JP6520312B2 - Ink jet recording device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an inkjet recording apparatus that records an image on a sheet by discharging ink from a nozzle toward the sheet.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known an inkjet recording apparatus which records an image on a sheet by discharging ink from a nozzle provided in a recording head toward the sheet. In the inkjet recording apparatus, switching of drive transmission is performed as disclosed in the image recording apparatus of Patent Document 1 in order to transmit the output of one motor to a plurality of drive units.

  More specifically, the image recording apparatus includes a switching gear slidably supported by the support shaft along the axial direction of the support shaft. The switching gear slides while meshing with the drive gear that is driven and transmitted from the motor. Further, a plurality of transmission gears for transmitting the drive to the respective drive units are arranged corresponding to the respective slide positions of the switching gear. The switching gear is engaged with each transmission gear by being slid.

  The image recording apparatus also includes an input lever having a bearing slidably supported along the axial direction at a position adjacent to the switching gear by the support shaft, and a lever projecting upward from the bearing. The bearing slides when the carriage on which the recording head is mounted abuts against the lever and pushes. The switching gear slides as the bearing slides.

JP, 2009-34832, A

  However, when the carriage abuts on the lever and pushes the lever, a rotational moment is applied to the bearing via the lever. As a result, a force acts on the bearing to push the support shaft. Specifically, at the front end of the bearing in the direction in which the carriage pushes the lever, a force acts on the bearing to push the spindle from above, and at the rear end in the direction of the carriage pushing the lever, the bearing is supported from below The force to push the axis acts. These forces act as a load on the slide of the bearing, which may increase the load on the movement of the carriage and also reduce the sliding speed of the bearing.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide means capable of smoothly sliding a bearing slidably supported by a support shaft.

  (1) An ink jet apparatus according to the present invention includes a slide gear slidably supported by a support shaft along an axial direction, and an urging member urging the slide gear in a first direction along the axial direction. A plurality of transmission gears which are arranged along the axial direction at an interval from each other, each of which is capable of meshing with the slide gear, and a recording head which ejects ink from a nozzle toward the sheet; It has a carriage movable along the axial direction, a main body slidably supported adjacent to the slide gear by the support shaft, and a projection projecting from the main body into the movement area of the carriage. And a lever member that slides when the carriage that moves in a second direction opposite to the first direction abuts on the protrusion. The support shaft is a first range that is the protrusion side with respect to an imaginary line passing through the axis center and perpendicular to the protrusion direction of the protrusion when viewed from the axial direction, and an opposite to the protrusion with respect to the protrusion line In each of the second ranges, which are the sides, a plurality of places are in contact with the main body.

  According to the above configuration, since the main body portion and the support shaft are in contact at a plurality of locations, it is possible to disperse the force of the main body portion acting by pushing the projection by the carriage pushing the support shaft. Further, according to the above configuration, the support shaft is in contact with the main body portion at a plurality of places in each of the first range and the second range. Therefore, it is possible to disperse both of the force for pushing the support shaft from the side where the bearing is provided with the protrusion and the force for pressing the support shaft from the side opposite to the side where the protrusion is provided. As a result of the above, the load on the slide of the lever member can be reduced.

  (2) The ink jet apparatus according to the present invention further includes a holding unit having a plurality of stoppers for holding the projection in each position where the slide gear is engaged with each of the plurality of transmission gears. In the state in which the projecting portion is held at the positions by the stoppers, the spindle is viewed from the axial direction, and in the first range and the second range, the spindle and the plurality of portions are provided. In contact with.

  According to the above configuration, even when the protrusions are held at the respective positions by the stoppers, the load on the slide of the lever member can be reduced.

  (3) The lever member is pivotable about the support shaft. The holding portion includes an inclined surface which is inclined with respect to the axial direction. The lever member is pivoted by the projecting portion in contact with the inclined surface being guided along the inclined surface. In a state in which the projection is in contact with the inclined surface, the support shaft is in contact with the main body at a plurality of locations in each of the first range and the second range when viewed from the axial direction. There is.

  According to the above configuration, even when the projection is in contact with the inclined surface and turned, the load on the slide of the lever member can be reduced.

  (4) The support shaft and the main body are in point contact when viewed from the axial direction.

  According to the above configuration, since the contact area between the main body and the support shaft can be reduced, the sliding resistance of the main body to the support shaft can be reduced.

  (5) The number of contact points in the first range seen from the axial direction of the support shaft and the main body, and the second range seen from the axial direction of the support shaft and the main body The number of contact points is the same.

  According to the above configuration, both the force for pressing the support shaft from the side where the bearing is provided with the protrusion and the force for pressing the support shaft from the side opposite to the side where the bearing is provided with the protrusion are approximately It can be evenly distributed.

  (6) The abutment portion in the first range viewed from the axial direction of the spindle and the main body portion, and the abutment in the second range viewed from the axial direction of the spindle and the main body portion The locations are in a line-symmetrical relationship with an imaginary line passing through the axial center and orthogonal to the projecting direction of the projection.

  According to the above configuration, both the force for pressing the support shaft from the side where the bearing is provided with the protrusion and the force for pressing the support shaft from the side opposite to the side where the bearing is provided with the protrusion ( It can be dispersed more evenly than 5).

  (7) The spindle is in contact with the main body portion at two points in each of the first range and the second range when viewed from the axial direction.

  According to the above configuration, the number of contact points between the support shaft and the main body portion is a minimum while being plural. As a result, the shape of the main body can be simplified, which facilitates the formation of the lever member.

  (8) The projection may project from a position offset in the first direction or the second direction from the axial center of the main body.

  According to the present invention, the lever member slidably supported on the support shaft can be smoothly slid.

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of the multifunction machine 10. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the internal structure of the printer unit 111. As shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the configuration of the recording unit 15 and the periphery thereof. FIG. 4 is a schematic view schematically showing the configuration of the drive switching mechanism 40. As shown in FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the support shaft 42, the lever member 43 and the holding portion 83. FIG. 6 is a view showing the support shaft 42, the lever member 43 and the holding portion 83, (A) is a right side view, (B) is a plan view, and (C) is a front view It is. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. FIG. 8 (A) is a left side view schematically showing the lever member 43, and FIG. 8 (B) is a left side view schematically showing the support shaft 42 and the lever member 43. Is a left side view schematically showing the support shaft 42 and the lever member 43 in the case where the projection 46 is inclined with respect to the upper direction 4 and the lower direction 5, and FIG. FIG. 8E is a left side view schematically showing the shaft 42 and the lever member 43, and FIG. 8E is a left side view schematically showing the support shaft 42 and the lever member 43 in the modified example.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings as appropriate. The embodiments described below are merely examples of the present invention, and it goes without saying that the embodiments of the present invention can be appropriately modified without departing from the scope of the present invention. Further, in the following description, the upper direction 4 and the lower direction 5 are defined with reference to the state where the multifunction machine 10 is installed so as to be usable (the state of FIG. 1). The front direction 6 and the rear direction 7 are defined as (front), and the right direction 8 and the left direction 9 are defined when the multifunction device 10 is viewed from the front.

[Schematic Configuration of MFP 10]
As shown in FIG. 1, the multifunction machine 10 includes a scanner unit 112 at the top and a printer unit 111 (an example of an ink jet recording apparatus) at the bottom. The multifunction machine 10 has various functions such as a facsimile function and a print function.

  The printer unit 111 includes a feed tray 11 and a discharge tray 12 supported by the feed tray 11. An opening 113 is formed in the front of the printer unit 111. The printer unit 111 can insert the feed tray 11 and the discharge tray 12 supported by the feed tray 11 in the backward direction 7 and remove the feed tray 11 in the forward direction 6 through the opening 113.

  The feed tray 11 can support a sheet. The size of the sheet that can be supported by the feeding tray 11 is, for example, various fixed sizes such as A4 size, B5 size, and postcard size which are smaller than legal size. As shown in FIG. 2, the sheet supported by the feed tray 11 is fed to the conveyance path 14 by the feed roller 13, a desired image is recorded by the recording unit 15, and the sheet is discharged to the discharge tray 12.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the transport path 14 is bent in the forward direction 6 from the rear end of the feed tray 11 while being curved in the backward direction 7 and upward 4 and passes through the recording unit 15 to the discharge tray 12. ing. Therefore, the sheet stored in the feeding tray 11 is guided by the conveyance path 14 so as to make a U-turn from the lower side to the upper side and reaches the recording unit 15 and the image recording is performed by the recording unit 15. Discharged into That is, the sheet is transported in the transport direction 101 indicated by the arrow in FIG.

  A recording unit 15 is provided downstream of the curved portion of the conveyance path 14 in the conveyance direction 101. The recording unit 15 includes a carriage 22 which carries the recording head 21 and reciprocates in the right direction 8 and the left direction 9. In the recording head 21, cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y) and black (Y) from the ink cartridge disposed independently of the recording head 21 in the MFP 10 through the ink tube 20 (see FIG. 3). Each color ink of Bk) is supplied. While the carriage 22 reciprocates, each color ink is selectively ejected as a minute ink droplet from a plurality of nozzles formed in the recording head 21. As a result, image recording is performed on the sheet conveyed on the platen 16 disposed to face the recording head 21. The detailed configuration of the recording unit 15 will be described later.

  Transport roller pairs 17 and 18 are provided upstream and downstream of the recording unit 15 in the transport direction 101, respectively. The conveying roller pairs 17 and 18 nip and convey the sheet. The rollers constituting the conveying roller pairs 17 and 18 rotate about axes along the right direction 8 and the left direction 9 orthogonal to the conveying direction 101. The output of a motor (not shown) is transmitted to one of the pair of conveying roller pairs 17 and 18 to rotate. The other roller of the pair of conveying rollers 17 and 18 follows the one roller to which the driving is transmitted.

[Recording unit 15]
As shown in FIG. 3, a pair of guide rails 23 and 24 are provided in the right direction 8 (an example of the second direction) at a predetermined distance in the front direction 6 and the back direction 7 of the sheet above the transport path 14. It is extended in the left direction 9 (an example of a first direction). The guide rails 23 and 24 are provided in the housing of the multifunction machine 10, and constitute a part of a frame that supports each member of the multifunction machine 10. The carriage 22 is supported by the guide rails 23, 24 so as to straddle the guide rails 23, 24. The carriage 22 is slidable in the right direction 8 and the left direction 9 on the guide rails 23, 24 as described in detail below.

  Of the guide rails 23 and 24, the guide rail 23 disposed on the upstream side (rear direction 7) of the transport direction 101 is a flat plate whose length in the right direction 8 and left direction 9 of the transport path 14 is longer than the moving area of the carriage 22. It is Of the guide rails 23 and 24, the guide rail 24 disposed downstream (forward direction 6) in the transport direction 101 has substantially the same length in the right direction 8 and left direction 9 of the transport path 14 as the guide rail 23 It is a flat plate.

  An end of the carriage 22 in the back direction 7 is supported by the guide rail 23. Further, an end of the carriage 22 in the forward direction 6 is supported by the guide rail 24. Thereby, the carriage 22 is slid along the right direction 8 and the left direction 9. The upstream edge 25 of the guide rail 24 in the transport direction 101 is bent substantially at right angles in the upward direction 4. The carriage 22 supported by the guide rails 23 and 24 slidably holds the edge 25 by a holding member (not shown). Thereby, the carriage 22 is positioned in the forward direction 6 and the backward direction 7 and can slide in the right direction 8 and the left direction 9.

  A belt drive mechanism 26 is disposed on the top surface of the guide rail 24. The belt drive mechanism 26 has an endless annular belt 29 stretched between a drive pulley 27 and a driven pulley 28 respectively provided near both ends of the guide rail 24 in the right 8 and left 9 directions. is there. A driving force is input to the shaft of the drive pulley 27 from a motor (not shown), and the belt 29 circumferentially moves by the rotation of the drive pulley 27. The belt 29 may be an endless annular belt, or may be a belt which fixes both ends of an end belt to the carriage 22.

  The carriage 22 is fixed to the belt 29 at its bottom side. Therefore, based on the circumferential movement of the belt 29 by the motor, the carriage 22 reciprocates in the right direction 8 and the left direction 9 on the guide rails 23 and 24 with the edge 25 as a reference. By mounting the recording head 21 on such a carriage 22, the recording head 21 is reciprocated in the right direction 8 and the left direction 9.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a platen 16 is disposed below the transport path 14 so as to face the recording head 21. The platen 16 is disposed below the central portion through which the sheet passes in the movement area of the carriage 22 so as to face the central portion. The lengths of the right direction 8 and the left direction 9 of the platen 16 are longer than the lengths of the right direction 8 and the left direction 9 of the maximum size sheet that can be conveyed, so the right direction 8 and the left of the sheet conveyed in the conveyance path 14 Both ends of the direction 9 always pass on the platen 16.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the purge mechanism 34 is disposed at a position 8 to the right of the platen 16. The purge mechanism 34 is disposed below the right end portion of the movement area of the carriage 22 so as to face the right end portion. Further, a waste ink tray 35 is disposed at a position in the left direction 9 with respect to the platen 16. The waste ink tray 35 is disposed below the left end portion of the movement area of the carriage 22 so as to face the left end portion.

  The purge mechanism 34 sucks and removes air bubbles and foreign substances from the nozzles of the recording head 21. The purge mechanism 34 has a cap 36 that covers the nozzles of the recording head 21. The cap 36 is moved in the upper direction 4 and the lower direction 5 (direction perpendicular to the sheet of FIG. 3) by a known lift-up mechanism to contact with and separate from the recording head 21. Although not shown in FIG. 3, the purge mechanism 34 further includes a suction pump. The suction pump is connected to the cap 36, and the inside of the cap 36 is under negative pressure by operating the suction pump. When the suction pump is operated with the cap 36 in contact with the recording head 21 and covering the nozzle and the exhaust port, air bubbles and foreign substances are removed by suction from the recording head 21.

  The waste ink tray 35 is for receiving an idle discharge of the ink from the recording head 21. A felt is laid as an ink absorbing material in the waste ink tray 35, and the ink ejected in an idle manner is absorbed and held by the felt. Thus, the purge mechanism 34 and the waste ink tray 35 are used to perform maintenance such as removal of air bubbles and mixed color ink in the recording head 21 and prevention of drying.

  Although not shown in the drawings, the multifunction machine 10 is provided with a cartridge mounting unit, and an ink cartridge for storing various inks is mounted in the cartridge mounting unit. A plurality of ink tubes 20 corresponding to the respective color inks are drawn from the cartridge mounting portion to the carriage 22. Each color ink is supplied to the recording head 21 mounted on the carriage 22 from the ink cartridge mounted on the cartridge mounting portion through the ink tubes 20. The ink tube 20 is a tube made of a synthetic resin, and has flexibility to follow the reciprocating motion of the carriage 22.

[Drive switching mechanism 40]
The drive switching mechanism 40 which selectively transmits the driving force from the motor to the feed roller 13, the purge mechanism 34, and the other drive units will be described below. The drive switching mechanism 40 selectively transmits the drive output from the motor (not shown) to each drive unit.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the drive switching mechanism 40 is disposed below the right end portion of the movement area of the carriage 22 so as to face the right end portion. In FIG. 3, only a part of the drive switching mechanism 40 is exposed from the hole 69 formed in the guide rail 23. In addition, the drive switching mechanism 40 is disposed in the rear direction 7 relative to the purge mechanism 34. The position of the drive switching mechanism 40 is not limited to the lower side of the carriage 22, but may be the front, the rear, or the upper side of the carriage 22.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the drive switching mechanism 40 includes a drive gear 76, a support shaft 42, a slide gear 41, a support shaft 77, a plurality of transmission gears 54, 55, 56, 57, a lever member 43, a coil spring 59 An example of a biasing member), a coil spring 58, and a holding portion 83 shown in FIG.

  The output of the motor is input to the left end of the drive roller 19 (see FIG. 2) of the transport roller pair 17. As shown in FIG. 4, a drive gear 76 is provided at the right end of the drive roller 19 so as to rotate coaxially with and integrally with the drive roller 19. The slide gear 41 is engaged with the drive gear 76. Thereby, the slide gear 41 is rotationally driven based on the output of the motor.

  The slide gear 41 is slidably and rotatably supported by the support shaft 42 in the direction of the axis of the support shaft 42. The direction of the axis of the support shaft 42 is rightward 8 and leftward 9. The right direction 8 and the left direction 9 are examples of the axial direction. As described above, the slide gear 41 can slide in the right direction 8 and the left direction 9.

  The axis of the slide gear 41 is parallel to the axis of the drive gear 76, and both are along the right direction 8 and the left direction 9. The lengths of the drive gear 76 in the right direction 8 and the left direction 9 are sufficiently longer than the slide range in the right direction 8 and the left direction 9 of the slide gear 41. Therefore, the slide gear 41 and the drive gear 76 are always meshed in the slide range of the slide gear 41. The slide range of the slide gear 41 is a range from the position where the slide gear 41 meshes with the transmission gear 54 to the position where the slide gear 41 meshes with the transmission gear 57.

  Below the support shaft 42, a support shaft 77 rotatably supporting the transmission gears 54, 55, 56, 57 is provided in parallel with the support shaft 42. FIG. 4 is a view schematically showing the arrangement relationship of the gears, and the arrangement relationship of the gears in the right direction 8 and the left direction 9 is as illustrated, but the upper direction 4 and the lower direction of the gears are shown. The positional relationship between the direction 5 and the front direction 6 and the rear direction 7 is not limited to the illustrated one. The direction of the axis of the support shaft 77 is along the right direction 8 and the left direction 9. The transmission gears 54, 55, 56, 57 are sequentially arranged in the right direction 8 on the support shaft 77. The transmission gears 54, 55, 56, 57 are rotatable independently of one another. As the slide gear 41 slides along the support shaft 42, the slide gear 41 is selectively engaged with any of the transmission gears 54, 55, 56, 57.

  For example, in the present embodiment, the transmission gear 54 transmits the driving force of the motor to the feed roller 13. The transmission gear 55 transmits the driving force of the motor to a feeding roller (not shown) provided separately from the feeding roller 13 in order to feed a sheet from a lower tray disposed below the feeding tray 11. The transmission gear 56 is a re-conveying roller (not shown) provided on a re-conveying path (not shown) that reverses the sheet on which the image has been recorded and returns it back to the recording unit 15 in order to record images on both sides of the sheet. ) Transmits the driving force of the motor. The transmission gear 57 transmits the drive of the motor to the purge mechanism 34. In this manner, the driving force of the motor is transmitted to the respective driving units via the transmission gears 54, 55, 56, 57. The specific example of each drive part is only an example, and in the drive switching mechanism 40, the four transmission gears 54, 55, 56, 57 do not necessarily have to be provided. For example, in the multi-function device 10 in which the feeding roller and the re-conveying roller are not provided because the lower tray and the re-conveying path are not provided, the transmission gears 54 and 57 are replaced by predetermined positions instead of the transmission gears 55 and 56 Spacers may be provided for placement on the

[Lever member 43]
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the lever member 43 is supported by the support shaft 42. The lever member 43 is provided with a main body 45 through which the support shaft 42 passes, and a projection 46 which protrudes from the main body 45.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the main body 45 is disposed more to the right 8 than the slide gear 41. As shown in FIG. 5 to FIG. 7, the main body 45 is along the right direction 8 and the left direction 9, and the penetrated portion 141 through which the spindle 42 is penetrated and the left end of the penetrated portion 141 outside The flange portion 142 is fitted, and the extension portion 143 is extended from the outer periphery of the flange portion 142 in the right direction 8.

  A through hole 144 is formed in the through portion 141 in the first direction 103 and the second direction 104. The support shaft 42 is penetrated in the through hole 144. Thus, the main body 45 is supported by the support shaft 42 so as to be slidable in the direction of the axis (right direction 8 and left direction 9) of the support shaft 42 and rotatable around the axis of the support shaft 42. That is, the penetrated portion 141 has a function as a bearing of the support shaft 42. The through holes 144 will be described in detail later.

  The protrusion 46 protrudes from the main body 45 toward the movement area of the carriage 22. In the present embodiment, since the drive switching mechanism 40 is disposed below the right end portion of the movement area of the carriage 22, the protrusion 46 protrudes substantially in the upper direction 4.

  Further, the projecting portion 46 projects from the outer peripheral surface 143 A of the extending portion 143, that is, the left end portion of the main body portion 45. That is, as shown in FIG. 6C, the protrusion 46 protrudes from a position offset in the left direction 9 from the central position C in the right direction 8 and the left direction 9 in the main body 45. The projecting portion 46 may project from a position offset from the center position C of the right direction 8 and the left direction 9 in the main body 45 to the right direction 8 or in the right direction 8 and the left direction 9 in the main body 45 It may protrude from the central part.

  The protruding end of the protrusion 46 is located within the movement area of the carriage 22. Thus, the projection 46 is pressed from the left direction 9 against the carriage 22 moving in the right direction 8 (specifically, the guide piece 38 (see FIG. 3) formed at the rear end of the carriage 22). Be As a result, the lever member 43 moves in the right direction 8.

  In the present embodiment, the lever member 43 is biased in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 6A by a biasing member (for example, a torsion spring) (not shown). The biasing force of the biasing member is smaller than the biasing force of the coil spring 59 (specifically, the biasing force for moving the lever member 43 in the left direction 9 against the biasing force of the coil spring 58).

[Coil spring 59, 58]
As shown in FIG. 4, the coil spring 59 is disposed more to the right 8 than the lever member 43. The support shaft 42 is penetrated by the coil spring 59. The left end of the coil spring 59 faces the right direction 8 of the flange portion 142 of the lever member 43 through a gap 70 (see FIG. 5B) formed between the penetrating portion 141 and the extending portion 143 (see FIG. 5 (B)). The right end of the coil spring 59 is in contact with a second plate 85 of a holding portion 83 described later. Thereby, the coil spring 59 can bias the lever member 43 and the slide gear 41 in the left direction 9.

  The coil spring 58 is disposed in the left direction 9 relative to the slide gear 41. The support shaft 42 is penetrated by the coil spring 58. The right end of the coil spring 58 is in contact with the surface 41 A facing the left direction 9 of the slide gear 41. The left end of the coil spring 58 is in contact with the third plate 86 of the holding portion 83. Thus, the coil spring 58 can bias the slide gear 41 and the lever member 43 in the right direction 8.

  The slide gear 41 and the lever member 43 are biased in opposite directions by two coil springs 58 and 59. Thus, the slide gear 41 and the lever member 43 are in contact with each other at the support shaft 42 and are integrated. The biasing force of the coil spring 59 in the left direction 9 is larger than the biasing force of the coil spring 58 in the right direction 8. Therefore, the slide gear 41 and the lever member 43 slide in the left direction 9 if no external force is applied.

[Holding unit 83]
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, a holding portion 83 is provided above the support shaft 42. The holding portion 83 is fixed to the surface facing the lower direction 5 of the guide rail 23 such that the hole 69 (see FIG. 3) formed at the right end of the guide rail 23 and the opening 87 described later overlap.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the holding portion 83 protrudes downward from the first plate 84 provided above the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 of the lever member 43, and the right end portion of the first plate 84. And a third plate 86 projecting downward from the left end of the first plate 84.

  As shown in FIG. 5, a through hole 85A is formed in the second plate 85, and the right end of the support shaft 42 is fitted and fixed in the through hole 85A. A through hole 86A is formed in the third plate 86, and the left end of the support shaft 42 is fitted in and fixed to the through hole 86A.

  As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6B, the first plate 84 is formed with an opening 87 elongated in the right direction 8 and the left direction 9. The protrusion 46 of the lever member 43 penetrates the opening 87 in the upward direction 4. The protrusion 46 protrudes upward 4 beyond the guide rail 23 through the opening 87 and the hole 69. A portion of the protrusion 46 which protrudes upward 4 from the guide rail 23 abuts on the guide piece 38 of the carriage 22 moving in the right direction 8 from the left direction 9.

  As described above, the lever member 43 is biased in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 6A by the biasing member. Therefore, the protrusion 46 is biased in the forward direction 6 in FIG. 6 (B). Thus, the protrusion 46 is in contact with the edge 88 that defines the front end 6 of the opening 87.

  At the edge 88, a first stopper 121, a second stopper 122, and a first inclined surface 123 are formed. . The first stopper 121 and the second stopper 122 are an example of a plurality of stoppers. A second inclined surface 124 is formed at an edge 89 defining an end of the opening 87 in the rear direction 7.

  The first stopper 121 protrudes in the rear direction 7 from the edge 88. The second stopper 122 is provided on the edge 88 in the right direction 8 more than the first stopper 121 and protrudes in the rear direction 7.

  The surfaces 121A and 122A facing the right direction 8 of the first stopper 121 and the second stopper 122 extend generally in the rear direction 7 from the edge 88. As a result, the first stopper 121 and the second stopper 122 can lock the protrusion 46 biased in the left direction 9 by the coil spring 59 against the biasing force of the coil spring 59. On the other hand, the surfaces 121B and 122B (an example of the inclined surfaces) facing the left direction 9 of the first stopper 121 and the second stopper 122 are inclined surfaces in the right direction 8 and the rear direction 7. That is, the surfaces 121 B and 122 B are inclined with respect to the right direction 8 and the left direction 9. The protrusion 46 moving in the right direction 8 can ride over the first stopper 121 and the second stopper 122 by being guided by the surfaces 121B and 122B.

  The protrusion 46 moves in the backward direction 7 against the biasing force of the biasing member in the state of being guided by the surfaces 121B and 122B. In other words, the lever member 43 pivots clockwise in FIG. 6 (A).

  The first inclined surface 123 is provided on the edge 88 in the right direction 8 relative to the second stopper 122, and is a surface inclined in the right direction 8 and the rear direction 7. The second inclined surface 124 is provided in the left direction 9 with respect to the first stopper 121 at the edge 89 and is a surface inclined in the left direction 9 and the front direction 6.

  The protrusion 46 is held at the following four positions (first to fourth positions). The first position is a position where the protrusion 46 is in contact with a surface 125 (an example of a stopper) facing the right direction 8 at the left end of the opening 87. The protrusion 46 in the first position is marked as a protrusion 46A in FIG. 6 (B). The surface 125 prevents the protrusion 46 from moving in the left direction 9 due to the biasing force of the coil spring 59, and holds the protrusion 46 in the first position. When the protrusion 46 is in the first position, the slide gear 41 meshes with the transmission gear 54.

  The second position is a position where the protrusion 46 abuts on the surface 121 A of the first stopper 121. The protrusion 46 in the second position is marked as a protrusion 46B in FIG. 6 (B). The surface 121A prevents the projection 46 from moving in the left direction 9 due to the biasing force of the coil spring 59, and holds the projection 46 in the second position. When the protrusion 46 is in the second position, the slide gear 41 meshes with the transmission gear 55.

  The third position is a position where the protrusion 46 abuts on the surface 122 A of the second stopper 122. The protrusion 46 at the third position is marked as a protrusion 46C in FIG. 6 (B). The surface 122A prevents the projection 46 from moving in the left direction 9 due to the biasing force of the coil spring 59, and holds the projection 46 in the third position. When the protrusion 46 is in the third position, the slide gear 41 meshes with the transmission gear 56.

  The fourth position is a position where the protrusion 46 abuts on the first inclined surface 123. At this time, the projection 46 is maintained in the fourth position against the biasing force of the coil spring 59 by being abutted against the carriage 22 from the left direction 9. The protrusion 46 at the fourth position is marked as a protrusion 46D in FIG. 6 (B). When the protrusion 46 is in the fourth position, the slide gear 41 meshes with the transmission gear 57.

  The protrusion 46 moves in the rearward direction 7 against the biasing force of the biasing member in a state in which the protrusion 46 is positioned at the fourth position (a state in contact with the first inclined surface 123). In other words, the lever member 43 is pivoted clockwise in FIG. 6 (A).

[Support shaft 42 and through hole 144]
As shown in FIG. 5, the support shaft 42 is a cylindrical and rod-like member. In other words, as shown in FIG. 8B, the support shaft 42 is a rod-like member having a circular cross-sectional shape when viewed from the right and the left. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8A, the through hole 144 formed in the main body 45 is a hole having a square cross section when viewed from the right and the left.

  In the present embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the through hole 144 is approximately square (hereinafter referred to as a square). The length of one side of the square is equal to the diameter of the support shaft 42. Thereby, as shown in FIG. 8B, the main body 45 in which the through hole 144 is formed, and the support shaft 42 inserted in the through hole 144 have four contact positions P1, P2, P3. , Point contact at P4. In addition, "the same" mentioned above is that the length of one side of the square and the diameter of the support shaft 42 is the support shaft 42 and the main body besides the length of the side of the square and the diameter of the support shaft 42 being completely identical. It also includes differences within the tolerance of the part 45.

  FIG. 8B shows a side view of the lever member 43 and the support shaft 42 when the projection 46 is held at the first to third positions.

  In this case, among the apexes A1, A2, A3, and A4 of the square of the cross-sectional shape of the through hole 144, an imaginary line L1 connecting the apexes A1 and A2 is a line along the upper direction 4 and the lower direction 5. Here, the imaginary line L1 is a line which passes through the axial center 42A of the support shaft 42 and is parallel to the projecting direction (upper direction 4) of the projecting portion 46. In addition, a virtual line L2 connecting the opposite vertices A2 and A4 is a line along the right direction 8 and the left direction 9. Here, the imaginary line L2 is a line which passes through the axial center 42A of the support shaft 42 and is orthogonal to the projecting direction (the upward direction 4) of the projecting portion 46.

  The contact positions P1 and P2 are located in a first range which is a region 4 in the upward direction (a region closer to the protrusion 46 than the virtual line L2) than the virtual line L2. Further, the contact positions P3 and P4 are located in a second range which is a region 5 in the lower direction 5 than the virtual line L2 (a region on the opposite side to the protrusion 46 than the virtual line L2).

  As described above, in the state in which the protrusion 46 is held at the first to third positions, the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 in two positions (contact positions P1 and P2) in the first range as viewed from the right and the left. Contact with). In addition, the support shaft 42 is in contact with the main body 45 at two positions (contact positions P3 and P4) in the second range as viewed from the right and the left.

  That is, the number of contact points in the first range seen from the right and left of the spindle 42 and the main body 45, and the contact spot in the second range seen from the right and left of the spindle 42 and the main body 45 The number of is two places in both, and is the same.

  Also, the contact points in the first range seen from the right and left of the support shaft 42 and the main body 45, and the contact points in the second range seen from the right and left of the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 , And line symmetry with respect to the virtual line L2.

  FIG. 8C shows a side view of the lever member 43 and the support shaft 42 when the protrusion 46 is held at the fourth position. The protrusion 46 is in contact with the first inclined surface 123 when held in the fourth position. Thus, the lever member 43 is pivoted so that the projection 46 moves in the backward direction 7. That is, the position of the lever member 43 in FIG. 8 (C) is a position rotated in the direction of the arrow 130 from the state of FIG. 8 (B).

  In this case, among the apexes A1, A2, A3, and A4 of the square of the cross-sectional shape of the through hole 144, an imaginary line L3 connecting the apexes A1 and A2 is a line inclined with respect to the upper direction 4 and the lower direction 5. . Here, the imaginary line L3 is a line which passes through the axial center 42A of the support shaft 42 and is parallel to the projecting direction 171 (the direction inclined with respect to the upper direction 4) of the projecting portion 46. In addition, a virtual line L4 connecting the opposite vertices A2 and A4 is a line inclined with respect to the right direction 8 and the left direction 9. Here, the imaginary line L4 is a line which passes through the axial center 42A of the support shaft 42 and is orthogonal to the projecting direction 171 of the projecting portion 46.

  Even in the case of FIG. 8C, as in the case of FIG. 8B, the contact positions P1 and P2 are located in the first range which is a region 4 in the upward direction of the virtual line L2. Further, the contact positions P3 and P4 are located in a second range which is an area 5 lower than the virtual line L2.

  As described above, even when the protrusion 46 is held at the fourth position, the support shaft 42 is viewed from the right and the left as in the state where the protrusion 46 is held at the first to third positions. It abuts on the main body 45 at two places (abutment positions P1 and P2) in the first range. In addition, the support shaft 42 is in contact with the main body 45 at two positions (contact positions P3 and P4) in the second range as viewed from the right and the left.

  That is, the number of contact points in the first range seen from the right and left of the spindle 42 and the main body 45, and the contact spot in the second range seen from the right and left of the spindle 42 and the main body 45 The number of is two places in both, and is the same.

  Even when the protrusion 46 is in contact with the surface 121 B of the first stopper 121 and also in the case where the protrusion 46 is in contact with the surface 122 B of the second stopper 122, the lever member 43 has the protrusion 46 behind. It is pivoted to be located in direction 7. The number of contact positions between the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 in this case and the positional relationship between the contact positions are the same as those shown in FIG. 8C.

[Drive switching in drive switching mechanism 40]
The drive switching to the transmission gears 54, 55, 56, 57 by the slide of the slide gear 41 will be described below.

  When the protrusion 46 is at the first position (the protrusion 46 is in contact with the surface 125 and the slide gear 41 is engaged with the transmission gear 54), the protrusion 46 is in contact with the carriage 22 moving in the right direction 8 When brought into contact and pressed, the protrusion 46 (lever member 43) slides in the right direction 8 against the biasing force of the coil spring 59. Thereby, the slide gear 41 biased in the right direction 8 by the coil spring 58 slides in the right direction 8 as the lever member 43 slides. As a result, the slide gear 41 separates from the transmission gear 54. The protruding portion 46 is guided by the surface 121 B of the first stopper 121 to ride over the first stopper 121. In the process of the protrusion 46 being guided by the surface 121 B, the lever member 43 rotates so that the protrusion 46 moves in the rearward direction 7 against the biasing force of the biasing member. When the protrusion 46 is located in the right direction 8 from the surface 121 B, the lever member 43 is pivoted so that the protrusion 46 moves in the forward direction 6 by the biasing force of the biasing member. Thus, the protrusion 46 engages with the surface 121A of the first stopper 121 and is positioned at the second position. At this time, the slide gear 160 meshes with the transmission gear 55.

  When the protrusion 46 is in the second position (the protrusion 46 is in contact with the surface 121 A and the slide gear 41 is in mesh with the transmission gear 55), the protrusion 46 contacts the carriage 22 moving in the right direction 8 When brought into contact and pressed, the protrusion 46 (lever member 43) slides in the right direction 8 against the biasing force of the coil spring 59. Thereby, the slide gear 41 biased in the right direction 8 by the coil spring 58 slides in the right direction 8 as the lever member 43 slides. As a result, the slide gear 41 separates from the transmission gear 55. The protrusion 46 is guided by the surface 122 B of the second stopper 122 to ride over the second stopper 122. In the process in which the protrusion 46 is guided by the surface 122B, the lever member 43 rotates so that the protrusion 46 moves in the backward direction 7 against the biasing force of the biasing member. When the protrusion 46 is located in the right direction 8 from the surface 122 B, the lever member 43 rotates so that the protrusion 46 moves in the forward direction 6 by the biasing force of the biasing member. Thus, the protrusion 46 engages with the surface 122A of the second stopper 122 and is positioned at the third position. At this time, the slide gear 160 meshes with the transmission gear 56.

  When the protrusion 46 is in the third position (the protrusion 46 is in contact with the surface 122 A and the slide gear 41 is in mesh with the transmission gear 56), the protrusion 46 contacts the carriage 22 moving in the right direction 8 When pushed in contact, the protrusion 46 (lever member 43) slides in the right direction 8 against the biasing force of the coil spring 59. Thereby, the slide gear 41 biased in the right direction 8 by the coil spring 58 slides in the right direction 8 as the lever member 43 slides. As a result, the slide gear 41 separates from the transmission gear 56. The protrusion 46 is guided by the first inclined surface 123. At this time, the lever member 43 rotates so that the protrusion 46 moves in the backward direction 7 against the biasing force of the biasing member. The protrusion 46 thereby reaches the fourth position. At this time, by the carriage 22 maintaining contact with the projection 46, the projection 46 is held at the fourth position, which is a position in contact with the first inclined surface 123. The slide gear 160 meshes with the transmission gear 57 in a state where the protrusion 46 is at the fourth position.

  The carriage 22 moves in the left direction 9 and protrudes in a state in which the protruding portion 46 is positioned at the fourth position (the protruding portion 46 is in contact with the first inclined surface 123 and the slide gear 41 meshes with the transmission gear 57). When separated from the portion 46, the protrusion 46 (lever member 43) slides in the left direction 9 by the biasing force of the coil spring 59. At this time, since the protrusion 46 moves in the backward direction 7, it does not engage with the first stopper 121 and the second stopper 122 and slides in the left direction 9 more than the first stopper 121. As a result, the protrusion 46 abuts on the second inclined surface 124 and is guided by the second inclined surface 124. At this time, the lever member 43 pivots so that the projection 46 moves in the forward direction 6. As a result, the protrusion 46 reaches the first position. When the projection 46 is in the first position, the slide gear 160 meshes with the transmission gear 54.

[Operation and effect of this embodiment]
According to the present embodiment, since the main body 45 and the support shaft 42 are in contact at a plurality of locations, the force exerted by the carriage 22 pressing the protrusion 46 disperses the force that pushes the support shaft 42. be able to. Further, according to the present embodiment, the support shaft 42 is in contact with the main body 45 at a plurality of places in each of the first range and the second range. Therefore, the side on which the through portion 141 is provided with the projecting portion 46, that is, the force F1 (see FIG. 7) pressing the support shaft 42 from above and the side on which the through portion 141 is provided Both the force F2 (see FIG. 7) for pushing the support shaft 42 from the opposite side, that is, the lower side can be dispersed. As a result of the above, the load on the slide of the lever member 43 can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, even in the state where the protrusion 46 is held at the first to third positions by the surface 125 and the stoppers 121 and 122, the main body 45 and the support shaft 42 are at a plurality of locations. It abuts. Therefore, even when the protrusion 46 is held at the first to third positions, the load on the slide of the lever member 43 can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the main body 45 and the support shaft 42 are also in the state in which the protrusion 46 is in contact with the inclined surface (the surface 121B, the surface 122B, the first inclined surface 123) and is rotated. Are in contact at multiple locations. Therefore, the load on the slide of the lever member 43 can be reduced even in a state in which the protrusion 46 is rotated in contact with the inclined surface (the surface 121B, the surface 122B, and the first inclined surface 123).

  Further, according to the present embodiment, since the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 are in point contact as viewed from the right and the left, the contact area between the main body 45 and the support shaft 42 can be reduced. Therefore, the sliding resistance of the main body 45 to the support shaft 42 can be reduced.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the number of contact points between the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 in the first range and the number of contact points between the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 in the second range are the same. It is. Further, according to the present embodiment, the number of contact points between the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 in the first range and the contact points between the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 in the second range are imaginary lines. It is in line symmetry with respect to L2. Therefore, the side on which the through portion 141 is provided with the projecting portion 46, that is, the force F1 (see FIG. 7) pressing the support shaft 42 from above and the side on which the through portion 141 is provided Both the force F2 (see FIG. 7) for pressing the support shaft 42 from the opposite side, that is, the lower side, can be substantially evenly distributed.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the number of contact points between the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 is the minimum (2 for each range) while the contact portions are plural. Thereby, the shape of the main body 45 can be simplified, so that the lever member 43 can be easily formed.

[Modification]
In the said embodiment, although the cross-sectional shape at the time of seeing the through-hole 144 from the right and left was square, the said cross-sectional shape may be except square. Moreover, although the number of the contact places of the spindle 42 and the main-body part 45 in the 1st range and the 2nd range was two places each, the number of the said contact places should just be plural, and two places Not limited to.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 8D, the through holes 144 may be holes having a hexagonal cross-sectional shape when viewed from the right and the left. In this case, the number of contact points between the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 in the first range is three (contact positions P11, P12, P13). Further, the number of contact points between the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 in the second range is also three (contact positions P14, P15, P16).

  Further, in the above embodiment, the number of contact points between the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 in the first range and the contact points between the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 in the second range is the same. , And may not be the same number.

  For example, the through hole 144 may be a hole whose cross-sectional shape as viewed from the right and the left is shown in FIG. 8 (E). In this case, the number of contact points between the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 in the first range is two (contact positions P21 and P22), whereas the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 in the second range are The number of contact points with each other is three (contact positions P23, P24, P25).

  Further, in the above embodiment, the contact point in the first range seen from the right and left of the support shaft 42 and the main body 45, and the second range seen from the right and left of the support shaft 42 and the main body 45 The contact point is in line symmetry with respect to a line passing through the axial center 42A of the support shaft 42 and orthogonal to the projecting direction of the protrusion 46, but may not be in line symmetry.

  For example, in the case of the configuration as shown in FIG. 8E, the contact points (contact positions P21 and P22) in the first range seen from the right and left of the support shaft 42 and the main body 45, and the support shaft The contact points (contact positions P23, P24, P25) in the second range seen from the right and the left of the main body 45 and the main body 45 are the axial center 42A of the support shaft 42 and the projection direction of the projection 46 It is not in line symmetry with respect to the imaginary line L2 which is orthogonal.

21: Recording head 22: Carriage 41: Slide gear 42: Support shaft 43: Lever member 45: Body part 46: Projection part 54: Transmission gear 55 Transmission gear 56 Transmission gear 57 Transmission gear 59 Coil spring (biasing member)
111: Printer unit (ink jet recording apparatus)

Claims (8)

A slide gear slidably supported by a pivot along the axial direction;
A biasing member for biasing the slide gear in a first direction along the axial direction;
A plurality of transmission gears spaced from each other along the axial direction and capable of meshing with the slide gear;
A recording head which ejects ink from the nozzles toward the sheet, and movable along the axial direction;
A main body portion slidably supported adjacent to the slide gear by the support shaft, and a projecting portion protruding from the main body portion to a moving area of the carriage, and a second direction opposite to the first direction And a lever member that slides by the carriage moving to move in contact with the projection.
The support shaft is a first range that is the protrusion side with respect to an imaginary line passing through the axis center and perpendicular to the protrusion direction of the protrusion when viewed from the axial direction, and an opposite to the protrusion with respect to the protrusion line The inkjet recording device which is in contact with the main body portion at a plurality of places in each of the second range which is the side. And a holding portion having a plurality of stoppers for holding the projection at respective positions where the slide gear is engaged with each of the plurality of transmission gears.
In the state in which the projecting portion is held at the positions by the stoppers, the spindle is viewed from the axial direction, and in the first range and the second range, the spindle and the plurality of portions are provided. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is in contact with the image forming apparatus. The lever member is rotatable about the support shaft,
The holding portion includes an inclined surface inclined with respect to the axial direction,
The lever member is pivoted by the projection which is in contact with the inclined surface being guided along the inclined surface.
In a state in which the projection is in contact with the inclined surface, the support shaft is in contact with the main body at a plurality of locations in each of the first range and the second range when viewed from the axial direction. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 2 .   The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the support shaft and the main body portion are in point contact when viewed from the axial direction.   The number of contact points in the first range viewed from the axial direction of the spindle and the main body portion, and the contact spot in the second range viewed from the axial direction of the spindle and the main body portion The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the number of is the same.   The contact point in the first range seen from the axial direction of the spindle and the main body, and the contact point in the second range seen from the axial direction of the spindle and the main body 6. The ink jet recording apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus is in line symmetry with an imaginary line passing through the axial center and orthogonal to the projecting direction of the projection.   The inkjet recording apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the spindle is in contact with the main body portion at two places in each of the first range and the second range when viewed from the axial direction.   The ink jet recording apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the protrusion protrudes from a position offset in the first direction or the second direction from a center in the axial direction in the main body portion.

Images