JP6489957B2 - Printing device and sheet cassette - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus including a sheet cassette.

  The printing apparatus described in Patent Document 1 includes a sheet cassette for stacking and storing sheets. When a new sheet is replenished, the sheet cassette is pulled out from the apparatus. At that time, the cover tray slides on the sheet cassette to form an opening for supplying sheets.

JP 2010-235296 A

  However, in the configuration of Patent Document 1, the opening that appears when the sheet cassette is pulled out is small, and the user is inferior in workability for loading a new sheet therefrom.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above problems. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus with excellent workability, which can load sheets into a sheet cassette more easily than in the past.

To this end, the present invention provides a housing that can accommodate a plurality of sheets , a cover that is pivotally supported with respect to the housing and covers at least a part of the housing, and is slidable with respect to the housing and a slide portion, and a printing unit for printing to the sheet accommodated in the accommodating portion, a printing apparatus provided with the cover, the sliding portion in a direction to draw the slide portion from the receiving portion In conjunction with the slide, the seat rotates from the position covering the housing to the position where the housing is exposed, and the seat is replenished with the sheet from between the cover and the slide when the cover is in the exposed position. It is possible to do.

  According to the present invention, when the slide portion is pulled forward, the front side of the cassette cover is chill-topped to expose a large opening, and the user can easily load a new sheet bundle into the cassette from the large opening.

1 is a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. Perspective view of sheet cassette Side view of sheet cassette showing slide member moving A perspective view and a sectional view of the printing apparatus with the slide member pulled out The figure which shows the sliding state of the sheet cassette used in Example 2. FIG. The enlarged view of the structure which rotates the cover tray in Example 2. FIG.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Example 1
1A and 1B are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of a printing apparatus 5 that can be used as the printing apparatus of the present invention. In the printing apparatus 5 of this embodiment, a sheet cassette 1 for stacking and storing a plurality of sheet bundles before print processing is mounted, and the upper surface of the sheet cassette 1 is covered with a cover tray 4 so that dust and dirt are deposited on the sheet S. It does not accumulate. On the other hand, the printed sheets are sequentially discharged and stacked on the cover tray 4. An operation panel 6 is provided on the front side surface of the main body housing of the printing apparatus 5 so that the user can check the state of the printing apparatus and input commands to the printing apparatus.

  When a printing operation is performed in the printing unit, the sheet feeding roller 8 provided in the sheet cassette 1 or the sheet feeding roller 8 provided in the sheet cassette 1 abuts and rotates on the uppermost sheet S, whereby the sheet S is fed to the transport path 7 one by one. The fed sheet S is conveyed while being sandwiched between the conveyance roller pair 9 and the discharge roller pair 11, subjected to print processing by the print head 10 (print unit), and then discharged onto the cover tray 4. As shown in FIG. 1B, the operation panel 6 provided above the sheet cassette 1 can be tilted up to improve the user's confirmation. When a new sheet S is replenished to the sheet cassette 1, the sheet cassette 1 can be pulled out in the Y direction in the figure (the front side of the apparatus as viewed from the user).

  2A and 2B are perspective views of the sheet cassette 1. FIG. Here, members other than the sheet cassette 1 are omitted. The sheet cassette 1 according to the present embodiment mainly includes a box-shaped sheet storage portion 2, a slide member 3 slidable in the Y direction so as to widen the area relative to the sheet storage portion 2, and the sheet storage portion 2 in the Z direction. It is comprised with the cover tray 4 for protecting from an upper surface. 2A shows a state where the slide member 3 is not pulled out from the sheet storage portion 2, and FIG. 2B shows a state where the slide member 3 is pulled out from the sheet storage portion 2. FIG.

  In the sheet storage portion 2, a side guide 13 for defining an end position in the width direction of the sheet S, that is, the X direction is provided so as to be slidable in the X direction. On the other hand, a rear end regulating member 14 for defining the rear end position of the sheet S in the Y direction is arranged on the slide member 3 so as to be slidable in the Y direction. The sheet storage unit 2 and the slide member 3 are coupled as shown in FIG. 2A by engaging a boss 19 provided on the side surface of the slide member 3 with a hole 18 formed on the side surface of the sheet storage unit 2. .

  On the other hand, by depressing the boss 19 and releasing the engagement, the user can pull out the slide member 3 in the Y direction as shown in FIG. Hereinafter, in this specification, the position (state) of the slide member 3 shown in FIG. 2A is the first position (first state), and the position (state) of the slide member 3 shown in FIG. This is referred to as a second position (second state). The sheet cassette 1 is attached to and detached from the printing apparatus 5 in the first state.

  The cover tray 4 is pivotally supported by a rotation shaft 16 formed on the side surface of the sheet storage unit 2 and is rotatable with respect to the sheet storage unit 2. A cam shape 15 is formed at the end of the slide member 3 in the X direction and facing the cover tray 4. On the other hand, an action receiving portion 17 is formed at an end portion of the cover tray 4 in the X direction and facing the cam shape 15.

  FIGS. 3A and 3B are side views of the sheet cassette 1 showing a state in which the slide member 3 is pulled out and moved from the first position to the second position. When the slide member 3 is in the first position, the cam shape 15 and the action receiving portion 17 are maintained in a non-contact state while facing each other as seen in FIG. The cover tray 4 is disposed so as to cover the inside of the sheet cassette 1 formed by the sheet storage portion 2 and the slide member 3.

  When the slide member 3 is gradually slid in the Y direction from this first state, the inclined surface of the cam shape 15 moves while contacting the inclined surface of the action receiving portion 17 and pushes up the cover tray 4 in the Y direction. As a result, the cover tray 4 rotates about the rotation shaft 16 counterclockwise in the figure and tilts up. When the slide member 3 reaches the second position, the upper end of the cam shape 15 is in the second state in which the lower end of the action receiving portion 17 is supported, as seen in FIG. In the second state, an opening H that is opened like a crocodile mouth is formed between the cover tray 4 and the sheet storage portion 2 that are tilted up.

  More specifically, the slope of the cam shape 15 is formed by triangular ribs that stand vertically from the bottom surface of the slide member 3. A concave recess for receiving the top of the rib (convex shape) along the inclined surface is formed on the inclined surface of the action receiving portion 17. These ribs and recesses extend by a length corresponding to the sliding distance of the slide member 3, and the width of the recess in the X direction is designed to be larger than the width of the rib in the X direction to allow for component tolerance. Due to the meshing structure of the rib and the recess, the both slide without disengagement. The relationship between the rib and the recess may be reversed by using the slope of the cam shape 15 as a recess and the slope of the action receiving portion 17 as a rib.

  With the above mechanism, the cover tray 4 is tilted up in conjunction with the user pulling out the slide member 3 in the Y direction in a state where the sheet cassette 1 is mounted on the main body of the printing apparatus 5, and the slide member 3 pulled out. An opening H is formed between the cover tray 4 and the cover tray 4. The user can replenish a new bundle of sheets S from the opening H to the sheet storage unit 2. At this time, although the slide member 3 moves in the Y direction, the positions of the sheet storage portion 2 and the cover tray 4 in the Y direction have not changed significantly. That is, even if the sheets S are stacked on the cover tray 4, the support area of the cover tray 4 with respect to the sheets S does not change, and the relative relationship between the two is maintained before and after the sliding operation.

  In addition, the sheet cassette 1 itself is configured such that the sheet storage portion 2, the slide member 3, and the cover tray 4 constituting the sheet cassette 1 are integrated and can be detached from the printing apparatus main body.

  4A and 4B are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of the printing apparatus 5 in a state where the slide member 3 is pulled out to the second position. Here, a state in which the slide member 3 is pulled out in a state where the sheets S are stacked on the cover tray 4 is shown. The sheets S stacked on the cover tray 4 are securely held by the cover tray 4 without breaking the alignment state.

  When a new sheet S is replenished and loaded, the user inserts a new bundle of sheets S into the sheet storage unit 2 through the wide opening H. The slide member 3 is pushed back to the first position in the −Y direction while regulating the rear end of the sheet by the rear end regulating member 14. That is, when the slide member 3 is closed, the rear end of the replenished sheet is pushed and aligned by a part of the slide member 3. As a result, the states of FIGS. 1A and 1B are obtained again, and the next printing operation becomes possible.

  As described with reference to FIG. 1, the operation panel 6 is also tilted up. However, even if the cover tray 4 and the operation panel 6 are both chill-topped, they are arranged so as not to interfere physically. Therefore, even if the user pulls out the slide part 3 while the operation panel 6 is tilted up while the apparatus is being used, the cover tray 4 that is tilted up in conjunction therewith does not collide with the lower part of the operation panel 6. Further, even when the operation panel 6 is housed in a tilted down state, even if the cover tray 4 is tilted up, the collision between the two does not occur.

  4B, when the cover tray 4 is tilted at the second position, the uppermost position of the sheets S stacked on the cover tray 4 is lower than the first position at the lower end of the operation panel 6. Will approach. Therefore, if the uppermost sheet S is curled, the sheet may come into contact with the operation panel 6 and there is a concern that the sheet may be broken or damaged. In the present embodiment, the upper limit number of sheets that can be stacked on the cover tray 4 and the inclination angle θ of the cover tray 4 are set so as to avoid such a concern, and the uppermost sheet S is also set at the second position. The operation panel 6 is provided with a necessary minimum space.

(Example 2)
FIGS. 5A and 5B are views showing a rotation mechanism of the sheet cassette 1 used in this embodiment. Members having the same functions as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals. Although the cover tray 4 of the present embodiment also rotates around the rotation shaft 16, the configuration for lifting the cover tray 4 is different from that of the first embodiment. In this embodiment, a cam shape 20 is formed on the bottom surface of the end portion in the −Y direction of the slide member 3. On the other hand, at the end in the + Y direction of the sheet storage unit 2 , a bar member 21 that can rotate about the rotation shaft 22 is provided, and the rotation range thereof is the first rotation stop 24 and the second rotation. It is regulated by the stop portion 25. On the other hand, an action receiving portion 23 is formed on the surface of the cover tray 4 facing the bar member 21 at the first position shown in FIG.

  Referring to FIG. 5A, when the slide member 3 is in the first position, the bar member 21 tries to rotate in the clockwise direction by its own weight, but the position is restricted by the first rotation stop portion 25. Has been. In this state, the cam shape 20, the bar member 21, and the action receiving portion 23 are kept in a non-contact state.

  When the slide member 3 is slid in the Y direction from the state of FIG. 5A, the cam shape 20 that moves in the Y direction together with the slide member 3 hits the end of the bar member 21, and rotates it counterclockwise. . The tip P of the bar member 21 rotates while contacting the action receiving portion 23 of the cover tray 4 and pushes up the cover tray 4 in the Y direction. Then, as shown in FIG. 5B, the rotation of the bar member 21 stops in a state where the tip P of the bar member 21 is in contact with the cover tray 4. In such a second position, an opening H is formed between the cover tray 4 and the sheet storage unit 2.

  FIGS. 6A to 6C are enlarged views for explaining in detail the configuration for rotating the cover tray 4. In the bar member 21, a protruding portion 21 a and a protruding portion 21 b are formed on the opposite side of the rotating shaft 22. When the slide member 3 moves in the Y direction from the first position, the cam shape 20 first comes into contact with and engages with the protrusion 21a as seen in FIG.

  When the cam shape 20 further moves in the Y direction with the protrusion 21a engaged, the bar member 21 rotates counterclockwise in the figure, and its tip P moves along the action receiving portion 23 while pushing up the cover tray 4. To do. At this time, in this embodiment, when the cam shape 20 is separated from the protruding portion 21a, the contact point between the tip P of the bar member 21 and the action receiving portion 23 passes through the rotating shaft 22 as shown in FIG. Each member is designed so as to already pass through the line L. Specifically, the shapes of the protruding portion 21a, the tip portion P, and the action receiving portion 23 are adjusted so that the above condition is satisfied. For this reason, even if the cam shape 20 is separated from the protrusion 21a in the Y direction, the rod member 21 continues to rotate counterclockwise due to its own weight. Further, the tip portion P and the action receiving portion 23 have a meshing structure of ribs and recesses as in the previous embodiment, and slide without disengaging both.

  Thereafter, the tip P of the bar member 21 moves along the inclination of the action receiving portion 23, and the tip P contacts the inner wall of the cover tray 4 as shown in FIG. Is stopped with the bar member 21 supporting it. In addition, even if there is momentum in the rotation of the bar member 21 and it cannot be reliably stopped at the position of FIG. 6C, the second rotation stopper 24 comes into contact with the bar member 21 to stop it. .

  When the user returns the slide member 3 from the second position to the first position after replenishing a new sheet S through the opening H, the cam shape 20 that moves in the -Y direction is now changed to the protrusion 21b. Abutting and rotating the rod member 21 in the clockwise direction. Then, again, the bar member 21 comes into contact with the first rotation stop portion 25 as shown in FIG. 1A, and the cover tray 4 covers the sheet storage portion 2 and the slide member 3, and the next printing operation is performed. Is possible.

  In any of the embodiments described above, when the slide member 3 is pulled out to the front, the front side of the cover tray 4 opens in a crocodile shape, and a large opening is exposed by the chill top, and the user can cassette a new sheet bundle from the large opening Can be easily refilled.

  Further, since the front side is chill-topped, even if the front end of a printed sheet stacked on the front side protrudes from the tray, the front end of the hung sheet does not interfere with the opening for loading the sheet. Therefore, the user can smoothly load a new sheet into the cassette from under the printed sheet that hangs down. Even if the sheets stacked on the cover tray 4 are of a size that does not protrude from the tray, the front side of the cover tray 4 tilts up, so that the user carelessly places the cover tray 4 on the cover tray 4 when loading the sheets. Even if you touch the sheet, it will not slide out easily. In addition, when the slide member 3 is pulled out, the positions of the sheet storage portion 2 and the cover tray 4 in the Y direction do not change significantly. Accordingly, the support area of the cover tray 4 with respect to the sheets S stacked after being discharged does not change, and the sheets S stacked on the cover tray 4 can be held without breaking the alignment state.

  In the above, a printing apparatus that prints an image on a sheet using a print head has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to such a form. The predetermined process is not particularly limited as long as the apparatus performs a predetermined process on the fed sheet and then discharges the sheet. For example, the predetermined process may be a scanner using an image reading head, or may be a facsimile or a copying machine. Furthermore, the present invention can also be applied as a composite device combining these or a part of a composite device such as a computer system. Further, the sheet can be used regardless of the material and form such as paper, cloth, media such as CD / DVD, plastic sheet, OHP sheet, envelope and the like.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Sheet cassette 2 Sheet accommodating part 3 Slide member 4 Cover tray 5 Printing apparatus H Opening part S Sheet

Claims (10)

An accommodating portion capable of accommodating a plurality of sheets;
A cover that is pivotally supported with respect to the housing portion and covers at least a part of the housing portion ;
A slide part slidable with respect to the housing part ;
A printing unit for printing to the sheet accommodated in the accommodating portion, a printing apparatus comprising a,
The cover pivots from a position covering the housing portion to a position exposing the housing portion in conjunction with sliding of the slide portion in a direction in which the slide portion is pulled out from the housing portion, and the cover is exposed. A printing apparatus, wherein a sheet can be replenished to the storage portion from between the cover and the slide portion when in the position . The printed sheet by the printing unit, printing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that is discharged onto the cover. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a regulating member for defining a sheet end portion position is disposed on the slide portion. A cam portion provided on the slide portion and projecting toward the cover ;
A receiving portion provided on the cover and disposed at a position facing the cam portion ,
Wherein the slide into the draw direction of the sliding portion by the cam portion moves while contact with the receiving portion, claim 1, wherein the pivoting to a position where said exposed from the covering position the cover 4. The printing apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 3 . Printing apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the cam portion, characterized in that moves while engaged with the receiving portion. A cam portion projecting toward the cover provided in front Symbol slide portion,
A rod member rotatably supported by the housing portion ,
A position where the cam portion moves while abutting the rod member by the slide of the slide portion in the pulling direction to rotate the rod member, and the rotated rod member covers the cover while abutting the cover. The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the printing apparatus is rotated from the position to the exposed position . The receiving portion, the cover, and the slide unit printing apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it is possible to remove from the apparatus main body together. An operation panel is provided above the cover and can be tilted up.
The printing apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the rotation of the cover and the movement of the operation panel are arranged so as not to interfere with each other . The slide portion is provided with a boss that can be engaged with a hole provided in the housing portion,
9. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the slide portion is slidable in the pulling-out direction by depressing the boss to release the engagement. 10.   10. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a side guide for defining an end position in a width direction of the sheet is slidably disposed in the housing portion. 11.