 protrude from the inclined surface 67 along the feeding direction 17 at the predetermined position. As shown in FIG. 6, the interval SP2 in the direction in which the second separation piece 77 is parallel to the inclined surface 67 disposed on the inclined surface 67 and perpendicular to the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B is the first separation piece 74. Is smaller than the interval SP1 in the direction parallel to the inclined surface 67 disposed on the inclined surface 67 and perpendicular to the left direction 9A and the right direction 9B. As schematically shown in FIG. 7, the second separation piece 77 extends from the inclined surface 67 of the fifth end 77 </ b> A that is the top of the protruding direction (a direction perpendicular to the inclined surface 67) protruding from the inclined surface 67. The height H4 is lower than the height H1 from the inclined surface 67 of the first end 74A of the first separation piece 74. Note that the height H1 and the height H4 in FIG. 7 do not reflect the actual ratio between them, but reflect only the height relationship between them.

[Feeding operation]
Hereinafter, a feeding operation in which the recording paper 12 loaded on the feeding tray 20 is fed by the feeding unit 15 will be described in detail.

  When a plurality of upper recording sheets 12 among recording sheets 12 supported in a state of being stacked on the support surface 23 of the feeding tray 20 are moved in the feeding direction 17 by the feeding roller 25, these recording sheets are used. The tip of 12 abuts on the first separation piece 74. Among these recording sheets 12, the uppermost recording sheet 12 is separated from other recording sheets 12 by the first separation piece 74. Even when the uppermost recording sheet 12 is not separated by one first separation piece 74, the uppermost recording sheet 12 is separated by another first separation piece 74 that is downstream of the first separation piece 74 in the feeding direction 17. The At this time, the plurality of second separation pieces 77 are separated by, for example, the top end portion of the uppermost recording paper 12 in the feeding direction 17 slightly away from the front end portions of the other recording papers 12. Assists in separating the recording paper 12.

  The uppermost recording paper 12 separated as described above moves while the leading end of the feeding direction 17 is in contact with the inclined surface 67. As a result, the vicinity of the leading edge of the recording paper 12 is deformed from the shape along the feeding direction 17 to the shape along the inclined surface 67, and the recording paper 12 is changed in the feeding direction and moved along the conveying direction 16. To start.

  When the uppermost recording sheet 12 further moves along the inclined surface 67 and the leading end reaches the convex portion 75, the leading end portion contacts the convex portion 75. At this time, since the protruding amount of the convex portion 75 from the inclined surface 67 is larger than the protruding amount of the first separation piece 74, the leading end portion of the recording paper 12 is separated from the first separation piece 74. Accordingly, the entire recording paper 12 is also separated from the first separation piece 74, and the image recording surface (the surface facing the inclined surface 67 of the recording paper 12 and the surface facing the recording head 38 in the linear portion 34) is the first. It is possible to prevent the 1 separation piece 74 from being rubbed and damaged (scratch prevention function).

  In this state, the recording paper 12 is further fed in the transport direction 16. When the leading edge of the recording paper 12 reaches the roller 76, the leading edge of the recording paper 12 is separated from the first separation piece 74, and accordingly, the entire recording paper 12 is also separated from the first separation piece 74. Thereby, the damage prevention function of the convex part 75 is assisted. Further, the rotation of the roller 76 causes the recording paper 12 to be smoothly sent in the transport direction 16, and the transport path 65 is sent to the linear portion 34 via the bending portion 33.

[Effect of the embodiment]
According to the present embodiment, in the configuration in which the first separation piece 74 made of metal is provided on the inclined surface 67 to prevent the recording paper 12 from being repeatedly fed, the resin protrusion having a larger protrusion than the first separation piece 74. By providing 75, it is possible to prevent the image recording surface of the recording paper 12 from being rubbed and damaged by the first separation piece 74. In particular, when the recording paper 12 having high rigidity such as glossy paper is used as the recording paper 12, the reaction force when the recording paper 12 is conveyed while being deformed so as to be bent becomes large. Therefore, the image recording surface is rubbed with the first separation piece 74 and easily damaged. Further, the glossy surface, which is the image recording surface of glossy paper, is very conspicuous. Therefore, particularly when glossy paper is used as the recording paper 12, the quality of the recorded image is prevented from deteriorating by preventing the image recording surface of the recording paper 12 from being damaged by rubbing against the first separation piece 74. The effect of doing becomes remarkable.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the first end 74 </ b> A of the first separation piece 74 has the shape of the convex portion 75 in the state viewed along the direction perpendicular to the feeding direction 17 and parallel to the inclined surface 67. There is no overlap. Thereby, the separation performance of the first separation piece 74 is not greatly hindered by the convex portion 75. Since the angle (acute angle θ2) at which the inclined surface 75C upstream of the convex portion 75 in the feeding direction 17 rises from the inclined surface 67 is relatively small, the movement of the recording paper 12 in the feeding direction 17 is inhibited by the convex portion 75. This is also suppressed.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the plurality of convex portions 75 are provided along the feeding direction 17 in the left direction 9 </ b> A and the right direction 9 </ b> B with respect to the first separation piece 74. This prevents the image recording surface of the uppermost recording paper 12 from being rubbed and damaged by the first separation piece 74 in accordance with various quantities of the recording paper 12 supported by the support surface 23 of the feeding tray 20. Easy to do.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the roller 76 is provided at a position shifted from the third end portion 75 </ b> A that is the top of the convex portion 75 in the feeding direction 17, so that the function of preventing the scratch of the convex portion 75 can be prevented. With the assistance of 76, it is possible to more reliably suppress the image recording surface of the recording paper 12 from being rubbed and damaged by the first separation piece 74. Further, the roller 76 can smoothly convey the recording paper 12.

[Modification]
In the above-described embodiment, the case where the transport device is used for the ink jet recording apparatus as the image recording apparatus has been described. However, the conveyance device of the present invention can be used not only for an ink jet recording apparatus but also for other image recording apparatuses such as a laser printer. Further, the conveying device of the present invention is not limited to use in an image recording apparatus, and can be used in all devices that use sheets. In addition, the guide member 72 is supported by the casing 14 of the printer unit 11 in the embodiment, but may be supported by the end portion of the feeding tray 20 in the rear direction 8B.

10: Multifunction machine 11: Printer section (image recording device)
12. Recording paper (sheet)
16 ... Conveying direction 17 ... Feeding direction 20 ... Feeding tray (supporting member)
23 ... support surface 24 ... recording portion 67 ... inclined surface 72 ... guide member 74 ... first separation piece 75 ... convex portion 76 ... roller (roller portion)
77 ... second separation piece

Claims (9)

A support member having a support surface that can be supported in a stacked state; and
A feeding unit that feeds the sheet supported by the support surface in the feeding direction;
A guide member that is provided downstream of the support surface in the feeding direction, has an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to the support surface and guides the sheet by contacting the sheet fed by the feeding unit. When,
Provided on the guide member, formed from a metal material, a plurality projecting from the inclined surface along the feeding direction, and the uppermost sheet among the sheets fed by the feeding unit as another sheet A first separation piece that separates from the sheet;
Provided on the guide member, formed of a resin material, and positioned in a first direction perpendicular to the feeding direction with respect to the first separation piece and in a second direction opposite to the first direction. A convex portion that protrudes from the inclined surface, contacts the uppermost sheet separated from the other sheet by the first separation piece, and separates the sheet surface of the uppermost sheet from the first separation piece; With
The first separation piece has a first end that is a top in the protruding direction protruding from the inclined surface, and a second end upstream of the feeding direction,
The convex portion has a third end portion which is a top portion in the protruding direction protruding from the inclined surface, and a fourth end portion upstream in the feeding direction,
The height from the inclined surface of the third end of the convex portion is higher than the height from the inclined surface of the first end of the first separation piece,
When viewed along a direction parallel to the inclined surface and perpendicular to the feeding direction, the first separation piece has at least the first end portion not overlapped with the shape of the convex portion,
The acute angle θ1 formed by the first line segment connecting the first end portion and the second end portion of the first separation piece and the inclined surface is the third end portion and the fourth end of the convex portion. A feeding device that is larger than an acute angle θ2 formed by a second line segment connecting the section and the inclined surface.   The feeding device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the projecting portions protrude from the inclined surface along the feeding direction. It is provided in the guide member, and is located in the first direction and the second direction with respect to the first separation piece, and in the first direction and the second direction, the first portion from the convex portion. A roller portion that is disposed away from the separation piece, protrudes from the inclined surface, and is rotatable around a rotation axis that is parallel to the inclined surface and perpendicular to the feeding direction;
The roller portion has a height from the inclined surface of the highest portion in the protruding direction protruding from the inclined surface higher than the height from the inclined surface of the third end portion of the convex portion,
3. The protrusion according to claim 1, wherein at least the third end portion does not overlap the shape of the roller portion when viewed along a direction parallel to the inclined surface and perpendicular to the feeding direction. Feeding device. A third end portion of the convex portion positioned in the first direction with respect to the first separation piece when viewed along a direction parallel to the inclined surface and perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction. Projecting higher from the inclined surface than a straight line passing through the highest portion of the roller portion located in the first direction with respect to the first separation piece and the first end portion of the first separation piece. And
A third end portion of the convex portion located in the second direction with respect to the first separation piece when viewed along a direction parallel to the inclined surface and perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction. Projecting higher from the inclined surface than a straight line passing through the highest portion of the roller portion positioned in the second direction with respect to the first separation piece and the first end portion of the first separation piece. The feeding device according to claim 3. Provided in the guide member, formed of resin, and positioned in the first direction and the second direction with respect to the first separation piece, the convex in the first direction and the second direction; Is disposed closer to the first separation piece than the first portion, and a plurality of the first separation piece protrudes from the inclined surface along the feeding direction, and the top sheet among the sheets fed by the feeding portion is another sheet. A second separating piece for separating from
The second separation piece is
The height from the inclined surface of the fifth end that is the top in the protruding direction protruding from the inclined surface is lower than the height from the inclined surface of the first end of the first separation piece, and the inclined The feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an interval disposed on the surface is smaller than an interval where the first separation piece is disposed on the inclined surface.   The support member has a maximum height for stacking and supporting the sheets by the support surface, and the convex portion of the uppermost sheet in a state where the sheet is supported by the support surface up to the maximum height. The feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the feeding device is located at a position farther from the support surface than a position in a direction perpendicular to the support surface.   A separation member provided with a plurality of the first separation pieces, a storage portion that is provided in the guide member, and that stores the separation member, and is provided in the guide member and has an interior of the storage portion. Is communicated with the outside of the guide member, is open to the inclined surface, and the plurality of first separation pieces are projected from the inside of the storage portion beyond the inclined surface to the outside of the guide member. The feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising a section.   The feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first separation piece is elastically deformable along the feeding direction. A feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
An image recording apparatus comprising: a recording unit that records an image on a sheet.

Images